I’ve also found that customer service for most “normal” companies sucks through email. By normal, I mean traditional companies like Fortune, AT&T, etc.

Your best bet would have been to call them, but that makes you go out of your way to become a customer of theirs. To which I say, screw them, they’re undeserving of your money. It’s no wonder that these traditional companies aren’t doing too well, especially traditional magazines and newspapers. Good riddance, it’ll hopefully allow good companies in to take their place.