Alabama
Veteran member
To Scott R and hoshour: will I have access to the complete MRS with just a EHJ digital subscription or will I have to subscribe to both digital for the complete MRS?
MRS Access
- Thread starter JeffyO_MN
- Start date
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
For me, not being able to access previous MRS isn't a big deal. I don't do that anyway. I can see how it would be frustrating to guy's who are using it for applications every year. IMO, if you want good information to apply throughout the west there are better organizations out there for that. Eastman's isn't a licensing/ application service and quite frankly there have been lots of mistakes in the MRS and I've always found the layout really hard to use and understand. I use it as a secondary "double check" to the other companies service I use. Having to subscribe to both journals to get all the MRS is a bad decision to me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they don't advertise it that way. In other words they don't advertise "subscribe to the EHJ and get half the MRS of the year". I've heard there coming out with a EMJ (Eastmans muzzleloading Journal) so you'll have to pay for all three if you want all the MRS's... Lol! Just kidding. I'll continue to get Eastmans for other reasons than the MRS.
Here is the link to the upgrades category.
http://www.eastmans.com/shop/Upgrades/
Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator
http://www.eastmans.com/shop/Upgrades/
Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator
Alabama
Veteran member
Thanks Scott. While I don't particularly like having to go digital to get the best MRS possible, I do understand having to buy both for complete access. I doesn't make business sense to offer everything except the articles for only subscribing to 1. We will see if the new version is better. As much as you and hoshour pumped it up, it better be! lol ;-)
Let me know if you have any problems with access or reading it. Thanks!
Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator
Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Here is my point and I hope it's my last post on this because we're beating this to death when the remedy would have been very simple. IMHO this whole major change to the way the company is now doing business should have been proceeded by a major announcement on the website at least a few months ahead of time. If it was announced anywhere in the mags or on the website I certainly missed it and if I did I would hope someone would point it out! In addition to that, IMHO all current subscribers to both magazines should have continued to have access to the digital version until their subscription, which as far as I'm concerned was a contract between the two parties when we paid for it, was up for renewal. If that had been done, we probably wouldn't be on this thread discussing this! IMHO I feel this was a very poor business decision from a customer relations standpoint when we have had the rug pulled out from under us with absolutely no notice right in the middle of our subscription (contract period). The customers are what keeps the business afloat and to do what was done in this matter is very disappointing to many of us!
EDIT: Now I just clicked on that link ScottR put up and it takes you to a bunch of upgrades that must have been buried somewhere because that's the first I've seen that page for current subscribers when I kept trying the other day to find out what was going on. If that had been openly publicized, along with making it active upon the renewal of our subscription instead of immediately with no notice, everything would have transitioned smoothly from my viewpoint as a current and longtime customer.
EDIT: Now I just clicked on that link ScottR put up and it takes you to a bunch of upgrades that must have been buried somewhere because that's the first I've seen that page for current subscribers when I kept trying the other day to find out what was going on. If that had been openly publicized, along with making it active upon the renewal of our subscription instead of immediately with no notice, everything would have transitioned smoothly from my viewpoint as a current and longtime customer.
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OregonJim
Very Active Member
That pretty much sums it up.
I am by no means an expert in publishing but I do know a few things about transition.
The goal is a seamless transition with little drop in service or room for complaint.
TG diagrams a good scenario.
It would have taken a bit of work (but not that much) to have MRS access drop monthly by subscription numbers. It would take far less to just keep the MRS you pay for available electronically. Heck for that matter just attach the darn thing to an email subscription, then it's on the print subscriber to save to their hard drive.
It kind of boils down to if the end state is worth any growing pains.
Kind of like a micro version of ACA or changing the coke recipe......
It reminds me a little of something I just discovered this weekend.
I have been using this Keurig coffee thing for a couple of years. I loved it!
The wife purchased a new version with all the bells and whistles.
Go figure: They changed a great concept by making the thing accept only their "Green Mountain" K cups.
That company just lost loyalty and a crap load of business because they lost sight of the desires of their customers.
edit: I'll try to make it my last post as well.
I love both magazines and I really enjoy the folks on the forum.
I just wish this were handled a bit differently and the feedback was a bit more warmly received.
I am by no means an expert in publishing but I do know a few things about transition.
The goal is a seamless transition with little drop in service or room for complaint.
TG diagrams a good scenario.
It would have taken a bit of work (but not that much) to have MRS access drop monthly by subscription numbers. It would take far less to just keep the MRS you pay for available electronically. Heck for that matter just attach the darn thing to an email subscription, then it's on the print subscriber to save to their hard drive.
