I don’t know if you have noticed, but GP+ has a bit of a promotion going on..
Read the following…
We were watching the recent US lottery and noticed that people like to dream about getting something of value with a little help from Lady Luck. So, we thought, why not offer a life-time subscription (that goes for your life and the life of GP+) to anyone who subscribes to the magazine for 2016 (the archives not count) in the course of the next seven days.
The deadline for entries in this lottery will be 11.00 GMT on Tuesday, February 2. And the winner will be picked soon afterwards and informed immediately. We will also publicise the name of the winner, unless the person has any real objection to the idea. The winner will then get his or her 2016 subscription refunded and access to the magazine for free from then onwards until either party dies.
If you have already bought a subscription for 2016, don’t worry, you can buy a gift subscription and the buyer (rather than the gift recipient) will be entered in the lottery.
Please feel free to circulate this information to all your friends in racing. The prize, by the way, is not transferable.
Let the sales begin…
joeblogsf1 
Unfair to those who have already bought the 2016 subscription!
We do not look at that way. We see it as being a promotion. GP+ is a incredible bargain already and we want to grow the business so we want more readers. You should want that we have more readers as well because that would make a better magazine. In a lottery, your chance of success are very small, but you do it in the hope that you will win. Thus, yes, you did miss a very small chance to win a lifelong subscription, but we have allowed for those who would like a flutter. Buy a subscription for a friend, be a nice person and give someone a present, and you will get the chance… It’s a win-win-win-win situation.
I agree, especially to those of us who have been loyal subscribers!
You don’t think we look after our readers? We gave subscribers the chance to sign up before a price rise… Was that nice of us? In any case, GP+ is the bargain of the century, we have been giving our loyal subscribers fantastic value for money since the start. We have kept the price down and have given you more for the same money. We want to grow the magazine and so we are looking at ways to promote it. This is a good way. You should welcome promotion because the more readers we get the better the product will be.
Joe,
This just means that we will wait next year to January before buying to see if you repeat the competition. Sorry this feels unfair…. regardless of how much a bargain we all thing GP+ is.
Whatever…
Joe,
Thanks I think this comment list has made me laugh more than most for some time…. I think the prize response has to be ‘Boil your head’ but for all my comments I hope this increases the readership and the value will then follow on for all of us.
Thanks for the time and effort Joe, we all wish we had your job attending every GP but as you mentioned in your last podcast it is tiring and yet we get all the great information without the effort.
Truly is appreciated…
Thanks again
Steve
Can you really blame Joe for trying to drum up more business, presumably this and his other newsletters/books etc give him the money to provide this blog F.O.C. – not a bad deal.
And the argument about loyalty is a petty one. Your loyalty was a renewal of the publication at a reduced price. Your loyalty is great content delivered super-fast. You should be grateful – not throw your toys out of the pram.
Would you rather pay less for a year or pay more and possibly win a lifetime subscription???
Joe, having felt guilty for a while now about ‘abusing’ this blog and not paying for your services I’ll subscribe – not because I might win a lifetime supply but because this blog is worth the fee alone.
Rich, I agree and am not at all worried about the costs, it is after all great value for money. I have also enjoyed these comments more than most of joes posts as underneath all the comments is a very big complement to the product. I think winning the lifetime gift carries a certain kudos that is more important than the money. The loyalists who bought at the first reminder lost the opertunity to be that first lifetimer.
This may sound like crap but if you read the comment most are emotional and do not focus on the money. Joes was offering something special that loyal readers could not easily obtain. Your comments on worth are true… but being the Gp+ lifetimer cannot be obtained easily.
You may have been a long time subscriber, which means you already have won a lottery for many years by paying an incredible low price for a magazine which has not increased its price for something like 6 years.
Unfair?! Joe does a bloody good job with everything he does. Give the guy some credit plus your chances of winning are pretty low. its hardly amount the money is it?! Surely more the fun?
How about two prizes – one for new subscribers, another for loyal long term subscribers. That way we don’t get left out and your promotion still works
You don’t get left out. You can win just as easily as anyone else…
True, although I already have two and my mates already subscribe. Need more mates obviously. On a related note, I find your latest Facebook more detailed postings a much better basis for something I can share, and that should help with awareness and exposure, so I urge all fans to do that. Spread the word(press)
Wow, I feel cheated! Normally those who support great publications early get rewarded. I’d ask that you throw this open to all subscribers.
What have you been cheated of? A tiny chance of winning the prize. You already have an incredible bargain with the magazine at the price it is and still you want more. Hmmm… Human nature, eh?
Joe,
As much as I realise it is difficult to argue with a man as knowledgeable as yourself I should point out that we were happy until you offered more to someone else…. before that we was happy.
Also if I buy two gift tokens do I get two chances in the draw??
