Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy is run by the same folks that did the Dream Plan Build DVD series for Kalmbach.

They would send you a DVD unsolicited telling you in the letter with it that it was yours to keep, but they had more if you wanted to sign up.

Then they would mail you letters warning you that since you kept the DVD so you owed them money.

I agree that their business ethics are borderline.

P.S. MRA has partnered with Allen Keller to put his layout tours series in their library. So if you like Allen's (now somewhat vintage) layout tours, then that's one way you get get access to them online. However, those videos were shot mostly to VHS video standards, so they're mostly 360p quality, which is less than DVD's 480p. Most streaming videos these days are 720p - 1080p.

...

The only subscription I have is with people I trust.  MRH - RE.  It will stay that way into the foreseeable future.

I remember that Dream - Plan - Build series - and the MRA

And I got the same letter, which demanded a payment for an unsolicited DVD.  I may have returned a copy of the letter from my state's AG about unsolicited goods being considered legally gifts; anyway, all their future ads and correspondence went into the bin.

Generally, regarding purchases of DVDs or VHS tapes, I want to know what I was buying before I order it, unlike paper magazine subscriptions.  Especially at a price point back then of about $3 per magazine that might have only one article I was interested in and a few tips I could apply to what I was doing rather than $29.95 for a DVD that was essentially a series of run-bys on a layout in a scale/space/livery/era I had no interest in.  Back then, I could by a Morning Sun book on a railroad I was interested in for the same price as that pig-in-a-poke DVD.  So nope, and my opinion of Kalmbach took a big hit with that merchandising tie in.

Regarding the Model Railroad Academy, the videos I've seen of theirs on Youtube were mildly interesting, but nothing that hadn't been done to death by dozens of other modelers and weren't as good as similar stuff on MRVP and Trainmasters, so nope, wasn't interested in signing up before.

Now that I know they are tied in with the Dream-Plan-Build stuff,  big nope to them on any level.

Thanks for the heads-up.

Janet N.

Not worth it

Thanks for the heads up.  I see the MRR Academy advertisements all the time.  

But, there is so much free Model Railroad information on-line so it never drew my interest.  “Why pay to see how-to videos when dozens of videos covering the same topic are available on YouTube?”

Interesting about the same marketing company was behind the free Kalmbach DVD.  Was a victim myself.  First DVD was sent to me without requesting.  When I did not return they sent a “pay or return” letter.   

“I just ignored it”

Joe

I think the nice thing to do

I think the nice thing to do would be to rent storage space to them for their dvd and send them a bill for $30.00 per month, after 120 days turn it over to a collection agency.

Thanks for the word Dan.......

I've been getting their special rate subscription e-mails for quite a time now. The offers did look good but the only way to pay for it was credit/debit card. I don't do the card over computer/phone, haven't now for a long time. It better be close to the realm of life threatening before I do the card that way. Otherwise I'll find a different way to pay for something, or just do without.                                                                                                                                  

I never did unsubscribe from their e-mails, I wanted to see what they would send for content on their web site. Guess it's time to DELETE!

Digressing for a moment to

Digressing for a moment to the Dream-Plan-Build series...

I got quite a few of their DVDs over a period of a few years. My late wife and I enjoyed watching them together. While there was controversy about the demand for payment letters at the time the DVDs were being sent out, I never had an issue with them since I bought most of the DVDs being offered. One or two I did send back, and since they provided prepaid return sleeves, I didn't (and still don't) see what all the wailing and gnashing of teeth was about. Yeah, you could keep the first one for free, and if you did they asked several times for payment. Were there threats of collections actions or credit rating hits? Not that I recall.

And at the time these things were being sent, there was nothing at all (that I ever found) in terms of comparable video or production quality content on line. We were still in the 480 lines era of on-line videos.

Things are different now, for sure.

It's a Sample, but Pay Us

When someone sends an unsolicited sample to someone, then later asks for it to be returned or paid for, that reeks of a shady business practice in my opinion.

I received one of those samples and was sent several letters afterward asking for return or $$$.  I ignored them and kept the "gift".

I wonder how many folks didn't know their legal rights and sent a check even though they weren't interested in more.

For the record, I wasn't interested enough in the sample video to order more.

Too harsh

“get taken” and “suckered” are harsh words for the company. Its subscription terms, including automatic annual charges to the authorized credit card, are quite conspicuous in its shopping cart interface for new orders, its terms of service, and elsewhere—impossible to miss, really, and more transparent than some companies dealing in renewable subscriptions. The way to avoid buyer’s remorse for subscription services is to use a calendar, and create a reminder for two months before the end of the term, so you have ample time to cancel online, by phone or by emailing a revocation of any credit card charge authorization previously given. Merchants must honor the latter, under federal banking regulations, or face civil penalties. And MRA offers pro rate refunds, so even if the $124 was a surprise, you can get 11/12 of it back.

Warning thanks

Interesting I don't recall seeing anything about annual renewal when I signed up for their $3 for year deal, figure it was good way to check it out. So will have to go and see if they have anything online about annual renewal or if I signed up for something different, which I doubt.

The really annoying part is now that I have subscribed they keep sending me emails to upgrade to GOLD for another $7 for the year.

As pointed out between youtube and trainmasters TV there is plenty to watch, of course the problem with youtube is finding the wheat amongst the chaff.

Just as an aside on the Dream

Just as an aside on the Dream Plan Build DVDs.

I never understood how angry some people got about getting junk mail. reporting to the state Attorney General, BBB reports etc etc etc.

You get a DVD in the mail, if you like it, keep it, if you like it enough to pay, then do so. If you don't pay and don't return it, then just toss the spam asking for payment. Yeah, I had to spend 10 minutes reading the fine print, but I got a DVD gift for free and all I had to do was deal with an extra ounce or 2 of junk mail.

