Rodder's Journal magazine

[bobthehobbyguy]

At the end of last year issue 86 was announced.

I tried to see what was going on but the website is gone. They have a Facebook page but I don't do Facebook.

Anyone know what going on with them?

[stitchdup]

I believe Pat Ganahl was quite involved with the magazine so I expect his passing has delayed things sadly

[Phirewriter]

Despite the unfortunate passing of Mr Ganahl I still don't believe TRJ has their stuff in order or have any intention of filling previously paid for orders or subscriptions. I paid for a subscription, books and some other items almost 6 months before the problems. Due my high hopes for the publication making good I unfortunately waited too long to open a dispute with my CC and am out money with no explanation or effort to make things right. I have every issue up to 82 and am not expecting to have issues moving forward. I forwarded the issues to our States Attorney General as a mail fraud issue and learned from other people from local car clubs who are in the same situation. It seems those "good folks" at TRJ screwed them as well. If you've received your issues to present, good for you. As far as I'm concerned they're crooks and will not get any more of my hard earned money regardless if they keep going. I also don't want to hear any excuses pointing to the pandemic being the root cause since everything else I've ordered before and during have been received from numerous companies.

If you can take money you'd darn well better make good on it. 

[Skip]

This has been discussed over on the H.A.M.B. pretty extensively. In my opinion, it all boils down to the fact that when TRJ moved their H.Q. back east that they overextended themselves on the move, add the whole pandemic and Pat Gahnahl's untimely death on top of it all, a recipe for business disaster is the end result.  If anyone was paying attention to the "handwriting on the wall", when TRJ began selling off all their back issues at greatly reduced prices after the move, (I did get some needed issues to fill holes in my collection). Hindsight being 20/20 I figure that TRJ was getting the needed capital to have their overseas (China) publisher bring issue #85 / #86 to be published.

Personally, I don't ever expect to see another issue of TRJ, I had extended my subscription just before they moved their H.Q. east and almost immediately the white heavy duty TRJ mailing envelopes stopped coming on time. I've had the same thing happen with two other magazines about the same time, both of which had the decency to inform me; "Due to circumstances beyond our control, this is the last issue". In other words, they filed for bankruptcy, end of story.

I pretty much figure that TRJ has done the same thing in order to separate the ownership from the debt of the TRJ corporation. That being the case, I sincerely doubt that any of us will ever see a dime refunded on our outstanding subscriptions or see another TRJ in the mailbox. That is unless it's an overpriced back issue off of eBay! A lot of businesses failed due to the government business closures and "stay at home" orders, TRJ is likely just another one on the big heap. If TRJ has exercised their legal remedy to dissolution of the corporation, which in all likelihood is what has happened, (lack of a web presence is an indicator of that). If so, there is probably not a whole lot that anyone's state AG can do to remedy the situation or return any of the subscriber's money.

[Mark]

Latest info on the HAMB (thread about HOT ROD soon going quarterly) is that the next issue of Rodders' Journal is currently at the printer.

[Skip]

1 hour ago, Mark said:

Latest info on the HAMB (thread about HOT ROD soon going quarterly) is that the next issue of Rodders' Journal is currently at the printer.

I hope so, but I'm not holding my breath either!

[bobthehobbyguy]

3 hours ago, Skip said:

This has been discussed over on the H.A.M.B. pretty extensively. In my opinion, it all boils down to the fact that when TRJ moved their H.Q. back east that they overextended themselves on the move, add the whole pandemic and Pat Gahnahl's untimely death on top of it all, a recipe for business disaster is the end result.  If anyone was paying attention to the "handwriting on the wall", when TRJ began selling off all their back issues at greatly reduced prices after the move, (I did get some needed issues to fill holes in my collection). Hindsight being 20/20 I figure that TRJ was getting the needed capital to have their overseas (China) publisher bring issue #85 / #86 to be published.

I pretty much figure that TRJ has done the same thing in order to separate the ownership from the debt of the TRJ corporation. That being the case, I sincerely doubt that any of us will ever see a dime refunded on our outstanding subscriptions or see another TRJ in the mailbox. That is unless it's an overpriced back issue off of eBay! A lot of businesses failed due to the government business closures and "stay at home" orders, TRJ is likely just another one on the big heap. If TRJ has exercised their legal remedy to dissolution of the corporation, which in all likelihood is what has happened, (lack of a web presence is an indicator of that). If so, there is probably not a whole lot that anyone's state AG can do to remedy the situation or return any of the subscriber's money.

I agree. I think they just had a bad run of events. I think magazines were hit the hardest. Several issues with little or no newsstand revenue. In addition if they were shipped they weren't returned they were destroyed. In addition I believe there was one shipment of magazines for overseas that was lost. Doubt there was insurance to cover those loses.

I seriously doubt that their intent was to cheat anybody as the magazine had been doing really well.

Hopefully there is an issue in the works. They produced a great magazine.

[Phirewriter]

2 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

I seriously doubt that their intent was to cheat anybody as the magazine had been doing really well.

Actually the move back east was due to the high cost of doing business in the People's Republic of California. By their own admission on the HAMB back in 2019 in believe they indicated they were struggling. First they pushed the lifetime subscription fiasco, then stopped retail sales and went back to a subscription only business model. That's when I ponied up for a 2 year subscription, also ordered a number of books and other swag. Never saw a thing, this was well before Covid and after a few months of calling and emails the contact info was dropped from any web presence and the phones shut down. Call it what you will but when you take money and don't send product and refuse to even respond to customer concerns, that's basically thievery. I love the magazine and treasure my collection but as far as I'm concerned I hope they get what's coming to them. Done with excuses and those who tell everyone to suck it because they had issues (especially a bunch of fools on the HAMB), just drop it and hopefully you'll have the opportunity to throw more $ at them or down the toilet, same difference. 

I've had issues with small purchases from various vendors over the years and always have had them resolved. The time I spend over $500 I get bent over, thanks TRJ. 

Edited November 23, 2023 by Phirewriter