Won't be renewing my subscription this year...

I've always said that the only thing that could beat getting FSM in the mail delivered to my door every month, would be to walk the newstand in fourteen feet of snow to retrieve my copy.

I"d probably do the same if I lived in Canada.

   Huh.  I wonder if that's magazine policy?  To not include the bonus material in a subscription issue, where a newsstand issue would get that material included?  That would dissuade me from subscribing as well.

Yeah, it's not the fourteen feet of snow that gets me, it's having to break the ice to my igloo's front door every time :-P

I'm on the Pacific coast just north of Seattle, WA btw. LOTS of snow here, just like in Seattle :-D

dirkpitt77

   Huh.  I wonder if that's magazine policy?  To not include the bonus material in a subscription issue, where a newsstand issue would get that material included?  That would dissuade me from subscribing as well.

Hi Dirkpitt77

Actually I don't think so - it may be that the mail-order version  of the mag is "stripped-down" in order to save on postage, perhaps. I may be wrong but I think it is actually printed locally here in Canada, so it's not like ic comes over the border this way.

I'm probably wrong, I was actually hoping someone from Kalmbach would respond. and explain whay this is so. Basically I feel like I am getting screwed by subscribing (the price difference is REALLY not worth it, especially since some issues does not contain anything of real interest to me).

Yeah I find it grating that the newsstand magazine comes with extra stuff, I watch and wait for a week or more to get my copy... and then I finally get only the magazine, the rest of the "cool stuff " is missing. I may as well just buy it at my corner store.

-- JN

-- JN

I'm located down in Mexico so I can understand your situation. A lot of issues never arrive in my mailbox so I go out and buy one at the only store that sells the mag here. Sometimes it's just very late and I end up with two copies. A friend typically lucks out when that happens since he gets the extra copy.

I contacted FSM about this before and they were very helpful, even replacing a couple of issues I had missed out on and extending my subscription a month, with extra no cost to me. I haven't asked them to do it again since after all, I realize it's not really their fault, just the crappy mail service here.

Still, I think the mag is worth it and love reading it, as well as the information I can access here on the website, so I'll renew when the time comes.  I think the folks here go out of their way to do a good job.

I see some complaining here every now and then but modeling info (along with kits and supplies) isn't as readily available here as it is in the States. You win some and you lose some, what can I say?

I would bet that the newsstand "extras" are just reprints of old articles, and are included just to make the purchase on the newsstand that much more attractive. Also, if you bundle an "extra" booklet in a sealed bag, it kinda stops people from sitting down for a coffee and reading a copy at the cafe.

The irony here is that the "extra" is probably something you'd get by subscribing anyway.

I admit I was wavering too, but will probably renew my subscription.  New subscribers also get bennies (no difference here from other companies, as DirecTV, ect. all offer incentives for NEW subscribers.)

It would be nice if they would sweeten the pot and include some of the bonus mags on a renew.  The Limited Time offer email they send makes me think "Why is this limited time?  You're not offering me anything special other than the magazine.

Having said that, FSM is undoubtedly the best model magazine out there.  I get more information from it than the others, and find myself saving articles on techniques and builds and I can't get from the others.  A superior product.  (just give me something for renewing, pleeeeassee....)

I'll be renewing. I look forward to my copy every month and have learned a lot from it over the years. It beats going to a book store for a $7 copy. (Admittedly, I have always wondered why magazines hit the shelves at stores before being sent to subscribers, but that is not FSM specific).

If I'm correct you can get an online version of the mag, so there shouldn't be any issues about time of delivery, unless they delay the release of it.

I still like the feel of a magazine in my hand,so I will be keeping my paper subscription,i've had it since 1983

Me too, but it's a nice option for all the techy green people out there.

The booklet you refer to is full of reprints that have appeared in the magazine already, if you read your entire issue you will have already seen these articles. Also this doesn't only happen in Canada as I see these same booklets included in issues while working at my LHS. I asked this same question several months ago and was happy with the response I got from  the editor of FSM.

Electric Blues

I'm located down in Mexico so I can understand your situation. A lot of issues never arrive in my mailbox so I go out and buy one at the only store that sells the mag here. Sometimes it's just very late and I end up with two copies. A friend typically lucks out when that happens since he gets the extra copy.

I contacted FSM about this before and they were very helpful, even replacing a couple of issues I had missed out on and extending my subscription a month, with extra no cost to me. I haven't asked them to do it again since after all, I realize it's not really their fault, just the crappy mail service here.

FWIW, my Chicago area USPS public servants are equally as diligent about providing substandard delivery, though they do occasionally throw in magazine damage in the form of shredded pages at no extra charge.

I hope FSM took note of your positive comments regarding their damaged / lost issue replacement.

Guys,

We appreciate everyone's discussion of this issue. Unfortunately, it quickly devolved due to the actions of a few members. Warnings have been issued: Bullying will not be tolerated on the FSM forum. To avoid further problems, I am locking the thread.

Cheers, Aaron