[9rCR9hWL]

I don't because it is too expensive and I have had numerous challenges in ordering and receiving the magazine.

I think if they outsourced the subscription process through Amazon and lowered the price they would get more subscribers.

[Qncvqpgfg]

i am not at the moment a subsciber but i'm not great at buying stuff over the internet
i have noticed recently i have been wandering around newsagencies scouring martial arts magazines for glorious titbits of kendo and iai
only to find articles on overly tattoed shirtless kickboxers and wannabe surburban ninjas posing artfully on a rock wedged in between kettle ball and protien powder advertisments
it's hard not to scoff but i manage
i will definately subscribe soon!

[fhutiussk]

One thing to keep in mind is that you are seeing a lot more complaints due to the fact that people use the forum, my guess is that some others may have a good experience (I did).

True. I can say I’ve had no trouble with shipping and Michael Komoto was always helpful and prompt with his emails.

[QuidQuoPro]

Not a subscriber at the moment, since I'm so new to the art. Indeed, my experience is like some of yours... stuck with newsstand MMA magazines with overly tattoed/hyper-testosteroned dips..ticks, massively muscled maidens, and what not... UGH...

[zoppereurvito]

Been a subscriber since the beginning.
Great read. Lots of technical stuff for all levels.
For those that trawl the forum for advice, do yourself a favour and subscribe. You'll get a lot more out of the magazine than you think.

[Agehoobionibe]

Not yet but I am thinking about it. I read elsewhere that KW needs more subscribers, I wonder if this is to reach break even or a target ROI? The way to get more subscribers is marketing...they have a niche product, but are lacking on placement and the price is high enough it causes some to consider it too costly. They also need good promotion, sya at various tournaments, etc. I've never seen an issue so I can't comment on the four P's of marketing and KW's magazine. Anyway, I have ordered a book/dvd from their online store and it had little feedback, and no way to track the status so you are stuck wondering if everything went alright with the order until it arrives. KW should see if Amazon (as someone else here mentioned) will pick up some issues and sell them, maybe in some high kendo practioner areas or online, I would pick up an issue if it was more convenient to do.

[psbiuigw]

For me (re: earlier post) the cost is more than doubled due to the postage. I agree that if there was a way to get local source so postage wasn't so high I would be much more likely to buy them regularly.

[objennasweene]

For anybody who thinks the magazine his expensive...2 glasses of beer per issue + postage. The problem with the magazine is that it is too cheap!

As for putting it on Amazon, of course we have considered all of these options. It is just not viable given the production numbers and the cost of the magazine would increase 3-4 fold.

As for people with no correspondence following inquiries, if your mail arrives it gets answered. So, if you haven't heard back about something, it means that either the reply or the original mail is floating around in cyberspace somewhere, which is a concern for us too.

customer_svs@kendo-world.com

or as a safety net-

alex@kendo-world.com

For those of you who do get the magazine, thank you for your continued patronage. As I type this mail, I am putting the finishing touches on the next issue (4.2). It will be sent to the printers this week. I will post a PDF of the TOC soon.

[Cabinanteerip]

For anybody who thinks the magazine his expensive...2 glasses of beer per issue + postage.

This is true guys. It's about the same for an issue of Kendo Nippon or Kendo Jidai.

[tramdoctorsss]

in terms of magazines themselves, i don't think they are that expensive. however, the postage is about the same price as the magazine...

KW probably wants feedback on why people are not subscribing as well as why people are subscribing...

btw, just placed my order for the subscription...wanted to wait for KW to work out the kinks re: ordering back issues/other items and multiple shipments, but i am thinking that might mean that i have to wait for some while

regards to price comparison with beer...i have to pay about the same price for one "pint" of foreign beer (here in korea in a korean bar) as i have to for one issue of the magazine, so no i don't think the cost of the magazine by itself is expensive.

[Misespimb]

Alex, have you considered having an online subscribed version instead... ie making it completely electronic? If you didnt want to do that you could instead publish it on an online book/magazine publishing sites and let people order the (printed -on-demand physical) magazines as they want.

The above could possibly cut down quite a few peoples concerns, plus you should be able to get issues out more frequently with less hassle.

Also, I think you should consider having more contributors. More contributors = more articles = bigger and more interesting magazine = more people buying it.

[teridbruse]

I understand that for some else, it is expensive but for me, it is worth it; Very informative and interesting.

I don't know why but I don't have any problem subcribe it.

[Old-old-Ivy]

It might be worth remembering that Kendo World is a magazine that is largely the result of efforts and contributions of VOLUNTEERS with a common love and enthusiasm for kendo.

