...getting their magazine. I subscribed in November and waited 'till Feb. to e-mail 'em. They sent me a tracking number wich turned out to be some bull shit number and we e-mailed a few time. Seemed like good people now I got nothing. It was a cheap lesson but has any one else had a problem with them or does it really take them a ridiculously long time to mail this stuff?
I paid for 2 subscriptions...missed out on a couple issues wich they did replace but when i renewed the subscriptions....I havent recieved a thing...I emailed a couple of times explaining the problem and got no reponse....I give up!
I moved too, and talked to Stoner about it, he said to email "Sireene", so I did. She said my issue was sent, to the old address, no biggie, I picked it up from the new owners of my old house. But, I haven't gotten an issue here since the one with the Beatnik Bandit on the cover. Has there been one since then, 'cause I re upped when they told me to?... Stoner, ya out there? Jay
I ordered a couple back issues a month or two ago, I havent seen a thing..... Im starting to get pissed.....
I mentioned this info a few weeks ago, but for what it's worth, the Beatnik issue is still the current issue....the All-Girl issue is scheduled next. Stoner and crew do face printer & shipping mishaps, serious personal illness, and many other complications that revolve around putting out a magazine. Try to remember that this magazine is not backed by big money or a large staff.... Stoner and crew are good people, in our opinion.
Never subscribed but I've got all the issues up to the beatnik bandit one, via the internet / website. All the way to Australia too, showed up everytime. The poster I ordered went missing along the way. PM'ed Stoner and he had another sent pronto. Personally I'm VERY happy with their treatment. But a lot of time subscriptions seem to suck, I tend to just Buy each thing I want from Garage and other publications. Cheers Maiki (the logo looks like gayage though..hehe)
ok, if the beatnik bandit one is the current one, then i'm not too worried... i did order a back issue when i got the subscription and haven't recieved it yet...i'll have to send another email i guess...probably got lost in the sea of mail that they get every day.
I had a couple of problems but I understand it`s a small operation,each time I contacted Stoner and they took care of it.
I've been trying to contact Garage for 2 weeks no one answers the phone messages OR Emails. Are they on the Hamb? Can someone PM me the name? Thanks
I have mixed feelings on this. Stoner is a good guy, that's for sure. I love the magazine. I'm a layout and detail whore, so it's what I dig. As far as delays go: They simply aren't acceptable in modern distribution. Production and distribution of printed materials is part of what I do for a living. Gathering content, meeting deadlines, etc. It's all about managing expectations. Mailing list mix-ups on subscriptions: No reason for those either. I feel that Garage has made a mistake by offering subscribers the option of emailing their address change. Print an address change card that goes in each subscription and let that be the only way of changing addy. Yes, these will occasionally get lost, but the instances of trouble will diminish greatly from those faced w/ email. Technology is a real bitch. Staffing issues: I'm sure Stoner has thought of this, but bringing in a couple of interns is a good option. Free labor from degree-seeking folk who are interested in being a part of a really good magazine is quite appealing. Make no mistake, I'm a huuuuge fan of this magazine. It's so visually appealing and well done. I wish them the best in sorting out the little things.
I hate being the poster boy for cool shit, and I'm really not sure if my hillbilly ass endorsing this magazine will ACTUALLY HELP IT....BUT - They are AWESOME. Garage loves this culture with a passion and perverse glee that can only be rivaled by their willingness to shove it's pompous "aesthetic" up it's ass. If you've a decent business and have not contacted them to place an ad, you are a quiverpuss. A gelatinous, fleshy mass of doe eyed wussness. Chicken. Scrub. Poser. Chain Mutt. Overly PC, starf**king, shaver of domestic animals that's you, and you're spending too much money in the "catalog" magazines. For SHAME. BiteabonegrabdaphoneringupOllyWendelJone'...BuysomespacejointharaceputtheylameasstweedanpinksweetrodsintheyPLACE. AllferoneanoneferallkeepyostinkyassoutdaMALL. I'm waiting for a couple magazines myself. I'll get 'em eventually, woopty doo. We got your back boys, VIVA La Impossibollo!!! - Tim
Whew! I'm finally back online. Conder let me know this post was here and I'll see if I can clean some house... You're right--personal business and developments are no excuse not to keep the magazine's customers happy. Johnny touched on a few things that are true and here's exactly where we stand: GARAGE is partnering with a marketing firm called Elephonic Media. We've seen the potential for growth in this culture and we were faced with a dilemma: either stay the way we were and crumble under the weight of more demand or change with the times and do what's necessary to stay afloat. We know that there are folks who absolutely do NOT see the value of GARAGE, but thankfully, there are more people who do. And I hate to bring this up, but advertisers are seeing it, as well. I know we don't want what we hold dear to be exploited, and that's one of the reasons we're here--to keep ourselves honest about this culture. It's AIN'T just about the cars! OK, so GARAGE and Elephonic are combining efforts to not only make