This partwork will launch tomorrow, 9 May 2011, here in South Africa. I picked up a copy of the "cheapie" Issue #1 at the newsagents today as they were putting out the stock in readiness for tomorrow.
I've skimmed through the booklets but not much new to learn as I have been following this thread.
I'm still considering whether to go with this partwork or not. I have been collecting the James Bond Car Collection and we still have about a year to go with that in this country, so it would mean paying for both at the same time
I know exactly what you mean. The car collection will run here for another 4-5 months, so there is an overlap too. Out of interest, what is the price in South Africa - are you being ripped off a little like us Aussies?
No-one got any pics of the build, how its looking so far would be good to see....
There is not an awful lot to show yet, so that is probably the reason. You can see a lot of pictures on the Facebook page as well as the partwork forum, although a lot of people are actually introducing some modification to make the model look evenmore realistic or to suit their own taste.
Out of interest, what is the price in South Africa - are you being ripped off a little like us Aussies?
It's being sold for R100 per issue. One Pound roughly equals Eleven Rands at the moment, so that works out to £9.09 per issue on a straight exchange basis (compared to £6.99 in the UK).
So yes, a bit of a markup over the UK price, but in the local distributor's defence I suppose they have to factor in things like air freight and currency fluctuations.
In comparison, the JBCC sells here for R120 (= £10.90 at current rates) compared to £7.99 in the UK. With that one the price is printed on the cover of the magazine, so that had to be decided on in advance (back in 2007) as they would be stuck with it for the duration of the partwork - which has turned out to be nearly 3 times as long as initially intended. I think the Rand was weaker back then, so the distributor is reaping the benefit of a stronger currency now, at our expense
That is indeed slightly more expensive than the UK. In Australia the collections sell for $19.95/19.99, which is more expensive still... When the JBCC started the price was about equal to the UK, but the Aussie dollar is now much stronger, so the price looks higher when converted to most other currencies. Guess the distributor here charges more just because they can - although I suspect they would have had more subscribers if the price was lower. I wonder what the price is in New Zealand, but will not be surprised if it is even more expensive there.
A large number of interesting partwork model collections has been released over the last few months (DB5, F1 McLaren, Fighter Collection, Tiger tank etc.) so you would think that the market is being oversaturated and there should be competition between the different manufacturers on the one hand and an incentive from the distributor on the other to entice people to subscribe to more. Strangely, it doesn't seem to work out this way and they prices are higher than you would expect them to be.
In the Netherlands the JBCC costs € 12.99 in shops, which is about 11.31 GBP, and € 12.25 for subscribers, which is about 10.67 GBP. Definitely not cheap compared to the UK edition at 7.99 GBP per issue.
I'm curious how much each issue of JBDB5 will cost here, if it comes to the Netherlands. It probably will be about the same price as the JBCC (maybe one euro cheaper), which means I'm glad I've got a UK subscription, that saves me a lot of money on a collection of 85 issues...
In the Netherlands the JBCC costs € 12.99 in shops, which is about 11.31 GBP, and € 12.25 for subscribers, which is about 10.67 GBP. Definitely not cheap compared to the UK edition at 7.99 GBP per issue.
6.99 GBP, surely? I'm paying £27.96 per 4 issues.
[edit: apols, I meant the DB5, of course; didn't read the original post properly...]
I need to know, which issue has the same CONTENT as issue 3 from the original TEST RUN!
I never received issue 3 during the test run, as it was out of stock back then. Since the publisher changed the order of the first six issues after the test run, I am not sure which issue to ask for. Issue 3 from the test run (with tyre and weapons console) has become issue 5 in the nationwide run. So what I'd like to know is if they just changed the cover and the parts' order for the nationwide run, or if they switched the order of the entire magazines (including the content, so basically just printing another number on the cover and changing nothing else).
I hope someone can help me out. Many thanks in advance!
I need to know, which issue has the same CONTENT as issue 3 from the original TEST RUN!
I never received issue 3 during the test run, as it was out of stock back then. Since the publisher changed the order of the first six issues after the test run, I am not sure which issue to ask for. Issue 3 from the test run (with tyre and weapons console) has become issue 5 in the nationwide run. So what I'd like to know is if they just changed the cover and the parts' order for the nationwide run, or if they switched the order of the entire magazines (including the content, so basically just printing another number on the cover and changing nothing else).
