RIB International

gingercoastie · 11 May 2003, 17:38

The new issue was due out on the 10th May.

Anybody get their copy yet?

gingercoastie · 12 May 2003, 15:04

As there has been no responce I can only think off 3 reasons

1 - You are all hungover from Plymouth still.

2- You are all busy reading your copies.

3- You are all boycotting the magazine and any threads to do with it.

Alan · 12 May 2003, 15:21

Errm Hangover gone but dont take RI anymore cos I found Andrex was far more absorbent and better value

Serioudly though I'd heard its improved of late. Do you ask because you think there is a problem?

Brian · 12 May 2003, 15:37

I suspect the reason for the silence is we haven't got our copies yet.
Last issue hit the newstands before subscribers got their copies through the post.

wavelength · 12 May 2003, 21:44

not got mine yet- its usually 3 days after the rest of the world but 1 day before the IOM

Alex Brown · 12 May 2003, 22:50

Is now really the time for RI? - I could have sworn the last one was April 2003...... next should be June, shouldn't it?

I could be very wrong of course, and it is late, and past my bed time

-Alex

Pete7 · 13 May 2003, 07:20

RI in the news agents this morning, just reading it now. Lots of stuff about safety in this issue.

Pete

whitingiom · 13 May 2003, 12:05

Not in IoM yet so Fleetwood's at least two days from now......

wavelength · 13 May 2003, 14:06

Aha - there you are Jon. I thought you might reply to that one. If it stays as windy as this your copy might be stormbound!

-<=[Tw18]=>- · 13 May 2003, 21:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete7
RI in the news agents this morning, just reading it now. Lots of stuff about safety in this issue.

Pete

i'm a newsagent, and i not got it

albeight it jersery but hey, equal rights and all

crazyhorse · 13 May 2003, 23:02

Hope it comes soon

gingercoastie · 14 May 2003, 06:59

Mine came this morning, haven't read it yet, I'll do that at work.

geoff · 14 May 2003, 07:21

See page 74!

Alex Brown · 14 May 2003, 07:49

Still nothing here.... maybe the Pigeon lost its passport to come across the Severn Bridge

-Alex

David Hickman · 14 May 2003, 10:40

Mine arrived in the post this morning!

Charles · 14 May 2003, 12:45

I put the subscription and delivery questions to Hugo and his Subs Manager was kind enough to explain how it all works as well as the problems they face. I have permission to place the letter here provided it is unamended, so here goes:

Good afternoon Charles

You may recall we spoke, when the last issue came out, about late/non delivery to Jersey.

Hugo has passed your email on to me as he felt that as the bod responsible, I could explain the situation regarding RIB's distribution more easily than he could.

Over the last few months, the increasing strength of our title has enabled us to forge two significant partnerships.

The first was with Air Business, one of the UK's leading postal distribution companies who take our complete world wide subscription list and guarantee a maximum 5 - 7 working day delivery. We have found this service reliable (less reports of missing copies) and on time. Regrettably, we have found that the inland mail delivery by Royal Mail is one of the slowest of the many world wide mail delivery services, but currently, there is no viable alternative.

Our other strategic partnership is with Comag - who provide a guaranteed 3 day distribution to retail outlets. We have been fortunate to acquire their services which in itself is a vote of confidence in our title. However, as you are perhaps now starting to realise, this has caused a problem - Comag can, in several areas, supply the newsstand before Air Business/Royal Mail can deliver the subscriber copies. It appears, after enquiry, that this is a common complaint amongst independent publishers.

Hugo and Michaela are firmly committed to the furtherance of the 'RIB' message and the well-being of the industry, and do not feel it would be fair to our loyal advertisers to delay the distribution of newsstand issues until after we can be certain that all subscriber issues have been delivered.

I do, of course, take on board your desire to get your RIB International 'fix' as early as possible - it is a lovely compliment.

I remain, at all times, very alert to the changes in distribution and am always conscious of my responsibility to provide both the subscribers and the newsstand purchasers with their product in good order, in good time and with good regularity.

I hope you now understand a little of my seemingly intractable problem and are now happy in the knowledge that you will always get your favourite magazine delivered to your door, at a saving on the cover price, and will never have to experience, as a non-subscriber, the incredible frustration of your local shop being 'sold out'.

Regards

Tony Riseley

I can now understand the problems they face, so I will wait patiently for the Royal Mail.

Bittentobuggery · 14 May 2003, 13:44

Air Business is now owned by An Post, the Irish Post Office...

Rib International could also pay for a speedier service with Royal Mail....

Alan · 14 May 2003, 13:59

Understand the problem but Whiteshoes has good point. Also clear that advertisers are more important than magazine customers. Which comes first the Chicken or the Egg?

Richard B · 14 May 2003, 14:19

Hmmm...

Good reply, but doesn't the root of the "problem" lie with the release of the printed copy to the distributors? Assuming that a print run and binding takes more than a day, couldn't the first batch(es) be sent to Air Business to satisfy subscriber demand, then later batch(es) sent to Comag for retail distribution?

BTW - I'm still reading the last issue... jolly good it is too. Much the better for lack of 4x4 reviews.

Mike Garside · 14 May 2003, 14:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Charles
Over the last few months, the increasing strength of our title has enabled us to forge two significant partnerships.... The first was with Air Business, one of the UK's leading postal distribution companies...Our other strategic partnership is with Comag who provide a guaranteed 3 day distribution to retail outlets...We have been fortunate to acquire their services which in itself is a vote of confidence in our title....Hugo and Michaela are firmly committed to the furtherance of the 'RIB' message and the well-being of the industry, and do not feel it would be fair to our loyal advertisers to delay the distribution of newsstand issues...I do, of course, take on board your desire to get your RIB International 'fix' as early as possible - it is a lovely compliment...l never have to experience, as a non-subscriber, the incredible frustration of your local shop being 'sold out'.

Strewth, I'm glad I never had to work with this bloke!

You'll forgive me if I make a comment from the advantaged viewpoint of my former life as a specialist magazine publisher who produced 20 different titles a month distributed by Royal Mail subscription services and the likes of Comag. This man is totally full of b******t.