66 percent discount
I imagine Paul, Billie, Douandara, Vong, Meiling and Vayakone sitting at a table on a sunny Sunday afternoon in San Diego, CA. “Hey guys”, Paul shouted in ecstasy, “let’s make a new Lao magazine and let’s become the nouveau riche of the Lao media world”. “Yes, but I want to be Director”, Billie cried.
That Billie, always at the front row when it comes to attention.
“But, Paul, I want to be a Director too”, Douan whispered in Paul’s ear. “Well”, Paul replied, “I promised a Directors’ job to Vong but hey, what the heck, I’ll make you Marketing Director, how is that?”. “And can I be Creative Designer”, Vayakone asked with big expectations in her eyes. “Please Paul, I love creative stuff you know”. “Of course”, Paul smiled, “you will be the Creative Designer, alright?”
And they went on and on at that sunny afternoon when Lao Roots magazine was born. Forgetting a few essential ingredients for a successful magazine: good writers, perseverance in overcoming obstacles and the sanctity of deadlines.
Yes, there are many chiefs in Lao Roots Magazine, in love with displaying and talking about themselves, but only a few Indians. Fancy job titles worked like magnets to old iron. However, it is virtually impossible to create a magazine with only Directors and other job titles with high yuppie appeal.
Their failure to comprehend this shows, painfully.
In their own words:
Lao Roots Magazine (LRM) is a bi-monthly, nationwide magazine that captures the Laotian American experience and provides a forum for English speaking Laotian Americans
Bi Monthly? In all the months of my subscription I expected one magazine every two months (this is the meaning of Bi Monthly). Unfortunately, only two episodes arrived at my doorstep while I assumed to get 6 magazines for my 25 bucks worth. No explanation whatsoever at the Lao Roots sites, only silence about the lack of production.
Yes, it seemed such a great idea on that sunny afternoon in San Diego: let’s just make a magazine. But it takes hard work, dedication and good writers to make an interesting read. Everyone wants to be a Director or a Vice President at Lao Roots. Fancy job titles don’t make the companies though; it is all about the product and this product does not comply to promised quality standards.
Perhaps they want to take advantage of the Lao community that is so desperate to embrace a small success. Applause applause at all times is what Lao people do, even when they purchase a below-standard product from Lao producers. It appears you can open a can of Padek and Lao people pretend it smells like roses as long as it has Lao roots hanging out…
None of that. Demand quality, Lao people! This is not Lao helping Lao, this is vanity eating itself, laziness of thinking and a complete failure in perseverance. Lao Roots is failing to deliver what they promise. Don’t swallow that crap. Send in that coupon now!
Did Darly said this style of home goes for nice 100k?...
It's Friday.
I was also wondering why I only received only 2 issues.
Dear Sir or Madam:
Thank you for the review. Wow, I can’t believe you took the time to actually write that. You could have saved all that energy by emailing l me, I would have explained to you why it took so long to get it out. Yes, we started off being bi-monthly, but along the way, we’ve had to deal with numerous obstacles. Since we are a staff of volunteers, it’s difficult to get everyone to meet certain deadlines. Everyone has their real jobs that puts food on the table and not to mention their personal lives. I am thankful that they’re dedicating any amount of time to LRM. So, don’t even try to question the staff’s dedication as you don’t know the amount of time and effort everyone put into this magazine.
Secondly, getting content about Lao people isn’t all that simple. In case you’re not too familiar with Lao people, there’s not that many of us in Hollywood, sports, or the media in general. The normal citizens are extremely private about their personal lives, and thus reluctant to do interviews.
We’ve also had to deal with getting advertising revenue. In case you haven’t realized, Laotians don’t really have the numbers that demands attention from mainstream businesses. We’ve been rejected by so many companies, you couldn’t even imagine. We’ve had to struggle to even get what we have, and to be honest, most of the people that placed ads probably did it just to support us , without expecting business (or anything else) in return.
If you think this is about vanity, or taking advantage of Lao people, you are sadly off base. We’re actually losing money at this point, as I have had to front own money into LRM - Just so we have something out there. Do you even know how much it takes to produce such a high quality magazine? Oh, wait…you write a blog…that’s right… I guess you wouldn’t know.
