Honestly

I've either stopped or dramatically reduced my purchases from those that dropped their sponsorship here.  I understand their business decisions, but I do try to purchase a sponsor's product and/or from a sponsor's store first.  

Yep, talked to them all

Yep, talked to them all and they all feel their promotional dollars are better spent elsewhere. ExactRail and Accurail both used to advertise but they both have launched out on their own, figuring they could do better without us.

No skin off our nose. Rather than beat up folks for changing with the times, let's just accept that not advertising in MRH is one very valid strategy. Others do still feel (and will continue to feel) their MRH ad dollars are well spent.

Likewise, it was too bad when blacksmiths were no longer needed as much when horseless carriages became popular. The clever blacksmiths became mechanics and serviced the new beasts instead.

In other words, rather than wring your hands, you just accept that times change and you adapt.

P.S. One interesting strategy will be to spend $20 less per year with hobby vendors and buy an MRH annual premium edition subscription instead. Sweet irony in some ways, that.

Good idea

My micromart budget is now yours.

pqe

Good for you in how you want

Good for you in how you want to spend your money. Thats the great thing about free choice. Being able to decide whom you wish to do business with. Or are you suggesting something else.........

Phil

Interesting Phil

Both consumers and manufacturers are free to do as they will.  We all have to deal with the ramifications of our actions...

Nick

 in particular Intermountain

So my guess Dave, is you really don't need models from ExactRail, Tangent or Accurail so it's an easy thing to deny yourself, OR, you are purposefully cutting yourself off from excellent signature models based on a "principle" which even our hosts are not taking issue with.

Intermountain, ExactRail and Tangent are among my top most wanted/needed models and no way am I going to not buy what I need because they don't advertise in certain venues; really?  IMO, this isn't a moral/ethical choice by supporting or not supporting certain brands of model trains.

It is supposed to be fun

The last thing I need ruining the hobby is getting worked up over a companies advertising spending.

Way to much energy spent on hunting for something new to get mad at and not enough on enjoyment and fun.

Let’s start a new forum sub section “Things about the hobby that make me angry”.

To be clear

It's not some moral or ethical thing, it's simply a choice where to spend my money.  I get a lot of hobby value out of MRH and ultimately the advertisers are responsible for that, so I support them because of that whenever I can.  I continue to support advertisers first just to say, "thanks."  It's not that I won't buy from a former advertiser, but it has to be something I NEED that no advertiser has.  

I'm sorry I put in my comment about my personal choices.  No matter what you say, someone is going to take it the wrong way.

Moral and ethical decisions are part of my buying strategy

I don't consider who people advertise with to be a moral or ethical matter, unless they are sponsoring am organization  idon't like, or are themselves nasty.  I wish that they would advertise here--some of these companies I first found about about here--but can't complain on a moral ground.

It's places like Chik-fil-A and Hobby Lobby that don't get my money on moral grounds. 

Irish... Why would you deny

Irish... Why would you deny yourself the wonderful taste of Chik-fil-A or the great supply and 40% off from Hobby Lobby. Why just writing the names of the companies down here is advertising for them! I am making light here by the way. If you have morals against these companies they are yours to have, but don't take it out on the Chickens!!!

Sponsors/advertisers first -- but not exclusively

More to advertising than...

(WARNING: This post contains references to fun and offbeat humor by a modeler with a sense of humor. Parental discretion is advised)


So here's the thing... if I want a Mulligan kit, but I don't want to buy from a company that pulled it's advertising from MRH, I can still buy a Mulligan kit.

I could quite a few advertisers on MRH that sell Mulligan kits, but... THEY AREN'T MULLIGAN!

< mind... BLOWN>

IT'S A CONSPIRACY, MAN!!! IT'S A CONSPIRACY!!!!

*ahem*

So, with that little bit of tongue in cheek out of the way... there is more to advertising than just manufacturers... I don't think there is a single product for Model Railroading that isn't advertised in Model Railroad Hobbyist Magazine in some way or other. One can stick to their guns, and only support advertisers on MRH, and still get anything they want, because there are also shops, and web based retailers that are also advertising.

I personally, as a sign of solidarity, go to MRH advertisers first for my online shopping (I still support my local shop first and foremost, because I like hanging out there... the six guys running the place make me feel a bit sane in this hobby) if they don't have it, then eBay, or possibly Amazon.

(Mulligan kits are simply a Mulligan. Mulligan Corp did not pull their advertising from MRH, because MRH only exists in this universe. The author of this post takes no responsibility for any attempts at Googling "Mulligan Corp")