Mike B. Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Just got this months MMM today and it has taken me less than an hour to read it! All it seems to be these days is adverts for dealers, adverts for 'best sites' adverts for accessories and adverts for Warners shows. On counting the pages something like 80% of the magazine is now given over to advertising. I appreciate Warners need to attract advertisers as the magazine costs more than selling price to produce but surely there should be more content in it than there is at present We've lost Andy Stotherts articles to the Caravan Club and all that seems to have replaced it is Readers own info about places they have visited on a one page spread. There is a bit of Technical, a few Readers Letters, Vintage vans and then back to advertisers and small ads for vans-Oh and this month there are 4 pages given over to Recalls interspersed with yet more adverts.-Wouldn't the garages know about the recalls and advise when servicing? I got so bored with it I am seriously thinking of cancelling my subscription. What do other readers think? Is it value for money at almost £4 per month? or £3 by subscription? Am I turning into Victor Meldrew or do others agree? Would be interested in your views Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Hello Mike, to be honest are not all magazines like this, I look at some of the stuff my missus buys and they are just the same. They could of course cover things like useless dealers, shoddy vans, and all the things that would be really helpful for the reader, but of course they would soon find themselves without advertisers. On balance I think joining one of the clubs provides the best value for money, you get a monthly magazine, and some exclusive sites to boot for around the same sort of cash. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FRANKP60 Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Yes ,must agree ,last months was poor ,With reports from sites in food areas .Mine has not arrived this month,but from what you are saying its not sounding good .Come back Andy please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muswell Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-30 4:43 PM . They could of course cover things like useless dealers, shoddy vans, and all the things that would be really helpful for the reader, but of course they would soon find themselves without advertisers. I think the reviews could be improved a lot if some of the words that are used to describe things which are pretty obvious were instead given to build quality. Our VW was converted for us and looked as good as new after 11 years as an all-purpose vehicle. Until the time came that we had to change it I hadn't looked at what was on the market. It was quite a revelation when I did. Looking at a couple of makes that looked promising on paper and from reviews I found build quality like MFI's cheapest. During one of my inspections I had a new pump fitted, got talking to the mechanic and asked him which makes he would recommended. He had just got started before he realised it would be better not to say too much. :-( But all magazines are the same, they are businesses. Which was the motoring magazine that said that one of the Ford Escorts was no good? Ford pulled all their advertising, but did also modify the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I don't really care how many adverts there are, because I don't read them - and presumably, without them the magazine would cost even more. Haven't received the latest copy yet, but I'm just hoping it's not as bad as last months - which generated a thread of its' own on the forum.. I generally find other peoples' travels quite interesting - especially if they have some scenic photos included, although I have learned to my cost to ignore other peoples' idea of " stunning views " ! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirage Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Gave up on it ages ago cheaper to stand in Smiths and read the open one (as a lot of other people do these days) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globebuster Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 As one Victor to another, I think you have a valid point. The April issue was shocking, and the last few have been pretty poor - part of what I see as a terminal decline. Don't think I'll bother with this months - unless I succumb to bordom on the ferry next week. As I said on the recent other thread [that rhymed well!] - there is not enough real or relevant info and the Test Reports have very little substance. Glad I'm not a subscriber! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 The digital and on-line age is the death-knell of such old fashioned publications. Progress is progress; ignore it at a your peril. I find I can get much better, more accurate, and far more up-to-date information on any motor-homing topic that I want to find out about via websites and on-line forums. For no cost (other than my fixed-fee internet connection, which I have for all sorts of other reason....) Why on Earth anyone still pays 4 quid a month in this era for such old fashioned, out-of-date, advert-infested, paper-based, magazines beats me. Each to their own I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel wood Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 mirage - 2013-03-30 8:53 PM Gave up on it ages ago cheaper to stand in Smiths and read the open one (as a lot of other people do these days) I assume that you are making a joke. Having said that, I did find MMM interesting and quite informative on some aspects when we first bought a van. I then subscribed for a number of years. A couple of years ago I did not renew my subscription as I didn't really need to read reviews of vans and many of the travel articles were repeating what I had read elsewhere (even in earlier MMMs) or were covering places we knew so I no longer considered the magazine to be giving me good valuer for money. Increasingly the Readers' Campsite Reviews were featuring the same