87 replies to this topic

[ModelCarsMag]

Slot Cars Magazine

April 6, 2016

 

So, what’s the deal with Slot Cars Magazine?

It was supposed to have been printed a long time ago, now, all you hear is excuses…

Yes, I am getting this a lot.

No, I’m not out to rip anyone off.

I have invested, no wait, I have emptied my retirement account, not a small amount, but a nice chunk of change, in order to publish this magazine.

 

So, where did all the money go?

It’s not cheap to print and mail a magazine, especially one with such a small circulation.

Right now, the circulation for Slot Cars Magazine stands at 260 subscribers, and there 866 copies sent to about 130 dealers/shops.

The print run is 2,000 copies

It costs over $7500 to print and mail one issue, that includes printing, mailing, forms, filings, fees, and other costs. 

I have not seen or been paid one cent of money from Slot Cars Magazine.

I probably won’t, not for a long time.

But, I love this hobby.

So, if you do the math, it comes out to $6.50 to put together, print, ship, and mail each copy of the magazine to about 1200 people, through subscriptions and hobby shops.

The cover price is $6.50

So, guess what?

Do the math!

 

I need to get the circulation of the magazine up above 2,000. That’s the break even point. So, I’m asking for some help. Not really as investors per-say you would be in a way, but you would be the backbone of the magazine, hopefully your magazine.

 

I would like to get seventy-five (75) slot car guys to help out by purchasing a life-time subscription of Slot Cars Magazine, at $100 each. So, with the $7,500 raised, I, or we, could get the next issue of Slot Cars out now, and then be able to create not only some cash-flow, but a lot of needed exposure out there. It’s a great magazine, everyone seems to love it, but it has hit the financial speed bump.

 

I’m not a rich guy, I’m a car guy. An ex-mechanic who has just gone through his seventh, and hopefully last, major back surgery, and would like to make this magazine the heart of the hobby, and help bring back the hobby to thousands of slot car fans around the country.

 

And please, don’t yell at Jairus Watson anymore. He has no control over the lateness and the financial side of the magazine. He is not only one of my best friends, but an incredible artist who just happens to have a passion for the slot car hobby that shows in his work.

 

Mahalo for reading this.

Your thoughts, opinions, and yes, you can even yell at me..

 

Gregg Hutchings

Slot Cars Magazine

[C. J. Bupgoo]

Gregg;

 

    Currently a "two-year" subscriber... I'll "step up" for the "lifetime subscription"   ...  Where do you want the funds send...??

 

    Signed,             

     "A Slot Car Guy"

[John M Wimett]

Gregg,

 

OK....where, how, and when?  The subscription site should have been set-up to accept this lifetime offer.  Catch us on the impulse buy and don't give us too much time to think about it.

I really enjoy the one issue I have from PCH Parts, the quality is great! We need to keep it alive!

 

John

[Lone Wolf]

Gregg, currently I cannot commit to the $100. Just sold my Vette to pay for two weddings in two years. However, maybe I can help in another way.

 

I too love this hobby and I have submitted a 5 page article to Jairus that is due to come out in the next issue I believe. I know it's customary to pay a small amount to the submitter. Way back in the 90's it was about $100 for Scale Auto if I remember correctly. I could be incorrect.

 

Jairus told me you also had a similar policy. I would donate any payment you were going to send to me back to the magazine to keep it alive.

 

Also, if it helps I can come up with another article or two at no compensation until the magazine gets it's legs.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Joe

[olescratch]

Gregg, this all sounds good for "future" subscribers, but what about those of us that have already subscribed to two yrs. and haven't received what has already been paid for?  We all have our personal/financial issues, but when offered something that you haven't gotten even though you have paid for it, it's very hard to go for the "new" deal!!!  What are your plans to satisfy those of us that have already subscribed, and not received?? 

[Arne Saknussem]

All well and good to maintain the very impressive glossy quality... but if it's becoming economically painful why do that?  Back in "the day" we all anxiously awaited the newspaper-style publications that (correct me if I'm wrong) must have cost a bunch less to produce than full-color slick magazines.  Slot racers want a publication and Slot Racing definitely needs one (it's a unifying force).

