I must admit that I thumb through the magazines before I buy them. If they don't have anything that interests me on the content page, I don't buy it. The cost of a magazine subscription is a lot more than I can pay for them at the Walmart with their discount. If a magazine is in the plastic, it stays on the shelf. Too many times I've been suckered into the purchase only to be disappointed in the content. I think they do it on purpose as a marketing ploy. They know it's a mediocre issue so they throw in an "extra". I find that most of the quilt magazine are getting very repetive and I only buy a few now.