2000 AD Online Forum

New subscribers get the promotional gift that is then current, and old subbers get the same on their annual renewal date, or on the anniversary of their subscription start for those subbing monthly.  



We don't ignore our loyal supporters.  This system has been in place for several years now.

Don't want to sound picky, but I've just passed the second anniversary of my sub, and have received no thankyous.

However, the service from the subs dept is excellent and when my card was not debited for four months this year, they were nice enough to call me before catching up on the funds.

Bolt-01

But I want a poster! Give you money! For you, good price.

I haven't had a free gift since I started my monthly sub, more than two years ago.

- Trout

I suspect the problem is that there is not always a subs gift.  When I started my sub there was no offer so no gift.

If there is no gift when I reach renewal, I will get no gift.

The moral of this story, only start a sub when there's a gift, as there's likely to be another one the next year ;)

Dan

Likewise for me as well. Other than the 2000ad dress that I got when my sub started I've not had any of the others.

We don't ignore our loyal supporters

Heh, wasn't really suggesting that you did ... was just very, very keen to get my hands on that poster and was disappointed that there wasn't a suggestion of how I could buy one, not fussed about getting it for free.

Though on the side issue, I seem to have had the same experience as Bolt - IIRC haven't had any free gift this year, despite my monthly subscription automatically renewing.

I've been a subscriber for since November 2001. Got my 2K beanie at the time.
I got 'Glimmer Rats' GN as an present at the end of 2002.
Didn't get anything end of 2003.
Haven't had anything recently.

Them's the facts as they stand in the Milner household.

(and while I'm at it... I never got my promised 2k cap for my input in prog 847.)

I'm unsure on dates, but the last free gift I got was a Death keyring, and that was for taking out the sub in the first place.

I reiterate: I believe I get value for money and I'm not having a moan. It's just that I clearly don't get what was promised.

- Trout

Spurred by the better memory-recall of Odders, I can confirm that I also received the Glimmer Rats GN, though - as far as I can recall - nothing since. Not that I'm particularly complaining, mind. I'm happy to buy merchandise if given the chance.

Same as Oddboy - Beanie, Glimmer Rats GN, then nothing since.

Not whingeing, happy with subs, value for money etc.

Same here - Mean Machine mug for subscribing, nothing on renewal.

Also not complaining particularly hard, but thought this was worth bringing to Rebellion's attention in case they're getting ripped off.

Looks like you're better off letting your sub run out, then renewing it for the latest free offer.

If you haven't received a subscription gift on your subs anniversary, please email subscriptions at 2000adonline.com to let them know. Remember to include your subs number.

Wake

But I can never remember when my subs anniversary is. I'll have a look at the sticker on the envelope later.

- Trout

I think I did that (accidentally) and I didn't get a free gift on re-subscribing.  Not that I'm complaining; value for money, galaxy's greatest publication, etc.

I'm not sure the subs department would be very happy having every monthly subscriber cancel their direct debits and promptly re-start them every time a new gift was wheeled out, though.

I've just mailed my anniversary reminder.

Bolt-01

Very happy with my subs, but have to say I cant recall ever having a free gift on the anniversary of my Sub - started in June 2001 and have no memory of anything in the 2002 and 2003 years.

However, by my reckoning that means I should have had fridge magnets this June just gone(as thatwas the offer at the time), but I definitely didn't get any.

Has *anyone* received all or any of their anniversary gifts?

Basically the system may have been in place, but it looks like for a lot of people it hasn't been working.  I think if people have to ask for their free gift at the appropriate time, then it really isn't working properly.

"We do ignore our loyal supporters. This system has been in place for several years now."

The Dictators of Zrag.

I've never recieved anything for subscribing or on any anniversaries of subscribing.

I too have had nothing but a Glimmer Rats GN.

It was bashed.

The cynic in me thinks they printed too many, or else got rid of all the damaged stock.

"The cynic in me thinks they printed too many, or else got rid of all the damaged stock."

Or they read it.

Hurr, hurr, hurr.

- Trout

Sorry - forgot to include something like this:

;-)

Hurr, hurr.

:: It was bashed.

You should see what the Heroclix figures look like when they arrive. My Nemesis looked like someone had stamped on it.

Seems I'm the only one here pissed off with subs dept. Fed up enough to cancel and look elsewhere.

