December 20, 2007
Washington Post to Cost 50 Cents
Metro fares aren't the only thing going up in price in D.C. If you're in the habit of purchasing a copy of the Washington Post from a vending machine or a sidewalk hawker on your way to work in the morning, take note: the cost of the daily paper is about to go up by 15 cents. The Post's newsstand price will become 50 cents beginning on Dec. 31. The company cited a decline in the paper's circulation and advertising revenue as the reason for the increase.
The home delivery price and the Sunday newsstand price will not change, however, so subscribers will see no difference.
Given that newspapers are not known for making much money off of their subscriptions and newsstand sales, we have a hard time believing the additional 15 cents per paper sold on the street is going to miraculously solve any of the Post's financial woes. Still, 50 cents isn't a lot of money for a major newspaper. Think the change will affect how often you purchase the Post?
Photo by yorktronic
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Actually, it will now cost 50 cents to open the door of a vending machine containing a whole stack of papers. Not that I'm endorsing violation of that particular honor system.
Think of it this way. It's timed so you can use DC quarters to buy the Post. Ok, the DC quarters will not come out til 2009. There goes that theory.
eh, it's still two coins. the 15 cents doesn't bother me too much.
then again, i read my news on DCist.
It was already priced $.35 more than it's worth
The Post puts out a free daily and circulation of the non-free Post goes down. Huh. Better bring in rocket scientists to figure this one out.
Circulation = 699,130 per weekday. Assuming half are home deliveries, that is roughly 350,000 * 6 = 2.1 million copies per week. In this scenario, the increase will net them $16,380,000 per year in additional revenue.
This would never have happened if we'd switched our economy to the Ron Paul dollar.
Circulation = 699,130 per weekday. Assuming half are home deliveries, that is roughly 350,000 * 6 = 2.1 million copies per week. In this scenario, the increase will net them $16,380,000 per year in additional revenue.
Oh, silly journalists. Look to the retailers for ideas on how to make money. If your product isn't moving, put it on sale! Don't charge more for what few people want to begin with.
That's still cheaper than the Chicago Tribune which just raised its newsstand price from 50¢ to 75¢.
Still cheap; 35c was pretty amazing for 2007.
And I don't know how anyone can compare Express to The Post. The Express runs crappy wire stories and some fluff style articles written by locals. The Post has bureaus everywhere and is pretty much a pillar of journalism. They just don't serve the same purpose. Though I have heard Express is a major money maker for WashPostCo.
... still 15 million is drop in the bucket. according to their 10k - they have 782 million of circulation revenue and 1.4 billion in advertising revenue. I don't see how this is a major shift. Besides, seriously, who has dimes anyhow. Dont you use your parking quarters those times you actually buy the paper at a box anyhow?
... still 15 million is drop in the bucket. according to their 10k - they have 782 million of circulation revenue and 1.4 billion in advertising revenue. I don't see how this is a major shift. Besides, seriously, who has dimes anyhow. Dont you use your parking quarters those times you actually buy the paper at a box anyhow?
The price increase won't affect the number of times I buy the Post. I didn't buy it when it cost $.35, and I certainly won't buy it now that it costs $.50. I don't believe in spending hard-earned money on liberal trash only fit for garbage bins.