I hope someone can help me out. Many thanks in advance!
Not sure if there are many peope here who subscribed to the test run and still remember what they got back then! You may have to go the the official website, and if you follow the build instructions you will see which parts come with what issue.
Thanks for your reply, but it's not about the parts, it's the content of the magazine that I want to know about.
I never got the original tyre (no brand) during the test run (as I also didn't get issue 3, with which the tyre originally came), but I did get the replacement tyre (Avon branded) and weapons console when the nationwide run had started. However, no magazine came with this replacement, so I'm still missing the magazine which should come with the tyre and weapons console. Of course, I wish to get the magazine with the same content as the test run issue 3 had.
It's quite easy to check this actually, if two people are willing to help me. If someone on here has the original issue 3 from the test run, and can post the contents of the magazine (e.g. the titles of four or five of the articles), then someone who has subscribed to the nationwide run can check which of the first six issues from the nationwide run has the same contents as issue 3 from the test run (which will almost certainly be issue 3 or 5, but I need to know 100% sure which of these it really is).
I am still yet to decide whether to start this or not. It is being tested in one state of Australia, so I suspect it'll be rolled out nationwide in the next few months. How are people feeling who have got a few parts and magazines? Is it worth it? Do all the parts of the car look good and are not scratched or blemished in anyway? Cheers, rick.
I am still yet to decide whether to start this or not. It is being tested in one state of Australia, so I suspect it'll be rolled out nationwide in the next few months. How are people feeling who have got a few parts and magazines? Is it worth it? Do all the parts of the car look good and are not scratched or blemished in anyway? Cheers, rick.
Dickiebart, are you saying that it is only tested in SA? Does it mean that people from interstate cannot subscribe? That would be strange, because it is clearly available for subscription on the Bissett Mags website.
I have now received up to issue 7, and have no regrets. It is certainly not a perfect model, but there are no perfect ones. I am a little disappointed with things that I thought would be easy to get right, and amazed by things that I didn't expect to look as good as they do. But it will be really difficult to make any proper assessments until much later, when separate parts and miniprojects can finally be linked together. I would recommend the partwork models website and its forum in particular - you will see plenty of photos there, including modification suggestions, and many different opinions. I have chosen to apply some light modifications to my model, as they are easy to do and there is plenty of time. But even without modifications the model will most likely be very impressive.
I saw the subscription, but in the dispatch info it says 'SA ONLY', with the Car Collection WA were the test state, but now I think about it i'm sure the more people subscribing, the better for them so they wouldn't complain!!
Cheers for your rundown on the collection so far. It's going to be a tough decision. I need a lotto win!
I saw the subscription, but in the dispatch info it says 'SA ONLY', with the Car Collection WA were the test state, but now I think about it i'm sure the more people subscribing, the better for them so they wouldn't complain!!
Cheers for your rundown on the collection so far. It's going to be a tough decision. I need a lotto win!
You're right. Somehow I never look at the despatch section. Looks like I'm living in a lucky state! I don't get any commission from Fabbri/Bissett, so I'm not going to push the series - I just think that it is one of those cases where you need to follow whatever your heart tells you, with a serious consideration for the brain's opinion too. I have only subscribed because it is "The Most Famous Car in the World". I would not subscribe if it was any other car - Bond or not Bond.
Thanks for your reply, but it's not about the parts, it's the content of the magazine that I want to know about.
It's quite easy to check this actually, if two people are willing to help me. If someone on here has the original issue 3 from the test run, and can post the contents of the magazine (e.g. the titles of four or five of the articles), then someone who has subscribed to the nationwide run can check which of the first six issues from the nationwide run has the same contents as issue 3 from the test run (which will almost certainly be issue 3 or 5, but I need to know 100% sure which of these it really is).
Ive got both...The original No3 came with the tyre & the centre consol, the 1st artical is about filming the DB5, 2nd about Ursula Andress, 3rd the white bikini, 4th & last falling for 007. It then states the bonnet is with No4.