writers over and over again (sometimes 2 by the same person in one issue). It had seemed to have become something of a closed shop. Since then I have occasionally bought issues (either because of what was on the front or a quick look in WHS revealed that there were some articles that I considered would be worth reading. None of these issues has made me think that I want to renew my subscription. Whilst I do not claim to know all there is to know about owning and using a motorhome perhaps it is the case that for me and some others MMM doesn't really tell us much that is new or that we really want to know ............... but it can be of great interest and benefit to folks thinking of buying a motorhome and/or in the early years of ownership. We certainly found it so in those days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 BGD - 2013-03-30 9:32 PM The digital and on-line age is the death-knell of such old fashioned publications. Progress is progress; ignore it at a your peril. I find I can get much better, more accurate, and far more up-to-date information on any motor-homing topic that I want to find out about via websites and on-line forums. For no cost (other than my fixed-fee internet connection, which I have for all sorts of other reason....) Why on Earth anyone still pays 4 quid a month in this era for such old fashioned, out-of-date, advert-infested, paper-based, magazines beats me. Each to their own I guess. Not everyone wants to 'read' off a laptop, tablet etc, some actually prefer to have 'paper' in their hands. Even the invention of e-books such as Kindle, Nook etc hasn't converted everyone to use them in preference to buying books and newspapers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Mel B - 2013-03-30 10:54 PM Not everyone wants to 'read' off a laptop, tablet etc, some actually prefer to have 'paper' in their hands. Even the invention of e-books such as Kindle, Nook etc hasn't converted everyone to use them in preference to buying books and newspapers. One of the benefits of a paper magazine ( or book ) is that you don't need to have access to an electricity supply in order to read it. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 There is another advantage to subscribing other than the mag... First, subscribers get £2 off each Warners show they camp at so a reasonable amount can be saved if you attend regularly. Second, several insurance companies offer discount if you are a member of a club and many of those recognise the MMM subscription club. And finally a lot of advertisers offer an often substantial discount to subscribers. For example we are planning on our having our MH re-upholstered this year and our current chosen supplier offers 10% discount to subscribers. As we plan to spend a couple of thousand pounds the saving is not to be sniffed at and will cover our subscription for certainly the next couple of years :-) And of course then there is the added bonus of a magazine to read :D Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnSue1664232222 Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 I also like to have a hard copy to read. Even if the quality varies substantially from one month to the next there is usually some little piece of advice that alone is worth the subs fee. John B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Let's be fair,electronics have revolutionised the way we access information, this medium being a classic example. We all remember the demise of the LP record, now I have a device that has every album I could ever want in the size of a packet of fags. Will magazines go the same way,who knows, perhaps the likes of Ipads will keep the paper versions going. Now I'm going to read the mornings papers, all online. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 Hhmm more against than for it would seem. I agree with a lot of the replies on here but still feel there is too much advertising and not enough content. Of the first 27 pages this month 21 are advertisements. In total there are over 200 pages of advertising in a 314 page magazine-consequently there are only 114 'reading pages' and of those this month 4 are given over to Recalls and 11 to secondhand van prices thus leaving just 99 pages of interest unless you are buying a new van. With regard to the Subscribers discount-can't justify this either as I got a discount from Care-a-van better than the club 10%, P&O prices are better through CC and the Insurance discount is for New Policies only! £2 off a show is not going to make much difference to the National Debt I feel but there again if you visit a lot of shows it would add up and I suppose technically this same person would read the adverts-ie more VFM in the magazine. Page after page of site adverts every month though really drive me to distraction-especially as they are the same every month and always pushing Premier campsites. I definitely agree there is more information to be gleaned on the forum and find this very interesting with different views and opinions on every topic under the heading 'Motorhome Matters' Thanks for your opinions-interesting replies Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:14 AM Let's be fair,electronics have revolutionised the way we access information, this medium being a classic example. . :D Quite right. A good time to buy shares in the electricity supply industry. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 malc d - 2013-03-31 10:25 AM 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:14 AM Let's be fair,electronics have revolutionised the way we access information, this medium being a classic example. . :D Quite right. A good time to buy shares in the electricity supply industry. ;-) I thought they used electric in producing magazines, and for your lighting at home to read them, not too mention distribution costs and shop lighting where you buy them from. