LEGO Magazines : Blocks, Bricks & Bricks Culture

Lego91

I ordered a copy back in March (24th). Have not received anything yet (I'm in Germany). Good to see that I'm not the only one. Guess you have 180 days to open a claim in PayPal so I continue to wait and see if something happens.

Legoboy

Sometimes it's best to just wait and see what happens.

CapnRex101

@Huw and I have both been reading what is going on here and forwarding the information to Mark. He certainly has a team working on correcting the (many) issues, which have mostly been caused simply by the rush of producing the magazine in the first place. 

dougts

Perhaps they shouldn't have have rushed then? If taking a couple more months to launch would have helped prevent many of these issues, they likely would have been better off to take the time. As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression....

Huw

The timescales were dictated by the need to fit in with those of the Channel 4 documentary team that were following the launch.

Anyway, Mark has just issued the following announcement about the digital issues:

Bricks and Bricks Culture digital editions - Announcement

As some of you may be aware our digital versions of Bricks and Bricks Culture have been experiencing teething problems. We have been working around the clock to try and rectify the issues that our customers have been experiencing. Despite our best efforts and updates we are still not totally satisfied with the user experience this platform is currently offering.

Much like our customers we demand quality and expect a high standard in everything we do, this ethos covers all our activity and always will. That is why despite our efforts thus far to correct the user experience issues we have taken the decision to suspend our digital editions while we resolve the issues.

All our print customers who have received a free digital issue will still be able to use the platform should they so wish, as will our digital subscribers.

For our digital only customers you will be contacted shortly and be given the opportunity to access a print copy or receive a refund for your digital purchase.

We take customer satisfaction very seriously. We will always respond accordingly to feedback and would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any dissatisfaction experienced by our customers.

Moving forward will be working hard on enhancing and improving our digital edition. Once we are fully confident all issues have been resolved and we can deliver the experience and quality that is expected we will make a digital version available through our site.

Many thanks for all your patience and custom.

Mark

laid12345

Disappointing to read this thread and the fact that I ordered a 6 print issues subscription on 18th and have not received anything, digital or print yet.  I have emailed them and will give them a chance to respond.  Order just says processing on their store, but the money was taken on the 18th April :(

smartiepants

ordered a single printed copy on the 20th I wasn't going to commit to a sub just yet, as of today I have received nothing either 

AndyPol

Huw said:

The timescales were dictated by the need to fit in with those of the Channel 4 documentary team that were following the launch.

A very interesting announcement Huw and one that probably explains where the priorities were from the start. What a shame that TV executives appear to have been prioritised at the expense of customers, in my opinion.

Legoboy

Thank you for being up front and honest about things Mark.

Personally, albeit good to have as a backup to read when out and about, I won't miss the digital copies.  I bought both magazines for the nice glossy print and so far am very impressed with what's been published to date.  Keep it up.

SirKevbags

@Legoboy You allowed them to be touched by human hands?

Legoboy

If they're wearing a pair of my white cotton gloves.

theLEGOman

@laid12345 Mark looked mine up today and they sent a large order out on tuesday i believe, as they were getting better packaging before they were sent out, i too paid on the 18th.

Mark seemed a little surprised that the issue (of culture) hadn't arrived yet. Seems delivery may be taking slightly longer than they expected.

Dfenz

Good to see I am not alone. Still no sign of my printed copy of either magazine. I've no interest in the digital version even if I could read the magazine on it, which I can't while its on that horrible hopelessly slow platform. There is enough digital content on the web already. Its the physical copy that's the USP (or it would be were it not for Blocks)

Lego_Star

I too ordered a printed first issue of each magazine on the 24th of April, my order also still says processing. I did ask if packaging could indicate not to bend or fold for the postie's benefit in the notes so, as long as the copies do arrive at some point in a nice condition, I'm quite prepared to wait for them.

dougts

Correct me if I'm wrong, but
they could have said no to the documentary if their focus was on delivering a quality first product and experience to customers. Unless they were being financed by the documentary production I suppose

Huw

Turning down the free publicity the documentary will produce would have been foolish, I think you'd agree.

yuffie

I guess it is a balance between the negative publicity of the problems that have been caused by rushing the launch and the free advertising on Channel 4.