The same contents are in new mag No3, but with the extra artical as Playing Russian Roulette, & the next parts are the engine. Hope this helps.
Im short of the No4 mag, new or old & I have a new & old No3 & 5.
ExinferisWest Norfolk (for my sins!)Posts: 22MI6 Agent
Argh! They're flamin' doing it again! Checked my bank account yesterday to see a descepancy in my funds. Oddly enough it was a difference of £27.96, which, surprise surprise, is the same amount the DB5 costs me. Thing is, it's only been 20 days (21 today) since they took the last lot of money!
I can't afford for Fabbri to keep taking the money as and when they please. I need to budget for these things and this is just daft.
Is anyone else having this problem with Fabbri? I'm going to e-mail them, just wondered if it was only me of if it's happening to everyone?
"I collect Spores, Moulds and Fungus" - Egon Spengler
Argh! They're flamin' doing it again! Checked my bank account yesterday to see a descepancy in my funds. Oddly enough it was a difference of £27.96, which, surprise surprise, is the same amount the DB5 costs me. Thing is, it's only been 20 days (21 today) since they took the last lot of money!
I can't afford for Fabbri to keep taking the money as and when they please. I need to budget for these things and this is just daft.
Is anyone else having this problem with Fabbri? I'm going to e-mail them, just wondered if it was only me of if it's happening to everyone?
My payment has been taken 22 days from the previous payment. That makes 3.1 weeks by my reconing.
Argh! They're flamin' doing it again! Checked my bank account yesterday to see a descepancy in my funds. Oddly enough it was a difference of £27.96, which, surprise surprise, is the same amount the DB5 costs me. Thing is, it's only been 20 days (21 today) since they took the last lot of money!
I can't afford for Fabbri to keep taking the money as and when they please. I need to budget for these things and this is just daft.
Is anyone else having this problem with Fabbri? I'm going to e-mail them, just wondered if it was only me of if it's happening to everyone?
Same here, if this keeps up, I too are going to have to take steps to stop it, not sure how though...
ExinferisWest Norfolk (for my sins!)Posts: 22MI6 Agent
Are you paying via Paypal? If so, it might be Paypal at fault.
No, debit card. Wish I'd done it via DD now as I could contact the bank and stop it. 8-) My Debit Card expires the end of July anyway, so if it carries on I'll just not update it!
If they keep doing this I'm gonna cancel any automatic payments and I'll send them a cheque every 28 days!
It's not on though, especially if they're doing to to everyone.
"I collect Spores, Moulds and Fungus" - Egon Spengler
Leijo: I need to know, which issue has the same CONTENT as issue 3 from the original TEST RUN!
I never received issue 3 during the test run, as it was out of stock back then. Since the publisher changed the order of the first six issues after the test run, I am not sure which issue to ask for. Issue 3 from the test run (with tyre and weapons console) has become issue 5 in the nationwide run. So what I'd like to know is if they just changed the cover and the parts' order for the nationwide run, or if they switched the order of the entire magazines (including the content, so basically just printing another number on the cover and changing nothing else).
I hope someone can help me out. Many thanks in advance!
Hi Leijo = re your post above - I too was confused re the initial test run and the current one - GE told me that the test run is different from the "current, correct" one - so if you have the test run magazines, ignore them - at that time it was going to be 75 issues, now its 85 - so the content is different - hope that makes sense !!!!
lei
Hi Leijo = re your post above - I too was confused re the initial test run and the current one - GE told me that the test run is different from the "current, correct" one - so if you have the test run magazines, ignore them - at that time it was going to be 75 issues, now its 85 - so the content is different - hope that makes sense !!!!
So , what im trying to say is IGNORE ALL THE PREVIOUS "TEST RUN" MAGAZINES, the current ones are the correct ones !!!
You're saying I should ignore the test run issues, since they were changed before the nationwide run. So you're telling me I should buy the first six issues again, because they changed the contents? That's just ridiculous! I think GE Fabbri could at least have had the courtesy to send us those first six mags again for free after changing them... (without the parts of course - we got those already, be it in a different order). I'll see what I can do to get all six issues from the nationwide run, but I obviously don't feel like paying for the (almost) same issue twice...
crocke007, I'm thankful for your help, but your answer that the content is different helps me only a tiny bit. I think you still didn't really understand my question, but that's no problem, since spencer50 answered it already. Many thanks for that!