It kind of boils down to if the end state is worth any growing pains.
Kind of like a micro version of ACA or changing the coke recipe......
It reminds me a little of something I just discovered this weekend.
I have been using this Keurig coffee thing for a couple of years. I loved it!
The wife purchased a new version with all the bells and whistles.
Go figure: They changed a great concept by making the thing accept only their "Green Mountain" K cups.
That company just lost loyalty and a crap load of business because they lost sight of the desires of their customers.
edit: I'll try to make it my last post as well.
I love both magazines and I really enjoy the folks on the forum.
I just wish this were handled a bit differently and the feedback was a bit more warmly received.
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RICMIC
Veteran member
I'm standing outside the box on this since I likely will never attempt to access the digital version. I could probably figure it out, but I spend too much time sitting on my butt as it is. My buds give me crap because I still hand split 10-18 cords of firewood every year and solo hunt in the mountains, and guide wilderness canoe trips. But, they are all "old", and can't do crap anymore....keep on moving until you can't. I have subscribed to another hunting magazine for years. They went from a monthly, to 8 times a year, and are now a quarterly. They brag up their digital version; but will lose me as a customer (after 20 years) at renewal time. So, as a hard copy only customer, here's my take.
The upgraded MRS is great; EHJ is the only mag that I read from the back to the front. (EBJ included).
A "pre-announcement" would have been a good idea.
Charging for the digital version if someone wants to access it is justified. Just don't boost the hard copy costs so that all have
access, even for those who don't use it.
Hoshour and Scott R; thanks you for all your hard work, as it's appreciated. Listen to these guys as they are some of your hard core.
The upgraded MRS is great; EHJ is the only mag that I read from the back to the front. (EBJ included).
A "pre-announcement" would have been a good idea.
Charging for the digital version if someone wants to access it is justified. Just don't boost the hard copy costs so that all have
access, even for those who don't use it.
Hoshour and Scott R; thanks you for all your hard work, as it's appreciated. Listen to these guys as they are some of your hard core.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I went back and read every post so I wasn't missing something. As I said in the my only previous post on this subject....I am pretty old fashioned! No smart phone (just the old fashioned cell), don't do social media and save lots of paper files to refer to at a later date.
What concerns me is the trend that is going on here. Taking the MRS reference section off this website/blog (which we have already paid for with our subscription) we can access with our member number and then asking us to pay for a digital version is almost like bait and switch. As I stated before, several other organizations that I belong to dropped their monthly publications and now only offer them online. I find then harder to navigate thru and read, less user friendly (can't take the printed copy with me to read later) and a loss in membership value (to me). In some cases the cost of the monthly printed version was built into the cost of membership.
I am a little concerned that this whole situation might turn into a digital only or special additional subscription for MRS somewhere down the road.
What concerns me is the trend that is going on here. Taking the MRS reference section off this website/blog (which we have already paid for with our subscription) we can access with our member number and then asking us to pay for a digital version is almost like bait and switch. As I stated before, several other organizations that I belong to dropped their monthly publications and now only offer them online. I find then harder to navigate thru and read, less user friendly (can't take the printed copy with me to read later) and a loss in membership value (to me). In some cases the cost of the monthly printed version was built into the cost of membership.
I am a little concerned that this whole situation might turn into a digital only or special additional subscription for MRS somewhere down the road.
hoshour
Veteran member
CC, I don't speak for the company and the fact is, I don't even know the cost to add the digital subscriptions when you already have the print editions.
I don't know of any plans to go all-dgital and for the audience we have, I would be very surprised if that happened. It's not like a newspaper where time is really of the essence and it would be a huge change in terms of advertising. I don't know if you've noticed, but advertisers are taking more and more notice of the journals and often comment on their very high quality. They want to advertise there and as long as they want to advertise and readers want the print version it will likely stay around.
I also like the print versions. I don't read them anymore because by virtue of helping put the MRS together and doing proofreading and editing by the time it hits your mailbox I have already read the magazine 3-4 times. But, I like reading articles better in print.
I don't know of any plans to go all-dgital and for the audience we have, I would be very surprised if that happened. It's not like a newspaper where time is really of the essence and it would be a huge change in terms of advertising. I don't know if you've noticed, but advertisers are taking more and more notice of the journals and often comment on their very high quality. They want to advertise there and as long as they want to advertise and readers want the print version it will likely stay around.
