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AMA Video in the Mail - 1/2/2008 3:03:05 PM   
mclina


 

Posts: 679
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Westford, MA, USA
Status: offline 		For a couple of minutes, I was actually very upset that they would send this unsolicited DVD, and expect me to pay for it or mail it back. How dare they?

Well, after I calmed down, I read the letter and there is a bold section which says "We know that you did not ask for this video, so if you do not want to pay for it or send it back, consider it a gift", or something to that effect. That made me feel better.

Then I watched the video. I thought it was pretty good. I was amazed at the B-25 and the Stratoliner. I think I will send them the $9 and see what the next video looks like.

I also think the collectible coins are a great idea. I'm a sucker for that sort of thing.

Good job AMA.

_____________________________

If all of your friends were named Cliff, would you jump off them? - Hugh Neutron
       Post #: 1

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/2/2008 3:47:57 PM   
JohnBuckner



Posts: 3826
Joined: 12/23/2001
From: Kingman, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		The next vidio will be two to three times your nine bucks!

I wonder if this means if the seven dunning letters I got from the original mailing for a year and a half after have finally stopped?

_____________________________

"Keep your controllines tight"

(in reply to mclina)
       Post #: 2

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/2/2008 4:26:36 PM   
mclina


 

Posts: 679
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Westford, MA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnBuckner

The next vidio will be two to three times your nine bucks!



I wondered about the cost of future videos. I read the letter several times and it sounded like all of the videos would be $9, but I could have mis-read it. If they do go up over $20 then I will probably be sending them back. It is always possible that the videos are REALLY good, and I will be happy to pay for them.

I suspect that they will become specialized, and that there will be some I want to keep and others that I have no interest in. As long as they give you the option of returning the ones you don't want, I think it's a good program.

_____________________________

If all of your friends were named Cliff, would you jump off them? - Hugh Neutron

(in reply to JohnBuckner)
       Post #: 3

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 3:07:37 PM   
clouddancer



Posts: 120
Joined: 5/23/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: offline 		Yep, i got one too.

The models in the video were impressive, however, after charging the guys money to fly at AMA HQ. Now they are profiting
by video taping their models and flying. I wonder if any kickbacks are given to the pilots and model owners?

I was not real impressed with the (Tips and Techniques) It was info i knew before i even soloed. I suppose its good for the new guy who hasnt flown before.

Most of the models id already seen before, for free on the internet. I might be interested in future videos if the tips and techniques
were more in depth for experienced modelers. All the tips in the video and much more can be found right here on RCU
or other sites on the internet.

Dose anyone has any sneek peek info on the future videos? If so please post it here, so we can all deside if these videos
will be worth buying.




< Message edited by clouddancer -- 1/3/2008 7:50:16 PM >

_____________________________

(What goes up must come down)
The landing is up to you

(in reply to mclina)
       Post #: 4

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 3:12:03 PM   
Firebird25


 

Posts: 86
Joined: 9/4/2007
From: Utica, NY, USA
Status: offline 		In principle, I do not like organizations [whatever their mission] to send me stuff I have not asked for. If I wanted a video, I would have ordered it. This is an old ploy used by publishers to get rid of their wares to unsuspecting folks. It's along the lines of PCH and the like. Since few people carefully read the text that accompanies the product, they are stuck with the follow-on product for the rest of their natural lives or have to do battle with the organization to stop the flow of dvds or dunning letters. I think it was highly inappropriate to do this.

_____________________________

Rgds,
Herman [AMA 884727 / WWW. MV FIREBIRDS.COM]

(in reply to mclina)
       Post #: 5

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 3:31:42 PM   
mclina


 

Posts: 679
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Westford, MA, USA
Status: offline 		I agree with you, Firebird. I was also pretty upset that they would do this, but after reading the letter I realized that the only way you will get future videos is if you actually pay for video #1.

If you either return video #1, or just keep it and don't pay for it, you should not get any more of them. I certainly hope that they respect their members enough not to try to trap them into buying an ongoing series of something they don't want. I'd hate to see someone's credit ruined because of predatory salesmanship.

My assumption about the price was based on the wording they used in the letter. I don't have it in front of me, but it said something like "keep the first video and pay the 'special member price' of $9.00". Then they said that future videos would be purchased at the "special member price". Since they used the exact same wording, I assumed it would be the same "special member price" each time. It is entirely possible that the "special member price" will not always be the same "special member price".

As for the content of video #1, I agree that the tips were pretty much useless. The hand waving over the LT-40 with vague instructions would be of no use to a beginner, and I don't believe the words "get an experienced pilot to help you" were ever uttered.

I did like the descriptions and flying videos of the large scale planes.

As long as they do not try to force members to pay for something because they didn't read the fine print, and if they can put out videos with entertaining or useful content, I still say it is a good program.

_____________________________

If all of your friends were named Cliff, would you jump off them? - Hugh Neutron

(in reply to Firebird25)
       Post #: 6

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 4:02:07 PM   
Firebird25


 

Posts: 86
Joined: 9/4/2007
From: Utica, NY, USA
Status: offline 		mclina,

Being attuned to this type of thing, I force myself to read all fine print. It turns me off and while I understand what's going on, I don't have to like it.

