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LEGO Magazines : Blocks, Bricks & Bricks Culture

24

Comments

  • caperberrycaperberry Member Posts: 2,226
    I have to 'clock off' now and there are still changes needed before we can make the planned announcements. A team member is still working so I *hope* they can announce tonight.
    thenos
  • SirKevbagsSirKevbags Member Posts: 4,027
    I think clocking off at 6:34 on a Saturday, especially when its a holiday weekend is showing dedication to the cause. Take a well earned break!
  • AndyPolAndyPol Member Posts: 406
    I have worked for 16 years, and will continue to work 24/7 365 days per year. I have been at work at Christmas, Easter, and New Year, and missed numerous family celebrations because of work. I may sound harsh, but you'll get no sympathy from me I'm afraid.

    I thought that if profit, reputation, and success were at stake, the candle got burned at both ends?
  • SirKevbagsSirKevbags Member Posts: 4,027
    @AndyPol if you can work constantly without sleeping, eating and all the other things needed to survive then we need to get you off shift and into a lab, you have super powers.

    I'm sure we can all recall lengthy working spells when we have gone beyond our normal role, my personal best was 88 days straight for 12 hours. It became counter productive though and just wish at the time I had stronger management above me telling me to take time off. 

    So sure make the sacrifices but also realise when to stop and return refreshed and actually achieve something.
  • AndyPolAndyPol Member Posts: 406
    SirKevbags
    @AndyPol if you can work constantly

    No, I realised that I should have put "shifts" before 24/7 but the edit
    time cut-off prevented me from editing it, so it is rather a cheap shot
    to ridicule my comment in this way.

    The fact remains that this was so easily resolved by getting things worked out before they made
    grand annoucements. AFOLs might be great at discussing LEGO, but you
    need the skills to run a business and I'm afraid this looks amateurish
    at best.

    I might also add that I have sent e-mails to bricks and
    all they had to do was reply and I wouldn't have even commented on the
    forum, but it would appear that the bricks staff prefer to reply on this
    forum and not to their customers who have provided nearly £100 so far
    (12 months subscription for the two mags) in supporting them.

    I want this venture to succeed, I really do, but all this angst has been
    caused by them, not me.
  • SirKevbagsSirKevbags Member Posts: 4,027
    edited April 2015
    @AndyPol To ridicule wasn't my intention and if it has caused that feeling then I apologise. To me it felt a cheap shot being critical of someone taking a break, anyway let's park that and shake hands.

    I can't offer any insight into why email responses have been lacking but I do know a tremendous amount of effort has gone in so far and will continue to do so in getting issues resolved. Hopefully everyone will be satisfied soon and we can all concentrate on the merits of the content rather than the logistics.

    I'm knocking off myself now and see a wee dram with my name on it :-)
  • AndyPolAndyPol Member Posts: 406
    SirKevbags said:
    Hopefully everyone will be satisfied soon and we can all concentrate on the merits of the content rather than the logistics.

    Enjoy the dram, but the whole point is that we would have concentrated on the content if they had got the logistics right........
  • caperberrycaperberry Member Posts: 2,226
    Just to clarify @AndyPol, I'm not directly coding the website myself, so my clocking off has not delayed matters. As I said there was still a team member working tonight so yes the candle is being burned at both ends.
    Legoboy
  • AndyPolAndyPol Member Posts: 406
    caperberry said:
    Just to clarify @AndyPol, I'm not directly coding the website myself, so my clocking off has not delayed matters. As I said there was still a team member working tonight so yes the candle is being burned at both ends.
    Nice touch to issue this at 12:31am just to prove the work is going on.

    It is strange that everyone who is involved in this magazine and posting here, are distancing themselves from any of the issues. They are all happy to say that they know lots of work is being done, apologise for the delays, and ask us to be patient, but nothing else. I hope that if you have employed IT experts to run the website, you have a service level agreement with them?

