16 replies to this topic

[carlstavros]

Has anyone who usually buys this in WH Smiths every month had any problems getting hold of the September issue? I've been in 2 or 3 different stores and none of them have it. I asked today and they don't understand why the last issue wasn't delivered. Time to subscribe I think!

Cheers,
Carl.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Last time this happened is when they went t*ts up.

[Lightningboy2000]

We had a few in but thought that it just sold out very quickly, but then reallised they just didn't get many in stock. not that there was much in the issue that I was bothered with! Would be sad to see it go though.

Mart

[carlstavros]

That's not good, I quite like this mag. I asked the staff at the Smiths in Salisbury and they said they didn't get the last issue in. I don't think I'll take out a sub just in case then!

Cheers,
Carl.

[Max Headroom]

Liverpool had them. Not sure how many though.

Trevor

[AndyC]

A couple of months ago, Jay was wittering on about SAM being No.1 in the model magazine sales, so there must be a major supplier problem or something like that rather than the parent pulling the plug?

For the record I haven't had mine delivered yet! SAMI and MAM have both beaten SAM this month, which is rare

Andy

[Jay Laverty]

Stores that stock the magazine stock at least 10 copies. SAM sells an average of 5.1 copies per outlet in Smiths. According to EPoS figures SAM is in 354 outlets every month whereas SAMI is in 487 outlets (selling 4.3 copies per outlet on average) and Airfix Model World is in 549 (selling 6.1 copies per outlet). This has been an ongoing issue for SAM and one I would seriously like to have addressed as we would be outselling SAMI by a longshot were we in the same amount of outlets. I do not have the figures for Martin McColls so I cannot comment on sales there, nor do I have the figures for Barnes & Noble in the US, but according to the distributors we are one of the best selling hobby magazines there.

There you have it. Those are the facts, no speculation, so BS and no misrepresentation. I don't see what else I would need to add so if you have any further questions or would like a response I ask that you e-mail me directly as this will be the only comment I post on this thread.

If you are having trouble getting the magazine in your local Smiths I suggest speaking to the store manager or contacting the publishers through the Guideline Publications website. We pay money to ensure the magazine is stocked and if it is not in the required amount of outlets we are paying for nothing.

Carl, pay no attention to the rumourmongering and speculation here.

Thank you,

Jay

[Dave Fleming]

We pay money to ensure the magazine is stocked and if it is not in the required amount of outlets we are paying for nothing.

That startles me somewhat! I suppose that's the reality of retail these days.

[Wezra]

That could explain why I've not seen it in my local whsmiths' oddly I'm really local to guideline pubs who are in bletchley and all the local whsmiths haven't had any when I looked which neither means understocked or sold out really quickly!

Is it possible to order individual issues online?

Matt

[spitfire]

Mine's on subscription and it has not arrived yet, hopefully it will arrive this week.

Cheers

Den

[dwh]

That startles me somewhat! I suppose that's the reality of retail these days.

This is unfortunately not something new, and has been used by some distributors for many years.
Some 18yrs ago I asked about getting a magazine stocked and was informed that it had to meet strict criteria and cost would be a number one factor to be put on the shelves.

Smiths I was informed do not have an overall stocking policy as regards magazines so not all shops sell them.
My local shop informed me that if sales dropped to a certain level they would not be on shelf following month in the particular store.
This proved to be correct in my store as it disappeared from shelves for around 3 months, the only reason I had a regular copy was to have it on regular order at the shop.

[Harry Lime]

I haven't seen it either of the 2 big WHSmiths in Aberdeen either.

And in answer to can you buy individual copies online, yes you can. I've done it a few times and they've arrived really quickly too.

Mark.

[PDH]

My local small village newsagent has it on the shelf, supplied by WHS Wholesale. The big WHS store in Exeter doesn't have it on the shelf. Work out the logic of that one.

Paying to have magazines stocked is nothing new, and the amounts required by some retailers are huge. A friend of mine has recently started publishing a very specialised Diecast model magazine and its very popular. Tesco's wanted a £24,000 up front payment to start putting it on their shelves. I believe the WHS amount is a lot less than this though.

[Tedfellows]

This issue has been out for at least 3 weeks now, this is probably why you are struggling to get hold of it now.

Try looking on the web for release dates, then popping down asap to pick it up!

Adam

[carlstavros]

This issue has been out for at least 3 weeks now, this is probably why you are struggling to get hold of it now.

Try looking on the web for release dates, then popping down asap to pick it up!

Adam

I regularly check Smiths for the latest modelling magazines and even the staff said they didn't get it in so I don't think I missed it! It doesn't matter though, I'll just order it online.

Jay, PM sent.

Cheers,
Carl.

[roys]

I have just checked a couple of posts ,in relation to the September issue of SAM, one I made on BM 6/9/11 and one on SAM Facebook 1/9/11 so I have no problem in getting my subscription copy via the much maligned GPO in good time.

[roys]

October issue landed today on my doormat.