HowandSue Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Oh dear! What has happened to MMM. We have been subscribers for many years and always looked forward to its arrival every month. However the content has deteriorated so much that we are now considering cancelling our subscription. What happened to " the magazine for motor homers written by motor homers". Now we have an editor who, however nice he may be, has no experience on motor homing; and many contributors/writers too young to have any real experience. The latest magazine was almost the last straw. I did not purchase a FOOD magazine, but it felt like it. John Hunt would turn in his grave!!
Guest pelmetman Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Its called progress *-)..................unfortunately our hobby once enjoyed by eccentrics and odd balls has become fashionable........ and big business has moved in to make a killing 8-).............closely followed by the authorities >:-( But I do my bit to fight the nutters corner :D
malc d Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 HowandSue - 2013-03-15 5:06 PM Oh dear! What has happened to MMM. We have been subscribers for many years and always looked forward to its arrival every month. However the content has deteriorated so much that we are now considering cancelling our subscription. What happened to " the magazine for motor homers written by motor homers". Now we have an editor who, however nice he may be, has no experience on motor homing; and many contributors/writers too young to have any real experience. The latest magazine was almost the last straw. I did not purchase a FOOD magazine, but it felt like it. John Hunt would turn in his grave!! Welcome to the forum -- and well said ! Just look at what is supposed to be the ' TRAVEL ' section. 9 articles - it seems that 8 of them are about FOOD ! Pages 36 to 97 I'm aware that some readers may be interested - but surely 60 pages is a bit over the top ? I've stopped watching much TV these days because every time I turn it on there's someone cooking, and now I can't even escape it by reading the MMM. ... a lot of forum members are interested in dogs so I'm dreading next months copy. ;-)
Robinhood Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 malc d - 2013-03-15 8:51 PM ... a lot of forum members are interested in dogs so I'm dreading next months copy. ;-) ......Mel's Multiple Mutts? B-)
Guest pelmetman Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Robinhood - 2013-03-15 9:09 PM malc d - 2013-03-15 8:51 PM ... a lot of forum members are interested in dogs so I'm dreading next months copy. ;-) ......Mel's Multiple Mutts? B-) Men's Midlifecrisis Means...............lets spend our kids inheritance on a motorhome :D
Mel B Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Well, although I'm a subscriber ... I haven't actually read MMM for months - since July I think! :$ The mags are piled up in the bedroom waiting to be read at some point. The simply reason is I just went off magazines and prefer to do my puzzle books at the moment ... I'm contemplating whether to keep subscribing or not I've got a couple of months before the next direct debit is due so I'll have to decide soon! I may get back into it though, but then again I might not! 8-) Decisions, decisions ... :-S *-)
kelly58 Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 Practical Motorhome is no better I took up a 3 mags for £1 offer and that in my opinion was all they were worth.!!
Brian Kirby Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 All change carries a risk, as does staying in the same mould indefinitely. While the magazine continues to sell, I guess warner's will remain happy. However, I have to say that if I was buying at a news stand, I think I would have left this edition on the shelf, for exactly the reasons stated. I also somewhat regret the increasing number of contributions from "professionals", and the rather small pool of writers who now seem to dominate the main articles. I rather enjoyed the contributions from actual motorhomers, though the editing was probably more difficult and demanding. Doubtless the circulation numbers will determine which way things will go in future.
HowandSue Posted March 16, 2013 Author Posted March 16, 2013 It's so nice to hear we're not the only ones who think this way. Maybe it's because we're getting older, but it used to be so nice to read articles from other people who liked to travel and explore in their vans. It gave us some good ideas for future trips too. We're not against change and its good to see more people joining the fraternity, but were not sure the current magazine would provide the help and inspiration we once had. Not sure Warners care either!
globebuster Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 I agree, this months edition is pretty grim, and it's been going downhill for a while. I picked up an old [Aug 2010] copy the other night that had been hanging around in the dining room - much better content all round. I seems to be written as if we're all idiots these days, and some of the 'expert' views on certain subjects clearly show a lack of any real knowledge. Thankfully I'm not a subscriber :-)
BGD Posted March 17, 2013 Posted March 17, 2013 I've said it before and I'll say it again.....I'm afraid the days of paper magazines like MMM are numbered. Technology has moved on. People who used to have to wait to buy such a monthly publication, can now get their information/gratification for free, via the internet. You may or may not like that. But you can't turn the clock back and stop it. I gave up on our subscription a couple of years ago, when I realized this, and also when I realised that I was paying a significant amount of money for about 50% advert pages, plus many other month-after-month-repeat pages. And that there was far more relevant, up to date, and interesting information available direct from other UK and overseas motorhomers via the various free web forums that now exist. For any technical questions/problems/ideas, immediate (and free) help is now at hand: Google is a wonderful thing. Mags like MMM are old, tired, behind the times, and their format is less and less relevant to modern motorhomers I'm afraid.