Yes, of course you get two chances it you buy two subscriptions.
I offered someone else a tiny possibility that they could get something. In the end they all get something anyway. And it’s a bargain.
I am frankly just amazed that anyone has even raised this question. I find it deeply demotivating… Why do I bother doing anything when some of my customers are like this. I sometimes think I should just charge everyone a load of money to go on the blog, more to make comments and GP+ at four times the price…
Joe said: “Why do I bother doing anything when some of my customers are like this. ”
Because the rest of your customers aren’t. Listen to the silent majority, and those customers that have voiced their support, please.
I’m listening…
Having been a lurker on the blog for a very long time, have put hand in pocket & taken the plunge. In reality, less than £2 an issue is somewhat of a bargain for what must be a lot of work.
Looking forward to a more informed 2016 already.
Sorry Joe, but I think you are out of order here.
You have sent out several blogs encouraging people to either take up or renew subscriptions and you then kick your loyal supporters in the teeth by excluding them from the prize draw.
That’s like saying that anybody who bought a lottery ticket for Saturday on Wednesday or Thursday won’t be included, only people who bought a ticket on Friday or Saturday.
You have unrivalled knowledge of Grand Prix racing, but from the tone of your replies to earlier posts you seem to have less than a perfect understanding of lotteries.
PS. Happy to discuss at the City Of London on 4th Feb.
If you buy something and then it goes on sale the following week do you demand the discount?
What discount?
I was equating the opportunity to win a lifetime subscription to a discount.
Out of order? This must be a joke! Businesses all over the world have promotions of all kinds. The lottery you have won already just reading this blog for free. People buying a subscription won’t all be winners when you had the chance to get an early bird price.Isn’t that enough? Honestly, I’m appalled at people being so mean and so demanding.
Hi Joe,
Apologies, I am out of order. Your competition, your rules.
Great idea for a promotion, there will always be whingers!!! And yes, I have already subscribed.
I would happily get a sub if only I could do so outside of paypal. Will not go near that lot sadly.
Let me know when there is another option to give you money and i’ll gladly sign up.
I think you can. Try it through different browsers and hopefully you’ll find the card option
+1. Look at the quality of the product. At this price, it’s a steal irrespective of whatever promotion is or isn’t being offered. Also, we get this wonderful blog for free – amazing content and the chance to interact & have our say – for FREE. Methinks us blog readers & subscribers have rather a good deal. In the words of Harold Wilson (I think?)…..you’ve never had it so good…….
Guys, to all who have already subscribed and are moaning, this is Joe’s living. Accept it is great value and support him doing whatever he chooses to do to make it work commercially. Don’t be so effing tight! I’ve previously subscribed but wish Joe and all the punters good luck with his promotion.
And rather than moaning, continue to enjoy the blog and don’t be so bloody ungrateful. It’s a great resource we get for free.
What he said!
I subscribe, have an auto renew option & don’t feel cheated either. Yes it would be lovely if my GP+ was free forevermore, but it is what it is. I’ve bought a product & am an existing customer. As such I don’t qualify for this particular promotion. It’s no different to BT, your mobile phone provider or any number of other companies offering promotions that can only be claimed by new customers. It’s a well used & successful way of getting new customers.
I feel incredibly lucky & grateful to be able to enjoy a magazine that only focuses on the genre of motorsport that I want to read about & doesn’t have adverts on every other page. Thank you to Joe & the others for a truly fantastic publication.
To those that haven’t yet put their hand in their pocket, do it. Do it now, & if you are fortunate enough to win….. You’re a lucky b*****d!!!!!
Hear hear, David – could agree more. If people were happy with what they had before this offer was made, why suddenly decide to be unhappy? It’s not actually unfair; there are many things out there which are truly unfair This isn’t one of them.
Wrong Harold and wrong political party!
Harold Macmillan in 1957
,,,thanks for the correction….. 😉
Gotta say I agree with this entirely…
As a grumpy old git (I have a mug that says exactly that from my daughter) I tend to agree with the other loyal grumbling readers above. The prize on offer is really in the nature of a reward, which would be more greatly appreciated by someone who has supported GP+ for several years.
However giving it to a long time supporter is no incentive to new buyers, thus useless as a promotion, so whilst remaining grumpy, I understand.
You do not support GP+, you buy a product at a more than great value. Supporting would mean paying more than is requested. How can you feel cheated? Anyway, every single reader of this blog, subscriber to GP+ or not, has won the lottery by getting free info for nothing. Think about it!
“Supporting would mean paying more than is requested.” I don’t know how you come to that conclusion, everyone who buys GP+ supports it.
It is exceptional value and “yes” we all appreciate Joe’s free blog, though as I have said several times, I would be willing to pay or to have it for GP+ subscribers only, though that would restrict its market reach.
