Iain Ogilvie Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Some of us missed that Jamie - care to share the poem? Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Kunac-Tabinor Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Some of us missed that Jamie - care to share the poem? Iain Thats the rub - Jamies lost it. But it was good. ( well actually I tell a lie - I think he has it again now) Jonners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Ogilvie Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 I did see some of the 'fallout' in 'another place' - but missed the interesting bit! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 A sad day but typical of the times we live in i feel As for Jonners , yes he is correct there is an element of ''mightier than thou'' in many editorials, i had a look back to my issues of Scale Aircraft Modelling from the early eighties, things were very different then communication for modellers was by way of a specialist magazine or your local I.P.M.S , remember there was no internet with sites such as this, we are spoilt now or inundated with information (depending on your point of view) ,the editorials are interesting to look back at ,as are opinions of new kits, we live in very different times with different generational attitudes i for one notice changes that to me are not so subtle (i am 60) I feel we are living in a golden age of modelling, compare new releases now to then ! when a lot of experts thought the hobby would die as computers took over potential young modellers lives, we are able to communicate very publicly and quickly via the ''net'' with good and bad consequences I admire people like Spence who put there backsides on the line and their views out there for all to see its not as easy a job i suspect as many of us would tell ourselves However Jonners comments do strike a chord and as ever in the modern world opinions once made public can create a ''storm'' i find it interesting that in recent years when i see some particular aspect of life threatened by a huge number of players become unviable and some players drop out to which commentators jump in and say , ''Oh things will improve now'' ''there is now more to go around'' only for us to find things get even worse and there erupts a slide that results in a field of players that was large down to one or two and those instead of being better are ''s***e'' I hope we don't see that here Sorry for the convoluted post !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 It's a bit sad to hear this I had a subscription for MIS and had it delivered in the UK then Thailand, then Australia, then the UK when we returned, it was my favourite magazine combining Military (shame about all the German stuff) and Aviation subjects in one magazine, when it was split I stopped subscribing. But I've still got shelves of neat red binders on the shelves. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 Hi everyone - thanks very much for the supportive words on the closure of MIS. I too am sad that Traplet decided to close MIS down, but I guess that they simply felt it was time to do so. Hopefully, you'll still be happy to see my work appearing in the ADH range of titles of the coming months and years and that you will still want to check out Cold War Aircraft Modeller from time to time! All the very best and have a great day! Spence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 (edited) Latest development: Yesterday I got a copy of Military Modelling in the post, together with a letter telling me that MIS had arranged to transfer all subscriptions to them and here was my first issue. This came as something of a surprise, as I thought I'd sorted out a refund a few weeks ago, and Traplet no longer appears in my list of direct debits. The refund has yet to appear, too. Formally speaking they can't do this. A subscription is a contract between the publisher and the reader, and it can't be given to a different publisher unilaterally - it needs the reader's consent. Personally I don't rate MM and I have no interest in a subscription, and I think this is a bloody cheek. The small saving grace is that paying for this would need a fresh direct debit (or cheque), which is completely under my control as the reader. So I'm embarking on what I hope will be a brief process of getting them to cancel everything. Updates as they come. You may want to check the status of your subscription and, in particular, your bank account. Edited October 16, 2012 by pigsty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosco Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Spent ages trying to explain this to the MM publishers as they seemed to know nothing about it. Shocking they can even try this. Not a happy bunny, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David J Ross Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 I, too, have received a copy of MM and letter. The only problem, as far as I am concerned, is that I used my outstanding subscription money to get some binders. I had eighteen months left, on my subscription, and expected it to be worth six binders but Traplet had dropped the binder's price so I received seven. I will just see what happens now. It's their fault for not being more organised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Update: neither side appears to know anything. MM is mystified that I've