I didn't mean for this thread to be a slag against those who open up the packaging to see what is inside. I personally don't think it is stealing if someone looks at the contents of a magazine. I also don't believe the stores actually buy the magazines. The magazine distributors, not store employees, stock the magazines at my local grocery store. They remove shopping carts full of unsold magazines every month. I'm sure that the store is not buying the magazines and then taking the bite if those stacks of magazines are not sold by the time the new issue comes out. I could be wrong and I'd be curious to find out if a store owner has to buy the magazines to have them stocked in their stores...

Anyhooooo....

It is just the point that couldn't see what is in the magazine and they don't post the pictures online - and later found out that they do post pictures online but only if you fan them on Facebook. It is bad marketing and I just won't buy the magazine not knowing what is inside.

When I was at the store yesterday, someone had neatly opened the F&P magazine and it was neatly cut. I was thrilled that someone else had done it since I won't. The magazine was not damaged nor was it even dogeared in the least bit after I opened it and looked at it. I also put it back in there, neatly and it looked just as new as when I took it out.

There were no extra tidbits except a piece of thicker paper with some sort of an advertisement or something on it. That I didn't remove since I really didn't care what it was. There is just no reason to seal a magazine up in plastic. If you are going to do that, put a preview somewhere on the magazine - front cover, back cover, sticky note whatever so that people will actually want to buy it.

you may be right about who takes the loss, but someone is. whether it's the store or the publisher, the ultimate person taking the loss is you and me. with all the freebies on the web, i don't understand why it's necessary to tear the packaging. or frankly even skim through the pages. do you go into people's homes and taste their food without invitation? after all, it's just a taste.

If I had money, I would not buy if I could not see what was inside, just like a book. God bless.