Worth Subscribing?

[kevinlms]

The 'hook' offers often swallow the profit on the first year's subscription. Add the cost of overseas postage and you make no profit for considerably longer! Plus, there have been incentive gifts which can't legally be sent abroad (knives, paints, chemicals etc) while 240V soldering irons are also unsuitable for use in most overseas countries. Nevertheless our overseas subscribers are much valued and appreciated, even if it isn't always possible to offer them the incentive gifts.  (CJL)

Agreed, hence why I choose to buy from a newsagent, rather than subscribe. The extra wait time doesn't bother me.

[jcm@gwr]

I used to share with a mate from my local MRC, he would buy the

Railway Modeller and Hornby mags, and I would buy Model Rail

and BRM, all from our local model shop.

Unfortunately, the suppliers of said mags (wholesalers) had a

minimum order of 10, it got down just myself and the shop owner

for BRM, so that went on subscription (convenient to do at the

Ally Pally show). Shortly after the same happened with Hornby

and Model Rail, not enough people buying, so the shop owner

has dropped them.

It's difficult to support your local if they can't (through no fault of

their own) supply what you want!

[Oldddudders]

I used to share with a mate from my local MRC, he would buy the

Railway Modeller and Hornby mags, and I would buy Model Rail

and BRM, all from our local model shop.

Unfortunately, the suppliers of said mags (wholesalers) had a

minimum order of 10, it got down just myself and the shop owner

for BRM, so that went on subscription (convenient to do at the

Ally Pally show). Shortly after the same happened with Hornby

and Model Rail, not enough people buying, so the shop owner

has dropped them.

It's difficult to support your local if they can't (through no fault of

their own) supply what you want!

We can all guess that printed media is a difficult area right now, and in view of some of the dialogue in this thread, you might wonder how long the publishers will bother. Chasing customers through tempting offers only goes so far, it seems.

[kevinlms]

We can all guess that printed media is a difficult area right now, and in view of some of the dialogue in this thread, you might wonder how long the publishers will bother. Chasing customers through tempting offers only goes so far, it seems.

Being forced to go digital, sounds like a good way of giving up spending money on magazines.

[dibber25]

Being forced to go digital, sounds like a good way of giving up spending money on magazines.

 

New Abc circulation figures were released last week and Model Rail's circulation has increased year on year. The majority of the circulation is still print - by a large margin - so no question of anyone being forced to go digital. (CJL)

Edited February 19, 2018 by dibber25

[kevinlms]

New Abc circulation figures were released last week and Model Rail's circulation has increased year on year. The majority of the circulation is still print - by a large margin - so no question of anyone being forced to go digital. (CJL)

Excellent, glad to hear it. I much prefer the printed version.

[St Enodoc]

We can all guess that printed media is a difficult area right now, and in view of some of the dialogue in this thread, you might wonder how long the publishers will bother. Chasing customers through tempting offers only goes so far, it seems.

In my opinion things are not helped by the same layouts appearing in two or even three magazines within a few months of each other.

[kevinlms]

In my opinion things are not helped by the same layouts appearing in two or even three magazines within a few months of each other.

But there is little a magazine can do to prevent it. If the builder/owner, sends articles to more than publisher, what is the editor to do?

 

For decades, there were 3 longstanding publishers. Today there is significantly more and of course there are web sites like RMweb and private/ club sites. So it must be a rarity to find a major article, on a layout that you have never heard of before.

 

Even within magazines, in the 70s, there used to be usually 3 layouts and a Junior Modeller layout, in Railway Modeller. These days, there is commonly 6 or more and the retitled Student Modeller.

 

Something has to give.

 

Edit to add.

 

I note that Model Rail has many articles written by the staff, some of which are personal layouts and others clearly built to show techniques and appear for years in some cases.

Edited February 19, 2018 by kevinlms

[Oldddudders]

I note that Model Rail has many articles written by the staff, some of which are personal layouts and others clearly built to show techniques and appear for years in some cases.

