Ending my membership after poor treatment

[MJB]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

I agree that we always need to be moving forward, but a few archive pages per month is hardly going to obstruct this. Yes, let's go forward, but let's also not forget how we came to be here.

Great point. The magazine could just as easily be accused of having too much focus on people sitting around at picnics, or garage open days, and not enough on the cars!

I think a few pages of history are more interesting than news of the latest Porsche limited edition or another new SUV... []

Exactly - we all get different things from PP, so for anyone to suggest that something which is not to their particular interest should not be included seems more than a little selfish.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

ORIGINAL: MJB

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

I agree that we always need to be moving forward, but a few archive pages per month is hardly going to obstruct this. Yes, let's go forward, but let's also not forget how we came to be here.

Great point. The magazine could just as easily be accused of having too much focus on people sitting around at picnics, or garage open days, and not enough on the cars!

I think a few pages of history are more interesting than news of the latest Porsche limited edition or another new SUV... []

Exactly - we all get different things from PP, so for anyone to suggest that something which is not to their particular interest should not be included seems more than a little selfish.

And trying to insist something is included is similarly selfish.

The issue will always remain difficult to manage when a magazine is being sent out in print format - and it costs a fortune over a digital equivalent.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

The issue will always remain difficult to manage when a magazine is being sent out in print format - and it costs a fortune over a digital equivalent.

I don't see this as an issue?

The printed PP has to appeal to all members, is limited in size, but is still the most relevant point of contact with the Club for at least half the membership. Less than half our members are registered on the forum, although this is biased towards newer members, and the new website can only increase the move to online of course.

I think that car clubs need their newsletter, and a physical version is a lovely thing. Our problem is that Porsche is such a diverse company, leading to over 30 Registers, and we have so many members, needing 30-plus regions. That's a LOT of content to put in one newsletter, hence we now have a 140-page magazine.

It's a bit of a dinosaur: very large and possibly so out-of-touch it should be extinct. But, it's still a very large part of the membership experiance to have that fat mag land on the doorstep once a month. []

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

The issue will always remain difficult to manage when a magazine is being sent out in print format - and it costs a fortune over a digital equivalent.

I don't see this as an issue?

The printed PP has to appeal to all members, is limited in size, but is still the most relevant point of contact with the Club for at least half the membership. Less than half our members are registered on the forum, although this is biased towards newer members, and the new website can only increase the move to online of course.

I think that car clubs need their newsletter, and a physical version is a lovely thing. Our problem is that Porsche is such a diverse company, leading to over 30 Registers, and we have so many members, needing 30-plus regions. That's a LOT of content to put in one newsletter, hence we now have a 140-page magazine.

It's a bit of a dinosaur: very large and possibly so out-of-touch it should be extinct. But, it's still a very large part of the membership experiance to have that fat mag land on the doorstep once a month. []

I disagree Paul - PP is no different to any car club or car magazine - it will have it's fans and some detractors. It is 'a form of contact' however if you are suggesting in 2014 it is the most relevant point of contact then I would suggest this does not accord with the rest of the world. Whilst I know that a mailed newsletter is a lovely thing, to try and produce a magazine that replicates and tries to better those on the High Street (including engaging this who make their living doing the same) is both fool hardy and expensive. It will never compete on both counts and if the purpose is to replicate then the bill will always remain high.

I do not buy the number of registers and members issues - digital media can reach the whole world, simply. It is not about extinction, rather evolution.

I sense resistance to change and that will always be difficult to manage.

 

[BigCat]

Well I'm one of those who want a printed magazine.
I'm not interested in reading it on an iPad even though I use one.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

IMO the 'Inside Line' section was better than the high street stuff, really interesting and informative. In fact the best part of the magazine. Where did it go?

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Chris_in_the_UK

I would suggest this does not accord with the rest of the world.

- digital media can reach the whole world, simply.

Therein, I suspect lies the problem. The PCGB membership possibly does not evenly represent the rest of the world and, while a number of us old fogeys are quite happy with what the brave new digital world has for us, I have a feeling that is not a view currently widely held across the membership?

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

ORIGINAL: Chris_in_the_UK

I would suggest this does not accord with the rest of the world.

- digital media can reach the whole world, simply.

Therein, I suspect lies the problem. The PCGB membership possibly does not evenly represent the rest of the world and, while a number of us old fogeys are quite happy with what the brave new digital world has for us, I have a feeling that is not a view currently widely held across the membership?

How quaint!.

I am 52 - not sure if this qualifies as a PCGB 'old fogey' but I am perfectly capable of managing most of my life online (bank account, utilities, credit cards, social media, e-mail, gym bookings, Twitter, etc, etc,) and read all the magazines I currently enjoy via download to my iPad. Books go to my Kindle and PP lands on my doorstep.

I suspect this is a deeper issue and it may never be solved - I am actually not that fussed to continue the debate but the future of any organisation needs to include some planning for trends and communication - if the general view is 'we want print' and this includes the angst raised in this and other threads plus associated costs then so be it. I was simply expressing some options and opinions.

To put it simply, if I receive a magazine digitally and it is less than impressive in content then it does not clutter my lounge in the same way as those that drop through the letterbox.

 

[nickf]

where exactly is the digital media platform?

Ive looked all over the PCGB website and its not clearly road signed, in truth i think its fair to say the PCGB website ain't that good either!!

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Chris_in_the_UK


I am 52 - not sure if this qualifies as a PCGB 'old fogey' but I am perfectly capable of managing most of my life online (bank account, utilities, credit cards, social media, e-mail, gym bookings, Twitter, etc, etc,) and read all the magazines I currently enjoy via download to my iPad. Books go to my Kindle and PP lands on my doorstep.

