MCN Subscription Woes

[RBEmerson]

Long story short, I subscribed to MCN in May, begged and pleaded to receive the May issue (for a Beemer review) and got that.  And then things went in the dumper.  No June issue, got July, no August issue, got September.  When I called MCN's subscription fulfillment operation in Boone, IA, I was told the June issue was "sold out" (WTF???) and I'd gotten the May issue "as a gift" (WTF???).  No explanation about the missing August issue.  I then e-mailed MCN at their editorial office address, complaining about the poor support from the fulfillment operation in Boone, IA.  No answer at all.  

Am I just the lucky winner of the MCN "Screw a subscriber" prize or have other people had problems with MCN?  

[marc11]

Wow, strange, MCN has never missed a beat with me in almost 5 years.  My only gripe was when I let me susbscription lapse and subscribed again it took them like three months to begin sending me the magazine.  I bitched and they extended my expiration date by three months.

[Stray Cat]

I subscribed back in December, and the first issue I got was April. This was after I complained twice via e-mail. The response back was kind of smart ass, like they were doing me a favor by actually sending me what I had paid for.  
Since them I've been getting them no problem. Kind of a flakey deal though IMO.

[keystonejenks]

That stinks. I use to subscribe to MCN but I thought the content went a little down hill; so I didn't renew. YMMV

[RBEmerson]

The mailing label on the Sept. issue says "June 08" and it said "May 08" on the July issue, so I guess I'm credited for something but I'm not sure everything is squared up.  

As to content, kinda hard to know for sure until I see some...  

[Mastros2]

I always wanted the subscription but my cheap dna has stopped me. Sorry to hear about your troubles, make a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  Hopefully, that will help.

[Tar Snake]

I've always had good luck and have subscribed close to 10 years now.

Go here:
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/home.aspx

Usually you can find some of the editorial staff there. I think if you get them to hear you rather than whoever distributes the magazine from Iowa you should get some action.

[bomber]

I also subscriberd for a couple of years -- I also felt the content had degraded -- had a few troubles getting the subscription to re-start after renewing, but, when I let it lapse, I was contacted instantly

good publication, IMO, but not worth the freight 8 outa 12 months --

[maddjack]

 I was a subscriber for years but after this years is up i am not renewing,the content is going down hill and its getting real pricey

[jude]

Live in a condo or area where all of the mailboxes are grouped together?  Last year, a lot of my car and bike mags went missing.  Like you, got some, missed some.  Finally, one day while taking the recycling to the dumpster guess what I found?  Yep, 1/2 dozen or so of my missing mags!  Seems the postman couldn't distinguish my address from someone else's on the other end of the complex.  A complaint to the local postmaster fixed that.  Now I have a pretty, young thang with legs to here delivering my mail.  She's not put one of my mags amiss since she started the route.

[Ant]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/

Maybe you want this MCN instead?  

[jude]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/

Maybe you want this MCN instead?  

Ah, yes, the Enquirer of motorcycle publications.

[Ant]

Ah, yes, the Enquirer of motorcycle publications.

Not sure what the Enquirer is but I'm sure it is derogatory  
Is it some form of tabloid paper? If so I agree, MCN can be very militant and chest thumping when it wants to be. However when they actually get around to talking about bikes and reviewing bikes they're very good I think. I don't buy it I just steal the one from the canteen at work every now and again  

[jude]

Tabloid?  Heavens no!  

[Penforhire]

Still my favorite m/c rag.  One interesting tidbit, they offer a cheaper renewal at the travelling Cycle World International m/c shows than directly.  My buddy had JUST renewed before one of those shows and all they would offer him was to extend the renewal with the cheaper price.  They wouldn't budge on altering the subscription he just renewed.

[ElTigre1]

Wow, I had just the opposite experience a couple of months ago.  Wish I could remember the name of the wonderful woman who handled my complaint.  I waited until the Daytona show to renew becaause I had been told at a previous year's show that the cheapest rates were offered there.  I subscribed the first week of March and it was a renewal.  Come June I had not received even the March issue that was to have been the last one of the old subscription.

I called the MCN offices, talked to a real person, and was told that they had hired a subscription service to set up the stand at Daytona and had just received my subscription that morning.  To make it right, this employee sent my March issue along with the April, May, june and "hot-off-the-press" July issue in an envelope, arriving at my house a week.  MUCH better than a SNAFu with Motorcyclist that got into the name-calling area and was never satisfactorily settled.  In short, Motorcyclist is unethical.

Give them another call.  Surely the person who handled my account was a caring, interested and professional employee.  Hope you get it settled and I am sending this thread to MCN.

[windydoggie]

Just my two cents

I have averaged a missed magazine a year for the past three years and I've received magazines late several times

There is enough good stuff in the magazine so that I'm reluctant to drop my subscription BUT if delivery isn't improved I just might give it up
Ed G.

