Smalley has some magazine madness

A couple months ago I found a large envelope in my mailbox warning me in large black letters, “Do Not Bend.”

Another time, a business-size envelope told me, “You Must Act Fast.”

The first contained only a single sheet of paper telling me I had a month to renew my subscription to Field & Stream Magazine.

The second, the same warning from Saltwater Sportsman.

I would be the first to admit I know nothing about marketing outdoor magazines, but I do know what ticks me off — and that’s magazines that do not note the expiration date on the mailing label.

I have no doubts that keeping a magazine afloat is a tough business. We’ve all seen at least one of our favorite mags go out of business.

Most recently my wife was saddened to see CookingLight magazine no longer publish hardcopy issues.

It’s particularly tough on freelancers. But I digress…

I’ve learned the hard way not to up my subscription every time I receive a notice. Now I keep a list of my magazines, showing when I upped and for how long.

I’d really like to see expiration dates on mailing labels.

Jerry Smalley’s Fishful Thinking appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.