New subscriptions, am I thick or what?

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Robbo on 06/08/2013 09:41:09:

This will also piss Russell off even more!

More sad really that they are destroying their goodwill and thus eventually, unless they do something about it, some good magazines.

However, a quote from Katherine Scott in an earlier post:

"B/ Yes the Online Archive is available with the Digital only subscription."

I take this to mean that the current web based online archive will continue. Are you reading this Katherine (or anyone else at MTM)? Would you like to comment?

Russell.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

For me the question will be do I need the “digital” subs. To retain access to the current archive. .ie to recieve the deal I currently get (complete package subs I think it’s called) . or do I need to take the digital subs to retain access to say mew 200 or should i buy as has been said roughly half the editons of the newsstand when they have content of interest?

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

If you want to access the "Online Archive" you have to take out either a Digital Only subscription or a "Print + Digital" subscription.

The new Print only subscription no longer includes access to the online-archive.

So current Print Subscribers will have to pay more if they want access to the online-archive. (A sneeky way of putting the prices up)

Dave

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Steambuff on 06/08/2013 14:44:45:

So current Print Subscribers will have to pay more if they want access to the online-archive. (A sneeky way of putting the prices up)

You're not kidding! My last renewal for MEW (print + online archive) was £52.95 now, for the same service I would have to pay £91.95, a 73% increase – only just less than inflation if you live in South Sudan!

Russell.

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by Steambuff on 06/08/2013 14:44:45:

So current Print Subscribers will have to pay more if they want access to the online-archive. (A sneeky way of putting the prices up)

 

Not to mention that current digital subscribers also have to pay more since they hiked the prices not sneakily, but blatently.

But, like any other product, you can charge what the market will bear. Also, like any other product, it's easy to lose customers; darned difficult to get them back.

Edited By Sid Herbage on 06/08/2013 17:29:07

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The most expensive print and digital subscription for MEW is £61.95 ME is £91.95

Mike

[alan-lloydParticipant @alan-lloyd]

I think M.E.W. has run its course, it was a bad move making it a monthly mag, its obviously run out of articals, theres only so many tool posts, cutter grinders and lathe accessories to make thats why its filled with cad articals, which if the editor was to listern to some of the comments on this forum people are not interested in, hence subscriptions are not being renewed and people are reading what interests them in smiths, i also think it robs articals that would be more suited for M.E.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Wot, 92 quid for ME? First issue I bought from newsagent all those years ago, 21st(?) June 1962, was I think, 1/3d in old money,weekly. Thats about 6p in new money. For those too young to know, 1/3d is how we used to write 1 shilling and 3 pence in the old duo-decimal currency era. A combination of inflation and "paying through the nose" for convenience of decimal currency and financial greed aka "charge as much as the market will bear" as the bean – counters say.

As a matter of interest, I first learned about the existence of the hobby and of ME when one of the kids brought handfulls of 1940s copies to school and shared them out.

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Posted by Robbo on 06/08/2013 09:41:09:

Perhaps the proprieters ultimate objective is to do away with paper magazines entirely, and just have digital. This is like Government thinking.

This will also piss Russell off even more!

Phil

This more or less what I said about a month ago on the previous thread about this change.

"In the publisher's ideal world (and anyone else selling media) you would not be able to buy a physical copy at all but only buy access to content that could not be downloaded only streamed. At the risk of getting told off for venturing into politics it is called 'rentier capitalism'."

Stick with the paper mag.

Gary (recovering technophile)

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

IMHO you either want the magazine in what ever format it is presented and think it is worth the cost or you don't.

If you don't then stop wingeing and don't renew

If you do then shut up and pay up

Me I personally think the magazine is excellant for our niche hobby – who else is there out there that covers so much

Didn't realise there were so many old women out there with nothing better to do than complain, just look at how long this thread is going round and round….

Sorry if I upset any of you but tough

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Trevorh on 09/08/2013 10:34:42:

Sorry if I upset any of you but tough

.

That should presumably read

"if I upset any of you, tough"

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

correct, can you honestly say that you have ever seen a topic "done to death" as this one – what's wrong with these people, Like I say I think it's great that we have access to the volume of talent and information in these formats, where else are you going to get this….

not grumpy at all…..

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Something for the publishers to mull over, and not just the bean counters who appear to have taken control:

Since my subscription ran out 3/4 years ago, I've only bought 2 paper and 2 digital editions of MEW and no paper and only 3 digital of ME.

I just could not justify the combined costs compared with contents, a pity as I have full sets of both publications.

Before the split, ME would take me a week to read from cover to cover, but that stopped happening years ago.

The new MEW WAS very interesting, but no more.

I have now relegated both magazines to the 'buy only if interesting article appears' category.

Model Engineer has the honour of giving me the impetus to start my own hobby shop in 1978.

Unfortunetely the split made ME half of what it was, with MEW, from being a VERY worthwhile purchase, now regurgitating old articles albeit from new contributors, and that has been the last straw with me, with little of interest in ME now.

If I was a new comer to our hobby, however, both magazines would be of interest, but where, however, are the new breed for our hobby coming from, but more seriously how many, Very very few if my club is any judge to go by.

I certainly wouldn't want to be in the publishers shoes, BUT they WILL kill the golden egg laden geese with their price increases!

This goose has cried enough!!

i haven't seen any circulation figures of late, but they could/will be very revealing.

Combine the magazines, and I could be tempted to return to the fold, but the cost would decide.

Do the publishers/bean counters even bother to read what their CUSTOMERS have to say I wonder?

It appears not, if their deafening silence on the issues raised on his thread is anything to go by.