Had enough promises of replacement progs that don't arrive, several calls over a period of months calls saying my card has been declined even though there are (unsually) a couple of grand in the bank, getting a shitty letter saying my sub has been terminated, then sub restarting unannounced after a gap of 3 progs, one meg and a EE but getting the sub bill backdated to cover the progs that never arrived. And like everyone else if there is the freebiewhatever on renewal I have never had it.

Really, whats the point? Prog arrives 2 days early, well it usually lies around for a few days till I get to read it. Slightly cheaper, okay but it's pennies really. The Extreme editions I wish I never put them on my sub, it's reprints, I have them and couple I didn't like first time round. The freebies you (don't) get when you renew, it's a fucking poster. Yes lovely bit of art but like the majority of boarders, according to the latest poll, I'm in my 30's. It's been 20 years since I put a poster of anything on the wall.

If I pick them up at Smiths or newsagent I might get a copy that hasn't been folded and battered in the post, I can skip an issue if the current run of stories doesn't grab me, not getting 2k when the next Valkeries/Synamon crap is published would show the admittedly very slight dip in sales that says "oi green bollox it's shit" that doesn't get said if I had a sub.

Seriously, what's the benefit of subs? If an early prog and a couple of quid are not an issue and there are shops on every corner where you can buy it if you want to and can be arsed calling in, seems to make sense to cancel my sub. Before they cancel it for me, again.

Sorry it's all a bit negative, but 3 progs have been missed in the last 2 months and it's really screwed up the Total War and Traitor storylines.

Hmmm.. this may be met with another terse response (as per the first one, not written by someone versed with PR, you would expect) from Rebellion (who for the record I have a lot of respect for), but I've watched a lot of people complain this year about missing progs, damp progs, etc.  

That isn't rebellion doing that.  That's the people rebellion pay who are doing it.  Don't get tetchy with the readers, get tetchy with the system. Don't assume people are complaining for the sake of it and you are tired of listening to it.  Actually listen!  For everyone complaining, there is another 99+ people who are just fuming in silence.  And they will walk away without a word.

As someone who 'overhears' customers all day, believe it!  It's not british to complain directly, so they just bugger off and don't come back!  Make even a small effort, and acknowledge problems and the customers are perfectly understanding.  

Sorry if that seemed like a rant, it's meant well!

well put pvs!
 If a problem is due to the people Rebellion is paying, then it`s Rebellion`s responsibility to put a rocket up them or replace them with people who can do the job.

Me, I`m pretty happy with the subs service these last few years. Everything has shown up promptly, and the problems which have happened have been fixed quickly and fairly politely.
I got a mean machine mug, but there`s been nothing since then. I must look into this.

i sub yearly, it's cheeper, and i've got my mug and magnets, I did hve to battle for my mug though

i for one. find denise in subs a pleasure to deal with.

as for the free gifts,it seems the system is slightly off centre, but now they know i think they will look into it.which i am sure they will.

your tale of woe is terrible though test 4 echo.
i am all the way out here in singapore and have nothing but praise for the subs team.
once in a blue moon a late prog, given the local postal service i would say thats good.

but i say SUBS top team.

 

Really it was a bit over the top, mainly due to some entusiastic, pre and post pubbing, with some pubbing inbetween.  I'd had rather a good night last night!

The terse statement was originally made in relation to another matter (people appearing to be on the blag, which I wasn't entirely coinvinced by), and only brought up wider problems later.  I imagine now they know, they'll probably sort it out.  It's in their interest to.  So probably a bit rich for me to launch into one!  Still, terse is not PR gold.

I think the problem with the damp/missing/damaged progs is probably the fault of the royal mail.  When I had a problem, phoning subs got it sorted, but if I'd had to phone more than once or twice, I think I'd be getting fed up.

On a side note, my scientific studies have produced an answer for wrinkled meg syndrome.  Basically if they are left in any damp environment (such as my cars, who all seem to contract the innsmouth look off me), they will wrinkle.  I'm afraid I can picture many a damp sorting office. And my guess is, it's a result of the paper and binding not liking damp and going 'sproing!'

I still intend to subscribe this Christmas, with ma precious bawbies.  But you have to feel for Test 4 who seems to have had a bloomin' miserable time of it.

I'm really happy with my subscription, couldn't imagine life without it. Have to put in my two cents worth on the free gift thing though. I was told when I subscribed that I would only receive any form of free gifts if I paid my sub a year at a time, and that if I wanted the mug (which was the gift at the time) I would have to pay extra, which I stupidly agreed to do, and to this date I've never received anything. Think the sub runs out in january so here's hoping I get something, even a lump of coal would be nice to show I've not been forgotten completely. Couldn't do without my sub but was very irritated at the time that the ads had misled me.

