Next issue late?

Taking my moderators hat of so that I can have a chuckle at the mention of the rail network, it's as though there has never been a late or cancelled train during "normal" times is it. Oh and did not TFL go straight to a reduced service during lockdown?

As for the subs distributors not having stocks of mags, could it simply be that most staff are working from home and even warehouse staff may be reduced, can't really expect piles of spare mags to be sent to someone's home so it kind of makes sense to send straight to the back issues company.

We have all seen the fields of unsold cars going nowhere, Why would MTM still print and publish the same number of mags if there is nobody going to the newsagents to pick up their copy off the shelf. Must be hard to judge the amount for a print run which may again explain why there are no replacements available at teh subs company.

OK Jason - but how many go astray each issue? are we talking about one person being set a dozen mags to forward on or many more?

I hope it is the former.

I've just sussed where the missing copies are, they are stuck in a broken down goods wagon parked in a siding somewhere waiting to be fixed. Pressure of work or the pandemic has delayed repair. Best get the team fired up to fix it Nick can have his copy then. There's a lot riding on this.

Much ado about nothing! the missing copy can be sourced and if an extra issue is tagged on I fail to see what the problem is. Surely we are faced with somewhat more significant issues. No one is in danger of losing their jobs on rail infrastructure or rolling stock repair whereas many many ordinary workers will be out of work, during and after the the pandemic passes.

Be careful paying for private copies of previous articles - breach of copyright!

Robert Butler

Edited By Robert Butler on 06/12/2020 13:23:25

Edited By Robert Butler on 06/12/2020 13:24:06

Sorry Nick, I don't know figures. Could even be that a larger number than normal went missing on that particular issue and they used up what would normally cover the average shortfall.

A few years back there was a thread on here where the post office managed to misplace a whole stack of mags and a county or two did not get their mag in cases like this it's unlikely enough copies would have been held over to replace.

I am afraid that as someone who enjoys reading Model Engineer and who subscribes so as to continue to do, I found the response by MTM to a missing issue that demands I stand the financial cost and inconvenience myself unacceptable.

I also find the comments in the preceding post from R.Butler unacceptable and would ask the Moderators to consider if it needs to remain in this thread.

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 06/12/2020 13:47:53

.

I think you will find [but please do go and check for yourself] that with ME & MEW the author retains copyright, and MTM only claims ‘first publication’ and ‘re-use’ rights.

MichaelG.

Not exactly sure what it is; but I am deeply offended.

'Cos I have nothing else to think about?

Howard

Yes would only apply if paying for a copy of the pages from the mag, not the original text etc from author.

Edited By Frances IoM on 06/12/2020 14:18:44

Edited By Frances IoM on 06/12/2020 14:19:30

Frances your subs look to be showing 303 as last one so should be no worries there but I only have limited access to what is a hard page to decipher subscriptions page.

Thank you Neil it is appreciated. However it is these very people that gave me so much trouble whilst I was trying to take out subscriptions to further of MTMs titles to help me through the first lockdown. They took my money and then announced they had ceased publication. End of. It then took all those threats, a very nasty exchange of correspondence with a different completely useless person just about every time. They clung on to my money with broken promise after broken promise. I got it back in the end after several months but only after preparing the case to go to action-fraud and our local trading standards. I am not prepared to go through that appalling behaviour again. Like I have said I can spend my money elsewhere. Generally I am quite capable of obtaining the information I need from old books etc. And other research. I am open to a change of mind but I would need to be assured of the Integrity and goodwill of ALL of MTM and its shadow (shadowy) and proxy companies. Not the experiences I had doled out to me at a particularly troubled time for all of us.

Regards

Ian.

