Features Whats the latest re The Rodders Journal?

^^ I went to local Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Nor-Cal today. No Rodders Journal, not even Hot Rod. No traditional, hot rodder, custom or drag racing mags. Was amazed. Big local grocery store has recently removed the entire magazine, book and toys sections.

 

Five years ago, maybe a bit longer I could walk into Barns & Noble and and just build an arm load of car and vintage airplane magazines. Fun times that kids will never experience today.

 

Same ol' stuff . . .

 

I've looked at the local mag racks recently. They had 2 different Hot Rods, a Motor Trend, a cl***ic truck and a few selling rags. Everything else has gone.
15 different Time Looks Back at different things, a bunch of house & home from off-grid to high end decorating, and a few each model train and railroad mags. This is grocery stores and the mart plus one independent book store.
Really seems all the others have gone.

 

Fully agree, but the advertising rags are still profitable. Guess it makes sense since just about every inch of a page is paid, and the paper and black print is cheap, but who is seriously looking for a deal in those?
Especially when something like AutoTrader print died?

If I had to point fingers, look at this entry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Trend_Group
2 current and a LOT closed down.

 

You can still get model railway magazines at the store?
Cool!

 

TRJ #83 started to hit mailboxes in mid April 2020. Issue #87 is getting to some just now.
That means it took six years to produce just four issues. Slowest "quarterly" magazine in history...???

And, no response on the HAMB from @TRJ since the end of April 2021. Coming up five years.
I would be super surprised if we heard from them now, but I would be happy to be proven wrong..... as long as the information they provide is not just the same old same old. They do check in every now and then to see what is going on here. Last was mid March, just a couple of weeks ago.

 

Clearly screwed up. But what's the alternative -fold their tents and slink away like all the other publications we used to enjoy?

 

I think Stevie moved two or three times during the last four issues or six years. That says alot.....

 

That is one alternative, but obviously not what most want.

Here is another. How about TRJ try being open and honest with their market and maybe remodel their business strategy to one that will hopefully let them survive. If people then still want to play along with the new rules it is their choice. If they are made aware that they might get, on average, two thirds of a magazine per year and still decide to back TRJ, no harm - no foul. But that is not what has been happening. Subscriptions are still being sold under pretences that would appear to be obviously nigh-on impossible to deliver.

I hope the magazine can survive, but I can't see that happening if it stubbornly continues down the track it is on.
Like any business, clients put your food on your table. Best not to be silent and deceptive towards then.

Most people who are complaining about the situation would probably just like an honest answer.

 

For those new to the show.....

Another thing that I think is worth mentioning is that issue 83 was only received by US subscribers and RJ distributors. All copies that were to be sent to direct international subscribers were for some vague reason destroyed by the forwarding agent.

I (as did many international subscribers) ended up having to purchase 83 from a retailer as my direct subscription copies from RJ for A and B covers were never supplied. We were told that they could not been resent as they were all destroyed.

From that debacle you may have some understanding as to why direct international subscribers are concerned that they are likely being screwed over with issue #87.

Whilst I personally would like to see RJ continue. I don't believe it is ethical or right to supply copies to the US market but not deliver to paid up international subscribers.

If RJ can not meet its obligations to all of its paid subscribers then it should fold.

At the very least if they are going to try to trade out of difficulty then they should stop accepting international subscriptions. Whilst honouring (or refunding) those already paid up.

 

What exactly does that say? He moved once in 2019, relocating the business from Northern California to Richmond, Virginia, because Nor Cal had become far too expensive. This was a move he planned for a couple of years (and if you'll recall was partially funded by the lifetime subscriptions he offered...something he stated as one of his goals when those subscriptions were offered). Then when Covid delivered a gut punch to the magazine he moved the business to Denton, Maryland, because the space was more economical and it was much closer to his 90-year-old mother and ailing brother.

I do know that Steve's been working very hard to get things back on track, but I can't fault any of the comments on here regarding the business, communication, or late deliveries. That said, I'd respectfully ask you to reconsider making insinuations and taking personal shots at a guy you don't know personally.

 

................Well said, Curt.

