ESR magazine has closed its doors. This letter from Bob Harper made the rounds in Australian internet and media circles in May or June 2004, date unknown to me. A friend forwarded it to me at the end of June. Despite our position as a Contributing Editor, Bob Harper has not responded to our inquiries sent in the first quarter of 2004.
— Tom Sundstrom [W2XQ], Contributing Editor, Baudwalking
— Chat with me (Baudwalk) in Internet Relay Chat channel #Baudwalking using a Java-enabled browser. Could be anytime, not always at computer, look early evenings NA east coast onward, weekends. More how-to info...

To all the supporters of ESR, those who tried to help me make it work. I appreciate your help, but even so, ESR has failed to return a profit, or even to break even. The distribution figures were dissappointing, and was not increasing, therefore was not likely to break even no matter how long I persisted. Like yourself, I dearly wanted it to be viable, and expected it to be. However, I could not afford to continue subsidising it's production.

Printing
I really owe a debt of gratitude to Cranbrook Press of Toowoomba, who helped me in every way that I can imagine they could. I would happily work with them again, and appreciate their efforts greatly.

Sales & Distribution
The distribution figures were too low to offer any expectation of success, with around 2500 sold from 8500 distributed. In rough terms, I paid out $13,500 each issue, not counting contributors fees, for just over $13,000 in sales -less the $3400 is cost to distribute the magazine. Ie -I was losing around $5000 per issue by the time other expenses (Phone, Postage, Website etc.) were added in. If I can make a personal observation, the distribution effectiveness was dismal, the payments were slow and disappointing, and I could not use the data to plan as there was too little, too late. Get me drunk and I'll tell you what I really think of distributors!

Advertising
The advertising was poor. While some supported us very well, thank you very much; others took a wait and see approach. Some kept dodging the issue with a "We'll call you back." response, while others simply kept making promises. Now the only commercial magazine they have to access a wide range of radio readers is gone! Sure, Silicon Chip gets to some readers, and Amateur Radio gets to some more, but advertisers have lost their opportunity to reach a large proportion of the market as many ESR readers wanted the magazine for the advertising! If they do not support the remaining magazines, they may simply have to wait for their customers to trip over their doorstep!

Subscribers
I had hoped to pick up around a hundred subs per month, and even more after we had become established, but we picked up only a hundred or so subscriptions in total. I appreciate the support of those people, within Australia and overseas, and feel that I have let them down.

NOTE:- Subscribers will receive a cheque accompanied by this letter as soon as I can sort out a few things, repaying the balance of their subscription. I regret that I was not able to fulfill the subs. The formula I have used is the subscription amount less the number of issues @ the cover price. I did not apply any other fees, and those who did not receive an issue will receive their full subscription back. Some will simply have their cheques returned as they were not deposited.

Back issues are still available and if you do not already have them, and still want copies, please send $7 per copy. I'll sell them until I run out.

Contributors
Once again the contributors been working toward goal that the radio community simply did not support, or not well enough anyway. I have paid some contributors already, and expect to finalise the repayments as soon as I am able, ie. as the funds allow. I appreciate those who have made concessions or waived their fees. It helps my finances which a pretty dismal right now. I am once again unemployed, apparently unemployable, and I'm not 50 yet! (Thanks to the Federal Government who I trust you will "inform" as the upcoming elections!) I hope that you find other media and venues for you talents.

Readers
I have had so many great phone calls, great responses in the mail, positive comments on the internet and emails, that I am sure that the ones that buy the magazine appreciate it, and approve of the content. I really do regret that the magazine didn't take off, and hope that you recognise that any future ventures really need your support if you are to have a voice.

To those very few that moaned and groaned about delays, and were so forthright in their opinions on what I had to do to make it work, here is your chance to put your money where your collective mouths are, and try it for yourself. Good Luck!

Website - The ESR website hasn't been updated for a long time and probably won't be except perhaps for a brief "Goodbye" notice when I shut it down very soon. There was a plan to make a web-mag, but it seemed that I would be doing about the same amount of work for very little income. In the long run, I can't afford to keep it alive. There is a better version of it available as ".PHP" code if anybody wants to make an offer. I'd even be prepared to make it work for your own purposes if you want to pay me for the time!

My Future Plans
I can't see me being heavily involved in radio anymore. I've been burned once too often. I have made many friends through CB and Amateur Radio, who I hope to hear from over time, but I feel it's time for a change in direction. Maybe I'll take up Model Engineering, or work on my Home Brewing!

Thanks to all who tried to make ESR work, the world needs more of you!

Cheers and 73
Bob Harper
VK4KNH, LDR23