Well, it looks like this is going south, so I'm going to lock it (note: I'm not deleting it). Lets all get out there and mow our lawns, eh?
Bob Keller
For pity sake, folks, there is enough strife in the world without getting your panties in a bunch over this.
No offense intended towards the good folks at CTT.But I think you overestimate people's concern. Just because a person makes a comment, it doesn't mean they are worked up. Why are you so worked up about people expressing their displeasure?
Has faux outrage come to this? The 75 tips for the July issue was a great idea by someone as is the 80 for September. I look forward to the 85 in October, 90 in November etc. For pity sake, folks, there is enough strife in the world without getting your panties in a bunch over this.
The intention is not to upset our readers, the intent is to interest new readers. There is no trickery or hijinx involved. If we do not attract new readers, the magazine will eventually fade away.
I think you've got a real problem if you are alienating your audience in an attempt to attract new members. What's that about a bird in the hand?
Sigh.
The purpose of a magazine cover is to attract the non-subscriber to stop, look, see if there is anything on the cover that interests them, and hopefully buy it. The goal is to illustrate that there is useful information in the publication.
Using the number of tips on the cover is not trickery or flummery. We've used numbers on the cover for years. "5 Small layouts, 16 new products, 4 new locomotives ... " etc etc etc.
You will see it again in the future. This isn't just us, but magazine publishing in general has deemed "numbers on a cover" to be useful.
And I'm a little dismayed that our readers (or former readers) think that we are up to something shifty. I suppose we could put a little balloon on each story "Three tips here .... four tips here" but them I'm sure some would complain about that as well.
Love the magazine...but I'm cancelling.
Respect the dedication of the staff and editorial dept too...
But it's kind of like when we signed up for cable...no commercials...and it's just all commercials.
Still...love the ethic...!
Dave45681I hope CTT is better than this.
I guess I hoped for too much since the September issue does the exact same thing, only this month it's 80 tips.
I never took marketing, so maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to understand how intentionally misleading your customers like this is a good idea.
(unless this month's is in fact an error and an article was supposed to be included - but with last month's answer, I suspect not. I'll happily eat crow if I'm told the 80 tips article is in the next issue.)
-Dave
Ridiculous.
I'd be perfectly happy with an error in editing (meant for anothe issue, etc).
It's a cheap trick. I've been a subscriber for probably almost 20 years, but if I was a person who bought this issue from a bookstore/newstand, I'd be seriously ticked off.
Whomever decided this was a good idea (Carl or otherwise at Kalmbach) should re-think this strategy for the future.
Tips and Tricks articles by their nature are meant as a condensed easy to browse list of items of interest. Not a "read every article line for line and guess what the tips were" exercise.
I hope CTT is better than this.
I, too, was looking for the page number to go with the 75 tips. Since no one is sure exactly where and what they are, here's another: Buy cheap, sell dear.
Good morning all,
Look on the bright side. When was the last time a particular item listed on the cover got this much commentary and discussion? Better still, this was from an issue that is published in the normally slow months of indoor train activity. Patially tongue in cheek and partially being serious, CTT could expand on this idea and do a "find all the tips" contest with a certain set of winners getting perhaps a year's free subscription. Possibly they could highlight every tip listed in a given issue? While I do read the issue from cover to cover, including the ads, I may review this particular one again to see if I can determine what all the 75 are just for my own curiosity. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
I was going to count the 75 myself but wasn't in the bathroom that long.
Maybe next time.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Was the trestle article one tip?
Bob Keller Carl (the boss) counted every tip in the magazine and there were 75 throughout the issue.
Carl (the boss) counted every tip in the magazine and there were 75 throughout the issue.
Well I'm glad somebody did, because I sure wasn't gonna do it!
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Thank you, Rene.
EIS2 Bob Keller Carl (the boss) counted every tip in the magazine and there were 75 throughout the issue. Bob, are you joking, or is that really the answer?
That is really the answer.
Rene Schweitzer
Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader
Well the mystery is solved then. Case closed!
Here's a tip:
Don't believe everything you read!
Maybe it's a scavenger hunt for readers?
The July, 2017 CTT touts "75 Tips!" on the front cover in very large letters, but there is no page number shown. The index doesnt show 75 Tips either. So where are they?
Earl
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