Distribution Problems in NW/Preston

[RMLF]

Ive asked several times in feedback threads and got no reply afaik, basically trying to get an issue of RG in the NW is nigh on impossible is there a problem with distribution in this part of the world?

The smaller local newsagents dont stock it as they used to,

Sainsbury's has copies in once in a blue moon, ditto for Asda. When (If) they do its nearly a month behind and then they have excess amounts of copies.

W H Smiths is hit and miss as is Forbuoys

This issue doesnt seem to affect any of the other Imagine mags

Now people will scream subscribe at me, but I dont buy every issue and will only get things when they are of interest. Not all retro appeals. there I said it. However as an experiment in the last 3-6 months finding a current copy is becoming something of a chore and in some cases there have been times when there have been no copies anywhere.

If I wanted to buy the mag, as current then I couldnt. Ive had this out with store staff and managers etc but no one seems to know what's up.

Anyone want to give me a clue?

[necronom]

http://www.retrogamer.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25540

[RMLF]

http://www.retrogamer.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25540

That is regarding the Midlands. I see the link for the eshop and is duly noted, but still doesnt answer the question as to if NW/Preston is effected and if will be solved?

[psj3809]

Considering how cheap it is to subscribe - just do it !

If it wasnt for us constant subscribers you wouldnt have these good articles as the magazine might not exist !

Or if not simply go in and tell your local newsagent to get the magazine for you. In the old days magazines often had a thing you cut out to give to your local newsagent. Just go in there and ask them to get the odd one for you and they will (or order the single issue online)

[IronMaidenRule]

Don't they sell issues of the magazine from the Imagine eShop?

[RMLF]

Considering how cheap it is to subscribe - just do it !

If it wasnt for us constant subscribers you wouldnt have these good articles as the magazine might not exist !

Or if not simply go in and tell your local newsagent to get the magazine for you. In the old days magazines often had a thing you cut out to give to your local newsagent. Just go in there and ask them to get the odd one for you and they will (or order the single issue online)

Point 1: Avec quoi? (my limited budget can only stretch so far!) Plus, as stated previously why should I buy every magazine, if I don't like the content that month or holds no interest that month? It would be nice to go out and buy the ones I do though, you know like you can for the other 'non affected' Imagine magazines. If it isnt selling then or there are distribution issues in the area then I can understand, but it would be nice to know

Point 2: I live next door to two 'corner shop's neither can get it hence the 'smaller shops' comment. It isnt about, none of the supermarkets have it on any regular basis nor does places like Smiths and so on.

I appreciate it is online, and said as much from Necronom's link.


PS if it appears that Iam a cranky cantankerous sod its because the cold is playing havoc with my back and shoulders and Ive not really slept in about a week so am tired and irritable. All I wanna know is, can I buy the current issue in the flesh, and as seems increasingly likely, if not then why not

[psj3809]

If you havent slept in a week, if your shoulders/back hurt so much then i would say for sure just order it from the Imagine online shop ! No walking/pain/hassle, it'll be there in a few days.

I've only seen it in a few large Tescos and WH Smiths, havent seen it in a corner shop. Still sure that 'some' cornershops will order it in for you, they normally have like a catalogue of magazines which you can order from (My local one had this a few years back) but granted some small local cornershops probably dont bother.

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

Distribution is really efficient on sales. If something isn't selling it will yank it and try it elsewhere in the country. It could be that the area where you live has no interest in Retro Gaming. Sainsburys occassionally takes the mag, but will happily drop it if it's not performing to its needs (although I do know it's in some current stores around the country).

Now normally we're in all smiths, so if this is the first time this has happened then I'll definitly check with the guys upstairs. What you have to remember is that RG, while amazing, is an incredibly niche product, and just because a store stocks some of our magazines, that's no indication that they will stock all of them. It could be that you just live in an area where you're the only person in 25 square miles who buys the actual magazine. If it's not selling then no one will want to put it on their shelves.

It's not ideal, but your best bet is to watch my videos, decide if an issue's for you and order it directly from our shop.

If the magazine is usually always in stock though (which it doesn't sound like it is) then let me know the shop which has suddenly stopped selling it this month and I'll chase up stairs for you.

Darran

[thevulture]

Ralph:Totally agree with you on how the cold effects your back-Knackered mine 16 years ago, whilst i`m 'fine' in sense i`m working etc, aches n pains are the norm.This cold snap? playing merry hell.Finally got good nights sleep last night, slept for 12 hrs, was that shattered.As for NO RG? Had same issue here (North Devon), All the newsagents and supermarkets just stopped selling it.Went the subscription route as only way to get a copy each month.

[Jet Pilot]

Point 1: Avec quoi? (my limited budget can only stretch so far!) Plus, as stated previously why should I buy every magazine, if I don't like the content that month or holds no interest that month?

It depends on how many copies you buy. You could subscribe and throw away 1/3 of the issues that arrive and still break even. If you skip an issue less than once every 3 months than it makes financial sense to subscribe. If you skip more often than that, then it doesn't.

Another idea is to subscribe and sell the unwanted issues on eBay. You'd be amazed at how much some people pay for these things, even when they are new.

[RMLF]

Distribution is really efficient on sales. If something isn't selling it will yank it and try it elsewhere in the country. It could be that the area where you live has no interest in Retro Gaming. Sainsburys occassionally takes the mag, but will happily drop it if it's not performing to its needs (although I do know it's in some current stores around the country).

Now normally we're in all smiths, so if this is the first time this has happened then I'll definitly check with the guys upstairs. What you have to remember is that RG, while amazing, is an incredibly niche product, and just because a store stocks some of our magazines, that's no indication that they will stock all of them. It could be that you just live in an area where you're the only person in 25 square miles who buys the actual magazine. If it's not selling then no one will want to put it on their shelves.

It's not ideal, but your best bet is to watch my videos, decide if an issue's for you and order it directly from our shop.

If the magazine is usually always in stock though (which it doesn't sound like it is) then let me know the shop which has suddenly stopped selling it this month and I'll chase up stairs for you.

Darran

Darran, thanks for your response. I appreciate its niche, it was my local shop that drew us to its existence in both its original and new incarnation after the original subs thing after the original went tits up ended. But now nothing and no one knows why even further a field its a shame to go from masses to zilch. Target marketing I can completely understand so if Preston is a dead town then fair enough. Just annoying not to be able to buy as and when in the flesh

Nothing doing in WH Smiths St Georges Centre Preston re magazines at all. and according to assistant I spoke to no idea as to why There was a well battered collection, I dont think it was current given it was dusty and the cover ripped. . Will try WH Smiths at Deepdale later in the week, basically it is impossible to get a current RG in Preston in the flesh it would appear. Unless Iam really missing something.

Online shop it will have to be in the future, Boggarts

[Liamh1982]

This may not be relevant to RMLF, but it doesn't seem to be that niche a product in Wrexham. W H Smith's always seems to have at least half a dozen on the shelves, mind you it's the only place that sells it.

[RMLF]

Nowt doing at at smiths at deepdale nor fourboys in fullwood( they stock more than both smiths! as get lots of international students/workers from the hospital