Sorry I do not like your aggressive attitude, you missed my point anyway and I did NOT say I feel cheated, I do not need to be told to “think about it” in a patronising manner either thank you.
It would be helpful if you would calm down. If you go shopping and buy something and go home excited and happy, do you go into the shop the next day when you see it says Sale and you find that the same thing is now cheaper? What will they tell you? It is what it is. I see what you are saying but I do not think it warrants complaints.
Actually I have done that, purchased an item only to have it go on sale the next week. Brought the item back with my reciept, and then recieved the sale discount. Not an uncommon occurrence.
Lucky you
I have subscribed for a number of years including 2016 and don’t feel cheated at all, the opposite. Manufacturers or suppliers of services are constantly offering deals and changing price points. It is called the market place. In this particular case I am confident that more sales will continue the development of an ever improving product. Therefore I hope the promotion is ultra successful. If my GP+ was free would I value it as much ?
Subscribed last month for this year, and already feels like a bargain. Looking very much forward to the coming issues, and good luck to the new subscribers!
Agreed, I have subscribed for the past 5 years, maybe more.
I am amazed that people think Joe and the rest of the GP+ team should grandfather them into this promotion..
I hope it goes well and a portion of increased revenue is ploughed back into improving an already high quality product.
Already subscribed, but great idea and good luck on the promotion Joe and GP+ team!
Joe, I wish you good luck with your promotion of GP+ however I am not that surprised that a few here have voiced discontent at being left out as they already subscribed!
There no doubt that GP+ is good value but maybe (if you do this again) there should of been a 2nd smaller prize on offer for existing subscribers?
Anyway, Joe Thank you for your Blog, it always a superb read and I hope you carry on spreading the word of F1 to the masses through both your blog and GP+ for many more years.
Holy shit, what a bunch of whining ingrates. Joe tries to do something fun and interesting on HIS blog for HIS publication out of HIS pocket and all he gets is grief? Unbelievable You cant get “screwed” out of something you never had, be it a physical object or an opportunity.
I say well done Joe, and thanks for the fun.
+1
No hard feelings from this subscriber of 6 years, GP+ is worth every penny and if it helps to keep the blog free so much the better. The restraint that Joe shows to some of the of the blog comments to his thoughts amazes me. Be grateful for what he is prepared to share for free and don’t knock him for trying to get more subscribers to help cover his cost.
Well I feel cheated. I don’t subscribe to anything, but I still feel cheated. In fact I think I’ll sue for the mental stress I’m suffering over the whole damn mess. It’s upset me, seeing regular subscribers becoming traumatised. I feel I’m suffering a form of post-traumatic-syndrome-by-proxy.
Joe could choose to assuage my mental anxiety and remove the threat of litigation simply by giving me GP+ free for 2016. Yes, that would work.
Over to you, Joe…
Go boil your head!
I subscribed already. I don’t feel cheated. I say good on you Joe for trying to increase your readership!
I find it amusing that people are up in arms at being denied the chance to subscribe now at the higher price, and hence pay more for the miniscule chance of winning the prize. I guess that’s how lottery’s make all their money.
Glad I got my subscription at the previous cheaper price. Judging by the season review I’ve already read, it’s a great product either way.
If this promotion drives sales and keeps Joe more secure in his business, then great.
To those questioning this promotion I suggest you put 50% of your salaries into the lotto and see how that works out. Morons.
I already won, I renewed a month ago. Hope you get 1,000,000 new subscribers.
So do I…
I bought a pre-price rise subscription and I was happy then. Offering someone else a chance to win a subscription doesn’t affect my happiness. Honestly … people!
I have worked in and owned business involving customer interaction from the day I got my paper route at nine years old until this very moment at age seventy two. I can honestly say there is nothing that a human being can say or do that supprises me. They will complain and whine about the most rediculace, asinine things imaginationable. Nothing is to mundane to invest time and effort in. It used to bother me, but as I got older I decided there just might be a little jealousy involved. I have a great wife, I love what I do, i operate on my own schedule for the most part. Whats not to like? I figure let them bitch, when the sun comes up. tomorrow, they’ll still have their lives, and more important, I’ll still have mine. Good luck with your promotion Joe, and don’t let the bastards get you down. When the sun comes up tomorrow, you’ll still be living in France and doing what you do. Could be a whole lot worse.
Human nature being what it is, we all like a bargain and complain at being left out of something that others have access to.
When I came on here this morning and saw the header and 49 replies, I had a feeling what the comments would be, for and against.
It’s not exactly a fortune to subscribe to GP+, I did mine at the end of last year if I remember correctly and it is financial history now. Not being in the draw is not exactly the end of the world is it?
Life is a bitch…..
