Is this wire fraud or mail fraud?

Contact your local postal inspector.

Wow, so here's the email I just got:


Hello Ted,

Thank you for reaching out to Beckett Media customer service team.

As announced, the December 2025/January 2026 issue is the final print and digital issue of Beckett’s Non-Sport Update Magazine.

Please note that Non-Sport Update subscriptions are non-refundable and non-transferable, so we are unable to issue a monetary refund for the remaining balance of your subscription.

However, to honor your remaining subscription term, Beckett is providing the following benefit:

Subscriber Replacement Benefit
You will receive double the remaining months of access to the Non-Sport Update Online Price Guide (Market Data Report + OPG Combo).

This includes:
Pricing on 1.5+ million non-sport cards
A searchable database of 3.1+ million cards
Coverage nearly 400× larger than the print magazine
Access via Beckett’s mobile app and website
This extended Online Price Guide access will be added to your account in place of the remaining magazine issues.

If you need help accessing the Online Price Guide or have further questions, please contact us at subscriptions@beckett.com or call 844-330-6373 Monday–Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM CST.

Thank you for your understanding and for being part of the Non-Sport Update community.

Thanks,


I almost never looked at the price guide. This "benefit" holds zero value for me. "Non-refundable and non-transferable" is a crock. I was two issues into my last subscription.

I always told people who were complaining of the cover price to subscribe because it's cheaper. I feel terrible if anyone subscribed because I encouraged them to and now Beckett is just pocketing their balance.

I was not, at the time of the last issue, a subscriber. But if I had been, since the magazine was sent through the US Mail, I would proceed on the assumption that what is going on is mail fraud, and I would report it here:

https://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx

making it clear that I paid for X issues, they are only delivering Y issues, and won't refund the balance.

Beckett Collectibles, LLC
2700 Summit Ave, Ste 100
Plano, TX 75074
www.beckett.com

Also, if I had a digital subscription, or if I purchased the subscription electronically (credit card), I would proceed as if this constituted wire fraud, and I would report it here:
https://www.ic3.gov/
and here:
https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/


In addition, I would send the following to Beckett:

Dear Beckett,
You have cancelled NonSport Update. I am a subscriber with X issues remaining on my subscription, with a pro-rated value of $Y. I want a refund in this amount.

You have stated that you will not refund the balance of my subscription. This is not satisfactory to me. From Para. 17 of your Terms of Service, you have not negotiated "in good faith," or attempted "to reach a just and equitable solution satisfactory to both parties." That being the case, I wish to arbitrate the disagreement in accordance with the Terms of Service.

sincerely, etc.


Beckett's Terms of Service:
https://www.beckett.com/tos

I would also write a letter to Kevin Isaacson, CEO of Beckett, at the above address, making it clear that I want a full refund of the balance of my subscription, and that any substitution is not satisfactory.


The point of all of this is to make it cheaper for Beckett to give a refund than it would be for them to follow their own rules about how to solve the disagreement, or to otherwise continue to deal with me. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Dastick Jr.:
Wow, so here's the email I just got:


Hello Ted,

Thank you for reaching out to Beckett Media customer service team.

As announced, the December 2025/January 2026 issue is the final print and digital issue of Beckett’s Non-Sport Update Magazine.

Please note that Non-Sport Update subscriptions are non-refundable and non-transferable, so we are unable to issue a monetary refund for the remaining balance of your subscription.

However, to honor your remaining subscription term, Beckett is providing the following benefit:

Subscriber Replacement Benefit
You will receive double the remaining months of access to the Non-Sport Update Online Price Guide (Market Data Report + OPG Combo).

This includes:
Pricing on 1.5+ million non-sport cards
A searchable database of 3.1+ million cards
Coverage nearly 400× larger than the print magazine
Access via Beckett’s mobile app and website
This extended Online Price Guide access will be added to your account in place of the remaining magazine issues.

If you need help accessing the Online Price Guide or have further questions, please contact us at subscriptions@beckett.com or call 844-330-6373 Monday–Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM CST.

Thank you for your understanding and for being part of the Non-Sport Update community.

Thanks,


I almost never looked at the price guide. This "benefit" holds zero value for me. "Non-refundable and non-transferable" is a crock. I was two issues into my last subscription.

I always told people who were complaining of the cover price to subscribe because it's cheaper. I feel terrible if anyone subscribed because I encouraged them to and now Beckett is just pocketing their balance.

That is sheer and utter Theft. In what world can companies cancel something and just say "Tough luck" we'll do you a favour and offer you a crap alternative instead. I shall never buy another Beckett product.

I apologize for jumping in again, but in all honesty this situation has gotten me very angry and I'm not even losing any money. I let my NSU subscription lapse because I lost too many issues in the mail. I was still picking it up at full price at my LHS however, so I was great customer. Now for those of you who are on the hook for 1-2-3 year subscription terms, just ponder these points:

Beckett has not gone out of business. They can't file bankruptcy because they dropped a magazine title. And even if their publishing division closes, Beckett still grades cards. They still are responsible for debts and creditors.

Several years ago, PC Magazine went digital. I was a subscriber. I was given the option of continuing online or getting back the reminder of my account. They sent me a check when I declined, even though they were continuing to write the entire magazine at the time. This is how it should be. In the case of NSU, Beckett isn't even doing a digital version. They are offering a price guide only. IMO they have no standing to keep NSU subscription money.

Now here is the hypothetical that has not yet been mentioned here. Suppose it's not just NSU. Suppose Beckett wants to stop their published Sports Card Guides for Baseball, Football, Hockey and whatever else they have. Presumably that's a lot more subscribers. Suppose NSU is the test case.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my Card Talk friends. It has been my pleasure to know you.