Topic: Ride Magazine

[Aceman]

Hi Guys,

Below is the complete correspondance that I have recently had with Ride Magazine.  I've posted everything here in chronological order, but have deleted surnames by request of the individuals concerned.

Draw you own opionion, but I am extremely happy with the outcome.

Martin aka Aceman



From: Liisa Steele [mailto:liisa.steele@emap.com]
Sent: 15 November 2004 11:32
Subject: Readers' Rides
  
Hello!
You may have noticed we've just started a new little section on the last page of RiDE, dedicated to following favourite routes of our readers.

I'm interested in doing one of these features in your area at some time (possibly very soon!'> and wondered if you'd fancy taking part?

You'll need to send me a fairly thorough description of your favourite ride, complete with as much local knowledge as you can muster, including the best roads, beauty spots, places of note and places to stop, pubs, cafes etc... Anything goes! But I'm after a really personal overview of a route so we can provide a really thorough, enjoyable option for other readers to try.

You'll also need to be able to accompany me and our photographer, Simon Hipperson, for one day quite soon, on your bike, whatever the weather! We'll need you to ride your route, show us the best spots and be prepared to be photographed frequently! Oh, and the route doesn't have to be circuitous: just your favourite.

If you're interested, please get back to me as soon as you can with your daytime contact details and when you might be free to take a day out to be with us.

We plan on keeping this feature going for some time so, if you don't get to come along this time, I'll keep your info in the file (as long as that's ok with you) and maybe get back to you in a few months' time, as I'm trying to cover a good range of areas throughout the country.

If you send something back and don't hear from me, please excuse me. I'm not being rude! Just snowed under with replies (I hope).

This email's been sent to multiple recipients. If you wish to be removed from the RiDER POWER database, please just let me know and I'll sort it out for you.

Meanwhile, I hope to hear from you soon!
Very best wishes
Liisa Steele
Features writer
RiDE Magazine
  

 

From:   Martin Ace
Sent:   Thursday, January 13, 2005 3:37 PM
To:     Liisa Steele
Subject:        RE: Readers' Rides

Dear Liisa,
  
Normally I would have jumped at the chance to do something with Ride magazine.  Ride is the only magazine that I buy regularly, and I have encouraged a few of my other biker friends to purchase it too.  I was originally told by my friend Gary about your “great magazine”, but his opinion, and mine, of Ride has changed drastically.

Gary was offered something similar by Ride. Gary was also invited and accepted Ride’s offer to take part in the “CBF vs SV” test which was published in April 2004.  He was promised copies of the photographs of a test ride that he took part in.  After chasing Tim Cummings for several months, he got nowhere.  But eventually, he received a photo.  Just one photo of him standing by a bike he tested.  Not one of the many action shots that he was so looking forward to receive.  Previously, when he subscribed to Ride, he was meant to receive a tail pack, complete with lubricants, the total package there had a rrp of £70.  However, he received the tail pack only, and was later offered a rucksack which was valued at only £20.  Gary subscribed to Ride for 7 years, and due to the manner in which you treated him, he has not bought a copy of your magazine since.  As Gary works shifts, getting to work was usually on his motorbike.  He was really looking forward to getting those action pictures of himself.  The unprofessional manner in which your magazine treated him is appalling, and he no longer purchases it. You should feel ashamed of yourselves morally for not keeping your word to him.  Needless to say, you’ve lost him as a customer.

I too subscribed to Ride late last year.  I was meant to receive a Luma Solido Access disk lock, but received an Oxford Magnum.  I rang EMAP up and complained about this, as there is a great discrepancy in value, and I was told that they are both the same price.  I then had to quote your article in issue December 2001 pointing out that the Luma retailed at £49.95 and the Oxford was £19.99, and also that your security rating of the Luma was 10 out of 10, compared to 3 out of 10 for the Oxford.  I eventually got a call back from Suzanne on 19/11/03 who promised me a full refund, which I received.  Subsequently, I still buy your magazine, but have not subscribed.

Another friend of mine, Vlad, did a test ride for you, just like Gary, in either the previous or following issue to which Gary did.  Well it seems that promising photos to your clients and not delivering is common.  You misquoted him too.  Vlad never said it has a “stonking” motor.  He did say something to that equivalent though, and whilst he’s not complaining about that, you must admit that it is bad form to quote unless you are being precise – after all, that is what quoting is by definition.  Ride claims to “tell it like it is” so just do that, don’t paraphrase or misquote.

