I’ve said it before, I’ve been an Empire Magazine fanboy for years, and I’ve been supporting it as much as I can: I’ve subscribed to the paid podcasts (now rebranded Empire+), I regularly buy streaming tickets for the occasional live shows, and of course I’ve had a subscription to the magazine itself, in physical form: even if every issue arrives weeks after it’s available in the UK, even if I’ve never received any of the ‘Summer special’ issues.
Getting the Empire-sized white envelope in the post, although pre-opened more often than not, has been a small pleasure for years.

Last week I received an email with the following subject: “We’re keeping your Empire subscription running smoothly”.
‘Running smoothly’ doesn’t exactly capture it, I thought, but of course you are. You should. I’m paying for it.
Then I opened the email, to find out that:

Recent changes to EU customs rules mean it’s become much more expensive to send printed magazines to subscribers in the EU. Because of this, we’re having to make some changes to how we deliver your subscription going forward. […] We will automatically convert your remaining print or print and digital subscription to a digital only subscription.

So, the way my subscription is being kept running smoothly, is by unilaterally cancelling and replacing it with something else, mid-way through the yearly subscription.

In fairness, I’ve been given two other options: to either keep receiving the paper magazine by paying 70% more, bringing the cost of a single issue to almost €15, or ask for a refund.

Now, Bauer Media is not a small app developer that is obliged to suspend services on their apps or go bankrupt; it’s an international (German) company, with ad panels installed at every street corner in Brussels. I suppose they make money in the EU.
Should I feel guilty about asking for my money back? Should I feel sorry if they are losing money because of an EU directive that I’m pretty sure they have been aware of for a long time?

I do feel a tiny bit sorry that I won’t enjoy receiving the magazine with the subscriber cover. I do feel like I’m betraying my not-reciprocating friends at Empire Magazine.
But the way this has been handled breaks any provider-customer trust. I can’t accept it.
I’ve asked for a refund (for which I have received no acknowledgement).

So, Bauer Media, I guess I was lying: I would do anything for Empire, but I won’t do that.