All other Newspapers I've seen on-line share the obituary pages to all. With families spread out across the country, it's a practical way to share the this news with former friends, neighbors and relatives of the deceased. I feel you're making an error in judgement by not allowing this service - makes you look 'stingy' & SELF-serving and uncaring. I know that's the feeling I share with those of whom I'd mentioned this to.

I agree that it's a mistake not to have at least a short obit in your online edtion. A lot of people get their local news when they travel from online newspapers. Please consider at least something basic like name, spouse, city of residence and dates of birth and death.

from:
CHLafforth ( no real name given ) says...

All other Newspapers I've seen on-line share the obituary pages to all. With families spread out across the country, it's a practical way to share the this news with former friends, neighbors and relatives of the deceased. I feel you're making an error in judgement by not allowing this service - makes you look 'stingy' & SELF-serving and uncaring. I know that's the feeling I share with those of whom I'd mentioned this to."

I say ditto for me too. Whoever made the decision to charge people to see the obituaries of their loved ones obviously have none and should lose their job. This is petty and cruel to say the least.

"...to preserve the value of its print and paid online editions"

Pitiful and greedy.

"The Daily Gazette has chosen not to publish obituaries on its Web site to preserve the value of its print and paid online editions."

Since people must pay to have these notices placed in your newspaper, it seems very wrong that people are asked to pay again to view them. Many relatives and friends live out of town. They should be able to look at obits, just as they may view any other paid ads. This policy is more than a little insensitive.

You're not making any friends here. Not all local obits can be found in the Times-Union but those that are can be found and copied without charge.

I lived in the capital district for 63 years and always subscribed to the gazette. I now have retired in Florida and would very much like to have the obit available online. I think is is rather cheap of you to force one to pay for this. Other newspapers do not require a payment for this service.

I agree with the sentiments of the other "commenters". And, since the Times-Union puts it's entire newspaper online free of charge, I encourage Capital District residents to consider putting the obits of loved ones in that paper.

I received a call from my mom today letting me know she read in the Gazette that an old friend passed away suddenly. I don't live in the area so I told her I would just go on-line and look up the obituary as I wanted to make a donation to the organization the family designated. After all, I do that with other on-line newspapers around the country all the time. I was quite surprised to find that I would have to pay for that information. So, I appreciated the comments by others stating I could go to the Times-Union site for free. That is what I did, got the obituary from there and now am able to make the donation (in addition to reading the rest of the obit). I feel making someone pay to read about the death of a friend or family member shows rather poor judgment on the part of the paper and should be reconsidered. I would think the advertisements on the site offset the cost to post the information.

I, along with the others, could not beleive that the obituaries from the Schenectady area not available on line. I lived in Scotia and graduated from Scotia High School many years ago. I received an E-mail message from a friend who still lives there telling me of the death of a class mate. I thought that I could see the obituarie on line. Wrong!! We live in Florida and all of the newspapers in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando all have the obituaries avilabel on line. I would guess that the Schenectady Gazette feels that it is good public service to not place the obituaries on line.

I agree with the comments regarding the on-line obituaries in the Gazette or more accurately the lack there of. The policy of not "printing" the obits feels like a strong arm tactic. Well I'll not be forced nor coerced into subscribing to your paid on-line scribe. I will however continue to enjoy the very full content (obits and all) of the on line Times Union at no cost!

guess if you want to check obituaries online, you have to read the Times Union, The Record, Post Star, etc. come on Gazette get with the times

It would seem to me that if you are going to make the paper available on line it should include all of the features or at least the obituaries. As you already are aware,most if not all, other online editions include the obits. C'mon lets at least show the many loyal residents and subscribers that they can keep in touch with local events. Many live far away and still have contacts here. They may not need to read the paper daily, however if they hear of the death of a loved one or friend they should be able to use the gazette website and obtain that information without having to pay for it. The family has already paid for the death notice. How many times do you need to be paid??????

I am as dumbfounded as everyone else as to why this paper would restrict access to reading obituaries. How about some common sense from the editorial staff on this issue? You should recognize that not everyone lives in the area or needs an online subscription to the paper. Some common decency and compassion for your fellow wo/man would go a long way here. If this policy is not reversed, you can bet that I will not be subscribing to this paper when I move back to the Schenectady area!

While it may be argued that Obits are merely another form of Classified Ad and that all Classified Ads should be treated equally. I say, Poppycock!

We all know the difference between placing an ad to sell a refrigerator and posting a death notice. How about some common sense?

That egg on your face must be a new form of yellow journalism--distinctly unbecoming to the Daily Gazette.

It's time to clean up your act and serve the community.

