this is what I am talking about.......
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE CHANGING THE NAME OF THE MAGAZINE TO RV ENTHUSIAST WITH OUR FIRST ISSUE IN 2006. Whether your style of RVing is in a folding tent camper, travel trailer, motorhome or a park model we all have one thing in common, we all enjoy spending time outside. RV Enthusiast Magazine brings years of first hand RVing experience to keep you up-to-date on the latest equipment, aftermarket products, and industry news & trends. We also hi-light great destinations, pass on wonderful campsite recipes, plus we publish articles written by our readers. Our goal is to keep you informed and entertained; we
Quote from: doonoakbut still What does everybody think about this???[/font]
There was an extended topic about it a few months ago. IIRC, there was not a single positive response.
It reminds me of the guy who comes on here asking if he can tow a Niagara with an Escort, and then doesn't listen when we all say "no."
I'll have to see the mag, but my renewal is in doubt. :(
Austin
Quote from: AustinBostonThere was an extended topic about it a few months ago. IIRC, there was not a single positive response.
It reminds me of the guy who comes on here asking if he can tow a Niagara with an Escort, and then doesn't listen when we all say "no."
I'll have to see the mag, but my renewal is in doubt. :(
Austin
HA I have been busy this past 4 months with our newborn son.. ha thats a good anology.. Perhaps we should all tow our popups with a Macktruck.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Check out this thread for the discussion. It was called Any Comments? (http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=56433) and was started by Dave himself.
Austin
I have to agree, I'll have to see the Magazie and then i'll decied if I'm going to renew my subscription. I like the Idea of a magazine for PU's only. The other mags dont do anything on PU's very often. :sombraro:
I agree. Wait and see but if it is not mostly about pop ups our renewal probably won't happen.
I guess I don't understand the mentality here. If the magazine is still going to have the same amount of content about popups and they are also going to add MORE info, people are thinking about NOT renewing. WHy does that sound backwards to me?
Doesn't make any sense to me either. For years all I've heard is how thin the magazine is, how limited the content is, etc... So now they are going to add some meat to those bones and listen to everyone gripe...without even seeing it first! I think it's just amazing.
Fact of the matter is, next to truck slide-in campers, PU's are the smallest segment of the RV world, and shrinking each month with declining sales. It may have been the only magazine to cater solely to this style of camping, but at the rate that style is going it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that magazine has to grow with the flow or disapear altogether. Seems to me if you really like this magazine, then sticking with it through it's growing pains will help keep it around.
Some people just resist change, no matter what it is :mad: .
You should have been around in the late 60's-early 70's when computers were first introduced into businesses. You've never heard so much bitching, moaning and resisting in all your life :swear: . Look at us now. We couldn't live without the stupid things :compumad: .
If a person wants to progress with his business he must look forward and never look back. You just have to drag some people along, kicking & screaming :yikes: . Trust me, they'll love you in the end. If you let others hold you back, those same people will look at you 10 years from now and say, "Boy, he was sure dumb not to change with the times :banghead: ". Sorta like some of the stores that you go into today and they hand you a hand written receipt :confused: .
I think we have been very candid and open to all the discussions (pro and con) that have appeared on this forum with respect to the changes we will be making to the magazine.
Many of you have written to me personally and I have answered every e-mail with another explanation of what we are doing, and why.
Some of you commenting in this thread have written, and have received responses, prior to this thread appearing on the forum.
I want you to feel free to express your feelings about what we are doing, but once again I want to assure you that there is logic, experience, and clear business thinking behind these changes.
I think we have a small group of readers and participants in this forum who are truly upset about this change, and we respect that. Many times it is the vocal minority that will raise their voice in oppostion to change, and there really isn't anything we can do about it. In fact, we appreciate it, because that is the whole purpose of having the ability to communicate with each other through the forum.
All of you provide meaningful content to the forums and are passionate in your concern for the perceived loss of focus on pop-up camping and the enjoyment it brings into your lives. I don't know how many times we can say it, or how many different ways you want us to say it, but the change in the focus and branding of the magazine is required to build a profitable business that will allow us to continue you bringing the enjoyment you have received in print and via the Internet.
If there are those among you who think that you could produce this magazine at a profit, or do a better job than what Dave has tried to delvier over the years, you are certainly welcome to take over the reigns and see if you can do it better. We thought long and hard about these changes and the direction that we felt would allow us to grow a viable business and deliver meaningful content to our faithful readers, subscribers, and participants in the forum.
Quite simply, it can no longer sustain itself as just a hobby. If you would like this hobby, let us know.
I believe we owe the majority of our readers (who do agree with our new direction) a better magazine that includes a lot of what they expect from Pop UP Times and additional information about RVs and camping that are part of the enjoyment that we all enjoy. And that includes Dave and I, who are active campers and have been for over 25 years.
This give and take is actually very enjoyable and it's what makes the forum interesting to our readers and online forum participants.
Feel free to jump in and state your position on the changes. As some have noted, we are not looking back and the decisions we have made came after much thought and conversation with people in the industry, including advertisers and potential advertisers, readers, and through communications with many of you on this thread.
We are not looking back and we are not going back. I would hope that many of our critics will stick around long enough to see what the magazine looks like. In the end, it's your call, but if you leave now and want to come back, that crow can get pretty crusty!
Why not stick it out until you can see what your are criticizing? Heck, you might even like it. Then what do you say?
Enjoy the forum and let's see what others think ... that's why we have this very important section on the web site. This is your place to communicate and you do it quite well and we enjoy everything you contribute ... pro or con.
