Crappie world

[Sandwich Maker]

I guess I'm one of the few people who hasn't had issues with Crappie World. Just have to remember that they don't publish every month. I read the letter the new owner had in the latest issue, maybe some of the past problems will be solved. There's just so many articles you can write about crappie fishing, but I'm a junkie and still like to read them. Biggest pain I've had through the years is the card they put in every issue making you think your subscription was fixing to run out, kinda smelled like a scam, I just never paid attention to them. A few times my subscription ran out, just re-upped it. I also take Crappie Angler from Grizzley, good mag.

You can type in "crappie articles" on Google and read until you get tired. Some good stuff out there for free.

[James Scott]

The "so called " new owner is the forme rcustomer service manager and has been with Crappie World for 12 years. I would expect it to be " poor business practices as usual ". Just a change of ownership name to nutralize a very bad past that was leading to federal postal investigations perhaps? Do a search on crappie.com and you will find a mountain of complaints against Crappie World. Have a subscription problem with them ? File a complaint with the U.S. Postal Service.

[braduhl]

The "so called " new owner is the forme rcustomer service manager and has been with Crappie World for 12 years. I would expect it to be " poor business practices as usual ". Just a change of ownership name to nutralize a very bad past that was leading to federal postal investigations perhaps? Do a search on crappie.com and you will find a mountain of complaints against Crappie World. Have a subscription problem with them ? File a complaint with the U.S. Postal Service.

Hey James,

Its so much more than "SO CALLED" new owner. I am not even taking a salary just to get this magazine out. The last owners didnt publish a winter issue, so the Spring issue I put out was my first, and the first in over 7 months. I could have walked away and let the magazines go, but I stepped up and took on the mountain of debt with it, and decided to fulfill current subscriptions, which I didnt have to do. I have worked 18 hour consecutive days, ALONE, to get this magazine to the printer. I took in everything complaint wise that I had heard over the years and tried to correct that. Mailings of the magazine being one of them. I built this magazine from scratch, by myself, to get it out on the newsstand and in the mail to the subscribers.

I promise you there are no FEDERAL POSTAL INVESTIGATIONS. You will find a mountain of complaints, but how many times has someone stepped up to take them on? I am here. Have a complaint? Call me. 918-364-4210 or on my dime, 800-554-1999, [email protected]

I will make this magazine great again. I was here when it was, lucky for you.

Thank you, - BU

[Timberwolf]

Other than delivery times of the magazine, I have had no issues with Crappie World. In fact, when I started crappie fishing, the magazine helped me learn many new tips, tricks, and techniques that put more fish in the livewell.

Best of luck Brad. I am looking forward to the next issue.

[braduhl]

Other than delivery times of the magazine, I have had no issues with Crappie World. In fact, when I started crappie fishing, the magazine helped me learn many new tips, tricks, and techniques that put more fish in the livewell.

Best of luck Brad. I am looking forward to the next issue.

Thank you!,

I am looking forward to the next issue as well! It is exciting! I just ask that all subscribers remember, this is a quarterly publication, 4 times per year, sometimes with a special panfish issue making it 5. I hope to get back there soon, but 4 issues for 2012.

Thank you! -BU

[Donald@CrappieLogic]

great magazine i just buy mine at wall mart

[James Scott]

Dear Brad Uhl,

I commend you for taking up a defensive position in regards to Crappie World. I hope you succeed in your endevor to turn this dying minnow into a ten pound crappie. Taking on a publication with a poor rep and dept plus an experienced new compeditor publication in the background, is a monumental task. I will have to pray for you.
My first question to you is this........why in the last 15 years of employ with them, had you done nothing to help them from slipping into a tainted reputation and ignoring your customers complaints ?
Your present 65 page issue is basically 40 pages of ads and little information an angler would regard as interesting or new. I am sure that is also due to dept. If your writers do not get paid, you are on a downhill slope. I hope that is not also the case ?
Why did you not take the opportunity to divorce yourself from the previous ownership by adding a bright addition to your upper left of your publication name saying " The New " or " Under new management " ???? I would have made darn well sure that word was out......BIGTIME ! That's an open message to formerer readers who would have ignored it on the news stands !!
I personally would have contacted every crappie guide service, explained my plans and delema's and begged for tips and articles from REAL " top notch " anglers. You can only print so many "manufactured " articles done by professional writers. People today are wise to seeing the same thing written differently , time after time. I would bet money , many readers would love to help supply you with materail to help you get on your feet.
I will tell you right now....when the previous owners sent me post cards year after year stateing my free promo gifts were on back order AND NEVER DELIVERING UNTIL BEING THREATENED, it amazed me to think how arrogant and insulting they were customers ! They say ignorance is bliss.... I wonder what catagory of complaint this would be concidered
by the U. S Postal service ?.........Not sending out magazines after being paid.....hummmmm ! ! You must understand what you are up against as a new owner. I would like nothing more than to see you become a Phoeonix in these super tuff times.
Years ago Crappie World was my favorite publication, perhaps it will happen again ? If you are really sincere, then I and many others who read this are truely rooting for you to be a success. It's because we are passionate about crappie angling and everyone likes a good success story. If all else fails, at least you can sell your readership list to Crappie Angler Magazine. God bless.

Best-O-Luck

James L Scott

[braduhl]

James,

I will try to answer these all one by one. If I miss something, please do feel free to add more.

