MR Subscription Price Problem

[Anonymous]

I picked up the ModelRailroader Magazine Nov2002 edition and in that magazine the discounted subscription price for 12 months of modelrailroader magazine was quoted as $26.95.

I decided to subscribe online at Trains.com (see at https://secure.kalmbach.com/kpc/cir/subscribe2.asp?pub-cde=MRR ) and was suprised to see that the price quoted was $39.95 - a $13.00 difference!

This immediately stopped me from subscribing at it seems unfair to penalize me for wanting to subscribe online instead of sending in the card.

Why is this? If anything it seems it should be the other way around as the cost and time of processing the card would far exceed a online order based on my experience in the online commerce industry.

Regards;

Bob Dalton

[Anonymous]

Hello Bob,

I searched through my November issue and couldn't find the price you refer to. I did find two glue-in cards with the $39.95 rate. It's also $39.95 on the bottom of the masthead, page 6.

I recommend you call Kalmbach's Customer Sales & Service department at 1-800-533-6644 and refer to the page you found the lower price on. I hope they can resolve this for you.

Regards,

Paul Schmidt
Contributing Editor
Trains.com

[Anonymous]

Hello Bob,

I haven't seen any prices lower than $39+ for several years. I'm just a subscriber but I have been looking for a discounted subscription card for some time and haven't found any.

Best of luck on that one...

Jim

[Anonymous]

Bob,
From time to time in selected newsstand outlets, we offer a discounted subscription price for Model Railroader. We do this as part of an effort to entice new people to try Model Railroader. Unfortunately, the economics of publishing a top quality publication does not allow us to promote our magazine at reduced rates very often. This is why you did not find the reduced rate on our Internet site. I encourage you to take advantage of the offer you received and mail in the card. If I can be of further assistance, please email me at [e-mail]

Regards,
Michael Barbee
Circulation Director

[Anonymous]

Mr.Barbee;
I am a Canadian subscriber and have been for decades.
The price charged for my subscription,(which also inludes the annual issue of GMR ) worked out to
CDN $89.68 this year.
The total Canadian cover price of 12 issues plus the one copy of GMR works out to CDN $93.35.
It's only because I live over an hour's drive from my closest hobby shop, and becuase winter driving conditions are poor here, that I bother to subscribe at all.Notwithstanding the fact that you DO have a high quality publication, the difference between newsstand price and subscriber price, PER MAGAZINE, borders on the insulting. It's 28 cents Canadian, or 18 cents U.S ! That's it...virtually nothing ! EVERY OTHER magazine, in every field of interest, that I've ever subscribed to, gives a much better rate to subscibers than the newsstand price.
regards / Mike Robertson
Meaford ON Canada

[Anonymous]

i CAN RELATE TO THE PRICE OF THE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE OF 39.00 IS SOMEWHAT FAIR.I'VE BEEN A SUBSCRIBER OF AND ON FOR 10YRS AND WHEN I STARTED IT WAS ONLY 19.95 THEN 25.00 AND SO ON.THEY DO HAVE DISCOUNTS SOMETIMES YOUR BEST BET WAS TO MAIL IN THE CARD LIKE I DID WHEN I STARTED MY SUB.

[Anonymous]

Mike,
I've wondered why MR doesn't do like many companies and let subscribers pay on terms, perhaps splitting the price into two payments. Or perhaps they could set up a six-month subscription at half-price. It makes more work for them of course keeping up with it all. I worked for a small newspaper for fifty years, and at times we even had 13-week (or three months) subscriptions. As it is I buy MR one issue at a time, as I can come up with $5 at a time easier than $40 all at once. When I have $40 available to spend, I want to spend it on my layout, not something to read. Nuff said.

[Anonymous]

MR offers the lower price from time to time in the fall-out cards or as renewal solicitations. The regular $40 subscription price is not a big difference form the newstand price (compared to other types of magazines) but it is better and $26 is great. The lesson learned hear is mail in the card and stop whining. You would think that you had to lick a stamp or something. I don't mean to flame but I think sometimes we can quibble too much.

[Anonymous]

In Vancouver - Canada, we have large food discount stores where I buy my mags. They offer 15% off the cover price. I know at the hobby store where my son works (Central Hobbies), the owner makes no profit off of the mags and sells them at cover rates to get people in the door.

So, for example, GMR 2003 is already in at my local hobby store, but I am waiting for it to arrive at the discount store.

[Anonymous]

Mike,
Thanks for your comments regarding the Canadian subscription vs. newsstand pricing. I'll look into the situation.

Regards,
Michael Barbee
Circulation Director
Model Railroader

[Anonymous]

I wonder how loyal subscibers of many years might feel when they are stuck paying $40 while anyone can walk into a Borders in Boston and get a card for $26 per year. Of course, if they follow the suggestion to subscribe online (which in every other business model is supposed to be CHEAPER), they will pay $32.

Silly me, I thought magazines earned their revenue from ad sales and used subcription rates to cover distribution at little or no margin. I am glad I found the discount card, I'd sure be steamed if I were paying full price.

[Anonymous]

Like most others, I sure can't walk into some place in Boston to get a bargain.For Canadian subscribers, both the 'fall-out' card and the online price,for the basic 12 issues is USD$50. Our base renewal price, mail offered, which was good until Aug 30, was USD$47.50.I took this.

Sorry if this sounds like a whine, I know Pat Buchanan already thinks we whine way too much up here.
regards / Mike

[Anonymous]

I too renewed online on Friday Nite. I was wondering if they sent some kind acknowledgement to you to verify your renewal. Mike Dickinson