"Wargames Illustrated - Consumer-unfriendly website" Topic

While not a subscriber to WI, I just looked at their website following the ad for the latest issue here. Below the summary of contents, the helpful engine suggested a number of back issues, a couple of which did have articles that interested me, and moreover were marked with a "Save off" sticker.
Imagine my surprise when, upon proceeding further towards purchase of said issues, they turned out to be out of stock! Surely the software could, and should, be made not to offer items that aren't available?
- Result, loss of trade and of a potential subscriber…

How do issues become "not available" in the digital age of PDF files and printing, other than perhaps due to a server or hard-drive crash?

Odd, I got my digital copy the other day, but when I went to one of the pages that links back to their website to pull the data from, I go a 404 error.

That leads me to think server errors.

No, WI's digital product is just rubbish. The app that you need to use digital WI is useless and it's the only way that you can access the product.

It's unfortunate because WI is a good magazine with plenty to offer. However, I rarely read it because, for me, it's difficult to get a printed copy (hence my experience with WI's digital trash).

I'm not impressed with their site. Went there to buy a mag, got frustrated and left.

I get a digital issue once or twice a year, but don't really like the format all that much. Tried the WI Prime that they were offering, since it was going to be in PDF format and you get access to all the back issues too plus you didn't need an app for it. Very slow loading, kept crashing or locking up, so I opted out before my 3 day trial period was over.

I just bought the Prime subscription and will likely cancel it today, The website seems designed to frustrate users; it's spectacularly awful.

It's also agonizingly slow. The Vault search functionality (once you can find it) is nearly useless. A search turns up a small window of icons of particular ISSUES of WI, rather than articles. You have to click an issue, then hunt for the article (after waiting for the slow server to bring up the magazine). Seriously WI? SEARCHES SHOULD RETURN THE ARTICLES THEMSELVES. Good grief. Oh, and since only a handful of issues are displayed at a time, more time is wasted clicking and waiting for more magazines to be displayed.

The iPad app is useless for Prime subscribers.

Very disappointed, WI, You should immediately fire whoever is responsible for this fiasco.

Update -- tried it again and cancelled the subscription. A bitter shame. Websites have been around for 25 years; there's no excuse for such a poorly conceived product.

The Amazon reviews are pretty special: link

Why can MW&BG & WSS sell me a pdf without fuss but WI can't?