|
|
Real Cool Stuff at GREAT SAVINGS...Why shop elsewhere?
|
|
|
All You Wanted to Know About Magazine Subscriptions ,
But were Afraid to Ask !
Disclaimer
|
Ok , it's not everything you wanted to know , as I keep learning new things all the time. If you are aware of something I have left out , or have additional information , please
share it.
Also let me state , in my opinion , magazines , and especially magazine subscriptions , are the best value for the money. The monies publishers receive from the subscriptions or sales of their magazines don't even come close , with few exceptions , to covering the cost of producing the magazine. And yet , as a consumer , you get an informative , entertaining , "booklet" which you can enjoy for years.
|
If Not From Subscriptions / Sales - Then How Do Magazines Hope to Make a Profit?
|
In a word, ADVERTISING. Those ads you see filling your magazine can cost mucho dinero. Sometimes 10's of thousands of dollars per page! ( some small niche magazines survive on grants from agencies, corporations, or patrons etc. but talking here about the mainstream publications ) The higher and/or more specific the magazines audited circulation is the more they can charge. ( The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) certifies circulation of over 3,000 magazines around the world. )
|
So if the Bulk of a Magazine's Revenue is from Advertising - Then Why Charge?
|
Until recently , the audited paid circulation of a magazine , which is a factor advertisers base their expenditures on , required that only paid subscriptions that met certain payment guidelines were counted.
Some magazines don't charge or give away free subscriptions at times to boost circulation.
Some magazines do need those subscription dollars.
Some magazines sometimes do offer free or very low subscriptions , usually trade magazines , but require a business card specific to the industry they serve.
Some magazines choose to charge their distributing agents very little ( thus getting very little revenue in return ) hoping that the agents will spend the extra dollars promoting their magazine.
All in all , this is capitalism. To continue to offer the end consumer the great value that a magazine represents , does require it to be profitable. To be profitable it needs subscribers as well as advertisers. Which marketing route the publisher chooses to follow is of individual choice.
|
What Gives with The "Official Publisher's Subscription Rate" ?
|
In a nutshell , this is the rate that the magazine chooses to have the end consumer charged for a subscription to their magazine. In theory that's reasonable , to determine what you would like your product to be sold for at retail. It might sound a little like "price fixing" but in the long term it is , in my opinion , best for all concerned , if followed reasonably. After all , we as an agency perform a service and would like to make a living , the fulfillment service* we use that submits the orders to the magazines needs to make a living , the magazine needs subscribers to be profitable or you won't have a magazine to enjoy! This is what is known in business as the win-win-win scenario. If everyone is not a winner , then in the end everyone loses!
*Most magazines do not contract with thousands of different agencies. The costs and paperwork would just add to the price. Instead they choose to contract with a few of the handful of fulfillment services around the country. In turn these fulfillment services limit the number of agencies they contract with. ( level 2 - that's where we are at ) Then these agencies solicit sub-agents to sell the subscriptions , etc. ( see where all that revenue goes ) ( no , we are not as yet soliciting sub-agents , but soon. However be warned , only legitimate , reputable and honorable people will be considered. There are enough bad apples in this honorable profession. )
|
What About The Discounters Who Sell Below the "Official Publisher's Subscription Rate" ?
|
Actually , I've seen a few of the magazine's own websites selling below their own "Official Publisher's Subscription Rate". Also some agencies can make special deals directly with some magazines themselves to offer lower prices. We even have a few of those. It also depends on the contracts that are signed and what the stated resale price is to be. But all in all , remember the economic rules above. We will only sell at the stated official prices in our contracts. We have been authorized to allow a small discount to those who also choose to receive the "RealCoolSavings Alert newsletter" . ( don't worry we DO NOT share your information with anyone else nor do we abuse the privilege to correspond with you ) Also to introduce you to this site and our new sister sites , with more to come , we offer gift certificates with many subscriptions valid at those sites.
As for the deep discounted subscriptions you see sometimes , be wary. Most are not legitimate agents , but are clearing their orders through someone else. Eventually the magazines discover them and close them down as well as the agency that knowingly helped them. If they didn't , eventually legitimate agencies would go out of business , magazines sales would go down , and you would be left without a magazine to enjoy. There are however a few around like
Best Magazine Deals who sell a number of subscriptions as low as $4.69 a year. What they do is charge a very small processing fee and provide subscriptions that are considered a free gift to you , but paid for by a sponsor who pays the "Official Publisher's Subscription Rate" on your behalf in exchange for having you on their newsletter list. I wholeheartedly recommend them , and you should check them out , as their prices can be lower than ours !
|
The Truth About Those Free Trial Offers
|
Most people realize that it is very unusual to get something for nothing,
but a lot of internet sites would have you believe that the laws of the universe don't apply to the web.
Unlike the completely complimentary subscriptions sometimes available through some sites,
on most sites you'll be offered free subscriptions, free issues, free trials and other inducements designed to get you to sign up now!
What we've never understood is - if it's free, then how come a credit card is almost always required?
If you're ordering popular consumer magazines directly from a publisher, free trial offers can
sometimes be a good way to get trial issues or get a subscription started. Also, specialized
professional magazines or trade journals are often sent without charge to qualified professionals.
However, if you're ordering popular consumer magazines from an agency on or off-line, here's the truth
about what can happen when you agree to a free trial .
Instead of a traditional yearly subscription, you may unwittingly sign up for an endlessly renewing
contract, like a book or record club. The merchant buries the charge for the renewal on your
credit card once a year and hopes you won't notice.
or... a few weeks after you order, you start to receive junk mail about special sweepstakes or telemarketing calls. Sound familiar?
The trial offer is often just a way to get your name, address, phone number, credit card and preferences to set you up for the real pitch that comes a little later.
If you're like most people, you'll say no, but don't worry, they'll call again and again hoping you'll change your mind.
or... you'll probably get a bill before you even get your first issue. You'll
want to wait for the free trial to start, but before you get a
second issue, you'll get a late notice. You may decide not to
keep the subscription, write cancel on the bill and mail it back just like they promised you could, but you'll keep getting bills.
( "free" trials must be cancelled by a certain date or you have agreed to pay them - usually that date expires even before you get
your first issue. )
There's never a phone number to call because they hope you'll get worn out and pay, but if you don't, eventually you'll get a collection agency letter, sadly informing you that you broke your promise .
In short , usually, it is easy to sign up for a "free" trial subscription but difficult to find a contact number to cancel. Even writing "cancel" on the bill rarely stops the process.
It is a nasty marketing technique and should be avoided unless you read the fine print first and deal with a legitimate agency !!!
Your privacy is important to us. Here at Real Cool Magazines we protect it !
No one ( not even the publishers! ) will get your phone number or email information. ( even if they make us walk over hot coals ! ) and you'll never get a sales call from us.
We're here to provide subscriptions and products for people who know what they want, and offer the lowest legitimate pricing on the web and the best service available. We think that's enough to build a business that you will wish to patronize and recommend.
|
Delivery
|
Currently we can offer delivery to United States addresses only. Yes, this DOES include the territories and commonwealths.
|
|
|
|
Copyright 2002
| | |