 

Nothing wrong with using staff layouts as examples to the reader. Model Railroader, to which I subscribed for more than 20 years, had an actual employees' layout, the Milwaukee, Racine and Troy, as well as numerous Project Layouts built as part-works over the years. Very often a new model, technique or dodge would be demonstrated on one or the other, adding instant context. 

[rue_d_etropal]

 

But there is little a magazine can do to prevent it. If the builder/owner, sends articles to more than publisher, what is the editor to do?

Actually there is. I have been told that Railway Modeller used to only accept articles on condition they were not already sent to another, or were intended to. Simply make it a contract condition , and don't pay anyone who breaks the rules. Simple contract.

I have no objection to having totally different articles, as long as they can show it is showing something different. One article about building the layout, one article about building the trains to run on it. One general, one detailed.

Edited February 19, 2018 by rue_d_etropal

[D9020 Nimbus]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I haven't seen many duplicated layouts in Model Rail. The only one I can recall, offhand, is Halifax King Cross which has appeared in most magazines, though years apart in some cases.

 

I usually get magazines in digital format now—I'm running out of room to store paper magazines. Of all the magazines, Model Rail is the one I'm most likely to want to keep.

[Sir TophamHatt]

I have responded to you on two occasions both publicly here, and by PM. I enquired recently both verbally and by e-mail within the office and was told that the matter was being dealt with. It is a fact of life that offers are subject to availability and if we don't have any soldering irons etc left in stock, it's pretty difficult to send one. I will not be commenting in future on matters relating to Model Rail on RMweb and will only be posting in a private capacity. (CJL)

 

To be fair, I only had one message asking for a bit more detail; nothing since.

 

Please don't get me wrong, it's not the magazine or you, it's Bauer Media and their service.

All their responses missed what the complaint was about.  The three emails I've had that haven't been "we'll investigate" have all said the same thing, nearly word for word.

Even the email from the Customer Services Team Leader didn't go further than what I had been told before.  The email even stated all discount codes couldn't be used together.  I pointed out that they could and gave them an example.

 

The complaint is that when clicking from the Model Rail website, on the banner (that currently has 35% off), no where does it state there is a discount code that is automatically applied, and no where does it show that discount code.

Hence, confusion when the "choosing yoour payment options" page offers a discount code in the run up to Christmas, and almost encourages use.  It's not about getting something for free, it's about making things clear for the customer, so I know one discount code will cancel out another.

I even pointed out the Thompson and Morgan website where any discount codes show as a product in the basket.  If you choose to add more, you can see which ones are taken out.

 

I called the Peterborough office and spoke to the Customer Services Manager who "was aware" but chose not to get involved.  I asked the Press Office for a statement to try and post objectively; that was also ignored.

 

However, after laying it all out on the phone I think she understood where I was coming from and by the end of the conversation, I was almost apologetic I had taken her time with it all - so good rep for her on that!

 

I did say on the phone I appreciated your unofficial involvement here and appreciated many of the magazine articles, but it's just disappointing how long it has taken for someone to understand the confusion and disappointment it's caused.  8-10 emails and nearly 2 months for something that isn't that complicated isn't a great SLA time.

 

I've edited my first post (again), and although it's left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, I'm sure my faith will be restored over the coming days and months.

Edited February 21, 2018 by Sir TophamHatt

[grahame]

In my opinion things are not helped by the same layouts appearing in two or even three magazines within a few months of each other.

That's not an issue for me.

 

Firstly, you'd need to buy and read all magazines to realize that (I don't and I doubt many do) and secondly if each article features different photos (usually magazines supply their own photographer so that is often the case) and a different write up approach then they are unique and offer a different and additional insight.

 

G

[PenrithBeacon]

I have subscribed to the electronic version using the app on the IPhone. I have found that the magazine is only accessible on the iPhone ie I can’t access it on the desktop.

