Celebrations Magazine

**Andre** · 11-11-2008, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by harra

But, when it comes to entertainment-based publications, I cannot think of any that come in bags unless they are doing as you said, putting extra stuff in there that they don't want to fall out.

Really? US magazines are just dropped into the postal system "as is", with no packaging at all, and a label stuck right on the product itself? I would ideally have expected a proper rigid paper envelope, or at the very least a thick plastic wrapper - with the address label on the OUTSIDE, not on the product. Do US mail-order retailers (Amazon/etc) ship books and DVDs and other smaller items that way too? It would never have even occurred to me that they might do that.

As another poster has said, this looks a very lavish publication and is certainly one that I intend to keep, tidily and safely. In this case though, I'm lucky I got the inside at all, as what was left of the cover was completely separated from the rest of it.

My comments on the layout were rather general "first impression" thoughts, and I'm sure that won't stop me from enjoying the content! I hope what I said will be taken constructively, it was not for one moment my intention to nit-pick what has obviously been a real labour of love. However, just for the record, I did spend a number of years (in what these days feels like a previous life!) as a magazine editor.

I guess my overall feeling is that it needs more illustrative content to break up the blocks of text - perhaps in a three-column layout? Features on pin collecting and photography (for example) are just crying out to have more than a single picture to illustrate them - especially given how great Tim's photos are. Oh, and that goes for restaurant reviews too!

Anyway, well done everyone for getting issue one out there - I'm certainly looking forward to more!

Andre

**Silver Britches** · 11-11-2008, 11:45 PM

Yeah, I have to say I'm a little disappointed that the magazine is taking longer to arrive in Florida than the UK. (This isn't really a complaint about the magazine, just me being frustrated because I want to read it!) And both of the other magazines I get come unwrapped, too, and half the time they are in pretty bad shape, so unfortunately that's not abnormal.

Maybe I should just take the 30 min. drive over to WDW for my fix!

**harra** · 11-12-2008, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by Andre

Really? US magazines are just dropped into the postal system "as is", with no packaging at all, and a label stuck right on the product itself? I would ideally have expected a proper rigid paper envelope, or at the very least a thick plastic wrapper - with the address label on the OUTSIDE, not on the product.

Every magazine we receive at this house (with the exception of the aforementioned medical journals) come to the house with no protective wrapper or envelope. As Flutter has stated future magazines, we hear, are going to be bagged.

Heck, even subscription newspapers (i.e. The Wall Street Journal) go through the mail without protective coverings.

I cannot speak as to postal regulations outside the US. I do know that mail was dealt with differently when I lived in South East Asia.

My observation is that the USPS mechanical systems aren't very nice with mail. I had a client mail me one of those key fobs that generate random numbers so you can log into VPN systems and the USPS delivered the envelope and it was empty. Apparently, their machines squeeze the fob out the end of the envelope and blew out like a gag cigar. There was no way that one couldn't look at the envelope and notice that something was missing from it.

Originally Posted by Andre

I guess my overall feeling is that it needs more illustrative content to break up the blocks of text - perhaps in a three-column layout? Features on pin collecting and photography (for example) are just crying out to have more than a single picture to illustrate them - especially given how great Tim's photos are. Oh, and that goes for restaurant reviews too!

I agree Tim Devine's photos are Fantasmic!, but I'm biased because he's my brother from another mother....LOL Heck our families have been known to vacation together and not kill each other. He had the lion's share of the pictures in the magazine. Real tribute to his photographic talent

**DisneyDreamer13** · 11-12-2008, 02:23 AM

I've not had chance to read the magazine since it arrived yesterday (its at Mom's house) but my first reaction was 'its more like a book!'. Over in the UK very very few magazines have so many pages, it was a wonderful surprise.
And i do agree that the journey over the the UK took a little wear and tear on the mag, and that the stickers on the front did take the edge off the whole beauty, but i'm just gonna consider that proof that its an original that came with the teething troubles all great magazines start with!
Its great, i love it, and so glad we subscribed!

**kparker** · 11-12-2008, 05:29 AM

We must be spoilt in Australia, apart from a catalogue sent from the States everything I ever receive with multiple pages comes in an envelope or plastic bag. I thought it was really strange when I got the catalogue without an envelope but obviously that's a common occurrence for you guys. I still haven't received my magazine yet (which I totally expect considering how far away I am) but after reading everyone's comments I'm concerned that it might not get here in a readable state. It has quite a journey to make!

**athenna** · 11-12-2008, 10:06 AM

I still need someone to check and see if I have paid for this or not....I thought I did, but don't have a paypal confirmation

**Stitch** · 11-12-2008, 12:00 PM

I just ordered a back copy of issue one, so let's see how long it takes to get her.

**hms1016** · 11-12-2008, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by athenna

I still need someone to check and see if I have paid for this or not....I thought I did, but don't have a paypal confirmation

I went to the website and emailed Tim. He was able to verify proof of payment and I am sure he could do this for you too. I am still waiting and hopefully it may be in the mail today.

**athenna** · 11-12-2008, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by hms1016

I went to the website and emailed Tim. He was able to verify proof of payment and I am sure he could do this for you too. I am still waiting and hopefully it may be in the mail today.

Oh, ok, great..Thanks for telling me!

**harra** · 11-12-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Stitch

I just ordered a back copy of issue one, so let's see how long it takes to get her.

April,

I'm not 100% sure, but I think back-ordered copies are not shipped through the mailing house but via someone walking it to the USPS. All the overruns for back ordering went to Tim Foster's house.

**Stitch** · 11-12-2008, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by harra

April,

I'm not 100% sure, but I think back-ordered copies are not shipped through the mailing house but via someone walking it to the USPS. All the overruns for back ordering went to Tim Foster's house.

Cool. Maybe I'll email Tim and ask him to autograph it for me!

**harra** · 11-12-2008, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Stitch

Cool. Maybe I'll email Tim and ask him to autograph it for me!

If you are going to MouseFest, most of the contributors are going to be there and you can get almost everyone's autograph....haha You would just need to catch them at the MegaMeet

**Teleclashter** · 11-12-2008, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by hms1016

I went to the website and emailed Tim. He was able to verify proof of payment and I am sure he could do this for you too. I am still waiting and hopefully it may be in the mail today.

If you haven't received it yet you should. I'm just up north of you in Butler and apparently I received my copy today.