This is not just a complaint though.  The are some brilliant points of your magazine.  The articles are usually very good.  I especially liked your article on chains and padlocks in November 03.  In fact, I’ve bought several chains from Almax now, and have showed the article and the chains to friends who have done likewise, including Vlad.  Your magazine does tend to write from the consumer point of view, and for me, that is excellent.  Additionally, you do not use foul language, or have pictures of semi-naked women in your articles.  Again on the same theme, you do not have advertisements of adult entertainment phone lines.  As a professional instructor, working with adults & children, it would be terrible to be seen with such a magazine.  There are other great bike mags out there that I have only bought once or twice, and will not entertain buying again unless they clean up their act.  

In summary, I would not be interested in a ride of my favourite route with yourselves for two reasons.  You’ve drastically let down a great friend of mine, Gary.  Come on now, an apology & copy of photographs of the day should be sent to him.  Secondly, I’m still learning to get confidence on my new bike.  If you could help me make extremely good use of its brakes and its cornering ability, then I’d enjoy it more.  At present, I’m over cautious, am not getting anywhere near the potential fun out of it that I could.  Struggling to keep up with a 600 Bandit on a new R1 just creates a negative confidence factor to me.  

I do eagerly wait to see how you reply to this letter.  I do not give you my permission to extract any part of it to be published in your magazine, as I do not want anything taken out of context, but you may print it in its complete form.

As a sponsor of a motorcycle forum on the internet, I intend to seek permission to copy it there.  If so, I will also copy your reply.

Best regards,
Martin Ace

 

From: Liisa Steele [mailto:liisa.steele@emap.com]
Sent: 18 January 2005 12:07
To: Martin Ace
Subject: RE: Readers' Rides
  
Dear Martin
Thank you for your letter: it's always good to get feedback, good or bad.
I'm afraid, personally, I'm not really able to help with any of your worries. Firstly, I don't believe I was involved with either of your friends' contributions to the magazine so can't comment on those specifically. Secondly, the subs gifts complaint is not down to the editorial team.

And, I'm afraid, thirdly, I've actually left RiDE! (I'm only here doing a spot of freelancing and checking the last of my emails!'>

However, I will forward your letter to the rest of the team so whoever dealt with your specific concerns can help. This isn't a cop-out; we just generally deal with our own readers, if you see what I mean, and their requests.

As for the gifts: I will also forward your email to the people in marketing who need to hear your complaint. It's very important, as you obviously appreciate, that these sorts of errors get sorted out, so thanks for letting us know.

I'm very sorry to hear your catalogue of problems with RiDE but heartened to hear your praises, too.
If you wish to re-direct your thoughts personally, please feel free to contact our office manager on debi.mcgowan@emap.com who is responsible for the distribution of mail to the editorial team.

Please accept my very best wishes, and apologies. I do hope you soon hear from someone on the magazine who is able to clarify or clear up these issues for you.

Liisa Steele
Former features writer - RiDE

 

From:   Martin Ace
Sent:   Tuesday, January 18, 2005 1:36 PM
To:     Liisa Steele
Subject:        RE: Readers' Rides

Dear Liisa,
  
Thank you for your reply.  
  
Can you please tell me who you forwarded my email to?  I do hope that these issues are answered completely, and are not left unresolved and put down to a breakdown in communications.  That would be most unprofessional.

Kind regards,
Martin Ace

 

 

From: Liisa Steele [mailto:liisa.steele@emap.com]
Sent: 18 January 2005 13:57
To: Martin Ace
Subject: RE: Readers' Rides

Hey Martin

I sent it to the whole of RiDE's editorial team (individual email addresses are in the magazine) plus two people in marketing upstairs, as promised.

I hope it all gets resolved to your satisfaction soon.

Best wishes
Liisa

 

 

18 January 2005 15:37
Hi Liisa,

Thank you again for your quick reply.  I look forward to hearing from the relevant people, and will publish this in its entirety on an internet forum.

Best regards,
Martin Ace

 

 

18 January 2005 17:10
Dear Martin

I have just read the email you sent to Liisa Steele. I am sure you will appreciate that I am very disappointed by the points you raise. However before I comment further on any of the matters I would like a chance to speak to the people concerned, particularly Tim Cummings. Unfortunately Tim is away on an editorial assignment and will not be back in the office until tomorrow afternoon. I anticipate sending you a detailed reply on Thursday when I hope to be able to fully resolve the points you have raised.

