Firehouse Rip-off

[Jake295885]

The September issue is the weakest I have ever read. Very little information. I have been a subscriber since the first issue in Sept 1975. What was once a well rounded magazine has become very weak. Have you gotten rid of your writters to enhance your profit margine. I for one will not be re-newing my subscription unless you make some changes quickly.

[FFD#35]

I agree Jake,

I was talking with some shift partners just two days ago about how this last issue was not worth reading. I was wondering if they had some personel changes or just had a lot of people on vacation. It certainly was not what we have been used to.

[Phred]

Yes, the MagTeam seems to have the occasional "off" month. They seem to run several really great issues - ones where you just can't put the durn magazine down; then, like has been said, along comes a real dud.

But then... have you ever organized a drill that you thought was going to really thrill the troops, but instead put everyone to sleep in the first 10 minutes? I'm glad it's not my job to fill up a hundred pages with meaningful content that needs to please thousands of (critical) readers - and do it every month! Scares me to think about it.

Maybe the MagTeam doesn't do such a bad job after all? Keep up the usually great work; we'll still read the next issue!

[Truckie from Missouri]

Maybe they all thought the ad on page 51 would be so great that the rest wouldn't matter? Well, it's great alrighty, a great pile of crap!

Ken

[Jake295885]

You guys have hit it right on the mark..........These gutless bozos who run this rag have never put their neck on the line for anything......I for one am sick of full duty COWARDS who seem to be increasing in numbers each year on our job......What do you guys think? To try to make money on the deaths of six heroic brothers is a sin...........Lets boycott anything made by flexlite Inc. Low life bastards

[SIGNAL99.COM]

Don't blame Firehouse Magazine regarding the LiteLine 360 ad on page 51 (September 2000) issue of Firehouse Magazine. People should be blaming LiteLine! They paid Firehouse Magazine for a full page ad. Although it's a sick way to advertise their product, I don't blame Firehouse for printing it. Freedom of speech, and if I paid Firehouse Magazine hundreds for a full page ad, I wouldn't want them editing my work either!

As for LiteLine, I wouldn't by a flash light battery from them. They are using firefighter deaths to boost their sales. That is an awful way to advertise a product!

I can't wait until Friday when I arrive in Worcester for their 3 day seminar. I plan on asking their firefighters what they think about this ad. It's sad that a company involved in selling to the fire service would do something this low.

------------------
Lt. Chris Shields
Webmaster
Onondaga County Fire

[Robert Cobb]

A week ago over 1,200 FF's from 37 States and 2 Canadian Provinces arrived in Worcester, Ma for a Safety & Training Seminar. A large portion of the success is due to the fantastic support of Editor in Chief Harvey Eisner and the staff of Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.Com. You see when I went to the Worcester FD with an idea about having a seminar to raise money for a memorial for our six brothers we envisioned one or two hundred FF's attending. As the word spread through the fire service grape vine I started to get inquiries from all over the country about helping with the seminar. The only fire magazine, or fire service publication for that matter to contact me was Firehouse Magazine! They simply asked, "What can we Do?". What they did was bring the Worcester Fire & Safety Seminar to the attention of every firefighter in the U.S. FH asked for nothing in return. Even as I walked through the vendor area at the seminar not one other fire service magazine or publication was there except for Firehouse.
As for the deplorable and distasteful advertisement in the Sept. issue, obliviously it shouldn't have been there. It concerned me because it came on the heels of the seminar, but having worked with the Worcester FF's Union for several months, I know it did not change the high regard they have for Firehouse and Editor in Chief Harvey Esiner. As I talked to hundreds of firefighters from all over the country last weekend many of them asked how the Worcester FF's and myself could put together such a terrific learning experience in five months, "Easy get Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com on your side".
Battalion Chief
Robert Cobb
Jersey City FD

[RDWFIRE]

What is the problem? A magazine (of any type) is a business. Some months it is great, others it is not. Advertising mistakes should not turn you away from Firehouse. Jake, what does your name calling accomplish? Firehouse has owned their mistake. Dennis Smith put his life into this "rag" as you call it. I too have been with this magazine since the original issue, and I will continue to subscribe. Rather than stop subscribing, send a letter (forum) to Firehouse. Maybe they will listen.

Be safe. The dragon Lurks!!!

[This message has been edited by RDWFIRE (edited October 01, 2000).]