had any magazines and seems to believe that MIS can simply transfer my subscription and direct debit. MIS is at least aware that the MM arrangement exists, but can't explain why I'm included or where my money is. But they have undertaken to send me an e-mail in which they state that I am getting the refund and that neither my subscription nor my direct debit is being sent anwywhere else. Well, we'll see. Spence, I reckon you're well out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs2man Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 I have to say that I'm equally as puzzled as Pigsty . I too received a copy of MM & the covering letter in the post yesterday , although I e-mailed Traplet a couple of weeks ago & asked them to refund the outstanding portion of my last direct debit . I checked my direct debits online & found that Traplet's DD has been cancelled . There's no evidence of a refund , though I may well not be entitled to one , the last payment having been taken in august . Neither is there any evidence of a new DD set up by MM , not that I want the mag anyway . This whole thing seems to have been handled & comunicated very badly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted October 16, 2012 Author Share Posted October 16, 2012 (edited) Update: neither side appears to know anything. MM is mystified that I've had any magazines and seems to believe that MIS can simply transfer my subscription and direct debit. MIS is at least aware that the MM arrangement exists, but can't explain why I'm included or where my money is. But they have undertaken to send me an e-mail in which they state that I am getting the refund and that neither my subscription nor my direct debit is being sent anwywhere else. Well, we'll see. Spence, I reckon you're well out of it. You know what: me too. I'm so disgusted by all of this that I've already written to Traplet voicing my concerns about how they are treating the subscribers. Unfortunately I can't do anything about this (I left officially on Friday after almost three weeks off on leave...) but having had no idea this was going on, I can only say how upset I am about it. Actually - I'm furious. Not good. Spence Edited October 16, 2012 by Spence 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Really sorry to hear of the closure of MIS. As i've said elsewhere i've enjoyed every copy since issue 2. You did a brilliant job spence, i'm sorry that there were problems for the subscribers. I reserve mine in a file at W H Smiths. I looked forward with anticipation to every issue. I'll really miss all the quality articles. Again please accept my thanks for all your efforts, and every blessing for your future ventures. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Have they not breached the data protection act by handing over you're personal details to an unrelated 3rd party.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Have they not breached the data protection act by handing over you're personal details to an unrelated 3rd party.... Probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 (edited) Who ever made the decision to make an ASUMPTION that it would be totally alright has got it so wrong. If you were in a bed and breakfast and the bed collapsed,and then you were giving the option to sleep in the cellar on a lilo in a sleeping bag becuase it suited the owner. Ther answer is going to be NO. You would demand your money back and go elsewhere,more importantly under your own decision making. I mean its outrageous to act without asking first. Edited October 17, 2012 by eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 (edited) And why is it that the money goes instantly out of your account BUT takes forever to go back in Edited October 17, 2012 by eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) It all just got worse it has now turned into a complete farce Edited October 18, 2012 by eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 It all just got worse it has now turned into a complete farce Care to tell us how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) 1st You recieve a letter saying MIS is no more ,therefore you conclude they wont touch your direct debit 2nd You then recieve a letter from MY hobby Store saying they have reopened your Direct debit and taken the money and are now a subcriber to MM 3rd You phone them to cancel and ask for cancellation and your money back .4 DAYS LATER YOU HAVNT GOT YOUR MONEY BACK - 4th you recieve a letter from Traplet that they cant access your Direct debit (no i turned it off) and your subscription is suspended. 