Regards

Stefan Bartlett
Editor
RiDE

 

 

To: Stefan Bartllett
19 January 2005 13:07

Dear Stefan,

Thank you for replying to me so quickly.  I eagerly await for your follow-up on this.

Kind regards,
Martin Ace

 

 
From: Stefan Bartlett [mailto:stefan.bartlett@emap.com]
Sent: 21 January 2005 17:40
To: martin@martinace.com
Subject: complaints

Dear Martin

As promised, I have looked into the matters which you raised in your earlier email. My apologies for not replying sooner, but as I said, the matters required some investigation.

I'm now satisfied that your complaints are valid and we have not treated you, Gary or Vlad in the way we should have. I'd now like to take the opportunity to apologise for that. If you would provide me with contact details for Gary and Vlad I will send them my personal apology too.

I believe we should also do something to make amends. Therefore as a gesture of goodwill I intend to send each of you the excellent Teng took kit we are currently advertising as a subscriber offer. You will receive these with no strings attached. I will also sort out the picture issues for Gary and Vlad.

In order to send the tool kits I will need addresses for each of you. I wonder if you would be so kind as to oblige.

I hope I have answered your complaint and that you will continue to enjoy the magazine. If you're not happy with anything then please let me know.

Regards

Stefan Bartlett
Editor
RiDE




Dear Stefan,

Thank you for taking the responsible role of owning this situation thrugh to completion.  Gary, Vlad and I are quite happy to accept your apology and the offer of the Teng tool kit.  As you requested, I am enclosing their addresses in order that you can contact them directly to pass on your apology and the tool kit.

You've certainly reinstalled my faith in your magazine through your professional approach and response to this situation.  So to that, I am grateful.  I'd also like to thank Liisa for taking the time to pass on the initial email to you, when at that time, she was no longer working for Ride.  

Kind regards,

Martin Ace
www.martinace.com

[TallGuy]

Just shows that a well constructed complaint gets results. '>

[iwantafireblade]

Quote (Aceman @ Jan. 24 2005,12:18)

As a sponsor of a motorcycle forum on the internet, I intend to seek permission to copy it there.  If so, I will also copy your reply.

..... i cant help wondering how much that little line influenced things lol ...

top result

can we assume they are also going to replace the gifts to other subscribers who didnt get what they thought they were signing up for? i doubt it!!

but good on ya for not taking it lying down

[Wildcat]

You need to get out more

[Aceman]

Quote (iwantafireblade @ Jan. 24 2005,23:25)

..... i cant help wondering how much that little line influenced things lol ...

You're probably right.  I don't believe in threats.  But just like Ride's moto "Tell it like it is", I thought I'd do exactly that to my buddies & peers here.  It'd be wrong not to.

Aceman

[Aceman]

Quote (iwantafireblade @ Jan. 24 2005,23:25)

can we assume they are also going to replace the gifts to other subscribers who didnt get what they thought they were signing up for? i doubt it!!

My issue was specifically for Gary, Vlad and myself only.  If other people just accept sub-standard service, that's up to them.  The problem is that companies can get used to treating its customers as pushovers, and may continue to do so.

In my business, I have a phrase that me and my Instructors' Team continually practice - "Under promise and over give".  Example, if someone is buying sparring equipment from me, my supplier can usually get it to me in 2 weeks.  When my clients/students order equipment from me, I advise them that it may be up to 4 weeks before it comes through.  So when they get it in 2 weeks, they're happy because I gave more than I promised.  This is the same in the content of the service that they are buying from me too.  They learn far more than the syllabus requires.  My whole business is based on providing an excellent service.  Just ask Troutslayer, who yesterday passed his blue belt!

Aceman

[Aceman]

Quote (Wildcat @ Jan. 25 2005,21:20)

You need to get out more

Well I've got a lot free time, certainly.  Maybe you could take me out sometime  '>

One can only try  '>

Have a BIG HUG Carrie - Aceman

[Darkmonster]

Congrat's martin, top result...

Maybe you should try complaining to the airlines that you couldn't get a ticket to California next....    '>  '>

Dave

[Aceman]

Darkmonster - I really got complacent with that one.  Never even considered a seasonal demand for transatlantic flights in the summer.  Still, more knowledge for next time.

