N Scale Railroading Magazine - subscription refund?

ATSFFP45 Mar 10, 2021

  1. ATSFFP45

    ATSFFP45 TrainBoard Member

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    Has anyone who subscribed to N Scale Railroading magazine prior to the decision by the publisher to switch to free digital online content only, received a refund? I have been very patiently waiting for mine since contacting Kirk Reddie back in March 2020, again in Nov 2020 and most recently here in March 2021. STILL WAITING FOR PROMISED REFUND ONE YEAR LATER!

    T-2_Snoot
     
  2. Many Trains

    Many Trains TrainBoard Member

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    I have not received one either. To be honest, I am really not expecting one at this point. My refund would be small enough that I have not pursued it, I've really just walked away from it.

    It was disappointing when the magazine was discontinued, I enjoyed receiving it. I barely glance at the monthly online version now.
     
  3. BnOEngrRick

    BnOEngrRick TrainBoard Member

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    I just found out about the whole mess a couple months ago, because I'm a year behind in reading. Not happy about the change either.
     
  4. Traindork

    Traindork TrainBoard Member

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    I used to read every issue, looked forward to it. But now, online I flip through it, but have yet to read it. I've had several favorite magazines go this route, and I end up not reading them anymore. To me, there's a big difference between a physical copy and something digital.
     
  5. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    I could care less about the money. What worries me is he's down to 42 pages this month.

    And T-2_Snoot, (note no name) I assume you have contacted the publisher before you splatter him on social media - oh, wait, that would be responsible. So likely no. Very lively discussion on TheRailwire.net (thread now locked) where T-2_Snoot also posted - and probably everywhere else (s)he could...
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Same here. I want a hard copy, to hold in my hands. No scrolling around a page, being tied to an electronic device of some type.
     
  7. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Yep, whatever scale or venue, I want to hold the publication in my hands, write notes, keep specific pages. Heck I have a micro mini library of articles from publications over the years that I still enjoy reading today. I currently have zero=no E subscriptions, that may have to change, but not yet.
     
    Moose2013 and Hardcoaler like this.
  8. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    I guess I'll lament with the rest of the dinosaurs!

    I used to subscribed to six different model railroad magazines at once.Now it's zero. I've read a couple Model Railroad Hobbyist issues. It has good content but I just don't care for the digital media format.

    I know this might sound hypocritical coming from someone that is on TrainBoard several times a day. I'm like gjslsffan I cut out, sort and file articles in a file box.

    Other than TB, taking images, and listening to audiobooks at the workbench I want keep anything digital as far away from my hobbys as possible. Maybe in the future I will change. Who knows.
     
    gjslsffan likes this.
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Mine are in binders, in sheet protectors. Instead of a magazine pile, or much shelf space taken up, just a few well sorted binders, easy to grab and locate desired information.
     
    Hardcoaler and gjslsffan like this.
  10. vitaccop

    vitaccop TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well... I'm definitely the odd one out here... I was a long-time subscriber of the print magazine and have continued to read the digital version. I actually like the digital version better. As far as any refund I don't expect one and would actually be OK with the publisher just keeping it since I'm still getting essentially the same magazine delivered...
     
  11. TigerDude

    TigerDude TrainBoard Member

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    So they basically stole your money. Subscription fees have a very specific accounting method associated with them, and are considered advance payment. Only insolvency would be a defense, specified though bankruptcy courts.
     
    OlyPen likes this.
  12. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    For a $20 or even $50 subscription to a print mag is prolly not going to be making any any publisher any money of any kind without a base of thousands of subscribers. What is posted digitally is the same as what would be sent to the presses with out the overhead of the printing costs. Unless they are getting enough money from the advertisements this is a labor of love not of making money. Chances are the moneys from the sub are already gone, and what is recouped from advertising most likely barely covers the license fees for the software needed to make an online version, and the web host costs. Maybe there is a little left over for the creator to put in his pocket each month, and that keeps the mag coming in digital form. I would be miffed yes if I had just dropped a $50 sub and got one mag, then was told it's going free digital only. But if the sub was closer to the end of the line (so to speak) I would have to weigh just how much is my time worth to get back $10. I charge $75 per hour when I fix your motorcycle or Seadoo, so for me to spend several hours trying to get back a partial sub, would be a waste of time. But that's me in the end. Sometimes it better to just walk away. Sonny from the movie A Bronx Tale gave that same lesson to the kid in the movie.
     
    Ike the BN Freak likes this.
  13. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    I know Kirk is working on getting refunds out, I personally don't care if I get a refund or not. Back in 2004 when I first got sick, I emailed him & ordered a bunch of magazines I didn't have. He charged me for 3 back orders, sent me like 10 & didn't charge me shipping. It really helped the time in the hospital pass quicker.
    When I met him in Portland in 2009, I couldn't thank him enough for helping me get through one of the toughest time in my life up to that point.
     
    Moose2013, OlyPen, MK and 3 others like this.
  14. marty coil

    marty coil TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm in that group liked the paper version best, but read the digital and care little about a refund. Kirk will do his best to satisfy those who complain. He has always dedicated his efforts to Improve and publicize N Scale
     
  15. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    There are so many other instances of money being stolen, and worse, that are not permitted on this platform (for which I am grateful by the way-- woo woo woo) that this matter is just plain trivial. Give Kirk a break already.
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  16. sp005

    sp005 TrainBoard Member

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    I am in a few different smaller hobbies and unfortunately have had this happen to a few subscriptions over the years. To anyone who hasn't given the digital version a try, I say you are missing out. If you like to save articles just print out the few pages you need. Like some, I do prefer a hard copy myself but if my choice is having some content or not having it, I will take it in whatever form is available. Not having this publication in the current form would be a loss. I think it is still a good magazine and I give Kirk credit for being able to continue it in any form.

    This does make me hesitate about buying a subscription to other similar publications since I assume they would have similar issues. In the case of N Scale Railroading Magazine vs N-Scale Magazine, I much prefer we the former which is why I subscribed in the first place. But now since there is only one left I am now buying N-Scale in the store every 2 months. It may end up costing a few dollars more, but that also allows the shop to get their small cut of the pie. When I buy some of the other larger publications and see only a few pages of N scale each issue, I am disappointed. So I choose to support those who are still catering to us.
     
    Onizukachan and BNSF FAN like this.
  17. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I will jump in with my .02 worth. I like being able to save digital copies of stuff that interests me. To be able to DL the whole magazine and print just the stuff that grabs my interest is fine by me. i dont have anything 'catalogued' yet...but my 'collection' isnt all that large...yet.:whistle:

    Add to that that with failing eyesight being able to 'zoom' a digital page to be able to read it without eye strain is a god send...JS (y)
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.

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