 

I think it's been demonstrated that if the mag/paper is there when it's supposed to be, the paper it's printed on isn't all that important.

 

When I was a kid in the 60's, I loved Competition Press just as much (if not more) than Road & Track.

[ModelCarsMag]

John, I'm not sure how to answer your question, I would like to say I would be able to refund the original subs once this is back up and on it's solid feet. That would be the best thing, in my un-humble opinion. I'd have to see about this, talk to myself for a while, see what self says....

 

If you want a refund, let me know. That's possible also.

 

I'll be setting up a site on the SCM pages soon, and that should be up by this weekend.

 

I know a lot of people are pissed, but sometimes life just throws you a curve.

Did I bite off more than I could chew? Nope, not really, it's just called LIFE: Life Isn't Fribben Easy sometimes.

 

I really do appreciate the support

Again, I'm not out to rip anyone off.

Why would I empty out a retirement account to make one or two grand? Makes no cents....

 

Plus, I love this hobby.
Was the mag started a year too early? Yes, in hindsight, it was, but you can't go through wondering "What If".

You just go with what you have, do what you can, and make the best of it.

 

This is the best magazine for slot cars you have ever seen done in the US, yes?

I'm not being arrogant.

It's just with over 17 years of doing Model Cars, I can get things done, albeit a little slow at times.

Blame it on my Island life, our culture here, or blame it on me.

[ModelCarsMag]

Gregg, currently I cannot commit to the $100. Just sold my Vette to pay for two weddings in two years. However, maybe I can help in another way.

 

I too love this hobby and I have submitted a 5 page article to Jairus that is due to come out in the next issue I believe. I know it's customary to pay a small amount to the submitter. Way back in the 90's it was about $100 for Scale Auto if I remember correctly. I could be incorrect.

 

Jairus told me you also had a similar policy. I would donate any payment you were going to send to me back to the magazine to keep it alive.

 

Also, if it helps I can come up with another article or two at no compensation until the magazine gets it's legs.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Joe

 

Joe, yes, it's "customary" for big mags to pay for articles, but they are making money. Right now, there is no money, and we are trying to get by. Yes, I do pay, when it's required, but we are asking for everyone's help in getting this mag off the ground. If you can do it gratuitously, for now, that would be awesome! Yes, when it's making money, the money will be spread around, like the math I stated above shows, there is no money, it's for the love of the hobby. Once we get it over 2,000 paid subs/sales, it breaks even. Remember now, I have not made a dime!!! Not even paying for rent, bills, etc. Nothing! My money comes from other sources, I'm not rich, far from it. I get by, sometimes by the skin of my teeth. 

[Jairus]

Thank you Joe!
You are a stand up guy and I owe  you a beer.

[bbr]

I remember the mags and news rags from the 70's. they were one of the only forms of information on the slot car scene.

today a lot of stuff is on blogs and forums.

 

the Tony P chassis build  was very nice

[Lone Wolf]

No problem Jairus.

 

Be careful what you offer, I may just show up on your doorstep one day

 

Anyway, keep in touch if you need anything else.

[Jairus]

Won't be for a while that I need new article ideas Joe but keep thinking.

Issue #4 is waiting on funds to print and I have #5 filled already, just laying out pages with such writers contributing as Ron Bernstein, Chris Clark, and Bryan Warmack. 

#5 looks to be as great as #3 and the soon to be published #4. (fingers crossed)


 

[olescratch]

Gregg, One thing I can say for sure is that a refund has never been an option for me!!!  I would like to receive what I have paid for!  Now if you would go back and visit the topic "Slot Cars Mag Discussion" here at this blog, I would like for you to read post #315 and try #334.  Are these yet to be honored?  If the mag was a POS, I wouldn't give a hoot.  My desire is to obtain more of what you were giving within these pages.  The mag is the best, and that's what makes people hunger for more!!!  I will be glad when all the behind the scene bumps get ironed out.  I have SOME patience, and will continue to wait, but you can forget about the refund, get to producing lol!!!!

