Overseas Distribution to restart

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Tony Watson 5 on 22/07/2020 04:40:05:

Neil, can you please advise if copies of MEW 283 and 284 were sent to Australia for distribution by local newsagents.

Thanks

Tony

Hi Tony,

I'm sure they were, that was a year ago and well before the current covid situation.

If you visit mags-uk.com/browse-by-title/model-engineers-workshop.html you can still get 284 as a back issue. They do deliver to Australia. It looks like 283 is now out of stock.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John Olsen on 21/07/2020 22:29:20:

I'm a bit miffed by the whole thing too, my ME collection is now complete from WWII up to a couple of months back. I just received 4642, the last one before that being 4635. So I am missing 6 of them, one of them including an article I wrote. I can tell you that they did better during World War 2, despite the ME office being bombed out and ships being torpedoed. As you might imagine, magazines were not a priority cargo at the time, and yet most of them made it out here, 12000 miles away.

During the lock down, I made a few mail orders over Ebay, they have made it all here, apart from one where the Chinese supplier found they were unable to ship the item and refunded me immediately. Ok, there were delays, but international shipping did continue to work. I don't see why the magazines could not have been put aside after printing, and delivered later when things settled down. As it is, we are now faced with trying to get hold of back issues, which are liable to be in short supply.

John

Hello John,

The problem is we use a single agent to fulfill all overseas orders. When distribution halted, we would have had to find a bespoke solution for each individual country. Just putting them in the post and hoping was not an option as we expected a sizeable and unknown proportion would not get through, with no reliable way of knowing exactly what had and hadn't arrived. With most of the office staff on furlough, the only practical option was suspending overseas subscriptions.

A problem with putting magazines to one side in bulk is that advertisers won't pay for space in copies in issues that may not be delivered for six months or more.

If you are very concerned about missing issues leaving you with an incomplete collection, email me as we may be able to sort something out for you.

With thousands of overseas subscribers we can't do a bespoke solution for everyone, but we are able to help a few.

Neil

[Jan BParticipant @janb]

Hello Neil,

Thanks for the information.

I have sent you an email.

Jan

[Tony Watson 5Participant @tonywatson5]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 22/07/2020 15:36:50:

Posted by Tony Watson 5 on 22/07/2020 04:40:05:

Neil, can you please advise if copies of MEW 283 and 284 were sent to Australia for distribution by local newsagents.

Thanks

Tony

Hi Tony,

I'm sure they were, that was a year ago and well before the current covid situation.

If you visit mags-uk.com/browse-by-title/model-engineers-workshop.html you can still get 284 as a back issue. They do deliver to Australia. It looks like 283 is now out of stock.

Neil

Hi Neil

Sorry, I meant MEWs 293 and 294. Were they sent to Australia?

Tony

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by John Olsen on 21/07/2020 22:29:20:

I'm a bit miffed by the whole thing too, my ME collection is now complete from WWII up to a couple of months back. I just received 4642, the last one before that being 4635. So I am missing 6 of them, one of them including an article I wrote. I can tell you that they did better during World War 2, despite the ME office being bombed out and ships being torpedoed. As you might imagine, magazines were not a priority cargo at the time, and yet most of them made it out here, 12000 miles away.

During the lock down, I made a few mail orders over Ebay, they have made it all here, apart from one where the Chinese supplier found they were unable to ship the item and refunded me immediately. Ok, there were delays, but international shipping did continue to work. I don't see why the magazines could not have been put aside after printing, and delivered later when things settled down. As it is, we are now faced with trying to get hold of back issues, which are liable to be in short supply.

John

John, you have a pm

[VersabossParticipant @versaboss]

Ok, I was away from home for a couple of days, and something has happened in between.

It must be clear now that the missing MEW issues had been edited and printed, they just did not make it to the post office. First hint was the post from Mr. Dias Costa, stating that he managed to byi these issues. So I started searching around and found – just to the left side from the Editor's bench! – a line in the imprint with a web address for 'Current and back issues'. : http://www.mags-uk.com. I don't know if this is part of MTM, at least it was never mentioned in this thread. So I went there and could place an order for the two issues I miss, and as the order was accepted I hope I will get them some day.

My thanks goes to Neil, he at least wrote that he could do something also. I suppose this is not necessary now. But this email story he mentioned: I never got an email from MTM – until last Tuesday, 21/7.,when the ball was already rolling here. It came from a Ms. Kate Parkes, email customer services, stating: " I'm sorry to read that you haven't been receiving your magazine. I have arranged for replacement copies to be dispatched, please allow up to 10-14 days for these to arrive within Europe and up to 28 days for the rest of the world."
So it seems that in a couple of days I will mot only have the missing issues, but TWO of them… I just hope there is not a subscriber getting nothing because of that. In case, he can write me…

Here we have a saying: where there is a will, there is a way. But sometimes the will is missing…or working very slowly at least.