I totally agree with what everyone else has already stated.
It has become expensive to place an obituary in the paper and then, on top of that, to make people pay again to read it is ridiculous. I decided long ago that I would not be subscribing again to receive the Gazette at home until they stopped charging to read it online. It's not like I would be sitting here reading the online edition because I prefer reading a paper copy, but it's the idea of being charged for something that has already been paid for and is free to read elsewhere.
Obviously, people like the Gazette or they wouldn't have left these comments but if the paper isn't careful that's going to change. Sadly, I suppose it's ALL about the $$$.

Seriously, the gazette needs a wake up call. I used to think it was a better paper than the TU. Now, not so much. If you are this behind on good customer support, using technology to your advantage, etc., you're doomed. To not let people read the obits for free is disgusting. Do you really not get that anyone younger than 70 is not going to pay to subscribe to this junky website? I will never subscribe to this paper again. Way to support your community, Gazette. I suspect this paper will die a slow death. Poor business practices all around.

You should be ashamed of yourself, not everybody lives in sch'dy and subscribes to the gazette. How terrible it is that you can't view family or friends obits online, sch'dy is moving up while your paper is going backwards,get with the times or get out of the buisness.

I think its ridiculous that the obituaries are not available as on the other local newspapers. Pay to view an obituary online I don't think so.

What is the reason for not displaying information of the deceased?

OK, from reading the previous comments, your trying to make money off of the deceased. Thats horrible.

When my uncle died last year it cost me over $400 to put his obituary in the Daily Gazette. Your paper makes enough money off the deaths of our loved ones; people should not have to pay to read obituaries online. This is a greedy and tacky practice, and typical of the Gazette.

Sadly, obituaries are "news".
Easily, some of the most important *news* most of us will read in a newspaper.
The Gazette's choice to not publish this information was/is a bad one.

Unbelievable. Actually, no it is believable. The Gazette has always been uppity and that is why they have always had a lower readership than the Albany Times Union. Where is the public service in not publishing obituaries free of charge online. Everyone who has a death published, and I believe all deaths must be published in a general circulation newspaper by law, has to pay a hefty fee to do so. Why should anyone have to pay to read an obituary online? Thankfully, the other area newspapers - Albany Times Union, Troy Record, and the Saratogian - still publish obituaries online without charge to those wanting to read them. However, one misses notices for friends or relatives of friends who only have them published in the Daily Gazette. It is pound foolish for someone to have a subscription to the Daily Gazette just to be able to read obituaries online. Although I am a resident of Colonie, the Albany Times Union adequately covers news for the entire Capital Region area on their website free of charge. There is no reason for me to subscribe to the Daily Gazette other than to view obituaries. The Daily Gazette's stance on this matter fits right in with the mentality of Schenectady based WGY and the other Clear Channel stations that tell you to go to their web site for school closings rather than airing them over the air. They and you have forgotten the words public service. Right is right and wrong is wrong and this is definitely wrong. One would not be wrong in calling those in charge at the Daily Gazette bloodsuckers.

Dave DiSisto
Albany, NY 12205-3605
ddisist1@gmail.com

WRONG,WRONG,WRONG------BOTTOM LINE, GREED.

The list births, It sounds like a case of AGE discrimination. My Question is Do they disclose to those placing the death notice with the paper, that the information will NOT be provided on line for friends and extended families.

I came to your website today to look for the obituary of my husband's uncle only to find you do not allow people without a paid subscription view the obituaries. We live in Maryland and are not able to come up for the funeral and thought it would be nice to get to read this. I think it is poor public relations on your part to not show obituaries. Thanks so much for making this time even more difficult. I will remember to not buy your paper anymore when I come to NY.

I agree with all of the other posts. I think it is terrible that you must pay to view an obituary. I live in PA. My uncle died on Wednesday and we are unable to attend the funeral. My aunt told us we could view the obituary on here. I'm sure she'll be very upset to know that we can't.

What in the world is the "value you are preserving"?

If the daily gazette needs the money that badly maybe they should just close their doors now instead of prolonging the agony.

This is just another reason to drop my subscription and go to the Times Union. They at least, can afford to let anyone see an obituary.

I must echo the responses of all of the other posts above. I however, also wanted to add that the TU has a memory book section on their obit page. So… not only can anyone read the obits, but they can even share condolences and memories with the family and other loved ones of the deceased. It truly is a shame, and an extremely unpopular decision that the Gazette has chosen this route.

Well the Gazette clearly doesn't care about the opinions of its readers or this would have been amended by now. I suggest that nobody patronize this newspaper or website. How disgusting.

