This morning I received in the mail a letter from the publisher of Go Mini Magazine announcing they are closing the publication due to "market conditions". I am assuming when they say market conditions they mean they coudn't sell anough advertising to make the publication profitable. This is unfortunate I did enjoy receiving Go Mini and will miss it

 

I bought the first few....didn't see how they could make a go of it. Too much good material available on line..and it's real-time.

 

Yes, we've heard...but I'd love to know the real story on this. Theoretically, a U.S.-based mag is in the works so if "market conditions" are unfavorable I hope the publishers of the new mag are taking this into consideration.

 

What did the letter say about the unused portion of your subscription---for those of us who renewed for next year. Did it say anything about refunds?

 

Khodabear if that premise were true than no magazine would be able to survive. There is real time information on the net for every single publication in existance today.

I do think though the magazine suffered from editorial content too much redundency and not enough "meat" if you know what I mean, that coupled with real time info on the net could certainly hurt a magazine. Besides magazines don't make their money off of subscribers they make it off of advertisers the same way NAM can stay in business. NAM makes money (hopefully) from their paid advertisers that's why you can subscribe for free.

I think "market conditions" just meant they were unable to get their advertising sales up to where they needed to be.

 

Chief Charlie the letter stated:

"If you have any remaining issues left on your subscription, you need do nothing - we will automatically send you a refund on all unmailed issues".

 

I think the problem might have been that Go Mini was... complete crap!! One of the worst publications I have had the displeasure to subscribe to.

 

u know! i kinda feel the same bout them they rocked in the beginin' but as it aged it had to much waist of time material in it!!!

///oh well im sure sum one else will pick that spot up.....

 

As much as I hate to see any business fail, it was inevitable. GoMini WAS NOT a car magazine - it was a nauseatingly contrived lifestyle magazine that apparently only appealed to those writing it. I really don’t care to pick up what is supposed to be a “MINI magazine” only to read about the great shopping adventures the writer had in Glasgow - I want to read about the cars and see lots of photos! I want to see twin-charger installs, tech articles, race coverage, detailing & painting tips, rally coverage, club features, etc. The only non-Mini stuff I want to see is the occasional scantily-clad model (as long as she isn’t standing in the way and blocking an engine bay or other important stuff.) I don’t know how the same people who publish what I consider to be an excellent publication – Mini Magazine – have missed this altogether. I have had extensive conversations with the publisher of the new American-based MINI magazine - MCSquared - and he agrees – a MINI magazine should be just that – a MINI magazine.

 

or just english-english people understand it

 

i rarely read magazines these days.... i get my info online and from
forums, etc. when I do read magazines, im just there at the book
store or supermarket to pass time.

 

Nick I agree your assesment is right on

 

Just got my "market conditions" letter today.

It arrived one day before the 11/3 deadline stated in the letter to let them know if I want to transfer the balance of by subscription to Mini Magazine.

I'm glad they gave me so much time to mull it over.

 

Just got my refund check. I renewed my sub a week before I heard the
magazine was closing. But....
the check is from Barclays in Pounds (84.5)

My bank teller (Sovereign bank) said "we don't do those."
me - are you sure?
them (after checking with someone) - no, it has to be for more than $100.
me - well, it's about $150.
them - ...it'll cost you $30 and will take 2-4 weeks.
me - who else deals with foreign checks around here?
them - i really don't know, you could try M&T.

(M&T says it'll take 6-8 weeks, but since I don't have an account there,
they won't do it and they won't tell me what the fee is).

Back to Sovereign (geesh, they even have a british sounding name)

So, if they're still any money in gomini's account by the time this plays out,
I'll eventually get about $120 in my account.

If I knew this at the time, I probabably would have had them transfer the
balance of by subscription to Mini Magazine instead.

 

Well if my experience was typical no wonder they went under.Emailed 2X never got reponse.Phoned they said we have distribution thru BLah Blah.I suggested at the time if they ignore potential customers they wouldnt be around.Guess what they are not around.

 

I received a similar refund check from Future Publishing, and took it to Bank of America, and tried to deposit it into my checking account. The telled said he had to check on the exchange rate, and then came back to tell me that I would be receiving a $94 credit in my checking account.

After arguing with him that he was making a mistake (which he denied) I took back the check and returned to my office to check B of A's website and currency converter...which of course told me that the check was worth approx $154.

Went back to the bank with the printout of the online conversion after calling the branch manager, and by the time I got there all was "fixed". In fact, the exchange rate for the check was better than if I had been exchanging currency.

 

I do agree that they make 90% of thier money through the ad space they sell. I should know I sold magazines for 7 years of my life that I will never get back. And I put a big chunk into the MC2 mag for the first issue. I hope that works out for me. But I think the lack of good articles generated a lack of interest as well. You just can't find good help these days.
I also think it had to be hard for Go MINI to keep a fan base when the New MINI is not nearly as popular in the UK as it is hear in the states. Sure a lot of MINI onwers out here got the magazine but That's because it was the only one. But how do you support a magazine than doesn't have any ads for products in the US.
That was a hard part for me. I would get excited about something new for my MINI and then could not get it here without giving up my first borne. At least it won't be as bad the other way around.


So far I have to say that MC2 has what Go MINI was missing and I sure hope they can keep that up. It is a huge difference that they are a fan based magazine so a lot of the ideas come from there.
Keep it up guys.

 

Yep, that's what I was trying to do from the start. When and if the check dashes across the pond and back and clears, and the bank takes out their hunk, the rest will automatically go into my checking account.
You must have better banks over there than we have in York, PA.
I guess I could have probably driven to Baltimore ($10 in gas) and possibly find a
friendlier institution, but why bother.

 

I don't post here much but I found this an interesting thread... I'm English, and I didn't understand it to be honest

I'm afraid Go MINI was a magazine made up of lacklustre poorly written articles that were basically repeated from month to month. It was always destined to have a defined shelf life (forgive the pun) and this is someone who was front cover in Julys edition


And hey Cristo, if you're struggling with what to do with Sterling £ I;ll have it off you