 

I would recommend you read through this entire thread so you can be fully informed on what is and has been going on.

As of now, I do not have any new news; for anyone else who has messaged me, I have returned the message.

 

Still no 87 for me. Tried emailing them, nothing back.

 

I’ve heard from TRJ as mentioned earlier when I messaged Ron.
So far that’s it no further communication and so far no issue #87 either.
Things obviously move really slow at TRJ if they move at all.

 

Did you read my previous posts on this thread?

 

Today at the supermarket. Did not remember those C&Ds.

 

Model Railroader was my monthly Bible when I was a kid. Couldn't wait to see the new and old trains that I could dream about. The rear of the magazine had cl***ified ads. Of course, that was the first place I would go. Model Railroader was founded in 1934. Still available for purchase at many magazine racks. Damn impressive.

 

‘Same here…

 

Lots of magazines still available on lots of topics.
Is print really dead? Or is that just the excuse used by the ones that go under because of other reasons...???

 

Automotive is Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Car & Driver. I guess you could include Hemmings, although it's also cl***ified. I'm sure there are others out there, but this represents the local selection. There isn't a Barnes & Noble nearby, they closed out of the mall.
The 4 others are all sales cl***ifieds.
If you followed the wiki link posted early on, it included this
In December 2019, the company announced that 19 of the 22 magazines published by the company would be discontinued that month.
They bought or built a lot of ***les, then shut them off. A lot weren't missed, but the space on the shelf has not been filled with others. No others have dared to start up a new mag. The subject of this thread used to be available in many locations. That has dropped to Autobooks and maybe a couple speed shops and the Peterson? I think that says it's not a viable plan to start a newsstand automotive magazine.

 

plenty of magazines on autism, which surprised me - probably more relevant in today’s society than hot rods……..

 

Most magazine topics are probably more relevant in today’s society than hot rods.
Pre '65 hot rodding puts us squarely in a minority group, yet we expect to be catered for in the print media world.

 

Haven't seen it in conventional news/ book stores here in 3-4 years. Available at a couple
Hot Rod Shops at least

 

I can confirm that Hot Rod Ron followed up on my request just as he promised. It took TRJ about a month to get it resolved, but now my Lifetime subscription is back in effect. Perhaps the confusion was upgrading to Lifetime while I still had 3 issues remaining on my previous annual membership, and it simply wasn't converted? All I do know is TRJ didn't show records of my Lifetime subscription until I emailed them copies of my online order (I keep every email) and pictures of proof (Lifetime T-Shirt, Courtesy Cards, etc). Once I sent this to Ron, he was able to alert TRJ Customer Service and they engaged. To my surprise, I received #87 a couple of weeks later. Now I'm looking forward to #88!
So Thank you Ron, I appreciate your ***istance!

 

You will not see it in stores like large bookstores for a while, as the main distributor used went out of business during COVID and such. The only way to get TRJ moving forward is through one of our dealers, the website, or our booth at certain shows TRJ might attend.

As for what shows TRJ will be at, I only know of GNRS. The main focus is getting TRJ back up and running like it was before.

To the latest people who have PM'd me, I have responded and forwarded all your information. Thank you for providing what I need to take care of you as well as I can.

 

Each and every exhibitor and person in attendance at SEMA should be concerned. Modified vehicles are their business, and having print media coverage was a huge part of that. Yes, the internet has quicker, more niche coverage and social aspects. But a magazine cover or article is still bragging rights and there is only the quarterly Hot Rod. The other mags are current model stock stuff.
Now maybe there are other mags in the specialty bookstores. But if they aren't reaching out to the Safeway and Walmart, they are losing eyes and hearts.
If it's dying off, I sure wouldn't want to be owning any of those companies. I've ranted before about how the mags ended up being paid shills for the advertisers, so the companies kind of are responsible for the death of the mag. Question now is how do they reach not only the current gearhead but future ones? I don't think targeted AI advertising is the answer.

 

Internet / social media is the preferred poison at the moment. Stubbornly wishing for the world to be like it was unfortunately doesn't make it so. As we get old, it is a good idea to try and keep up as best we can. The process of progress has no reverse gear.