We are ending the Lifetime Subscription
I’ve decided to end BHM’s Lifetime Subscription in light of the looming inflationary depression facing America. Only a few months ago we raised the price of a Lifetime Subscription from $500 to $600, but I think the inflation that is bound to take place during the next few years makes the offer a risky gamble for BHM.
We’ll accept any Lifetime Subs until publication of the next next issue (Jan/Feb 2008), when we’ll officially announce its termination. In the same issue, I also plan to suspend 4 and 5-year subscription offers, offering only 1, 2, and 3-year subscriptions.
It is only prudent for BHM, I think, that we offer products we can profitably service in the future. Our current number of lifetime subscribers is about 230. I don’t think it’s wise to go more than about 500. Also, the 4 and 5-year subscriptions could become a problem if inflation really takes off. As the economy settles down, I will offer these subscription options again.
This is part of my response to the passage by Congress of the $850 billion bailout package for Wall Street. As we are all part of the American economy, I think most small businesses will adopt options similar to what I am now implementing. The next several issues of BHM will encourage readers to prepare themselves along the lines I am preparing BHM.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I have read and studied both of the candidates and am not pleased with neither tho will vote for McCain rather then a vote for another person and give obama a freeby vote. How can we get information out starting now about other parties, including Constition, America First and Libertarian. Any one of the three are better then what we have offered to us now. Starting today we need to educate the public about what is there. How do we do that? I know you lean to the Libertarian as do I but do not like the abortian issue. But do like smaller government, much much smaller.
I guess just sending out letters is all I can do but would be willing to do it on a daily basis. Help me here. I really do not know where to start.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I also think term limits for congress and senators should be a given.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Just Google Constitution Party or Libertarian Party for information. Libertarians, by the way, are about split 50-50 on the abortion issue.
I’m not sure how to go about educating the public. For 20 years I’ve talked about the benefits of having a smaller government in the pages of this magazine, but government just keeps growing. Perhaps writing letters to your local newspaper will help. One of the main problems America has, I think, is that many Americans WANT a bigger government. They think the country turning more socialist is a good idea, that Bigger Government IS the answer.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Probably a smart move, Dave.
Personally, I won’t take out a lifetime sub to any publication. Mainly because I don’t know what that pub might do in the future.
Witness: In my lifetime (and I’m only 37) Mother Earth News has gone from what BHM is today, to a lefty propaganda rag… simply because editors and/or publishers have changed.
My Dad had a sub to MENs when I was a kid; I still have those magazines (from back when it was good). Wouldn’t pay a dime for a current issue, though. Dad let his subscription lapse when it went from useful to lefty-political.
More recently, and on a totally unrelated subject, I’ve seen Car Craft magazine change direction radically since the editor who got me hooked, David Freiburger, went off on his own, and somebody else took over the mag. I probably misspelled his last name, sorry.
I’ll keep renewing my BHM subscription as long as it stays the mag that it is. When you retire, or hand the reins to someone else as you go do something new, I’ll re-evaluate what the mag is and whether or not to re-up.
I’m sure it was tough for you to quit offering lifetimes, but as you said, it’s probably a smart business move. And people should reserve the right to vote with their wallets, if by chance BHM ever goes off the tracks the way MENs did. I’m certainly glad not to have to deal with back issues of MENs from the ’80s and ’90s (although they might make good firestarters in the woodstove)…
October 10th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Aaron, I agree with your logic completely. Having only 1, 2, and 3-year subscriptions is probably good for both reader and publisher. Readers resubscribing keep the magazine from wandering off the path, and renewals give us the ability to adjust prices for inflation.
I think some magazines may get in trouble over the next few years because they borrow heavily to finance their operations. We don’t. We pay for everything as we do it.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I read America First Platform and like what I read. Will read the other two, Libertarian again and Constitution for the first time today and tomorrow. It is a lot to obsorbe at once. I am inclined to agree with the isolationism and no immagration for a few years and then limit it to a certain amount a year. People who will add to the country rather then take from it. Also bring our troops home and stop supporting countries that do not like us. They don’t like us, then let them take care of them selves for a bit. Stop with the outside oil. Make our own power from the things God gave us. There is more but I won’t bore you with all my thoughts. Nancy
October 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
One question: Those of us who already had lifetime subscriptions, will those be canceled as well?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
If you already have a Lifetime Subscription, don’t worry. You’ve got it for life. You are grandfathered (grandmothered) in.