Shame on you! I realize that in this day of electronic communication some newspapers are having a hard time. I know of several newspapers that charge to look at them on-line. However, even they offer free viewing of obituaries. Running the obituaries certainly isn't a free service. The Gazette has already made money off the death of my relative. At least allow me to be able to tell friends and relatives they can view the obituary at the Schenectady Daily Gazette. Charge for everything else at your website if you need the money, but don't take advantage of my loved ones death. Again, I say shame on you! I have to wonder, does anyone at the Daily Gazette read these comments. I hope so, because everyone makes mistakes and I hope you will rectify yours. Shame on the Amsterdam Recorder also. At least you have a place to voice my concerns. I appreciate that.
With sincere concern, Brenda Kruger

I live in Rochester but am originally from Schenectady. When I had heard about an old family friend who had passed away this weekend, I assumed the paper's website (like virtually every other paper's website) would have the obituary. Then I would be able to send flowers, etc. to the funeral home rather than having to call the family directly and add a bit of aggravation to their grief. Luckily the Times Union had the obit. Shameful that my "hometown" paper and that of the deceased couldn't be bothered to list the obits, not even an archive. Thank you to the Times Union for posting obits online, and creating a search feature.

I understand the need to reserve some items for the print version, but obituaries? Why does the Gazette publish birth notices online? As a teaser to those of us who may be grieving, or who wish to send our condolences to family and friends back home? I believe I can buy the Gazette here in Rochester, but since the obit was printed in yesterday's paper, I have no way of getting a print copy.

I realize the Gazette has no financial interest in providing this service; after all, unless I return to Schenectady, I will certainly not be subscribing to the paper. Nevertheless, of all services a paper offers, I am just stunned that this is one which would be denied to people from out of town.

-Michael Kutny

I am so disappointed with the lack of compassion that is shown by the Daily Gazzette. I would like to know why you are so money hungry that you can't put the obituaries in your paper so that out of town family and friends can get details about their loved ones. The amount that you charge to put information regarding a deceased family member is appaling to begin with, let alone you make it impossible to view on line without a subscription.You are a very small, insignificant paper compared to many other newspapers that are available.. (on-line of course!) You must enjoy all of the negative publicity this is getting you or you would have rectified this issue a long time ago. Unfortunately for all of us Native Schenectadian's, this is OUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER. WOW, isn't this something to be proud of?!!

I think it is disgraceful that you do not publish obituaries. Every other paper in America provides them for free. Most of the people I know no longer live in this area could use this service. The Gazette should be embarrassed. Add this to the list why I rarely read and never buy your newspaper.

I think it is disgraceful that you do not publish obituaries on line. I subscribed to the Gazette when I lived in Niskayuna. Now I live downstate. When I had heard about an old family friend who had passed away this week I assumed the paper's website would have the obituary and I would be able to read the obituary and follow the wishes of the family regarding flowers or charitable donations. Luckily the Times Union exists.
You should be ashamed of yourselves for attempting to fleece people who are already grieving.

I agree with your decision
( not to print the news [obits] ).
If people want to read about things,
they can either
get up from their chair,
go to the store,
and pay for your printed newspaper...

-- OR --

Just load the webpage of any other
newspaper in the Capital District
and read it immediately
from their comfy chair.

/\

I went to your website today to see if the obituary for a friend of mine was on there. You see the paper I received today had my friends picture (a female), but the obitutuary with the picture was that of a man. I wondered if you had gotten it correct in your online version so I could read it, but I will not pay again to see it. I feel sorry for the two families who have to see this error at such a difficult time.
I too agree that like other papers you should include the obits on your web page.

It all comes down to the almighty buck and heartless people with dollar signs in their eyes. For the person searching for their friend with the pic, I believe I know who you are looking for and she is on Times Union.com. It was on their Sunday, but if you do a search, you will find her with the right picture and you can also sign a guest book for the family....yes! And Times Union doesn't charge for that either because it appears that they care!!! No wonder they kick this paper's ass in subscriptions and will continue to do so.

I will say I totaly agree with SkiQueen21!!
We lost a grandchild last year...Family and friends from out of town were all trying to get information regarding the services.They mentioned that they were unhappy that the Gazette did not allow access to the obituaries. I applaud the TU for thier policy and for the "memory book" function they have.

We did PAY for the obituary in the Gazette.Very dissappointed with the current policy!!

This is ridiculous. Obviously you have no compassion or common business sense. If you want to make a part of your crappy website subscribable how about Gillibrand's baby announcement? I agree what the others have said that there are so many folks from out of the area that need to read the obits. It puts a very sour taste in my mouth that you can't share this basic information. Also, some folks from out of the area need to print the obit in order to get out of work to attend services. Way to make a difficult time more difficult!
May you come to know the Lord and be forgiven for your sins.

Come on Gazette, get with the times(union) that is. People out of the area read our newspapers on line (a sign of the times). Obituaries are there to inform EVERYONE of a death. Your policy certainly needs to be updated. I will, like many people, choose to continue reading the Times Union on-line and continue to post in "guest books" to honor those who have died. Hooray for the Times Union.