Seems like a win win to me. I don't have time to get angry about stuff like that. 

Two kinds of businesses

There are two kinds of businesses -- those that do well because they meet a need and those that try to shame you into forking it over -- or will autocharge a much higher rate later and hope you don't notice. Yes both are legal.

The first kind of business, you're glad to pay them for what they do and you walk away feeling like it was a win-win.

The second kind of business always leaves me walking away feeling like I just got slimmed. It's not a good feeling.

Guess which one feels more like MRA and Dream-Plan-Build?

Dan

I think the whole thing came down to the fact that it seemed

Like I was not dealing with the Kalmbach I had been dealing with for over 20 years, but suddenly I had been sold out to something like Columbia Record Club without realizing it.  It left a really bad taste in my mouth, and while I've dealt with Kalmbach since, I don't think I've ever responded to one of their direct mail campaigns since the Dream-Plan-Build thing,  I don't believe I'm unique in feeling this way, so there's obviously been a real cost to their organization, especially if there are others with the same feeling out there. 

I am much more leery of what I'm purchasing from them.  To the extent that I rarely by any of their compilation special issues until I actually see it and can verify I'm not just buying a collection of articles reprinted from the magazine. 

Mind you, there is a place for that sort of thing, and a value to it for a newcomer, but if you've been a long-time subscriber, it's worthless.  Yet they don't really make it clear on the cover when it shows up on the on-line shop nor do they always note it in the sales pitch.

Janet N.

Dream Plan Build

I bought several of these (and still watch them).  My only problem was they sent them faster than I could afford.  So  I got picky about which ones I kept, but I never had any trouble sending them back.  After awhile I guess I sent too many back, because they dropped me.

Paul

DPB was up-front from the

DPB was up-front from the beginning. NOT in the fine print they told everyone to whom they sent a DVD what the deal was. They even said you didn't have to pay for the first DVD, but if you kept it they would appreciate it if you did. Then they sent a few follow-up reminders / requests. 

I understand many folks didn't appreciate this approach, but other than tossing a few pieces of mail (which we probably all do quite frequently - junk mail is still very common), what was the issue? Certainly it isn't one of ethics in the final analysis - they were above-board with their approach the entire time.

I never got the angst.

A number of the Dream Plan Build

DVDs were rehashes of AK videos, or pickups from the series that ran on PBS, a few of them were all new content. In fact, one of them was, by far, the best layout visit/retrospective I've seen from any producer of model railroad content, anywhere. 

A second one (also all new) was a detailed look at setting up an operating scheme for a home layout. 

I don't know anything about Model Railroad University - except for the relatively grainy "samples" of AK videos. I do know some people miss the whole "buyer be aware" approach to things. 

Pity those can't be redone in HD format, but the originals weren't filmed that way. I'd gladly pay for an HD version of AK's video on Bill Henderson's Coal Belt!

Marty

I wonder if...

...Trainmasters TV could go back and redo a few of those AK Layout tours in HD.  I would LOVE to see Rick Rideout's L&N!  And while they are at it, maybe do some new videos of other layout's like Gary Seigel (sp?) L&N and a C&O O Scale layout in the KC area (sorry, can't remember name of owner right now)!! 

FWIW

Ken L

We work fast (wink)

We work fast -- here's one of the three already done for you:
https://trainmasters.tv/programs/jim-eudalys-chesapeake-ohio

Somehow I overlooked that!

Thanks Joe, I somehow overlooked that one! 
 

Hopefully you can get to the other two once the lockdowns are done with and you can travel! 

Ken L. 

My problem was that DPB was sent with my MRR subscription.

It was sent as a free dvd and then a few months later they sent several letters demanding payment or you must return the dvd. 
It wasn’t legally a scam but it felt like one. Yes the fine print said blah,blah,blah but how many take 20 minutes to read every thing with fine print?

That probably increased a few sales over the normal sample business model but it didn’t make many long term customers. 
 

I understand the sales pitch sounded good to the marketing people but I won’t spend money if you try to guilt trip me. Be straight forward about the costs upfront and there’s a decent chance I will spend money. Break that trust and I will never buy anything from you again.  

I remember them...

I almost got suckered by them a few years ago... fortunately, it seemed a bit too good to be true, so I asked here in this forum.

I think Joe was the first to answer, and give me the heads up, so I blocked all of their e-mails.


This forum is an AMAZING resource.

I'm STILL WAITING FOR MY STAMPS

This takes me back - "Send just .50 for 100 stamps for your collection - on APPROVAL".

Couldn't they come up with something more original?

Everything old is new again.

Lon Wall

Super sleazy

Their site is super sleazy. I signed up for the $3+$7 subscription, and there's basically nothing on there. For a while they were spamming me with emails to try to get me to buy MORE videos- wait didn't I already get the subscription, now they want me to pay MORE?

Like all these things, I have a Google Calendar reminder to unsubscribe from the service just before the 1-year mark, but what a bunch of slimeballs. I used to use Bank of America ShopSafe, but they got rid of that feature. It was nice, as I'd use disposable credit card numbers for stuff like that, so the card would expire after 2 months, and if they tried to auto-renew it would just get denied.

I used to get Dream-Plan-Build, and they would just keep sending more and more and more DVDs faster and faster. Super sleazy. I think at some point I just stopped paying, and they eventually stopped sending them.

Anyway, I'm keeping TMTV, and replacing MRA with MRVP. As much as I dislike Kalmbach, they have an unparalleled back catalog on a whole variety of topics.

DPB on Youtube

Given the consensus of this thread, I wanted to point out that all 20-something Dream-Plan-Build DVDs are available to watch/download on Youtube.  And, for the record, I think the TrainMaster's TV content is vastly superior!