Subscription sales at July MOA Rally

[refinger]

Have any other members experienced problems with magazine subscriptions purchased from KAS Associates at this summer's BMWMOA Rally in Wisconsin? My two riding buddies and I all renewed our subscriptions to Motorcycle Consumer News at the rally on July 10 ( MCN "knows nothing" and has no phone number that I can find and replies to email messages with a canned and very unhelpful response). I now fully realize that KAS Associates is an independent vendor (something I didn't realize at the time) but KAS's phone either goes unanswered or messages left are not returned. Now our subscription have lapsed. Is this fraud or incompetence on the part of KAS? We had seen KAS booths at previous BMWMOA rallies so we assumed legitimacy. Any other members with experience or knowledge on this? 'Praps we are just each out our $41....ouch and anger.

[Paul_F]

I was just thinking about my Consumer Magazine subscription. At the time, I believe they told me that my two year subscription would not start until October. After your experience, I guess I'll have to e-mail / call Consumer Magazine. I assumed that I was dealing with the actual mag company. Let's hope the magazines shows up soon. Please post when yours do arrive.

[PAULBACH]

I extended my subscription but have yet to see the change on the label.

[k75karol]

Have any other members experienced problems with magazine subscriptions purchased from KAS Associates at this summer's BMWMOA Rally in Wisconsin? My two riding buddies and I all renewed our subscriptions to Motorcycle Consumer News at the rally on July 10 ( MCN "knows nothing" and has no phone number that I can find and replies to email messages with a canned and very unhelpful response). Any other members with experience or knowledge on this? 'Praps we are just each out our $41....ouch and anger.

If this continues to be a problem, you may want to contact Paul Johnson, Consumer Liason poorpaul@sbcglobal.net

Good luck

[refinger]

Thank you Karol. If this situation persists I will pursue it in a variety of ways....it may make for a good winter pastime. Also I would hope that, if proven warranted, BMWMOA will not allow KAS Associates in again :violin as rally vendors to prey on our membership.

[John Brase]

Add me to the list. I bought a MCN sub from them but have yet to get an issue.

John

EDIT 10/15/07: I got my first isue in the mail this weekend. In the words of Emily Litella, "never mind."

[Sue]

I will ask Sam Munn for their contact information.

Sue
... (2007 Rally Chairman)

[refinger]

Here is the contact info from the receipt: KAS Associates, LOCK BOX 659, GURNEE, IL, 60031 / 847/623-1515 Fax: 847/623-5676.

Many calls have resulted in one contact with a woman who claimed that "maybe they just hadn't been sent in yet to MCN" (this was in mid-September). She promised to get back to me the next day but never did.

[jeinloes]

I too, have yet to see a change in my subscription. I'm going to contact my credit card company and dispute the charge. That should get KAS Associates' attention. I'd suggest others do the same. Power in numbers.

[barryg]

I ordered Motorcycle Consumer News at the National. Called a few weeks ago to check on it. They said I would get it in about a month. Got my first issue yesterday. Good luck getting yours. Barry

[cjack]

I ordered Motorcycle Consumer News at the National. Called a few weeks ago to check on it. They said I would get it in about a month. Got my first issue yesterday. Good luck getting yours. Barry

I got my sub to MCN that I bought at the national, but instead of extending my current sub which expires in May '08, they started an additional sub. I made a point of trying to avoid that with the vendor, but it didn't help.
I'm done with KAS. I'll see now if MCN will fix it.

[dancogan]

Anyone else subscribe to RoadRunner Magazine at the Rally? I thought I was dealing with the magazine direct, but have yet to see an issue. Not really sure who took my money. Receipt? What receipt?:dunno

[PAULBACH]

If charge was made on a credit card the charge should be on the statement. No statement? Most companies go back several months on the Web.

[mccodavj]

I took out a subscription to MCN at the rally. The first issue arrived yesterday.

[cjack]

I took out a subscription to MCN at the rally. The first issue arrived yesterday.

MCN just emailed me and said that they will append my renewal to my original subscription. No lost issues. They rock.

[refinger]

I too, have yet to see a change in my subscription. I'm going to contact my credit card company and dispute the charge. That should get KAS Associates' attention. I'd suggest others do the same. Power in numbers.

This is a very good idea...unfortunately I must have been in a nostalgic mood and used the method of my forefathers....paid $44 cash as shown on my receipt.

[refinger]

Anyone else subscribe to RoadRunner Magazine at the Rally? I thought I was dealing with the magazine direct, but have yet to see an issue. Not really sure who took my money. Receipt? What receipt?:dunno

Dan, I finally got through to "Barb" at KAS Associates and am waiting to hear back from her (my hopes are not up as I went through this same routine 4 or 5 weeks ago with no return call) and mentioned your RoadRunner mag prob and she said that they "don't carry that one."

I will report again if and when I hear back from Barb.

