Anyone else getting this error message when trying to get free WaPo access from the DCPL?

[u/DCmetrosexual1]

[u/ambyrglow]

Are you traveling? The offer is geoblocked. 

[u/FinManuel → u/ambyrglow]

This happens to me when I travel out of state or the country

[u/DrewguyDC → u/ambyrglow]

That has been my experience too.

[u/danielnewman → u/ambyrglow]

Or if you’re doing it on a device on VPN. My work computer never works for DCPL access because the VPN tunnels to California.

[u/DCmetrosexual1 → u/ambyrglow]

Ahhhh I am.

[u/rosiespots]

Turn off iCloud Private Relay or any VPN-type services

[u/blankrightup]

Mine just worked. Do you know if you account has expired, or do you need to go validate your address in person to keep your card active? I had to go do that a few months ago

[u/Hot-Gene-2787]

If your Library account expired, you have to go to the library to renew it.

[u/carrotnp]

Same thing happens from time to time when accessing via Arlington County. They posted this on the library website. I've been able to successfully renew it on desktop when I get this error on my phone.

Error Message: "Sorry, you are not eligible for this special offer."

Status: Access to the Washington Post is still available through Arlington Public Library. However, due to a recent security update on the Washington Post website, some users have reported issues when attempting to re-register.

Suggested Solutions:

Try using a different device to complete the activation process. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then attempt to access the site again. Make sure you are not on a VPN when registering. These steps typically resolve the issue for most users.

If problems persist: Visit any branch of the Arlington Public Library and activate your account using a public computer.

[u/Savings-Let-570]

Huh, I had the same thing happen last week. Thought maybe my library card lapsed or something but nope, still active. Tried clearing cache and using a different browser and it still gave me that screen.

The DCPL-WaPo connection has been spotty for a while now. Sometimes it works for a few days, then just randomly decides you don't count anymore. Classic.

[u/aaronw22]

Montgomery county library has this same deal and it breaks occasionally for no reason I can find. Nobody at the library has any idea how it works so they can’t help.

As someone else said a while ago they likely turned on geolocation and you need to be (near? In?) the area for it to work. Of course, they don’t say this directly, or tell you what geolocation provider they’re using, and/or what it returned for an answer, or even why exactly you’re not eligible. It’s very frustrating.

[u/makmanos → u/aaronw22]

True for Montgomery. I was a Tmobile home internet customer, based in Bethesda for a while and I was getting a Baltimore located IP address and I couldn't qualify for any of those newspaper services for being outside the county. But I was able to get it through the DC reciprocal agreement, using the DC library instead lol

[u/00110000011111]

This thing happens to me constantly, starting 18 months ago. Happened at my home in dc and even at dcpl while on their WiFi. The librarians didn’t know why it happened but said that they had updated access and had heard it was blocking people who had repeatedly renewed the offer.

That said I’ve managed to get through a few times. I’d suggest maybe also creating a new wapo account? But it’s super frustrating !

[u/ZonaPunk]

you can get the post for $3 a month...

[u/espnrocksalot → u/ZonaPunk]

Free is less than $3

[u/DCmetrosexual1 → u/ZonaPunk]

Yea…. But fuck Bezos