Motorcyclist Retro

Well I called or visited every B&N and BaM on the greater Birmingham area.  No Motorcyclist Retro.  They all had the June issue of Motorcyclist though.  I also tried WalMart , Target, and Publix.  I did get to talk to quite a few bookstore employees.  Apparently individual stores don't order their own books and magazines.  The local distribution center sends shipments based on computer models from past sales and area demographics.  No one could tell me IF they were going to get Motorcyclist Retro let alone when they might get it.

So how about that digital subscription?

I did see that Motorcyclist is available as a digital magazine now.  Anyone know how to transfer my current 2 years of print magazine subscription to digital?  

Another unhappy customer here. I've been searching for this magazine for my fiance since April and only (finally!) today I found it in the biggest B&N store in New York. They had a whopping 8 copies - none displayed although the issue supposedly went on sale on 05/23 (according to their computer system). It took me more than an hour of searching and talking to a a number of sales staff and finally the manager to actually get a copy. I should also mention that I went to another B&N store yesterday after they confirmed they had the magazine - they did not.

I realize that this is beyond the control of the publisher (or is it?), but something just seems wrong here. First there was a lot of delay with the publisher (seemingly) then distribution fails. I'd say you are setting your loyal customers up for disappointment.

I'm sure glad I'm not a reader :-)  

Hi everybody.
I am sorry for your frustrations.  There is no way for us to control what Borders/Barnes and Noble has in their computer systems, etc.  I'm sorry that it is so hard to find, and that you are having trouble.

There WILL be a digital edition available on Zinio soon. I will post a link to it as soon as i receive it.

I wouldn't expect bookstores to have heard/know about this magazine. They're just not built that way and have thousands of magazines to keep track of.

I'd offer subscriptions if I could. The reality is, financially that doesn't work. I have to prove there is ample demand for the magazine before our company will green light subscriptions. Our goal is 6 issues in 2009, and yes, subscriptions.

Thank you,  
Marty  

Magazine finally showed up at B & N's (central Illinois).  Border's still hasn't heard of it.

Don't forget to check the local cycle shops, if they have magazines. Surprised to find it at a small Yam./Kaw. shop in a local town.

On a positive note...you WILL like it when you finally find it.

Excellent job, Mitch.  All of your hard work is appreciated.   Dave  

Why don't you offer it through an online order. I want a real copy to save, not looking at it online. I have yet to find it in Houston Texas.  

I FOUND IT-disappointing, some stuff i have seen in other mags rcently, nothing new.  maybe ok until you get tothe price, $7.95.  nice try, make it more reasonable-we don't need glitzy paper and hard covers,book on steve mcqueen was only $6.95-as for me and my friends we'll dig out our archives like w e have been, memories cheaper
nice try mitch, sorry you sold out, maybe in 20 years those hd riders who paid to much may want to read about their memories,they paid too much then, maybe they'll pay too much now.  as for most of us, we ride  

The digital version is now available at www.zinio.com.  Click Cars & Bikes, and scroll the the very end.

Fasterthen, I'm sorry to hear you're disappointed. Reality of this situation is that we're doing this magazine because we love the subject matter. There is no selling out. This will not be a big moneymaker. Quite the contrary. There simply aren't the ad dollars out there to support, because it is a small niche. We had to price at $7.99 to try to break even with our first issue. We have heard from many people that they are stoked with the magazine and the extra $3 compared to other magazines is not a problem.  If you don't like the magazine, then I thank you for sampling it.  

PS  If there is any "re-hashed" old edit in here, let me know what it is! Everything is new, except the bikes, which are old.  

Fleadip,
We'd offer something for online order if we could. We were unable to do it for the first issue.  We are trying to do this in the future. The first few issues need to sell well on the newsstands before I am greenlighted the opportunity to offer subscriptions or sell online.
Thank you,  Marty  

I found it!  Barnes and Noble had it when I stopped in last night.  I haven't read it, saving it for my flight to Denver tomorrow.

Thanks for the online edition.  Digital is my prefered medium since it lets me carry thousands of magazines in a neat 4 pound package.  

Trying to find Motorcyclist Retro here in Hawaii on the island of Oahu has been a frustrating experience - I know I would pay shipping & handling cost on top of the cover price - Online is just not the same as a high quality print copy  

Oh well, there's a goon in every group, I guess.
(referring to "slower-then" of course ;-)

"Re-used" edit? Sheesh.

Glad most of you recognize good content when you see it.

Sorry for the distribution problems. You folks keep buying it and there will be subs next year.

Thanks to all of you who're supporting us!

Best,

mitch  

I finally found it and am enjoying it so far. I burned a lot of fuel and frequented B&N, BaM, and Borders for the past two months.

As you seek ideas for future info, there are a lot of local vintage clubs out there that you can tap. We have one here in Knoxville that has grown unbelievably. We are loosely organized (and that is too strong a term). We enjoy a weekly bike night at our hangout, have rides, and "ride-in" shows at dealerships and other events. Today we had a small bike (<250cc) ride that ended at a local Hooters. The HD guys looked out our tiddlers with disbelief. It was a fun ride and good ending to it.

Keep up the good work. It's not just about the bikes, but the people who keep them going.

Roger  

Is the magazine going to be available in Canada? I'd love to get a print copy rather that read it online.  

I just picked up the first issue and I was pretty excited about the prospect of this new publication. So much so that I sought out this forum to post my positive remarks.

That is, until I read that Retro will be essentially a Japanese only magazine. What a shame, to dismiss out of hand all those other great bikes. Sure there were lots oof Japanese bikes sold in from 1969 through 1989 but the European bikes of the era are some of the most evocative and collectible motorcycles of all time.  And I beg to disagree that there is sufficient coverage of them elsewhere.

I have a half dozen bikes from the era, but only one "qualifies" and, while I love it, it's the white bread of the group.

1968 Honda *** Scrambler - Too old, needs to be a 1969 even though 1968 was the last of the classic fine fin motor scramblers.

1971 Bultaco Metralla - Quickest 250 single of its era, excellent race record. Unfortunately it's Spanish.

1972 Bultaco Alpina - Another Spaniard. Ignore thhe fact that Bultaco dominated MX and trials during the era.

1973 Laverda 750SFC - Not only is this an Italian bike but since they dominated endurance racing (and beat the pants off the Japanese), they're of no interest either.

1972 BMW cafe racer - German? Not just no, Hell no!

1989 Honda HawkGT - Finally.

Seriously, consider expanding your horizons a bit. You have a CB750K0 and love it, good for you. But don't base a major publication on that single fact. You are marketing a premium ($8!) magazine, you can afford to devote some space to premium motorcycles of the era.