[Tina]

Well done you!   '>

[Aceman]

Quote (Tina @ Jan. 28 2005,14:06)

Well done you!   '>

Ta very much.  It's because I don't get out enough.  Apparantly.

[Aceman]

This is actually not turning out to be successfull after all.  Neither Gary nor Vlad have received the photos that Stefan, the Editor promised, and on top of that, the free subscriptions that Vlad and I were offered have not arrived either.  I've sent 3 subsequent emails to Stefan, and none of them have been replied to.  In addition, I rang Ride mag last week, got through to voice mail, and left a messege for Stefan asking about it, and stilll haven't heard back.  

I'm going to keep trying and will keep you all informed.  I'm just "tellling it like it is!".

Below is the transcript of subsequent emails:

[Aceman]

17/1/05  
Regarding your email to me 21/1/05

Dear Stefan,

As yet, neither Gary, Vlad or I have heard anything further from you.  Would you be kind enough as to advise me of your intentions?

Personally, I would much rather receive a years free subscription to Ride Magazine than the Teng tool kit that you offered, but if it makes things easier for you, I'll settle for the kit.  Gary & Vlad would prefer the tool kit.

Please keep me advised.

Yours truly,
Martin Ace


17/2/05  
Re. Regarding your email to me 21/1/05
CC: Marisa Brennan
Dear  Martin

Thanks for the email. My intention was to send out the letter to coincide with the arrival of the tool kits. I'll check on the progress of that. I'd be happy to let you have a subscription to RiDE in preference to the tools.

Regards

Stefan Bartlett
Editor
RiDE



17/1/05
Dear Stefan,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.  Yes, I would prefer a years subscription as opposed to the tool kit, and I'm grateful for that.  I currently have the March 2005 issue, so look forward to receiving from April 2005 up to and including March 2006.  Once again, thank you for this.

I've always been puzzled with how the title of your magazine is written.  Why "RiDE" and Ride or RIDE?  Have I been missing something?

I'll copy this email to Gary & Vlad to keep them advised.  I know that they are both keen to receive the photos, especially Gary.

Best regards,
Martin Ace



18/1/05
Dear Stefan,

Please see below.  Vlad would prefer a years subscription to Ride Mag too.

Best regards,
Martin Ace



8/3/05
Dear Stefan,

In regards to your email of 17/2/05, Gary has still not received the photos you promised to him.  Additionally, neither Vlad nor I have began to receive our subscriptions of Ride magazine either.  The April edition has been available in W H Smiths for over a week now.  Can you please advise me of the situation?

Regards,
Martin Ace



14/3/05
Dear Stefan,

Since your last email to me on 17/1/05, I have not heard back from you.  I did email you subsequently on 17/2/05, 18/2/05 and 8/3/05.  Would you be kind enough as to contact me to keep me advised of your progress in this matter?

Kind regards,

Martin Ace

[Aceman]

I'd left two voice mails for Stefan and had no reply.  However on a third attempt, I managed to leave a detailed messege with a colleague of his, the office manager.  I ask for the details of who Stefan answers to, and was told that  is Mark Frost, the Publishing Director, and took his telno down too.  The office mamager said that she would make sure that Stefan rings me back.

On Friday 1st April, Stefan did call me.  He seemed most patient to hear me out, and agreed with me on every point that I made about this.  He told me that he was very busy indeed with the latest publication, which contains the most exhaustive helmet test they've ever done, and promised to call me back on Wednesday.

As you can see from the following entry, he kept his word...

[Aceman]

6/4/05,
Hi Martin

Tried to phone you today but got the answer machine.

Update is as follows. The three Teng Tool Kits were dispatched on Feb 21st. All three should definitely have arrived by now.

The subscriptions for you and Vlad are being processed. It should start from the May issue. I have arranged for copies of the Spring issue (with free supplement) to be sent to you and Vlad as well.

The picture situation is unresolved at the moment as the photographer is out of the office this week. On his return on Monday I will sort this out with him.

Hope that helps.

Stefan


8/4/05, 16:04
Hi Stefan,

I was working when you rang.  Thank you for trying to call though, that was exactly as you promised when we spoke last week.

Neither Gary, Vlad nor myself have received anything.  However, please bear in mind that both Vlad and I preferred to take a years subscription of Ride Mag in place of the Teng toolkit that you offered, and I believe this was accepted by you (my emails to you 17/2/05 & 30/3/05).  I'd like to highlight that the years subscriptions for Vlad and I were not in addition to the toolkit, but instead of it.  I don't want to give you the impression that I'm trying to squeeze lots of things out of you, so just the subscriptions will suffice to Vlad and I.  

