RE: Introducing Strada Magazine
Discussion
The people refunding the money don't actually owe the money. It's entirely reasonable that they should try to refund it by a method that doesn't charge them any fees.
People received an email saying they'd been charged for a new subscription. They weren't. This happened becaise they had to be added as Magneto subscribers in order, if they wished, to be refunded the money THAT MAGNETO'S PUBLISHERS DIDN'T OWE THEM.
Evidently, an email is automatically generated when a new subscriber is added to the database, and these weren't caught in time because, presumably, it's not the sort of thing they do every day.
Another email was sent out apologising for the first email and assuring people they had not been charged. People were also advised that if they wanted a refund, they should ask.
Those people who requested a refund were refunded via Paypal, which would be both quick and free for Magneto. In case anyone was still wondering, they were under no obligation to give us anything -money or Magneto subscriptions.
I'm surprised how many supposed grown-ups are acting so petulantly given somebody they don't known has stuck his hand in his pocket to try to stop them crying, and they're still acting like they got given a yellow Haribo when they wanted a red one.
People received an email saying they'd been charged for a new subscription. They weren't. This happened becaise they had to be added as Magneto subscribers in order, if they wished, to be refunded the money THAT MAGNETO'S PUBLISHERS DIDN'T OWE THEM.
Evidently, an email is automatically generated when a new subscriber is added to the database, and these weren't caught in time because, presumably, it's not the sort of thing they do every day.
Another email was sent out apologising for the first email and assuring people they had not been charged. People were also advised that if they wanted a refund, they should ask.
Those people who requested a refund were refunded via Paypal, which would be both quick and free for Magneto. In case anyone was still wondering, they were under no obligation to give us anything -money or Magneto subscriptions.
I'm surprised how many supposed grown-ups are acting so petulantly given somebody they don't known has stuck his hand in his pocket to try to stop them crying, and they're still acting like they got given a yellow Haribo when they wanted a red one.
Doofus said:
Those people who requested a refund were refunded via Paypal, which would be both quick and free for Magneto. In case anyone was still wondering, they were under no obligation to give us anything -money or Magneto subscriptions.
What am I missing here? Are you saying that hothouse have not been paid anything out of Strada's subscriptions fees collected? If they haven't, then indeed, you're right; fantastic generosity to offer sub issues and frankly astonishing to offer refunds against something that they had nothing to do with. On the flipside that would mean that Strada's customers have handed over money for four issues, received one and all the money has disappeared. So surely, more likely here, we're talking about Magneto receiving Strada subs money to supply their magazine. In which case we're not talking about some unparalleled act of philanthropy here, but a fair commercial arrangement and it's equally fair that the customer be given the choice to opt out of something that they didn't sign up for in the first place. That is what appears to now be the outcome, it just seems to have been a bumpy road getting here.
Edited by Gad-Westy on Monday 19th July 17:36
If Strada still had subs money left, and hadn't just spent it all producing the first issue, then why couldn't they refund it directly rather than getting Hothouse/Magneto involved at all? I'm assuming there was something of a shortfall in the accounts on that front, and the deal with Hothouse made that go away for them, with Hothouse willing to make up the shortfall out of their own pockets in return for the number of subscribers they figured they would retain for Magneto in the longer term.
Given that Magento has survived for three-odd years already, it presumably has a larger subscriber base already than Strada had for it's first issue, and the numbers involved were relatively small and manageable overall to make it worth their while taking on.
Also, as someone else said above, Strada could have just folded the company and done a runner with any remaining subs money, leaving everyone out of pocket, so the deal they have done with Hothouse is at least considerably better than that as everyone gets something out of it, either a refund by some means or some other magazines of the same cover price that they had originally paid for.
Given that Magento has survived for three-odd years already, it presumably has a larger subscriber base already than Strada had for it's first issue, and the numbers involved were relatively small and manageable overall to make it worth their while taking on.
Also, as someone else said above, Strada could have just folded the company and done a runner with any remaining subs money, leaving everyone out of pocket, so the deal they have done with Hothouse is at least considerably better than that as everyone gets something out of it, either a refund by some means or some other magazines of the same cover price that they had originally paid for.
To clarify the situation and to be as transparent as possible.
Strada did provide Magneto with a percentage of the subscription monies they originally held. It does not cover the remaining value of the subscription nor does it cover the actual cost of printing and mailing three copies each of Magneto to subscribers. But there was a commercial deal which we felt appropriate as a marketing investment. It also enabled the publishers of Strada to provide an option to its readers rather than the alternatives which would have left either subscribers with nothing or the owners with an even bigger hole in their personal finances if they had paid off all liabilities for the subscribers.