Rick

[Sue]

Below you will find the full contact information for this vendor. Please keep us posted if this is not resolved to your satisfaction.

The BMW MOA takes Member Satisfaction very seriously.

KAS Associates, Ltd. / Motorcycle Consumer News
David Sweet, President
P.O. Box 659
Gurnee, IL 60031
Office Phone: 847-623-1515
FAX: 847-623-5676

E-mail: kasassociates@cs.com

[ultracyclist]

I also extended my subscription.
I have not seen any changes on my label.

[ultracyclist]

Barb at KAS offices solved my subscription problem.

Call the number that Sue provided.

You will be happy, not to worry.

[refinger]

Barb also promised me that I was all set (said they had over 250 sales at our rally but had trouble "finding that event file" !?) ....... but I checked my subscription at the MCN site a few seconds ago and no change on my subscription.

If I billed my hourly rate for the time I have devoted to trying to fix this mess I would have a renewal that I could pass on in my will.

[Paul_F]

I was just thinking about my Consumer Magazine subscription. At the time, I believe they told me that my two year subscription would not start until October. After your experience, I guess I'll have to e-mail / call Consumer Magazine. I assumed that I was dealing with the actual mag company. Let's hope the magazines shows up soon. I fired off an e-mail earlier this week and two or three days later my first magazine arrived. It must have been only coincidence as the mail does not travel from the US to Canada that quickly. I hope the rest of you get your magazines soon.

[refinger]

:clap I am pleased to report that, thanks to the efforts of Barb at KAS Associates, my MCN subscription now reflects the two year renewal I purchased at the National on July 11. The hassle was incredible and it appears that the sales folder from our rally had been misplaced. I will never expose myself to such a mess over a magazine subscription again. I hope that all other MOA members get what they paid for as well.:clap

[dancogan]

Anyone else subscribe to RoadRunner Magazine at the Rally? I thought I was dealing with the magazine direct, but have yet to see an issue. Not really sure who took my money. Receipt? What receipt?:dunno

Got the December issue in the mail this week! Well worth the wait. :clap

[erickson9502]

I attended the Sturgis rally in August and still have not received MCN. Three phone calls and the same well I can’t find that folder right now I will get back to you B.S. Strongly suggest not letting them be one of the vendors. Since it looks like it not just a one time event thing of losing the folder.

[knary]

bump :bluduh

[TomBarnhart]

I ordered a 2 year renewal at the rally. In October I got 2 magazines. One with an old expiration date of Feb 2009 and the second with an expiration date of Oct 2010. A call to MCN seems to have got this fixed. The second magazine stopped and the new mag has a expiration date of Feb 2011. The MCN folks were very courteous and assured me they would fix the problems.

[jimfastcar]

Patiently awaiting the arrival of my first issue, this is the reponse I got from Rider magazine customer service:

"We are having trouble locating your account using the information provided.

Regret to inform you that, we are unable to validate the legitimacy of any of the agencies. However, the time frame in getting the order forwarded to us from an agency may take up to 120 days.

Thank you for contacting us at Rider.

Sincerely,

Wendell Joseph
Email Customer Service" :banghead

[halshaffer2003@msn.com]

I purchased a 3 yr subscription for Rider from KAS on 7/18. Never recd a mag. Called and emailed Rider. They were no help whatsoever. Sent email to KAS. Never recd a response. Called KAS 847-623-1515. Woman who answered simply said Hello. No salutation. I asked if this was KAS. She said yes and ID herself as Kim. She blamed it on "computer error". I asked if she simply couldn't take care of it that day. She said no. That a subscription would begin sometime in Feb 09. I asked if she could refund my credit card payment. She said she would and that I would see the credit in 3 days. No credit was ever made. I asked who the owner of KAS was and she said David Sweet. I asked that he call me. She said he was good about returning calls. He never returned my call. This was clearly a "say anything but do nothing response" from Kim or whoever. I called my credit card - CitiCard. Even though it was a charge back in July, they said they would issue a temp credit on my account and contact KAS explaining I was challenging the charge. CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD CO.

What I don't understand is why KAS was allowed as a Vendor at the 08 Ralley when they pulled the exact same thing in 07. I think BMW MOA has some explaining to do. I also think we should be notifying the Wyoming Attorney General's Office, Consumer Affairs Office to report the theft. When added up, I suspect KAS could be charged with a felony. Has anyone contacted them yet?

[halshaffer2003@msn.com]

Called KAS on Monday, 12/8/08 and spoke again with Kim. I asked if she had issue credit as she said she was going to. "No, just didn't get around to it" she said. This time she said she was going to issue credit today and would send me copy of the receipt. She would also ask David Sweet, owner, to again call me since he never returned my call from last week. I would be very hesitant to ever do business with KAS and I believe MOA members deserve to expect that vendors at the Int'l Ralley do not have a yearly history of ripping off it's members.

