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Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 29 Nov 2008, 22:13
by stevezodiac
I got my subscription reminder yesterday but have decided not to renew. I like Commando but I don't like the idea of spending half my subs on reprints. Could they not give us the option of just having the new titles (four per month?). My local Smiths sells Commando so I'll just get the new ones in there. Also there is the question of space. I am having to be more selective in my purchasing as my bedroom is becoming overcrowded. Franctically putting stuff on ebay in order to stem the tide. mind you I woudn't mind subscribing to Classics From The Comics. Hearing good things about it but haven't seen it for a couple of years.

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 29 Nov 2008, 23:28
by felneymike
Classics does seem to be becoming rarer and rarer. Whereas the Smith's i have been in seem to have actually increased the Commando order recently, no doubt because of those big books. I still buy all 8 every month as i didn't read the issues the first time around so they are still "new" to me. When the reprints reach 1997 i might have to be more selective, mind.

Actually a Classic subscription isn't that much is it? i might have to treat myself for christmas, considering how few shops sell/have even heard of it it's effectively gone the same way as the DFC!

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 30 Nov 2008, 23:22
by stevezodiac
I subscribed to Classics online last night, £24 a year. I haven't read about 90% of my Commandos and will probably never get the time. Wish I could read them on the tube but fear there may be sniggers and guffaws from fellow communters.

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 03 Dec 2008, 00:15
by felneymike
Give them to people reading Manga!

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 09 Dec 2008, 14:40
by rod2402
I just subscribed and just got my first set of issues. I read them when I was young and love the artwork and covers, but I can see them building up in my to read pile. I'm in Australia and they cost $4.95 to buy at the newsagents. By subscribing I am getting them at about $2.90. I Agree, I don't like the reprints.

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 09 Dec 2008, 21:04
by nottinghamian
I decided not to renew my Commando subscription a couple of months ago, but am really missing it now. I hope to renew in January. Life isn't the same without it!

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 10 Dec 2008, 00:39
by felneymike
Certain Smith's branches are selling them reguklarly now, supply used to be patchy (and some still don't have it at all) but since those big books got popular they tend to order them consistently (Lincoln seems to sell quite a lot too, they over-stuff a whole rack width with them, and when i went in today to see if the new batch where out there was only 3 left! so somebodys buying them). That way you can only get the new issues if you want.

Perhaps it would be wise for them to offer a "no reprints" special subscription?

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 10 Dec 2008, 00:58
by Lew Stringer
felneymike wrote: Perhaps it would be wise for them to offer a "no reprints" special subscription?
Surely the reprints are a necessity to help finance the new issues? If readers only bought the new editions profits would suffer, and subsequently every issue could become reprint.

Anyway, the reprints are around 20 years old aren't they? Have the majority of readers been collecting them that long that a reprint would deter them? Perhaps, perhaps not, as I have no idea what age range are buying Commando.

I was never interested in the comic before, but have been buying it recently to read Ferg Handley's work, as Ferg is a pal from comic cons I attend. I must admit I was very impressed with the comics. It's an interesting story structure they use.

Lew

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 11 Dec 2008, 11:39
by felneymike
Ah didn't think about that. The reprints are currently "before my time" anyway, so they are all "new" to me.

If it's still going in 2028 or so in it's current form, when the reprints will reach 2006, i'll probably buy them anyway just to prop the title up.

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 12 Dec 2008, 11:07
by Commando CO
Commando Editor here.

Sorry to lose you, Steve, I hope you'll keep buying from the newsagent and find some stories to entertain you.

The reprint debate has been going for years and we know some people don't like the policy as they already have copies of these stories.

The first thing to say is that the overwhelming majority of readers don't have the originals. We reprint stories from 17 years ago and almost 50% of our readership is under 15. So they won't have seen them before. Of the other "demographic spike," aged between 44 and 55, most remember some of the reprint stories but don't still have them (for a variety of reasons) and are glad to see them again.

[Lew, that's your age group info.]

If we were reprinting original stories from the 60s and 70s would that make them more acceptable as a product to people who already have sizeable collections from the 80s onwards?

We've looked at the idea of a no-reprint subscrition and it's a logistic problem as much as anything else. However, all our systems are being overhauled at the moment so it may be possible in the future. Sorry, no promises, I'm afraid.

One other point, we're introducing a quarterly direct debit subscription in the new year, £28.86 to your door in the UK. That's cheaper than in the shops and might ease the "pain" of the reprints...

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 12 Dec 2008, 19:00
by colcool007
Commando CO wrote:....One other point, we're introducing a quarterly direct debit subscription in the new year, £28.86 to your door in the UK. That's cheaper than in the shops and might ease the "pain" of the reprints...
Would that also include BFPO addresses? I ask as I am more than slightly interested. Bought my last set of Commandos while waiting for an aircraft in Oxfordshire and I was quite chuffed to see them in the terminal. And no, I didn't wait to read them, even though I am in the 40 plus bracket now (Excuse while I go and cry at that last statement!)

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 15 Dec 2008, 12:45
by Commando CO
Hi CoolCol,

As long as your direct debit is drawn on a British bank (not many of those left...) the rate will apply.

We'll watch out for your mandate coming through!

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 15 Dec 2008, 14:04
by Lew Stringer
Commando CO wrote:
The first thing to say is that the overwhelming majority of readers don't have the originals. We reprint stories from 17 years ago and almost 50% of our readership is under 15. So they won't have seen them before. Of the other "demographic spike," aged between 44 and 55, most remember some of the reprint stories but don't still have them (for a variety of reasons) and are glad to see them again.

[Lew, that's your age group info.]
Thanks for that Calum. Very interesting. My local shop told me it's only ex-squaddies who buy it, but of course that's just one shop. Your figures are more what I expected.

I'm pleased to see that Commando is getting in more shops again now. At least that's what I've noticed in the Midlands anyway, with Smiths taking it. Commando is the only surviving comic of the many titles launched in the 1960s and it's great it's kept the exact same format and look since its inception.

Lew

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 15 Dec 2008, 22:09
by stevezodiac
I'm seriously considering digging out my subscription reminder and continuing it. As I said before its not the money its just I have no space for them all. I have started seperating the reprints and may sell them in bulk on ebay. Every Commando is worth reading no matter how many times. But a new titles only sub would be ideal. i have always had a huge affection for DC Thomson and hate to cancel my sub so expect a renewal soon.

Re: Not renewing my subscription.

Posted: 16 Dec 2008, 13:35
by colcool007
I had a sub back in the 80/90's and had amassed a fair sized collection of back issues thanks to the Dens Rd Market and assorted sellers in Dundee. But I had to cancel it as no shop was willing to hold onto them for months at a time as I rarely made it back home due to my new job.

I currently have been amassing other titles that are DCT, but that has been a back issue search. If that quarterly sub is now online and good to go, then give me a link to click and I'm there! I have never read a Commando that I have never gone back to and they are excellently crafted tales. After picking up a couple last year and getting a few freebies from Dep CO (Hi Scott!), I am pleased to see that they are as good as ever and I would enjoy having a mag that I can read from cover to cover and not miss out articles.