Today (March 31, 2012) ,I received a dvd,that "apparently" has come from Trains magazine.What I find very curious about this,is that the return address shows; p.o. box 1592,Minneapolis,MN 55440-1592. The instructions that accompanied the letter state,that I am to view this dvd,then if I like it,I pay $9.95.If I dont like it,I am to return it. The return envelope shows; Product Programs, p.o. box 426,Manchester,Pa 17345-9981. I'm curious to know if any one else received this,and if Kalmbach is endorsing the use of the "Trains" logo? What I also find odd,is the 2 different addresses.Wouldnt a Kalmbach DVD come directly from the Waukesha,Wi headquarters,let alone produce a DVD of this nature?
Andrew Filtz
Fond Du Lac,Wi
Looks like you got yourself a free DVD! If you didn't order it, you have no obligation to return it under USPS regulations. Kalmbach customer service could confirm your non-order and certainly would like to hear about possible scams using their trademarks.
The return address may not be suspicious - companies frequent subcontract 'order fulfillment' outfits to process and ship products.
Also, it might be worth it to a) check your credit cards for suspicious charges, and b) get your yearly free credit report to look for possible identify theft.
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What MIke F90 says makes sense.
He's right about unsolicited products in the mail. I got one several months back and wasn't interested and sent it back in the enclosed envelope. My experience in the past with another unsolicited item was that it seemed to unleash a flood of additional unsolicited materials.
My guess with these folks is that they have purchased a Kalmbach subscribers list of TRAINS subscribers and they are just trying to sell their $10 buck discs(?). As MikeF90 previously stated. You are under no obligation to keep it or send it back. If you want the set subscribe. to it. If not just throw their mailings away or keep them...Your choice.
How about we hear from Kalmbach itself on this? (The workweek will be soon enough.) In the past, I have received 2 unsolicited DVDs -- don't remember the subject -- that came straight from, and were returned to, Waukesha. With the first of these, I was highly irritated at repeat duns from Kalmbach asking for payment or return (after I had returned the thing by return mail). I e-mailed my irritation to K. and received an apology. With the second DVD, I was given the opportunity to check a box asking them to send no more DVDs, which I did.
Nothing against the DVDs, which are probably very good; but I buy enough stuff for my hobbies to know and order what I want. Don't need more coming over the transom.
UPDATE:
I called Kalmbach this a.m. They are fully aware of this,and they are the ones that are promoting this dvd / program. The person I talked to was Jeffery. So,with that said,I am happy to have gotten some feedback,and knowing what others have thought about this.I would also like to say that I am glad I posted this,so in case any one else might get this package,you will be fully aware of what is being sent,and where its coming from.I still dont understand why its not coming from the Waukesha,Wi headquarters,but who knows,maybe someone from Kalmbach can explain this to me, and the other fellow railfans here.
I have been receiving DVD's from Trains and MR for years now. I have them all. They are usually quite informational and even the subjects I have little interest in I have learned from.
I am also a bit backed up in my viewing as I have been busy and have a short stack of the them to watch.
Some are older videos repackaged. Some are new. Some are a combination. The intro one is $9.95. The rest are $25.44 or thereabouts. If you send a few back they stop coming. You are under no obligation to send the first one back since you did not ask for it.
A number of people on the Model Railroader side of the Kalmbach house have received unsolicited DVD's with appropriately suitable content for them. At least one soon received a follow-up letter (he claims) with the statement, "...we need to hear from you." He seemed put out by the insistent tone, feeling he was being badgered into coughing up for a DVD he had kept.
I am only saying this because the claim appeared in that forum, and others may or may not be able to corroborate the claim in due course. Note that several responders got similar letters, but did not take offense or feel they they were being pressured. Could simply be that, by then, they knew the federal rules and that they were perfectly correct to keep the item and to remain silent about it.
Crandell
I've been getting them for a while. At one point they managed to double up on a series I already had. A quick phone call straightened that out.
I'm so far behind on watching them that I'm thinking of opting out. We'll see.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I have also received a number of these over the years, in fact, I got two copies of the "Coal Train" DVD in the space of about a year. I found it not to be up the the quality I would have expected of Trains. I considered them gifts and gave both to my local library, perhaps they will inspire a young RailFan
selector A number of people on the Model Railroader side of the Kalmbach house have received unsolicited DVD's with appropriately suitable content for them. At least one soon received a follow-up letter (he claims) with the statement, "...we need to hear from you." He seemed put out by the insistent tone, feeling he was being badgered into coughing up for a DVD he had kept. I am only saying this because the claim appeared in that forum, and others may or may not be able to corroborate the claim in due course. Note that several responders got similar letters, but did not take offense or feel they they were being pressured. Could simply be that, by then, they knew the federal rules and that they were perfectly correct to keep the item and to remain silent about it. Crandell
You could always repay the favor and send them a DVD you no longer need. Not like they need the train DVD - they got plenty of them. Send them The Hangover or something.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
The scenario that Crandell described is consistent with my experience with the "Big Power" DVD.
I became entangled with this -- in my view -- bizarre marketing campaign late last year, when I received a copy of that DVD in a November 25 packet with multiple flyers explaining why I should subscribe to the DVD series and providing directions for returning the DVD if I didn't want it. Having never purchased a railroad-related DVD, I didn't want it. And because I viewed the solicitation as simply more of the "junk mail" that I receive on a regular basis, I did nothing in response to it. Two months later, the "insistent" letters began arriving.
In a January 23 letter, Trains informed me: "I've heard from most of your fellow railfans. . .and the response has been overwhelming! But I haven't heard from you."
In a February 23, letter, Trains informed me: "Jay, I hope you have had a chance to preview the DVD and make your decision."
In a March 20 letter, Trains informed me: "We are thrilled with how many railfans have decided to participate" in the DVD series. And it went on to say: "I'd greatly appreciate it if you could let us know your decision."
All of the letters came from the Publisher of Trains. That was Elfrieda Abbe for the original and two follow-up letters and Diane Bacha for the third follow-up letter.
Having subscribed to Trains for a very long time and been consistently impressed with the content of the magazine, I'm strongly in favor of the unsolicited-DVD marketing campaign. It seems to me that the more time the publisher spends trying to get people like me to respond to that campaign, the less time she will have available to interfere with the editorial staff. So I'm looking forward to next month's issue of Trains and to next month's why-haven't-we-heard-from-you DVD letter.
Jay, it sounds as if you are pretty familiar with the print world and how it is generally desirable to keep the big boss, the publisher, as far from the editorial product as possible. I mostly agree -- except in those cases, and I have known a couple, where the publisher actually comes from the editorial side of the business. (Usually, he or she originates in sales or circulation.)
Nice provocative post, in any case!
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