r/canadaguns • u/Ok_Finger_2871 • 24d ago
Misc Calibre Magazine Problems
Over the last year or so I have tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with the individuals who deal with the Calibre Magazine subscriptions. I have randomly only received 2 issues over 2 years and keep getting charged for the subscription. has anyone else been having issues or is it just me? Does anyone have a phone number to get a hold of someone?
I`ve sent half a dozen emails to the provided addresses on their website and facebook page and have gotten 0 responses.
Can anyone help me with this?
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u/CalibreMag 24d ago
Sorry about that. We had to reduce staff for obvious reasons, so at this point, it's just me dealing with everything - and I'm ridiculously overwhelmed. Between trying to cover things, filing ATIPs, selling ads, assembling the actual magazine, filing taxes, etc., it's a lot. Too much, really. The unread emails in my inbox measure in the thousands.
But, all that being said, you definitely should have recieved more issues - our third issue for this year is going to print on Friday.
Shoot me a DM.
Sorry, again.
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u/MBGLK 24d ago
Sounds like you need to hire some staff, instead of saying sorry and charging people for a product you're "too busy" to deliver.
You seem like a nice enough guy, but people shouldn't have to post on social media, send half a dozen emails and pray they get what they paid for.
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u/CalibreMag 24d ago
We send 10K magazines out every two months. Most arrive without issue (no pun intended), but some will inevitably not; it's just the nature of the postal service. So it's not that I'm "too busy" to deliver them - I just can't control delivery of 10K pieces of Lettermail.
So I try to address these issues as best I can, and yes, I need staff. In fact, the first person I'll be rehiring when I'm able to afford it will be our former circulation manager, but I'm not quite there yet. I'm hoping to be there by the end of summer, though.
I'm doing the best I can, man.
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u/gunpowderboy 24d ago
Happy to help you build a temporary software solution to help you deal with this type of problem until you can hire help. No charge, Dm me and we can chat.
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u/boozefiend3000 24d ago
It’s easier to talk to Dan on twitter I find. But ya, I had to keep asking for issues, got a bit annoying so haven’t renewed in a couple of years
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u/CAFirearmSociety 24d ago
Same, I thought they maybe just slowed making new issues with all the bans.
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u/CalibreMag 24d ago
We did, briefly. Most of our content was exactly the rifles they banned, and handguns, so I sorta had to figure out a new direction. Got it sorted now though; we are still covering product but filling the gap with coverage of the legislative goings-on, and cultural article, like historical articles about Canada's history with guns, gun makers, the role of certain guns in Canadian history (like the SKS issue), etc. I quite like it.
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u/DoubleDownDeuce 24d ago
I have got 2 so far for this year but the last year I subscribed I only got 1 for the whole billing period. I sent a couple emails but never heard anything back.
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24d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CalibreMag 24d ago
I considered doing that when I was trying to figure out a new business plan post-bans.
It was appealing because, to be blunt, I think I'd make a lot more money pivoting to an online/social media platform, and it would also be significantly easier. The standard for online content is significantly lower, results are way faster, no more print bills, no headaches with Canada Post, etc.
Ultimately, I decided not to because Calibre's mission statement is to serve as a historical record for Canadian gun culture, and that requires a degree of control and ownership not permitted by social media platforms. Our Facebook account cannot be recommended because its AI engine incorrectly determined that we were a political entity because of our gun politics coverage. Every other photo I upload to Instagram gets flagged because their AI incorrectly thinks we're selling guns, and as we've all seen, even huge YouTube channels are one arbitrary ToS change from getting nuked.
So we print, because it's the only way to both control our own content completely and know it will last long enough to meet our goal of providing gun owners with that aforementioned historical record.
Now, that isn't to say I don't intend to use social media - I'm here, so obviously I do. And there's actually been some growth in magazine sales in recent years, both with us and industry-wide, as there has been across most owned-media sectors, and social media is the best way to capitalize on that. But when I revisited our business plan, my actionable priorities were print production, and investigating/reporting on government action. The former because it's the core of the business, and the latter because it's the best way I can contribute to the larger effort our community is and always will have to undertake to be fairly treated. I file more ATIPs than anyone, and spend more time than anyone trying to bring things into the light in a journalistic fashion, like the connections between federal funding programs and the anti-gun lobby, the costs associated with the bans, etc.
But it leaves me with no time to execute a proper social media strategy to grow sales. So, I've instead used social media as a platform to extend our political coverage in the hopes that the gun community would see our reporting, recognize its value, and support it by subscribing. And so far, it's working; subscriptions are higher now than they've been at any point in the 14 years we've been in print. But I hope to do more - mostly by bringing on people who can augment areas where I'm naturally weak. Like, I hate self-promotion; even just saying I file more ATIPs than anyone feels gross. But in the age of social media, self-promotion is king, so I need help in that area, and a few others.
So that's probably more than you wanted to know about my business plan, but hey, maybe someone found it interesting.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
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u/VeganSandwichMonster 24d ago
Thank you Dan, your work is greatly appreciated. I'm subscribed and love the magazines and I always look forward to your takes in the videos you put out.
I used to think magazines were on their way out and for a while they were but now I think people are starting to look for physical media again with the sheer amount of overwhelming noise modern social media has turned into. I'm definitely happy you're continuing with it.
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u/OCTS-Toronto 24d ago
I used to get this magazine pre-covid for free. I think it came with my cssa membership. Regardless it was the one magazine I liked reading in paper cause the articles were good and the ads were interesting.
I'm way too connected most days. Old school magazines still have a place.
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u/thegearguy73 24d ago
So Dan's response below is great, unfortunate actually too. The other reality that may have been addressed by now is that it was reported that some "mail sorting / delivering issues" were being discovered whereby firearm related mailings were purposefully being damaged in transit so as to not reach their destination by employees with contrary opinions. Could be a mix.
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u/CalibreMag 24d ago
I don't know why, but delivery has been less reliable than prior.
Interesting story though: We tried using a printer in Quebec, because they're the largest in Canada and have rates no one else can touch... but it obviously meant the issues went to a Quebec Canada Post facility for sorting, and I noticed a huge uptick in missing issues.
We went back to our printer in BC this year, and while the percentage of missing issues isn't at pre-strike levels, it's a hell of a lot better. The quality of printing is better, too.
But the delivery issues with the Quebec facility came up in conversation with some members of the magazine publisher's association I am in, and they all said the same thing.
It's a weird time to be a business owner.
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u/Ok_Finger_2871 24d ago
UPDATE: Calibre has reached out after my post on REDDIT was submitted and has offered to make things right.
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u/OCTS-Toronto 24d ago
I also subscribed a few years ago. Never received a single issue. Cancelled when the renew email arrived.
Got a similar 'am really busy' message by email at the time. Dan does good service to the community via his YouTube channel and other work. You might just count your subscription fee as a donation to the cause like I did...
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u/8x56isfmj000 23d ago
I’m just rolling with it at this point, auto renewal last month. Hopefully things get back to normal.
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u/VeganSandwichMonster 24d ago
u/calibremag