Non-Subscribers. Give yourself up.

[Anonymous]

Hello All: Ben Franklin also wrote down everything that was done, to be read by all, improved on by other's. Kind Regards to All Steve

[Anonymous]

Hi Snell50 !!!

I have to say that although I subscribe to both CTT and OGR, I may not re-subscribe. The magazines do tend to have an interesting article or two, but with the online forums, I can get all my "how do I do this" questions answered. The magazines, particularly OGR, are just collections of ads from the discounters. And, that would be cool, since who doesn't like to buy at discount, except that the ads are submitted so far in advance that the products being advertised are usually not even available anymore by the time the magazine hits my mailbox. For example, need I point out how many CTT and OGR advertisers were offerring the Lionel Reading 0-6-0 Docksider and the Lionel Polar Express sets last fall and winter, long after they were sold out nationally??? So, I'm not so sure I'd re-subscribe to either one, but I could see going to Barnes and Noble from time to time to sip on a Starbucks Coffee drink and page through the latest issue of CTT and OGR to see if I want or need to buy that particular issue.

Snell50, you might want to save your money and use it to buy some train stuff. As Ben Franklin once said, "Well done is better than well said." I'd adapt that to "Well done is better than well read..."

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by snell50

Jon, are you making fun of me?

No, but ben10ben is.[C):-)]

[Anonymous]

Jon, are you making fun of me?

I read 1 hour every night and I don't use proper grammer on the forum because I don't feel like typing so much.

IMO,LOL,!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm cheap, I read 'em a B&N. I already take 2 wookworking mags and used to take Trains, Live Steam & Projects in Metal. John

[Jim Duda]

Ethyl gasoline was 11.9 cents a gallon at the American Petroleum Co. gas station on State Street in Bettendorf, Iowa, around 1946 (I think it dipped below 10 cents during gas wars)...my dad always let me hand the attendant a dollar...yup, I hate bein' a geezer...! I don't subscribe...

[jonadel]

ole1,

You are NOT a geezer, I can remember gas @.18 in Missouri in 1967 (and that's also why they had poor roads) and I sure don't consider my self a geezer, but then maybe I should aske my sons!

Jon--approaching geezerhood with a smile[:D]

[ole1]

I'm a CTT subscriber but can certainly relate to how the cost may be prohibitive. I'm an old geezer and can remember gas at 25.9 and locally bottled pop for a nickel but I guess everything is relative. Speciality magazines are seldom cheap but then where else can you find the thoroughness devoted to one part of a vast hobby. If ,like many , reading about something is as big as actually doing then a good magazine or publication becomes invaluable. I belong to a model railroad club that has several layouts including a three rail and enjoy modeling and running Lionel trains so to me the magazine is worth it. I go fishing too but I don't need any magazines for my style of fishing just a license a pole and a few worms.
P.S. Sometimes a local model railroad culb may have a collection of back issues you could look at I know that's where mine end up eventually. That's also where I get to peruse magazines on HO,N and prototype that I wouldn't feel were worthwile for me to subscribe to but may sometimes provide ideas or inspiration. Ole

[ben10ben]

Here's some more food for thought

Most Greenburg's reference books sell for $40-60, or even more if it's one that's out of print and bought second hand. A year's subsciption to CTT can be had for $30(or even less), and, over the course of the year, will have just as much information as one of the guide books. It will also have the advantage of being more up to date, as the information found in magazines is usually the most up to date available. Costs of reprinting and lack of markets usually mean that reference books don't get reprinted.

[jonadel]

Hey Colin, if you don't need any improvement in your reading, why is your grammar, spelling and sentence construction lacking?

Three key words, read, read,and read more. Especially quality periodicals.

Jon

[Anonymous]

I love C.T.T. But the only way I'll get a subscription is by b-day or Christmas.


I don't subscribe to ESPN either. I am gonna geta subscription to Wierd NJ though.


Okay, lets drop this topic, any more negitive replies and I will delete it.

[Anonymous]

CTT is a great a magazine and I think the subscription is reasonable. On the otherhand, OGR is full of ads and product reviews with few articles or anything interesting. OGR is definitely overpriced.

[tschmidt]

I currently subscribe to OGR and CTT. What other magazines are out there that deal with this O-gauge hobby? If there is something do you have any contact info or a web site that would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

[ben10ben]

Comparing ESPN to any niche hobby publication like CTT, OGR, or even MR is really unfair. The difference in their circulation numbers is likely an order of magnitude, as is their staff. Think about how many libraries, schools, businesses, hospitals, barber shops, etc. subscribe to ESPN and the like, compared to how many of those subscribe to small hobby publications.

Also keep in mind that in order to publish 12 magazines a year, the material must be present to do so. Most magazines like CTT rely on hobbyist submitting articles rather than professional writers, and upping the number of issues per year likely wouldn't increase the number of articles being submitted. Ever notice how thin the June/July/August issues are compared with November/January/February? If the number of issues per year were to decrease, you would most likely see all of the issues getting much thinner, especially in the middle of the summer.

