Dungeon Mag #101 - slight ranty.

[Brown Jenkin]

A magazine can not run on subscriptions alone. While subscriptions are more profitable per magazine the extra newstand sales do make a significant difference to the bottom line. While the profit may be higher by subcribers they are still making a profit on the newsstand sales. additionally these newsstand sales increase the overall readership numbers allowing higher advertising rates to be charged benefiting everyone.

I remember a few years back when both Consumer Reports and National Geographic started newsstand sales to help thier magazines out. For those saying subscriptions are what will save the magazine they are partially right but newsstand sales are equally important. Even for Dungeon this can be the case. The sales figues displayed for Dungeon over the last few years shown at Origins showed a major spike for issue 100. Since it is nearly impossible to have a sales spike on subscriptioins alone this does say that newstand sales can make a diference.

If subscriptions are so important why not go to a subscription only model? Because it is not as profitable as selling on the newsstands as well. Why then should a magazine alienate the newstand sales? If Dungeon realy wants to go down this road then that is thier choice but by making thier newsstand purchasers happy as well they will only increase thier profit.

 

[Welverin]

As an aside, does anyone know if Dungeon back issues ordered through Paizo are 'subscriber' issues or 'newsstand' issues?

I got a copy of #85 from them and it came in an unadorned poly bag (i.e. no printing on it), so I'd guess they're left over subscriber issues. Though I can't say for sure about the newer issues.

Of course the only way to be sure is to ask Paizo directly.

 

[physicscarp]

Originally posted bymmu1
Right... Because being a gamer is about "going the extra step" for the people kind enough to take your money, because you should be glad there's anything for you to buy out there at all.

Yes, that is what it's about for some gamers. Or at least that's how I thought that the thread started. It was about people wanting to go the extra step to give their local gaming store money, but being upset that they weren't getting eveything that they paid for. Except they are getting what they paid for, a magazine.

And to call the "subscriber-only" sections "free content"?

Perhaps free is the wrong word to describe it. How about extra content? Additional content?

It's more like them condescending to sell you something approaching the size and value of a real magazine as a "reward" for subscribing, while sending incomplete product to the newsstands, hoping a few people will pick it up anyway out of habit.

Dungeon is suddenly sending an incomplete product to the newsstands because they are offering perks to subscribers?! I suppose Sports Illustrated should have a rack of football phones next to every magazine outlet in America too. Subscriber perks have been used in the magazine industry for years. If you want the perk, subscribe. But to call the magazine incomplete because it doesn't include the additional content is just foolish.

If you think you're actually getting a good deal on your Dungeon and they're going "above and beyond" to provide you with "free" stuff, I've got a bridge up on EBay you might be interested in...

While I appreciate the offer, I'm not looking for a bridge right now. However, I think this gets to the heart of the problem. I do think I'm getting a good deal buying it off the newsstand. I also think I'll get an even better deal when I subscribe (more material at a cheaper cost = better deal).

Carp

 

[JPL]

Yes money talks, and mine is staying in my wallet. Of course this has as much to do with 3.5 as Dungeon/Poly, but I'm not pleased with this decision either.

I cancel you out, bro.

Before the merger, I never bought either mag. Now I do.

 

[Anubis the Doomseer]

Originally posted by mmu1
Right... Because being a gamer is about "going the extra step" for the people kind enough to take your money, because you should be glad there's anything for you to buy out there at all.

Flip the point of view around for a minute - why should Paizo give you the extra content? You have made no commitment, the risk of copyleft is still as present as ever, they make no additional moneys off the content, etc.

Additional content/support is one of the few results of the copyright/left dispute that I see as a good thing. I like (and will pay) for additional content and support above and beyond the product. I will file-share mp3s, but buy the CD at a store for the extras. Paizo is saying "look, we need a guaranteed revenue stream - if you subscribe and sign on for a commitment then we promise to give you a little somethign extra", much the same way a FLGS may offer demos and playing space in exchange for you spending the extra couple of bucks instead of buying from the internet or WalMart. It isn't "ripping you off" it's value-added content.

By the way - yes, you are privileged to have a magazine like this. Because if it didn't exist you'd actually have to THINK and come up with your own material.

- Ma'at

 

[Mark Chance]

By the way - yes, you are privileged to have a magazine like this. Because if it didn't exist you'd actually have to THINK and come up with your own material.

Well, I for one do not have time for that. What with being the center of the cosmos and all.

 

[mmu1]

Well, I for one do not have time for that. What with being the center of the cosmos and all.

So, is that "humor" or an unintentionally accurate description of your attitude towards customers in your role as a PDF publisher?

 

[Mark Chance]

So, is that "humor" or an unintentionally accurate description of your attitude towards customers in your role as a PDF publisher?

Everything I post here is intended to be humorous, even if I'm the only one laughing.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Dungeon is suddenly sending an incomplete product to the newsstands because they are offering perks to subscribers?! I suppose Sports Illustrated should have a rack of football phones next to every magazine outlet in America too. Subscriber perks have been used in the magazine industry for years. If you want the perk, subscribe. But to call the magazine incomplete because it doesn't include the additional content is just foolish.

I have no problem with subscriber perks until they interfer with the main content of what I am purchasing. SI's football phones don't interfer with the content of the magazine. Now if SI said that they will only provide football coverage to subscribers I bet you would here a outcry that made national news. As for Dungeon I would be fine if they gave some perks to subscribers like beholder phones or even creature counters. What they are making perks instead is the primary content of the magazine and this is where I draw the line over what is acceptable to me and what is not.

 

[Numion]

The fact that the extra content is Dungeon content, not Poly content tells me that even Paizo know that the Dungeon is the stuff people really want, more than Poly (otherwise the content used to hunt more subscribers would be Poly content).

People complain that Paizo doesn't listen to customers. Actually I think they do, very much so. Before the bundling of the two mags all customers were saying that Dungeon is the best value for $$$ in gaming.

Paizo heard, and decided they could make more profit by lessening the value for $$$ ratio.

In comes the Poly. Mag goes monthly. People pay much more money for less content. Value for $$$ ratio is lessened. Poly is just a way to sell us something on the side. We shouldn't have told them they are in a position to do so.

Poly/Dung staff told that going monthly was a way to get the much needed positive cash-flow each month, because the negative cash-flow already was monthly. Easy solution: sell different mags at in different months. First Poly, then Dung, Poly, Dung. .etc..