Hemmings cans Sport & Exotic Car magazine

Kinja'd!!! by "Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
Published 03/19/2017 at 20:30

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STARS: 5


They are saying the business model no longer works and after 12 years of growth for the highly loved publication that it still isn’t getting it. What really irritates me is they think that instead of reading about foreign and sports cars of all origins from many prior generations that I want my future issues sent to me as Hemmings Classic Car. If I’d wanted to read about antique cars and cars just up until the muscle cars era then I would have subscribed to that. I don’t have the money to restore a 1940's Packard, something in the 60-90s foreign imports or US sports cars are more affordable to the average guy. You’d think the number of guys who are interested in that very old US iron would be fading away or will be soon. I feel they will have just cut off what could be a future market for their publications. Oh well, now I have to call them on a weekday and beg for a refund. What BS. Hopefully our web buddy Road & Track can pick up some more subscribers for their print publication or maybe snag some talent that Hemmings lets go.

Kinja'd!!!


Replies (16)

Kinja'd!!! "xyzabc" (stackofoldwood)
03/19/2017 at 20:39, STARS: 1

The publishing / magazine business is brutal. Think a web / app offering the same info would better match how folks “read stuff”. More cost effective, enable quicker updates and the all important user interaction / tracking / ad data.

Mail is nice, but after a while it’s like old National Geographic magazines...with each issue loaded with great articles, info and photos ( ...no jokes, please ), but they stack-up and take room. And after a while...

Kinja'd!!! "Andrew Pascarella" (racedinanger)
03/19/2017 at 20:48, STARS: 1

Lame, but the publishing industry isn’t great.

Kinja'd!!! "Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
03/19/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 1

And Hemmings main web site hasn’t followed the model of many online publications. They have the focus on the collectors auctions and its not catering with many current news and articles for the online readers like Road & Track, Car & Driver, etc. You can go to many places to look at cars up for sale or in auctions. Bring a Trailer comes to mind. I just wonder how long Hemming’s remaining magazines can continue to sell without drawing in customers through varied forms of media. Top Gear magazine still thrives because of the show and its web presence. I have the feeling that Hemmings needs to adjust the website format if they want to continue selling magazines at all. Since many of the Hemmings collectors car customers are older they need to focus on the future instead of just doing what has worked in the past.

Kinja'd!!! "Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
03/19/2017 at 21:02, STARS: 0

Definitely an industry in decline.

Kinja'd!!! "Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
03/19/2017 at 21:08, STARS: 2

Well that sucks. This is one of the few car mags I still read, probably the only one I actually pay for. I picked up an issue a couple of weeks ago and was just about to renew. $12 for a year? How could I say no? Well, ceasing publication would do it...

Kinja'd!!! "Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
03/19/2017 at 21:15, STARS: 1

That’s a bummer. Although I subscribe to Muscle Machines and I’m not sure if I’ll renew that or not. I’m tired of reading about every low mile find, or making sure you chassis paint marks are perfect. That stuff just doesn’t interest me.

Kinja'd!!! "415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
03/19/2017 at 21:20, STARS: 1

One thing is for sure, whoever made that cover is awesome.

Kinja'd!!! "SirDrivesAlot (now with hybrid powerrrr)" (jmstanley)
03/19/2017 at 21:45, STARS: 1

I’m not happy about it either. Not interested in their Classic Car mag so I will be joining you in calling for a refund.

Kinja'd!!! "someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/19/2017 at 23:28, STARS: 1

Yep a sad end to Analog Oppo. I get a lot of car magazines, but Sport and Exotic Car is one of the few I’d start to read on the way back from the mailbox. Hope the folks there land on their feet - a lot of good writers, photographers and columnists. I get your beef about Classic Car, it’s really focused on American iron, pre-75. It’s a well put together magazine, but just not my thing - I tried it and let my subscription lapse. I’ll have to call about a refund this week too.

If you’re looking for a good replacement, Classic and Sports Car out of the U.K. is excellent, and current exchange rates mean a subscription is pretty reasonable. They cover a wide swath of cars, but do have good coverage of more modern and affordable cars.

Kinja'd!!! "someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/19/2017 at 23:30, STARS: 1

Yeah it’s a real bummer - get Classic and Sports Car, it’s a lot more (like $4 an issue) but it’s well worth it if you liked Sports and Exotic Car.

Kinja'd!!! "Tazio, Count Fouroff" (tazio0625)
03/20/2017 at 02:22, STARS: 1

Sounds like their business model is gonna age out, just like their main demo

It’s a shame

Kinja'd!!! "Jerry Harding" (jerrylh3)
03/20/2017 at 16:55, STARS: 0

This was by far my favorite print publication of the past decade. I was very dismayed to read the included letter with the last issue. I will be calling for a partial refund as well because the subject of only American cars up to the 1960s does not interest me at all. They’d be wasting their time because they would just go unread and end up in the trash. I felt like Hemmings Sports & Exotic was the perfect magazine for the average auto enthusiast who liked a little bit of everything.

I’ll raise my glass for Hemmings Sports & Exotic tonight.

Kinja'd!!! "Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
03/20/2017 at 19:36, STARS: 0

I couldn’t have said it better. It was so well done and now its over. I’m saddened by it.

Kinja'd!!! "SirDrivesAlot (now with hybrid powerrrr)" (jmstanley)
03/21/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 0

Called and arranged for my refund today. No hassles (other than being on hold for about 10 mins). I had forgotten I had re upped my subscription for 2 years.... so a refund for 22 issues will be on its way.......

Kinja'd!!! "Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
03/21/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0

Got mine handled yesterday. In about 3 months I’ll get a check that might be enough for me to buy a taco. I’m looking into subscribing to Octane, its a nice magazine too with some like content. I’d bought it before at book stores but never subscribed. I think its the closest in format to what Sport & Exotic had.

Kinja'd!!! "SirDrivesAlot (now with hybrid powerrrr)" (jmstanley)
03/21/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 0

Back when we had a Barnes & Noble nearby I used to get an occasional copy of Octane and/or EVO from them. Octane is a good mag, never have gotten around to subscribing. Maybe with the refund from Hemmings......hmmm.