I also like the print versions. I don't read them anymore because by virtue of helping put the MRS together and doing proofreading and editing by the time it hits your mailbox I have already read the magazine 3-4 times. But, I like reading articles better in print.
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hoshour
Veteran member
I don't know how I could have more warmly received the feedback here. I have been very respectful and factual and asked for feedback more than once. I want to hear suggestions.
My takeaway is that people didn't like 1) not having advance notice of losing access to PDFs of MRSs over a year old and they didn't like 2) losing the access to those unless they pay for the digital description. Those are past events, let's bury this dead horse and move forward.
I am open to any and all suggestions as to how to improve the magazine, especially the MRS. Tell me on the forum, pm me or email me at [email protected]. Thanks, guys.
My takeaway is that people didn't like 1) not having advance notice of losing access to PDFs of MRSs over a year old and they didn't like 2) losing the access to those unless they pay for the digital description. Those are past events, let's bury this dead horse and move forward.
I am open to any and all suggestions as to how to improve the magazine, especially the MRS. Tell me on the forum, pm me or email me at [email protected]. Thanks, guys.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
I believe that bolded statement is exactly what our member was referring to in earlier posts about us being warmly received. You can say it's done and let's move on, but I don't agree with that! I was in LE for over 30 years and a big part of it involved consumer protection regarding false advertising, bait and switch tactics, etc. In this case Eastmans has essentially breeched the contract they had with each of us that are current subscribers who are expecting to get what we paid for until WE decide to either not renew our subscription, go with the upgrade change, or whatever WE decide! I think either ScottR or Guy need to seriously look at what has happened and listen to us, as I can guarantee that there are a lot of subscribers that are ticked and may just say stick it and let their subscriptions lapse. This is really a lot more serious situation the way it was mishandled than either you or ScottR seem to think!
OregonJim
Very Active Member
(I.M.O.) You are completely missing the point Dave.
In fact discounting the opinions of the subscribers (some of which are great advocates) is just inflaming the dialog.
I'd suggest you do as CC and read the entire thread.
Is it fixable?......not likely. While you say you do not speak for the company..... you label the issue as DEAD! Which is it?
Would it be right to acknowledge that the change in policy was not handled correctly?
I don't know, but if I handled public feedback this warmly I would not be in my current job!
If anyone wants to follow up just PM.
I love the magazine too much to allow this thread to change my decision on subscription!!!!
Take care folks
WapitiBob
Veteran member
OregonJim
Very Active Member
Topgun 30-06
Banned
I'm also not sure why Dave chose to come on here with his dialog and then tell us to end it when he says he doesn't speak for the company! He does a fantastic job in his capacity, but IMHO this should be addressed by the owner/decision makers at the company whomever that may be. Again, IMHO they should just man up and say mistakes were made that we are addressing in this thread and either fix it or at least apologize before we move on! All these computer savvy younguns that just come on and say "do this and do that" yadayadayada gets old when some of us old timers have stated that we don't even have anything but flip open phones and don't know what the heck they are even talking about. Even WB and all of his techno skills doesn't seem happy the way some of this has panned out. As I mentioned earlier, I tried to go in on the free trial and then save the two emails for the digital version the easy way I know how to from doing it with other magazine subscriptions and then am told that it can't be done. Maybe people should start looking at the customers instead of what they can do so easily with their skills and knowledge and think that everyone is right there with them when we're not!
OJ---WB was referencing the statement Dave made in post #112, not anything you mentioned if that's what you thought.
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WapitiBob
Veteran member
I'm not at home but believe I was only missing a cpl and had to go back and download the mag from the digital side.
I would have preferred to have the mrs PDFs continue for those like me who save them for reference and had just the print subscriptions. Since that isn't an option I'll add a digital subscription to get it.
I'm not a fan of the web and phone apps used for the digital side but I'll make adjustments and life will go on.
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hoshour
Veteran member
I don't speak for the company. I speak for myself, though I love the company and the people there and think it is the greatest set of outdoor magazines out there.
The reason I said the issue was dead was that in my own personal opinion I doubted the situation was going to change and after 12 pages of posts it seemed pretty talked out.
Maybe I should have just stayed out of it. I was just trying to be helpful by giving my own thoughts, same as anybody else on here.
The reason I said the issue was dead was that in my own personal opinion I doubted the situation was going to change and after 12 pages of posts it seemed pretty talked out.
Maybe I should have just stayed out of it. I was just trying to be helpful by giving my own thoughts, same as anybody else on here.