Why are magazines so expensive?

jtpryan · 12-14-2010, 05:50 PM

Looking at getting the color nook. One thing I notices though is the magazines are expensive where I would expect them to be cheaper (less overhead). For example Men's Health is $2.07/month. If you sign up for 2 years it is $1.45/mo for the print version (2 years (20 issues) for only $29.80 plus $4.97 delivery ).

Can somebody explain this? Magazines were a big draw for me to get the color nook.

taustin · 12-14-2010, 05:57 PM

Magazine publishers are behind the curve on this. They're still figuring out that people simply aren't going to pay more for less, and that the world will not conform to their ridiculous business model. They'll figure it out, though, and it probably won't take too long.

geertm · 12-14-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtpryan

Looking at getting the color nook. One thing I notices though is the magazines are expensive where I would expect them to be cheaper (less overhead). For example Men's Health is $2.07/month. If you sign up for 2 years it is $1.45/mo for the print version (2 years (20 issues) for only $29.80 plus $4.97 delivery ).

Can somebody explain this? Magazines were a big draw for me to get the color nook.

If you look at the product details you will see that the magazines are sold by the publisher, not B&N. This means that just like with the agency 5 books the publisher is setting the fixed price, not B&N.

zeroh · 12-14-2010, 09:55 PM

online magazines should be free.. they make their money selling ads not from subscriptions.

jbcohen · 12-14-2010, 10:01 PM

A lot of the print magazines that I subscribe to are free, they are 100% paid for by advertisers.

tubemonkey · 12-15-2010, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geertm

If you look at the product details you will see that the magazines are sold by the publisher, not B&N. This means that just like with the agency 5 books the publisher is setting the fixed price, not B&N.

Funny that, because Nat Geo costs $15 through Zinio and $24 through B&N. Is Nat Geo punishing B&N?

jasonkchapman · 12-15-2010, 07:38 AM

A couple of points from the Devil's Advocate department:

1. I don't know how it is at for-profit magazines, but at Poets & Writers we have to maintain a certain editorial-to-advertising ratio.

2. Magazines are really expensive to produce. Print magazines are also at the mercy of an extremely limited number of distributors.

3. Most print magazines, despite the advertising, need the subscriber to stay for almost two full years to make a profit on the subscription. That's why renewal mailings can be relentless at times.

4. An argument can be made that digital magazines are actually value-added, based on convenience and depending on the customer's views on trees.

5. eInk versions (on the Kindle, anyway. We haven't managed to get into the nook publishing stream yet) don't allow ads.

6. I can't speak to Zinio. We use Texterity/Coverleaf for our digital version in that market. When I write "that market" I refer to audited electronic distribution streams that count toward the circulation figures necessary to set advertising rates. (It looks awesome on Droids and iPhones, btw.)

7. Kindle magazines (and, I believe, nook magazines) are not audited, do not count toward circulation figures, and do not share subscriber information with the publisher. Those are valuable things that the publisher is giving up.

tubemonkey · 12-15-2010, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonkchapman

7. Kindle magazines (and, I believe, nook magazines) are not audited, do not count toward circulation figures, and do not share subscriber information with the publisher. Those are valuable things that the publisher is giving up.

And B&N is giving up potential subscribers by overcharging for subscriptions. They lost me on several magazines because of this.

boswd · 12-15-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Funny that, because Nat Geo costs $15 through Zinio and $24 through B&N. Is Nat Geo punishing B&N?

If I was to take a guess it could be a number of things. Nat Geo set's a set price and Zinio is willing to take an extra loss in order to sell more. Similiar to a Walmart strategy.

or Nat Geo feels they can charge more of permium due to a more popular avenue or at least hopes to be a more popular avenue. Similiar to some products and services being more expensive lets say in New York City as opposesd to Albany, NY.

waffleman · 12-27-2010, 06:39 PM

Anyone try the emagazines from Zinio on the NookColor?

What is your experience and how does it compare to BN?

SCION · 12-27-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waffleman

Anyone try the emagazines from Zinio on the NookColor?

What is your experience and how does it compare to BN?

Is it available for Android now?

swallman · 12-27-2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCION

Is it available for Android now?

From looking on their website (Zinio.com), they don't have a client for Android yet (but reading some other forums they are working on it).

RockdaMan · 12-27-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtpryan

Looking at getting the color nook. One thing I notices though is the magazines are expensive

Probably the first adopter syndrome...if so they will drop over time.

Or, the publishers want to set expectations, and so the high prices. Look for sales during the year.

12-14-2010, 05:50 PM	#1
jtpryan Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: color nook	Why are magazines so expensive? Looking at getting the color nook. One thing I notices though is the magazines are expensive where I would expect them to be cheaper (less overhead). For example Men's Health is $2.07/month. If you sign up for 2 years it is $1.45/mo for the print version (2 years (20 issues) for only $29.80 plus $4.97 delivery ). Can somebody explain this? Magazines were a big draw for me to get the color nook.

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12-14-2010, 05:57 PM	#2
taustin Wizard Posts: 1,358 Karma: 5766642 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Nook	Magazine publishers are behind the curve on this. They're still figuring out that people simply aren't going to pay more for less, and that the world will not conform to their ridiculous business model. They'll figure it out, though, and it probably won't take too long.

12-14-2010, 09:55 PM	#4
zeroh Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 132 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: nook color	online magazines should be free.. they make their money selling ads not from subscriptions.

12-14-2010, 10:01 PM	#5
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	A lot of the print magazines that I subscribe to are free, they are 100% paid for by advertisers.

12-15-2010, 07:38 AM	#7
jasonkchapman Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 2347 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC Device: Sony Reader, nook, Droid, nookColor, nookTablet	A couple of points from the Devil's Advocate department: 1. I don't know how it is at for-profit magazines, but at Poets & Writers we have to maintain a certain editorial-to-advertising ratio. 2. Magazines are really expensive to produce. Print magazines are also at the mercy of an extremely limited number of distributors. 3. Most print magazines, despite the advertising, need the subscriber to stay for almost two full years to make a profit on the subscription. That's why renewal mailings can be relentless at times. 4. An argument can be made that digital magazines are actually value-added, based on convenience and depending on the customer's views on trees. 5. eInk versions (on the Kindle, anyway. We haven't managed to get into the nook publishing stream yet) don't allow ads. 6. I can't speak to Zinio. We use Texterity/Coverleaf for our digital version in that market. When I write "that market" I refer to audited electronic distribution streams that count toward the circulation figures necessary to set advertising rates. (It looks awesome on Droids and iPhones, btw.) 7. Kindle magazines (and, I believe, nook magazines) are not audited, do not count toward circulation figures, and do not share subscriber information with the publisher. Those are valuable things that the publisher is giving up.

12-27-2010, 06:39 PM	#10
waffleman Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 10000 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: NookColor	Anyone try the emagazines from Zinio on the NookColor? What is your experience and how does it compare to BN?