Ive got both...The original No3 came with the tyre & the centre consol, the 1st artical is about filming the DB5, 2nd about Ursula Andress, 3rd the white bikini, 4th & last falling for 007. It then states the bonnet is with No4.
The same contents are in new mag No3, but with the extra artical as Playing Russian Roulette, & the next parts are the engine. Hope this helps.
So I will let GE Fabbri know that they need to send me a back issue 3, since that has the same contents as the test run issue 3 (plus a little extra). The parts that came with it were different, but the contents of the magazine didn't change to another issue number along with the parts. That's what I wanted to know all the time.
spencer50, you say that extra articles were added to the magazines for the nationwide run. Could you please specify for all six test run issues on which points the contents differ from the nationwide run? Or maybe just upload a photo of the contents page of each of the issues compared to one another (test run issue 1 next to nationwide issue 1, etc.)? I hope you're willing to do this for me. If so, many thanks in advance!
i must admit I am confused, but when I phoned GE to ask if the initial "test run" is the same as the current "correct" one, they werent too sure either and then sent me replacement issues FREE ( i think they sent me 7 in total !! )
So I would just call them and explain - they shouldn't charge you for replacements !!
spencer50, you say that extra articles were added to the magazines for the nationwide run. Could you please specify for all six test run issues on which points the contents differ from the nationwide run? Or maybe just upload a photo of the contents page of each of the issues compared to one another (test run issue 1 next to nationwide issue 1, etc.)? I hope you're willing to do this for me. If so, many thanks in advance!
I can scan the mags for you, (except issue No4, never got it) but I think its just a case of them spreading the same articles across the new mags. (If you still want me to do that)
If you do get an answer from GE, please let me know, as Im short of a No4 mag, new or old.
Confused? Im not surprised, I am a little.
I already got an answer from GE Fabbri: Ingrid Hedstone said she'd order me a replacement issue 3. However, that was before I asked her to simply send me the first six issues (without parts), so I might still get all of them (like crocke007 did). I haven't received a reply to that question yet, though. I'll let you know when I have.
So as for scanning the mags: for now it's not neccesary, as I might get them all soon. Many thanks anyway!
To answer your question: I think if you send an e-mail to Ingrid Hedstone (Head of Customer Expereince, ingridh@dbfactory.co.uk), she'll sort you out with a replacement issue 4.
ExinferisWest Norfolk (for my sins!)Posts: 22MI6 Agent
Well, I e-mailed Fabbri yesterday asking why my payments weren't every 28 days as stated and I got this reply today:
Hello
Thanks for your email
There is no set time for payments to be taken they are roughly every 28
days. They can be a few days either side
Kind Regards
Jasmine
Customer Services
She couldn't have been more blunt if she'd told me to f-off!
I replied cancelling the sub and I got an e-mail back almost instantly saying my sub was cancellend and to thank me for my "valued" custom! Coldn't have been that valued if they weren't willing to sort out the problem I presented them with!
Now I've got to faff about getting the local newsagent to order it. Utter joke! And here was I thinking I'd have trouble with DeAg and the MP4. 8-)
"I collect Spores, Moulds and Fungus" - Egon Spengler
Comments
I know exactly what you mean. The car collection will run here for another 4-5 months, so there is an overlap too. Out of interest, what is the price in South Africa - are you being ripped off a little like us Aussies?
There is not an awful lot to show yet, so that is probably the reason. You can see a lot of pictures on the Facebook page as well as the partwork forum, although a lot of people are actually introducing some modification to make the model look evenmore realistic or to suit their own taste.
It's being sold for R100 per issue. One Pound roughly equals Eleven Rands at the moment, so that works out to £9.09 per issue on a straight exchange basis (compared to £6.99 in the UK).
So yes, a bit of a markup over the UK price, but in the local distributor's defence I suppose they have to factor in things like air freight and currency fluctuations.