#1. why in the last 15 years of employ with them, had you done nothing to help them from slipping into a tainted reputation and ignoring your customers complaints ?
A: I have been here 12 years, 15 in the industry itself. I did what I could. I helped a ton of people, and surely passed the word on to the proper people, following the chain of command. I wasn't the boss. I was not the owner. You own a publishing company, and your publishing 8 different magazine titles, I am just a pe-on customer service manager. Bottom of the food chain. The owners at that time were golfers that owned some fishing publications. I fixed many problems, but I couldn't fix them all. Just like now, I know its impossible to please EVERY subscriber. But I would like to get that number into the positive. But those experiences taught me what I need to know today to make this sucessful.

#2. Your present 65 page issue is basically 40 pages of ads and little information an angler would regard as interesting or new. I am sure that is also due to dept. If your writers do not get paid, you are on a downhill slope. I hope that is not also the case ?
A. First, it is 68 pages. It is actually 38% ad, 62% Editorial. Every issue you must file with the post office before mailing, ad% to base postage on. (another reason I know there is no Federal postal investigations for non delivery) Industry standard is 60% ad 40% editorial, and I will never go over 50/50. You are looking at the "WHATS HOT" section as advertising. NONE of those people paid. Although that is a great idea. That is whats hot and whats new for the spring in the fishing industry. Just like a fashion magazine would run new clothes fashions in the spring. Yes some writers are still owed money from when I purchased, but all have been contacted and direct contact has been made. They will be paid with-in the next 2 months. (no, I don't think its yours or the Crappie Worlds public information or business, but like I told you in the beginning, I am up front.) I wont ask how much money you owe places.

#3. Why did you not take the opportunity to divorce yourself from the previous ownership by adding a bright addition to your upper left of your publication name saying " The New " or " Under new management " ???? I would have made darn well sure that word was out......BIGTIME ! That's an open message to formerer readers who would have ignored it on the news stands !!
A: I had to get a magazine out. It had been 7 months. On the cover I did some research, and I don't believe at that time, it was good timing. Being on the newsstands after such a long drought was good enough. For marketing reasons I couldn't take away from the message on the cover. I did place a letter from the editor in the magazine, explaining why it had been so long. Word is out, on Jan 3, I was getting calls from subscribers, from advertisers, as well as others saying now is the time to turn this around. When an advertiser calls and says "I will advertise with you now, because I would never do business with the previous owners again" that is saying a lot. Word was out, and very quickly.

#4.I personally would have contacted every crappie guide service, explained my plans and delema's and begged for tips and articles from REAL " top notch " anglers. You can only print so many "manufactured " articles done by professional writers. People today are wise to seeing the same thing written differently , time after time. I would bet money , many readers would love to help supply you with materail to help you get on your feet.
A: I wish I could say that you beat me to that Idea. That is what the Cover and Lifetime subscription is all about. You submit your story, photos, tips tricks, and it will be published. Pro or amature, you can have your story in the magazine. Good enough, and you could be on the cover. Your right, you can only print the same story so many times. On the other hand, reading it from different points of views and writers make anglers fish differently. I am open to all stories. Mail them in. CRAPPIE WORLD, 12818 S Memorial Dr., #100 Bixby, OK 74008. Send photos, tell me about your catch, what works, and how you can help and teach others to catch more fish as well.

#,5,6,&7 maybe 8 - I will tell you right now....when the previous owners sent me post cards year after year stateing my free promo gifts were on back order AND NEVER DELIVERING UNTIL BEING THREATENED, it amazed me to think how arrogant and insulting they were customers ! They say ignorance is bliss.... I wonder what catagory of complaint this would be concidered by the U. S Postal service ?.........Not sending out magazines after being paid.....hummmmm ! ! You must understand what you are up against as a new owner. I would like nothing more than to see you become a Phoeonix in these super tuff times.
A: I can not control what they did in the past. I know I personally mailed out many jig packs, back issues, and other products to subscribers. I know the frustration level, I understand. I can not control the postal service on delivering every magazine either. I do know where one person never recieved an issue, and the delivery man was keeping it. I know and you need to know I CAN NOT CONTROL what was in the past. I am however controlling the present. The last issue was mailed, and delivered sucessfully to all subscribers. It in on the newsstands now, and I added 350 more walmarts nationwide. I do know what I am up against as new owner, but I also know what this magazine can be, when done correctly. Support me or don't but the changes are coming to Crappie World, in every issue. From delivery to quality, from little things to big, I am working everyday, really for free, to get this done. Crappie Angler Magazine is nice, but its not CRAPPIE WORLD. Just as BASSMASTERS is nice, but its not BASSIN'

If you have other questions or concerns, please feel free to let me know. Hope this answered everything you needed to know.

BU

[wallrat]

I'm rooting for you Brad. I read Crappie World and Bassin' as a kid and a few times since then. I took a 7 year leave from fishing when I moved from Oklahoma to California as my career was taking all my time. Now that I'm back on the lakes, I submitted my lifetime subscription. I did receive my Bassin' tackle promo pack and am happy with what I received. It arrived 10 days after placing my order, very quick!

Good luck to you and please reach out to us if we can help in any way. I would love to have another great Crappie mag to read!

-Bill

[braduhl]

Thank you Bill! I appreciate your support! I am glad that you enjoyed the tackle you have received. My biggest issue with that is all the people that thought they wouldn't receive it. I am here for the readers, and sending this out as advertised is exactly what I am doing. Thank you, and submit pictures and stories so I can get you in the magazines!

BRAD