    However, that aside, it appears to me that I have become the scapegoat for those involved to target me and avoid answering the issues that have been rasied and pointed out by me and others? I also would imagine that any embarrassment for bricks (which was entirely preventable by good planning) will mean that this thread will be locked soon to prevent the wheels of democracy working any further.

    You said yesterday that the decisions had been made, so why not tell us?

    BTW, your website is still not ready this morning.


  • drlmiles1drlmiles1 Member Posts: 194
    @AndyPol you are not the only one posting in vain. There are now 8 days until the first issue is released (13 days if you believe the Bricks website ;-) ) The only way to order is online - you cannot go into any newsagent and buy Bricks there.
    Subscriptions normally start with the Next issue, unless there is a means to specify which issue you start with (there is none that I can see on the website). By the time we have enough information to make a decision about subscribing (I know you have already) the first issue of both new magazines will have been released. So will subscriptions ordered after that start with Issue 2?
    It makes no sense to rush the release of Issue one of Bricks and Bricks Culture when their release has been so badly implemented. Despite that, they are insisting against financial sense in keeping to their original date announced to the world on 21st March. I despair...
  • AndyPolAndyPol Member Posts: 406
    edited April 2015
    Just noticed, the website has some information now! It's a start, thank you bricks team, good communication is all we wanted. Still showing 13 days to go, but you can't have everything!
  • KleiovousKleiovous Member Posts: 95
    AndyPol said:
    I have worked for 16 years, and will continue to work 24/7 365 days per year. I have been at work at Christmas, Easter, and New Year, and missed numerous family celebrations because of work.
    How do you find the time to read magazines?
  • AndyPolAndyPol Member Posts: 406
    Kleiovous said:

    How do you find the time to read magazines?
    OMG, such humour, pure comedy gold...... :neutral: 
  • HuwHuw Administrator Posts: 7,087
    edited April 2015
    Here's the latest from the Bricks/Bricks Culture team which clarifies postage costs, release schedule and so on:
    I
    http://republic66media.com/2015/04/05/new-offers-and-site-update/
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    edited April 2015
    @Huw Theres a space at the end of that link that takes you to 'Page Not Found'. Without it it takes you to the correct page.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    edited April 2015
    Great to see the information there and free UK postage is a great bonus especially as theres a chance to see what the magazines looks like, then subscribe and still get the free postage offer.

    I did notice the 1 issue EUR and RotW prices for Brick Culture appear to have some typos in.
  • mrbradfordmrbradford Member Posts: 45
    Why is one issue of BricksCulture so expensive outside of UK? The math doesn't add up.
  • binaryeyebinaryeye Member Posts: 1,831
    Why the repeated use of extremely tight tracking in the headlines on the sample spreads? I can see using it once to set apart an article, but it hinders readability, so using it everywhere is a bit tiring.
  • slyreptileslyreptile Member Posts: 15
    Yet again, the digital editions are as much as the print editions.  This makes no sense.  Yes, there are some costs related to bandwidth and storage, but there are zero costs in printing and postage.  Pure money grab.
  • theLEGOmantheLEGOman Member Posts: 1,524
    Online have VAT I believe.
  • BooBooLandBooBooLand Member Posts: 11
    I applaud the Bricks/Bricks Culture team for providing free P&P to those in the UK, but what about those in the EU or Rest of the World?  Are we paying "full" P&P or is that already "discounted" P&P as indicated?   
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    cheshirecat said:
    Great to see the information there and free UK postage is a great bonus especially as theres a chance to see what the magazines looks like
    They look like this ...


  • EvilTwinEvilTwin Member Posts: 135
    edited April 2015
    The first two sentences on the website news page are...
    "So what is inside our launch issue of Bricks, here is a little taster. More will be released over the coming week, its a packed issue."

    Hopefully the standard of writing inside the magazines will be higher than that shown on the website. Blocks was marred by poor quality writing. You can get away with this kind of thing in fandom websites and so on but I hold printed media to higher standards.