To conlcude, I truly apologize for the delay in coming out with Issue No. 3 (which will arrive at you house within the week). But, I dont’ think it warrants this attack. If you had only received 2 issues…so what? It’s two beautiful magazine, with your people displayed in high quality paper? That’s not worth it??? If not, then I’ll gladly refund your $25…no problems. In fact, email me your name and I’ll send you back your money tonight, hopefully that’ll square us and make you happy.
It just saddens me to see another Laotian try to knock down their fellow Laotians, especially when they’re trying so hard to give to the community. Stop being a crab in a bucket and perpetuating the stereotype that all we do is sit back and criticize people. With that said, thanks Laovoices.com for your support and keep doing your thing.
-Paul
Paul wrote: “If you had only received 2 issues…so what? It’s two beautiful magazine, with your people displayed in high quality paper? That’s not worth it???” Does that mean that we’d only get 2 magazines for our subscription, or are we still getting 6 magazines for 1-year subscription of $25?
"To conlcude, I truly apologize for the delay in coming out with Issue No. 3 (which will arrive at your house within the week)."
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your quick response. I appreciate that very much because it shows more sides to this story and enriches the discussion.
First of: please refrain from playing the sympathy card (another Laotian try to knock down their fellow Laotians) and being a cry baby (they’re trying so hard to give to the community). It does not work and is a bit too obvious an attempt to mobilize support based on solely on your Lao background. Mobilizing support based on quality would be a better strategy for you.
You started this business, Paul. Contrary to your assumption that I have never published a magazine I must disappoint you again. I have published, sold advertisement for and wrote for a glossy mag.
So I do know how hard it is to create a (monthly) magazine. However, you should have known before you started out that you would run into obstacles. Anyone with a certain amount of experience in publishing could have told you that you would have run into many difficulties, especially the ones that you have mentioned.
Does that exempt you from the fact that you don’t deliver what you promise and that deadlines should be sacred?
I don’t think so.
Perhaps making a magazine is too hard. Then quit and be honest about it OR do your utmost to get it done without being a crybaby.
You run a business because you ask money from subscribers, and now we simply demand what we paid for.
Is $25 not enough to run your show? Then fire your CFO for making such a gruesome budgeting error. It is your responsibility to run a healthy business, Paul, do you understand? Simply be a man about it.
And why don’t you apologize on your site about your delays? You know it is a major sin for a magazine to publish after deadlines.
Also, should we assume that the money paid to LRM was a donation to a “charity” and we are lucky to receive any magazine at all?
And, Paul, you may play down “blogs” all you want but when will you get yours up? LOL. Not so easy, is it
And yes, I do take time to research and write things. I respect my readers and it’s also my hobby. Is that such a surprise for you? Hmmm…
So I do know how hard it is. Take care man, keep on producing LRM and learn to take some criticism. And learn to distinct criticism from an attack.
Right now, as a customer, I still have good hopes that LRM will keep up its promises without crying about how hard it is to run a regular business.
If you can’t keep up, I’ll ask for a full refund. I keep my eyes on LRM. Thanks again, Paul, sincerely.
To be honest, I did wrote a complaint on one of my posts about this, but didn’t want to ‘down the Lao people or not show support’ as most come back or excuses that Lao people like to use, and can’t say that I’m very happy that I couldn’t put Laoroots name on my post, I’m actually ashamed of myself that I didn’t. I think as Laotian doing business, we should try to do a good job and be a good role model for other Laotians, especially with your profession and education background; I was very disappointed to see how you treated your customers, Laotian readers, at least you should inform us at your web site, with this known, a slight delay we can overlook. As bloggers, we’re very responsible for our contents and our readers, we update Laovoices almost everyday, and yes, we also work just like you because we also eat food, therefore we put food on the table…just like you. I won’t ask for my refund because I’m one of the paranoid ones that didn’t subscribe under my name nor have it sent to my house for fear that my name might be sold, and thank you for honoring the 6 issues for my 1-year subscription. Here was my post of my complaint about Laoroots Magazine: http://laovoices.com/2007/12/08/the-check-is-in-the-mail/
Hi Padek (Sorry, I don’t know your real name),
I can take criticism. Can you? It’s interesting how brave you are hiding under the veil of this anonymous blog. Like I said brother, all you had to do was email me, you didn’t have to take this route. Seriously, provide me your name and I’ll send you back your $25 - we don’t want you to feel "misled". And I didn’t knock bloggers, I love blogs, I use to blog myself.