If we made an error by attempting to simplify the payment process by utlising Paypal then I apologise. But I am sure I would have been on this page defending Hothouse if I had requested bank details from everyone in order to pay directly into accounts. We held email addresses and this is a secure method of payment.
To put it in contect, Strada had around 700 subscribers of which around 80 have requested refunds. Of those I have so far had one request for payment into a bank account rather than Paypal. The silent majority appear to be reasonably happy, even though I would admit we could have done some things better. This is, after all, not something we do everyday.
Geoff
Strada did provide Magneto with a percentage of the subscription monies they originally held. It does not cover the remaining value of the subscription nor does it cover the actual cost of printing and mailing three copies each of Magneto to subscribers. But there was a commercial deal which we felt appropriate as a marketing investment. It also enabled the publishers of Strada to provide an option to its readers rather than the alternatives which would have left either subscribers with nothing or the owners with an even bigger hole in their personal finances if they had paid off all liabilities for the subscribers.
If we made an error by attempting to simplify the payment process by utlising Paypal then I apologise. But I am sure I would have been on this page defending Hothouse if I had requested bank details from everyone in order to pay directly into accounts. We held email addresses and this is a secure method of payment.
To put it in contect, Strada had around 700 subscribers of which around 80 have requested refunds. Of those I have so far had one request for payment into a bank account rather than Paypal. The silent majority appear to be reasonably happy, even though I would admit we could have done some things better. This is, after all, not something we do everyday.
Geoff
Thanks Geoff - so in summary Hothouse lost money on the transaction and are now losing more because people are requesting refunds.
Obviously they hoped to acquire some longer term subscribers to make the deal worthwhile.
So what we have is 700 subscribers, 80 of whom have requested their money back, less than half a dozen of which are on here moaning about PayPal.
Perhaps those moaning should take a leaf out of Geoff’s book and try and be a little bit more stoic and a little less precious about their £20.
Obviously they hoped to acquire some longer term subscribers to make the deal worthwhile.
So what we have is 700 subscribers, 80 of whom have requested their money back, less than half a dozen of which are on here moaning about PayPal.
Perhaps those moaning should take a leaf out of Geoff’s book and try and be a little bit more stoic and a little less precious about their £20.
Purely on the basis of Geoff’s candid honesty plus his willingness to come on here and explain, I have kept it running. Will give Magneto a fair evaluation - Geoff deserves a chance.
Pissed off at the demise of Modern Classics and now Strada. I took out the subscription to Modern Classics which was migrated over to Car. Requested cancellation of Car subscription as it was pish. Hopefully Magneto will be more successful...............
Pissed off at the demise of Modern Classics and now Strada. I took out the subscription to Modern Classics which was migrated over to Car. Requested cancellation of Car subscription as it was pish. Hopefully Magneto will be more successful...............
Truckosaurus said:
Geofflove said:
...Strada had around 700 subscribers...
Perhaps no surprise that it didn't make it to Issue 2 then.Truckosaurus said:
Geofflove said:
...Strada had around 700 subscribers...
Perhaps no surprise that it didn't make it to Issue 2 then.Strada’s struggles had very little to do with the magazine itself. Like any business, it would have needed time to be purely self sufficient, but unfortunately events outside the magazine itself meant that halting at issue one was best for everyone - and that includes the customers.
I’m eternally grateful to Geoff and David for taking it on and at least giving the subscribers something. They didn’t have to.
Gad-Westy said:
Truckosaurus said:
Geofflove said:
...Strada had around 700 subscribers...
Perhaps no surprise that it didn't make it to Issue 2 then.I think getting a magazine off the ground involves significantly more risk than even a new restaurant. The whole idea gives me shudders.
NathanChadwick said:
Truckosaurus said:
Geofflove said:
...Strada had around 700 subscribers...
Perhaps no surprise that it didn't make it to Issue 2 then.Strada’s struggles had very little to do with the magazine itself. Like any business, it would have needed time to be purely self sufficient, but unfortunately events outside the magazine itself meant that halting at issue one was best for everyone - and that includes the customers.
I’m eternally grateful to Geoff and David for taking it on and at least giving the subscribers something. They didn’t have to.