In comparison, the JBCC sells here for R120 (= £10.90 at current rates) compared to £7.99 in the UK. With that one the price is printed on the cover of the magazine, so that had to be decided on in advance (back in 2007) as they would be stuck with it for the duration of the partwork - which has turned out to be nearly 3 times as long as initially intended. I think the Rand was weaker back then, so the distributor is reaping the benefit of a stronger currency now, at our expense
A large number of interesting partwork model collections has been released over the last few months (DB5, F1 McLaren, Fighter Collection, Tiger tank etc.) so you would think that the market is being oversaturated and there should be competition between the different manufacturers on the one hand and an incentive from the distributor on the other to entice people to subscribe to more. Strangely, it doesn't seem to work out this way and they prices are higher than you would expect them to be.
I'm curious how much each issue of JBDB5 will cost here, if it comes to the Netherlands. It probably will be about the same price as the JBCC (maybe one euro cheaper), which means I'm glad I've got a UK subscription, that saves me a lot of money on a collection of 85 issues...
6.99 GBP, surely? I'm paying £27.96 per 4 issues.
[edit: apols, I meant the DB5, of course; didn't read the original post properly...]
I need to know, which issue has the same CONTENT as issue 3 from the original TEST RUN!
I never received issue 3 during the test run, as it was out of stock back then. Since the publisher changed the order of the first six issues after the test run, I am not sure which issue to ask for. Issue 3 from the test run (with tyre and weapons console) has become issue 5 in the nationwide run. So what I'd like to know is if they just changed the cover and the parts' order for the nationwide run, or if they switched the order of the entire magazines (including the content, so basically just printing another number on the cover and changing nothing else).
I hope someone can help me out. Many thanks in advance!
Not sure if there are many peope here who subscribed to the test run and still remember what they got back then! You may have to go the the official website, and if you follow the build instructions you will see which parts come with what issue.
I never got the original tyre (no brand) during the test run (as I also didn't get issue 3, with which the tyre originally came), but I did get the replacement tyre (Avon branded) and weapons console when the nationwide run had started. However, no magazine came with this replacement, so I'm still missing the magazine which should come with the tyre and weapons console. Of course, I wish to get the magazine with the same content as the test run issue 3 had.
It's quite easy to check this actually, if two people are willing to help me. If someone on here has the original issue 3 from the test run, and can post the contents of the magazine (e.g. the titles of four or five of the articles), then someone who has subscribed to the nationwide run can check which of the first six issues from the nationwide run has the same contents as issue 3 from the test run (which will almost certainly be issue 3 or 5, but I need to know 100% sure which of these it really is).
Dickiebart, are you saying that it is only tested in SA? Does it mean that people from interstate cannot subscribe? That would be strange, because it is clearly available for subscription on the Bissett Mags website.
I have now received up to issue 7, and have no regrets. It is certainly not a perfect model, but there are no perfect ones. I am a little disappointed with things that I thought would be easy to get right, and amazed by things that I didn't expect to look as good as they do. But it will be really difficult to make any proper assessments until much later, when separate parts and miniprojects can finally be linked together. I would recommend the partwork models website and its forum in particular - you will see plenty of photos there, including modification suggestions, and many different opinions. I have chosen to apply some light modifications to my model, as they are easy to do and there is plenty of time. But even without modifications the model will most likely be very impressive.
Cheers for your rundown on the collection so far. It's going to be a tough decision. I need a lotto win!
You're right. Somehow I never look at the despatch section. Looks like I'm living in a lucky state! I don't get any commission from Fabbri/Bissett, so I'm not going to push the series - I just think that it is one of those cases where you need to follow whatever your heart tells you, with a serious consideration for the brain's opinion too. I have only subscribed because it is "The Most Famous Car in the World". I would not subscribe if it was any other car - Bond or not Bond.
Ive got both...The original No3 came with the tyre & the centre consol, the 1st artical is about filming the DB5, 2nd about Ursula Andress, 3rd the white bikini, 4th & last falling for 007. It then states the bonnet is with No4.
The same contents are in new mag No3, but with the extra artical as Playing Russian Roulette, & the next parts are the engine. Hope this helps.
Im short of the No4 mag, new or old & I have a new & old No3 & 5.