malc d Posted March 17, 2013 Posted March 17, 2013 Info from the internet is not free if you are paying a monthly fee for broadband. ;-)
BGD Posted March 17, 2013 Posted March 17, 2013 malc d - 2013-03-17 10:48 AM Info from the internet is not free if you are paying a monthly fee for broadband. ;-) Doh. Really? Well I would never have known that. A single monthly fixed fee gets me all my TV, local and national telephone calls, and unlimited internet 8meg broadband speed usage as well. Same is, I think, true for most other subscribers nowadays. Essentially, it has in the past few years become a fixed cost for your whole "digital communications" home package. And that cost continues to fall over time, given competition between ISP providers. Thus the extent of a subscribers use of the internet does not any longer affect its cost to them. Alternatively (and/or additionally), anyone nowadays can use their smartphone or laptop at any wifi hotspot, anywhere on the planet, to use the internet entirely for free.
PJay Posted March 18, 2013 Posted March 18, 2013 i bought this months MMM, because it looked like it would have some interesting articles on the south of France This is stated in VERY BOLD LETTERS on the front cover. On reading it, as has been stated the writer only seems to talk about FOOD. Very disappointing . I use to buy regularly, but stopped some time ago. Shall not bother again.,( Not worth £3.99) all the interesting travel articles have gone, along with the interesting writers. As for taking some of the Forum questions, and printing them. WELL!! Best watch out what you ask on here. PJay
Dogsbody Posted March 18, 2013 Posted March 18, 2013 What these people don't understand is that a- not everyone goes into pubs ( Very rare in my case) b- not everyone has pub meals all the time ( Even rarer in my case) c- a basic pension doesn't allow either of the above ( I expect they claim for them on expenses ) Probably last MMM I will buy, the lack of technical articles has become very noticeable, now they seem to just paraphrase the manufacturers promo handouts. Dogsbody
Mel B Posted March 19, 2013 Posted March 19, 2013 Despite me having several months' issues of mags, I haven't even taken them out of the wrapping yet but, based on the comments made on this thread, have had a quick look at the 'advert' for the current edition shown on the right of the forum pages and found the initial content listed as: Home Travel Rediscovering the foodie delights of Dorset Helen Werin and family indulge their sweet tooth in Derbyshire A short break in East Sussex, taking in a food festival A brew-pub tour of Hereford and Worcester Foreign Travel The gastronomy of Germany Seafood and sights of France's Cote Vermeille Campervan gourmet Martin Dorey worries about a two month family foodie trp in his classic Vee-Dub Campsites Sites for seafood, fabulous food festivals and regional delicacies Readers recommend their favourite sites So, I unwrapped the mag and the first thing that struck me was the 'Explore the south of France' banner - I too assume this meant a 'proper' tour and something that would interest me as we haven't really done much down there, but once looking at the index it would appear to be all about seafood ... which I don't eat!!! I shall have a better view once I have read it properly though. I must admit that if I wasn't a subscriber and had instead had a quick shuftie at a copy of the mag in a newsagents before deciding whether or not to buy it, I don't think I would have bothered! Whilst it is nice to have some articles/ideas etc about food and cooking in a motorhome, it shouldn't dominate it. As for Martin Dorey, I can't stand the bloke, last time I saw his TV series he hardly ever cooked actually IN his van (if at all) and used to use a stove OUTSIDE it - for all intents and purposes he could have stayed in a tent! Perhaps they'll get Jamie Oliver to do articles next seeing as he used to own a VW ... Jamie's Camper Cuisine perhaps? (LOL) I had noticed a while back, however, the amount of 'forum' content appearing in the mag as 'fillers' and/or interesting info for mag-only readers, and now that I've opened the current issues I've noticed the quality of the paper - it's thinner than I recall too. Progress??? Funnily enough I travel to see PLACES not eat all the food ... although I'm sure some of the forumites do BOTH, doing one more excessively than the other! :D
malc d Posted March 19, 2013 Posted March 19, 2013 Mel B - 2013-03-19 8:42 AM As for Martin Dorey, I can't stand the bloke, last time I saw his TV series he hardly ever cooked actually IN his van (if at all) and used to use a stove OUTSIDE it - for all intents and purposes he could have stayed in a tent! :D At least I'm not the only one who can't stand him then. .............. and shouldn't he be wearing a hair net when cooking ? ;-)
myshell Posted March 19, 2013 Posted March 19, 2013 I too was very disappointed with with latest edition of MMM, when having a quick flick through the pages my first impression was "Andy & Marion Stothert have unfortunately moved on and Warners have replaced them with Jonny & Fanny Craddock (anyone remember them ? ) Now I'm fully aware that the extortionate price we pay for this magazine does not cover the costs of publication and Warners rely on the revenue from advertisers for their profit, but as it was leathering it down with rain and blowing a hooligan at weekend, plus the fact that reading all the "interesting bits" of the magazine only took about 1/2 an hour I amused myself by counting the pages (sad life I know, but nowt else to do parked up on the Pennines in this weather.) ADVERTISEMENTS 148 pages FOOD 33 pages BEER 6 pages LETTERS 6 pages NEWS & EVENTS 3 pages SITE REVIEWS 7 pages ROAD & LIVE IN TESTS 17 pages BUYERS GUIDE 13 pages (same list as last month) PHOTOGRAPHY 3 pages (all photos of food) CLASSIC VANS 2 pages INTERCHANGE 5 pages Phil P.S. Come back Andy & Marion all is forgiven !
