Daily Record Crosswords

[margaretrae]

Does anyone else agree with me that there are too many void crosswords in the Daily Record? The price of stamps is not cheap now and it is all very well giving 2 winners this weekend but we don't get our stamp money back and have to use another stamp this Saturday. Why not just void the answer and give the prize to someone who gets the rest right.

[Paulsy]

I know Margaret it has been happening fairly regularly and apart from the stamps its annoying at the time wasted too, I take ages to do them. Also the amount of clues which more than one answer can fit are a pain too. The perfect example was the week both sleepy and sneezy fitted for one of snow whites dwarves, I mean how can one of those answers be better than the other!!!

[poortony]

In the magazine Ireland's Own, when there was a mistake that is what they
done, void the answer. The postage is very dear to the Republic of Ireland
87p am glad to say I won on one of these occassions.
I have suggested this to DR.
Good luck to everyone this Saturday.

[Paulsy]

the luck of the Irish was with you there then Tony. I haven't been doing them as much lately as I've been busy or ill but I have this weeks finished and ready to post so fingers crossed for a first win. Good luck to you too and hopefully next sat for the rollover!

[katburd]

Hi all, totally agree with you, and because I have been phoning the Daily Record every other week, I have been given the number to phone Marketing Head Office next week, (as the lady is on holiday til then) to raise some points about this crossword, I also will be giving them feedback expressed from on here too, so go ahead,add to the list.

[margaretrae]

Thanks for joining in Paulsy and poortony. Katbird - good luck with your phoning and I too hope people will join in.

[katburd]

Hi margaretrae, I was advised to phone on behalf of us all,
as they would not appreciate lots of emails or lots of phone calls, (so I was told), so we'll see how I get on.

[Paulsy]

Well done Katburd, I am sure will be a great spokesperson on behalf of the answerbankers, at least they are taking note and listening, good luck with that

[margaretrae]

I agree with Paulsy

[french.diamo]

I agree. My Mum and I have just discussed this and agree with you. Stamps are dear enough. Anyway anyone could have worked out last weeks mistake (Kate Adie). By the way do you know anyone who has won this x word. We have been doing it for ten years and never won or know of anyone that has won. I sometimes wonder if its the ones that phone for the answers that win as they are paying more money. Hmmm

[french.diamo]

I agree. My Mum and I have just discussed this and agree with you. Stamps are dear enough. Anyway anyone could have worked out last weeks mistake (Kate Adie). By the way do you know anyone who has won this x word. We have been doing it for ten years and never won or know of anyone that has won. I sometimes wonder if its the ones that phone for the answers that win as they are paying more money. Hmmm

[albaqwerty]

I stopped posting mine several years ago, although the cost of stamps wasn't as expensive (comparatively) then, there were still too many voided crosswords then too.

As an aside, I couldn't give a fig whether they want or don't want to be bombarded with emails. There are cheaper papers and if they want to have a loyal readership, then it's a 2-way street imo. (rant over)

[Paulsy]

Well I've never won but I've only been doing them about a year and a half, also i don't do them every single week. In fact I only buy the DR on a Sat and Tues for the crosswords never any other day. Haven't even looked at this weeks one yet. I wonder how many entries they get each week

[katburd]

yes, i have been doing this crossword many years too and have not won.

[katburd]

Hi all, I phoned Head Office Marketing and the lady I had to speak to, to discuss a few points raised by us regarding this crossword, has just come back from holiday and is in a meeting, I was told it will be tomorrow before she will be able to return my call,which really suits as I have to go out to a hospital appointment anyway very soon today, the person I did speak to, will pass on some of the points raised and hopefully I shall be able to discuss these points fully tomorrow, in the hope some changes will be made.
I will keep you updated.

[Paulsy]

Hi katburd thanks for the update, hope all goes well. Posted mine this morning so fingers crossed.
Take care
P

[katburd]

Paulsy, thanks for that, just about to go out now, glad you have finished it, so I take it there is no mistakes this week then :)

[Paulsy]

Well not that I noticed but I wouldn't just take my word for it ha. Seemed to be ok tho

[katburd]

thanks. Good Luck with your entry. bye for now

[Paulsy]

Cheers, bye for now

[katburd]

Hi all,
I had a very short conversation with the lady at H.O. marketing,( as she had to go into another meeting with her boss) she said they have had quite a few complaints about the crosswords, she asked if we could be patient with them, as they are contracted to use the current compiler until December, but are hoping to change compiler from January, she said that she would put me in touch with the new compiler to allow me to express our concerns in the hope they will be able to avoid these mistakes in the future, also the suggestion that rather than void the whole crossword when there is an error, to just void that clue and award a winner for a correctly completed grid minus the answer, she agreed that is something they could do if that is what everyone wanted rather than awarding 2 winners the following week.