I love subbing. It means I can't forget to go to the shops for my prog.

oops, should add that the reason I felt misled was because NOWHERE on the advert I had in front of me when I called did it say the free gifts only applied to people who paid the entire year in one go.

I pay for my sub monthly and when I took it out (the sub, Wils) I got the Death Key-ring. There was nothing said about not getting the gift unless I paid extra.

Keef: Did you just sub for the prog or both prog and Meg?

Bolt-01

I subscribe monthly, and until a couple of months ago I've never had anything beyond one or two minor problems. The only major issue over the past few months has been with my Meg subscription frequently arriving damp and wrinkled, a subject I've talked about before.

After a handful of emails to Denise, this seems to have been sorted. I would prefer Rebellion used slightly better stock, as it would avoid the whole issue, but subs appear to have taken my complaints and acted on them to solve the problem.

As for free gifts, apart from my initial subscription (paid for a whole year of prog and Meg) I've had nothing since moving to monthly. IIRC, there is no gift option for the monthly subscriber, so this doesn't really bother me.

The only thing I would say - and please, don't take this the wrong way - is that, if you're having a problem with your sub, or if you're unhappy with the service, COMPLAIN to the relevant people. It won't get any better if problems aren't brought to their attention...

:: Seems I'm the only one here pissed off with subs dept.

To clarify, I'm not annoyed with the subs dept. The Heroclix figure is what you get from "Tharg" when you get a letter printed. In his infinite wisdom (or that of his dispatch droid), mine was set in a standard letter envelope, which isn't exactly a great method of sending such an item.

As for the message at the head of this thread, yes, it could have been a tad more friendly, couldn't it?

I've had ALL my free gifts that I've been promised.

When I renewed this year, I got a second set of fridge magnets- shame if they'd arrived a week later, they'd have been the poster (not strictly true). They arrived about a month after I renewed my sub.

Yeah, I subscribed to both, and the extreme editions. Feel cheeky complaining about it in case I make a tit of myself by being in the wrong, but if you got yours and you pay monthly then maybe I have a case!

you have a case.
i pay monthly, i get EE prog and meg and freegifts, the lighter ones i may point out, which i think is fair.

i have had key rings,posters,a tshirt amongst that list. never got a mug, did not expect too given the wieght.

i have mentioned before.
you want to consider an Ecard to denise if she has been helpful.
i send her one every year. just to say thanks.
small but at least you acknowledge a job well  done.
we often talk of her here, and she is excellent with follow ups.

Maybe it's like Santa: they know if you've been "good" and only then do you get the gifts. To be frank, I didn't know subscribers were due anything. IIRC, I'm on my second renewal now, and I don't recall receiving any freebies.

There were problems with the mugs. I didn't get mine for several months.

Has anyone recently (re)subscribed or taken up the extension offer and got their Dredd mug? I renewed a few weeks ago and my mugs (I ordered a spare) haven't pitched up. I don't want to hassle the subs dept if there is a delay on the mugs, so if someone could let me know if theirs has arrived then that would be appreciated.

Doc, I took the text about the mugs to be that they were still at the making them stage. I've paid for one (as per my subs offer) which was nice- seems to be that monthly subbers are now getting the option to buy the new freebies (I got the Dredd tee earlier this year) as opposed to getting an anniversary gift that mjany never got.

i never received any gifts despite subscribing for over 4 years - although admittedly this was mostly due to my being one of those scummy monthly payers

i also missed out on the free graphic novels offer because i didn't receive any letters... i was assured by denise that the offer would be taking place again 'soon',  but years down the line i've given up waiting...

while my recent cancelling of subscriptions hasn't had anything to do with this, it certainly didn't make me think twice.

thinky

Well the 'point' of subscribing to me is that, living in Oz, it gives me the prog a good seven weeks in advance of the newsagent for a good deal less cash.  As far as gifts go, I got a beanie, a Glimmer Rats GN and nothing since about 2002.  I don't know when my anniversary is, either.  I'm a scummy monthly payer by financial necessity.

I subscribe to the Megazine and The EE

Was I meant to get a free gift?

If I remember right the free gift was for subbing to the Meg and Tooth, not EE.

I got the Judge Death Keyring when I first subbed, but thought the free gifts were just for new subs and not for existing ones, so never expected anything else and was not therefore disappointed when nothing was exactly what I got .

