The cards, both Gummie and the promos, in each issue are produced and donated by the card companies. If promos are what you want, and if *good* promos are what you want, then write to each company encouraging them to support the hobby and make promos for NSU to offer. When NSU doesn't offer promos, it's cause the companies didn't give them any, how is that NSU's fault? If NSU produced promos, sure, be upset at them, but NSU doesn't, the comapny does and if they make them and are willing to give them to NSU, we get promos. So, it's THEIR (the companies) support of the hobby you need to encourage.

Also, now that I'm more awake...
I should note that Harris absolutely requested our opinion on the promos and by all means, we shoud be honest. I guess my point was there has to be a balance between not liking it and phrasing it so that it isn't too harsh...
My opinion, I didn't like it...not cause of what it WAS, but cause it's not Trek and I don't like anything that's not Trek regardles of what it is or how good it may be..wahahahaha...it's a sickness...;) (that same card comapny made two AWESOME Trek Parody cards I happily snatched up)

Get a rope,it's hangin time! Now, those are harsh words. Equally, "upset" does not apply. This is business, not personal.
Sole responsibility for promoting the hobby rest solely with the professions. NSU now has ample feedback to conclude that promos are important to customers. NSU can dismiss it or they raise the standard, commit the extra time and resources, plan ahead, and adopt a no excuses policy to make certain that promos are available. Don't wait for customers to write or call companies, that is our(NSU) job. Why, because our customers are #1. It is not NSU's fault, it is their opportunity. Feedback is a tool to make a better future. Harris and his staff are professionals. I'm confident they will use this tool to make 2001 and beyond GREAT!

Xtime: While I agree with some of your opinions, I can't say that I agree with your statement "NSU can dismiss it or they raise the standard, commit the extra time and resources, plan ahead, and adopt a no excuses policy to make certain that promos are available. "

That's just crazy. Obviously, we know our readers value the promotional cards we insert. It cost us a good deal each issue to insert these and if we did not feel they were valued, we'd stop. But how can we (or anyone) "plan ahead"? We don't make the manufacturer's schedule, nor do we print the cards ourselves. So what would you have us do? Hold promos for a time when there are none. Don't you think people would be all over us if we inserted 1998 promos into one of our 2001 issues?

If I may dip a toe into this increasingly turbulent pool!
Promo's and Gummie cards are both produced and paid for by card manufacturers. They are (I suspect, though I'm sure Harris will correct me if I'm wrong) supplied to NSU free of charge as a promotional item (hence 'Promo'!) This means that, although NSU might be able to make a request for a particular card, they cannot insist, nor can they plan. They are at the mercy of the Card company and cannot complain is they are 'let down' - if NSU does complain, they risk losing advertising revenue - this could threaten the production of the magazine itself.
As we all know, card companies are often forced to change their release schedules (Rittenhouse did it with "Twilight Zone The Next Dimension" and I'm sure I don't need to mention Inkworks "Charmed"!) If there is a substantial delay, the most logical thing for the company to do is to hold back the promos until a more appopriate time. If NSU have announced that the next issue will be carrying the promo card, they are let down. Who gets the complaints? The Card company? Nope!
The cards are free, I'll repeat that, FREE. They are a nice 'add-on' to the magazine, but it's the magazine you are laying out your hard earned dollars for. As I'm sure Harris would confirm, in the early days NSU didn't carry promo cards at all! Imagine if the magazine was Rolling Stone instead, and it occasionally carried a free music CD on the cover. Would you complain if an issue DIDN'T have the CD (because the magazine hadn't been able to arrange one for that issue)? Or imagine a box of breakfast cerial. Kelloggs in 1999 carried Star Wars toys in special packs, marked on the outside. When this promotion stopped, and Kellogs reverted to just having Corn Flakes in the box, did anyone complain because they didn't put another toy in the box instead?
Rather than complaining when a particular issue doesn't carry a card (and it's rare that this happens), we should be glad when they do! You save having to track down the cards in dealers or card stores, you save on sending SAE's to card companies and you get as much of the latest news and information about the Trading Card world as NSU are able to squeeze in. Plus there's the price guide...

The above might be a little garbled - I apologise. It's late here and I should probably go to bed. However, I had to make a comment on this whole issue of NSU letting the side down when they don't include promos. It's the readers who complain when an issue is advertised in advance as not having promos who are letting the side down.
Au Res.,
Paul

Constructively speaking,... It's not crazy, it's professional. Successful businesses have exceptional reputations, the highest standards, and customer trust. Customers trust delivery without excuses. If errors occur customers trust that companies will own up and compensate for mistakes. In short, good companies always have customers that have learned to expect the best.
Look on the positive side. The negative feedback you have received about missing promos, and the 2001 Gummie, results from the high standard customers have grown to expect from NSU based upon past quality service. Simply stated, performance on two recent occasions conflicted with that customer expectation.
By your own admission promos are valued by customers. It is equally true, that many customers want promos to be valuable. They are more than just freebies to brighten our day. Look at the NSU price guide. Is it mere chance that gummie promos tend to be highly valued, some up to $75. Hopefully, all this feedback will play a constructive role in future decisions. The bottom line is whether you want your customers to anticipate the best or the least from NSU?
Finally, please consider that disappointment is different from defection. Even today I encouraged a new collector to subscribe. NSU is still the cadillac of the hobby, but you've had a recent fender bender.

Now concerning your question about possible back-up plans. Perhaps you could use the sample boxes you receive for reviewing purposes. Consider, inserting special NSU designated commons from reviewed boxes into each issue, and inserting randomly in selected issues, insert cards with the same NSU designation. The designation could be a embossed seal, stamp, or staff signature. Each card has the potential of being a
one-of-a-kind. Hope this helps.

Brainstormed a little more today.
Perhaps NSU could extend an invitation to collectors to donate surplus commons and inserts. NSU could apply the aforementioned designation and distribute in the same manner.

:thud:

Ok and please, send have 'em send me some too, I can offer my own version on my website and Paul can offer a UK version, can't ya, Paul?!

Harris and Company,
I offer my compliments for the exceptional promos that have been in the last two NSU issues. Well Done! Keep up the good work your customers appreciate it.