The Disney Movie Club, Disney Movie Club, DMC Zero customer service, shady business practices Internet

I joined the Disney movie club and after fulfilling my membership was reciving the normal monthly mailings of their featured selection, which must be declined or you will be charged an astronomical price for said title. I had a system of when I recieved my email notification of the featured title I would leave the email in my inbox until I could get on the computer, usually within a day of receiving the email notification.

This past month I did as I always do and declined the featured selection. I was only retaining my membership in the hopes of getting the chance to buy some of their more popular titles, almost none of which are currently available in the club (go figure!). I assumed the introductory offer just didn't include the popular titles but I was wrong, they're not available through the club at all. 

Two days ago, to my surprise, I recieved a package from Disney Movie Club. It was the featured selection I had declined, for the low price of $30! When I tried to contact the company via email I was sent an automated reply that simply restated the information available on their website. I sent a second email requesting my account be cancelled and recieved yet another automated email stating I had to call to cancel.

After going through a long automated telephone system they finally let me talk to someone, who kindly offered to charge me $19.95 a year for free shipping of titles and no featured selections to reply to. I was also given the opportunity to pre-order their latest DVD release! Not once was I asked why I was leaving or if I had any problems or complaints. Thank you Disney for making me feel valued (note sarcasm). 

I also decided not to return the featured selection as I was told I would have to the original shipping and processing of $5.44, pay for my own postage to return the featured selection, and pay a restocking fee of $3.95, even though this was the first time I'd attempted a return. That's roughly $15 to return an order that I know I declined. My kids will watch this title so I'd rather pay $30 for the selection versus $15 for nothing. My advice is if they have the movies you want get them, fulfill your membership and cancel immediately upon fulfillment. If you don't order their featured selection for long enough they will just send you one anyway and make you pay for it, one way or another.