Is a print magazine still worth the price in 2022? | Column

Print only. I've read some magazines on my PC (big screen FTW) but vastly prefer paper editions.

I'll pay for GOOD CONTENT. Most of the magazines are weak on content, weak on page counts and heavy on advertisements (I don't include GRM in that description).  Unfortunately, I have a very narrow sphere of interest at the moment so I subscribe to zero magazines. But, I miss having something to read every month (or even two) so am looking around.

jwagner (Forum Supporter) said:

The ads in GRM are actually useful to my interests, and I do check them out.  One reason I keep old GRMs around is to be able to dig through old ads, especially at the back of the mag, to find some obscure vendor or part or service that I suddenly realize I need.

Thanks for noticing. Although some of the ad customers specifically request certain spots, when we go through and place all the ads in each issue, every space is given some conscious thought. We just think if the whole package seems curated and assembled with some purpose the overall experience is going to be better and more useful for the readers. Glad someone notces.

Yes. Because you can't collect electrons.

It's much easier to read on the crapper.

I should be so lucky to live long enough were a price increase would matter to me.  It's most likely to be a one-time (maybe two <crossed fingers>) expense.  I regard the magazine as an information library and the website as the conversation group.  

Come to think of it, I have no idea how much time left I have on my current subscription.

Your sub expiry date is printed on the mailing label above your name. Also, thanks so, so much to all who have commented here. Been reading and lurking on this thread because I didn't want to steer the discussion (it's harder to tell someone No way to their face, so to speak), but since other staffer have chimed in with their thanks, I guess it's safe. Time, anyway.  Really grateful for you all, even the cheap ones 
Margie

Im primarily a forum user, dont use the online mag version and frequently my 6 year old son steals the new magazine from me so he can go through it. But i'll gladly keep subscribing because this place and its hosts/guests rock. 
 

and i like t -shirts. 

I didn't read through 4 pages of comments, but I hope every is in agreement.  HELL YES!  I wouldn't have a problem with it if the price was $40 per year.  An actual physical magazine is so much more enjoyable than a digital version.

Magazines with duplicate material online are just paper waste to me.

In reply to Appleseed :

Dang. Nice. And thank you. 

The short is yes I will continue to support GRM in print!  I love digital  content but I continue to receive two automotive publications in print.  GRM and Crankshaft.  The are very different publications but both are great publications and are published with passion and excellence.  I just want to say thank you to the staff at GRM for providing the community with such an outstanding product. 
 

Best regards 

Matt 
 

I haven't picked up a GRM magazine since 2020. Mostly because the last time I had one it was full of ads, the content was less. And what little content there was ended up being political in some nature. The last place I should find political views points is a car magazine. 

My wife won't let me take the laptop in to the bathroom, so yes keep up the print copy.  I pay more than $10 for one six pack I drink.

Your Publications are much appreciated by me and my 1990 Miata and 2000 Porsche Boxster.

Well worth the price and more.  Keep them coming.  

Ric

I have dropped all other print subscriptions in favor of electronic subscriptions through Apple news - would love to see GRM in Apple news or kindle store 

I like print.  I dislike electronic media. 

Happy to pay more for print, would probably cancel if GRM became all electronic.

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to Appleseed :

Dang. Nice. And thank you. 

That's only about half of it.

I will throw this in:

I just got a price increase request from the supplier who prints our local PBS affiliate's monthly magazine and they've asked for 16%.  

In reply to Mustang50 :

This is why they made iPads.

My personal interest in motorsport has drifted from the GRM content -- not your fault, my participation is different these days than it was in 1990.

BUT.

If you were to print the same letter with "Classic Motorsports" as the magazine in question, I'd type in my Visa numbers faster than can say "Tazio Nuvolari."

Print is special. I always get a thrill out of seeing one of my articles in print, whether it's about driving the five greatest Mercedes SLs at Pebble Beach last year (THAT was the best day I ever had at work), or the weekly column in my local newspaper about our sweet little beach town. I love stepping away from the keyboard to my oh-so-English-professor green wingback chair, situated by the fire, to savor a print magazine while sipping the morning coffee. Completely aside from the fact that classic-car magazines are a business expense. 

As others have said, that $10 is half, or less, what I pay for the beans that go into that coffee. When you need it, you've got it.

Yes.  I won't blink at paying the higher price.  Sometimes I fall a few issues behind, but I always enjoy when I'm able to sit quietly and read the magazine.  It's just more comfortable than reading something on my phone or sitting at my desk. It would be a very sad day if GRM wasn't around or wasn't able to attract good talent for writing & photography, etc.  

The more I think about it, I really should restart my subscription to Classic Motorsports as well.  I do wish there was a way to manage all subscriptions, including GRM + through a single customer portal.  I suppose I can just make a phone call and get all of them updated at once.

Looks like I'm paid up through September '25.    I sort of feel guilty that as your prices go up my subscription price is frozen til then.  That's part of the reason I'm a strong patreon contributor.  I want to see the forum survive in a way that keeps you folks happy.

I've pretty consistently subscribed to GRM since I was the managing director at Mustangs Unlimited many, many years ago.  I have to admit that as our family has grown busier (two kids in tons of activities), a job change a couple of years back and a recent move, I'm spending less and less time holding a paper magazine in my hands.

As you mentioned, many of the mainstream buff mags nearly gave away subscriptions, and at one point a couple of years back i was getting GRM, Classic Motorsports, Car and Driver, Motortrend, Hot Rod, Car Craft, Four Wheel and Off Road AND Popular Mechanics.

During the move I realized just what a pita it is to give away or move magazines.  For me this simply provided more work.

Don't get me wrong here, I've always held your magazine in high esteem and I know ever issue has tons of valuable info in it.  For me, it was too much.

My print subscription recently expired and I really weighed what I was going to do.  As I surf the forums frequently the guilt was on my mind.  For me, I just don't want any more paper.

So, after reading this column I decided to subscribe to GRM+.  This way I feel good about supporting your family and employees as you have given me so much information over the years.

One suggestion I offer respectfully though.  I elected to commit and to pay for a full year up front.  Next year I'll do the same, etc.  However I loathe that automatic renewal.  In this one tiny way, having that in play essentially makes you like the other guys.  And you're not like the other guys, you're BETTER.

I am in on a price increase. I will also see about adding another 10 year script on top of the one I am only a couple years into as I am cheep. 

I would say drop the digital version. I have tried consuming GRM digitally and it is a hard no for me.
 

I am betting if you look at the demographics of those that prefer the paper version you will find them to be on the older side of your audience. 
 

I usually stack the GRM issues in a pile as they come in. I then consume a years worth of GRM issues at the lake house every year when I am on vacation.  Don't know why I do this but it has become a part of my vacation planning. 

Yup! GRM and CMS are still worth the price in 2022. The only magazines I still subscribe to.