    Generally questions require a question mark, and I have never seen any magazine writing guidelines in which comma splicing is acceptable. And, "its"... come on guys, it's three letters. Sort yourselves out.

    hewmancatwrangler
  • Ian_SIan_S Member Posts: 71
    I'd love to have placed orders for the both magazines, but the website is holding me back.  Is there an alternative method for subscribing?  Not that I'm saying the website doesn't work I hasten to add, but rather I'm not happy having my personal details submitted without an SSL wrapped connection which at present appears to be the case (although I'm happy to be convinced otherwise), is this likely to be rectified before the launch date?  Also, is there any chance that issues might appear in Lego stores given the teams favourable relationship with The Lego Group?
  • drlmiles1drlmiles1 Member Posts: 194
    The whole way these magazines have been released is quite unprofessional, and I can completely understand many people not wishing to order. 
    I have today ordered a 4 issue subscription to Bricks Culture and a 6 issue subscription to Bricks. The website does not allow you to register an account, so you have to place the order as a guest. Without a link to an account for the order, it calls into question the lauded Loyalty Scheme, as how will "points" be awarded to guests?
    Even more unprofessional is the requirement to accept the site's terms and conditions when you are at the last stages of the order - because clicking on the link for Terms and Conditions takes you to a page of Latin gobbledegook!
    It makes me wonder if I have just thrown away £60...
  • drlmiles1drlmiles1 Member Posts: 194
    Here is what the Terms & Conditions are:

  • binaryeyebinaryeye Member Posts: 1,831
    That's common placeholder text. Some graphic design packages (e.g. InDesign) even have a function to automatically add it.
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,827
    edited April 2015
    Strange.  I placed my order a couple of days ago and have an account with my order of two items showing in it.  Am really looking forward to receiving my first issues.  From what I've seen and those I've spoken to who've handled the mags, we really are in for a treat.  I have no reservations about handing my kids' inheritance over.
    Lego_Star
  • drlmiles1drlmiles1 Member Posts: 194
    binaryeye said:
    That's common placeholder text. Some graphic design packages (e.g. InDesign) even have a function to automatically add it.
    I realised that - but they haven't bothered to replace it with the proper content! 
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    ^ surely the magazines are their inheritance.
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,827
    If I were to leave them lying around, I imagine I'd find their school text books with pretty new LEGO covers.
    andhe
  • TechnicNickTechnicNick Member Posts: 279
    Saw a copy at work today, very impressed. Looks a whole lot classier and less messy than Blocks, with more and longer articles and a simple, attractive layout. Less impressed with the website - it looks good but doesn't quite work right; still, well worth an order even as a guest...
  • tedwardtedward Member Posts: 163
    I would love to try it out but a digital copy is $20 here in Canada. Now I don't know what you Brits are paying for magazines in general but for the same money I could go to a movie or buy a hardcover book and have change left over.

    And no one has explained to me yet why a digital copy costs the same as a printed copy? Is paper, ink and labour free in England?
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    edited April 2015
    ^ printed magazines and books don't have vat, whereas electronic copies do.

    Better quality hobby magazines tend to be £4-6 here.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    And bookazines more.
  • MinifigsMeMinifigsMe Member Posts: 2,844
    I've had chance to look through both magazines, and they're pretty stunning to look at, and read very well.
    I'm sure those who've subscribed will be very happy with the mags. :)
  • HuwHuw Administrator Posts: 7,087
    I don't know what platform is being used for digital distribution but I suspect there's up to 30% to pay for the privilege of using it, which is probably the cost of the paper and printing.
    AndorLegoboy
  • nexandernexander Member Posts: 908
    After watching the mark guest video it makes a lot of stuff clear and I'm just about to stick a sub order in for both mags!
  • NibbosNibbos Member Posts: 2
    Was there going to be an announcement about a possible deal for Blocks subscribers who have discovered that the editorial team they had been subscribing to had moved to this new publication called Bricks?

