I’m (hopefully) off to NYC today, so I’m writing this post on Tuesday evening, as I have to get up at 5 am and get out the door by 6:15. No time to craft a post!
And I’m a wee bit cranky because I’m still not over this crappy ‘whatever’ that has taken over my head and chest. So, armed with a box of kleenex, cough syrup and cough drops, I’m off to spend a total of 3 hours on the bus and 3 hours in a meeting. Home will look pretty gosh darned good at the end of the day.
In the This Kind of Thing Really Ticks Me Off category:
The other day – Monday – Don was in NYC and I got out of my sickbed and drove to the grocery store to get some cough drops, etc. As I walked through the market, I saw the magazine rack. Now, you know I rarely buy magazines these days, but I spotted Flea Market Style, a magazine that I truly like.
A bit of back story: I hadn’t seen a new Flea Market Style in a while. I was aware of that somewhere in the recesses of my mind and, indeed, had seen Best of Flea Market Style a month or so ago and didn’t bite. Those ‘Best of’ editions are always reprints of articles I’ve already read, with a hefty price tag to boot. I briefly wondered if it had been discontinued, as so many magazines have these days.
Back to the magazine rack. I pulled out the magazine. Now I’m going to be totally honest with you. I knew I’d seen this particular photo before in a previous edition of the magazine. Whether it was on the cover or not, I wasn’t sure. But just to be safe, I peered down at the bottom of the magazine to see what the ‘display until…’ date was.
Okay, I thought. That makes this current. Maybe they were recycling a photo for the cover? Now that I’m thinking more clearly (remember, I was sick) I realize how absurd that particular idea was. You can see the price: $9.95.
Sometimes, when you’re down and out, you just want a magazine to thumb through. And I’m not talking National Geographic. So I caved and bought it.
I got home, unpacked everything, made some hot chocolate and got out the magazine.
I quickly realized that if I had done more than a cursory examination of the magazine at the store, I would have realized that I had already read it.
I looked back at the cover.
And look what I saw.
Really? By popular demand? Were there thousands upon thousands of people clamoring for this particular edition?
Sounds very fishy.
Later, I googled the magazine and couldn’t see any recent editions available. (It was quarterly, if I remember correctly.) When I googled Ki Nassauer (the founder and editor) I now got this site: “KiNassauerStyle.” Hmmm. That lead me to her Facebook page where someone had asked a question about the availability of Flea Market Style and was told that Ki was no longer associated with the magazine and was working on expanding her Junk Bonanza shows.
Which leads me to believe the magazine is no more.
This sort of thing speaks to something else I see a lot of in the magazine industry. Well-loved magazines suddenly cease publication; Country Home, Cottage Living, Flea Market Style (I presume.) Full disclosure: all magazines that I loved and mourn the loss of. Sooner or later, we see expensive editions of those magazines with heavy duty glossy covers and hefty price tags that are, in essence, filled with reprints of various articles from past editions of the magazine….you know, when it was actually being published. It’s apparently okay to decide to stop publishing those popular magazines despite disappointing subscribers and loyal readers, but the powers-that-be feel perfectly okay about milking that name recognition as long as they can. The first time the former publishers of Country Home did that sort of thing, a lot of people were fooled into thinking it had resumed publication. Same thing with Cottage Living. And now we have The Best of Flea Market Style and Flea Market Style (Reprinted by Popular Demand!)
If the potential reader is clear about the whole thing and then willingly makes the decision to buy a reprint or compilation of past articles, then fine. But if there’s a bit of the flimflam? That’s not so nice.
Yes, they did say it was ‘reprinted’ and if I’d been sharper that day, I might have seen that. But I wasn’t and I felt tricked when I fell for the whole thing. And let’s face it, it was in small print at the bottom of the magazine – on purpose. (I used my macro setting to get that shot, that’s how small it was.)
I was curious, so I looked for it and found the original – from 2011.
The original was Country Decorating Ideas #121.
The reprint is Country Decorating Ideas #175.
Exact same contents except for some updated ads.
From a not-very-happy consumer.
Happy Wednesday.
I remember those suitcases on the wall—I read the exact same one back in 2011. My oh my, where has the time gone?!
Geez, I guess we really do need to read the fine print on EVERYTHING nowadays. That is just wrong, if they really are not publishing that magazine any longer. I do not like to be scammed!
I hope you have a safe journey today and that rotten cold/cough leave you soon.