Having open-heart surgery followed by a breast cancer diagnosis, THAT is something worth bitching about, but I still enjoy Joes Blog and for what we pay for it (£0.00) it is priceless.
Keep it up, Joe!
+1
Joe, maybe slightly off subject…. would it be possible for subscribers of GP+ to have their names highlighted in a different colour when they contribute to your blog?
Sort of a small GP+ marking tool and would give these people a little more kudos when they make their comments 🙂
The two are actually not linked.
You got me Joe! I have subscribed. Always feel a bit guilty using your blog without a subscription anyway.
I subscribed in 2014 but not 2015. Nothing to do with quality or content. My reading window is at work at lunch (I rarely read at home) and I found GP+ a little too weighty for a lunch break. Easier to flip between bite sized chunks on news websites and your blog. I don’t have a tablet and my mobile is a little too small a medium to read GP+ on.
However I need to be less lazy and I can spread GP+ out over several lunch breaks until I finish it.
Looking forward to your 2016 coverage.
Gee, entitlement culture is depressing. 😦
I’ve no idea how these things are regulated, but hope you’re not going to be falling foul of any legislation by running a purchase-required draw cross-borders over the internet! :S
Some complainers are reminiscent of the folks who write-in to free draws like we [used to?] get in the UK. You know?, some folk sent in all their proof-of-purchase tokens in one go to enter some draw multiple times, then there were the folk that used a “no purchase required” rule and posted in written applications for the draw — except you could only post the latter one per envelope/postcard. I remember at least one company having their “no purchase required” address as “send in to CHEAPSKATES at…”
Personally, I never did believe in raffles, anyway, the more confidentally so for once seeing a school teacher of mine refuse to be badgered into buying tickets for the school raffle but pointedly making more than the donation / purchase being asked for and refusing to take any tickets… they refused to be sucked in to that culture.
Joe, I don’t see a problem here. If you open it up to all subscribers, it won’t affect those who join for the promotion: they still have a chance of winning.
This would have the benefit of not alienating those who are already loyal customers.
Now, can I have a free year for being the voice of reason? 😉
Everyone, relax. It’s a great deal anyway, and the more readers, the better the end product!
Joe, I give away free tickets to events for a living, and people still find a way to moan. It’s crazy, but we have to put up with it and get our motivation from the odd thank-you we receive.
Thank you
Off topic I see that Marchionne has found a pot of gold hidden in a rusty safe in the depths of Chrysler. This may help the very feint (sic) chance of Alfa Romeo returning to GP racing, though admittedly there is a lot of other work to do first. Strange that this windfall should be so suddenly discovered now (after being rejected as a development partner) and one wonders what its original ultimate destination would have been and how long it would otherwise have lain hidden and indeed why it was previously undeclared.
To all the whingers here, the strategy Joe has chosen, of offering an incentive to potential customers but not to existing customers, is by no means unusual.
Even though Joe’s defence has, here and there, been borderline feverish, the fact remains that GP+ represents a quite remarkable resource and is outstanding value for money.
Enough of the whinging already!!!
Feverish? My cardiogram barely registered a blip
Is that so? 😉
Gosh Joe, sometimes you just can’t win, going by all the grumps here…….
And I’m going to join them as I still can’t get past that rubbish Pay Pal that pops up every time I try to subscribe using my credit card, so I can’t even get in line for the chance at the lifetime sub 😦
It is all in the registered address. Get that right and it always works
Maybe a tip that could help: I moved from Belgium to Sweden. My bank and creditcard are still from Belgium… my paypall has all the right details: Swedish address and Belgian card but… now and then services still block my payment since the card is from a different country than my address. In those cases I just change my country to Belgium and the payment goes through.
Hope its one of those cases and that I was of help. 🙂
A further point in Joe’s defence: he’s one of the few (only?) freelance journalists who attends each and every race, and funds it himself. Presumably all that travel has to be paid for even before the gas bill and French groceries enter the equation.
So our subscriptions not only represent good value for the product itself (a full magazine to digest the day after the race), but enable us to get the benefit of independent and robust journalism from a well-sourced contact, which otherwise wouldn’t be available.
I am one of three GP+ partners, but we are all freelance.
This is actually off topic because it is not about Joe’s offer or his magazine as I am not a subscriber, which means I cannot judge if the subscription fee is worth the contents, what I can talk about with years of actual experience as a regular visitor/participant on more than a dozen formula 1 blogs/sites in various languages is, Joe Seward formula 1 blogs/site followers can rest assured that his site is one of the very best, with no tricks or hidden agenda to feed half-truths/speculation to shore-up the number of visitors, in my personal experience Joe does not gather to those that follow a site because they are fed only what they like to hear. This is one of the few sites that does not gather for oneeyedfanboys of any driver or team.
You should try the magazine. A lot of people love it!