Re: Shareware Solutions II

[bsherman@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (Bob Sherman)]

In <CE92CL.K83@utstat.toronto.edu> philip@utstat.toronto.edu (Philip McDunnough) writes:

[stuff deleted]

>What are you talking about? I wasn't saying to put the whole subscription up,   but simply one issue. This is not uncommon. Virtually every computer magazine
>has made this type of offer ( in fact they will send you a copy). It doesn't
>bother those who subscribe.

In all of the years I have been involved in the Apple II world, I don't
ever remember being sent a free copy of an Apple II magazine. A+ never did
it, Incider never did it either. Oh yes, they passed out free copies at the
Apple shows such as Applefest, but so did Joe at Kansasfest. Joe also
offered free copies not only here, but on other online services as well. 
I know, he sent me one upon my request. The only way I have ever seen
that offered a free issue of a computer magazine is when you entered your
subscription, then if you did not like the first issue, you could request
your money back and keep the first issue, BUT if you continue your
subscription, that so called free issue becomes one of the issues
included in your year that you pay for. Joe also offers your money back
if you don't like the SSII publication, so in effect he offers the
same deal as you refer to about a free copy.. Subscribe, then you
can see the product first hand, if after that you don't like it, ask
for your money back.. It's that simple.

Other magazines charge off those issues to advertising. Their
circulation increases allow them to raise their base advertising
rates. Joe carries no advertising. He can not make up losses from
free issues from ad revenues.. If Joes costs go up, only one thing
can happen, all subscribers (including myself) will have to pay for
your (and other) free issues in the form of higher subscription rates,
and quite frankly, if you don't want to pay your own way, why should
the rest of us have to pay for it??  

And by the way Philip, while some magazines may make the offer I 
describe above, darn few, if any newsletters do it, and SSII could
be considered a newsletter.. Newsletters either say subscribe, or in
some cases they offer to SELL you a sample issue.. Perhaps Joe should
also offer to sell a single issue as a sample to those who for whatever
reason are afraid to subscribe.. One other thing to consider. Joe does
not operate from a Post Office box or a mail drop. He makes known his 
home/office address, this makes him very easy to find if you should 
feel that he owes you something. While I don't know how long Joe has
been at that address, I do know it has been at least since the mid 
80's when I first had the pleasure to meet him at an Applefest..
---------------
Joe: If your reading this message, thanks for issue number two. It
made for good reading, and looks much better than the first issue, 
which looked quite good on its own. 
-- 
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