I am disappointed with the mass mailing of the dvd titled Dream-Plan-Build without subscriber permission and then asking for $9.00 for the video. It also states in the letter enclosed with the video, that other videos will be sent each month with no obligation to buy. If you, (subscriber)want the video you will be billed the regular price for the series. No mention of what the regular price is. I think your magazine is great and look forward to my copy in the mail every month but don’t appreciate any item I don’t ask for. I am a member in a couple of other forums and the general opinion of this mailing is negative,with a couple replies even going as far as stating they are not going to renew their subscription. I personally would’nt go that far because I do enjoy reading each publication. Please abandon this practice. Jerry[V]
It has been pointed out in other forums that the new DVDs will be around $25.00 with postage included. Also you do not have to return the first one that was sent to you, it does say so in the enclosed letter.
Bob Boudreau
I got my DVD yesterday I still have only about 1/2 of it watched but I have to say I think it is very good.I can’t say as to the ones that are to come out in the future but this one is a heck of a bargin at 9.95 and as I understand if I don’t care for any I get in the future I can return without cost how can I lose? If you don’t like it send it back but I am keeping mine. Cox 47
If you read the form that was enclosed with the DVD, you can send it back and cancel any further mailings. You will receive future mailings of DVDs only if you send that form back and check the box requesting more in the future. There should also have been a return label so you can put the DVD back into the box it came in and send it back to Kalmbach. That’s what I did with mine.
Yep! And if you do nothing at all, you will not be sent any more. Just keep it as a gift from Model Railroader. No tricks, no gimmics. I thought it was a great way to advertise the new product.
Frankly I liked the idea. I normally never buy videos because I can’t see them first to gaurantee that they are any good. This fixed that.
Jesse
I agree they should have mentioned the cost of the future DVD’s. That will be the main deciding point for me as to keeping or returning them.
Personally, I thought it was pretty good and I’m keeping it.
The DVD was sent only to subscribers from what I understand. As an unsolicited mailing it’s FREE. I believe that’s the law or a postal regulation. They mentioned that it was yours to keep for free a couple times so why not just keep it? Even for the $9.00 it’s a bargain.
Roger
I hear some say $9 and others say $25. WHAT is the real price of the DVDs?
This introductory video is $9 IF you want to sign up to receive future releases. Otherwise it’s free.
The subsequent videos are priced at $25 per video.
$25 per video!? Whats in them? Better be like 3 hours of great info and images!
Is this being mailed out to Canadian subscribers as well ? Or only to Americans ?
I have yet to see one in my part of Canada, and I subscribe.
Bob Boudreau
I’d bet on only American the ability to return the dvd depends on it being returned from the US. While $25 may seem steep we need to take what other model railroad videos are currently costing into account. Most that I know of are more expensive than $25 so it really isn’t that bad.
Jesse
i cant comment on that DVD but i bought one some time ago at a show and at the end if it i was sat there wondering why on earth it had been made. instead of any form of programme it was just a series of rushes of a model train show. absoloutly nothing throughout the entire programme was properly in focus.
it was as though someone had recieved a cheap video camea for christmas and decided to make a film.
Peter
I recieved it and watched it the next day. I really like the tours of the layouts but the building and scenicing I have all ready known. But for $25.00 dollars a pop, that is why I subscribe to MRR Mag and I got my RR buddies if I get stuck on something… I sent it back the following Monday…
Kevin
I thought the DVD was OK but not worth subscribing to more. The large brass RR coin that came with the DVD is pretty cool though, definately a keeper!
Terry
I GOT THE DVD 3 WEEKS AGO AND LIKE IT, BUT $25.00 FOR DVD NEXT ONE IS OK I GUESS, WILL THEY GIVE US A DISCOUNT
Don’t compare the price of hobby DVDs to the price of Hollywood DVDs. Hollywood DVDs can spread their production costs out over millions of copies, but hobby DVDs have to recoup their costs from just a few thousand copies.
Allen Keller charges $40+ for his DVDs, and Pentrex charges around $30 for theirs, and Model-trains-video.com also charges about $30 for their DVDs.
So $25 for a model railroading DVD is actually an agressive price – appreciate their willingness to set them at this price and not $40 like Keller’s DVDs!
you are right. videos like these do not have the market that a major Hollywood production,but neither do they pay the actors 10 million. You cannot compare the cost of a Hollywood production ( many millions of dollars ) to a how to video with archival footage added. I did like the first one & sent the $9.95 in . Number 2 was another story, almost 3 times the price with inferior content. sent it back with comments. In the background segment the trees painted on the background were bigger than the " real" trees in the foreground… In the street construction segment you were urged to weather the street with 2 tire track lines. the only place I ever saw this was at a drag strip. The one discolored strip is in the middle of the road from leaking fluids. needless to say i didn’t receive any more to “'preview”.
Well there is rubber at intersections due to hard stops from Semis caught by “Fast” lights turning against them. I use that visual sign if I see it as a warning to get ready for a hard stop.
I have two of the series, I will be recieving the rest of them. I find them helpful. Considering I spend a bit more than 20 dollars a month on trains I see the cost as no problem.