Comments on: PiQ Magazine Folds http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/ Independent Opinions on Comics of All Kinds Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:56:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: PiQ Subscribers Out of Luck on Refunds? » Comics Worth Reading http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98970 PiQ Subscribers Out of Luck on Refunds? » Comics Worth Reading Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:32:41 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98970 [...] PiQ magazine went defunct in June, subscribers have been asking about how to get their money [...]

[...] PiQ magazine went defunct in June, subscribers have been asking about how to get their money [...]

]]> By: Shisho http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98839 Shisho Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:34:44 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98839 I filed w/Texas Attorney General & Houston BBB against ADV Films as parent company for Newtype/PiQ. ADV did not respond to either. (Class actions have been taken by AGs offices in the past when enough complaints of the right type come through against a company, so maybe the heat could be turned up with everyone piling on.) Complaints w/Attorney General can be filed online: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/ under “Consumer Protection”. Before Houston BBB deleted most of its history for ADV Films a few days ago, the company had unacceptable rating with at least 10 recent unanswered complaints (Not a surprise …). BBB does still show address: as: 5750 Bintliff #210, Houston, 77036. BBB complaints can be filed online from their home page: http://houston.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=148&id=e53c622a-5a6f-4629-bc19-cb6a8bfbca38 (Hope you can paste that one) There’s a time limit on challenging charge card purchases. Since I wasted so much time trusting that ADV would do the right thing, I missed that deadline. Best you can do is try to file, then decide how much more money you want to send ADV’s way through their DVDs and Anime Network subscriptions. I still subscribe to AN but only because there is no other anime channel available. Can’t help but feel that what they’ve done to their loyal, trusting (naïve?) customers will eventually come back to them full force. I filed w/Texas Attorney General & Houston BBB against ADV Films as parent company for Newtype/PiQ. ADV did not respond to either. (Class actions have been taken by AGs offices in the past when enough complaints of the right type come through against a company, so maybe the heat could be turned up with everyone piling on.)

Complaints w/Attorney General can be filed online: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/ under “Consumer Protection”.

Before Houston BBB deleted most of its history for ADV Films a few days ago, the company had unacceptable rating with at least 10 recent unanswered complaints (Not a surprise …). BBB does still show address: as: 5750 Bintliff #210, Houston, 77036. BBB complaints can be filed online from their home page:

http://houston.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=148&id=e53c622a-5a6f-4629-bc19-cb6a8bfbca38 (Hope you can paste that one)

There’s a time limit on challenging charge card purchases. Since I wasted so much time trusting that ADV would do the right thing, I missed that deadline.

Best you can do is try to file, then decide how much more money you want to send ADV’s way through their DVDs and Anime Network subscriptions. I still subscribe to AN but only because there is no other anime channel available. Can’t help but feel that what they’ve done to their loyal, trusting (naïve?) customers will eventually come back to them full force.

]]> By: Erik http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98762 Erik Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:56:49 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98762 Thanks for the help. I paid by check. I will have to check into the BBB though I am gathering if they no longer exist and no longer have offices etc, that it is a mute point by now. Magazines in general seem to be having problems right now which is not to big a surprise with the internet being available. I have a second magazine now that I just found out is going out of business as well. However, they are offering a refund or a choice of around 12-15 other magazines to move the rest of your issues over too. Thanks for the help. I paid by check. I will have to check into the BBB though I am gathering if they no longer exist and no longer have offices etc, that it is a mute point by now. Magazines in general seem to be having problems right now which is not to big a surprise with the internet being available. I have a second magazine now that I just found out is going out of business as well. However, they are offering a refund or a choice of around 12-15 other magazines to move the rest of your issues over too.

]]> By: Robert http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98755 Robert Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:55:08 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98755 @Erik: As far as I know, there is no compensation being offered. Executives at ADV made it clear to me in our final days that there would be no refunds and that there was no intention of offering any other sort of compensation to subscribers. I'd suggest, just as Johanna has, that you take it up with the BBB or with your credit card company. Appealing to ADV directly probably won't get you very far in terms of a refund, but it would let them know how dissatisfied you are with their service (not that they really care anymore). @Erik: As far as I know, there is no compensation being offered. Executives at ADV made it clear to me in our final days that there would be no refunds and that there was no intention of offering any other sort of compensation to subscribers.

I’d suggest, just as Johanna has, that you take it up with the BBB or with your credit card company. Appealing to ADV directly probably won’t get you very far in terms of a refund, but it would let them know how dissatisfied you are with their service (not that they really care anymore).