our culture more powerful, but to show it in the light it deserves and maintain its integrity. It's real easy to get caught up in the VLV-pinupfetishretro-rockasilly-jacket-club bullshit and our mission has always been to accurately showcase the people and machines who were originally responsible for us being here as well as the current interpretations of it all. I think that stuff can sometimes be only skin-deep and it's what fads are made of. Forgive me, but American hot rod culture is not a fad. It's a National Treasure, the way the Japanese consider their important people and movements national treasures. I hold it dear to me and have too much respect for it to not to treat it as such. I think you'd agree. With Elephonic, we're positioning ourselves to be even stronger in this way. We're the real deal and you'll be seeing some neat stuff from us that you can be proud of because of this partnership. Speaking of which, it's time I let y'all in on a little secret: Up till now, GARAGE has only had one full-time staff: me (and I haven't even been able to be as full-time as I'd like). Raquel has a full-time corporate job and everyone else chips in when they can. I don't talk about this aspect of the magazine because I've worked hard at making it look like a viable player on the magazine stand. But, it's the main reason people don't get the responses they want in the time they expect them. Not an excuse, just the reality. I take it to heart when things go wrong and you, our supporters, are the most important thing to me. With Elephonic, we'll double our full-time staff! Now, if that's not corporate upsizing, I don't know what is. So, we're in a moment of transition. That has tripled the workload and we're in the process of getting a sales person up to speed to spread the GARAGE gospel. She's in SO-CAL and is doing an amazing job. But that takes some time, as well, and we've never had this kind of firepower before, so we're looking forward to that support. The good news is that we've been growing. Slowly, but growing nonetheless. I guess, in the grand scheme of things, it's best. But frankly, it's hard sometimes. I'd like to see us grow faster--especially when I see CKD making its next move with the folks over at OSR. That's progress, kids, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous of their good news. But, if nothing else, the market will tell me if I'm full of shit or not. It's like anything else--if you think your idea is good, test it in the American market. There's no better way to find out. We'll continue to work at customer service. It's one of the hardest things to maintain. I know it's easy to bitch and complain--as a consumer, it's your right to do so. Hey, it's your hard-earned money, no matter what the amount is. And when we're wrong, we'll admit it and do our best to fix it. A magazine ain't like selling hot dogs (like some jackass tried to tell me once): there are so many people and companies involved when it reaches a certain level that some breakdowns are just beyond our control. And we can't do anything about it until we (1.) find out about it and (2.) are given the opportunity to fix it. But when we gain control of the situation, we'll do everything we can to fix it to the best of our ability. Lastly: we're late getting Issue #7 to press. It should've been out a month ago. I sincerely apologize for that. If you have the Beatnik issue, you're up to snuff and haven't missed anything. If you're supposed to have that issue and don't, drop me a line (it may not be the first, but I'll get it and act on it). All the reasons above are just the plain facts why #7 ain't in your hands yet. I think you'll like it, though and I hope the wait will have been worth it. If you've read all this, I sincerely appreciate it. I know I've said some things here that might stir the pot, but that's OK. It's what I believe and I'd be full of shit if I didn't stand behind it. Hope to hear from you... STONER
I have faith-I subscribed!Stoner responded imediately to my PM here so Im on their bandwagon.........
I'm just going to add this for what it is, I purchased an issue from the site in Aug. I think. Two months later I emailed concerned sending all my info including the paypal info. Another few weeks to a month goes by with no response, I again email doing this every few weeks about 4-5 times total with no response. Finally I say screw it and send one final email stating this was no way to run a business and would tell anyone that would listen what kind of operation it was. A week later I got the missing issue, still no email response. I would have sent it back if my wife hadnt opened it. I can appreciate its a small operation, and would continue to support it if it wasn't for this situation, a simple email saying we got your $9 so you can go to hell would have been sufficient.
Never had any REAL dramas.....but then I'm a dealer for Garage in Oz (KustomInk)...it's been a pleasure to fly the flag, even if a lot of the crowd here don't "get it". Oh, and Raquel kicks ARSE!!
Man? Prisioners have it made they even have Garage magazine in OZ....Oh you mean Australia...Duh! I think Garage kicks ass and can't wait to see the next one. What is this about a chick issue...Show the Girls!!!!!! I love the boob-bee!
i'm getting the hee-bee gee-bees thinkin' of some of ya'll and what may be done while checking out the next issue with gals like KALI and THE RADIATOR HOES, the all gal car club my wife runs with...scary... nic
Have you met Evil yet? I think great things could come from Garage Magazine and the Mad Fabricators Society.? Just a thought.
The Jalopy Journal