5th Methinks the left hand dont know what the right hand is doing and vicky versa Edited October 18, 2012 by eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger331 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Well Spence - very sorry to hear that. I guess that MIS's mix of proper articles and detailed reviews finally lost out to the current fad of "glossy nothingness" that seems to be in vogue in certain other magazines. The scene is now free for other mags to become what they virtually are anyway - long advertisements for the manufacturers, edited by toadying acolytes, with little thought given to how the average modeller may work. Our UK modelling magazine scene used to be really, really good, but its been populated of late by those who either joke their way out of any confrontation, or who are just are plainly so interested in mere decoration and self-agrandissement that they ve forgotten what their proper role is: Right down to the point of editorials that laugh at other editors, despite their own lack-lustre efforts. As the production values of these mags go up, their credibility goes down. Yes - I'm biased, yes I'm a bit angry, No I'm not a bit sorry about what I've just written. Cheers Spence - and good luck with the new project, and apols to those who contribute to these mags - its the so-called editors Im gunning for. Jon Kunac-Tabinor, miffed PS to any other editor - I have every issue of your mags going back for at least 3 decades with the oldest. I don't do "Smiths as a library" ( how arrogant is that from you know who you are): I buy, so I reserve fully the right to criticize. And I will, so watch out. Jonners Spot on. I am very sorry to see the demise of MIS since it was easily the best monthly magazine. I very rarely dabble in anything other than aircraft subjects but the quality of editorial encouraged me to read most of the non-aircraft related stuff too.like you, I have been a regular WH Smith buyer (rather than reader) when I lived at home in the UK so feel equally entitled to comment on the sad demise of the aviation modeling press. I subscribed to SAM almost from issue 1 for well over 20 years but abandoned it some time ago when it became a shadow of its former self. I still maintain a subscription AMI but even that is now beginning to morph into more advertorial. SAMI and MMI .....I simply will not comment. Yes, it's a sad day when a quality magazine closes but I don 't think it will be the last to go....it 's just ironic that it should be the first. At least here in Norway I have to be really choosy with what I buy.....Most of the mags are around 11 pounds a copy but I will not take out a subscription because of the worry of inconsistent quality/content or the specter of going out of business. I feel for Spence who has worked so hard to produce a quality magazine with meaningful editorial.....I very much look forward to seeing his new title though sadly I will have to wait....work commitments preclude me seeing it at SMW12 this year. Good Luck to Spence ! Tiger331 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 The disapointing thing about SOME companies in this day and age, is that WE the buyer can buy things almost instantly with our credit cards and bish bash bosh we have paid for it in the quink of an eye the credit card is debited .........Whoosh. But if something goes wrong ,your fault, my fault, anyones fault.It becomes a devils own job to try and recover your money ,companies dont have the same willingness as above and drag thier heels and use delaying tactics not to pay back as quick as you paid. What they dont reallize is that by delaying they are causing the payee a lot of grief as each day they have to check thier account and they are left wondering.with the lament come on, come on come on. And have to make unessary phone calls. I have this theory that people who run companies are only interested in money flow one way that is into thier coffers and are reluctant to change that flow.The fact that they provide a service or product is a secondary or even a third concern. Within the modelling fraternaty we see this a few times. This also does not include those companies that are the reverse of above and are just too good to be true and cannot do enough for you. And as an end user we are left with the thoughts why cant they all be as efficient as each other. It goes without saying that the good companies will get your patronage for along time wheres as the problematic ones wont. And have you also experienced that when you find yoursef in one of these situations that you are sometimes left dealing with just an ordinary person (worker) who is doing thier utmost to do something about it but are hindered by the people who pull the strings and put hurdles in the way all the time. Reasons for my doubts ,a liitle story, I once worked for a contarcting engineering company on a contract basis on a customers premises away from the company.On an hourly paid basis.I worked for 3 weeks and did not recieve any pay in that time .I phoned and spoke to the owner of the company ,who said can you do me a favour and can you wait a few more weeks for payment .I did another 2 weeks work and asked again ,This time I could not get the boss.So I carried on working and at the same time trying to get the boss with no luck.Everyone else said, see the Boss. In the 6th week I recieved a phone call followed up by a letter from the official reciever ,that the company had gone into liquidation and i was now a preferred payee ,and that I would have to write to him claiming what was owed to me. A sum of £3000 In total wages as worked on a basis of £15 an hour. I never ever saw a penny of that money. 6 months later I heard the Boss had set up another company with everything else from the previous company except the name. Yours Sincerly Muggins. So you can see that when it comes to money £3000,£1000,£100,£10,1p. I bite on and dont let go. So should we all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 And closed, the thread was about the demise of a modelling amgazine, not the servicing of debts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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