There have been bumps in the road - not everything has gone according to plan. But the magazine has stayed the distance. It has kept going because of the tireless efforts of a few individuals who make sure it keeps going - at significant personal sacrifice. And in terms of quality, in my view, it keeps getting better and better.

KW too expensive? That's a good one.

[Galinastva]

Alex, have you considered having an online subscribed version instead... ie making it completely electronic? If you didnt want to do that you could instead publish it on an online book/magazine publishing sites and let people order the (printed -on-demand physical) magazines as they want.

The above could possibly cut down quite a few peoples concerns, plus you should be able to get issues out more frequently with less hassle.

Also, I think you should consider having more contributors. More contributors = more articles = bigger and more interesting magazine = more people buying it.

Yes, we have considered an online version as well. First things first. It will happen one day, but not just yet. The amount of work that would go into an online version and a printed version would be exactly the same, so that does not necessarily mean we would get magazines out more frequently, it just means we wouldn't have to send them.

WE HAVE CONSIDERED MORE CONTRIBUTORS! Like always. We ask for people's contributions constantly, but few are forthcoming, so far.

I think the magazine is BIG (average 120 pages), and interesting already. I have never heard anybody complaining about the actual content per se .

BTW, Why don't you make a comprehensive online kendo magazine George? With all of your contacts in Japan and elsewhere, and your computer experise, it should be a piece of cake. Maybe we need some competition.

[Donadoni1809]

Alex, have you considered having an online subscribed version instead... ie making it completely electronic? If you didnt want to do that you could instead publish it on an online book/magazine publishing sites and let people order the (printed -on-demand physical) magazines as they want.

The above could possibly cut down quite a few peoples concerns, plus you should be able to get issues out more frequently with less hassle.

i would not have minded ordering an electronics only subscription. i prefer the physical thing, but the postage (just the fact that it is the same price as the magazine...) sort of puts me off.

anyways, having subscribed now, i will not have to think about that for at least another year. would definitely consider it next time for renewal if the option becomes available (or maybe as an option for future back issues--would cut down on storage space as well i'd think).

[viagsjicguara]

I will do my part and help out, I don't mind suscribing but what would be the cost of shipping to Hawaii?

[bug_user]

BTW, Why don't you make a comprehensive online kendo magazine George? With all of your contacts in Japan and elsewhere, and your computer experise, it should be a piece of cake. Maybe we need some competition.

Or a bit of the old collusion?

heh heh, Im sure you know that I had a bunch of people up and interested in doing one about a year and 1/2 ago. It would have been free, however, and wouldnt have been a rival for kw, as that would have been pointless.

It would be pretty easy to get an online magazine up-running... im pretty confident that I could have a basic design and some limited content up within a week.

What I lack, however, is a 6dan, perfect Japanese, extensive international competition experience, contacts into the ZNKR, and a job that gives one a bit of clout or "street cred" .... like a university lecturer or what have you. Without these it would be hard to get the interviews i'd like to do, or get permission to translate articles for the magazine of the type that id like to do.

i.e. i'm just a nobody (as everyone who knows me would agree!).

Also, at the end of the day, im probably in a much more dire job situation than yourself.... so im a bit hesitant to start something that I cant see through.

WE HAVE CONSIDERED MORE CONTRIBUTORS! Like always. We ask for people's contributions constantly, but few are forthcoming, so far.

I think youve got potentially a few people form this thread already, and you just need to say the word to get contribution from me. The last thing I offered to do was to re-do your website and get online shopping up and going.... that was about 4 years ago now... im still waiting for the reply to my "give me your ftp details and I will have a new test design up before the weekend" email......

[plaiskegizils]

In the UK I just used to read my mates copies of it, and that made me too lazy to order my own.

In Japan.....the postage actually costs more than the subscription, and in total is enough to buy 10 copies of Kendo Jidai. I wanted it because I don't really have a ready supply of anything in English at the moment, but I just can't justify being able to buy more than double the amount in Kendo Jidai, which I can still read enough of to make it worth it.

Sorry guys...

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

"The word"...

Yes, I remeber the HP discussion. As you can see that has already been taken care of, although it was a mission in itself!! Seems to be running smoothly now so that even a "technology cretin" like myself can work out minor problems in the inner workings of the site.

[vansVoish]

In the UK I just used to read my mates copies of it, and that made me too lazy to order my own.

In Japan.....the postage actually costs more than the subscription, and in total is enough to buy 10 copies of Kendo Jidai. I wanted it because I don't really have a ready supply of anything in English at the moment, but I just can't justify being able to buy more than double the amount in Kendo Jidai, which I can still read enough of to make it worth it.

Sorry guys...

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