I worked for Gannett for many years and the rule of thumb was that Newspapers lost $$ at the newsstand or paperboy home delivery... but made millions off of advertisement......So if this is true with Trains the charge of the Mag should only cover the costs of circulations and they make $$$$$$$ only off the Ads. So this subscriber only news is hurting the advertisers.
I do not subscribe to any Kalmbach magazine but I purchase every issue of the railroad-related magazines at my local hobby shop because I want to support local business. This means I see every ad that is published in the magazines, and I see every ad that Kalmbach permits me to see online; but there are lots of features that I can't access online because I'm not a subscriber. If I decide to subscribe, I will be depriving my local hobby shop of revenue. It seems that Kalmbach's policy of preventing me from seeing some online content is a sort of punishment for supporting a local retailer. I don't get it. Kalmbach gets paid anyway, so why can't I get access to the entire content? Kalmbach, are you listening?
Just so you don't get the wrong impression, I'm not holding the water for Kalmbach, or any other publisher for that matter. OK, so here goes...
Here's the thing, if you publish a magazine, or a newspaper, or any other periodical you DON'T give away the farm online. That's a good way to put yourself out of business. A lot of newspapers and magazines have gotten themselves into deep doo-doo by breaking that rule. No-ones going to pay for something they can get for free, on-line or otherwise.
Take a look at other rail publications like "Railpace" or "Railfan and Railroad". They've got their websites too, but if you take a look you'll see they show just enough to give you a taste. They're not giving the farm away either. Very smart of them.
Concentrate on what you DO get on this site. That's the important thing.
PS: I'm a subscriber, but that doesn't get me access to the whole Kalmbach world either. There's things I can't see on the "Classic Toy Trains" site as I don't suscribe to that mag. So what? Doesn't bother me in the least. There's plenty of things there I CAN see.
The truth is that 'print' publication models are not all that attractive as money generation models in the past few years. On-Line has really cut into the advertising that gets printed. That said, I am sure Kalmbach must be making money to keep the printed copies of their publication alive. And they do also sell 'e' copies of their magazines. Specialty magazines like Trains/Model Railroader most likely need both subscription and advertising to pay the bills.
I have both a subscription to Trains and Model Railroader, and I also subscribe to MR Plus as well. And yes, there are ads targeted at 'subscribers'. How much they bring in is Kalmbach's business, not mine.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Yes, I agree that Kalmbach has to make money to stay in business. It just seems to be a shame that the company is rewarding readers who subscribe directly, which translates into punishing those who buy from the retailers who faithfully serve Kalmbach by carrying their magazines. I'd rather support my local hobby shop, so I'll get by without the enhanced content. It's a choice I don't regret.
Every issue of Mode Railroader has a code that the hobby shop/newsstand purchaser can use for access to on-line to web exclusive content for that issue for a limited time. I don't know for sure (I am a subscriber), but think, the access includes some other site features. The code is at the top left of the 4th page there is a reference to it on the cover starting with the Dec 2012 issue, but all the other 2012 issues have a code too.
Perhaps ACY could try it and let us know.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
ACY I do not subscribe to any Kalmbach magazine but I purchase every issue of the railroad-related magazines at my local hobby shop because I want to support local business. This means I see every ad that is published in the magazines, and I see every ad that Kalmbach permits me to see online; but there are lots of features that I can't access online because I'm not a subscriber. If I decide to subscribe, I will be depriving my local hobby shop of revenue. It seems that Kalmbach's policy of preventing me from seeing some online content is a sort of punishment for supporting a local retailer. I don't get it. Kalmbach gets paid anyway, so why can't I get access to the entire content? Kalmbach, are you listening?
Thanx. I'll try it.
ACY
I would opine that virtually every magazine operates the same way.
Some portion of the reduced price per copy one pays when one subscribes undoubtedly reflects what the publisher saves sending your magazine directly to you, instead of through a middleman.
For those who purchase their magazine through their local hobby shop, it's a tough decision - save a few bucks, get special on-line access, etc, and have the magazine delivered to your home, or support your local hobby dealer. If you routinely buy your magazine(s) at a chain bookstore, the decision is probably less painful.
I've currently got Trains both in paper and on my tablet. Each has advantages. And since I subscribe, I get whatever on-line content I care to use.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Bonaventure10I worked for Gannett for many years and the rule of thumb was that Newspapers lost $$ at the newsstand or paperboy home delivery... but made millions off of advertisement......So if this is true with Trains the charge of the Mag should only cover the costs of circulations and they make $$$$$$$ only off the Ads. So this subscriber only news is hurting the advertisers.
What you say is interesting, Bonaventure. But from everything I've heard is the problem newspapers face today is from the lack of subscribers. If you have no subscribers you won't have many advertisers.
Perhaps but USA Today is given away free at Hampton Inns and major hotels across America. USA Today and the rest of Gannets papers are read at least 2.5 times.
It's nuts to buy a magazine you read every month at the newsstand. Support your local hobby dealer by buying your MODELS from him instead of nickeling and diming him on-line. Trains, another business concern in whose survival we are interested, is very happy to be supported by you buying via subscription at a discounted price.
Big-circulation print, newspapers and magazines, used to get most of their revenue from advertising. For smaller-market publications, such as the newspaper I worked for, for 20 years -- and, I suspect, Trains -- the split was about 50-50. I'm sure that balance has been destroyed by the internet incursions since I retired in 2005.
It's up to businesses to adjust to the new realities. If they don't, you can't save them by quixotic gestures such as buying your magazines at the hobby shop.
Not in the publishing or printing trades, but I am not ambivalent about Magazines either. I have been a TRAINS Reader for a long time. For years I bought my issues of Both MR and Trains at the Hobby Shop of a fiend and a work place for me.
And consequently, since I moved out to an area where there are no Hobby Shops or Magazine stands. I have subscribed; so I do not miss an issue. Newsstand coverage is pretty spotty and about the only regular supply is at an area Supermarket.
I enjoy reading Kalmbach's Railroad oriented publications, but TRAINS is my regular read, although, from time to time I buy some of the others at the Supermarket.
I think that it is helpful to the Publishers to have a number of subscribers as that helps to establish their needs out of the Printers. The Rack Dealers do a pretty good job of stocking, but never seem to be able to have their numbers exactly match the demands...
.
Subscribing is cheaper, so that's what I do. The best deal is the three year subscription . It works for me... I've been reading Trains since 1973, and I'm pretty sure I'll still be reading it in three years from now.
I don't care about buying local or supporting the local hobby shop. As a customer and purchaser it is all about ME and what I want. If the local hobby shop wants me to buy the magazine from them then they have to beat the subscription price and make it more convenient for me than walking to and from my mailbox. You're not helping your hobby shop by buying from them in spite of better deals elsewhere or via purchasing direct. You want them to survive? Then make them WORK for your money by offering competitive alternatives. If the store is too weak to make it without the "buy local" or "help the little guy" mantra then do them a favor and let it die.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.