Cedar Point Getaway Guide... WTF?

I think we are going to see another mass resistance to technology (much like we did when companies started having voice mail systems answer calls as opposed to live operators). Everyone when out and did that initially and then a lot of folks put live operators back on the phones when the complaints came rolling in.

Maybe we will see companies go back to print advertising with specialty pieces. It might be what makes thems stand out over the others.

There is something to the debate.

In record stores, people are starting to request (and purchase) LP's again, and the reason they state for wanting it is the whole experience; the graphics and art on the album cover, the "extras" that cant fit into a DVD case (or even exist when it's simply an MP3 downloaded on your Ipod). And it's not just "old" people trying to cling onto some part of their youth, it's young people as well who can appreciate something tangible vs. something electronic.

I think this falls into the same category.

Some things are worth the "extra" investment, even in troubling times.

I still prefer, when I'm reading an article or even a full book, to have it in print form rather than online. For one, the pages aren't glowing and destroying my retinas in the process. :)

While I appreciate the additional opinions, I'd just like to point out that my take has nothing to do with finding technology inferior, or a resistance to change or any of that.

I half-joked about making a PDF of the full Guide available earlier in the thread, but in all honesty, I don't think that'd be the same either.

I think that the exact same info delivered two different ways (in this case online and in print) will be used, absorbed and effective in different ways as well.

This topic has found itself moving into a strange direction. Just a few months ago, we were talking about the death of the newspaper, and how tangible media were disappearing and being replaced with electronic information. "No one wants CDs or DVDs any more, because they are just clutter." "Electronic books are better." "No one reads the newspaper anymore...they just read their news (posted by newspapers, btw) online."

Like gator just mentioned, will we be predicting the death of real roller coasters in a few years, because the experience was replaced with on ride videos on YouTube?

I loved the GG as a kid. I must admit that before the internet became a household info source, I ordered one every year. I would be so excited to get it. My first visit was because of the GG. I feel like I have made a mistake in not ordering one within the last 5 or 10 years.

I think someone needs to mention that the photos and info in the GG came directly from the park. It all fit the same image, and the art direction was was pretty consistant from page to page and from year to year. That can not be compared with the thousands of images, trip reports, and fan sites that the public, both pro and novice photographers and writers, can post on the internet.

They have some gorgeous photos and videos on their own website however.

This is definitely one of those places where the "I have it in my hand" factor comes into play.

I heard (which means it must be true) that Webster's dictionary actually started selling *better* once they put it online for free because having one handily available without booting up was worth the $20 or whatever to buy a physical copy. So they gained a customer base from on-line access, but the product was not replaced by online access.

I would imagine that sharing the GG (never ordered or seen one) is right in that range where I'll do it if I have it in my hand and I won't if I have to give someone a link to a website.

Does the cost of printing it justify that advantage? I don't know.

wahoo skipper said:Maybe we will see companies go back to print advertising with specialty pieces. It might be what makes thems stand out over the others.

...and in the end, isn't "standing out" one of the cornerstones of effective advertising? The fewer people that actually do things in print, the more people will want to do things in print. Or something. That's hot! ;)

Carrie M. said:
...for people who were already interested. That's the part that I keep coming back to about this. This isn't directly reaching people who haven't looked for it.

Isn't that what marketing ultimately is? Niche cable networks are so attractive to advertisers because they create pools of specific demographics, a reason you won't see an i-pod commercial on the History Channel.

My point being, you DO market to people that are interested to a certain extent, it's all about reminding the consumer that you are there.

Also, with TV, radio and print journalism becoming less and less relevant by the minute, it might be better to have as many alternative forms of advertising as possible. In that sense, it is thinking out of the box.

I still prefer, when I'm reading an article or even a full book, to have it in print form rather than online.

I did too, until my wife bought me a Kindle for my birthday. That thing is awesome.

I saw one on the plane to Florida, and then one in Hawaii at the pool. A woman had it wrapped in a plastic bag. It's pretty remarkable... I could read it from afar it was so clear. I don't need one, but I'd really like to try it.

I think I would read more books, especially when I could use the iPhone app when I didn't have the Kindle with me. Still waiting another generation or two until they work out the hardware.

Yeah, I gotta admit, the Kindle looks pretty amazing. It doesn't seem to have that same eye-straining problem that a computer monitor has, not to mention to can hold it at an angle like a book, rather than starting at it while it's sitting straight in front of you.

Brian Noble said:
I did too, until my wife bought me a Kindle for my birthday. That thing is awesome.

I've often wondered if people take those places like in the bathroom. Like are people firing up the kindle for some "quality reading time" the same way Al Bundy reached for the newspaper?

Probably. I surf on my BB Curve whilst on the throne, on occasion.

Its like multi-tasking, or... *ahem* double doody, if you will. :)

In a perfect segue...

A couple of months ago I picked up a cruise booklet (probably 50 pages) for one of the cruise lines that I was thinking of travelling on. I didn't end up taking the trip, but the booklet has sat next to my throne since. Every time I need to "multi-task" I pick it up and read about some of the different trips they offer.

It's anecdotal, but another example of why print is hard to replace with electrons.

After reading through all 5 pages of this thread in a row, I'm left wondering who sprinkled "charm dust" on that Q-bot Gonch is getting personal with in his picture.

Anyway, way back in the original post, it was mentioned that the guide contained advertisements from other businesses in the area. I assume that would help pay for the cost of printing, mailing, etc. If those companies have decided to discontinue buying ads, that would dry up a lot of the money used to produce the guides. Maybe that's why they've cut back on the content.

To all the folks arguing about sending dead trees in the mail and how electronic content is more effective, please tell that to all the people still sending me junk mail. :)

RatherGoodBear said:
After reading through all 5 pages of this thread in a row, I'm left wondering who sprinkled "charm dust" on that Q-bot Gonch is getting personal with in his picture.

Q-bot tastes like baby bunnies feel.

About the ads on the back of the GG...Bear, you seriously are one of the smartest guys around CB.

About junk mail...

RatherGoodBear said:

To all the folks arguing about sending dead trees in the mail and how electronic content is more effective, please tell that to all the people still sending me junk mail. :)

That's one of the things that I do for a living; send people junk mail. It's the only thing keeping the post offices from closing down, or so I am told. My boss pays hundreds-of-thousands of dollars to the post office each year. He still makes a hefty profit from the businesses who want the junk mail inserted into our free classified mailer.

That really sucks cause i liked to go back and look at them and collect them but oh well what can i do?