Gary was at my house earlier today.  FYI the photographer was Simon Hipperson, and he used a digital camera.  Gary would be happy to accept the photos via email, as this may make things much simpler for yourselves.  Alternatively, they could be burnt onto a CD and sent to him (but please use recorded delivery).

Best regards,
Martin Ace


8/4/05 16:15
Hi Martin

I'm sorry you haven't received the tool kits yet. I don't understand it. The guys at our despatch depot were made aware of how important this was (they even had to source additional tool kits because the offer had been so successful) and I'm sure they have been sent as stated. I will have it checked again though.
The subscriptions are being sorted now. And I'm happy for you to have those in addition to the tool kits. I'm not sure when your first subs copy will arrive, so to cover things I've had the latest issues sent to you and Vlad separately. They went in the post yesterday and should reach you tomorrow or very early next week.
I will need Simon Hipperson's help on the pictures. He's back next week. We'll burn the pix onto a CD. It's better quality that way. Email is not designed for transmitting images (it originally conceived as a text-only system). Compressing images to email them can really affect the quality.

Hope that helps.

Regards

Stefan

[Aceman]

14/4/05

Hi Stefan,

Keeping you advised, both Vlad and I received the spring edition of Ride last week, so thank you for starting the years free subscription for him and I.  As yet though, neither of has yet received a tool kit.

Gary is very much looking forward to receiving the photos, burnt onto a CD as you agreed.  

Thank you for your efforts so far.  Gary, Vlad and I are looking forward to seeing everything coming into fruition, and again, I extend my thanks to you for this.

Best regards,
Martin Ace

[Aceman]

9/5/05

Hi Stefan,

Could you please give me an update as to how you are progressing this matter?

As yet, neither Gray or Vlad have received the photos you promised.  Vlad is not too bothered about them, but would appreciate them.  Gary is STILLL VERY KEEN to receive them as was originally offer promised to him as part of helping your magazine out with the test ride.  

Also, neither Gary, Vlad nor myself have received the toolkit that you additionally promised us.

Kind regards,
Martin Ace

[Aceman]

On Thursday 12th May, after still not hearing back from Stefan regarding the above email, I rang his office.  I got through to a general voice mail, so left a brief messege for Stefan, stating that I haven't heard back from him and would like to.  I then dug around, and rang another number for Ride Mag, and spoke to Ben.  

Ben seemed helpful when I asked if I could leave a messege for Stefan.  I advised him of the on-going stiuation, telling him whist I appreciate that the subscription has come through, that neither Vlad, Gary or myself have received the toolkits as Stefan promised, and that the photographs have still not materialised either.  I said to Ben that Stefan seemed genuinely helpful when I spoke with him, but very little is coming into fruition, and I'm beginning to think that I being palmed off.  Ben seemed to take on board what I was saying, and advised me that he'll pass a detailed messege onto Stefan.  

I also asked Ben who Stefan answers to, and noted down the email of Stefan Director at EMAP (the magazines publishers/owners).  I had to say to Ben that I hope Stefan gets back to me, else the next time I email him, I'll cc the email to his director.  I also mentioned to Ben that I sponsor theondonbikers.com and will be updating the situation completely on here.

Oh well, let's see if this actually manifests into the rest of Stefans promises coming into reality.

Martin

[Mikey]

Haha this is hilarious! Keep us posted please  :0

[Grandma]

Look in September RiDE, out now but don't believe everything you read, only had 1/2 mile straight otherwise could have gone faster, surface was crap but bike as steady as a rock.
Promised expenses etc but not holding my breath  

[Aceman]

Keeping you guys updated.  Sorry this is late, I should have posted it up here back in June.

I rang Stephan Bartlett sometime in early June to chase him up on this situation.  During our telcon, I mentioned that I am still trying to gain my confidence on my bike, and have got a course booked with Circuit Based Training (see my seperate article in the Consumer Watchdog section).  Stefan then said that they are doing an article on cornering and are looking for someone to take part in it.  As the telcon carried on, Stefan said that I sounded like the ideal person for this, and said that he'd pass my details onto Damon I'Anson (of Rapid Skills) to progress this.  Within a few days Damon contacted me and set a date of 14/6/05 for some training.  I enjoyed this and learnt a few things, and it went into the August 2005 edition of Ride magazine.  I later received a few photos of the day via email from the photographer Simon "Hippo" Hipperson.

