I called the Dream, Plan, Build department at Kalmback today because I had never received vol. 4. I knew from discussion here that vol. 4 had been out for many weeks. When I called they imformed me that because I had purchased one and returned two of the first three volumes I would no longer be receiving the videos. I rechecked the advertising to be sure, then reminded them that they had advertised the series saying, “enrollment entitles you to the right to preview every DVD before you decide to add it to your collection. There is no minimum purchasing commitment.” The response I got was basically, “Too bad.” Apparently if you return two you are finished. The only way I can get back into the series is if I start again from the beginning. If there was a minimum purchase, they should not have advertised it as though there was not. Needless to say, I am hopping mad. I’m not one to typically bash our host here, but this is clearly deceptive advertising. If I had known there was a minimum purchase I probably would have continued the series and made the minimum purchase, but because I was led to believe that there was not a minimum, I assumed that when they said I could preview and return that’s what they meant. Live and learn, I suppose. Poor stupid me!
I never realized that was the case, I purchased all simply because somewhere on each was something I would reference to help me. I too am sorry they decided to just cut you like that. I guess even the small type didn’t help on that one.
Ron - I was not very impressed by the way Kalmback handled the whole program. It was advertised that if you did not want the original DVD then you had several options including keeping the DVD as a gift as it was an unsolicited offer. Well I reviewed the first DVD and thought it was OK but allot of it was a rehash so I decided I would keep it and not get anymore. Over the next 6 weeks or so I got at least three letters and several more emails from Kalmback asking what my decision was and reviewed all of the options EXCEPT the keep it as a gift one. They made it seem like keeping it was no longer an option. My wife read one of the letters and said “my God you better send it back or you will get into trouble” That was the tone of the letters. I assured her that it was OK. Anyway that put a real damper on the whole DVD series thing for me. Its odd as I have always found the folks at Kalmbach very helpful and curtious. Maybe they didn’t do it in house?
Terry
I am not familier with the DVD or the offer that was made, But just to play the devils advocate (not taking sides here) But how easy would It be to get the DVD burn a copy on your computor then just return them!
I would think that they would do whatever possible to prevent this, as Some people might do this and then where would there sales be? They might as well offer it as a free download!
Just my humble thoughts.
David
That could very well have been a preconceived issue for Kalmbach, in which case they ought to have devised a more functional set of rules at the outset, and not reneged on their invitation…which is what is was. Bad form.
There is no minimum purchasing commitment. You’re right, I just copied this statement off Kalmbach’s offer on Model Railroader’s web-site. Sounds like you might have gotten hold of a customer rep who is making bad decisions for the company. That happens sometimes.
They pulled the same thing with me, with the letters. It did seem a little shady from the get go. That really put me off from trusting anything else from them.
I was in a similar situation some years ago, I think it was with the Time Magazine Video Club, for WWII videos. They too said you could asses each monthly video and send them back if you didn’t want them. I did this for a short while and they stopped sending them. When I inquired why, I never really got a satisfactory answer. I guess the offer to assess them is only good as long as you do buy them too. Not much of an offer!
n2mopac funny but my dad stopped dealing with Kalmbach in the 60’s as far as ordering things. I have never ordered anything from them and don’t plan to either.
In over 40 years nothing has changed I see. Sad really.
Just my opinion though.
I just returned Vol 3 after getting a number of letters asking for payment. I just couldn’t decide whether to pay the $24 and whether it was worth it. For four DVD’s, I can order a power truck for my Corgi Birney Trolley. Or, I could make a nice bid on EBay.
My decision to return Vol 3 is that I am not impressed with the quality of some of the content. Some of the material on the DVD’s is a rehash of their Tracks Alive TV show. Then, there is the quality of the presentations of instruction on modeling techniques. In one DVD, the modeling instructor showed how to build a church. I call it the Church of the Tipped Steeple. In Vol 3 that I just returned, there was an initial instructional section on building etched brass models. One doesn’t actually see substantive construction take place. The video editing and position of the camera needs work. There was a scene where a wire or rod hung between the camera lens and the person demonstrating. Come on! You want $24 with that quality? TV cooking shows do much better and perhaps MR needs to watch them for ideas. In another part, the presenter was discussing collectable trains and picked up a model to describe. When he put it down on the track, he just plopped it there without making sure the wheels were on the rails. It looked terrible - reminding me of the children’s book “Tootle” where the young engine was instructed by the experienced locomotive to “stay on the rails no matter what.” Maybe this guy never read “Tootle.”