To my mind, given that there was already some negative feeling around what had gone on in the background (though nobody apart from those involved knew the facts) I think it was a mistake.

However, I accept that the Channel 4 documentary will reach more people than the posts on here.

And I assume the documentary was completed before these issues came to light, so won't cover them.

drdavewatford

Channel 4 were filming at the Bricks/Bricks Culture launch, but I think filming is done now.

I can certainly understand the indignation of those who feel that the launch was rushed to accommodate TV, but I guess if you're setting up a brand new business and you're lucky enough to attract the attention of a national TV broadcaster who take an interest in what you're doing and want to cover it you'd move heaven and earth to try and accommodate them.

AndyPol

Huw said:

Turning down the free publicity the documentary will produce would have been foolish, I think you'd agree.

I agree totally, but isn't it foolish to not get the customer experience right as well? Afterall, we the customers (hopefully) will still be around long after Channel 4 have consigned the documentary into the archive?

When the documentary is shown, any publicity will be short lived if all these issues haven't been sorted. I hope the magazines succeed, but every day there is something else crops up which makes me think this was a fantastic idea that wasn't thought through properly before starting it.

I also hope that Channel 4 haven't been shown this forum or else the free publicity might not be quite what Bricks had hoped for? Despite the issues we all have, the downfall of Bricks is not what we want to happen.

cakeinmilk

I think more transparency on the delays and issues with the digital versions would've certainly helped someone like myself, who was completely on the fence on whether to support a new magazine. Especially if there was considerable scepticism prior to launch.

smartiepants

Mine turned up yesterday, had a quick look and very nice is is too, plenty of content on a quality print

Istokg

My copy of BRICKSCULTURE showed up in my mailbox here in the American Midwest today, and all I can say is WOW....  

Of course I have to temper my enthusiasm with my extreme prejudice since I will be a regular columnist to this magazine with "the story of LEGO past".  Like most of you... I had no clue exactly what to expect... and this is a very sophisticated product.  Wonderful imagery, great articles... definitely for an adult LEGO audience.

In the immortal words of American commedian Rich Hall... "good things comes to those who wait... but crap shows up right away!"   :)

laid12345

smartiepants said:

Mine turned up yesterday, had a quick look and very nice is is too, plenty of content on a quality print

Mine also turned up on 2nd of May, and I also received a reply to my email apologising for the delay.  Not had a chance to read it fully yet, but vey impressed with the quality of print.  Still enjoying the latest Blocks magazine too that I picked up in Sainsburys!  I'll probably still continue to pick it up when I see it on the shelf.

cheekymunk3y

First impressions not good, I ordered both Bricks and Bricks Culture end of April, Bricks arrived about a week later but still haven't received a copy of Bricks Culture.  I've emailed explaining the situation and asking for an update on the missing magazine and not had any response which was about 2 weeks ago, i've also lodged a Paypal dispute to try and get some action but this so far as not been responded to.  The customer service/communication definitely needs some work!

AndyPol

Any idea when the Channel 4 programme is going to be on?

Legopants

14th June, I think. 

drdavewatford

cheekymunk3y said:

First impressions not good, I ordered both Bricks and Bricks Culture end of April, Bricks arrived about a week later but still haven't received a copy of Bricks Culture.

I exchanged e-mails with Mark Guest yesterday about the various reports here and on the main site from people who hadn't yet received Issue 1. He was under the impression that they had dealt with all the enquiries received thus far, and advised people still waiting for copies of Bricks or Bricks Culture to contact the team at [email protected] and they'll look into it.

Pate5346

^ thanks for the info @drdavewatford

I paid on the 12.04.2015 for both first issues . After not receiving anything I made an inquiry on 18.05. I've got a reply from Angela that is being sorted although that international orders take longer ( I'm in UK ) . Not sure that they matched my order number to address on the order.
I guess I need to make another inquiry and keep doing so. We'll see what happens.   

drdavewatford

Pate5346 said:

I guess I need to make another inquiry and keep doing so. We'll see what happens.   

