Trailer Life and Motorhome Forums-Why Not?

VinnieGreva,
You can take care of that yourself on the Good Sam web site. If you haven't created an online account and password go ahead and do so. Then go to my account and on the right side of the page you'll see a choice to state your magazine preference. Next free issue si the March issue.

Greetings,

I've been a member since 1997. I've selected the " 4 free issues" of trailer life magazine option several times over the past few years, but have never received a single print.
I've called your offices at least four times over the past year or so regarding this issue, and each time I get the same response, "sorry, we'll get that fixed for you."
I'm a little disappointed at the moment.

sch911 wrote:
Check out his other post here to get a feel for what kind of person made this post.

I am curious...Please tell me what kind of person you are insinuating?

My post was about addressing the terrible quality issues that plague this industry (read the thousands of posts here about this issue) and that GSE Enterprises is in THE MOST influential position through their influence and especially the magazines to do just that.

But the magazines are really just mouthpieces...advertising outlets if you prefer, for the industry. TL and Motorhome could have a profound effect on products, helping to make them better, more useful, higher quality etc IF the right questions were asked, if TRUE testing were done on products (more similar to what the car magazines do) and a more customer focused editorial content rather than what I feel is a bias toward Advertisers.

Now please tell me...What about that makes me such a terrible guy?

That I want better quality?

That I want more influence for RV buyers and Owners represented in the major National Publications?

That I think the Corporate influence of GSE could be, and Should be, used FOR their customers/members more than their advertisers and suppliers?

How on earth is any of that bad?

I stand by my post as written and believe it is the way we need to move to get the better products we deserve. And GSE Could and Should be a leading force in that.

beemerphile1 wrote:
You want two forum sections to talk about two magazines?

Why is this posted in the Good Sam Club section of the forum? You know, the section about CLUB issues?

The correct section to discuss forum issues would probably be the Forum Technical Support section, this isn't a club issue.

4X4Dodger wrote:

...With all due respect to the group (of I assume, Hired Contractors) who normally answer concerns on this Site this is a question for Management....

I'm neither, but this is a public forum and I am an officer in a local Good Sam chapter and I am free to respond. The vibe I get from many of your posts is that there isn't much about Good Sam management that you approve of.

I am glad you responded. I wanted to hear what people thought. My remark about the management was aimed at getting someone with the power to make such a decision to respond with reasons for or against...not to exclude anyone else.

As for Good Sam Management and your above comment: I dont have any particular problem with them...in fact it is a brilliant business model and it makes tons of money. It is the Amazon.com of the RV World in many respects. It wields great influence in this industry.

I felt that it was appropriate that they should Add the magazines here as a separate "forum' As there seems to be so many complaints regarding the subscriptions, the free issues etc AND it would give MORE people a way to express their opinions about the Editorial content of those publications and whether they really address the needs and wants of the "average" RV owner/Buyer.

Keep in mind that the magazines are sold on newstands all over the country...they are not just a part of the Good Sam Club.

But what I do believe is that they should do a better job of representing their primary customer/audience than they currently do and a forum discussion could help that effort.

As for the "Hired Contractors": I assume and maybe wrongly but I think not, that the people who respond to the complaints on the Club, Insurance, Road Service et al forums in an official capacity, not the normal member, belong to a separate company that is hired to provide that service. I very well could be wrong.

This does NOT make them bad guys or have anything to do with anything except their ability to actually address a question like the one I posted. Being a contractor is just that..nothing derogatory about it.

I came to this assumption because of the way they answer many of the questions. And I have been given copies of some e mails between them and the home office about the magazine issue...which pertained to the problem.

I felt it would be refreshing to hear from GSE Mangement on this. Nothing more sinister than that was intended by my remark.

thestoloffs wrote:
I've tried to view the OP's suggestion without being influenced by the possible shrillness of his other thread. As a result, I'd like to suggest that there are 2 possible reasons for a TL/MH forum -- in the same group as the other "Dear Marcus" forums:

1. Circulation concerns: Just like the various innumerable posts on the GS Club forum ("My membership card hasn't arrived ...", etc.), there's a potential concern that missing issues might need a place to be reported.

My concern with this one is whether such individual problems really need to be reported & potentially discussed to death in a public forum. A well-designed web page to enter circulation concerns would usually achieve the same purpose.

2. Editorial issues: Some readers may wish to voice their concerns about issue content in a more public forum than merely the editor's selection of letters that fit the space or the planned content of the 2 month later issue. This would allow for more immediate and more visible feedback among a group of clearly more RV-oriented members than comments on a Facebook page or Twitter feed.

As a former journalist and editor in a far younger life (before social media), the volume of posts possible in such a forum might easily exceed my time and patience; how this is managed with the speed of today's social media, I have no idea.

Very good answer and exactly what I was trying to get at.

I probably didnt make it clear enough why I thought there should be space here devoted to those parts of the good Sam Enterprises Comglomerate (this is not meant in a negative way, it is after all a Conglomerate of companies)

I felt they are conspicuous by their absence here as a Very important part of the GSE Group and truly feel they could represent a positive force for change in the RV industry similar to that the major Car magazines have done in the Auto industry. IF they heard from more of us. The Trailer Life "Portal" that some may use to enter this site is just that a doorway. And another reason for them to be here just like GS club, The insurance etc.

My point being that, instead of being promarily a mouthpeoice of the industry the focus should change and be more concerned with the people who Buy and Drive and Use the industry's products.

I've tried to view the OP's suggestion without being influenced by the possible shrillness of his other thread. As a result, I'd like to suggest that there are 2 possible reasons for a TL/MH forum -- in the same group as the other "Dear Marcus" forums:

1. Circulation concerns: Just like the various innumerable posts on the GS Club forum ("My membership card hasn't arrived ...", etc.), there's a potential concern that missing issues might need a place to be reported.

My concern with this one is whether such individual problems really need to be reported & potentially discussed to death in a public forum. A well-designed web page to enter circulation concerns would usually achieve the same purpose.

2. Editorial issues: Some readers may wish to voice their concerns about issue content in a more public forum than merely the editor's selection of letters that fit the space or the planned content of the 2 month later issue. This would allow for more immediate and more visible feedback among a group of clearly more RV-oriented members than comments on a Facebook page or Twitter feed.

As a former journalist and editor in a far younger life (before social media), the volume of posts possible in such a forum might easily exceed my time and patience; how this is managed with the speed of today's social media, I have no idea.

Well you know some of us are smarter and more important then others and as such can't be trusted to make any wise comments.From now on I will be corresponding only in private to management about matters.My questions will all be redundant and original all at the same time of course,I will express only my original thoughts.T.I.C.lol.

Oh oh wife just read this and said it is wrong as I never ever did have any original thoughts,who would have thought after 51 years.

This IS the forum.

Go to the website www.motorhome.com.

Look on the bar at the top of the page for "Forums."

Click it and you've arrived - back here. Now do the same thing at www.trailerlife.com.

Voila! Both your wishes have been granted.

NO

GSE Higher Maanagement

Check out his other post here to get a feel for what kind of person made this post.