I'm so glad I'm not the only one who finds this frustrating. I haven't been thrown out of a store but I was 'given heck' by a cheeky young saleman when he spied me trying to open some plastic for a sneak peek. So, no sale and no return customer.
Our local quilt shop sells used magazines..sometimes I just wait until a Fons and Porter appears on their shelf!

My LQS has a box of magazines that are, "Bring one -- take one". Very nice for all of us to be able to trade magazines back and forth without spending any money. :D

It annoys me too. And it seems to annoy alot of other people too. But someone is buying them, otherwise they might rethink the wrapping.

Agree, it is annoying. THey are pretty expensive.

oh what a great idea!

I am disappointed they give the goodies in the stands and not to their subcribers!

I usually won't buy them if they are in plastic and this week I "gave in" and bought Better Homes and Gardens October issue and there was nothing in there that interested me at all!! It was very frustrating and just confirmed for me that I won't buy anymore in plastic!

We all suffer because of the inconsiderate people. Actually, we could call them thieves. They have been know to tear out a pattern and put the magazine back in the rack. The honest people always pay because of the dishonest. I know this to be a fact as a store clerk told me this happens so often on a lot of the better magazines. It irrates me also.

I don't like the clothes ads in Fons and Porter. I subscribe but do not plan to renew.

Try your local library, mine have 2 subscriptions, they also keep the current year and the last 2 years. They also have copy machines if anything should tickle my fancy. I've also been lucky enough to go on the right day in Jan. when they purge the oldest year. I also am lucky that my local Wal-mart offers 6-8 magazines-only 2 or 3 in plastic. I've found that I have read the patterns, even taking pics with my cell then once I get home I get out the graph paper and begin to draw what I remember of the pattern-and it's only a 10 minute drive if I need a refresher look. But then I go for the simple designs-nothing too complicated, not my style. If it really has many ideas I like I will buy it-but I avoid the ones in plastic-last on I bought on a whim has nothing I thought to try.