CTA and I Are Breaking Up

[Bird]

Is this the monthly "magazines all suck" thread?

Yep, sure is.

[WilSurf]

Hi Lost, answering your own question?

I think it is very common to loose interest.
We had the same.
Before we bought the KK, we bought the magazines to know more about campertrailers.
When we had the KK, no need to buy these maazines anymore.

[LB]

As the CTA "awards" are based on who they invite along they hardly have any credibility. The criteria for an award defines its relevance to the market place, and in this instance there is no credibility. Look at Overlander magazine's 4WD of the year: they no longer base it on releases from the preceding 12 months so now its not "of the year" so much as "what 4WD do we like?". So, a Toyota of some description will win every year as most mags are fascinated with their product (& abundant advertising $). What stinks is the content of comparison articles in ALL mags has moved towards non confrontational rehashing of web site blurb rather than a factual assessment of real world functionality. This has been mentioned several times on this forum and is reflective of an unwillingness on the part of publishing firms to risk aforementioned ad $. They instead risk the sales of the mag by browning off the majority of buyers.
Simple solution: don't buy or read the mags, you know what you are (& aren't) getting beforehand.

Is this not the world we find ourselves in, everyone too scared to mention the negatives incase of being sued.

At the end of the day, unless you are looking at the majority of campers that exist in each catorgory (and not just the ones you invited and in turn excepted) the results are flawed.If it wasn't for forums like these the smaller manufactures who are producing great products, wouldn't even get a look in. Plus you find out the ones who are not so great. A two page spread is not  a guareentee of quality, though some preople can be drawn in by that.

LB

[Sixtys Guy]

I previously bought almost every issue and di subscribe for a while. I actually bought the latest couple of mags as I found the COTY article really interesting. I was interested in what was new and if there are any 'new' improvements that could be made to mine.

I did get a bit annoyed a few years ago when 'our' brand of camper trailer was reviewed (yes, I'm loyal and biased!). One of the knocks was that the bed was 'small'. The bed is larger than our queen size bed at home. How could it be small? That was enough to realise that every reviewer puts their spin on the review and it really is subjective.

[ozbogwam]

The thing with any award of the year test is not all manufacturers can or will supply product to test. Some because they don't have any available, or a new model is coming soon or they just don't want to be involved. So of course that skews the results somewhat .

On top of that you have individuals scoring so personal taste, wants, breeds and experiences come into it. You can only test what is there so if you get a lemon well that is what you score.

I've been involved in these tests before and there was no pressure or directive to favour a brand and I can't see it happening as it would get out very quick and no manufacturer would want to be involved.

[LB]

I've been involved in these tests before and there was no pressure or directive to favour a brand and I can't see it happening as it would get out very quick and no manufacturer would want to be involved.

Maybe that is already why some dont particpate!!!

LB

[Kangaron]

I love all these mags.
Can't wait till someone does a story on going to Cape York, 

[olddigger]

Or Fraser Island!

[Kit_e_kat9]

.

[Jenko67]

A while ago i sent an email to a well known 4wd mag after they advertised that it was there biggest issue yet, yeah I suppose it was but I pointed out that it was full of ads and they personally attacked me for sending the email... hence I now longer get their mag because it is full of crap....

[ozbogwam]

And those ads are for businesses that support our hobby, people bitch and moan about how everyone should support Aussie businesses and then complain about ads for those same businesses.

I don't agree with a lot that the mag does these days but the amount of advertising space they give to a large readership isn't something I find as a problem. Support those companies, keep jobs etc in Australia

[nbd73]

Jenko, sure you weren't getting confused with the Courier Mail? Now there is a publication that has had a a fall, in every double page spread you would be lucky to get a quarter of the content as an article, and out of that qtr more than half is a photo. I know bucket loads of people who have cancelled their daily delivery and don't buy any more. Makes monthly mags look half respectable. But then that could be the subject of a whole new thread, who cares really? CTA are essentially catering for new to the scene camping people. Once "in the know" so to speak half the mag becomes irrelevant. I used to enjoy overlander, and then a couple of years ago that dreaded empire took it over and destroyed its identity. Ian Glover wrote very dry and witty columns but then goneski, and with him (& other regular journos and general feel & tone) went my following.

[georgegna]

I agree with everyone's comments about the mags sell buy date. Only been subscribing to the 4wd Action & CTT for a few years now but I reckon I have seen most of Aus and all the latest gear.
How about seeing what other Countries have to offer, ie expeditions (which u see advertised at the back of CTT) and equipment used?

Saying that though, I still enjoy buying CTT.

[Vk3bq]

I only buy it for the pictures??  Or was that advertorials. Got part one ctoy to read over Xmas holidays. Was done in 7mins. Last time.

[Boxhead 71]

I stopped buying it after a review on a camper towed by a Hilux said "towed so well my partners Commodore could have pulled it." Seeing as Commodores probly had a higher towing capacity than that years Hilux's I thought my money could be better spent on better researched stories by more professional reporters.

[Bunyip]

And those ads are for businesses that support our hobby, people bitch and moan about how everyone should support Aussie businesses and then complain about ads for those same businesses.

I don't agree with a lot that the mag does these days but the amount of advertising space they give to a large readership isn't something I find as a problem. Support those companies, keep jobs etc in Australia

I am quite conflicted about this.

I don't mind the ads so much, as you say they are for companies that support our hobby. If the publisher is making more and more money out of  selling advertising space (They are a business after all) then why am I still paying a bucket load of cash for advertising they have already received money for.

If you want the ad revenue to the extent they are going to then reduce the sticker price.

I have the same issue with pay TV, way too many ads for something I am paying a significant amount of money for (That and LB would never let me change from the cricket channel). I watch a lot of pay TV when I travel for work and every time I think it would be good for home I remember that there seems to be more ads on pay TV than free to air.

Bunyip