I think overall the magazine price/number of issues boils down to do you want a well done magazine 7 or 9 times a year for $5, or a poorly done magazine 12 times a year for $3 each? I'll take the former, personally.

[Anonymous]

Tim, One of my hobbys is reading, so I don't need to improve. Occasionly, I buy C.T.T. at B & N, but I don't really do it alot.

It is so expensive. 9 issues for 40 $ !!!

ESPN magazine is 26 issues for 26$ ! They should at least give us 12 issues.

That is why my uncle does'nt subscribe anymore.

[Anonymous]

I subscribe to both CTT and OGR.

[FJ and G]

I subscribe to CTT, Trains and MR and buy some OGR issues from the stand, as well as RMC.

Trains and MR are my favorites.

[Dr. John]

I subscribe to CTT and MR while I buy OGR and O Scale Trains off the rack. Certainly, subscribing or not is a personal choice, but I want to make sure that I get each issue of CTT. To me, it does the best job of addressing my interest in toy trains - classic O gauge and S gauge. The other mags contribute good articles too, but they don't "push my button" with the same consistency. I like O Scale Trains (and will probably subscribe) because of their column on On30 in each issue. [2c]

[Anonymous]

I don't subscribe, but I buy every issue at my local B&N. I prefer to buy most of my magazines at a book store, since it affords me an opporunity to browse around looking for other new and interesting books and magazines.

I cannot imagine anyone who is seriously interested in the O gauge hobby not reading CTT and OGR on a regular basis (and perhaps a few other publications, as well). Every issue offers something worthwhile and useful, in my opinion.

[tjsprague]

Colin,

another thing to consider is buying used issues at train meets. Except for new product announcements, the content is pretty "classic". They generally go for about $1 each.

I bought a lot of past issues that way. If you're interested I'll try to look through the piles for doubles. You'd just have to pay the postage. Drop me a line and let me know.

Tim

[tjsprague]

snell, aren't you school age?

I buy my 12 yer old skateboard magazines, jut because he'll read them! I know he does his assigned reading from school, but extra reading only improves the skill. Use that one with Mom and Dad.

And if it works, read it front to back, like I do.


Good luck,

Tim

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ben10ben

I got a subscription for Christmas, but haven't seen hide nor hair of it. Looks like a call to Kalmbach may be in order.

Yep, you should have gotten them long before now.

Call the cust. serv. dept. at: 1-800-533-6644



To address the original post topic, it all depends on how many issues a year you want.
If you buy all 9 issues each year at the news stand, you'll pay 49.50/yr. for the cover price of 5.50.

Subscription rate is almost 40 bucks, so you save perhaps 9%. I know 9% isn't much incentive, but if you're gonna buy all 9 anyway, why not subscribe?
Additionally, if you subscribe for 2 or more years all at once, you'll save even more.

I got lucky this time around, I had let mine expire sometime back, and got a special offer in the mail to subscribe for 25 bucks. Yes.....25 bucks.

In all honesty, you're right. CTT IS too expensive. IMO, they should cut the price, or at least give us 12 issues just like most other mags.

[Anonymous]

Im waiting till the sweepstakes, they are giving out subscriptions. Hope I win!

[Anonymous]

Your think that's expensive:

I subcribe to four of the Kalmbach Publications:

CTT, MR, GR, & Classic Trains. Ouch! In addition, there is that other magazine. My wife thinks I am absolutely nuts; because, there is also Food & Wine, Wine Spectator, This Old House, & Architectural Digest, etc. No wonder, I don't have money to buy more trains.

But then again, they're all great publications. Kalmbach must love me...

[Anonymous]

Can't beat the price, just renewed for 3 years, service is great also. Regards Steve

[prewardude]

I can't imagine not having a subscription to CTT. It is, by far, my favorite magazine. And that ain't no guff!

[nblum]

One of the best $40 per year that I spend in the hobby. TCA at $25 is a great deal too. But then again I'm a 56 year old fellow with a full time job. That amount of money is obviously more to a high school fellow. Just remember to subscribe when you've made it to the big time employment wise :).

[Anonymous]

Snell50:
You're making a big mistake in not subscribing to all the publications related to your hobby.

The price of a subscription may save you big bucks and pay great dividends in the added enjoyment you receive from the information in each and every issue.

You enjoy posting here and being a part of their Forum, yet you won't support them by subscribing?
BillFromWayne
www.modeltrainjournal.com

[ben10ben]

I got a subscription for Christmas, but haven't seen hide nor hair of it. I normally buy it from a book or hobby store, but was holding off until my subscription showed up. My dad ordered it through one of those magazine discounters, which may explain why. I normally avoid those things like the plague, but, since I wasn't buying, I couldn't say much. Looks like a call to Kalmbach may be in order.