ME Cover Change

[houstoncengParticipant @houstonceng]

[houstoncengParticipant @houstonceng]

I see from the last two issues (4468 & 4469) that the front cover of ME has had the designers at it the same as MEW.

|The previously easily seen Volume, Issue and Date information has been reduced in size and moved from its previous location below the Title so it's no longer easy to see at a glance.

Another change for change's sake !

[FMESParticipant @fmes]

As most of us have also received the same aforementioned copies and noticed the changes mentioned, wasn't this just another comment for comments sake?

Quite frankly I couldn't give a damn as long as what I want to read is in the magazine.

[houstoncengParticipant @houstonceng]

As most of us have also received the same aforementioned copies and noticed the changes mentioned, wasn't this just another comment for comments sake?
No ! I'm registering my disgust at the designers who change things for the worse.

Quite frankly I couldn't give a damn as long as what I want to read is in the magazine.
Wait until your eyesight gets bad, like many ME readers, and then try finding the issue number without a bright light.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Must admit that it was not until yesterday when someone mentioned it to me that I even noticed the change and I'd looked at both 4468 & 4469 several times.

J

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I got 4469, and personally my reaction to the cover was 'wow'. Undisputably model engineering, but I bet it attracts a good few new readers, which is what a good cover is meant for.

Neil

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

I wish W H Smiths would not put model magazines at the back of the lowest shelf. Ay my age I only get down that low in emergencies! Also they overlap the magazines so the effort that goes into making the cover attractive (or otherwise) is lost. I do not think that many new readers are gained by casual browsing as there needs to be basic interest in any specialist subject before anyone will buy a copy of the relevant magazine.

So I think the designers should give the readers (who ultimately pay their wages) the cover format that is best suited to the majority .

Eric

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi Lambton.

You are lucky if the Smiths near you stocks it.

At least you will know it is at the back.

The same applies to second hand bookshops. Try this, walk towards the back of the shop, if there is a back room the back of that as well, look down and in the corners left and right. One of them will have the few engineering titles they were forced to take in a job lot.

Hmmm
John

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Yes John but if they were in the middle, front shelf when you walked in they would be listed as rare first editions with a £xxxxx.xx price tag.

At least if they get relegated to the back they are often affordable

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by houstonceng on 09/11/2013 20:07:04:

As most of us have also received the same aforementioned copies and noticed the changes mentioned, wasn't this just another comment for comments sake?
No ! I'm registering my disgust at the designers who change things for the worse.

Quite frankly I couldn't give a damn as long as what I want to read is in the magazine.
Wait until your eyesight gets bad, like many ME readers, and then try finding the issue number without a bright light.

I think I understand what you mean with reference to eyesight getting bad as we get older. Personally I agree with you when looking for issue number, but I must say that the front cover does look great.

Eric : Neil is right in the fact that it does attract new readers. I know for a fact that when Dave Fenners' daughters picture was on the front cover of a particular issue of MEW, the sales went up by a good percentage for MyTime Media. Also, if the cover looks good and if it starts to sell well, may be the manager/person stacking the shelves at W H Smiths may be encouraged to put the magazine on a higher shelf, saving you bending down. It can only be good for you, the magazine, the advertisers, generating more interest.

Reading the articles, they seem to be of interest to a wider range of people, and may be, just may be it may encourage at least one new person to take up the hobby, who otherwise thinks that this hobby is for the limited few!

Ketan at ARC.

[FMESParticipant @fmes]

As there seems to be a fair amount of concern with regard to eyesight or lack thereof, I would point out that I am unable to read a standard vernier without a magnifying glass as well as standard glasses, and have been finding it easier to use the digital versions of the magazine where I can zoom in as required.

If everybody is having so much trouble reading the printed matter as supplied why not just print out what you need from the digitals?

Surely this would be more planet friendly than storing masses of printed matter, and save a few pounds on subscriptions?

Just a thought.

 

Edited By Lofty76 on 10/11/2013 20:23:30

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

> storing masses of printed matter

Those aren't back issues – that's my 'at home carbon sequestration project'.

Neil

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Neil,
The nearest Smith's shop for me is well over 30 miles away so rely on postman.
As far as the front cover is concerned I do not really care 2 monkeys t***s it is what is inside.
that matters.
Diane,
Congratulations for bringing the Rowland Emett society up in Smokerings, have been a fan of his since the 50s
and one of the original members,
Everyone look it up
http://www.rowlandemett.com

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Hi all just my five bits and I do agree with Ketan the cover looks good but moving the issue/series number from the original location is in my opinion a BIG mistake and not reader friendly.

Most of us keep the magazines for reference and it was very easy to locate a particular one with the number in the top LH corner now you would have to search the whole pile to find it.

Another suggestion to the publishers would be to put the page number on the highlighted articles on the cover or on the "on the cover " logo inside the magazine. This would ease location of any article you were drawn to.

Just my thoughts !!

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Posted by Ketan Swali on 10/11/2013 16:55:46:

…..

I know for a fact that when Dave Fenners' daughters picture was on the front cover of a particular issue of MEW, the sales went up by a good percentage for MyTime Media. Also, if the cover looks good and if it starts to sell well, may be the manager/person stacking the shelves at W H Smiths may be encouraged to put the magazine on a higher shelf, saving you bending down. It can only be good for you, the magazine, the advertisers, generating more interest.

……

Ketan at ARC.

That's the answer, put Kate Middleton on the front with a steam engine and sales will go through the roof. We might all ignore it though, thinking it was a misplaced copy of "Hello".

Gary

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

Posted by Ketan Swali on 10/11/2013 16:55:46:

I know for a fact that when Dave Fenners' daughters picture was on the front cover of a particular issue of MEW, the sales went up by a good percentage.

Ketan,

You may be correct for that one issue but I doubt if the type of person who buys MEW just because there is a pretty young lady on the cover would be happy when the next issue showed only a BCA jig borer on the cover!

Eric

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

With tongue firmly in cheek .
Leave cover alone. Add plain white plastic wrapper and retitle mag to “BigTools”..
..will do wonders for off the shelf sales …and anyone being disappointed by content would be too shy to complain…

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Big tools,
Plunging Pistons
Deep Reeming

Err best stop now I feel one of my heads coming on

[Axel BentellParticipant @axelbentell]

I'm just a young'un at 42, and maybe I need new spectacles, but I find the small print of the new design hard to read. I have to constantly sort my ME's cos so far I've been to lazy/poor/stupid to not buy the binders. As a consequence I am totally against these changes! And besides changes are usually bad. Concentrate on making articles on steam and such, do not change anything, If I wanted change I would go to YouTube!

[G_N_RParticipant @g_n_r]

W H Smith! All modelling related magazines are on the bottom shelves. I hate groveling on the floor to eventually find the magazines I want to browse before purchase.

I do subscribe to the digital, ME, MEW. and two other modelling mags. This makes my wife very happy, no piles of magazines to dispose of when I drop off the old perch. (except the ones 2009 going back to the 1940s)

I have many modelling interests not all available as digital subs, so I tend to avoid WH Smith. The exception for me, is one in Bournemouth town Centre where they stack in a vertical fashion section by section.

Front covers do not attract me, it's what's inside. I happy with the content.

[Cyril BonnettParticipant @cyrilbonnett24790]

Our Smith's move their magazines every week, I gave up playing hide and seek 60 years ago, a good reason for having them posted through the letter box.

Edited By Cyril Bonnett on 08/01/2014 21:32:45

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