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98747 Johanna Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:36:04 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98747 I don't know what to tell you. The only people I ever talked with there are either no longer there or no longer responding. You might try the Better Business Bureau, or if you paid by credit card, file a dispute with your card issuer. However, in many cases, if the magazine went under, there are no funds available for refunds. I don’t know what to tell you. The only people I ever talked with there are either no longer there or no longer responding. You might try the Better Business Bureau, or if you paid by credit card, file a dispute with your card issuer. However, in many cases, if the magazine went under, there are no funds available for refunds.

]]> By: Erik http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98738 Erik Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:56:29 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98738 Views aside of PiQ and my disappoint as a replacement for easily the best Anime magazine around, I am wondering if anyone knows or can point me in the right direction of either getting my money back for my expensive subscription or whatever compensation that is now being offered. NewtypeUSA, though they made everything sound like it was the greatest even when that wasn't the case, was still a great source of information for Anime fans. If anyone can help that would be great. I do hope that the people that moved from one magazine to the next have found work and are doing well. Views aside of PiQ and my disappoint as a replacement for easily the best Anime magazine around, I am wondering if anyone knows or can point me in the right direction of either getting my money back for my expensive subscription or whatever compensation that is now being offered. NewtypeUSA, though they made everything sound like it was the greatest even when that wasn’t the case, was still a great source of information for Anime fans. If anyone can help that would be great. I do hope that the people that moved from one magazine to the next have found work and are doing well.

]]> By: Robert http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98168 Robert Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:48:50 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-98168 @Shisho: My sentiments exactly. I hoped that it wouldn't play out that way, but ADV has washed their hands of it all, and the measures you've taken are exactly what I'd recommend to anyone else. @Mistress Sheena: I don't see what's wrong with having the best parts of magazines like the examples you listed all in one single place, and I think in comparison, PiQ was packed with more content. Maybe we didn't have the formula just right, but we were working with each issue to adjust. It sucks that we'll never get to see if a magazine like PiQ could've worked or not. I say that because the reasons for PiQ going away had more to do with the incompetence at ADV than the magazine itself. In the right hands, I think it would probably still be going strong and finding new audiences. And you're right. Newtype USA is dead. I don't think there's a publisher out there in their right mind that would agree to the ridiculous conditions from Kadokawa. @Shisho: My sentiments exactly. I hoped that it wouldn’t play out that way, but ADV has washed their hands of it all, and the measures you’ve taken are exactly what I’d recommend to anyone else.

@Mistress Sheena: I don’t see what’s wrong with having the best parts of magazines like the examples you listed all in one single place, and I think in comparison, PiQ was packed with more content. Maybe we didn’t have the formula just right, but we were working with each issue to adjust. It sucks that we’ll never get to see if a magazine like PiQ could’ve worked or not. I say that because the reasons for PiQ going away had more to do with the incompetence at ADV than the magazine itself. In the right hands, I think it would probably still be going strong and finding new audiences.

And you’re right. Newtype USA is dead. I don’t think there’s a publisher out there in their right mind that would agree to the ridiculous conditions from Kadokawa.

]]> By: Mistress Sheena http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97986 Mistress Sheena Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:34:10 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97986 Also, robert, NewtypeUSA isn't going to be coming back any time soon, unless someone who has a lot of free time and a lot of resources, buys the rights to it. Which I doubt. Also, robert, NewtypeUSA isn’t going to be coming back any time soon, unless someone who has a lot of free time and a lot of resources, buys the rights to it.

Which I doubt.

]]> By: Mistress Sheena http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97985 Mistress Sheena Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:32:48 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97985 Well, yes, the combo is pretty new and hasn't been done before... (I wonder why. =P) The weakness of it is that it spreads itself thin and doesn't give as much information as it could, unless PiQ was really thick. ^_^;;; Well, yes, the combo is pretty new and hasn’t been done before… (I wonder why. =P)

The weakness of it is that it spreads itself thin and doesn’t give as much information as it could, unless PiQ was really thick. ^_^;;;

]]> By: robert torres http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97978 robert torres Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:39:03 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97978 PiQ sucks i wish NewType USA back.! PiQ sucks i wish NewType USA back.!

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97977 Johanna Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:33:51 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97977 I thought the combination of topics was new, that they covered that particular set of items in the proportion that they did. What you see as a flaw, I thought was a strength. I thought the combination of topics was new, that they covered that particular set of items in the proportion that they did. What you see as a flaw, I thought was a strength.

]]> By: Mistress Sheena http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97972 Mistress Sheena Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:32:52 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97972 Well, it wasn't really so much of an argument, as I said the content itself was new. I was just saying that the topics the magazine covered weren't essentially new. Cause some of the other comments stated that the magazine brought new things to the table, which, technically... it didn't. ^^; I dunno. The magazine wasn't essentially bad, persay. It just covered too many topics at once. I mean.. it wasn't even a viable replacement to NewType, even though it was advertised as such. I think if the mag stuck to one genre, it may have done better. I'm not entirely sure. It's just my opinion. Well, it wasn’t really so much of an argument, as I said the content itself was new. I was just saying that the topics the magazine covered weren’t essentially new.