"Anyone with a certain amount of experience in publishing could have told you that you would have run into many difficulties, especially the ones that you have mentioned."
Yes, they did tell me (us). They said NOT to do a Laotian magazine, because their demographics are too low that you won’t get enough revenue from mainstream business nor support from the Laotian people. However, we ignored them because we believed in our people, and most importantly we wanted something positive out there in our community. We never claimed to be professional publishers, as I have stated, we’re compiled solely of volunteers, without ANY publishing experience - working on the mag during our spare time. We figured, even if we fail, somewhere some confused kid out there picked up one of our magazines and said "hey, Lao people can be more than gang bangers and gamblers; we can be doctors, artists, musicians, designers, athletes." And maybe that’ll inspire him to do good, or at least give him some pride in his culture.
Instead of simply criticizing, why don’t you use your vast experience in the industry and help us out. We can definitely use all the help we can get. paul@laoroots.com
Anyways, brothers and sisters. This will be my last visit here…for awhile. I wish everyone here a Happy New Year and much prosperity.
Ginger - Sorry, I don’t really read your blog…so I didn’t know what you wrote. Only reason I came on this blog was because a member of your blogroll (not going to say who) emailed me about it. Take care.
Paul, I don’t need your Lao Roots Mag to prove that Lao people can be more than bangers and gamblers. That is the oddest presumption about Lao people I ever heard and mostly a ghost in your mind, I presume.
If you want to make Lao people so proud as you claim you do, then simply deliver what you promise and stop whining about being volunteer, how hard it is and all other complaints. If you want to be a hero then do your job, more than PR-ing yourself, Buclao.
Buclao, yeah, that was your name when you hid yourself for years.
Just promise all LRM subscribers that you will give them their full $25 refund if you can’t deliver the promised 6 magazines in the first year of LRM magazine. Now that would be a great help to the Lao community, wouldn’t it?
Can you do that, Paul?
Ps: Ginger, he does read your blog but Paul is kinda in a hissy fissy mood right now. He’ll clear up soon
Hi Paul, if I want to complaint to you, then I would have emailed to you, but the last time that I emailed to ask if you’ve received my article, it took you almost 1 month to reply, and yes, I realize that you’re a very busy person. Obviously, the post that I wrote was for Lao Voices readers. I was a bit disappointed that you didn’t try to inform your readers that you can’t deliver as promised, which was a bi-monthly, you could have easily posted on your web site, or sending out letters to your subscribers, you obviously have our mailing address. Your 1st issue was April-May 2007, then you skipped June-July, and you 2nd issue was August-September 2007, and it’s now January 2008 and not a word or explanation from you, what were we suppose to think? If it were you, what would you think? IMHO, if you come out and inform us, we would have been very forgiving, as we all know that Laotians are very forgiving people. Most of us at Lao Voices might be hiding behind our pen name, including myself, but we are sincere, and our voice is heard.
Padek, I do have many silent readers.
Paul, your first comment was full lame excuses! You need to acknowledge what happened and take responsibility for your actions!
Wow! How horrible. you guys are truly pathetic, trying to put down people that are just trying to do something positive for the Lao community. I am ashamed for you.
Sam, perhaps you can think of something clever to say when you want to insult?
I bet you love it when you get ripped of. Well, that will be your fate then, "Sam".
Paul says, “I dont’ think it warrants this attack.”
There is a deep distinction between criticism and attacks. This is a constructive parody-styled criticism - the foundation of the Internet and the democratic media. If you are offended by this nature of criticism, then your are criticizing free speech, or the world wide web itself. Then it would be hypocritical of you to even have a presence online. Spam, nonconstructive gibberish, false or damaging statements are considered attacks.. but this ain’t it.