Yep - stay on it. Bricks has brought in a new distributor after being let down by the previous incumbent, and I guess there might consequently be some problems joining the dots, but Mark seems optimistic that starting with Issue 2 things should work as planned. Of course that's little consolation for folks who are still waiting for Issue 1, but there does seem to be a commitment to make things right, so do keep trying.

Speaking as someone who writes for Bricks I'm desperately hoping that all these problems, including the digital distribution issue, can be resolved ASAP so the focus can move to the actual content - what's good, what people think could be improved, and what else people would like to see.

CapnRex101

^ I totally agree. It is incredibly frustrating to hear about these issues which the contributors have no control over. Hopefully everything will be sorted out by issue 3 when Bricks goes monthly. 

PeteM

Despite not being hugely taken with the theme of the first issue (which wasn't that prevalent, but cars, Lego or otherwise don't do much for me!) I thought it showed more than enough promise to order issue 2 and am looking forward to it arriving. 

There's obviously been a huge amount written on all the startup woes, so I thought I'd chime in with my positive experience. I wanted physical copies of both Bricks and Bricks Culture, so I placed my order on 8th April and received both in the post less than a week later. Easy as that. Obviously that's not much comfort to those wanting the digital edition or who have experienced distribution problems, but I just wanted to share that for some - hopefully a majority - orders went just fine. You very rarely get to hear when things go ok or even just 'as expected', and the negative reports can create a false illusion that everything is terrible, so I just wanted to get my experience out there :) Can't wait for issue 2!

Istokg

@PeteM Since cars were the very first LEGO models (besides LEGO houses) that have been around now exactly 60 years.... having the first issues talk about them seemed to be rather appropriate.  Also vehicles are one of the few areas that seem to span many LEGO Systems.... Town, Space, Technic, Duplo, Fabuland, and even in the modern age Modulars!   LEGO cars are like Minifigs.... they're everywhere!!  :)

Huw

^^ PeteM, thanks for posting that, it's refreshing to hear something positive about its distribution.

bandit778

For anyone with an internet in Doctor Who, the latest issue of Blocks has some really nice MOC's of different versions of the Tardis interior and the tv show related builds.

Roskoboy

Has anyone got the paper edition of Bricks #9 yet?

bandit778

^^ just noticed the typo.... internet should read interest. Sorry and all that.

PeteM

Roskoboy said:

Has anyone got the paper edition of Bricks #9 yet?

Not yet - had a quick 'flick' through the free e-copy and it looks good, but as a personal preference I'm sticking to the paper copy for the foreseeable.

Might take a look at the latest Blocks for the Dr Who builds - think there was some good stuff on a similar theme in Bricks a couple of issues ago, but you can't have too much Doctor Who... :)

AndyPol

Just wondered if I'm being a bit tight, but I had my Bricks renew e-mail and it will cost me £18 P&P for the year to get the paper copy, whereas my Blocks renewal will be same price but free P&P and a minifigure. Is £18 P&P a good price? What do you all think?

I should say that I have really liked all the magazines, their content, format, quality, but in this age of austerity......

Eelesy

Just a quick question, Ive bought every issue of Blocks and I so enjoy it but seem to be skipping through a lot of features at the moment. My favourite aspect are the reviews. Can someone tell me what the difference between this and Bricks is, does bricks have more reviews; it also seems in all that ive read about it, to be a bit more adult. Would this be the case and would you recommend it? Thanks everyone!

catwrangler

AndyPol said:

Just wondered if I'm being a bit tight, but I had my Bricks renew e-mail and it will cost me £18 P&P for the year to get the paper copy, whereas my Blocks renewal will be same price but free P&P and a minifigure. Is £18 P&P a good price? What do you all think?

I should say that I have really liked all the magazines, their content, format, quality, but in this age of austerity......

I'd try going through Royal Mail Pricefinder to see what they're charging for postage of a magazine of that weight, then multiply it by however many you get. Of course, that doesn't account for the cost of envelopes, the fact they presumably have to get a large batch of magazines delivered to the post office in the first place, cost of paying someone to do the envelope stuffing, etc... things that give you free postage are generally factoring p&p into the cost of the item.