Daniel the editor Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 Thanks for the comments everyone, it's great to read feedback on what you like and don't like about each issue. I'll take your comments on board when planning content for future issues, but what I learnt very quickly when I first became an editor is that you can't please every reader every time. What I also learnt is that those who don't like something are generally more vociferous than those who are happy. But, we welcome all readers' comments - positive or negative - about your magazine. So please keep them coming. And to clarify some of the points raised in this thread: Andy Stothert will still be writing for MMM; he just no longer writes his regular column. I have lots of experience of motorhomes and the industry but lots more experience editing magazines. MMM's travel articles are written by genuine motorhomers and it doesn't matter if they are young or old, provided they are motorhomers who can write a great, well researched, informative, helpful and fun article. MMM's technical articles, practical advice and all the interchange help are provided by genuine motorhomers with masses of technical knowledge. MMM's motorhome reviews are carried out by genuine motorhomers, who are the most experienced motorhome testers in the country. MMM's classic advice is provided by a genuine motorhomer, who has vast knowledge of the classic motorhome scene. MMM's secondhand buying advice is written by a genuine motorhomer who has an unrivalled knowledge of the used market, The point is MMM is written by genuine motorhomers for motorhomers, so if you are a motorhomer with a story to tell then please submit an article - I'd love to read them. Finally, as I've said before on the forum, the ratio of adverts to editorial is strictly controlled and never exceeds the fixed level. And thanks for saying I'm nice! Daniel
BGD Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 Credit to Daniel for taking it on the chin; but the bottom line is surely a fairly straightforward concept: we want a MOTORHOME magazine to be about ........................motorhomes. MMM has, it seems, lost its way. I know it's impossible to be all things to all men, but if I wanted a magazine about cooking, I'd buy a cooking magazine. If I wanted a photography magazine, I'd buy a photography magazine. The declared specialist niche, the "USP" of MMM is (or was) that it is a MOTORHOMING magazine. Maybe that's what it should actually be. MH reviews. Hints and tips. Technical advice. Legal advice. Touring advice. Reviews on accessories, on maintenance, on rallies, on dealers, on manufacturers, on importing, on re-plating, on tyres, on suspension, on oils, etc etc etc.
nowtelse2do Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 myshell - 2013-03-19 3:55 PM (sad life I know, but nowt else to do parked up on the Pennines in this weather.) What do you mean parked up on the Pennines???? I bl**dy live here. (lol) (lol) Dave
malc d Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 Daniel the editor - 2013-03-21 11:20 AM MMM's technical articles, practical advice and all the interchange help are provided by genuine motorhomers with masses of technical knowledge. MMM's motorhome reviews are carried out by genuine motorhomers, who are the most experienced motorhome testers in the country. MMM's classic advice is provided by a genuine motorhomer, who has vast knowledge of the classic motorhome scene. MMM's secondhand buying advice is written by a genuine motorhomer who has an unrivalled knowledge of the used market, Daniel I would suggest that that is the content most of us are looking for. So - why 8 articles / 33 pages about food ? ;-)
Daniel the editor Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 Sorry I didn't address the recurring comment - that the April issue was a themed food and drink issue. Yes, all the travel articles in that issue were centred on food and drink. However, all these articles are still motorhome travel articles written by genuine motorhomers. And we ensured everything else in the magazine remained – so there is still practical motorhome advice, motorhome news, motorhome reviews, secondhand motorhome buying advice, classic motorhome advice… Indeed everything you would expect to see in a motorhome magazine. But, as promised, I take your comments on board. Thanks Daniel
Guest pelmetman Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 I like food & Drink :D..........so a regular "1 pot recipe of the month" would be nice for us people who like to cook in there campers ;-) Also being nosy I like to see what mods people have done in their campers :-D Its a shame Andy & Marion have done a runner though :-( ...........maybe you could recycle some of their best bits?...............works for the BBC (lol)
malc d Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 pelmetman - 2013-03-21 3:21 PM I like food & Drink :D.... ...... ;-) You could always subscribe to a Food and Drink magazine. ;-)
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