I agree that the DVD series was sold to us without a statement of limits on how many we could return. MRR should hold to their promises. I also had sticker shock when I was billed $24 for the second volume which I paid. The initial volume was $9. MRR made no effort to tell us the price would go up. Truth in advertizing?
I think they are doing this series on the cheap. I am sure making a DVD can be a costly enterprise. However, I expect quality for what I pay. It doesn’t take much to edi
Go with their advertising statement. “IF” they stated you can preview all dvd’s file a complaint with the dept. of consumer protection in the state of Wisconsin, as a violation of truth in advertising. Let them review it and contact Kalmbach publishing to try to get them to abide by the law. Wisconsin at one time was the strongest state to enforce its laws. Since the republicans were in power in the 90’s, they really gutted our consumer protection laws. It will be a coin flip whether you win, regardless of our laws.
My guess is that due to production costs, they only made a fixed number of each volume of the DVD. I think maybe when people sent back Vol 1, they recycled it and sent it out to others who hadn’t gotten it yet (I remember hearing about how many people didn’t get it until a few months after they started sending them out). Same way with the follow-ons; they only send the limited number they have out to those who might have a high probability of buying them.
IMO, the vidoes are OK, and entertaining and interesting to watch, but nothing I’d spend $24 for. There’s maybe two or three things from each that are “keepers” in my book. Also, did anyone else notice that there were stories about the same father & son Lionel collectors on both Vol 2 and Vol 3? It was basically the same story twice! And the story about “realistic operation” on the Turtle Creek Central on Vol 3… I almost dozed off a few times watching the locomotive crawl around the track into and out of the yard [zzz].
Anyway, what I look for in the videos are construction & modeling tips and techniques that are going to help me build and run my layout. I haven’t seen any of Joe Fugate’s videos yet, but if I were to ever pay full retail for a model railroading video, I’d give those a hard look first.
The limited run theory may explain why I got Volume 1 about 6 months after everyone else. My most recent subscription is about 8 months old. Yeah, they mentioned sending it out to others somewhere in the flyer or something - selling used DVD’s as new? Interesting.
Again, huge fan of MR here, but the DVD situation is slightly odd.
While watching Vol. 1 shortly after it came I actually did fall asleep, I forget what part it was on. I do remember that it seemed like all of the “teachers” were talking in mono-tone…certainly didn’t add to anything.
The most recent letter recieved about it did say that we could consider it a free gift, but I doubt we’ll get to review any others (not that it’s near the top on either my father or mine’s wish list).
I agree with everyone else that Kalmback has always seemed to be reputable and very good with PR (this forum is as far as we need to look for examples), this whole DVD taboggle seems to be rather out of their character.
this whole DVD taboggle seems to be rather out of their character.
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not really; in the past when i accepted a free copy of their magazine, it was usually followed by six months of billing for the subscription, like i was some kind of deadbeat. it’s kinda like they forgot their terms of the agreement.
after this happened twice, i lost interest in “free” magazines.
I know the feeling. I tried to watch Vol 3 a few times, never made it to the end, kept falling a sleep! [zzz][zzz][zzz]
Sent it back, got Vol 4, opened the box just to get the return label. For 24 bucks, I can buy a decoder and have a lot more fun!
I had the same experience with volume 1 of the DVD. I watched it twice and was trying do decide if I wanted to subscribe to the series. I started receiving letters from MR stating pay for the DVD or send it back. I sent it back and did not subscribe.
I consider customer service part of the value of a product. I am a regular subscriber to Model Railroader magazine, and MR Planning and MR Great Model Railraods. I buy a lot of their “how-to” books. I buy DVDs from other publishers, however this experience left a “bad taste in my mouth” for Model Railroader DVDs.
I kept # 1, but was slow in paying for it. I got several letters and finally paid for it. I sent # 2 back as it just didn’t have anything I wanted to pay $24 for. (I too was looking for another $9 one). I also fell asleep (twice) in # 3. I sent it back, but forgot to include the invoice. When I received a follow-up invoice, I explained what happened. I haven’t heard anything else from them about it. I also haven’t received # 4, which is OK with me.
I believe that their TV program is “Tracks Ahead.” I do like some of them.