Stefan also said that I'd be welcome to come up to their offices some time and help myself to a few things from their cupboard aka "goody bin" to make up for not receiving the Teng Tool kits that were promised to me, Gary & Vlad, but which we never received.  Stefan did mention that there seemed to be a recognised problem that a noticeable number of the free gifts that are offered with annual subscriptions are not being received by their customers.  I thought that was a pretty fair offer, and said that I'd contact him in the future about passing by and capitalizing on that.  

If that does actually happen and I can get something that is practical and useful for myself and Gary, then that woulld be compensatory enough.

Martin

[Aceman]

I sent the following email to Stefan on 10/8/05.  I've heard nothing back since.
Hi Stefan,

Thank you so much for organizing the training with Damon I’ Anson last month for the article on cornering.  I learnt a lot from Damon, and within a few minutes, could easily tell that he is an experienced instructor.

In regard to receiving Ride mag, I didn’t get the August issue which I was in.  But no problem, Gary Chillingworth gave me his copy that you sent him.  I didn’t receive the issue that had the test on the crash helmets, and I don’t believe Gary did either.  Do you have a spare copy please?  The reason I’m keen to get it is that in one of our earlier telcons, you told me that the Arai Condor, my current hat, was one of those being tested.

I’m passing through you area, tomorrow morning.  Would it be convenient to pop in and have a look in your “goody bin” as earlier discussed?  If there are a set of throw over panniers that can be used on my bike, that’d be great.  The big problem with my bike (2004 model R1) is the under seat exhausts, and how to avoid any of the non-protected parts, i.e. hot bits, from melting or igniting luggage.  

I’d like to put you in the picture with a project that I’m working on too; SatNav on motorbikes.  I currently used an MDA Compact (small PDA style phone seen on http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatc....details   ) with CoPilot SatNav.  Currently, I just listen to its directions through the standard wired hands free headphones.  I’m looking into making a mounting system that not only allows me to see it when riding, but also allows the power cables to be connected, therefore not running the battery down.  This I know I can do.  The difficult part is finding a Bluetooth headset that comfortably fits under a crash hat.  I’m seriously thinking of making one, and possibly getting it mass produced.  You may be able to point me in the right direction on this.  I’ve got a great idea that I’m sure will benefit any rider that wishes to use SatNav or just their mobile to receive calls when riding, but I don’t want to get ripped off by some company stealing my idea.

If it is possible to pop into your office, please let me know either by email or telephone before 10am tomorrow morning.

Please pass on my thanks to Simon for emailing me some of the photos that he took during the cornering article.

Best regards,
Martin Ace

[Aceman]

On 12/8/05, went up to Loughborough for a cornering course with Circuit Based Training (I'll post a full report about the fantastic course later today/tomorrow) and met Liisa Steele there (see the first posting of the topic).  The impression I got from Liisa was that I'd hear all the right things when I  speak with Ride staff, but that is probably as far as it would get.

Well to be fair, some progression has been made, in that Vlad & Gary are getting their free subscriptions, me getting some copies but certainly not all of my promised subscription, and I did get into the mag with their Cornering Course.

So what do you think I should do now?  Should I ring Stefan yet again, or should I simply escalate the situation to the director of the magazine?

Martin

[Aceman]

Haven't not heard anything back from Stefan still, I called his office today.  I was told by Debbie (I think that's her name) that Stefan is in the office, but is in a meeting.  She kindly asked if I wished to leave a message, so I did, simply stating my name and that it is in conjuction with an email that I sent Stefan on 10th August and that I have still not heard back from him.  I also asked who the Director or Ride is, and Debbie told me that it is Mark Frost.  

Well I do hope that Stefan can reply back to me soon.  I'm only only chasing up on Stefan's promises to me.

[Aceman]

Sept 15th, 2:28pm -

Having not had a response from Stefan following my call & message yesterday to him, I again rang Ride.  I spoke with Debbie, asked if she passed yesterday's message onto him, and she said she had.  I asked to speak with him, but Debbie told me that he is "in a planning meeting".  I asked if she could leave a message to say that I called, and she said she would.

Well I now know that Stefan got yesterday's message.  He may well have been busy yesterday, but hopefully he'll get back to me soon.