Delay to Issue 299

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The digital is in the system, just waiting for whoever clicks the buttons to make it available here and on Pocketmags With MTM staff being furloughed or laid off it takes a bit longer now, even before with many being part time it depends on how it falls as to what days they work and put it onto the site.

Edited By JasonB on 30/11/2020 11:48:22

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Staff on zero hours contracts?

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

why are MTM staff furloughed ? – could understand this last April but not since. Sounds as tho company is in some difficulties

[Graham TitmanParticipant @grahamtitman81812]

Poor postman this morning Model Engineer numbers 4652 and 4653 and model Engineers Workshop all in same delivery?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Well with Martin saying ME is down by 8 pages most of which are adverts, that's a lot less for the advertising department to do and a lot less income. With old articles being repeated then there is less for editorial staff and those that produce the drawings to do to name just two reasons. At least they have managed to keep the two mags going unlike other titles that were suspended for several months.

A read of Neil's editorial in 299 (when you get it) may also go some way to explain the problems being faced by the production staff.

 

Edited By JasonB on 30/11/2020 13:18:19

[Mike RoseParticipant @mikerose73833]

Once again I have received neither MEW or ME and find this is most annoying as it is not the first time this has occurred.MTMs way of dealing with this problem is not to send the missing copy, but to supply me with an extra copy a the end of the subscription.

I have been a subscriber to ME since 1970 and MEW from the beginning. I shall not be renewing either subscription when they end. I am really disappointed with the service supplied

Mike R

[Michael BelferParticipant @michaelbelfer47979]

On the other hand someone has already pushed the button that sent files to the Printery, so there is only the extra button that makes the files useless to man or beast (besides Packetmogs) to be pushed. Wouldnt seem to be an enormous piece of labour

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Michael Belfer on 30/11/2020 12:32:33:

… so there is only the extra button that makes the files useless to man or beast (besides Packetmogs) to be pushed. Wouldnt seem to be an enormous piece of labour

Used to joke when I was a software developer about creating a button that worked out what was wanted and just made it happen. I don't know the detail of MyTimeMedia's publishing process, but it's unlikely to be as simple as pressing a few buttons!

These being extraordinary times, I'm inclined to give struggling companies the benefit of the doubt. Sat at home, comfortably retired, it's easy to be oblivious to the chaos caused by Covid in the workplace. Apart from the illness itself, the measures taken to stop it spreading are disruptive, and the way people spend their money has changed. Many businesses are failing under the pressure.

The youngsters in my family have a range of jobs. One is entirely unaffected, but all the others are performing triple back somersaults as they try to maintain some sort of service. Mixed results are only to be expected when every week starts with a new crisis. It's rough out there!

Dave

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The post is somewhat erratic at the moment (can’t think why). I ordered some aluminium from the same supplier, the two orders arrived in very different times, one arrived well within the normal window of a few days and the other was in limbo for more than two weeks, a couple of rules I ordered were more than ten days over the latest projected delivery window. Apart from staff being off work for isolation and even sick the COVID safe working is having an impact on sorting and delivery processes on top of a 40% – 60% increase in workload. I think we need to keep cool about stuff taking a bit longer than we may like or be used to.

Mike

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

I understand the contractual issues regarding subscriptions and the frustration with delays but one must accept we are experiencing difficult times – and it is my belief we have seen nothing yet with the economic fallout. If however we wish to continue to receive our digital/hardcopy magazines, cancelling subscriptions or refusing to buy will cause the failure of publishers and I would suggest we will all be the poorer for that.

We only have to look at exhibitions where traders are counting the cost of attending only find they are a shop window for the internet, resulting in purchasers examining, kicking and testing before buying elsewhere.

I suggest, with respect a little patience and understanding is required otherwise there may be no magazines or forums for us to enjoy.

Robert Butler

[houstoncengParticipant @houstonceng]

Posted by Mike Rose on 30/11/2020 12:31:34:

Once again I have received neither MEW or ME and find this is most annoying as it is not the first time this has occurred.MTMs way of dealing with this problem is not to send the missing copy, but to supply me with an extra copy a the end of the subscription ……………..

Mike. I ring the subscription service and they have nearly always sent a replacement. A couple of time many years ago, they offered an extra copy because printing problems resulted in no extra copies available to send out as replacements. In one case, I was able to buy one at WHS in Victoria Station – there being none in local newsagents. In the other case, not one was to be had fir love nor money and I, therefore, have a missing ME in my collection.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Subscription copy of 299 delivered this morning!

So the system is working pretty well.

It may well be that the later parts of the distribution system are having problems, rather than MTM.

Howard

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Royal Mail is definitely having problems – I posted 3 items 1st class for a 9am collection on Monday last from here in SE England – all to England – one arrived Thursday, another on Friday – haven’t heard yet when 3rd item arrived – yet parcels seem fine several items from RS ordered later afternoon arrived midday following.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by houstonceng on 29/11/2020 18:05:57:

Well. My Subscription issue of 299 arrived yesterday, however, I’m a bit disappointed that the reprint of the 4-facet drill sharpening article in 293 have been reprinted again in 299. I know MEW is probably short of copy, but reprinting an article twice in a short toile is bad editing.