[jimfastcar]

I also just cancelled and asked for a refund. Was a little hesitant to give my CC info, but she assures me it will be done today and she will mail me a receipt. We will see......:banghead

[erickson9502]

I dealt with these people before in at the Sturgis Rally. Subscribed in August called several times didn't start getting the magazines until March. Stay away from them. I do not know if we can keep them away from rallies but sure wouldn't give them an invite.

[jimfastcar]

Got my refund. Called my Bank and confirmed, also got the Refund slip from them....
My wife said Rider magazine called and they were sending the subscription anyway, I think she must have misunderstood. We shall see.

[ben721364]

I dealt with these people before in at the Sturgis Rally. Subscribed in August called several times didn't start getting the magazines until March. Stay away from them. I do not know if we can keep them away from rallies but sure wouldn't give them an invite.

Surely the company can be denied admittance at future rallies! Their application can simply be denied. It might also be a policy in the future to ask for and check references from vendor applicants that are unknown...

[markmacrae]

It's Sunday Jan 11 and I just got home to Boston from the Washington, DC IMS Motorcycle Show: There was a booth with MCN and another 9 or so related magazines hawking renewal deals to the passing crowd. I easily recognized the man and woman behind the counter from some previous show(s) or rally(s). He was quiet but she used her scratchy smoker's voice to hawk loudly at all passersby. I found her aggressiveness to be a turn off and I did not inquire or extend this time, although I remember doing so several years ago. Don't know if it was KAS but it was the same vendor I have seen before.
I did extend my MOA membership 3 years at their booth manned by Mike Fridel and another gent.
I was SHOCKED that BMW Motorcycles and Bob's BMW dealership were NOT at the DC show! Out of 13 locations this year in 2009, I was told BMW is showing at 4 of them, including NYC next weekend (don't know if there were any venues in late 2008 as in some years).
Also missing were Sean Franklin & Cycle Gadgets.com. The stunt motorcycle show was replaced by stunt bicycle show!
I will not be back there next year, after a 5 year run.
Mark

[Mar]

I ordered Motorcyclist from KAS at the Gillette rally. I have yet to receive an issue. About a month ago I mailed a copy of the receipt and a letter asking them to please start my issues. I have heard nothing and I have not received any Motorcyclist magazines. If I see them at the Chicago IMS show I'll certainly have a word with them and I'll wait until there are lots of people there signing up for subscriptions.

I'll never do business with them again.

[knary]

I sent them yet another email a few weeks ago. Yesterday I received the first issue of my subscription.

[kencc]

I sent them yet another email a few weeks ago. Yesterday I received the first issue of my subscription.

I called them 3 times told me I would get Rider starting in Dec. Never happened so I called my credit card C. & they reversed the charges. I hope they are not at this years rally & if they are I will warn people of the problems.

[ben721364]

I called them 3 times told me I would get Rider starting in Dec. Never happened so I called my credit card C. & they reversed the charges. I hope they are not at this years rally & if they are I will warn people of the problems.

I wonder if a note from the MOA Executive Director to the marketing firm might help. Just a thought...

[amiles]

This sure seems like a situation where we as members need to see just what the high authorities in the organization do on our behalf.

Hopefully with some pressure the company can be convinced to make good on these problem dealings.

Even if these complaints are resolved I would hope that consideration is being given to not having this vendor at the 2009 rally. So far they seem to have generated a lot more problems for our members and guests than I would expect a first class business would.

[ben721364]

I Googled "KAS Associates" and it seems that MOA Members are not the only ones who have reported problems with this company.

[GeoffMiller]

I was so busy looking and buying cool stuff that I forgot about the Rider subscription I purchased. I just got off the phone with Citicard and sure enough I spent 27 bucks with KAS. The paperwork is on the way for me to sign. One more vote that these guys get permabanned at all rallies!:thumb

[ben721364]

I was so busy looking and buying cool stuff that I forgot about the Rider subscription I purchased. I just got off the phone with Citicard and sure enough I spent 27 bucks with KAS. The paperwork is on the way for me to sign. One more vote that these guys get permabanned at all rallies!:thumb

Geoff,
I imagine that our staff and/or directors have already taken steps to blackball this company, unless of course there is a legitimate reason for it's tardiness that we are not aware of; at least I hope so!

[mealey]

I took advantage of the "get two years for the price of one" MCN deal at the Cycle World show in Phoenix in November. Just got my first issue but it only shows a one year subscription. I contacted MCN and was told that it was between me and KAS. Why do they use these scammers when there is so much negative information out there?

[ben721364]

I took advantage of the "get two years for the price of one" MCN deal at the Cycle World show in Phoenix in November. Just got my first issue but it only shows a one year subscription. I contacted MCN and was told that it was between me and KAS. Why do they use these scammers when there is so much negative information out there?

Vendors pay a fee to host organizations for the right to display and sell at rallies. Right? I guess it's caveat emptor.