05-01-06
Hi there. I understand the reasons given by Mr.Ellis as to why they can't open the sweepstakes to readers outside America, but yet other publications published in the UK, I might add, have and continue to include their world-wide readership in their giveaways, including their American readership. How can they do it, but you cannot?
Maybe FSM could change the sweepstakes into a giveaway .. if it's not a sweepstakes then surely it's not a problem. If something is given away for free......
I cannot believe that rules and regulations apply in only one direction. If it is possible for similar publications in UK to include it's entire world-wide readership in it's competitons/giveaways, including America, then surely it would be possible for American magazines to do likewise.
With a bit of thought applied, anything is possible.
Afterall, you sell your product ok in "other " regions outside USA, but exclude that readership from the bonuses and rewards, if you like, that are enjoyed by American readers, therefore it follows that it seems it's ok to take our money for the magazine, but that's as far as it goes. This is unfair and is slighty taking advantage of us over here...because although your sales are allegedly "small", similar to the movie buisness, your "all-sales-other-than-American" do contribute to your overall profit margin, no?
This imbalance in customer care ( if you will) is one reason whay I left this board last year and one reason why I will not buy the magazine.
The answer given, while logical, is lazy a comfortable catch-all or fall-back manner so as allow you to remain "as is" without rocking the boat or instigating change. It seems to me that the little extra effort required to come up with a way to include everyone in your happy family is not an effort you seem willing to make.
Maybe if you did make this extra effort, your sales might increase to justify the work?
I know you'll disagree. I know you'll justify your postition with facts, figures and what-not, but to me that's not sloving the problem, that's hiding behind it. Meanwhile, there's a large portion of your readership that's thinking if they can't be bothered with us, then why should we be bothered with them.
Liam