I do not like the change of "Newswire" being available only to the printed magazine subscribers only. I have been thinking about this, and strongly feel that Kalmbach could do a large favour by creating an "online subscription" price (lower than the printed magazine price). I understand that there are costs in obtaining, writing, and editing information, and am quite willing to pay for the information and data.
What I do not want to pay for is a printed paper copy. Two reasons - 1) I have returned to university for my masters degree and live in a dorm room -- there is NO SPACE to store years of any magazine. 2) I want to be more ecological by reducing paper usage and its discarding.
An additional idea that I would LOVE: create PDF copy of each issue and offer a subscription package for those of us who want all the Trains magazine information, photos, and quality without the expense of paper, US (and foreign) post office shipping rates, etc. There are many articles and pictures that i am scanning in manually into my computer, and i am sure others do too. It would be much easier if an entirely electronic copy was available to begin with. For example, when i am writing a research paper and citing Trains, it would be easier to cut/paste from a Trains PDF into my paper rather than firing up the scanner first to copy the paper-printed version into the computer before i can use any of it for a paper or a presentation. Of course, I always cite sources in my bibliographies, but it would be helpful if the bibliographic info could be included at the front or end of file so that it could be copy/pasted too rather than retyped.
Also, with an exact PDF copy, we still get to see all the advertisements, which would make your advertisers happy. Perhaps the number of electronic subscribers might influence your advertising rates and lead to increased revenue.
I had 30+ years of train magazines, and i donated them all to the small-town library where i was living before i came to university (i donated other books to my university library, but they already had Trains and Model Railroader and didnt need duplicates). All these boxes had been in storage for about 4-5 years before too - it costs money to pay for storage warehousing, and no one else gets to see them either, nor learn anything about our industry, when they are all packed away in boxes.
I simply could not bring myself to throw them out into the garbage. Trains, Model Railroader, and other magazines are simply soooooo informative and beautiful to waste. I considered the recycling bin, but there is a whole new generation of young people who would appreciate seeing the magazines - hence the library was the best place for them. And then, i have been able to return as well to see the magazines when i needed some information about something.
Please consider creating a strictly "Newswire" only subscription at a deep discount, and a "Trains PDF Electronic Version" complete copy of the Trains printed magazines, which can then include the Newswire access, at an intermediate price. A Trains PDF Electronic Version would be useful for people who are limited on storage space, or for foreigners who have been relying on dismal postal services. A "Newswire" only subscription would allow people to still buy Trains from their local hobby shops or newstands, thus supporting local economies and small businesses.
Granted that payments are primarily for the information, not the format - but Kalmbach can save money, and help the environment, by offering non-print options for customers.
Sincerely,
MK
University of Illinois
Masters Student - Transportation Planning
I agree with all rivardu wrote. Even though I am a subscriber and get to look at Newswire anyway, it shouldn't be just for subscribers. Kalmbach would also be wise to have a PDF version of their mags for all who want to look at them online. That would certainly save them some costs and reduce paper consumption and waste. As to anybody who wants to give away their magazines, if libraries don't want them, see if there are any railroad or model railroad clubs/museums in your area to donate them to. If none of them want them, you can simply give them away for free. I'm not sure if what kind of publications there are in your area, but in this neck of the woods of Pennsylvania, there's a Horse Trader and Shopper's Guide publication that are available for free, and selling items for small amounts of money, or free, can be advertised for free. See if there are any such publications you can put in a free ad in. And, if you have any issues more than 5 years old, I'll be glad to relieve you of all those old copies ; )
I am only 22 and have been a subscriber for about 5 years. Guys like us would be quite willing to get our hands on and read through those older copies. A lot of history in those...
lateagain wrote: Train 284 wrote:Guys! Stop complaining! I only subscribe to GR and I am not complaing about the Trains newswire or anything. I have to agree it does seem unreasonable; but can we just get back to discussing trains? Run that by me...... You're happy therefore we must be too? I think that's the point of a forum and you seem to be in the minority of those happy with the changes. As an European rail fan I used to enjoy the newswire items. I own many Kalmbach publications and these gave me a current perpective on railroads. Kalmbachs magazine publications surely cover more depth than the web pages so why restrict access? Kalmbach had my £ in book sales and few advertisers in the US are going to do much trade in Europe anyway. Further more most special promotions on these sites are restricted to US and Canada. The whole point of the web is that it is universal Many magazines include pdf's of past articles freely on their web sites as a part of their promotion for their titles. Restricting the newswires is IMHO pretty mean and petty. Geoff West London, UK
Train 284 wrote:Guys! Stop complaining! I only subscribe to GR and I am not complaing about the Trains newswire or anything. I have to agree it does seem unreasonable; but can we just get back to discussing trains?
What part don't you ungrateful guys get? Please explain why you deserve a free lunch, OK?
Life is all about making choices.
Kalmbach is already providing enough information/entertainment to you on the Internet for free. They recently made a choice of how they will now make the NewsWire available.
You made a choice not to subscribe. Live with it.
IMHO, the mean and petty party in this is you for using Kalmbach's own FREE forum to criticize them. Shame on you.
Poppa_Zit wrote: lateagain wrote: Train 284 wrote:Guys! Stop complaining! I only subscribe to GR and I am not complaing about the Trains newswire or anything. I have to agree it does seem unreasonable; but can we just get back to discussing trains? Run that by me...... You're happy therefore we must be too? I think that's the point of a forum and you seem to be in the minority of those happy with the changes. As an European rail fan I used to enjoy the newswire items. I own many Kalmbach publications and these gave me a current perpective on railroads. Kalmbachs magazine publications surely cover more depth than the web pages so why restrict access? Kalmbach had my £ in book sales and few advertisers in the US are going to do much trade in Europe anyway. Further more most special promotions on these sites are restricted to US and Canada. The whole point of the web is that it is universal Many magazines include pdf's of past articles freely on their web sites as a part of their promotion for their titles. Restricting the newswires is IMHO pretty mean and petty. Geoff West London, UK What part don't you ungrateful guys get? Please explain why you deserve a free lunch, OK? Life is all about making choices. Kalmbach is already providing enough information/entertainment to you on the Internet for free. They recently made a choice of how they will now make the NewsWire available. You made a choice not to subscribe. Live with it. IMHO, the mean and petty party in this is you for using Kalmbach's own FREE forum to criticize them. Shame on you.
With all due respect, slow your roll PZ. What free lunch? I buy Trains and Classic Trains over the counter and have for over 2 decades (Trains anyway). I have subscribed before but only when I didn't live near a hobby shop. I prefer to support my local hobby shop so they will be there when I want to look at and touch and feel ect. the latest product offerings. I don't mind haveing to be a Kalmbach customer to have access to the website features. But as an over the counter customer I am alienated, and that's not right. And I know I am not the only one out there that feels that way.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.