The surreal world of selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door (bizarre story)

[ProSense]

From Talking Points:

(February 22, 2007 -- 10:22 AM EDT // link)

If you missed it, check out this article in Wednesday's Times on 'mag crews', teams of young adults and teenagers who sell magazine subscriptions door-to-door around the country. It's surreal and riveting -- a mix of Fight Club, Urban Cowboy and pretty much any other dark, sex, violence and drug drenched movie or cultural phenomenon you can think of.

I'm not sure quite how to briefly describe the story. But, in short, it is an underworld of lost or trying-to-escape-bad-homes kids who get recruited into these team of magazine subscription sellers, door to door, as I said. But once there, most seem to be held in a thinly-disguised form of debt servitude and kept in line with routine beatings. The teams are run by contractors of contractors or contractors, so the glitz magazines they sell don't have to dirty their hands with any direct ties to the operations.

If it all sounds too outlandish to believe, that was my reaction too. But it seems to be there right under our noses, unregulated and ignored.

Late Update: Here's a July 2006 story from New Mexico about two guys from a mag crew passing through town who murdered a local in a bowling alley parking lot. Another story here from the Portland Tribune.

[maxsolomon]

1. every year i have crews come to my door in NE seattle

from the same organizations every year. undereducated (kid stepped over the dog gate onto my front porch & got met by 2 growling dogs, one a pit bull - that's not smart), poor kids or adults from the south - with a sob story about raising funds for education & getting their lives on track, but, according to the seattle po, its bs. this year i told them point blank i empathize with their personal plight, but i don't believe them, any of their ID, don't call me sir, and i don't need a subscription to redbook anyway. my neighbors all have 'no soliciting' signs up now.

they depend on the guilt & sympathy of wealthy liberal neighborhoods, or the fear of the elderly of minorities at their open front door. the people who recruit them are capitalist scum.

[MissB]

2. I had to call 911 on one of their recruits one time.

I was perfectly nice, but firm in my "no,thanks". He just wouldn't.go.away. When he started screaming at me, I called 911. It may seem extreme, but he was on my property. All I did was say "no".

[RebelOne]

4. I had that problem once. The guy screamed at me

and wouldn't leave. And then, he went around to the back of my house. I called 911.

[AngryOldDem]

6. It's been awhile

But my experience with such a person was not good, either. Damned near forced himself into the house and would not take no for an answer. Then he had the gall to tell me to my face that I was racist and intimidated by his skin color. Asshole. Yep -- THAT'S the way to make a sale, all right. All I said was, "I'm not interested in any magazine subscriptions at the moment. Thanks."

[MadHound]

3. These scams have been around for decades, and yes, they are horrible institutions

They're a scam and a rip off, and treat their employees like shit. Same goes for those crews who travel around and take inventory at various stores, etc. They get people out on the road, dependent on the company to get them home, and then rip them off for all sorts of little nickel and dime charges. And if you complain, whoops, they leave you beside the road out in the middle of nowhere.

[devilgrrl]

5. Kick...

this needs to be known.