Magazine

peatman
peatman Forum Participant Posts: 8
edited July 2019 in Club Membership #1

Is it me or has the quality of the reviews, news and letters dropped? I wont mention the new signage. Bring back the pennant! 1.6 Million and rising.

Nick Lomas sets the standard with a blatant advert for Airstream in the DG's view. Nothing else available Nick, like Lunar going into administration?

This month (August) we have a review of a mini horse box pretending to be a caravan, at £24,000 pounds! You can get a top of the range Lunar for that, well you could if they find a buyer.  Love the idea of a loo under the sink. Can't wait to see how much the Beau'Er will cost.

Then a car that will possibly suit the Dashaway, no mention of what it actually pulled. For the same money a Ssangyong Korando 175 bhp beats it hands down. And will pull something worth while.

The cost of staying at most of the club sites is getting way beyond what my wife and I can afford as pensioners. A travel Lodge near Clumber Park is only £7.00 more expensive for a midweek stay. OK, I know its peak season and the market has changed, but £35.00?

Now the guide book. Who in their right mind decided to show the costs for one adult and pitch. What a waste of time because you then have to check the web site which is painfully slow.

Okay, rant over but please take some more time with the magazine, its the one contact point we have with the club and it needs improving.

Peatman

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2019 #2

    I agree about the magazine (Luner went bust after mag was printed?)

    The 2019 prices are available in a separate booklet via a call to HO ,as will 2020 prices,

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #3

    I would agree that the Club do have a fixation with Airstream Caravans. It's almost as they see the Airstream as the only way of projecting a modern image of caravanning despite the fact that Airstream Caravans are older than me and distinctly retro! 

    David

  • forsythia
    forsythia Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited July 2019 #4

    I find the only items of interest in the club magazine are the letters page, the tail lights feature and the crossword!!

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
    1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2019 #5

    You mean you read it! Three minutes flick through and it was in the bin.

    peedee

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #6

    Crossword only

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2019 #7

    I've never liked Airstreams, outside or inside. A bit Marmite, I suppose.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #8

    I can't really comment too much about the magazine as I have not opened it to read in the last 10 years other than, probably twice, to read an article commented on in a forum post.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,484 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #9

    Interesting August front cover picture of … Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  

    We've spotted your deliberate mistake.  smile

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
    500 Comments
    edited July 2019 #10

    You must be a slow reader. 

  • camlyn
    camlyn Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited August 2019 #11

    Why do I need approval!!

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #12

    I suppose the trouble is with any hobby magazine is that anyone buying them over a number years tends to find there is not much new to talk about. Perhaps as we don't pay for the Club magazine directly we don't value you it as much as if we had paid £3/4 a month in WHSmiths! I like to keep an eye on the magazine for any announcements but there is a lot that I ignore. No point as a motorhomer reading reviews on caravans and towcars. So I can digest what I want from the magazine during a coffee break, which is fine by me. Just had a quick check through the latest magazine and advertising takes up about 46% of pages and editorial 54% which seems a similar percentage to other hobby magazines.

    I thought the Club were asking us a while ago whether we would mind getting the magazine at less frequent intervals. I wouldn't have any objection to that but I think I would want a change in style of the magazine. Perhaps guest editors!!! Also an opportunity for members to be asked what they wanted to see in the magazine?

    David

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited July 2019 #13

    Also an opportunity for members to be asked what they wanted to see in the magazine?

    I think that has been asked before. I seem to recall I asked for more articles on foreign touring perhaps even written by members.

    peedee

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
    500 Comments
    edited July 2019 #14

    For me the magazine is of little interest. Don't plan on changing the van therefore MH reviews, info on tow cars and caravan reviews are flicked through very quickly. Don't plan on going abroad again so bypass those too. Sometimes skim through UK touring if it happens to be an area we haven't been to. It probably takes longer to get it out of the packet and shred the address than to read it. 

  • Waffler
    Waffler Forum Participant Posts: 149
    edited July 2019 #15

    I remember when the magazine was called En Route and was much better.  Just like the old days were better.  Remember the fear of poliomyelitis in the summer and waiting months for a land line phone. That was the old days! I don’t like the magazine as much as the other club’s but can’t say why. With over 350k readers it’s a task trying to please everyone. For example we don’t like club sites, too expensive, too crowded, unfriendly but love cheap CLs and long rallies. I like the reviews but think the writers have rose tinted glasses. The uk touring articles are excellent and I invariably learn something even though I consider myself a know all. Even though I think the club to be site and money centred the magazine tries hard to balance.  

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #16

    It is all a matter of opinion. Personally I like the magazine in general although I have not been able to read the latest as away in the caravan and still to get it.

  • camlyn
    camlyn Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited May 2020 #17

    Just looked and found that whatever I had written was removed! 
    No idea why, unless someone sitting on a pedestal in an office at CAMC deemed it unworthy, or against their principles ( and asking for donations to keep club going is against mine thank you) Would have been nice to have had an email explaining why my comments weren’t welcome.