4WD Magazines

I know what you mean about the $$$. My wife currenty gives me enough time to read the articles then removes the 4wd Monthly from the coffee table before I get a chance to tell her how much I need (read: must have instead of eating this week) something that catches my attention in the ads. I agree - choice is a personal issue - just interested if anyone has a decent view on why they would subscribe to any mag. Moggs

Truckster, you are 100% correct.

Trouble is with garbage like 4WD Monthly, their supposedly useful information is paid for advertorials and are basically fraud as they are not factual or the truth. Hiclones, truth and 4WD Monthly in one sentence is an oxymoron.

I find this forum much more useful than many mags. If I do buy a mag, it will be because an article interests me and I want to put it away. Usually it will be a specific travel article or trek notes. After reading the mag, I'll cut out what I want put in a binder and put the rest of the mag in the recycling bin.

You can usually get most of the info you need right here.

Now I'm feeling guilty that I haven't become a member. I'll do that very soon.

Michelle. I totally agree with your comments. I have never put much faith in what I've read in 4x4 magazines as they are 'advertiser driven'. I'm waiting for the day when I read an article which actually condemns a vehicle or product. I prefer Exploroz as I place more trust in the personal comments made by its contributors. I don't always agree with their opinions but that's what free speech is all about and it's refreshing to get honest first hand opinions.

G'day Michelle,

I'm for Exploroz, and like a few of the other posters, only buy the very occasional 4WD mag if there is an article of some interest to me.

Most of them are self opinionated rubbish, and major "advertorials".

I believe the info found on this site is far better for serious 4wd trip planning than anything you can find in the mags, and I believe that [with some exceptions] the level of intelligent comment found on this forum far outweighs all the other Australian 4wd online forums put together.

Keep up the good work, and have a Merry Christmas.

Dennis N

Michelle,

It's interesting to note that despite your negativity towards buying magazines, you opt to take out full-page colour advertisements in Australian 4WD Monthly. Which just goes to prove that you need magazines advertise your website. Without magazines, you could be doing a fabulous job and no-one would know about it.
And another innacuracy: "The mags only make their money out of advertisers, so no advertisers = no mag." Do you honestly think that at $7.99 per copy, magazines make no money out of copy sales? Not likely.
And as for "smickest salespeople" on magazines - aren't you a former advertising rep?
I think the bottom line here is that both magazines and websites have their place in the market. Bagging either medium does nothing for the future growth of the Australian 4WD industry - which is what you should be concerned about.
Keep the shiny side up!

I don't mind being challenged, however you've got a few things incorrect - firstly, you state "Without magazines, you could be doing a fabulous job and no-one would know about it", what about all the search engines, the word of mouth, the trade show advertising, the flyers in 5000 desert parks passes per year etc. Not just all our readership comes from magazine adverting, in fact the real reason I choose to advertise in the magazines is to demonstrate to the equipment manufacturers and other "prospects" that we are serious about our business. It also helps the small operators who list on ExplorOz but can't afford to advertise in mags, by us advertsing then they indirectly get to advertise to magazine readers. It is a fact that the majority of equipment manufacturers still prefer the traditional print medium so if I can't beat them, I'll join them to prove my point

Re: cost of mags - its not just all profit. I know from talking to my sales rep that they have to produce a certain number of pages in each issue to cover publication costs.

And no, I've never been an advertising sales rep - I was an Ad Production Manager, which means I ran a Pre-Press department where graphic artists composed the layout of the advertisements. Our "sales" our done online, with a few followup done by me and David. I just don't have a sales force, but wish I did!!

Rojac the largest visible demise of mags since the Internet popularity has increasded has been in computer magazines.
ZD used to have at least four more magazines than they currently have and the ones they do are struggling. As for Australian magazones, I have no idea, I have not bought one for so long.

can I have them when your finished? :)

I would certainly agree that the mags do serve a purpose, such as you have described. To initially get up to speed with whats available, new concepts and the major brand names, the magazines are wonderful.

However in terms of reading an unbiased product review, you can't believe what you read that has been published based on payment. Forums have totally replaced that in terms of asking for opinions, but again the range of response will be biased but of a different type (based on personal usage/ownership of the reporter). What you need to look for in responses, is a trend across a wide cross-section of product users. With a forum, such as this one, where readership is widespread across the country and also with input from international users, you are more certain of an accurate majority opinion (and you'll even get the minorities just to balance out both sides of the argument, if there is one).