Rant over, calm down OldMan

Geoff – I have years of ME to read to keep me occupied.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

TrevorH,

This topic is being 'done to death' because:

1) The publishers obviously DO NOT bother to read the posts that effect them, from their deafening silence.

2) They either DO NOT, or have NO acceptable excuse for the price rises.

3) They DO NOT care about the goodwill they are destroying.

They could have nipped this thread in the bud if they wanted to, but obviously didn't care.

What we should NOT DO, however, is heap any blame on the Editors, as pricing is outside their control, I think.

I agree wholeheartedly about the wealth of info and talent on this Forum, BUT similar forums/fori flourish without a commercial parent in sight.

If I had approached my pricing policy in the way MyTimeMedia has, I would have been out of business PDQ.

Geoff – Can only shake my head in utter dismay.

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by Trevorh on 09/08/2013 10:34:42:

Didn't realise there were so many old women out there with nothing better to do than complain, just look at how long this thread is going round and round….

Which frustrated you and you vented in time honoured fashion – as is your prerogative.

….. ring any bells?

Of course, if it gets really frustrating you may have to use the ultimate weapon: move on and ignore the thread (that'll show 'em).

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Just take a look at some of our counterpart publications from across the pond, The Home Shop Machinist, Machinist's Workshop and Digital Machinist magazines. TBH, MEW and ME pale into insignificance when compared to these.

MTM need to step up their game if they are to retain these magazines. Price hiking for access to a digital format will only serve to alienate more readers and result in greater revenue losses!

This is not yet 'Done to Death' however, we need a 'forum' where we can directly berate the publishers/owners of the magazines as posting on this forum seems to have little or no effect!!

CB

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by CoalBurner on 09/08/2013 16:44:03:

Just take a look at some of our counterpart publications from across the pond, The Home Shop Machinist, Machinist's Workshop and Digital Machinist magazines. TBH, MEW and ME pale into insignificance when compared to these.

Well, that's a value judgement in itself.

On this side of the pond, these are local magazines and I 've had all three on subscription in the past and dropped them. Not because of cost in that instance but because of editorial policies.

[Katherine Scott 6Participant @katherinescott6]

Posted by Russell Eberhardt on 06/08/2013 10:41:15:

Posted by Robbo on 06/08/2013 09:41:09:

This will also piss Russell off even more!

More sad really that they are destroying their goodwill and thus eventually, unless they do something about it, some good magazines.

However, a quote from Katherine Scott in an earlier post:

"B/ Yes the Online Archive is available with the Digital only subscription."

I take this to mean that the current web based online archive will continue. Are you reading this Katherine (or anyone else at MTM)? Would you like to comment?

Russell.

Hi Russell,

Apologies for my slow reply (I have been away without an internet connection – working at the Festival of Quilts(!)).

Yes it is intended that the current web based online archive will continue (available with the Digital or Print + Digital Subscription) – I cannot claim that this will be the case forever though I'm afraid; the company does reserve the right the withdraw this archive and I cannot make any guarantee that this will not be done in the future – or that the format of the subscriptions packages/software will not change again at some point.

I can however say that currently there is absolutely intention to withdraw the archive, and no plan to further change the subscriptions packages.

Best wishes,

Kate

[Robert DoddsParticipant @robertdodds43397]

Kate,

Do you want to quickly edit that last sentence before you do irrepairable damage to the circulation!

Bob D

[kevin roweParticipant @kevinrowe28495]

Hi,I have an existing subscription, and can no longer find the workshop archive. I paid for a subscription that contained the archive, these new rules cannot be applied until the current subsciption finishes.or am I wrong and has the link moved ?thanks

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

TrevorH

If you think this thread is such a waste of time, why do you read it?

Fatal Attraction?

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

Editors have no say in cover price rises.

regards David

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

David. Though I am sure statement is perfectly correct.
This discussion is ovee subscription prices/service….though your input as editor to that might be just as limited.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

One thing. (Ok maybe more)
Because of the future availabiliy “issue” of the archive..I have made a point of reading the back issues of MEW…
1-30 so far..observed against current issues (170+)
scribe a line…much reduced…
Backlash …gone
Knurling tool holder…3 or 4 in first 30 issues
Slotters..2 in first 30..
..
In conclusion. .either the same or very similar requirements reoccur or you will only need to wait a year for the article to be done again
I say done a gain not repeated as these seem genuinely intended as a fresh look..

Thus will I miss the archive of mew?…still not decided…..

Edited By jason udall on 13/08/2013 11:25:27

[PinstripParticipant @pinstrip]

Hi

I still want subscribe and to read ME & MEW, also in the future if it does not get to expensive and I also want to read it digital on my computer and iPad in the workshop without to much hassle

………………………

I might swear in the church now….

What I do miss is more of CNC rebuilding of manual machines as projects, software, using the software,Cad software and CNC software for machines and also how to use CNC equipment, to make parts, and maybe an whole project made with CNC equipment, even if the hobby is more into using manual machines and equipment

……………….

I am more worried that the publisher will make it difficult and make lot of problem for me to read the digital magazine in å normal way because of different type of problem "drm" protection and locks that is creating problems for me as the reader and paid subscriber and not only to the pirates and bandits , as the music and movie industry do… to put it on top of a needle…It is soon to dangerus to by music and movies digital, even if it is from a legal place you might end up prosecutet by the same industry

If it i will turn into that direction it is over and out for me as a buyer of the digital magazine

If he publishing industry want to fight with their "customers" as the rest of media industry has done as the movie/music industry is doing…. Instead of finding a solution and controlling the selling of their own products, instead of letting other doing the selling and putting all their money and effort to fight with their customers , they can do that..but I will not be their customer anymore.

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