Hugs to all,
Deb
Hope you are feeling better today for work. I think the magazine was a scam for sure especially at that price. Doris
Claudia, this would have made me mad as well. $10 is a lot for a magazine and I like you don’t have a lot of money to throw around on something I’ve already read!! SCAM jumps to mind. I remember those suitcases on the wall also. I have pretty much given up on magazines. I use to love them but find them flimsy and not worth my money or time now. I must agree with many that the internet has filled that gap for me. Hope you are feeling better and have a good day in NYC!
hugs,
Linda
Another reason why I’ve discontinued all my American home decor type magazine subscriptions – they just have very little good about them lately. The thing that finished me was the start of the ‘automatic renewal’ thing – and seeing how my long-time subscription rate was always much higher than newly offered rates, what a mean trick!
I know I said it before – my money goes to an annual subscription (12 thick issues) for the always fabulous UK Country Living – the loveliest magazine out there for me, and each issue is better than the last. With a subscription the mag. delivered to the door is only about $6.00 per issue – great value. Just goes on and on each month with great stories of country people, food, home interiors and gardens, layouts, beautiful photography, excellent quality print and paper. When it arrives in my mailbox – via Canada’s ExpressMag – I know it’s going to be a perfect day! The same marvelous editor has been there for years, which is another plus – don’t you notice how here they seem to come and go after a few issues – that tells me something.
Hope you feel better soon dear – do take care.
Hugs – Mary
I am glad that you investigated this because I thought the very same thing when I saw the cover. I was at HEB and I always stop by the newsstand to see what’s new and when I saw the current cover of this issue, I knew I had seen it before. In fact, I was thinking that there is a copy of it at home somewhere. I don’t often buy magazines any more because the prices are just outlandish. It’s sad too because there is nothing quite like a new magazine of things one loves to peruse. C’est dommage, but times change. Hope you are able to get through your meeting and back home to bed. I have it too and I am miserable.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Claudia,
I bought this stupid mag as well and felt tricked afterwards, having a vague memory of the suitcase-on-the-wall “style” but didn’t realize that this was an outright reprint. What’s worse, I didn’t even enjoy the content. I, too, am swearing off these rags and sticking to Romantic Homes. The flea market style bandwagon seems to be running out …. the designs shown in the mags are incoherent now and not at all attractive (to me, anyway). Good for you for researching the nitty-gritty here. I’ll spend my $9.95 elsewhere next time.
Yeah, that would tick me off as well. :[
Wow, you’ve opened MY eyes, I had no idea things like this happen. Shame on them! Another thing that galls me is when a magazine is issued with different covers. Exact same magazine, but they just change the cover to appeal to different people. I fell for it once, and contacted the magazine who gave me a coupon for a free future issue.
Oh my goodness!! I bought the same one 2 weeks ago. Since I very rarely buy magazines any more, I thought it was ‘new to me’ also! When I shared with my Sis, she informed me of the reprint. They got us again!! I won’t be fooled next time!!! Darn them!!! I hope you get better quick!! We have had an abrupt change of weather here in Northern Cal. I woke up freezing this morning, time for cozy comforters an sweaters!!!
Perfect title for this post. Chicanery….sounds like evil is afoot….and it is! Because of the Internet…bloggers, magazine websites…there really is no need for magazines anymore. I don’t remember how many times I’ve picked up a magazine, only to see articles about bloggers homes that I’ve already seen online…or crafts…or furniture makeovers. I don’t feel I’m getting anything new for my $9.95. But, a reprint? I would feel so ripped off! On a calmer note….hope your day goes smoothly! ;)
I think $9.95 for any magazine is a complete waste of money. Take it back to the customer service people of the store and tell them it’s a reprint of one you’ve already purchased. They will refund your money.
Yup..I bought it too and I am going to do what Linda L. said…Take it back and explain..I’m sure they (CVS) will have no problem with returning my money…If so many people wanted this reprinted then they must have read it to know they liked it..so if they liked it that much wouldn’t they have kept the original??..Sounds like some BS to me…Nice weather to go to the city today Claudia!
I fell for it a couple of years ago and have been extra cautious ever since. A cheap trick, but not for the consumer.
Hope you’re feeling better by the end of the day. Or by tomorrow morning after a good sleep.
Hi Claudia,
Sorry to hear that you are still fighting a battle with something unfriendly, and still have to make an extended trip with it still clinging to you like Saran Wrap; that’s brutal. I send along my Best Wishes for your speedy recovery.
I have become wiser about making magazine purchases ( with the occasional exceptions ) and now I buy them used from the thrift stores. I can lay out the 99 cents for a back issue without any guilt. I once found 20 back issues of Victoria Magazine dated late 90’s to early 2000’s, that I paid $1.49 for each. I was ecstatic !
Nowadays, nothing on the magazine rack really interests me, and the price is always prohibitive.
However, I must commend you on your exceptionally long memory,
Even though you are ill, there is Nothing at all wrong with your Brain!