    I have emailed Bricks magazine but have heard no reply.

    Are we going to get more announcements from Bricks staff about this, please?

    or have I missed them already?

    thanks in advance.

    Nibbos
  • TheBrickLaddTheBrickLadd Member Posts: 844
    Has anyone received their copies yet? Or a link to the digital one?
  • MrGudzMrGudz Member Posts: 210
    Waiting for a link. Received nothing as of now.
  • Kevin_HyattKevin_Hyatt Member Posts: 778
    Had a read of both mags yesterday at our LUGmeet. Both nice, especially the culture one. Not sure the main man is that much better than the Blocks one but the culture one has some gorgeous stuff in it and some nice interviews.
  • AndyPolAndyPol Member Posts: 406
    I am away at the moment and although I have received an email to say my print copy is on its way, but had assumed that I might be able to log into my account and get the digital. However, when I tried to reset my password (I had forgotten it as I am on my tablet not pc) the website let's me reset my password but then doesn't recognise my new one. So even if I could get a link in my account, the website password reset doesn't let me get in anyway! I have emailed Bricks, but we all know how long that takes! At least the print copy should be on my doorstep when I get home....
  • tedwardtedward Member Posts: 163
    CCC said:
    ^ printed magazines and books don't have vat, whereas electronic copies do.

    Better quality hobby magazines tend to be £4-6 here.

    OK, so a tax I don't have to pay as an international customer is at a rate of 40-50%?

    I would pay maybe £4 for an e-version of a magazine but £10 is just too much. There is no justification for charging the same price as the printed version.
  • glosminifigfanglosminifigfan Member Posts: 97
    Are digital versions available to read yet? What is the viewing method? I saw a mention of an app, but which one?
  • danstraindepotdanstraindepot Member Posts: 172
    I ordered print versions from the US.  Reluctantly.   I guess my curiosity and love of LEGO magazines won out.  And ultimately I do like to support folks who do these types of projects.  I have a soft spot for what goes into these'labor of loves'.

    I was not happy with the website, never did work right, someone suggested checking out as a 'guest' and that did work.

    Also the reneged on the free shipping to USA offer.  Don't offer it if you can't afford it.  If it ended up being more than you thought, offer at least a partial discount.

    So I'll wait on the magazines for the final verdict.  
  • slyreptileslyreptile Member Posts: 15
    I subscribed to the print version back in March, partially because of the no shipping to the USA.  At the same time, I ordered one copy of the digital version.  There has been zero contact from Bricks regarding the order and the digital copy is nowhere to be seen.  Piss-poor launch in my opinion.  I'll give it a bit more time to see what happens.  Otherwise, I'll be getting a refund.  Really, as I've stated before, the digital versions are quite simply a money grab and shipping to the USA is far too expensive to justify.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    slyreptile said:
     Really, as I've stated before, the digital versions are quite simply a money grab and shipping to the USA is far too expensive to justify.
    They are charging P&P £3.50 for the US.

    Shipping magazines worldwide is expensive. Take a look at the Royal Mail's price guide.

    www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Royal-Mail-UK-and-international-parcel-and-letter-prices-30-March-2015.pdf

    I don't know if they are using standard Royal Mail postage for each magazine, or shipping a bulk lot to the US and have it re-distributed. But either way, £3.50 is not bad at all.

    Consider that to ship a copy BRICK JOURNAL from the US to the UK, it costs:

    $16.75 for priority (equivalent to £11.39)
    $8.00 for surface (3-8 weeks) (equivalent to £5.44)
    SirKevbagscheshirecatLostInTranslationdrdavewatfordMinifigsMeShibLegoboybluemoose
  • Bosstone100Bosstone100 Member Posts: 1,431
    ^ Yeah, but it's only $3.95 for a digital copy of Brick Journal.
    tedward
  • drlmiles1drlmiles1 Member Posts: 194
    Has anyone received a print or digital copy of their subscription to either magazine? 
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