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Topic: An expensive magazine
Author	Post
kellys_eye 14 posts Popping In	01-10-2008 23:32 Sirs, I am an enthusiastic follower of Elektor and have been ever since its first issue. Since I now live in a rather remote location I am considering subscribing to the magazine to guarantee a regular copy - or chosing the download option. What I cannot fathom is the high cost of the download version! Other electronics magazines offer subscription/download options and there is a considerable saving to be made if the download option is chosen. So why is Elektor so expensive in this format? regards
Elektor CSD1 4 posts Popping In	06-10-2008 12:15 Thank you very much for your post on our forum. We appreciate our readers thinking with us to make our magazine an even bigger success. As you know pricing is always a two way street. We think that the price/quality ratio for our magazine is fine. Although we do understand your question, we would like to point out that Elektor is a high profile magazine. It is not the paper and printing that makes our magazine strong, it is the knowledge, commitment and perseverance of the employees involved. We have, for example, a fully equipped laboratory where highly qualified designers are constantly testing and improving the latest technologies for our readers. In short, our magazine is a whole lot more than just the sum of paper and ink. The price is related to our quality content. That is why the Publisher has decided on the current price level for the magazine (in print and as a download). If you want to secure your regular copy, your best and cheapest option is taking out a subscription to our magazine. You are sure to get your copy in time every month against a fair price. Furthermore, you will have a lot of extras as a subscriber. E.g. free Elektor Credits and special subscriber offers. We hope that you will keep on reading our magazine, and would be delighted to have you on board as a subscriber. After all, it is the subscriber base that warrants the quality and future of Elektor magazine. Customer Services Elektor
sarma 202 posts Power User	07-10-2008 08:56 Dear Sir, Totally , agreed that it is a HIGH profile Magazine. Perhaps It might be possible for the amangement to offer the download version at a lower subsidised price and I am sure that the turnour would be trippled as compared to now. That might force you to open a mirror site even. The on line version has a definite advantage, that across the globe one can download and read it along with , if not earlier than news stand or mailed subscribers. Thus I feel, that price re adjustment benefits both. Also i remember to have raised this issue earlier (as mvs_sarma) that if some one wants to pay annual download subscription, like EPE online you may accommodate a package that could support them. May be it is a management to take such a step. we really admire the quality of the Mag and as some one commented, the Hotel is knon by the chef who prepares the stuff, we need to thank the article contributors too for the success of the Mag. Wish the ELEKTOR best of next decades to come. Sarma Ps" I should not forget to thank Such nice Translators , being an International multilingual publication. Post edited by sarma on 07-10-2008 08:59
kellys_eye 14 posts Popping In	11-10-2008 19:17 Elektor CSD1 The price is related to our quality content. That is why the Publisher has decided on the current price level for the magazine (in print and as a download). Customer Services Elektor I can't fault the quality content (although I could take issue with some of the more 'commercial' aspects of some articles - another time, another thread perhaps...) but I feel Elektor is leaving itself open to electronic abuse due to the unreasonably high download cost. I concur with the pricing of the paper version - Elektor is priced at the 'norm' as far as I am concerned but given that a subscription is a guarantee of a sale there should still be a more reasoned discount available. If other publishers can do it (in fact, as far as my research goes they all do) then Elektor is taking advantage of its regular readers.
kellys_eye 14 posts Popping In	30-04-2009 21:06 Elektor CSD1 The price is related to our quality content. That is why the Publisher has decided on the current price level for the magazine (in print and as a download). Customer Services Elektor hmmmmm...... "related to our quality content". Forgive me if I take issue. Whilst the recent Automatic Running-in Bench has its technical qualities the overall usefulness of such a device to, I'd hazard, 98%+ of the general readership, would be minimal bordering on zero. You also see fit to spread it over TWO issues! This doesn't exactly meet with the concept of quality content imho. In years past, Elektor has excelled in certain areas - test equipment being a notable example - but to pad out two issues with a project with such limited appeal???? Also, the tendency to offer 'development' boards for each and every processor available is, again imho, content padding. If you wish to demonstrate your 'quality content' perhaps we could see offerings that appeal to a much broader spectrum of readership? I realise this post is only my considered view but if this were put to a poll perhaps? Is there a facility to offer a poll to forum users? Relating this reply to my original question (expensive download) I would feel distinctly aggrieved to be receiving a printed subscription and seeing such narrow content. At least with an electronic download I can see what I'm getting before I pay (over the odds) for it.
Grumbleduke 83 posts Frequent Visitor	07-05-2009 15:08 Much of the narrowness you mention may be in your perception. Also, the R/C modelling community is larger than the one focussing on pure electronics so the appeal of the project may be larger than you think. I have yet to see a commercial engine run in bench with features similar to or exceeding the one described in Elektor. Though the project in its exact application may seem esoteric at first blush it has many aspects that make it of interest for study, education and modification to suit unexpected areas. It does not take much creative thinking to see that the free software and detailed explanations of the circuit operation and unit construction have potential for lots of other applications. That, I reckon, is why many of us still buy the magazine for: ideas rather than black box hardware. A/D, D/A, servo control, ARM programming, temp and rev measuring, LCD interfacing, ie how it’s done and can be done differently! These pages are a treasure trove and contrary to your grudges I compliment the author and Elektor on publishing yet another high quality article. GrD
pewtu 15 posts Popping In	18-05-2009 12:02 As a reader of Elektor since it hit the streets in the UK I would say that Elektor does sit itself at the high end of publications and associated services such as books and ready made pcb's. As for the books, have a look at alternative sources, pcb's I have found to be of the highest quality and the magazine itself perhaps justifies the cost. I take the point that a high cost is associated not with the production of the printed copy but with actually getting to a publication state. There would be a danger that if the download version was significantly cheaper than the herd copy volume sales would switch to download removeing revenue to support quality editorial. I do subcribe to EPE download, but I see that publication aimed at a different market. The recent introduction of a PCB service from Elektor does however seem to push the price/quality boundary. I submitted a test quote for two 100x160mm double sided silk screened boards to Elektor and an American site. Both delivered, excluding taxes. The result was Elector PCB service came out at 100 euro, the alternative 78 euro. That does cause me a problem.
kellys_eye 14 posts Popping In	16-05-2010 21:40 I'm sorry but I have to return to this particular topic. Notwithstanding my previous comments I now have the 'pleasure' to see that Elektor is available in the USA for a mere $40 for an annual subscription. Here in the UK we seem to be 'subsidising' overseas editions due to our own subscription cost being £49 (about $74). Can I subscribe and receive the USA edition instead then? Please, set me right and claim that production costs in the USA are more expensive than here in the UK..... if so, then explain why the download version is not discounted.