MPT1 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Who has received the new BASC magazine? I received mine last Thursday, didn't open it straight away I thought I'd save it for Sunday afternoon. When I opened the very thick and heavy envelope it was only to find initially that two of the mags were purely advertising from two exceedingly expensive mail order outfits. I put these to one side wondering how much these added to the cost of postage. Settling down for a read I found that most pages were dedicated to full page adverts. Even the feature articles, which I'm sure were in the last issue or if not that one the one before contained adverts or referals to proprietary items. I don't perceive this as being truly relevant to day to day shooting. In fact there is less valid content in this mag than your usual run of the mill shooting mag.. I am really interested in your opinions on this. We pay £64 pound a year as members a small proportin of which is insurance, I bet as much again goes towards postage of all this bumf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1979 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 agreed..christmas is comin..tryin to push sales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPT1 Posted November 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Precisely, but to whose benefit? How does that help us as shooters and coservationists? What about the trees destroyed just so we can be bombarded with unsolicited advertising? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Maybe you feel that BASC could produce a magazine without any advertising in it? Maybe that is what you would like to see? Maybe also you would like to pay a lot more for your membership? I would like to bet that the membership fee doesn't cover the running costs of BASC, and by selling advertising and distribution of the catalogues brings in more revenue so they can continue supporting shooting. All magazines sell advertising and all articles are is basically adverts for whatever gun, decoy, cartridge etc that is being used. You only need to look at Sporting gun and their cartridge pages, written by the guy who runs Just Cartridges and he plugs his company whenever he gets chance. It is the way of the world and if you don't like it don't read it. I think the BASC mag is the best of the bunch although I much prefered it when we got our own wildfowling one as well. As for all the trees, what a lame argument that is. Trees are now grown for particular purposes such as timber or paper and with forestry management schemes such as FSC and PEFC then more trees are replanted than cut down. It is a better way to send the catalogues out with a BASC magazine as the companies are targeting shooters, if you will excuse the pun. They are a business the same as anyone else. I don't see you ranting about junk mail or the leaflets that tescos drop through your door telling you about 3 bottles of wine for a tenner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 I'm quite sure that David BASC will confirm this. It is my understanding that the advertising revenue covers the costs associated with production and distribution. I feel that some of the more recent issues of Shooting and Conservation have been a vast improvement on previous issues. Clearly advertisers are satisfied with the return from their investment or they would not repeat. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 How dare BASC sell advertising space and dabble in capitalism to raise money on behalf of their members. Also, as someone who also owns a few acres of commercial forestry, I am appalled that any of the timber I sell would end up as paper. Much better to hug a tree and save the world !!. MTP1, with ideas such as yours you will one day become a member of parliament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Geez here we go again...tight wads moaning about spending £64 a year on their BASC membership when it should be £164 a year to deter all those ****holes from enjoying any sport. Look we have an organisation (for better or worse) that's fighting our corner to keep us shooting. If you don't want to support them then take up golf or football or some other silly boys games that involves balls! By my rekoning £64 will buy you a couple or maybe 3 pheasants on a driven day, maybe half a dozen duck on a paid for flight pond, a half days paid for pigeon shooting and not a lot more so don't begrudge the spend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Doing a quick count of the latest mag, I make it 34 pages of ads in 100 pages of copy (excluding classifieds), so most of the mag is copy not adverts. We do not repeat feature articles The full costs of all inserts including additional postage are paid for by the supplier not BASC, and indeed we make a profit on this, which helps to cover the cost of production Some people love the inserts some people hate them. The BASC mag is not a ‘run of them ill’ shooting magazine it is a membership magazine, helping to inform members about issues that BASC is working on as well as offering information and guidance. So take the current issue: 1. Guidance on the police arresting shooters for simple shooting 2. BASC courses 3. Lead shot regs across Europe 4. BASC media campaigns to help shooting 5. Wildfowling info and hide building 6. Zeroing rifles 7. Letting days on your shoot 8. Rough shooting 9. Gundogs info ,keeping them health and fit 10. Developing habitat for snipe 11. Conservation grants 12. Game cookery 13. Selling into a game dealer 14. Air gunning 15. Book reviews on pigeon shooting 16. Feature on a day in firearms 17. Gun review 18. Landover Review 19. Regional updates A bit more than just advertising! But of course if you want things features in the mag let us know – it’s your mag! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 I don't mind the advertising, anything for them to make a bob or two is ok by me. I expect the catalogues paid for the postage of the magazine. I only have two gripes with BASC, 1/ That the information they disseminated about the lead shot ban was not comprehensive and took no account of the long term study done on Lindisfarne (to be fair here i think there was some serious arm twisting done by the Government). 2/ Why don't they issue a membership card that is waterproof, a (recycled?)plastic one would be nice. Other than that i would rather have them than be without them. ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 My biggest moan about the catalogue inserts is that they cost me money when I see items I hadn't thought about before. Last time round I ended up buying full waders, boots and a jacket from John Norris's. A couple of hundred quid gone there. We do a fair old bit of work in and around Penrith and I had never seen the shop before until I got the magazine. Now I go spend money in there whenever i'm nearby. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPT1 Posted November 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 I don't in any way object to paying £64 towards BASC, I do fully understand how funding is garnered. I asked for an opinion which I am pleased to read. What gives me pleasure is instigating a debate that results in the usual suspects getting up their own anal orifices. Possibly some people have no sense of humour. Always remember if you point a finger three fingers are always pointing back. Yes, my ambition is to be a member of parliament so there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 We always welcome feedaback about the content. Plastic cards on the way from March I hope David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 will the plastic cards be sent to every member or just new / renewing members ? lots of far sighted questions sorry . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Yes, my ambition is to be a member of parliament so there. As the 'Big 'in' once said...the very thought of becoming an MP should immediately bar you from becoming one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 will the plastic cards be sent to every member or just new / renewing members ?lots of far sighted questions sorry . OMG I rest my case! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 I like the free advertising stuff that comes with the BASC mag at Christmas, go through them with a red pen, circle the stuff you like, and leave the mag where the wife will find it, she looks through it and knows what to buy me for Christmas ( well that is the idea) . Can you send a few more with the next one please BASC Cheers Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Plastic cards will be sentto all new and renewing members D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Plastic cards will be sentto all new and renewing members D good man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 We always welcome feedaback about the content. Plastic cards on the way from March I hope David Which, as my renewal is in January, it will be 14 months, at least before, I get mine ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 (edited) Speaking as both a shooter and a graphic designer I like the magazine as it is. I haven't found the ads to be over frequent or irritating, I like getting the catalogues, you can browse them on the potty and then search for similar items at a more competitive price at your leisure. The magazine I find is clearly laid out and professionally edited and, generally an enjoyable casual read; I look forward to it plopping through the letterbox. £64.00 is a paltry sum to pay for the insurance, information and representation the BASC provide in my humble opinion. Edited November 16, 2009 by mick miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPT1 Posted November 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Mick Miller, I agree with you 100%; there is no need to be humble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 Who has received the new BASC magazine? I received mine last Thursday, didn't open it straight away I thought I'd save it for Sunday afternoon. When I opened the very thick and heavy envelope it was only to find initially that two of the mags were purely advertising from two exceedingly expensive mail order outfits. I put these to one side wondering how much these added to the cost of postage. Settling down for a read I found that most pages were dedicated to full page adverts. Even the feature articles, which I'm sure were in the last issue or if not that one the one before contained adverts or referals to proprietary items. I don't perceive this as being truly relevant to day to day shooting. In fact there is less valid content in this mag than your usual run of the mill shooting mag.. I am really interested in your opinions on this. We pay £64 pound a year as members a small proportin of which is insurance, I bet as much again goes towards postage of all this bumf. Then buy a dedicated shooting mag? There is some very useful content/contacts in the BASC mag so im not sure what the big fuss is about. Also Membership is not the only source of revenue for basc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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