Magazine Hype
Dateline 02/02/98
For several years some magazines have been trying to sell subscription through "contests" and other methods that promise more than they deliver. Based on posts on newsgroups recently, the contest are still going strong. I wrote the following in March and May, 1996 and I don't think things have changed much since that time.
Griffin Daily News, March, 1996
A local angler called me a couple of weeks ago asking about the Big Bass Tournament he had seen on TV. He had sent in his money to join and had gotten his free cap, but had received nothing else he was supposed to get. This tournament is sponsored by "Bassin" magazine and every member is a competitor. The member catching the biggest bass in each state for the year gets to go to a tournament in Florida where a lot of money is at stake.
I have tried to get some information about this group but have not had much luck. It is backed by a legitimate magazine but the 800 number shown on TV has been disconnected. More info will be published about this group as it becomes available. (This is a legimate group and tournament - they had just disconnected the toll free number at that time.)
I do have one reservation about "Bassin" magazine. I received a card saying I was a second place winner in a contest sponsored by them. To claim my prize, all I had to do was send them $3 and they would send me my prize and two months of the magazine. I don't quite trust a prize I win but have to pay for. I am going to send it in and find out more about it.
Many magazines and groups give you prizes when you join. BASS will send you a couple of lures and a pack of worms when you join up or renew. The NRA will usually send you a cap for joining or renewing. Some groups try to take advantage of people though. I will find out more about "Bassin" and let you know.
Another magazine, "North American Fisherman," uses the same approach. They publish a good magazine and I subscribe, but I don't like the way they try to sell subscriptions by saying you won some kind of prize. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, even if it involves some legitimate outdoor publication. Be careful what you sign up for.
Seems like lots of folks have won second place in the Bassin Magazine contest. I reported last week about my cards saying I had won and received a couple of calls from other winners this past week.
Typical of the folks I talked to was an angler from Zebulon. He had read the article and called to tell me he got a card saying he was a second place winner. He sent in a check for $3.00 as requested and all he got in return was a canceled check. Let me know if you were one of the "winners" in this contest and what you won!
I have been a member of the North American Fishing Club for only a couple of months and now am receiving request to join the North American Hunting Club. These folks really share names and addressees. I guess they like to know the names of the one born every minute!
For the results of me entering these contests, go to "Follow-up on Magazine Hype."
Have you "won" their contest yet? Did you respond? If so, you can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post. Also, if you have a story about your experiences, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale"or discuss it in the chat room on Wednesday night at 8:00 EST. Tell others how you keep it working.
Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.
