Leaving mags in new locations

[Rene Schweitzer]

I like to leave copies of GR (or the Beginning Garden Railroading booklet) in "alternative" locations. If I get a haircut, I leave one there, or if I'm at the dentist's I'll put one in their magazine rack. Most everyone looks at a magazine while they're waiting, so I like to believe I'm exposing people to the hobby.

Do any of you do this? Or am I just a crazy magazine lady? (ok, maybe don't answer the second question. . . [:D])

Rene

[Marty Cozad]

Rene, thats a very good idea, i guess train shows aren't the only spot. And we won't vote if your crazy or not. it would be to one sided.

[Anonymous]

Rene
I give my old copies to people who stop by to see my GRR , because they wonder where i get some of my ideas .and trains. also when i go camping i take some mags along and pictures of my GRR , people ask what i do to keep busy since i am retired , i get the pictures and the GRR , mag. out for them to see. and tell them to stop if they ever get to my area ,I have cards made up with my address and phone number on , to make sure we are home to call first. Ben[:D]

[bman36]

Hi Rene,
I have given away many magazines to new young RR's. Haven't "planted" any as of yet. Definately like the idea though. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a good idea to me, Rene. I will leave a couple when I go to clinic tomorrow. They have two waiting rooms, one for family and one for patients. Thanks for the idea. Love to promote Garden Railroading. Have at least one open house a year and gave out lots of the Beginning a Garden Railroad magazines last year.
Richard

[markperr]

I don't make it a point to let go of my old GR's. There are too many good ideas inside them. However, if you wi***o send me several gratuitous copies each month, I'll make it a point to leave them in various locations around the Greater Ann Arbor/Brighton Michigan area.[:D]

Mark

[Anonymous]

It's a very good idea reminiscent of something called BookCrossing, where you leave a book in a public place on purpose where someone else can find, read and enjoy it. A label is put inside to indicate that the book was not actually lost. Here's their website:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/

Generally I keep my GR back issues for six months or so, and then try to pass them on to someone who admires the idea of garden railways and might want to start his or her own.

Regards,

Bill C.
South Jersey

[Rene Schweitzer]

Another thing I do is save up all the mags I don't need anymore and give them to my dad. He manages a tire shop and puts them in the waiting room when people wait for their cars. I feel better passing them along, and it doesn't matter if someone "liberates" one now and then.

I've heard that places like nursing homes enjoy getting magazines (not just hobby ones, though I'd bet they'd like those too!). Reuse and recycle!

[Anonymous]

Rene, this brings up a question, what happens to all the dated copies that don't sell on the news stand, are they shipped back to be sold as back issues?

Or are they trashed[:0][:(!]! by the magazine vendors?

[Anonymous]

I usually drop my old issues off at the hospital where I work, the funny thing is my coworkers usually see them and try and save them for me because they know I'm in the hobby...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Rene, this brings up a question, what happens to all the dated copies that don't sell on the news stand, are they shipped back to be sold as back issues?

Or are they trashed[:0][:(!]! by the magazine vendors?

Good point Matt!
It takes ALL of us to make a wave in a track not just a few....Besides I learned from past magazines that I "loaned out" they came back looking like it had been in a trash can and the cat played with it and don't forget the ole hound dog that sunk his teeth into it for a chew toy.
So now I hord all my collections, you may have have access to free copies but I do not, every thing is a referance book to me not a magazine.

[Anonymous]

Got to agree with the hoarders, I save all mine and enjoy looking back through them when I have a quiet moment or two.
Rene, how about once a year enclosing a flyer in the mag, a few pages of photo's of layouts that have been in the mag that year with contact and subscription details. If we all get that and leave it somewhere conspicuous, who knows!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Rene Schweitzer]

Matt,
The copies that don't sell on the newstand are pulled from the shelf and recycled (and not shipped back here). The retailers can receive credit on their accounts if they send us the covers/logos back to us. Some hobby shops choose to keep their issues and continue to sell them, which is nice for anyone who missed or doesn't have an issue.