I love Draft Magazine, but they suck!

I love Draft Magazine. It is so cool to have a magazine that caters to Beer. Sure, there have been and still are other magazines that cater to beer. However Draft Magazine seems to be a modern view on today's beer culture. But why is it so hard to get?

The first time I found a copy of it on the shelf, I bought it. Didn't even thumb through it. I just knew I had to have it, and that I was going to love it. And I was right! I read it cover to cover in one night. Then I went back and looked through it countless times.

Then came the hard part, waiting for the next issue. So I signed up for a subscription, and waited. Then I waited some more. Then I waited even more. Then I found the next issue on the shelf at the bookstore. So I bought it. But I wondered why I never received it at home. Maybe the subscription just missed the shipping date. So I was sure I would get the next issue. Nope. It never came.

I signed up and paid for my original subscription in October of 2008. Come March of 2009, still no issues in the mail. I was starting to get a little irritated. So I sent off a bunch of emails trying to find out what the deal was. After a few days, I received an email back letting me know that they had no record of my subscription. That is funny. Because I forwarded them the email with my receipt, and my confirmation number. I forwarded it to them again, and told them that they took the money out of my account. So either way, they owed me money, or a subscription.

A few days after my last email, I received an email informing me that they had found my account. They were sorry, blah, blah, blah. Problem with the distributor, etc. The email said I would start receiving my issues "shortly". And guess what, I received an issue. The January/February issue. I guess all was well.

That issue has been the only issue I have received. I still have yet to get another issue in the mail. What the hell is wrong with them? I wanted to call, or send another email, but I didn't seem to solve the problem the first time. This time, I wanted to talk to them face to face. And that is exactly what I did.

A few weeks ago, Draft Magazine held the Craft Beer Festival. I was there to help pour, and try some amazing beers. However, I was looking to talk to someone about my subscription. When I arrived, I signed in and got mt credentials. Then I asked who I could talk to about my subscription problem. The woman sitting at the registration table said she could help me. She informed me that she was aware of some "issues" with the delivery of the magazines. She said she would help me, and asked that I stop by again at the end of the show so I could give her all my information.

Once the show was over, I made sure that I talked to her again about my subscription. I stopped by her table on my way out, and asked what she could do. She took all my information. My name, address, email, and phone number. She said she was going to get all the outstanding issues and send them to me. I "will get one big bundle of magazines in the mail". She apologized and told me that they were in the process of switching distributors. But she was going to take care of it. She said she was going to send me an email soon letting me know that she took care of it.

That was 2 weeks ago. No email. No magazines. And another issue on the shelf. But no issues in my mail. I just don't get it. What the hell is wrong with them? I love the magazine. I have been to both of their Beerfests. I am trying to support them. But they are not helping.

This isn't over. I am going to get my money back and sign up for a different magazine. So consider this a warning. If you are thinking about signing up for a subscription to Draft Magazine, think long and hard. There are other magazines out there like All About Beer, BEER, Brew Your Own, Celebrator, and Mutineer. I haven't had any problems with them.

-Cheers!