Check out the latest online publisher deal – a offer at Spreets for New Scientist. They are seeing a subscription at 60% off the retail price. Indeed, price is the key to their pitch. If they loved their product enough and trusted their product enough they would not have to make this about price.
Publishers send us their titles not only to sell but to also promote so they have a recognised brand to sell elsewhere. The more they make us out to be expensive the more people will access their products online. This will lead to a reduction in magazine retail space.
I think that deals like this Spreets offer for New Scientist are false economy.
I’d prefer the publisher of New Scientist to engage with newsagents to try and drive over the counter sales. We’ll ask for margin. They will say they can’t afford it. They will then offer 60% off for a subscription which I reckon would cost more to fulfil.
This is most frustrating. yes I understand that subscriptions play a role. But 60% off? And indirectly whacking retailers to boot? Publishers print the retail price on their covers. Am I alone in seeing the irony here?