Cause some of the other comments stated that the magazine brought new things to the table, which, technically… it didn’t. ^^;

I dunno. The magazine wasn’t essentially bad, persay. It just covered too many topics at once. I mean.. it wasn’t even a viable replacement to NewType, even though it was advertised as such.

I think if the mag stuck to one genre, it may have done better. I’m not entirely sure. It’s just my opinion.

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97965 Johanna Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:20:34 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97965 By that argument, nothing is ever new. By that argument, nothing is ever new.

]]> By: Mistress Sheena http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97963 Mistress Sheena Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:22:03 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97963 Yeah... PiQ isn't anything new, contrary to what people believe. It's just a rehash of all other existing magazines. Think about it. TV/Movies = Entertainment Weekly Anime/Manga = Anime Insider/Newtype JPN/Otaku USA/Shounen Jump/Shoujo Beat Video Games = Play/Game Informer/EGM/edge/games/PSM Hmm... Yeah, PiQ had new content, but it was about pre-existing stuff. It's.. not really new. It's just an illusion of being new. =P I'm a writer myself, so fellow writers getting the sack is really disheartening, but I'm sure you can find a spot in entertainment weekly or any other magazine that you can find. Yeah… PiQ isn’t anything new, contrary to what people believe.

It’s just a rehash of all other existing magazines. Think about it.

TV/Movies = Entertainment Weekly

Anime/Manga = Anime Insider/Newtype JPN/Otaku USA/Shounen Jump/Shoujo Beat

Video Games = Play/Game Informer/EGM/edge/games/PSM

Hmm… Yeah, PiQ had new content, but it was about pre-existing stuff. It’s.. not really new. It’s just an illusion of being new. =P

I’m a writer myself, so fellow writers getting the sack is really disheartening, but I’m sure you can find a spot in entertainment weekly or any other magazine that you can find.

]]> By: Shisho http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97894 Shisho Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:11:33 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97894 To all who are waiting for a refund . . . my sympathy. ADV owes me $82. Calls to subscription center in NJ, ADVHouston offices, e-mails to both got nothing. July complaint filed with Texas Attorney Gen & Houston BBB still waiting for response.Pretty arrogant for company still asking the anime fan base to buy its products.Very least even a failing company could do it respond to the people who supported it. To all who are waiting for a refund . . . my sympathy. ADV owes me $82. Calls to subscription center in NJ, ADVHouston offices, e-mails to both got nothing. July complaint filed with Texas Attorney Gen & Houston BBB still waiting for response.Pretty arrogant for company still asking the anime fan base to buy its products.Very least even a failing company could do it respond to the people who supported it.

]]> By: Yuki http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97877 Yuki Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:35:55 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97877 ...So how in the hell do we get our money back? I had a year's subscription left. …So how in the hell do we get our money back? I had a year’s subscription left.

]]> By: Dea http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97625 Dea Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:27:20 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97625 I only discovered this magazine yesterday! Sad news. I wish you all the best with future writing endeavours. D I only discovered this magazine yesterday!

Sad news.

I wish you all the best with future writing endeavours.

D

]]> By: Matt Haggard http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97193 Matt Haggard Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:38:21 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97193 I find it very compelling to laugh and dance on that horrible magazine's grave. I too have been screwed out of my money by ADV. I have nothing nice to say about it all. I find it very compelling to laugh and dance on that horrible magazine’s grave. I too have been screwed out of my money by ADV. I have nothing nice to say about it all.

]]> By: Reader http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97113 Reader Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:13:13 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-97113 So, does anybody know how I can get my money back? They owe me for about 5 months worth of magazines. So, does anybody know how I can get my money back? They owe me for about 5 months worth of magazines.

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-96803 Johanna Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:50:14 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/06/13/piq-magazine-folds/#comment-96803 I don't find it very compelling to hear "you get what you deserve" from people eager to dance on the grave of something other people enjoyed. I liked PiQ (or I wouldn't have written for it), and I didn't care for Newtype (no interest). You felt the opposite. I'm sorry you lost something, but I would think that would make you sympathetic to those who are now going through the same thing instead of saying "ha ha". Regarding your last sentence, a saying about twigs and logs in eyes comes to mind. I don’t find it very compelling to hear “you get what you deserve” from people eager to dance on the grave of something other people enjoyed. I liked PiQ (or I wouldn’t have written for it), and I didn’t care for Newtype (no interest). You felt the opposite. I’m sorry you lost something, but I would think that would make you sympathetic to those who are now going through the same thing instead of saying “ha ha”. Regarding your last sentence, a saying about twigs and logs in eyes comes to mind.

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