I recently took advantage of the offer to extend my subscription and get the free mug, but I can see from reading the previous posts I am not alone in not having received the mug.
Is there anyone from Rebellion reading this? Any comments on the mug situation?

I pay yearly and have been getting mine


30 year Tshirt- Abaddon books etc



The only problem i have is the reminder notes telling me my sub is going to run out soon even thought theres 7 or 8 months of the sub year still to go.

Here's the small print for the mug gift...

QuotePremium Gift for  subscribers to both comics as a single subscription:   2000AD Coffee Mug.  UK postage free.   Eur and RoW postage contribution of £2.50. Applies to New and Renewing Annual subscribers, and New Monthly paying subscribers.

I think the question being asked (particularly by people who renewed back in July   ) is where is the mug?

Quote from: "osullivanj"I think the question being asked (particularly by people who renewed back in July  ;) ) is where is the mug?

I've just checked and the mugs are not in stock yet and probably won't be until October at the earliest.

thanks for the update

Well, I have been considering subscribing for a while but have decided against it because the thought of my progs and megs not appearing on the correct day due to strikes, christmas post delays (imagine the xmas prog not arriving til January because of a back log of stupid forest destroying and energy/money wasting christmas cards!) is quite literally unthinkable whereas in the 19 months since I have re-discovered the galaxies greatest, my newsagent has let me down once for ONE DAY. But (and this, like King Henry Windsor McKray's is a big but) if I had known that a subscription renewal entitles the subscriber to whatever the current free gift is every year upon renewal I would probably have subscribed ages ago. Tharg, I can't believe this little bonus is not mentioned in the subs ads. Definitely makes me extremely likely to subscribe, infact virtually certain.

Only if you pay up front. Sub by direct devit and you don't get the annual gift.

Still, highly recommended service. Moer often not they are early and I've never had the End of Year Prog delayed, as you fear might happen.

Where's the actual online form for subscribing? I can never find it. .

Quote from: "the shutdown man"Where's the actual online form for subscribing? I can never find it. .

I'm afraid that the online form currently isn't, so you will need to telephone (01621) 87 72 50 or email shop@2000adonline.com to subscribe.

Quote from: "Wake"I'm afraid that the online form currently isn't, so you will need to telephone (01621) 87 72 50 or email shop@2000adonline.com to subscribe.

Grand so, thanks.

I tried emailing the shop a few days ago and I haven't got a reply. Is the phone the only way to do it?

I know it sounds cheap, but the phone is an international call for me...

Hi guys at Megacity One!

How can I subscribe online to the 200AD and Judge Dredd Megazine comics?
The sales email address is not valid... And my spoken English is not very good (sorry!)...

Thanks for all Citizens!

Just to hopefully put the record straight, I subscribed to 2000ad and the Meg a few days ago and had a lengthy chat with the subscriptions bot and was told catergorically this. Obviously when you first subscribe you get the free gift, But you do not automatically get the current free gift each year on your anniversary. Sometimes Tharg may send out the latest free gift to some readers upon their anniversary at random, as a gesture of goodwill but you do not automatically receive the current free gift each year when your anniversary comes by. The only way to guarantee you get the free gift each year is to let your first year expire then pay for your next year in advance up front for £100 or whatever it is or just pay upfront every year for the whole year anyway.  Perhaps I should see if Tharg wants me to go to the pound shop in Walton-on-the-Naze where I live and buy up their entire stock of Dredd baseball caps (trust me they have drokking loads) and the green one can give them away to everyone ! Peace out earthlets !

You often (as in every year for the last few years) get a letter from the Sub Dept asking if you'd like to renew and qualify for the free-gift...and then you get it.  Well...got the rest, just waiting on my mug now.

Quote from: "WoD"You often (as in every year for the last few years) get a letter from the Sub Dept asking if you'd like to renew and qualify for the free-gift...and then you get it.  Well...got the rest, just waiting on my mug now.

Same here... never had probs and Denise the Subs driod is always very very helpful, but does she get a Block named after her? a mention in Damage report? a free thank you trip to a convention?

She should be carried around the command module at shoulder height and Huzzah-ed 3 times by the mighty one and the art/script driods!

Denise is great and very helpful.  Surely she's had something named after in the prog?

Denise has been helpful to me, too. I was a bit sore about not getting a free gift each year with a direct debit, but fair dos - I can cancel at any time.

I'm a tad peeved, though, at the long (unannounced, unexplained) delay in the mugs, though.

What time does the hotline stay open until? I've just tried ringing it and I got no answer.

Dammit, you don't make this easy.....

Office hours I think.