From the Publisher
Subscription Price Increase
New prices went into effect September 11, 2022.
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The price increase was announced in issue no. 294. Read the announcement from the publisher:
Price Increase Coming
While many businesses quietly raise prices without notice or do it deceptively by adding a charge such as postage and handling, we prefer to announce it in advance to allow our loyal subscribers an opportunity to take advantage of current, lower prices before the increase takes effect.
HOW MUCH IS THE INCREASE?
The price for a one-year subscription in the U.S. will be $32.00 with comparable small increases for Canadian ($46.00) and other foreign ($56.00) subscriptions.
The two-year subscription at $55 and the three-year subscription at $77 offer considerable savings to you and are beneficial for us as the annual renewal process is expensive. We send the first renewal message when you have two issues remaining on your subscription. We are the rare magazine that tells you exactly how many issues remain on your subscription and we don’t send out random early notices that are confusing.
Renewal notices are sent by first-class mail to make sure you receive them in a timely manner and when the postage is added to the cost of printing renewal forms, personalizing the mes- sage and processing the mail, the cost for each renewal is significant. You can understand why we love those of you who respond to the first notice and the many who extend their subscriptions by two or three years.
WHY IS AN INCREASE NECESSARY?
We’ve experienced small, but steady, increases in the cost of paper, printing and postage over the last several years but these higher costs were mostly offset by efficiencies achieved in other areas. Then, in the last twelve months, we’ve endured a series of rapid and alarming increases in every category of major cost.
The cost-of-living adjustment in our printing contract raised printing prices by more than 8% for the final year of the con- tract. This was the largest increase in printing we have experienced in 35 years of publishing Excellence.
Postage is another significant cost and the Post Office has requested an increase of approximately 8% in the periodical postage rate which is almost certain to be approved and will take effect this summer. Although it will hurt, it’s almost impossible to disagree with this increase. The Post Office does an excellent job of delivering magazines at a modest cost and is essential to our business. There is no alternative delivery system.
This brings us to the most devastating increase – the price of paper. In January 2021, we purchased the 50-lb paper we use in Excellence for $41.75 per hundredweight (cwt) in the secondary market. (The secondary market takes excess paper from the manufacturer and sells it branded with a private label.) In April 2021, we purchased the same paper for $49.50 cwt from the manufacturer. In November 2021, we got the same paper from the manufacturer for $58.50 cwt, but they wouldn’t honor any further orders because their manufacturing capacity was fully committed. We were able to obtain two truckloads (44,000 lbs each) of a similar grade paper to maintain our supply but had to pay $70 cwt, an increase of 68% in a 15-month period. We expect some decrease in paper prices by 2023 but don’t know when or how much as some paper machines have been converted to producing other stock like corrugated packaging.
CAN I RENEW EARLY AT THE CURRENT PRICES?
Yes, you can. The first thing to do is check the date your current subscription expires. It is printed on the mailing label for each issue. This tells you the cover date of the last issue on your subscription. Keep in mind, the cover date is different than the calendar date. The current issue has a cover date of October but you should receive it in August. This system of dating is done for the newsstand so issues displayed will never have a stale date.
If you choose to renew early, you have several options. For those of you who have subscriptions expiring in the next twelve months, we will send an early renewal notice to give you an opportunity to renew at the current prices. It will clearly state your subscription is not in danger of expiring but will give you the opportunity to renew early.
You can extend your subscription by sending a check with the notice you receive as most of you do now, but you can also renew on our web site (excellence-mag.com) by clicking on “Early Renewal” on the “Subscriber Services” page.
This early renewal option is open to all subscribers, even if your subscription doesn’t expire in the next twelve months. You can do an early renewal online or send a check directly to us at 42 Digital Drive #5, Novato, CA 94949. Canadian and other foreign subscribers can also take advantage of the current rates but we will not be sending early renewal notices. Your best option is to renew your subscription on our web site.
WHEN IS THE INCREASE EFFECTIVE?
The new prices are effective September 11, so you have ample time to decide whether to extend your subscription but don’t put it off too long or you will end up paying the higher prices. We won’t accept renewals at the old prices as of September 11. In fact, if you think it’s a good idea, do it right now; don’t wait.
ARE THERE ANY ADDED BENEFITS?
We have never offered cheap caps or other trinkets to prompt you to subscribe. However, we have endeavored to provide Porsche-related enhancements to your subscription like the Porsche Buyer’s Guide along with other publications like the Performance Driving Guide and Tech Notes books. We want Excellence to be your favorite Porsche magazine for many years to come.
