I’ll write more about China soon, I promise. Here’s a photo of a giant Buddha to tied you over.
In the mean time, I bring you an observation. Tonight I subscribed to a magazine and ordered a video game. In both cases I ordered online from American websites. The best thing about buying things online is the instant gratification factor. I think the reason the iTunes Music Store does so well, for example, is that you can listen to your new song in a few minutes. Buying a CD in a shop is still pretty quick (if you can find what you want), but you still have to take it home and peel the plastic off. That being said, not all online purchase experiences are created equal.
My magazines will start arriving in 6-8 weeks. My video game could have shipped tomorrow, but instead of a boxed copy I elected for a digital download. At time of writing, I need to wait another 23 minutes for my game.
Four to six weeks vs. 30 minutes. I know that magazines are inherently different from video games in that one is printed on paper (and although it can be read online, there really is something to be said for paper) and mailed to you while the other is made of bits and can be transported magically over wires, but it’s hard not to draw old media vs new media comparisons here. The “new media” understands that having something now, or at least soon, is quite compelling. Whereas, I really don’t understand why it’ll take two months for me to receive the first issue of my weekly magazine. What are they going to do for the next 7 weeks between taking my money and mailing me my reading material? Chop down the trees by hand, make the paper, and ink the pages themselves? It doesn’t make much sense to me, especially given that “old media” has been predicting it’s own death for some time now. Come on guys, the giant New Media T-Rex that is eating everything in sight is getting closer. The least you can do is run a little faster.
4 to 6 weeks is too lont for a weekly magazine. if it was a monthly, fine. it takes time for them to print the new one… i mean write the new one.
there needs to be some lag time, since they are probably adjusting how many they need to print, etc. but once subscribed, particularly online and paid for with a credit card, there should be no more than one issue released to the news stand without yours coming in the mail.
however, if you’d ordered a book, that would be there in a day or two. likewise, i can order a computer on tuesday, and have it delivered on friday. my new imac is waiting for me at home.
I will concede that the magazine started arriving about two weeks after I placed the order. Apparently they just said “4 to 6 weeks” in the confirmation email to get me all worked up…