Reader Input into MEW

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I’m posting this in the hope of encouraging more reader input into Model Engineers’ Workshop.

Despite the recent changes, the forum remains a lively arena for discussing MEW’s content and sharing workshop ideas and tips. A downside to this is that many of those ideas and comment don’t make it into the magazine, where they might be seen by many more readers.

As for tips, only UK readers can win the prizes as Chester don’t ship outside the UK, but I often have a shortage of UK entries. Please consider sending me your tips – I often see posts on the forum that would be almost guaranteed winners if they were sent to me! Even if you don’t win straight away, your tip could be successful in the future. I am particularly keen to see entries from people who haven’t won before.

I’d also like to encourage more readers to write me letters for Scribe a Line. In most issues it’s easy to fill the pages, but sometimes I struggle a bit. It’s particularly useful for me to receive feedback on the style and direction of MEW and comments on articles. I’m also keen to receive feedback and comments from readers who haven’t written in before.

Thanks

Neil

meweditor@mortons.co.uk

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

So if a foreign writer sent Mortons a tip and it was published, would Mortons post a complimentary copy of ME to them -perhaps not but it is never the less, a TIP to Mortons !!

Bob

[MikeKParticipant @mikek40713]

Could foreign writers (I’m in the US) get a subscription extension in lieu of that UK writers get?

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

I would be willing to pay the shipping cost to Australia if I won the prize for tip of the month. It would still be cheaper than buying the same tool etc locally.

Chester does ship internationally according to their website. I have never been able to fathom why they limit the tip prize to UK only. Maybe they think nobody overseas would be willing to pay the shipping? But I think plenty, like me, would be happy to. Especially if it were by the reasonably priced Royal Mail and not the extortionate DHL express delivery etc. I buy almost all my workshop tools etc from overseas, so getting the initial item for free would be a definite bonus.

[Speedy Builder5]

On Speedy Builder5 Said:

So if a foreign writer sent Mortons a tip and it was published, would Mortons post a complimentary copy of ME to them -perhaps not but it is never the less, a TIP to Mortons !!

Bob

Sending a free copy to someone who is already a reader isn’t particularly useful.

The real difficulty is you don’t really want to run a competition with two different prizes, so I only use an overseas tip in the event there isn’t a UK entry I can use. If I have to use overseas tips, they get a rare print copy of the 25 Years Special.

The main problem is most tips are so short, they only make about half a page on their own. I am looking at ways to use overseas ones as ‘space filler’s, but the issue is that the relatively small fee for a half page makes it impractical to pay for them as articles with the paperwork involved (and I rarely get half a page of distressed space as most articles over 3 pages can be adjusted to fit). The limited supply of specials (they are a small bundle I found when I moved workshop) also limits how many I have to give away.

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Well if you use them as a space filler after the winning half page tip you are just printing the runners up and there are no prizes for that so you don’t even have to pay out🤑

[Hopper]

On Hopper Said:

I would be willing to pay the shipping cost to Australia if I won the prize for tip of the month. It would still be cheaper than buying the same tool etc locally.

Chester does ship internationally according to their website. I have never been able to fathom why they limit the tip prize to UK only. Maybe they think nobody overseas would be willing to pay the shipping? But I think plenty, like me, would be happy to. Especially if it were by the reasonably priced Royal Mail and not the extortionate DHL express delivery etc. I buy almost all my workshop tools etc from overseas, so getting the initial item for free would be a definite bonus.

Chester’s view is that overseas customers are better off making ‘voucher level’ purchases locally, they say that with shipping it’s going to work out more expensive for them anyway. As the sponsor, it’s up to them to set the rules for their vouchers, and I think their concern is a winner feeling the voucher is a ‘white elephant’.

I also understand that Chester don’t really aim to sell smaller items overseas, but focus on machine tool exports through the main business, seeing ‘Chester Hobby Store’ as UK focused.

Neil

[JasonB]

On JasonB Said:

Well if you use them as a space filler after the winning half page tip you are just printing the runners up and there are no prizes for that so you don’t even have to pay out🤑

I’ve often thought of doing that just to get tips used, but it feels even more unfair to me.

[MikeK]

On MikeK Said:

Could foreign writers (I’m in the US) get a subscription extension in lieu of that UK writers get?

The idea of the competition is to pay for an extra page of useful content for readers through sponsorship.

Neil

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