I also bought that magazine. I too knew that cover was done before. I checked as you did to see a 2015 date on the magazine. I didn’t see the small print that it was a reprint until I brought it home. I think it should have said it was a re print in large lettering on the cover. It is a scam. This type of magazine is an expensive extra for most people. I could have plenty of items to use that money for.
Been there , done that, and it always makes me really mad – especially at $10 a pop!! It’s trickery plain and simple. I don’t buy magazines very often any more, but when I do I’ve started to examine them much more closely. Given the state you were in yesterday … it’s like that’s what they’re counting on!
I hope you are feeling better and the trip goes smoothly today. Hard to get through it all when you feel like you are at the bottom of a garbage can and everything is echoing around you.
And speaking of National Geographic……….. Rupert Murdoch……. SERIOUSLY????? The big climate change denier……… now owns that (previously) wonderful magazine??????????????? I can’t wrap my head around it. This world is getting more ridiculous every day. So sad and such a loss.
You’re a bit of the sleuth! I’ve had it happen a few times that I’ve picked up a magazine at home and realized I’d already read most of it but not in a store off the rack.
Like several of the other ladies, I no longer purchase magazines. I do have several free subscriptions (BH&G, Martha Stewart, Family Circle, Rachel Ray) plus my cheap $5/year Country Living subscription. The sad thing is that none of the magazines are as interesting as they were even five years ago. When I discovered that Country Living shipped product to be used in featured homes and the homeowner was allowed to keep some of the product, it was very disappointing. I naively thought those rooms pictured portrayed the homeowner, not the layout and accessories that the magazine wanted. I was one of the people who fell for the Country Home reprint and that is the magazine that I miss the most. Hope you feel better soon!
OMG – reruns for magazines! I haven’t taken any magazines at all since 2008 when my subscription to Martha Stewart’s “Everyday Food” was up. I’m not tempted at the checkout either. Everything I liked I can find online now, and without having to deal with bills, mail, recycling. And apparently, as you’ve shown, new content! Plus when I like a photo, I can click-and-save it in a second. No scissors required. Definitely a very good application of technology. PS – feel better soon.
I bought this, too, and returned it. I explained why, the clerk didn’t care why and gave me my money back…
Claudia, I hate that about the magazine. Honestly I doubt there ever was a popular demand of any kind. I sure hope you are feeling better. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Claudia, I remember Martha Stewart doing the same thing with her Halloween 2011 issue. The magazine was very pricey and a reprint.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/business/media/martha-stewarts-halloween-magazine-brings-fan-a-surprise.html?_r=0
Hope you feel better soon.
I totally agree! $10.00. A lot for magazines, and we all love them, but not reruns!!!!
Magazines are getting so expensive that I have pretty much given up buying them. I have once or twice bought two of the same issue that had different covers. Now some come wrapped in plastic so you can’t flip through to check. I was really peeved when The Quilter magazine was discontinued right after I paid for a two year subscription renewal. Tried calling and emailing, but I got no response, so am out about $30.
So that is what is going on!! I will be more careful in the future. I just thought it was me buying the same magazine again. Also, why in the world would anyone cut perfectly beautiful suitcases in half and nail them to a wall. Ugly. I did not fall for this magazine, but I have fallen for others. Not any more though.
I can’t remember if it was Flea Market Style – or another similar mag – but this happened to me a couple of years ago. I bought the magazine at Costco and thought the cover looked a bit familiar – but me being in my middle years – I thought it was me just being me. Got home and read that little corner about it being reprinted – and went to my “stash” of old magazines and there it was from the previous year. I was SO MAD! Fortunately, Costco is less than a mile from my house, so I immediately went back and got a refund….although I did have to explain myself “why” I was returning a magazine. Just this past week I saw that “Best of” magazine too – but I already knew their tactics and passed. Here’s an idea – have a giveaway on your blog to give that magazine away – and charge off the magazine & its shipping as a business expense. You’ll feel better it is out of the house and you might make someone’s day! :) Hope you feel better soon.
Claudia, I’ve noticed the same thing with some other home decor magazines, namely, Cottage Style. I bought a copy one month and then 3 months later I saw some reprints within the magazine from just a couple months prior. I felt duped and cheated. I love to sit down with a great magazine (which is a treat once in awhile) but I’ve noticed many reprints and some of the same homes with the smae exact articles in sister magazines.
This would have made me very unhappy too. Like you, I rarely treat myself to magazines so when I do, I don’t want it to be a rehash unless it says Best Of. I think I would have taken it back. Not that it was the store’s fault but because I didn’t want the magazine to receive any money for something they slipped through. Of course, you were on your death bed, so a dying reader just can’t be bothered. Thanks for the head up. I’m going to be viligant about reading the small print in the future.