Sam says, “you guys are truly pathetic, trying to put down people that are just trying to do something positive for the Lao community.”
Your useless comment only gives lazy Laotians more excuses to fail in life. Don’t you want us to succeed?? if so.. then enjoy this parody and learn to make your own 66%-off coupon.
Them are fighting word boys! Learn to respect your elders.
I don’t know what to say right now, but I think Padek & Ginger do have a point here.
Go online and order something from Amazon or BarnesandNoble.com. Wait a couple of days, weeks, months for what you order. See how high your anxiety goes the longer it takes to receive what you order after the receipt states, ‘you will receive your shipments within 2-3 days.’
Business is business. If you’re going to start one, do it right. Your customers are your business…and regardless of anything, they will always be right!!!
Billy said: "Them are fighting word boys! Learn to respect your elders."
Ok, I am lost. How is this discussion disrespectful towards elderlies?
[...] Padek: Billy said: "Them are fighting word boys! Learn to respect your elders." Ok, I am lost. How is… [...]
The bottom line really is you got a customer who had already paid for the product(s).
If I own a business it is my job…no…..my responsibility to provide the product or notify the customers of the delay.
It is a business and not a charity. I want to make money from this business so my customers need to trust me. If they trust me then they going to tell their friends. That is how I am going to grow. And if they got ripped off, they going to tell their friends.
I remember reading an article on a Business Week magazine few year back, a business owner was telling the writer that a customer had ordered a telephony product but the items were never deliver on the specify date. When the customer call to check on his product they discover a mixed up. The owner bought a plane ticket and deliver it himself the same day. He really went above and beyond. He took it upon himself to do what was right.
Icebreaker! Icebreaker!
Thanks Dallas for your understanding of my short message.
Padek, learn to read beyond the intro…and get the true message. I’m not disagreeing with you or Nye or Lao Voices.
Wow. Quite an interesting topic. I too am a subscriber and I feel what you guys are saying. I don’t think it’s about critizing the idea behind what Paul is trying to doing, but I think people are just upset that they aren’t delivered what was promised to them.
If it were an “american” runned business and we as minorities didn’t speak up, I’m sure people would think “gosh, typical asians, never speaking up for themselves”. But since it’s Lao runned, we shouldn’t say anything? We should just sit around and wait until they feel like they are ready to publish something?
Paul, your intent with Lao Roots is a great idea, but your lack of deadlines and promises might be causing you to lose some supporters.
Billy wrote: “Them are fighting word boys! ”
If anyone needs anger anonymous tips, read nye’s article: “Anonymous as in AnonyMOUSE.” She makes us want to be nice.
If we don’t get along then some people will just laugh at our lack of social graces.
We should give nice advices (like in some of the Loavoices articles) each time we don’t agree, instead of just being mean. My advice to pual is that his business might need a consulting firm, pual needs to know why they are falling behind schedule (from someone else’s perspective.) It takes guts to admit defeat.
What is the going rate for a consulting firm? Or is that an insulting question…
Hi everyone, late comer here. Weather you are supporters, customers or both, the bottom line is what’s next for Paul and the group? I suggest that LRM (not just Paul) starts the LRM Blog for a start. We supporters or customers can meet you guys there. How’s that sound boys? Oh, I should tell you, I’m a Southerner. We use boys a lot. It’s how we talk. Don’t get offended.
Paul, Billy, and Vong, Anon was right, LRM is or was a great idea. It was a great idea for Laotians of your generation to come up with. While I was attending 2nd ICLS, I bought a copy from you guys because it’s was a great stuff create by Laotians about Laotians. It was the best souvenir I got from AZ. On the airplane ride back home, I read y’all magazine from front to back and from back to front.
I believe you guys can take care of business. So, just do it. Good luck.
Sam says: “you guys are truly pathetic, trying to put down people”.
Hey, sam. Sorry, your comment isn’t useless and no one’s lazy. It was just my crummy day…no offense to anyone.