I get weekly, sometime daily calls or mail from directory companies that want to list my psychotherapy practice "nationwide" no less. Like politics, psychotherapy is "local", so my interest in spending astronomical amounts on listing fees is minimal if not zero. [Only the local yellow pages are useful in my case].

In a previous life, when I ran marketing & sales for a small aerospace company, I had to undo all the contracts that my predecessor had unwittingly[?] entered into with a host of directory companies. {Try to sell /market areospace type temperature sensors to baby food producers!} It took some effort and made me very unhappy.

_____________________________

Rgds,
Herman [AMA 884727 / WWW. MV FIREBIRDS.COM]

(in reply to mclina)
       Post #: 7

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 4:36:08 PM   
JohnBuckner



Posts: 3826
Joined: 12/23/2001
From: Kingman, AZ, USA
Status: offline






Cloud dancer my apologies I think I misread your post so deleted this

John










[/quote]


< Message edited by JohnBuckner -- 1/3/2008 6:53:53 PM >

_____________________________

"Keep your controllines tight"

(in reply to clouddancer)
       Post #: 8

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 5:00:58 PM   
mclina


 

Posts: 679
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Westford, MA, USA
Status: offline 		I apologize for starting this thread. I did not notice that there was already a thread on this topic, started last July. Apparently this program was only new to me.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6074754/tm.htm

This was my first foray into the AMA forum, and I think I'll be sticking to the flying and building forums from now on.

< Message edited by mclina -- 1/3/2008 5:03:47 PM >

_____________________________

If all of your friends were named Cliff, would you jump off them? - Hugh Neutron

(in reply to JohnBuckner)
       Post #: 9

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 5:09:36 PM   
clouddancer



Posts: 120
Joined: 5/23/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: offline 		removed


< Message edited by clouddancer -- 1/3/2008 7:50:31 PM >

_____________________________

(What goes up must come down)
The landing is up to you

(in reply to JohnBuckner)
       Post #: 10

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 7:18:08 PM   
JohnBuckner



Posts: 3826
Joined: 12/23/2001
From: Kingman, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Cloud Dancer I owe you the apologie as I misread your first post and I have deleted my post above.

Just goes to show the anger this ill advised program started with that underhanded production company has caused since its inception about three years ago .

The original letters were a long way off what from what those lastest used are and I have very little doubt that very first letter was rapidly changed when these people began to realise that these shoddy marketing techniques where very, very borderline in breaking federal postal laws.

I am not an AMA hater in fact I am very much pro AMA and in no way aginst the AMA realizing a little added income with various programs however the the shoddy and sleezy techniques used by this vid producer I beleve was and is a big mistake.

Quality of the mechandise is not the question but sending of unordered mechandise will never be acceptable from the AMA even if it is just a contract with some vidio pedlar.


John


_____________________________

"Keep your controllines tight"

(in reply to clouddancer)
       Post #: 11

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 7:31:24 PM   
clouddancer



Posts: 120
Joined: 5/23/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: offline 		JohnBuckner no need to appologise. I erased my post as well, I will be more clear in the future if i quote someone.

I agree that the AMA could do this a better way. I think it would be better, and cheaper to send out a card asking
if you would like to receive a video to veiw,then choose if you want to keep it.

I just recieved the video a couple days ago, so I have not yet received any letter asking for payment.
If i do get a letter like that, i will question them on this, because the letter that came with the video clearly states:
you do not have to participate

< Message edited by clouddancer -- 1/3/2008 7:51:15 PM >

_____________________________

(What goes up must come down)
The landing is up to you

(in reply to JohnBuckner)
       Post #: 12

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 9:12:32 PM   
STLPilot


 

Posts: 9110
Joined: 3/12/2003
From: Manhattan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Guys this is an old marketing strategy, nothing new. For the AMA it's a numbers game. You mail out X and Y decides to keep. Of those Y's that keep, Z's send in payment. It's not much different then when you buy product X and keep Y as your free gift. If you don't like X keep Y as your free gift just for trying. It costs less then $1 to make a DVD and put in the mail. For every 9 sent, is the AMA getting 1 paid for, how about 2? You guys underestimate the AMA, they didn't last 70 years guessing, this is basic marketing stuff. What I can't understand why anyone is pissed at the AMA for at least trying ANYTHING.

_____________________________

Here At The Wall

(in reply to clouddancer)
       Post #: 13

RE: AMA Video in the Mail - 1/3/2008 9:33:41 PM   
ira d


 

Posts: 797
Joined: 5/29/2003
From: Rancho Belago, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Seems like there are a select few that get the video I know I never
have and have only heard a few guys at the club say they got one.

I think a better way for the AMA to do the video would be to put
a card in each M/A magazine that you could send in if you wanted
a video and of course if you didnt like the video you keep it at no cost
to you. Of course anyone who requsted a video and didnt pay for it
would not be eligible to receive another one.

< Message edited by ira d -- 1/3/2008 9:34:42 PM >

_____________________________

Ira d

(in reply to STLPilot)
       Post #: 14