Regards,
Hans

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Issue 295 just arrived in my mailbox today here in deepest North Queensland, Oz.

A welcome return to normality!

[Simon CollierParticipant @simoncollier74340]

I got issue 4642 over three weeks ago, leaving a six issue hole in my 15 year collection, but nothing since. I see little point in resubscribing now that my collection is incomplete.

[DGLParticipant @dgl]

I've subscribed to the magazine for many years. Lately I find that access to my digital subscription keeps bringing up an error message " I'm sorry but we can't process your request at this time (bad referrer)" .

Has anyone else had this problem? I have contacted the publishers but so far no response.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

DGL, have a look at the replies by Neil and myself in this thread

[peezeeParticipant @peezee]

If I may weigh in on this problem.

I recently contacted the publishers to ask when the missing issues of ME and MEW I have on prepaid subscription, a total of 8 in all would be sent. The reply was no, they won't as we have run out of copies, but as compensation we will extend your subscription by one issue.

Digital access is difficult in my situation and though appreciated is not a substitute for what I have already paid for and that has not been fulfilled. Very disappointing as others have found.

Two other UK subscriptions I have, have their issues received on time and uninterrupted!

regards,

Paul Z

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

My old aunt in the USA subscribes to several UK mags (not ME or MEW) and she tells me there has been no interruption to her copies arriving by post so far.

regards

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Just FYI Here in Canada I have received several UK edited and printed magazines (not ME or MEW) I subscribe to, continuously without interruption, throughout the pandemic. In fact I received the November issue of Engineering in Miniature just today, and a motorcycle mag last week, by mail from UK.

My local bookstore, where I bought ME and MEW for years, pre-Covid, has had no ME or MEW mags since February 2020.

This is not the ME or MEW editors' fault, I am not criticising the editors. It is an indication that someone in the parent organisation publishing and distributing these mags needs to do a whole lot better. Note to these people – your competition can produce good quality mags in the middle of a global pandemic, and get them all the way to Canada. I do not understand at all why your organisation can not do the same. Some asses may need to get off some chairs to do it though. Wakey wakey…..

Before the moderators jump in and suggest the digital option, I have tried this back in the editor D Clark days and a) it never worked satisfactorily b) content appeared and disappeared without warning or apparent reason c) I have trouble reading on a phone screen d) cost when billed was FAR more than I agreed to e) editor and tech staff of the mags of the time never fixed any of the issues I had, so NEVER AGAIN.

Hope this stays up a while before I get banned for it.

[VersabossParticipant @versaboss]

peezee, I went through the same problem. But quite by accident – because it is NEVER mentioned here in this forum – I discovered that all surplus mags go to an (unrelated to MTM?) organisation called http://www.mags-uk.com .
There is a small link on the second page of MEW (at least usually, I think).
Through this firm I could get the two (in my case) missing numbers, although I had to pay them again. But it was worth for me.

Kind regards,
Hans

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by peezee on 13/10/2020 18:18:25:

If I may weigh in on this problem.

I recently contacted the publishers to ask when the missing issues of ME and MEW I have on prepaid subscription, a total of 8 in all would be sent. The reply was no, they won't as we have run out of copies, but as compensation we will extend your subscription by one issue.

Digital access is difficult in my situation and though appreciated is not a substitute for what I have already paid for and that has not been fulfilled. Very disappointing as others have found.

Two other UK subscriptions I have, have their issues received on time and uninterrupted!

regards,

Paul Z

Paul, all overseas subscribers have had their subscriptions extended so if for example you misses 5 issues of ME your subscription has been extended for 10weeks eg 5 issues so you will only get what you have paid for. (same in Versadoss case) In addition you will have been given Free access to the Digital archive while shipping was suspended so although you may be missing the paper version for your collection you will not have missed content.

Jeff, there is no need to just read the mag on a phone you can use a tablet or PC or even a large screen smart TV . Do you only follow and post to the forum on a phone? Quality is a lot better than back in DC1's days and apart from the odd usually user related problem the Pocketmags option is quite good, even EiM use the same company.

[Gerard O’TooleParticipant @gerardotoole60348]

Posted by JasonB on 14/10/2020 07:06:46:

…. you can use a tablet or PC or even a large screen smart TV …..

Jason, I have tried to take out a Digitial subscription bit the website says only for IOS and Android. Can you clarify if it is available for Windows 10.

Thanks

G

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I view it on W10

Pocketmags explains the simple setup for windows when viewing new subscription issues BUT DON'T subscribe direct with them as you only get the digital archive by signing up with MTM. Old archive issues are viewed via your browser.

[peezeeParticipant @peezee]

Jason,

Thanks for your input, however I'm only reporting what the reply from the publisher said, one copy only as compensation for missing 6 ME and 2 MEW.

From their e-mail response yesterday

I have extended your subscription copy entitlement by 1. As a result of this free extension, your next payment has been pushed back until 08/06/2021.

