We allocate a pocket to Outdoor magazine and the quantity we receive fits snugly into this space. The latest issue is bagged with another magazine meaning that we need two pockets. The title does not justify two pockets so this month we either have to store the extra stock or early return. We chose the latter and will still have enough to match our previous best for this title. Magazine publishers and distributors need to consider real-estate when they allocate product to newsagencies. Doubling and tripling the size of a product can present extraordinary challenges to newsagents, challenges which can make the title under perform and the supplier to then blame the newsagent.
We do exactly as you did Mark – early return titles that are too big and do not justify extra space. The more newsagents do this, instead of just holding on to the titles, the sooner publishers and distributors will get the message.
Having to stock two issues of one title is another problem – eg Better Homes and Gardens current edition staying on sale for 8 weeks while they put out another edition in 4 weeks. BRW constantly do this, but won’t let you early return stock you don’t want. The title doesn’t justify having more than one edition on sale.