I can't afford for Fabbri to keep taking the money as and when they please. I need to budget for these things and this is just daft.
Is anyone else having this problem with Fabbri? I'm going to e-mail them, just wondered if it was only me of if it's happening to everyone?
I'm paying via Paypal; here's the dates my bank has been debited (by Paypal):
16th Feb
16th March
13th April
11th May
which is exactly the 28 day cycle expected (note it's every 28 days, not monthly)
My payment has been taken 22 days from the previous payment. That makes 3.1 weeks by my reconing.
Same here, if this keeps up, I too are going to have to take steps to stop it, not sure how though...
No, debit card. Wish I'd done it via DD now as I could contact the bank and stop it. 8-) My Debit Card expires the end of July anyway, so if it carries on I'll just not update it!
If they keep doing this I'm gonna cancel any automatic payments and I'll send them a cheque every 28 days!
It's not on though, especially if they're doing to to everyone.
Leijo: I need to know, which issue has the same CONTENT as issue 3 from the original TEST RUN!
I never received issue 3 during the test run, as it was out of stock back then. Since the publisher changed the order of the first six issues after the test run, I am not sure which issue to ask for. Issue 3 from the test run (with tyre and weapons console) has become issue 5 in the nationwide run. So what I'd like to know is if they just changed the cover and the parts' order for the nationwide run, or if they switched the order of the entire magazines (including the content, so basically just printing another number on the cover and changing nothing else).
I hope someone can help me out. Many thanks in advance!
Hi Leijo = re your post above - I too was confused re the initial test run and the current one - GE told me that the test run is different from the "current, correct" one - so if you have the test run magazines, ignore them - at that time it was going to be 75 issues, now its 85 - so the content is different - hope that makes sense !!!!
lei
You're saying I should ignore the test run issues, since they were changed before the nationwide run. So you're telling me I should buy the first six issues again, because they changed the contents? That's just ridiculous! I think GE Fabbri could at least have had the courtesy to send us those first six mags again for free after changing them... (without the parts of course - we got those already, be it in a different order). I'll see what I can do to get all six issues from the nationwide run, but I obviously don't feel like paying for the (almost) same issue twice...
crocke007, I'm thankful for your help, but your answer that the content is different helps me only a tiny bit. I think you still didn't really understand my question, but that's no problem, since spencer50 answered it already. Many thanks for that!
So I will let GE Fabbri know that they need to send me a back issue 3, since that has the same contents as the test run issue 3 (plus a little extra). The parts that came with it were different, but the contents of the magazine didn't change to another issue number along with the parts. That's what I wanted to know all the time.
spencer50, you say that extra articles were added to the magazines for the nationwide run. Could you please specify for all six test run issues on which points the contents differ from the nationwide run? Or maybe just upload a photo of the contents page of each of the issues compared to one another (test run issue 1 next to nationwide issue 1, etc.)? I hope you're willing to do this for me. If so, many thanks in advance!
i must admit I am confused, but when I phoned GE to ask if the initial "test run" is the same as the current "correct" one, they werent too sure either and then sent me replacement issues FREE ( i think they sent me 7 in total !! )
So I would just call them and explain - they shouldn't charge you for replacements !!
or email her on ingridh@dbfactory.co.uk
she's very helpful !
I can scan the mags for you, (except issue No4, never got it) but I think its just a case of them spreading the same articles across the new mags. (If you still want me to do that)
If you do get an answer from GE, please let me know, as Im short of a No4 mag, new or old.
Confused? Im not surprised, I am a little.
So as for scanning the mags: for now it's not neccesary, as I might get them all soon. Many thanks anyway!
To answer your question: I think if you send an e-mail to Ingrid Hedstone (Head of Customer Expereince, ingridh@dbfactory.co.uk), she'll sort you out with a replacement issue 4.
She couldn't have been more blunt if she'd told me to f-off!
I replied cancelling the sub and I got an e-mail back almost instantly saying my sub was cancellend and to thank me for my "valued" custom! Coldn't have been that valued if they weren't willing to sort out the problem I presented them with!
Now I've got to faff about getting the local newsagent to order it. Utter joke! And here was I thinking I'd have trouble with DeAg and the MP4. 8-)