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:41 AM malc d - 2013-03-31 10:25 AM 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:14 AM Let's be fair,electronics have revolutionised the way we access information, this medium being a classic example. . :D Quite right. A good time to buy shares in the electricity supply industry. ;-) I thought they used electric in producing magazines, and for your lighting at home to read them, not too mention distribution costs and shop lighting where you buy them from. Precisely - ( i.e. making us more dependent on them all the time ! ) .... and then keep putting their charges up. Get some shares now !!! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 malc d - 2013-03-31 10:45 AM 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:41 AM malc d - 2013-03-31 10:25 AM 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:14 AM Let's be fair,electronics have revolutionised the way we access information, this medium being a classic example. . :D Quite right. A good time to buy shares in the electricity supply industry. ;-) I thought they used electric in producing magazines, and for your lighting at home to read them, not too mention distribution costs and shop lighting where you buy them from. Precisely - ( i.e. making us more dependent on them all the time ! ) .... and then keep putting their charges up. Get some shares now !!! ;-) Have no spare cash for shares,I'll go back to candles, that will wrong foot them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:50 AM malc d - 2013-03-31 10:45 AM 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:41 AM malc d - 2013-03-31 10:25 AM 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:14 AM Let's be fair,electronics have revolutionised the way we access information, this medium being a classic example. . :D Quite right. A good time to buy shares in the electricity supply industry. ;-) I thought they used electric in producing magazines, and for your lighting at home to read them, not too mention distribution costs and shop lighting where you buy them from. Precisely - ( i.e. making us more dependent on them all the time ! ) .... and then keep putting their charges up. Get some shares now !!! ;-) Have no spare cash for shares,I'll go back to candles, that will wrong foot them. Four Candles? :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 No, fork handles........... classic :D But back on topic, just occurred to me that neither of my grown up daughters ever have magazines in the house, too busy stuck to their Iphones. ;-) that apparently does everything barring making a cup of tea, we've beat them at that with our Teasmaid back in the sixties. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemelson Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:14 AM Now I'm going to read the mornings papers, all online. :D How Boring!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemelson Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 I buy most of the magazines but no way would I pay 4 or 5 quid or whatever it is. I buy from market stalls 80p per magazine or 3 for £1.50. They may be 2 or 3 months out of date but so what, it's hardly cutting edge fashion (which I'm not interested in anyway) so being a bit behind doesn't matter. The mag is 80% drivel, the only articles worth reading were by Andy Stothert & he's left. Very rarely do I read a report that is of personal interest. Pages & pages of sites which I don't go to anyway to & any problems or queries are answered much quicker online. I probably won't bother to buy any more, even at 80p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 mikemelson - 2013-03-31 11:38 AM 1footinthegrave - 2013-03-31 10:14 AM Now I'm going to read the mornings papers, all online. :D How Boring!! Just trying to illustrate the point, bang up to date information at your finger tips, or trawl some market stall as you do to find stuff months out of date, you could of course save yourself the 80p though, nip down your doctors waiting room and read the stuff there, but they are all still full of adverts just the same. :D Can be pretty boring on here at times as well, but non the less folk are on here including you and I. :D and obviously have run out of paper magazines to read. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Mel B - 2013-03-30 11:54 PM BGD - 2013-03-30 9:32 PM The digital and on-line age is the death-knell of such old fashioned publications. Progress is progress; ignore it at a your peril. I find I can get much better, more accurate, and far more up-to-date information on any motor-homing topic that I want to find out about via websites and on-line forums. For no cost (other than my fixed-fee internet connection, which I have for all sorts of other reason....) Why on Earth anyone still pays 4 quid a month in this era for such old fashioned, out-of-date, advert-infested, paper-based, magazines beats me. Each to their own I guess. Not everyone wants to 'read' off a laptop, tablet etc, some actually prefer to have 'paper' in their hands. Even the invention of e-books such as Kindle, Nook etc hasn't converted everyone to use them in preference to buying books and newspapers. Agreed but, with respect, that wasn't my point. For a paper-based magazine to fail as a business, that demise doesn't wait until the very last paper-copy reader deserts it, there will always be some people who want to buy/read it. It will fail when that number of people falls consistently below a certain number of sales, and thus costs exceed sales contribution, which results in ongoing trading losses. "Punch", "Dandy" and thousands of other defunct paper-based magazines/comics bear witness to this reality of technology-driven changing consumer tastes. I suspect that MMM is trying to survive, in the face of rising costs & falling magazine sales, by increasing the space devoted to corporate advertisers, to try to gain more sales revenue from them instead. Danger in that tactic though is that it's a vicious circle, as pointed out by the OP; because a perception that they are now overdoing the adverts part of the mix simply alienates yet more magazine buyers........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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