[Jencar17]

What are the conditiones for a life - time suscription from Germany? Would really miss your magazine!

 

[Frankie Schaffier]

Gregg,

 

I'd sure hate to lose this magazine. Like many I was really excited when I heard of it, and it exceed my expectations when I got the first issue. I want you to succeed so we can keep getting the magazine. Let us know when the web page is updated, I'll spend $100 to help keep the only slot mag in America going.

[ModelCarsMag]

Thanks, guys!

I'll try find that post, John. 

 

I set up this, I hope it will be okay.

http://www.slotcarsm...e-subscription/

 

For the foreign subs, unfortunately, those are on hold for now.

With the mag still in the periodicals pending application stage, we have to pay full rate to ship mags everywhere, and foreign ones cost two arms and three legs. Once the application is approved, the rates go down, and we hope to be able to start up getting the mags overseas.

There are other options out there as well.

 

I don't want to give up, and yes, I will do the best I can. But after looking back at what happened, and what has happened this past week (the freight forwarding shipment of ALL back issues, of Slot Cars and Model Cars has been lost), I'm surprised I'm still sane. (Jairus, no comment)....

 

It will work out, I just need to not lose focus, and not give up.

Is it possible to do two magazines?

I think so.

 

But, I do need the patience, and of course, the support, of all those that love this hobby as much as I do, and that goes for both hobbies, slots and static.

 

Mahalo nui loa.

 

I'll be trying to call as many of the guys on my lists to call this week. I have to confess, I'm not a phone person, emails are the best, it's more of a memory problem for me. But that's just another lame excuse you guys don't want to hear....

 

Gregg

[Jairus]

You're as sane as me unfortunately.

[ModelCarsMag]

I have been accused of running a "Bernie" scheme, which I find offensive.
Anyone who has asked for a refund has been given one.

I am trying to make this work.

[MattD]

Sad but true, the slot car hobby is small and not a good business to be in, in any form. Good luck, though.

[MSwiss]

Sad but true, the slot car hobby is small and not a good business to be in, in any form. Good luck, though.

Why would you make a blanket statement like that?

For one, there are manufacturer's that are quite successful.

[Jairus]

I have been accused of running a "Bernie" scheme, which I find offensive.
Anyone who has asked for a refund has been given one.

I am trying to make this work.

Feeling the "Burn" then?

(Sorry 'bout that G.)

[MattD]

[quote name="MSwiss"
Why would you make a blanket statement like that?

I made that statement because it is what I believe. Why else would I say that.
You mention there are several successful business in the slot hobby, where do you think they will be in 10-15 years? How many slot tracks in business today will be in business in 5 years? 10 years? This is my hobby, but I am realistic about it.

[MSwiss]

I guess you've never heard of JK Products, Koford Eng., ProSlot Ltd. or Alpha Products, who have all done well for themselves.

(edit) I guess 30-40 years of success for the above companies isn't a long enough track record for you.

[n9949y]

Been building and racing 1/24 authentic scale appearing cars since 1964 mostly in club settings, so I've seen a lot involving slot cars come and go, mostly go. I can appreciate Matt's assessment.

 

 A challenge for publishers/editors of  paper publications is that the Internet is now the major disseminator of fact, data and information about any subject anyone can think of- just ask those individuals who hired a Panamanian law firm to hide their asssetts...... So what can a paper magazine focus upon that's not been covered already?

[MattD]

Let's talk again in 5-10 years. I wish the future was brighter. This is my hobby, too, has been since 1965 with some years off till 1980. I've got many friends also in this hobby and we all see the future is now. This is just a niche hobby and we can't talk it to model railroading, model cars or coin collecting level. Those are all hobbies with enough following to fully support monthly magazines.

Besides the basic numbers in this hobby, the internet has completely changed the print world. Just ask anybody in the newspaper business. Anyone that's been around this hobby to have enjoyed the great slot shows at Dolton back in the 80's and early 90's can really tell you how much the internet has changed the slot car hobby.

For the record I have all printed issues of Slot Cars mag.