9/12 and 4653 is not here yet - a week late. Contacted MTM and, guess what? They claim it was sent out on Friday (late) and, again, they have no spare issues. It is about time someone at ME or the publishers GOT some spare stock to them as this may well (if the Editor hadn't sent me a copy of 4652) be the second issue that has gone missing. MTM are WORSE THAN USELESS when it comes to customer service - they really don't give a damn. The woman on the phone kept saying sorry - but sorry doesn't post magazines. I will wait and see what transpires. As to Covid being the cause.....well that might have been a valid excuse earlier in the pandemic but ME wasn't late then, nor did it go missing. Something may well have gone wrong with distribution but they have ALL our email adresses so surely they could advise if it is going to be late? Working from home does not preclude emailing.........as I said MTM are the Hermes of magazine distribution. NONE of my other mag subs have been late - just ME.

They are taking the p*ss now. 4652 has JUST turned up 3 WEEKS late. God knows when 4653 will be here. It isn't as if I am on a desert island.

Gavin, I have Googled (as you do) Rail Customer Service reviews - Trustpilot - National Rail where 83% of customers describe the service as bad and Scotrail 84% of customers describe the service as bad. It occurs to me that those inhabiting fragile structures should not play with solid projectiles.

Robert Butler

Sadly Gavin, companies like this do not give a t*** about you and I. Our favourite mags like ME are no longer owned by those interested in their content. I fully understand Neil's, Jason's and Martin's position but there is no excuse for MTM's conduct. As has been highlighted by Simon Collier on another thread, Australian Model Engineering is ceasing publication with the Jan/Feb 2021 edition. That is/was a top class magazine and amateur produced to boot. Never a problem even 12500 miles away. I am trying to contact Brian Carter the editor as I type. Perhaps the customer relations policies of MTM need to be reassessed. I know from Companies House their accounts make interesting reading.

Let us hope that with a declining advertising revenue they don't lose enough of us loyal subscribers to drive the whole foundationless edifice to the wall. I do have my suspicions that is the intent with the lack of investment.

Regards.

With respect Ian, I don't think you can describe yourself as a loyal subscriber! Angry and disappointed yes. Loyal, no!

I'm not a loyal customer either. I buy the magazines for value and interest. Doesn't have to be pure technical - I enjoyed Peter Shaw's 'How I became a Contributor to MEW' for other reasons! When I or the magazines drift apart I shall stop buying them but so far I'm happy.

In the decade or so I've subscribed to ME and MEW I've only suffered one lost magazine. It was due to Royal Mail losing a pallet and thereby upsetting many subscribers in my part of England. Otherwise, the magazines turn up at about the right time. Sometimes a bit early, sometimes a bit late.

I guess my subscriber experience is far more typical than yours, but of course things go wrong. When thousands of magazines are distributed world wide year on year, it's inevitable some will go astray. It's not personal. Think about it: which is more likely? A fiendish plot to close a 'foundationless edifice' by irritating a few customers, or few customers being accidental victims of a basic admin or delivery problem?

My advice. Keep Calm and Carry On. Some days you're the Statue, others the Pigeon!

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 10/12/2020 09:27:36

Calloo Callay, Oh Frabjous Day!

MEW 299 IT'S ARRIVED!!!

Along with another 8 items. One wonders if Postie has been saving them up, one does.

Peter G. Shaw

We are sure that our mail is consolidated. None for two or three days then a shipping order.

This morning literally, six itemms, but only two cards!

Saturday deliveries seem rare and are going to get rarer, and with the latest hike in th price of stamps will become even rarer.

Royal mail seems hell bent on following the route of charge more for lesser service. Which is I why I jumped from the bus industry before getting pushed.

Howard

Just a note on the customer services and replacement issues.

I am not sure exactly how it works, but I think that the distribution waits until the newstrade demand is met before the 'overs' the back issue company.

This means that if people rush into a request for 'missing issues' they will very often be told it is out of stock by customer service. Issue 299 is still not showing as 'in stick' as a back issue and probably will not for a week or two.

I will update the next issue preview soon, I've been holding off because of the delays.

Delivery has been slow on Issue 299, I have had a few people get in touch about it being missing, all of whom eventually had it turn up. The post office is already getting overloaded by the combination of Covid and Christmas, it seems, so patience is appreciated.

Neil

I will try and keep this civil. Don't be a complete plum. That is not the matter in hand and you know it.