If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

[Jean Sewing Machine]

From BillNye aka Al Doan, president of MSQC

FOUND IN MY POST No BLOCK today

It's an odd business this shipping. We went with a printer out in Pennsylvania, and with the 5.99 subscription, we wanted to ship it for that price, felt it would be a bit goofy to ask for shipping on anything subscribed to, so we cut a deal with the printer to lump all our mail in with everyone elses mail in order to ship it for 1/3 the price. They say it should take 5-10 business days to get there. The printing was complete on the 28th, which was a Friday, and was "shipped" that day, but it just went in the trucks that day. It then shipped out on the 3rd right into the postal system Bulk Media rate, which is about the dregs of the barrel in the shipping world. We had 75 addresses that weren't kosher and I had to reship them manually, so those will be set back a few days still, but everything else should be filtering in.

I'm not sure how we should treat this in the future, maybe hold the issue for a week after it ships to you all that helped us out by subscribing so everyone gets them about the same time? What do you think is a good idea?

Please add ideas if you can think of a way to better distribute the magazine subscriptions!

[soul60s]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

Sorry but that's not fair. I would have subscribed if you offered paypal. Aren't all customers treated equally? I am a loyal customer. I have spent hundreds in the last 3 months. I think this is wrong and a bit selfish if other people agree that they should be first.

I never say anything negative about M* in my posts but this is just plain wrong.

[kelliedi]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

Here are my thoughts....as a subscriber to any magazine I want mine first before it hits the stands. If i can get it through the website before i can get it through my mailbox, even if i pay shipping, then why subscribe? When i order from M* the likelihood of my just ordering that is rare, come on i'm a fabric-a-holic. That was my only gripe. So is the solution to mail out the subscriptions first, hold the store/website ones for a week or two? I don't know....

As with any new venture there are bugs to work out....I have no complaints with M* about how long it took for me to get it even though others in far away states got theirs WAY before I did even though i live in the same state as M*. I place that with the printer only, not even USPS because i know that they are quick no matter what everyone else says.

[HandsOffItsMine]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

In my marketing/printing business my clients have used Bulk Mail to reduce their mailing cost and there is such a defers timing on material delivery time. It's part of the chance you take, I don't think you're ever going to make everyone happy on when "Block" is going to get to your subscribers.

A 10 day hold might be appropriate. I have subscriptions to big name magazines that hit the store shelves sometime before I get my copy in the mail. The USPS is involved, it's 3rd Class Mail or Bulk Mail depending how the client choses to ship most cost effectively. There will always be a small number of late deliveries. The ones who were late this month, might get theirs on time next month and others might get theirs a few days later...it will be anyone's guess.

Let's be realistic and know that M* is doing their best and once the Printer puts it on the Bulk Mail Distribution Truck, it's out of their hands and up to the USPS!

[Annabelle013]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

I am in California and still no Block magazine but for $5.99 I have no complaints and will patiently wait. Wish I had a suggestions but maybe in time any kinks will work themselves out.

[Sharyn J]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

Bulk mail is always slower, but the norm for magazines and flyers and, of course, a cheaper way to ship to all of us. I received my copy on March 14th. It took a little longer than I expected, but our weather across the country the past month has been a series of snow storms which even caused considerable delays at the airports and closed roads and schools more than once! So a short delay in the mail is something I can live with.

Block is a beautiful book and I'm so glad to have received this first issue. It's a work of art, beautiful stories, photographs, and patterns. I look forward to receiving every issue and I promise that I will try not to stalk the mailman again!

[soul60s]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

Maybe, and I am not sure if it is possible but you can make an optional "offer" for customers to receive their magazine with first class shipping at a higher price to offset the cost. Subscribers will choose either first class (higher price) or at bulk cost (free shipping). This way everyone gets what they want. Another thought, if you want it faster without paying extra for the magazine do what I did, order it with other items in the store and pay the $5 shipping (maybe a minimum order of $25 to qualify for the $5.99 price). This way M* makes more sales by adding other items. I don't know, just a thought.

[Mom23]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

I am not going to "sweat the small stuff". I know in time I will get the magazine. A few days, or a couple of weeks, is not a big deal to me. Our postal service has changed dramatically and I will usually just assume it's sitting in a warehouse 70 miles from my mailbox.

[Vonnie]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

I'm not upset since this is a new endeavor for them. They are learning how to put out a magazine which they have never done before and at a lower cost than F&P.

There's bound to be more bumps in the road ahead. I'm just hoping that they don't get frustrated and give up. Hopefully, by this time next year, they will be old pro's at it and everything will be timely and efficient.

[HandsOffItsMine]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

Exactly Robin! My Rotary blades are somewhere between Atlanta and Acworth. lol They left WI on 02/28 and got to Atlanta on 03/01, only took USPS 6 days to figure that out after 2 calls. I'm still waiting...lol

Really, 98% of the folks got theirs at the same time. The excitement was intense 'cause it was the first issue. Let's take a deep breath and not make this more than it needs to be. Your next issue will arrive and it will be wonderful.

For myself, I'm going the electronic route...Kindle, computer and iMac for when my eyeballs are super tired. :P

[K. McEuen]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

they will be old pro's at it and everything will be timely and efficient.

I just want to point out that the "timely" aspect falls on the Postal Service, not MSQC, so counting too much on bulk mailing to ever be timely (except for those catalogs you seem to get weekly that you never order from) is a lost cause. Bulk mailing is what it is, cheap and slow. It's the USPS's last priority so it takes longer.

[bubba]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

Whenever I have subscribed to a magazine, being a paid subscriber, I always had my copy for at least a few days or longer before it was available to others to buy w/out a subscription. I see nothing wrong with that. That being said, I did order and receive the physical version of Block this edition, but in the future, I am going to buy it electronically and read it on my iPad. Will make it so much easier than lugging magazines back and forth across the ocean once we hopefully move, plus it's more ecologically sound. If you are worried about the quality of the electronic version, buy a copy and try it....they are just $4.99! I think you will find there is not much of a difference other than you don't have paper pages to flip. I was very pleased with it, once I figured out how to get it on my iPad!

[songbird857]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

Who cares if you don't get it 'before' everyone else??? I didn't subscribe because I wanted the status of having it first. I subscribed because I wanted the magazine - period.

[Suzette]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

In the scheme of things, I have to agree with those that said this is a minor issue. But for those of you who find it more than that, the Doan's are already trying their best to deal with your frustration and find a solution that will be as fair as possible to all concerned now and in the future. But really, this is a brand new venture for this family and as is totally understandable, they are in the beginning stages of a learning curve. Let's cut them some slack, okay? If some have to wait a bit longer than others (for whatever reason), then so be it. Truly, I wish waiting a bit longer than someone else to receive my magazine was the biggest problem I had to deal with in my life.

In the meantime, Al's post is asking for some constructive ideas for sorting this out. Some of you have already offered up some thoughts, but let's all get our heads together and do just that.

[soul60s]

Re: If you haven't gotten your BLOCK magazine yet, READ THIS!

I think once it is offered with all forms of payment so everyone actually has an opportunity to subscribe then holding it for a week before it hits the store is okay. By then people really DO have an option to subscribe. But it's kinda punishing those who want to subscribe but can't. I know I am not the only one who can't/won't subscribe without paypal. Supposedly they are working on it but I haven't heard anything.