YM, PBO digital issues and Kindle...

[bluedragon]

I phoned the magazines office last summer to complain about the VAT issue and got the impression they would do something about it...apparently not. I was also promised a free e-subscription for a year as a defunct Menzies Digital subscriber...never happened. No replies either to my issue with the Zinio library searchability. I get the impression that they don't take these digital issues very seriously right now...and that's a pity because I was getting quite enthusiastic about the idea vs. the paper mag (which I'm now only buying on an occasional basis).

 

[rtchina]

won't renew

I've been reading YM for over 40years now. At one time I was so infatuated I actually worked for it. We left the UK and I subscribe to the digital version, but this DRM has put me off completely. With the paper version you can photocopy, pass on or give away. With the digital version you can download it on one machine. Currently I'm bored in Prague, with a lap top. I'd like to read the latest YM but I can't, it's on the machine at home. Compared with an Iphone for example, there I can put an app on any I product, and I do, putting them on both the Iphone and the Ipod.

So IPC, time to grow up and get a bit of flexibility into your DRM. You've lost one subscriber, others look like following.
roger terry

 

[maxi77]

I've been reading YM for over 40years now. At one time I was so infatuated I actually worked for it. We left the UK and I subscribe to the digital version, but this DRM has put me off completely. With the paper version you can photocopy, pass on or give away. With the digital version you can download it on one machine. Currently I'm bored in Prague, with a lap top. I'd like to read the latest YM but I can't, it's on the machine at home. Compared with an Iphone for example, there I can put an app on any I product, and I do, putting them on both the Iphone and the Ipod.

So IPC, time to grow up and get a bit of flexibility into your DRM. You've lost one subscriber, others look like following.
roger terry

I think IPC are having real problems with 'going digital'.

Now that reprints are PDF downloads they cost more than the old paper ones and the digital version of the magazine itself is more expensive and restrictive than the paper one. The digital versions of the magazines could have been attracive to me as I hope to be speding much more time overseas soon but on the reports here I will not be buying either paper (to expensive abroad) or electronic as it is A too expensive, and it seems potentially short lived.

 

[Sturge]

Hi There,

Firstly, in response to Blue Dragon, the VAT issues are more complicated than I hoped when we discussed this online. In the UK printed magazines do not attract VAT but digital versions do. That means we do have to charge VAT on our issues. As we sell our subscriptions globally, different sales taxes apply in different territories, so Zinio has adopted a US style of advertising the pricing i.e quoting the price excluding the sales tax as the total price varies by territory. Following our conversation, I wanted to change the advertised price to be £29.99 for a subscription including the sales tax. Zinio have advised that this could be confusing for those subscribers in different territories to the UK (where the majority of our digital subscribers are located). However, I am still working to get this changed in the UK and hope that will be done in the new year.

As for your free subscription following the issues with WHS and Menzies, please accept my apologies. I will make sure this is arranged today for you. I have private messaged you with all my contact details. Please private message, call me or send me another e-mail so I can set this up for you as soon as possible.

Next, in response to rtchina's comments about DRM (digital rights management) I would say that you should be able to print off selected pages, but not the entire issue. You can also pass along issues to friends. Sadly, we did have to tighten up on our DRM following a breach in 2008 when our issues were pirated. As we generate a great deal of valuable content tightening the DRM is the best way to ensure against piracy, which, if left unchecked or secured against, would impact on the quality of the content we produce and long term our jobs and industry, which as a former YM employee, I'm sure you'll understand. It's a challenge for publishers of all kinds of content and it will be some time before we are able to please all users, but this kind of feedback is useful to inform our strategy going forwards.

Finally, maxi77, single copies of the current issue of the digital issues are the same price as the printed issues, but you're right back issues are higher price. We are trying to encourage subscription! If you'd like to trial a subscription to this service, I've private messaged you with my details, so get in touch and I can arrange a complimentary trial for a limited period.

On the separate issue of the PDF boat reports, we have invested a fair amount of resource into creating and archive of over 10,000 PDFs dating from the 1960s to present day. To archive material, retrieve material, manage the archive, physically store the archive and produce pdfs or hard copies and the original investment paying for editorial expertise to write the report is a significant cost to the business and the cost of the PDF takes this into account.

I hope that helps answer your questions and lets you know how we're hoping to progress. Any further feedback always welcome.

