Author Topic: Will you purchase the Speichert's newest release? (Read 2757 times)

Bonnie · « **on:** September 19, 2008, 09:40:01 AM »

Myself, NO after being stiffed on money for a two year magazine subscription.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881928461/ref=pe_5050_10320580_pe_snp_461

Pa Nancy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2008, 09:54:41 AM »

I don't blame you Bonnie. They sure did burn a lot of bridges behind them when they disappeared with no explanation to anyone.

Jerry · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2008, 04:52:58 PM »

When I tried to buy the old forum they NEVER answered emails, snail mails, faxes or phone calls.
It was a win win deal, but I was not given the courtesy of a no thanks. I even sent a few bucks as many of you did. Screw 'em!
I have been pretty circumspect and never blasted them...'til now!

Bonnie · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2008, 06:01:17 PM »

I can understand that people can go thru a financial crisis and family problems but the main problem that I have with this is now they are making money off of the public again while many of us got stiffed for paid magazine subscriptions which in my opinion they could (or should) of at least gave us some type of a credit towards one of their books.

Geez Greg and Sue, pay people you owe before taking more money from more ponders!

okay off my rant..........

Esther · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2008, 06:03:46 PM »

You know, I'm usually a pretty forgiving person and seem to have people take advantage of me easily. BUTTTNOT THIS TIME!!

I just cringed when I saw that name.

landey1230 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2008, 06:05:54 PM »

That's good to know. They won't be getting any of my cash.

Jerry · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2008, 06:57:52 PM »

All these posts are proof enough as you sow so shall you reap!

This cannot be helping them!

Mikey · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2008, 09:29:39 AM »

The criticism is justified. I admit they have had a past history of bad business practices, some of which I personally experienced, however, I have not walked a mile in their shoes nor do I know all the circumstances surrounding their businesses going under. I hope their newest book is accurate, well written and sells well as I would like to see them succeed.....and clean up their customer service.

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2008, 09:55:00 AM »

I agree with Mikey. I hope they succeed.

Though I also lost money on my newly paid three year magazine subscription I had so many wonderful years on their forum starting in 1999 and issues of their magazine since 1997 and met so many wonderful people as a result that I just can't be mad at them. My life truly changed for the better because of their forum.
I've been more sad than mad.

Some of you, especially Jerry and Esther joined at the end and truly missed the best years of that forum. I understand your anger and disappointment but for me, the good far outweighed the bad. I would have gladly paid an annual fee for their forum. I consider the fifty or sixty bucks whatever it was that I lost to have been worth it.

Esther · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2008, 12:10:46 PM »

LeeAnne, that is what made me so mad. I was on the AWGS forum a long time before they started messing up. AWGS was the only forum I had ever been a member of at that point. So I had been trained as to what to expect. I just deleted a bunch of stuff because I guess it doesn't matter any more. It's water under the bridge and nothing can be changed. As for wishing them ill will, I don't, but I still will not purchase their materials. And that was the question that this thread is asking.

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2008, 12:28:15 PM »

I mean before it was even called the AWGS forum. That name was at the end. For at least five years it was the Watergardening Magazine Forum and had the same format and features and server not constant changes. The big blow up with JB was the beginning of the end.....Not that that had anything at all to do with the Speichert's.

Jerry · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2008, 12:32:01 PM »

LeeAnne and Mickey are very right as well as generous. I admire you both.
I am not as nice....but I am sweet

Oh I forgot: I did offer them FREE advertising on this forum! No answer.

HOWELL · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2008, 12:40:28 PM »

Jerry you just told them not to come around here and for free.
I seriously just wonder it. Did I guess it right?

Bonnie · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2008, 02:08:57 PM »

I believe I was on the old forum for 5 years before things went bad and do appreciate having a free forum to go to but I do believe it was a good thing for them also.

They are most likely good people but I do feel they should have treated the situation alot different than they did.
I've just always been a person that always paid my debts and never like to owe anyone anything. Also when I give a person money I expect to get what I paid for or the money to be returned if it was a loan.
The way that we were treated in the end wasn't very nice as far as I'm concerned.

We all have our own opinions of the situation and have gone over this in the past and had our disagreements, so hopefully this time no one will get upset over this discussion.

I'm sorry for bringing up this subject, I care about all of you and I don't want things to get out of hand.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox,
Bonnie

kntry · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2008, 02:36:39 PM »

Bonnie, I have to agree with you. It was a great forum and I made a lot of friends there. I tried to email Sue several times also, with no reply.

Mikey · « **Reply #15 on:** September 20, 2008, 03:46:32 PM »

Quote

I'm sorry for bringing up this subject, I care about all of you and I don't want things to get out of hand.

Nothing to apologize for Bonnie.

I'm glad you mentioned it because I thought the Speichert's had disappeared off the radar screen and I'm happy to hear they are still out there. It's part of our history and we have various feelings about it, some good, some bad. And even though I am wishing them success, I have no need to purchase their book.

Jerry · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2008, 08:00:47 PM »

Howell, I am not sure of your question.
To clarify. Knowing the Speichert's were still active and because so many of us are grateful for what they did do, I offered FREE space here to promote books , articles ,whatever.
No one took me up on it.
If not for awgs I'd never have met so many fine folks. When they folded it was a natural to start this one.
Id name names but just to many to mention. You already have seen a few on this thread.

HOWELL · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2008, 08:05:01 PM »

What I meant is, that you told them to leave and they didn't have to pay a peeny for the advertising.
So but never mind.

Vickie · « **Reply #18 on:** September 25, 2008, 03:19:18 PM »

I too lost my money for magazines I did not recieve.

RichardK · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2008, 06:13:50 PM »

I Too Lost a great deal of money with them. Sorry Folks, im not the forgiving type. My many emails were ignored, but they did cash my Check.
RichardK

karen J · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2008, 07:05:14 PM »

Thanks for bumping this, Richard, I had missed it.

I had also paid for a new 2-year subscription and was really angry at what they did (at first). I had suspected for a while that there was something wrong. When Sept 11 happened, Sue was still a still a semi- regular contributor to the forum, but things went south after she stopped moderating and there were tons of trolls & people posting under aliases.

I know it is very hard to publish a niche magazine, and they often don't make it. I also got stiffed by Helen Nash's mag (Pond & Garden) that went under right after I renewed that subscription.

I think both of those magazines failed because the hobby of "ponding" was at it's height of 'craze', and then plummeted in popularity. There are many issues that, for some people, make it difficult to stick with- predators, maintenance (labor), water quality issues, price, leaks, high-maintenance fish, safety, differing opinions, winter, etc.

I've been to a couple of talks by Greg S. at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and I thought they were informative.

Even with that I still think they owed their customers some kind of explanation/apology, if not a partial refund.

mcp · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2008, 05:40:52 AM »

I enjoyed the AWGS forum and magazine and learned much from them..I also lost money on their 2 yr. subscription. I dont wish them any bad luck and hope they do OK. Who knows what lies in the future but will not be buying any thing else from them.

Jerry · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:02:37 AM »

I am with you Richard K.
The great thing about this forum is that so many are so forgiving.
Many like us are not one of them!

One thing that still confounds me is, that as their venture was sinking i offered them $1000.00 stil no answer. A "no thank you", would have sufficed

Desertponder · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2008, 12:08:13 PM »

Their forum was the beginning for many of us. I never actually subscribed to their magazine so I didn't lose money like many of you.
I do believe they handled the situation poorly and I think its rather gutsy to be trying to continue to make money with another book.