#AW Execs lead us on
11 messages in this thread
I'm beginning to suspect the the big-wigs at AW knew *well* in advance that
April was the last issue. There are too many suspect items:
1) Several full page (and a two page) advertisement for another IDG publication
– including subscription information.
2) Letters from readers saying how much they LOVE AmigaWorld, and that they
always rely on the information within.
3) Letters from readers saying that they thank AW for "staying in there" during
these difficult many months of no real news.
4) Letters from readers saying how much they support AW, and that they're
either going to renew their subscription, or become a new subscriber
altogether.
This to me is a MAJOR slap in the face. I for one used to just get it off the
newstand now and then. Eventually, I decided that I loved all the articles and
information too much to miss an issue, so I subscribed, and have renewed every
year for the past two years solid. In fact – I had just sent out my latest
renewal card a scant 4 days before the news hit.
Shame on you AW. You let us down. And you did it in a sneaky, backhanded way
which makes it even worse.
<Dave>
When I called for my subscription only a few weeks back, I was told my first
issue would be the April issue. Of course for some unexplained reason I got the
March issue only days after being told that my first issue would be april's
issue .It was also only days before everyone learned that April would be the
last issue… HMMM seems to me that if I had know before my first issue that it
would be my last, I would have cancelled my subscription and asked for credit
on my credit card…. HMMMM, maybe they were thinking the same thing?
Guys,
I know how things work in the magazine business, and I'm certain the editorial
staff didn't know until the last minute that things were going to be closed.
Heck, Tim was emailing me a couple of days before the closure asking for some
last-minute screen shots for the May issue…
The higher-ups may have made the decision already, but it's very unlikely. They
generally tell the editorial staff almost immediately so they won't buy more
articles. Every assignment after the decision made is another kill-fee IDG must
pay.
It was a bummer of a decision, but it wasn't a conspiracy.
Wouldn't it be nice to think that last-minute renewals would be returned with a
nice note saying thanks, but no thanks? Nice fantasy, huh?
Marion Deland
CROSSINGS – Newsletter for Amiga/PC/Mac compatibility
Marion…
I don't understand. People shouldn't have any difficulty getting money back
for subscriptions to AW if they are new subscribers, since IDG is not out of
business. My understanding is that IDG created AmigaWorld, and has made a
decision to close that particular facet of their business down.
They should be in no position to refuse at least partial refunds, geared to
the unrealized number of issues.
Am I naive in thinking this?
I wouldn't think that you are naive on this point. Most publishers allow
for the cancellation of subscriptions with refunds of the unused portion.
Since IDG is the publisher of Amiga World, and IDG is still in business,
it would seem to follow that you could ask for a cancellation, and refuse
the transfer of your subscription to another IDG publication.
Had IDG folded, and the subscriptions picked up byb a third party, that
would have been a different matter.
Who knows, perhaps the substitute that IDG offers will start carrying
Amiga information.
Well, most magazines of any size have entirely separate operations
for "fulfillment." They just do what they're supposed to do under
their contract until they're told told to stop.
Ah hah! Another graduate of the Oliver Stone Institute of Conspiray
Theories. Their motto is "no evidene of a conspiray is proof that there
must have been one." <g>
Just last week, AW circulation called my house to see if I would like to renew.
I had subscribed since the Andy Warhol issue and let it drop in January '95. I
was not home. My wife, who handled the call had seen all the messages lamenting
the passing of AW and relayed this to AW circulation. Of course, circulation
had not heard that the magazine was extinct.
Given this newfound information, the operator asked if we would like to
subscribe anyway! The call was terminated shortly thereafter.
John Belcher
Like Denny, I can confirm that your conspiracy theory ain't on the mark.
I was working on May issue reviews, and had delivered the last one right
on deadline…the Friday before the Monday that staff got the word.
Management obviously made their decision at the last possible
moment…just before the May issue was committed to production.
Gary
on AutoPilot from Charlotte, NC
What are you doing with those reviews? Do we get to read them somewhere, I
hope.
Gracia, on AutoPilot from Cooleemee, NC