Smallformat magazine

[David M. Leugers]

Has anyone else had a problem with their copy of the latest issue of Smallformat?
Mine is almost useless. It has about the right number of pages, but the issue is made up of duplicates of certain pages and not the complete issue. There is almost no complete stories due to this defect. I have contacted Smallformat twice about it but have not heard a response. Sad to say, this is not the first time I have had an issue with this type of problem. This does not speak well for the quality control of the publisher... I love the magazine, and want to continue supporting it, but I want what I pay for...

[reflex]

That's very strange, indeed. Mine is fine.

PM me your mailing address and I'll send an extra copy your way.

[cineandy]

not another 'smallformat' bashing post i hope.

[alpha.tango]

not another 'smallformat' bashing post i hope.

[/u

Just to make it absolutely clear, my recent postings were not bashing 'smallformat' - it is a great magazine - I am only 'bashing' the publisher's procedures which really let down the editorial team.

In different personal circumstances I would have wished to continue with a further year's issues but at my choice, not that of the publisher.

If subscription policies were clearer I would have no hesitation in recommending smallformat to interested friends - but not whilst the publisher acts in their current manner.

I have been reading cine magazines right back to titles such as movie maker in the 60's - smallformat beats all of them.

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

It is a very "usual" way of taking subscriptions. But it doesen´t mean I like it, or think it is OK.

I just thought that it might be interesting to hear that Smallformat and Germany are not the only ones doing this to their customers. At least two magazine subscriptions I have had were like this. They sent the next magazine with the subscription invoice, and I had to pay for the subscription or for the single copy of the magazine if I didn´t want to continue subscribing. That single copy suddenly got a lot more expensive than in normal shops.

Swedish magazines.

It is good to "bash" the publishers about this, at least in direct contact with them (perhaps not in repeated threads in forums, but I know it was not your intention so please don´t take this the wrong way).

Perhaps we can get the publishers to change the way they behave? I don´t like being forced into another subsciption, and I bet nobody does. They cannot gain anyting in the long run by doing so, they will loose a lot of goodwill and reputation will go down the drain.

Just to make it clear, I am not talking about Smallformat or their publichers in the above comment. I mean publishers in general that are trying to force people to subscriptions.

[mattias]

i've gotten magazines sent to me for years after my subscription expired, along with an invoice every month, but never paid and never had a problem. just enjoy the fact that they're sending you stuff for free. of course i'm a very difficult customer who believes in my rights and likes to tell people to fuck off, but i realize most people get afraid when they get an invoice so i agree it's a shady way of doing business. better to listen to me though than to change the way the publishers work. again, it is free stuff after all.

/matt

[Juno]

i'm a very difficult customer ... and likes to tell people to fuck off, ....
/matt

Yes, we know!

[mattias]

you say that like it's a bad thing. if people are being morons, especially if becomes a problem for you, what do you do? i treat people the way they deserve and i'm proud of it. some people seem to judge the person who says fuck off harder than the person who deserved it, and that's a major problem in my book.

/matt