I sent an email to the editor several weeks ago asking if there’s a way around this but I haven’t had a reply. Then I found that the iPhone subscription is automatically renewing but the only way I can see of stopping the subscription is on the email sent out when I subscribed. Fortunately I had saved this email so now now I’m unsubscribed. Beware!

This sharp practice is colouring my attitude towards the magazine. It is well worth buying the magazine but the commercial policies of the owners are dubious to say the least.

[dibber25]

I have subscribed to the electronic version using the app on the IPhone. I have found that the magazine is only accessible on the iPhone ie I can’t access it on the desktop.

I sent an email to the editor several weeks ago asking if there’s a way around this but I haven’t had a reply. Then I found that the iPhone subscription is automatically renewing but the only way I can see of stopping the subscription is on the email sent out when I subscribed. Fortunately I had saved this email so now now I’m unsubscribed. Beware!

This sharp practice is colouring my attitude towards the magazine. It is well worth buying the magazine but the commercial policies of the owners are dubious to say the least.

 

In what respect do you consider this 'sharp practice'? Model Rail has never been offered through iMacs or other desktops. As I understand it, the system is a phone and tablet app, pure and simple. Editorial staff have no involvement in, or understanding of these systems. (CJL)

[Marly51]

I've given up ordering specialist magazines through my local village shop because the wholesaler deliveries are erratic and some months the copies did not materialise. So I, for one, am glad to have a mail order subscription. I do browse the shop for other periodicals as our village shops are gems and we don't want to lose them! I am quite a thrifty person, railway modelling is something I have just returned to after a hectic career and I am glad there are still railway magazines in print. As a relative beginner, Model Rail is one of my favourites. Special offers are an extra, but not what particularly interests me.

 

Marlyn

[sparaxis]

In what respect do you consider this 'sharp practice'? Model Rail has never been offered through iMacs or other desktops. As I understand it, the system is a phone and tablet app, pure and simple. Editorial staff have no involvement in, or understanding of these systems. (CJL)

 

The simplest solution to this issue of "app only" is to purchase a subscription through a service like Pocketmags, or Zinio. I prefer Pocketmags to Zinio, since Pocketmags allows me so store my magazines on the SD card on my phone or tablet, instead of using up all my internal memory.

 

Pocketmags and Zinio allow you to read the magazine "online", through a PC based app, (Pocketmags requires a version of Windows later than 7), or an Apple or Android app. Very versatile and my preference compared to a dedicated app. It is very convenient to have all your magazines in ONE place.

 

The only thing I am not sure about is whether the discount on Model Rail specials is ONLY available if you subscribe through Bauer, as opposed to one of the others. (My Model Rail subscription was originally through Bauer but is now through Zinio, but that is a long story...)

 

Interestingly enough, when I subscribed to the Railway Magazine, on their site, the magazine automatically became available on my Pocketmags account. The best of all worlds really.

 

Alan

[dibber25]

The simplest solution to this issue of "app only" is to purchase a subscription through a service like Pocketmags, or Zinio. I prefer Pocketmags to Zinio, since Pocketmags allows me so store my magazines on the SD card on my phone or tablet, instead of using up all my internal memory.

 

Pocketmags and Zinio allow you to read the magazine "online", through a PC based app, (Pocketmags requires a version of Windows later than 7), or an Apple or Android app. Very versatile and my preference compared to a dedicated app. It is very convenient to have all your magazines in ONE place.

 

The only thing I am not sure about is whether the discount on Model Rail specials is ONLY available if you subscribe through Bauer, as opposed to one of the others. (My Model Rail subscription was originally through Bauer but is now through Zinio, but that is a long story...)

 

Interestingly enough, when I subscribed to the Railway Magazine, on their site, the magazine automatically became available on my Pocketmags account. The best of all worlds really.

 

Alan

 

I'm not in a position to check at the moment but as far as I'm aware, a subscriber is a subscriber, so the discount should apply. I'll try to remember to check on Monday. (CJL)