My personal error I'm afraid.

).

While I have a spreadsheet that keeps track of first appearances of articles, for repeats I use a separate one but in error I didn't mark this as used.

When the system I have been using to keep track of archive articles fell down, the second line of defence – Andy the designer – wasn't there to spot the duplication as and his wife ended up in hospital with Covid, (Yvette dropped back in for one issue). Happily Andy and his wife are both OK now.

I'm a bit sad if a mistake of this nature be enough to make someone stop taking the magazine.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Mike Rose on 30/11/2020 12:31:34:

Once again I have received neither MEW or ME and find this is most annoying as it is not the first time this has occurred.MTMs way of dealing with this problem is not to send the missing copy, but to supply me with an extra copy a the end of the subscription.

I have been a subscriber to ME since 1970 and MEW from the beginning. I shall not be renewing either subscription when they end. I am really disappointed with the service supplied

Mike R

Hi Mike,

I haven't received MEW 299 yet, and the latest ME was 5652 so you may not yet have missed any issues.

If you ever do miss a subscription issue, just call the subscription number: +44 (0) 1604 828 748 (local rate) and they will send you a replacement, but be aware they don't get their copies until a week or two after subscribers (I suspect they get those left over after distributing to the news trade).

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

On digital issues: I was told the official publication date would be delayed to the end of 'Lockdown 2' so it won't appear on newstands or digital before that date.

I think the paper copies have gone out early, rather than the other way around.

Neil

[derek hall 1Participant @derekhall1]

Got my paper version of MEW today, all looks good (as always!)

Slightly disappointed not to have a repeat of a "Christmassy" pic on the front like there was a few years ago when someone "decorated" their milling machine to look like a Christmas tree….very funny…!

Maybe a competition for next year?

Regards to all

Derek

[houstoncengParticipant @houstonceng]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 30/11/2020 15:37:59:

Posted by houstonceng on 29/11/2020 18:05:57:

Well. My Subscription issue of 299 arrived yesterday, however, I’m a bit disappointed that the reprint of the 4-facet drill sharpening article in 293 have been reprinted again in 299. I know MEW is probably short of copy, but reprinting an article twice in a short toile is bad editing.

My personal error I'm afraid.

).

While I have a spreadsheet that keeps track of first appearances of articles, for repeats I use a separate one but in error I didn't mark this as used.

When the system I have been using to keep track of archive articles fell down, the second line of defence – Andy the designer – wasn't there to spot the duplication as and his wife ended up in hospital with Covid, (Yvette dropped back in for one issue). Happily Andy and his wife are both OK now.

I'm a bit sad if a mistake of this nature be enough to make someone stop taking the magazine.

Neil

As I have bought MEW since Issue 1, I’m very unlikely to stop just because of a simple mistake. However, I was a bit worried that the deja vu was just in my mind, so had to look back in the archived copies to ensure it wasn’t.

[Roger ClarkParticipant @rogerclark]

.Hi Neil,

MEW arrived this morning and ME 3653 arrived yesterday but the digital versions are not showing on Pocketmags!

Any reason why? Only asking as I normally receive these a week before the paper copy.

Roger

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Rockingdodge on 01/12/2020 11:37:54:

.Hi Neil,

MEW arrived this morning and ME 3653 arrived yesterday but the digital versions are not showing on Pocketmags!

Any reason why? Only asking as I normally receive these a week before the paper copy.

Roger

See Neil's post at the bottom of previous page.

[Michael BelferParticipant @michaelbelfer47979]

It all seems a bit defeatist: its not available so probably it has been delayed. Reminds me of the old cartoon of a liitle old lady telling the TV serviceman standing next to the blank screen "It must be that switch, when I turn it on nothing happens. "

So, how about finding out what is not happening, since the material comprising 299 has made it (by some sort of miracle, obviously and equally obviously through the softcopy stage and) onto paper? Or is there not even someone enabled to pick up a phone and ask "what has/ has not happened?"

Alternatively, since my history with Pocketmags gives me not much confidence in their competence, perhaps the first question should be "has it been sent to P M ?"

Living in Melbourne and still just emerging from a brutally hard lockdown I have every sympathy for the UK, (now doing it much much tougher) but since 99-3/4% of the effort has been made to get issue 299 out, isnt there anyone equipped to push the final 1/4% over the finish line?

Michael ……. waaaay down under

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I e-mailed one of the MTM staff 10mins ago and got this reply regarding digital versions.

"Hi Jason,

Sorry about this, I’ve got 4653 scheduled to go up tomorrow and I’ve had some issues with MEW. I’ll try and get them up today, tomorrow at the absolute latest. Please feel free to let members of the forum know that there have been some technical difficulties, but they’ll be up as soon as I can possibly get them.

Thanks for your patience,

Beth"

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

True to he word 299 now available from the archive, not checked Pocketmags.

[Michael BelferParticipant @michaelbelfer47979]

Not sure which zone the timestamp is in, Jason, but what I think looks like nearly 7 hours later and no sign of 299 in Pocketmags yet.

Michael

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

One assumes the technical issues Beth mentioned are still affecting the Pocketmags availability but at least you can look at it here.

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