Fictionwise suspends emagazine subscriptions

[ShellShock]

I have subscribed to Asimov's Science Fiction magazine for several years through Fictionwise. This week I came to renew the annual subscription to find that it is no longer offered by Fictionwise. When I asked for an explanation this is, this was the reply:

"I'm sorry but we are not offering subscriptions at this time. Please use the single issue purchase option."

As I expected, it doesn't explain why they have stopped the subscriptions. I think other emagazine subscriptions are no longer available too through FW. Is this another symptom of FW's demise? They do not want to make any long-term commitments that they may not be able to keep?

The kicker is that there are now no official outlets for this magazine for me, because I am not in the USA/Canada (which rules out the Sony online store, which sells it), and I don't own a Kindle (which rules out Amazon.co.uk, which also sells it, but in Kindle format whereas I want epub).

Well, I said Amazon was ruled out, but there is always Calibre! Assuming DRM is not a problem...

[Graham]

Yes, these were suspended back in June. My subs run out soon too.

Amazon's probably still your best bet, either by removing the DRM if you're comfortable with doing that, or simply adding a Kindle or a reader that can support the Kindle app to your devices.

Graham

[eric11210]

Personally, I just wait for one of their discount codes to be published and then buy the current issue. It comes out cheaper that way.

BTW, you should be able to access the Sony store for a sub if you use a VPN and an American address for billing. If you are comfortable with that...

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

I have subscribed to Asimov's Science Fiction magazine for several years through Fictionwise. This week I came to renew the annual subscription to find that it is no longer offered by Fictionwise.

Yes, this happened a few months back. I suggest that you write to Dell Magazines, urging them to offer their magazine as an ebook subscription directly.

I'd love to buy (non-DRM, ePub or Mobipocket) directly from Dell Magazines. It seems to me that by offering direct subscriptions and single issues through distribution they'd get the best of both worlds.

[ShellShock]

I've raised this on the magazine forum, and I think the editor is aware of the problem, so there may be some progress.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

I've raised this on the magazine forum, and I think the editor is aware of the problem, so there may be some progress.

The more people who send emails to the editor, the more likely he is to do something.

[Lemurion]

Sony and Amazon both do subscriptions, the problem (for me) is that neither do subs the classic way where you pay for a year up front and forget about it. They want you to pay every month - which defeats the purpose of a subscription. I don't want monthly billing.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Sony and Amazon both do subscriptions, the problem (for me) is that neither do subs the classic way where you pay for a year up front and forget about it. They want you to pay every month - which defeats the purpose of a subscription. I don't want monthly billing.

Exactly. I want to pay up-for a year or two, and get a significant discount on the single issue price because of the long-term commitment.

Luckily I have a year or two to go on my Fictionwise subs. Hopefully subs will be available elsewhere or directly before they run out.

[leebase]

Anybody know WTF is up with Fictionwise? I could understand some time of transition due to the Big 5, but that's been a long time ago and they still don't have the content I used to go to them for.

I thought Fictionwise would actually benefit from Agency pricing. Their normal pricing was WAY too high, and only tenable when you considered all their buyers club and specials and such. But the Agency pricing, they should be able to make money just selling at the agency rate -- just like every other ebook store.

Lee

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by leebase

Anybody know WTF is up with Fictionwise? I could understand some time of transition due to the Big 5, but that's been a long time ago and they still don't have the content I used to go to them for.

I thought Fictionwise would actually benefit from Agency pricing. Their normal pricing was WAY too high, and only tenable when you considered all their buyers club and specials and such. But the Agency pricing, they should be able to make money just selling at the agency rate -- just like every other ebook store.

Lee

Two words: Barnes & Noble.

Since B&N bought them, FW has been left to wither on the vine. B&N wanted certain things from them (Ereader format and DRM) and once they had that they just stopped caring.