So am I at nearly 62 and I'm sure YOU are. It wasn't you I was referring to and I don't quite understand how you read my post as such?! It's nothing to do with being "quaint" but understanding the needs of the majority of the membership. I have this feeling that a large number only pay their subs to get PP every month, well, they don't visit the forum and don't attend events - but would be most happy to be shown otherwise.

 

[ralphmusic]

I prefer print for reading but appreciate the convenience of being able to read on an iPad whilst travelling. An example is PCA's Panorama magazine which IMHO is easier to read in print, but is also available digitally.

PS You are both youngsters...

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

ORIGINAL: Chris_in_the_UK

I am 52 - not sure if this qualifies as a PCGB 'old fogey' but I am perfectly capable of managing most of my life online (bank account, utilities, credit cards, social media, e-mail, gym bookings, Twitter, etc, etc,) and read all the magazines I currently enjoy via download to my iPad. Books go to my Kindle and PP lands on my doorstep.

So am I at nearly 62 and I'm sure YOU are. It wasn't you I was referring to and I don't quite understand how you read my post as such?! It's nothing to do with being "quaint" but understanding the needs of the majority of the membership. I have this feeling that a large number only pay their subs to get PP every month, well, they don't visit the forum and don't attend events - but would be most happy to be shown otherwise.

Is this then some work that needs to be done (or has been done?). Do the majority want a glossy printed magazine?

Speaking personally, PP is not something I pay my membership for and if it was to to be optional then i would consider a reduced membership rate TBH.

At the moment I get far more out of internet discussions and PM's then any PP I have ever received. I am equally interested if there is a portion of the membership that simply remain for a magazine drop through the letterbox.

 

[MJB]

ORIGINAL: Chris_in_the_UK

ORIGINAL: MJB

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

I agree that we always need to be moving forward, but a few archive pages per month is hardly going to obstruct this. Yes, let's go forward, but let's also not forget how we came to be here.

Great point. The magazine could just as easily be accused of having too much focus on people sitting around at picnics, or garage open days, and not enough on the cars!

I think a few pages of history are more interesting than news of the latest Porsche limited edition or another new SUV... []

Exactly - we all get different things from PP, so for anyone to suggest that something which is not to their particular interest should not be included seems more than a little selfish.

And trying to insist something is included is similarly selfish.

You misunderstand: My point is that I have no objection to things which may not be of interest to me being included and so I expect the same attitude from others.

 

[garyw]

I don't think the printing of PP is in danger or in question.
It is the main contact that the majority of club members have with the club.
Without the magazine many would have no contact- nor want/need contact with the club.
Advertisers prefer the printed edition according to those in the know- or so I've been told year on year.[&:]

ORIGINAL: MJB
so for anyone to suggest that something which is not to their particular interest should not be included seems more than a little selfish.

2014 where you're not allowed to express an opinion without it being selfish.[:'(]
I'm sure the editorial team would welcome input of peoples preference.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I am equally interested if there is a portion of the membership that simply remain for a magazine drop through the letterbox.

I think the majority of members do exactly that? Contribute absolutely nothing, go to nothing, their sole interaction with the Club is the magazine (anbd that's fair enough).

If you look at how many go to events, use the forum, go to trackdays, all the other things we offer, it's well less than half. It also tends to be the same bunch that do everything: the "active" membership is fairly small.

 

[nickf]

Certainly in my region the PP is very highly valued, I think it's fair to say not too many of them actually visit the forum and the digital platform is of little interest too. The contents of the magazine are discussed in some way at virtually every meeting I'd say.

 

[MJB]

ORIGINAL: garyw

I'm sure the editorial team would welcome input of peoples preference.

Correct, as almost all of those who express opinions about PP on this Forum never actually get in touch with the Editor.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

I am equally interested if there is a portion of the membership that simply remain for a magazine drop through the letterbox.

I think the majority of members do exactly that? Contribute absolutely nothing, go to nothing, their sole interaction with the Club is the magazine (anbd that's fair enough).

If you look at how many go to events, use the forum, go to trackdays, all the other things we offer, it's well less than half. It also tends to be the same bunch that do everything: the "active" membership is fairly small.

They could still do this via digital media - the digital letterbox is no different.

As for event attendance and folks being 'active' and 'the same bunch' that is whole different discussion.

 

[tscaptain]

I think the digital letterbox is different and this silent majority will still want a hard copy in the post every month! (Not me, I should add as I have just thrown around 8 tons of old PP/EVO etc and it felt good!) And I'm not sure either that the attendance/activity issue is necessarily a different discussion. We have around 1000+ members on the 997 register. Plucking a number out of the air I reckon that around 30 maximum attend events throughout the year and not more than 100 are regulars on the forum, (probably less) - which will include the same 30 who attend the events. So what are the other 900+ up to? Waiting for PP to arrive every month............[]

 

[pauljmcnulty]

They could still do this via digital media - the digital letterbox is no different.

I disagree, and I think I'm not in a minority.

I subscribe to Car magazine and the Sunday Times, and have done for about 30 years. I'm an online-junkie, but these are the publications I go to when I want to get off the internet, if that makes sense?

Reading in the bath, out in the garden on a Sunday morning with a coffee, it's almost become time-out from my life being glued to a computer screen or phone.

I've tried the digital versions of both, and just keep going back to the print. I'm also an early-adopter of ebooks, but prefer a real hardback. I think we skim a lot more when online, but read more carefully when it's printed media?

There's also a huge issue over advertising when it comes to offering a digital-only reduced membership fee. There's no doubt that online advertising has far lower returns than print, so reducing the print run would seriously impact revenues.