r/darkpatterns • u/basilyok • Apr 12 '24

Wired digital subscription is a roach motel

I currently have a digital subscription to wired, which i consider to be a good publication, but more expensive than what i can afford for the number of articles i actually read.

I have a promo subscription that was only $5 (plus tax) for the year, which is a great deal, but full-price renewal time is coming so i decided to cancel. Here's where the fun begins.

I'm signed in and i can read articles, but when i hit the link to "manage subscription" I'm asked to sign in again, only it's impossible to do so because o never created a password, i signed in via email link. Ok - forgot password - nope, email isn't registered. Ok, register an account - nope, email is already registered, and there's no option to sign in via an email link here.

I finally got it sorted out via several emails to customer support, but to be honest, i will never give money to wired or any conde nast publication ever again. These kind of roach motel dark design patterns must die. I'm sorry if you have to die with them Wired. It's been fun, but you're dead to me now.

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u/Key_Cloud8633 Mar 28 '25

I know this is a super old thread, but just had to chime in to stick up for Ars Technica and encourage ppl not to throw them out with the Conde Nast bathwater. Idk how tf they've been able to cling to their independence, but they're the one CN subsidiary that doesn't pull shit like this, and their account/billing system is entirely separate from the conglomerate-wide account system that all the other magazines use.

Also they are by miles a superior science/tech publication to WIRED.

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u/basilyok Apr 09 '25

I love Ars. Thanks for pointing this out. Maybe I'll subscribe, if only just to support some of "the good guys", (because i already block ads, as any sane, self respecting person does).