Thanks for listening,
For those of you that are against the change of direction, how many of you thought you would never camp in anything but a tent at one time? I was one of those...but here I am in an Aliner today and thinking about upgrading into a 5er when our van needs replacing. Look at it this way, if you upgrade this year or maybe next you will still be getting a magazine that suits your needs.
I would have difficulty commenting on something I haven't seen yet. I'd rather wait until a copy or 2 comes out to see what we have and reserve opinion until then.
Haven't we dug up this dead horse enough times already? Wait until we see one or two and then, if merited, let them have it. But we really are just rehearsing the worst here. If it turns out to be a good product will you who pre-bashed it be adult enough to apologize?
I am not wild about the prospect of no PUT magazine. But I am willing to give Dave a chance. It is HIS magazine after all.
I'd be surprized if they don't shut the forums down after they flip the switch on the magazine. I woulda shut it down several years ago when everybody was p o'd at PUT for charging for access.
Bruce
I just renewed my subscription, and am looking forward to the new format.
Larry
I renewed my subscription for two more years....Costs less than a case of good beer.............
Wow the name of the magazine is changing??? C'mon dave you don't have to change the name of the mag just so you can go to the dark side.
Just kidding! :D :D:D
Can't wait to see the new look and I hope it attracts many new subscribers and does well :!
Welll , lets see....
Where do I start...
Dave thanks for all the good days and even the dark days...
I was here when the PUT website was just getting going......On this reply page. I see maybe 6 names that have been here for as long as I can remember!!! Dave, the main man and Brainpause, AB, ole Goat, campertime, chasd60, ForestCreature.....
I have met and camped with all but Campertime and he just hasn't come down to TN, VA or NC to camp with me...LOL ct!
Dave has been through the ringer with the magazine and the website.. Thanks to Viking for letting us still use it this year? I guess,2006?
Dave, I havent subscribed in over a year.. I have been on the darkside for almost 3 years now.. Trailer Life works for me now.. BUT I kept getting PUT when I had a TT for almost 2 years...
If the content is about camping and even some TT's or general upgraded PU's it will be worth reading.. If you get Trailer Life.. LOOK throught the magazine and you see LOTS AND I MEAN LOTS OF ADS...Ads drive the printing and the content, plus help with cost..You all bought a stamp lately, postage just went up 5.4% across the board.. If you take the ads out of TL, I believe the magazine would be no thicker than the PUT is as it is now, with very little ads..
I wish Dave and the rest of his staff and the new editor all the success in the world.... GIVE it a chance before you trash the new concept.....
I still visit here and I post some, if a question is asked that I feel I can give merit too. This one post has been on my mind each time I visit and I got tried of seeing the whole magazine and website crew bashed, trashed or other wise not given a chance with the new concept..
Again to those who know me and have met me.... Keep on keeping on... Camping it is a choice and a life style....I enjoy it and have come along way in 6 years....
Dave GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!
Randy in N.C.
Quote from: ZagamiI think we have been very candid and open to all the discussions (pro and con) that have appeared on this forum with respect to the changes we will be making to the magazine. [snip]
I've been watching this from afar, because I have mixed feelings about the whole change of direction thing. I must confess, however, that I find your response refreshing for it's candor, but I'm a bit shocked at the same time by some of the arrogance you display (in more then one spot I might add). No offense, but saying you welcome all feedback, and then appearing to object to some of it, seems a bit contradictory if you ask me. Guess I'm a little more used to Dave, who I can't imagine would have worded a response in quiet the manner you did.
Certainly the magazine was getting a little thin, similar to the sales volume of popups in general. Without some type of driving force behind a renaissance I fear PU's will become an ever-increasingly smaller and smaller niche. Personally, I find that rather disturbing. Seems like the magazine was following that trend, which would actually make sense when you think about it.
Without question changing the direction and focus of the magazine is entirely up to the editors, especially Dave (if nothing else he's certainly earned that much, in light of the many hours he's spent keeping the magazine afloat instead of camping :)).
I'm like most people I suppose, and don't appreciate change, but I'm taking a wait and see approach to the new magazine. I have every intention of giving it a fair chance though. Hopefully it will maintain the easy going feeling that PUT had. Either way, I hope it's successful.
Quote from: Old GoatI renewed my subscription for two more years....Costs less than a case of good beer.............
Old Goat...I respectfully disagree.
Old Milwaukee costs a whole lot less! Lmao.:D :!
I think what we're seeing is a magazine thats trying to strike a balance between profitability, identity and appeal. The new name doesn't do a whole lot for me but it's the content thats key and it's certainly worth giving it a chance.
Over the last few years, I've caught Dave at weak moments and he's published a few of my photos and articles so I'll continue to support the magazine...no matter the name.
I think it may be good change is good sometimes. I know the Socal group has PU, hybrids. TT and @ least one motorhome. while the main interest of this baord is to be all about PU's it's not exclusive to that. I think it could make it a morinteresting magazine..
BTW...When is it coming???
As a PUT subscriber and a small business owner, I understand that you can't continue in business without making a fair profit. I do understand that the pop-up camping market is extremely limited.
That said, the reason I subscribed to PUT is because pop-up camping is what I do and there is no other PU magazine being published. On the other hand there are several RV camping magazines published today. I already subscribe to two of them. I will watch the next few issues, but my guess is that I won't need a third magazine devoted to RV camping. One of my subscriptions will probably not be renewed.
Mike