Moderation in all things, including moderation,.
Oscar Wilde

[XLR8]

Same thing here. I let it lapse a little and then my subscription went ape shit. So I called and spoke to some lady and she was actually kind of rude. Oh well everyone has bad days I thought. I didn't see a issue for 3 months and then 4 came one after another.

Whatever. I don't have time to read them til Winter anyway.

[vulcanbill]

Long story short, I subscribed to MCN in May, begged and pleaded to receive the May issue (for a Beemer review) and got that.  And then things went in the dumper.  No June issue, got July, no August issue, got September.  When I called MCN's subscription fulfillment operation in Boone, IA, I was told the June issue was "sold out" (WTF???) and I'd gotten the May issue "as a gift" (WTF???).  No explanation about the missing August issue.  I then e-mailed MCN at their editorial office address, complaining about the poor support from the fulfillment operation in Boone, IA.  No answer at all.  

Am I just the lucky winner of the MCN "Screw a subscriber" prize or have other people had problems with MCN?  

Which ones do you need?  I'll pull them out of the basket in the shitter and send them to you.  

[LENSMAN]

Hey, RB,  let me know what you need. I've never had a subscription problem.  

[RBEmerson]

When I picked up my mail at the PO today, there was an envelope from MCN in the bundle.  No falling on their sword in abject humiliation for the oversight, no groveling, no begging forgiveness, no note at all, but at least I now have the Aug. 07 issue of MCN.  I guess I'll take it and be happy.  But I sure can't say as I'm feeling the love from the fulfillment house just yet.  Funny thing, my subscription to Practical Sailor is the same way.  Two "consumer" rags that seem to dislike their subscribers.  OTOH, the guys with the slick ads are pretty quick to send replacements when things go wrong.  Hmmm...  

Many thanks to Vulcanbill for a bunch of back issues.

Lensman, if you have a June 07 you want to let go, I'll head down your way to pick it up.  PM for the details.  

[goodhawk]

not subscription related, but - I 've tried 3 or 4 times to get back issues or reprints, from both the MCN offices and the different reprint / back order service. nothing, not even a returned call, phone or EMail . . .
IF anyone can make good scan or copy of the Nov. 06 and Dec 06 tests of the Honda VFR and BMW R 1200 S, I'd be willing to pay say $15.  fer your trouble.
rickcee@earthlink.net

[kenish]

Which ones do you need?  I'll pull them out of the basket in the shitter and send them to you.  

Good place for magazines.  The little reply cards come in handy when a new roll of TP is out of reach.  

[RBEmerson]

Especially when they fold or kink...  

[vulcanbill]

When I picked up my mail at the PO today, there was an envelope from MCN in the bundle.  No falling on their sword in abject humiliation for the oversight, no groveling, no begging forgiveness, no note at all, but at least I now have the Aug. 07 issue of MCN.  I guess I'll take it and be happy.  But I sure can't say as I'm feeling the love from the fulfillment house just yet.  Funny thing, my subscription to Practical Sailor is the same way.  Two "consumer" rags that seem to dislike their subscribers.  OTOH, the guys with the slick ads are pretty quick to send replacements when things go wrong.  Hmmm...  

Many thanks to Vulcanbill for a bunch of back issues.

Lensman, if you have a June 07 you want to let go, I'll head down your way to pick it up.  PM for the details.  

Your welcome.  I have no idea what's in the box.  I just grabbed all the ones I saw laying around...including Aug 07.    I didn't think about it but don't pass those on w/ my home address on them, please.  Never know...  There is a big box w/ about 15 issues ready to go to post in the morrow.  Enjoy.  

[Bounce]

Still my favorite m/c rag.  One interesting tidbit, they offer a cheaper renewal at the travelling Cycle World International m/c shows than directly.  My buddy had JUST renewed before one of those shows and all they would offer him was to extend the renewal with the cheaper price.  They wouldn't budge on altering the subscription he just renewed.

been subscribing for years. the Cycle World show is where i've been doing my renewals for the past umpty ump years because of the better discount. each time i renew i do so for at least 3 or 4 years.

[RBEmerson]

Good on ya, Vulcanbill!  Live long and prosper!  

[toma nova]

I just moved to Tokyo and had changed my MCN subscription to my local address at the same time my wife changed it to our U.S. PO box.  I got one issue in Tokyo then the next in FL.  I called to finally square away where I wanted it delivered and get this ...

... they extended my subscription for two months, just because I had called!

It doesn't make much difference in the long run because I plan on subscribing for a while, but a nice gesture anyway.

Tom

[Lynbiker]

Took 4 Months to get my first renewal issue,That Sucks - The Mag is a shadow of what it used to be,Will not reup