The latest issue of Title Tracker was delivered yesterday and found myself wondering about its value.
Given the data we get from the distributors through XchangeIT, that this includes accurate title data including industry standard categories, the value of Title Tracker is diminished in my view.
Title Tracker feels to me like a service that is passed its use by date. I’d love to know what others think.
Its online as well – why the hard copy?
we use the hard copy at the counter for those customers who want to order a specialty magazine which we don’t regularly stock.
We use ours to help place new magazines, or to train new staff putting up magazines.
Using the 4 digit category code, the tracker tells us this info
EG 1501
15 is special interest, 01 is animals
Usually the subject can be determined from the cover of the magazine, but not always.
Sugar that coding should be in your computer system and on labels if you print them.
Same as Judy , for those unusual mags that a customer wants you need the tracker
We now search online, then the distributor.
I think it is quicker to flick the tracker open and find the magazine you are looking for then you have all the info you need eg who distributes it how often it comes out .
Yes we print labels. that is how i see what the category code is, but our labelling is done away from the counter/computers (so as not to have piles of mags in the way of customers), so title tracker is still very useful…
It’s so long since I’ve used it that I had genuinely forgotten it existed until this post. We tend to look up all mags on line now directly on the publishers or distributors sites.
Even though I do use it a few times a year I wouldnt loose any sleep if they didn’t print it, the more I think about it I think I may just cancel it .What is the cost about $70 a year ? I cant remember
Actually that’s a good point Shauns. IF the magazine publishers and distributors want us to sell their magazines they should be providing it to us for free. Another thing we are getting lumped with paying for that we shouldn’t have to (XchangeIT being the other prime example that comes to mind). Think I’ll cancel my tracker sub too. Not worth it for something we use maybe a dozen times during the year.
Yes, it is a service that ought to be free.