Best wishes

Jake

 

[rickp]

As we generate a great deal of valuable content tightening the DRM is the best way to ensure against piracy, which, if left unchecked or secured against, would impact on the quality of the content we produce and long term our jobs and industry, which as a former YM employee, I'm sure you'll understand. It's a challenge for publishers of all kinds of content and it will be some time before we are able to please all users, but this kind of feedback is useful to inform our strategy going forwards.

Sadly, it seems you're determined to make the same mistakes as the music industry. They did eventually learn that people are happy to pay if you make it convenient. Treat your customers like criminals, forcing DRM on them with childish restrictions over what they can do with the content they have paid for and do not be suprised when they stop buying.

On another point - I'm also disappointed with the quality of the images in the digital magazine, which you'd think would be of a reasonable standard. Take this example for instance - why compress the hell out of the inset image?

Sorry - I wont be renewing my subscription until you remove the DRM and improve the quality.

 

[Cerddinen]

I usually read Yachting Monthly in the bath. Until there is a digital device that floats it will be paper for me.

 

[dnickj]

Just a point to note - you can download to more than 1 computer

my main gripe is that the digital issues come out much later than the hard copy

the ability to download to a windows phone would also be good - i dont even mind scrolling round the pages - it would be much easier than a laptop on the loo

and why cant the price come down - yes i dont mind paying for the content - but why should I not have more of a discount for the printing and distrubution associated with a hard copy

 

[maxi77]

Just a point to note - you can download to more than 1 computer

my main gripe is that the digital issues come out much later than the hard copy

the ability to download to a windows phone would also be good - i dont even mind scrolling round the pages - it would be much easier than a laptop on the loo

and why cant the price come down - yes i dont mind paying for the content - but why should I not have more of a discount for the printing and distrubution associated with a hard copy

I agree very much on the price point, if the electronic version costs as much to get onto your computer as it does to get the paper one into my newsagent one would suspect IPC has been sold a pup.

An interesting observation is that I and a few others have been complaining about site performace for a few days and not a peep has there been from IPC, but within minutes of muttering on this thread I get a PM from IPC

 

[Allegra]

Where do I get the memory stick version?

Can someone (SNooks?) tell me where I get the years back issues OF YM & PBO on a memory stick? Have just moved on board, and don't have room for my paper copies.... Web search is getting me nowhere, and IPC site no help...

 

[seanfoster]

Just a few points not raised so far,

Firstly it has been found in studies that it is upto 30% more difficult to read from a screen than text. This is due to screen glare, posture, background distractions etc. However, it seems that younger generations are quite happy and can even prefer to read from a screen.
(I suppose it could be that they've been brought up with it?)

My personal view is, I like to hold a magazine, and more importantly like to flick and browse.
I find that very difficult to do on a screen. At the moment I'm doing some quite in-depth research (not related to this!) and have to trawl through hundreds of academic papers. Although the information is very easy to access, I find I have to print them out to fully be able to absorb them.

Just one other point, surely the electronic version of a magazine should be significantly (i.e. 50%) less than the printed version? After all, the publishers are not having to pay out for printing or shipping costs, or the newsagent's cut for that matter?

 

[pteron]

Hi There,

Firstly, in response to Blue Dragon, the VAT issues are more complicated than I hoped when we discussed this online. In the UK printed magazines do not attract VAT but digital versions do. That means we do have to charge VAT on our issues. As we sell our subscriptions globally, different sales taxes apply in different territories, so Zinio has adopted a US style of advertising the pricing i.e quoting the price excluding the sales tax as the total price varies by territory. Following our conversation, I wanted to change the advertised price to be £29.99 for a subscription including the sales tax. Zinio have advised that this could be confusing for those subscribers in different territories to the UK (where the majority of our digital subscribers are located). However, I am still working to get this changed in the UK and hope that will be done in the new year.

You could be breaking the law by not displaying VAT inclusive prices:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/VAT/DG_190918

Prices in advertisements, catalogues and price lists
Products advertised in outlets, magazines, on the internet, or shown in catalogues, price lists and other literature may be aimed at the consumer, businesses, or both. If they're only meant for the general public, they'll show you a price including VAT. This is a legal requirement.
If they're aimed at both consumers and businesses, they’ll usually show a VAT inclusive price, but may also show a price without VAT. The VAT inclusive price must be given equal importance, but read carefully to make absolutely certain you understand what price you'll pay.