I took a punt on Strada because the content was right up my alley but was also surprised at anyone trying to launch a new print magazine at the moment. I really love print over digital, but people like me are fighting a losing battle. Strada launching in print is like Dire Straits saying "here is Brothers In Arms, available on vinyl only" at the the start of the CD revolution.
I used to have about 8 different magazine subscriptions going back a couple of decades so nobody can accuse me of not fighting my corner for print journalism. However, since having a kid six years ago I found I just did not get the time to read them all, so had a pile of unread ones stacked up. Wife went mental, I agreed to go digital via Readly for a tenner a month.
Yes, that is killing print, but it's more convenient for my personal circumstances. Strada was one I snuck under the radar and didn't tell the missus about, so having Magneto drop on the mat when I don't really want it could be awkward.
I therefore did what I consider to be reasonable and asked for the Stratos issue and then to draw a line under it. I've written off the subs, filing it under "people took a brave move and it didn't work out, let's not crucify them".
700 subs at 30 quid a pop is 21 grand. Given the costs of getting issue one of Strada put together - amazing quality, and a LOT of content - then nobody has really done a Robert Maxwell here, have they?
PurpleTurtle said:
NathanChadwick said:
Truckosaurus said:
Geofflove said:
...Strada had around 700 subscribers...
Perhaps no surprise that it didn't make it to Issue 2 then.Strada’s struggles had very little to do with the magazine itself. Like any business, it would have needed time to be purely self sufficient, but unfortunately events outside the magazine itself meant that halting at issue one was best for everyone - and that includes the customers.
I’m eternally grateful to Geoff and David for taking it on and at least giving the subscribers something. They didn’t have to.
I took a punt on Strada because the content was right up my alley but was also surprised at anyone trying to launch a new print magazine at the moment. I really love print over digital, but people like me are fighting a losing battle. Strada launching in print is like Dire Straits saying "here is Brothers In Arms, available on vinyl only" at the the start of the CD revolution.
I used to have about 8 different magazine subscriptions going back a couple of decades so nobody can accuse me of not fighting my corner for print journalism. However, since having a kid six years ago I found I just did not get the time to read them all, so had a pile of unread ones stacked up. Wife went mental, I agreed to go digital via Readly for a tenner a month.
Yes, that is killing print, but it's more convenient for my personal circumstances. Strada was one I snuck under the radar and didn't tell the missus about, so having Magneto drop on the mat when I don't really want it could be awkward.
I therefore did what I consider to be reasonable and asked for the Stratos issue and then to draw a line under it. I've written off the subs, filing it under "people took a brave move and it didn't work out, let's not crucify them".
700 subs at 30 quid a pop is 21 grand. Given the costs of getting issue one of Strada put together - amazing quality, and a LOT of content - then nobody has really done a Robert Maxwell here, have they?
That digital option became more important in the light of Brexit shipping charges and European sales, but in the end there was no future.
Broadly speaking, issue 7/8 is where it would start to stand on its own two feet - in my opinion. In theory profits (meagre ones) would trickle in a little earlier, based on returns, but not totally guarunteed. The problem is getting to that point is a large cash flow hole due to distribution. For anyone looking to keep the magazine going, that’s an enormous gap to fill and, quite understandably I might add, bigger publishers didn’t feel like taking it on in the wake of a COVID-ravaged market.
Sadly it’s poor luck that is to blame; yes, there’s things that could have been done differently, editorially* and behind the scenes. Sadly it just wasn’t to be.
- the Dick Johnson caption will haunt me for the rest of my days. Mind you, ‘semi-trialling arm’ in the Alpina RLE feature will always conjure the mental image of a genetic predisposition for enhanced biceps among certain parts of the motorbike community.
Edited by NathanChadwick on Tuesday 20th July 11:59
Edited by NathanChadwick on Tuesday 20th July 12:00
Doofus said:
Well I've received my first copy of Magneto, and I have to say I'm impressed. There appears to be plenty of content. A bit heavy on motorsport for me, perhaps, but there looks to be enough to keep me entertained for a bit.
Seems OK. I'll see out the subscription but at this point I don't see me spending out more on it.Podie said:
Doofus said:
Well I've received my first copy of Magneto, and I have to say I'm impressed. There appears to be plenty of content. A bit heavy on motorsport for me, perhaps, but there looks to be enough to keep me entertained for a bit.
Seems OK. I'll see out the subscription but at this point I don't see me spending out more on it.Really enjoyed second issue so I’m sticking with it
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