I was editor at Scene in SA Magazine for about 3 years. I can't really speak to the quality of it…read morenow, because it's a totally different dynamic. But back when I was there, there was a totally different editorial team. I thought we did a good job of balancing content that would appeal to younger and older people. Our conservative editorial edge was partially chosen to balance out what many perceive as the more leftist daily paper and state magazine. Now the lineup is a little different, but I can stay it still has that sort of Saturday Evening Post feel of a hodgepodge magazine for not just city dwellers, but also readers.

On Sep 12, 2022, I knowingly purchased an automatically renewing "all-digital" access subscription…read moreto the San Antonio Express News ("SAEN") for a quarterly recurring fee of $19.96 charged to my credit card on file. I knowingly paid for a digital subscription to provide me one-time access to an article. I was not deceived about the automatically renewing nature of the subscription. I have no quarrel for paying $19.96 for one-time access to content that had sufficient value to me to purchase a subscription. I did; however, have the intention to cancel the subscription before the first 90-day term expired. I was not prepared for the rest. Indeed I made two half-hearted attempts to cancel the following two quarters, but one must have strong resolve, a flexible schedule, an much patience to cancel a SAEN subscription. You must cancel when it's convenient for SAEN. Never mind your own busy schedule. After the first two auto-renewal dates passed due to my being unable to alter my business schedule to align with SAEN's customer service hours, I noticed the latest $19.96 credit card charge today--Aug 19, 2023. I attempted to cancel the subscription. I discovered that cancelling was far more difficult than subscribing. You make a phone call during SAEN business hours. Wait for long holds. Be disconnect. Speak with multiple persons. State your reason for cancelling. No alternative cancellation options are provided. Today, I made my THIRD (and finally successful) attempt to cancel my subscription after noticing another charge of $19.96 had posted to my credit card. This process required a half-hour with three attempts, including hold times and disconnects. I twice heard this recorded message between disconnects and long holds: "We appreciate your patience and value your time". I am quite certain that the Federal Trade Commission had me in mind when proposing its "Click to Cancel" legislation in March 2023, aimed at protecting consumer victims from bad corporate actors. The legislation aims to address numerous common consumer grievances. Lack of transparency SAEN does not disclose that they will limit the hours and methods by which you may unsubscribe until after a subscription is purchased. Time-consuming cancellation processes: Auto-renewal Some companies only offer automatically renewing subscriptions unless customers take specific steps to cancel. SAEN, for example, doesn't offer a temporary subscription or "single access" option. If they do, then I missed it. If you're considering a subscription, check options not requiring auto-renewal. Financial incentives Some companies offer pay or other financial incentives to CSR's, "Account Specialists" and "Retention Specialists" to make it difficult to cancel subscriptions. I suspect that SAEN requires an explanation from its customers to cancel, so they could place me on hold and transfer me to an individual who is receiving financial compensation for persuading me not to cancel my subscription. Limited options Some companies, like SAEN may only offer a limited number of cancellation options, such as canceling via phone. This can make it difficult for customers who wish to cancel when its convenient and possible for them--an not be required to cancel by phone during SAEN business hours. SAEN discloses a phone call is required. Undisclosed is phones are answered only during business hours, that hold times are long, disconnects are common, and multiple conversations are required. Summary SAEN's tactics are intolerable at best, and soon may be illegal if regulations are passed. These business practices are intentional and serve only to make it easy to sign up and difficult to leave. I am not a strong proponent of government regulation in most cases, but in certain circumstances, like abusive, selfish business practices such as the ones described here, the more regulation the merrier. I hope SAEN puts my wasted money to good use, like donating it to the San Antonio food bank. Simplified, here's the bottom line of the proposed FTC rules that would force SAEN and others to behave like human beings if they cannot find it within themselves to do the right thing just because its the right thing: +If you can sign up online, you must be able to cancel on the same website, in the same number of steps. +A publisher must immediately implement the cancellation process unless the consumer states a desire to hear a retention pitch. +Sellers are required to provide a reminder to consumers before automatic renewal. By my reading and interpretation of the rules, SAEN would be in violation of all three of the above if enacted. In preparing this review/complain, I have spent LESS than the amount of time required to unsubscribe to a SAEN digital subscription.

Signed up for a paper subscription 3 months ago. After the first one was not delivered, I submitted…read morean online ticket for redelivery (complete with confirmation email). It never came, so I waited for the next one, which also never came. I called and spoke with someone who said he would address the issue and have it redelivered. That never came. I got busy, and called a few weeks later to cancel. The rep convinced to me to stay, said he would take the steps to make it right and have an urgent request put in with management to speak with the people in charge of delivery for the area I live in. I'm all about good business practices so I agreed. Time passed, still never received a paper copy, and when charged again for the monthly fee, decided to call/cancel/request a refund. 1st agent transferred me, 2nd agent said they can't give refunds but can cancel and put in an urgent request with manager to make it right (I've heard that one before, so no), transferred to supervisor "Marvin" (refused to give last name, last initial, ID number, anything). Marvin tried to tell me I never submitted an online request (once again, I have email proof) and then tells me I've only called one time (this is my 3rd call) and stated I should have called every time so this is on me. I'm not going to spend 10 to 20 minutes of my day every week requesting they provide the services I have already paid for. This shouldn't be a thing. I got upset on the phone and he disconnected for me not being professional. I can't in good faith support a company that takes your money and runs.

I used to get books here, but they have been to hurtful on the budget for how fast I read. So I…read morehave now moved on to puzzles. I will say they have quite the selection! The service is always helpful as a I had a gentleman help me look for a specific one. I didn't grab the one I took a photo of, but I might in the future If I am up for a challenge!

Here there be books!…read more I really like how much seating the cafe has along with a few more spots throughout the store. Everything was well stocked, the place was clean and organized, and booksellers were never far away. I'm not necessarily a fan of the super tall shelving that you can't see over however. It made it difficult to find the section I was looking for, made the space feel more like a maze and/or closed off despite the larger size of the store, and to me felt like more of an inconvenience than it was worth. All in all, if I'm in the area I still wouldn't mind stopping in to see if there's anything I'm missing for my at home library.

Local bilingual culture and news! La Prensa is an asset to…read morethe community. They're doing great things for the local Hispanic community, giving an outlet for local San Antonio news with some in-depth reporting and editorialized articles about the current happenings in the Alamo City. My favorite is the cultural stuff- the artwork is always local artists, they include poetry and short stories, and essays in both English and Spanish. The whole magazine has a different theme each issue, with various art and articles around this centralized theme. If you're seeking to learn Spanish, this is a great resource to get some interesting material to learn from! They have the magazine free at the periodicals section at your neighborhood grocers, you can subscribe- I think there's a discount if you're subscribing for someone who's incarcerated. It's a weekly publication, and they always seem to focus on positive things, which is nice.