Okay, look! I see that many people have expressed their opinion about not publishing your obituaries online, and I feel they have made very good arguments for this. Here is how I see it. First of all, if you are a person who is suffering from the loss of a family member, there are so many costs associated with preparing for and putting on a funeral. That being said and coupled with the idea that it may cost me $400 to have you publish an obituary for that person in just 1 newspaper, I do not see how I would be able to afford to put the obituary in any other newspapers. Therefore, if someone were to check the other local newspapers in the area, they would not find it there.

My family has a suspicion that a neighbor has passed away just recently. I looked on the websites of local newspapers to see if I could find out DISCREETLY if this person did actually pass on without having to embarrass myself or others in the process. The neighbor is someone with whom we have known for some time but don't speak with every day. My son actually works for their family, so it would be really nice if I could find out if there has been a death in that family so I could send our family's condolences or make a donation in some way. THAT being said, I really find it appalling that your newspaper would make such an insensitive and greedy decision to make people pay for reading about the death of someone, especially when you DO publish the birth announcements online.

I very rarely read a newspaper, but when I need some information, it would be nice to know that my local newspapers would be considerate enough to make that information available to me. Now, I know someone said that I should get off my butt and go to the store and buy the newspaper if I need to. Well, I feel that that $400 the family had to pay for publishing the obituary of their loved one would definitely offset the cost of my buying one newspaper and only reading that 1 obituary.

You publish all kinds of articles and things that I have no interest in, but the obituaries and the birth announcements are the only things I feel SHOULD DEFINITELY be available ONLINE!

I think it's ridiculous that the public can't even read an obituary from your website without having to buy a subscription to it online. Just goes to show you can't get simple things anymore for free. Everything has a price today.

Thanks alot. My Grandma died and I can't even see the write up!!!! I live in Buffalo and will not be able to attend the services. Why don't you make it even more difficult on families?......Hopefully who ever came up with this brilliant idea won't be in the same situation some day, where out of town family members would like to pay their last respects to their loved ones who passed away. With the rising cost of gas, food, electricity, etc ......you would think that we would not have to pay extra for sometihng like this. How pathetic!

I lived in the Schenectady area for over 34 years and always subscribed to the Gazette. Now I have retired and moved to FL. I am appauled that you do not publish obituaries online UNLESS I PAY for an online subsciption!! I have just learned that yet another old friend has died. They have paid a large sum of money to publish the obituary in this newspaper and yet I am not even able to find the name of the charity to make a donation. This is ridiculous. Are you that hard up that you can not publish such info with a further payment?? Where is your moral compass pointed and how can you be so insensitive? You should be ashamed of your lack of concern or obligation to the community that is responsible for your success all these years.

I've just read through all of the complaints about the lack of obituaries in the online edition--it's obvious to me that TPTB at the Gazette don't care or they would have fixed this by now. Do people actually pay for an online subscription to this newspaper when every other online paper is free? It just sounds ridiculous to me? The only reason I came to this site today was to view the obituary of a neighbor in order to see the times of the services. I'm extremely disappointed to not find it and I refuse to look at any other part of this site.

I see you pay attention to your readers the way you run your newspaper....one-sided yours. Of all things to eliminate from the web, the obituaries? Come on have a little heart.

First you want to charge people to use ALL areas of the Gazette website and after several complaints you make "most" information free, then you take away the obituary search (one of the most poular search engines within a local news site)? There are 46 complaints listed above. Do you even read them? I wont be back, I'll go to the TU site from now on.

I wouldn't pay the gazette to run an obituary. It will be in my instructions for my own! Everyone who is really opposed to the practices of this little paper, should only use the times union. Their website and paper version are much better anyway.

I signed up today to view an obituary, only to find out it is not available here.
I consider your policy to be parasitic, with hopes of scoring a subscription from grieving relatives. Shame on you!
You may delete my ID now, as I am certain your publication has nothing else to offer that I cannot find elsewhere.

I agree with 100% of the comments made on this blog. Your newspaper is even more worthless than the town it represents. Dog Cage Material. Thanks For Nothing Again Schenectady.

This is outrageous. You choose to skeeve money from folks looking for obituaries? Have you noticed you are the only local paper doing this?

This is in very bad taste and frankly it has left me with an extremely poor opinion of your paper.

Consider me, albeit a casual customer, a non-customer now.

Today my wife bought a Sunday Gazette, as she usually does. There was no TV guide, another brilliant policy decision by your staff.

I assume it was a calculated decision related to the bottom line. I further presume it is to somehow preserve the value of your print and paid on-line publications.

You still haven't relented on your choice to force people to pay to view paid obituary notices. I've been recommending the Times-Union to people ever since and I believe the "Times" still has a TV guide in their paper, which by the way sells for less.

I now have one more reason to buy the Times and one less to buy the Gazette.

Thanks again.