By accepting funds in advance of fulfillment there is essentially an obligation to provide the goods in satisfaction of that [unspoken] contract. In the case of electing not to [in this case]and without consultation it is reasonable to expect the number of copies covered by the advance payment to be honoured.

It is a very great pity that nothing was put in place to put aside the delayed copies for later delivery.

My 2 pence worth.

PeeZee

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

PeeZee I'll get Neil to look into this as like everybody else affected you should have got your subs extended to cover the 6 ME and 2 MEW issues.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by peezee on 14/10/2020 17:52:57:

Jason,

Thanks for your input, however I'm only reporting what the reply from the publisher said, one copy only as compensation for missing 6 ME and 2 MEW.

From their e-mail response yesterday

I have extended your subscription copy entitlement by 1. As a result of this free extension, your next payment has been pushed back until 08/06/2021.

By accepting funds in advance of fulfillment there is essentially an obligation to provide the goods in satisfaction of that [unspoken] contract. In the case of electing not to [in this case]and without consultation it is reasonable to expect the number of copies covered by the advance payment to be honoured.

It is a very great pity that nothing was put in place to put aside the delayed copies for later delivery.

My 2 pence worth.

PeeZee

Hi Paul,

You should have received an email some time ago notifying you of the interruption and clearly stating that your subscription would be extended to compensate for all copies missed, i.e. that you will automatically receive the full 13/26 issues as well as archive access.

If they say your subscription has been extended by 1 issue, I would expect this to be on top of this automatic extension, but it's possible there has been a misunderstanding..

If you are unsure, drop me an email neil.wyatt@mytimemedia.com with your subscription details and I will ask someone to check for you.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Gerard O'Toole on 14/10/2020 07:53:45:

Posted by JasonB on 14/10/2020 07:06:46:

…. you can use a tablet or PC or even a large screen smart TV …..

Jason, I have tried to take out a Digitial subscription bit the website says only for IOS and Android. Can you clarify if it is available for Windows 10.

Thanks

G

Hi Gerard,

The pocketmags app works with W8.2 and W10:

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/editorial/page.asp?p=1334

"PC For Windows 8.2 and Windows 10 follow the steps as for Mac. Please note Pocketmags reader does not work on earlier versions of Windows."

You can also access pocketmags subscriptions through their web interface, but this doesn't allow downloading of copies for offline reading.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Jeff Dayman on 13/10/2020 21:23:24:

Just FYI Here in Canada I have received several UK edited and printed magazines (not ME or MEW) I subscribe to, continuously without interruption, throughout the pandemic. In fact I received the November issue of Engineering in Miniature just today, and a motorcycle mag last week, by mail from UK.

My local bookstore, where I bought ME and MEW for years, pre-Covid, has had no ME or MEW mags since February 2020.

Hi Jeff,

We have a much larger overseas distribution than EiM. We rely on an international distribution system, rather than putting overseas issues in the post. This distribution effectively fell apart at the beginning of the crisis, and basically we lost our whole overseas distribution.

Believe me this has hit MTM as hard as our readers, losing thousands of overseas newsagent sales (we normally print more issues for newtrade export than for UK newstrade!) and having to extend thousands of overseas subscriptions (meaning people will renew later and risking losing readers) is definitely not something we would have allowed to happed if their was any practical alternative for us. We also lost overseas advertisers (as you might expect) and some UK advertisers suspended advertising largely due to problems with restocking.

Unfortunately these interruptions have led to some titles (e.g. Model Collector) closing completely. At least MEW and ME have survived so far!

I'm not pleading for sympathy, but I hope readers can accept that we too have been victims of the pandemic's effects and that while there might be things we would do differently second time around, we did do our very best to keep things going.

Neil

[Gerard O’TooleParticipant @gerardotoole60348]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 14/10/2020 20:03:00:

Posted by Gerard O'Toole on 14/10/2020 07:53:45:

Posted by JasonB on 14/10/2020 07:06:46:

…. you can use a tablet or PC or even a large screen smart TV …..

Jason, I have tried to take out a Digitial subscription bit the website says only for IOS and Android. Can you clarify if it is available for Windows 10.

Thanks

G

Hi Gerard,

The pocketmags app works with W8.2 and W10:

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/editorial/page.asp?p=1334

"PC For Windows 8.2 and Windows 10 follow the steps as for Mac. Please note Pocketmags reader does not work on earlier versions of Windows."

You can also access pocketmags subscriptions through their web interface, but this doesn't allow downloading of copies for offline reading.

Neil

Thanks Neil, Jason

I will download asap

regards

g

[Gerard O’TooleParticipant @gerardotoole60348]

Hi Neil, Jason,

I havee done all that, money has been taken from my account, but it still says i have no subscription.

I wonder can you help please?

gerard

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Gerard at the moment you are showing as having a Print only subscription to MEW, if you have only upgraded to digital in the last 24hrs it may take a day or two to become active.

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