Bonsai Today new issue - Here's my rant...

DJSend

Ok so I'm fairly new to bonsai, i have only posted a few times and hopefully this will be my last rant! Let me first say that the rant to follow is not directed (really) at Bonsai Today but more the mail carriers here and substandard packaging. I have read as much as i could find prior to purchasing my first bonsai 4 years ago. Since then i have found one of the best resources in Bonsai Today. Along with being an amazing resource, my subscription/issues are something i really value and would love to pass on to my kids if they last that long... and if i have kids.

Here's the deal, i try to keep the issues nice but lately each issue i get is damaged. Packaging is torn with tears thru the cover, chunks taken out of the magazine, this issue that just got here (#106) is torn almost thru the cover and even has stains on the tops of the pages. Does anyone else have this problem? Possibly we can convince them to wrap the issues with something more resiliant that a sandwich bag?

That being said, my next comment is this... HOLLY CRAP!!! Finally, the issue i've been waiting for!!! It started to amaze me with all the trees in the competition. My hat is off to everyone involved! Next was the working of the English Yew with Kevin Wilson, hands down my favorite bonsai artist. No offense to anyone else as there are many people that deserve and get that respect from us all but I visit Kevin's web page almost daily to see if there is anything new on there! Next in line was an article on growing pines from seed! This is something i have been reading alot about especially thru B.T's book PINES. it answers so many of my questions but more importantly answers the question i posted as to the color of pine seeds. I can't praise this publication enough and i'm sure this has already been done countless times on this forum but my hope is that someone new to bonsai will read this and subscribe! Thanks for listening... er reading or something.

Cheers

~ J

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Jon Chown

Hi DJ. It's really refreshing to hear that Bonsai Today is still a good learning tool for some people and more particularly for beginners. I guess that it just proves that when you are green, you grow and when you are ripe, you rot.

As to the condition on arrival. I have been receiving them for years and have never experienced any damage on my end. Perhaps you should have a talk to the mail center at your end as they are perhaps the culprit of the damage as they obviously leave Stone Lantern in good condition. Smile at your postie.

Jon

buddhistpine

you should check out bonsai europe,its twice the size of bonsai today,with coffee table quaility pictures,and super informative articles.real instruction pages that break down into photo workshops,as if you were there working with the artist.bonsai today is a good read,but bonsai europe takes it to the next level.more instructional for the serious bonsai hobbyist,where it seems bonsai today tries to catch the newsstand reader and bonsai begenners,not a bad concept,as the hobby/art needs all the newblood it can get,but for the money bonsai europe is the best periodical.check it out!

__________________
me chicken you chicken no bonsai!-john naka

Bruce Winter

Until I sold some recently I had every issue and not one arrived damaged in any way. A few went missing and the publisher sent a second issue. I'd contact them and they might do the same for you.

edgey

Mate send them a message or phone them to ask for some sort explanation as to the damage and then demand a replacement. You pay hard earned for something you expect to get what you paid for. I'm a printer by trade and have been in the industry for 15 years. Most subscriptions I've had where the mag is damaged or non-existant, the publishers are more than happy to acomodate. Besides it gives them info on where stuff ups might be occuring along the production line or in delivery logistics. They want their subscription holders happy or next year you won't re-subscribe, right?

Bonsai Europe is also an excellent magazine and one I've found to be better than BT of late. Will always buy BT (because i'm a bonsai freak) and not knocking BT but when half the mag is ads it doesn't make for the long read. I realise they have to have their income but...
Good luck with them Andrew

DJSend

All, thanks so much for the information on Bonsai Europe! I have just placed my subscription. this is exaclty why i love this website!


Cheers,

~J

bnelson

I received a my first copy of Bonsai Europe a few weeks ago and thought it fantastic. Great resource.

I don't know why it is but I find the magazines out of Europe extremely well done compared to those in the US not only in Bonsai buy also in other areas, photography and computers for sure.

Bill