Sunday, August 08, 2021

How do you flick through a magazine in Smiths?

Quality publication on sale

Time for a quick poll. At work, we were discussing which way people flick through a magazine when browsing in WH Smiths, or other newsagents. 

I thought that most people held the mag in their right hand and flicked from the back to the front. 

Younger members of the team say they hold it in the left hand and flick from the front to back. 

Who is right? Can we trust the opinions of people who wear a baseball cap back to front? 

Do, please comment on this post - enquiring minds want to know.

16 comments:

  1. This oldie rests the spine in his left hand and flicks front to back, releasing the pages with his right thumb.

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  2. Hmmmm, I've never even thought about it, but I'd say that I take it in my left hand, (left handed,) then flick from back to front, using my right hand to "receive" the flicked portion of the magazine. If enough articles catch my eye, then i'll buy it and give it a read.

    One thing I have noticed though is that a lot of railway publications, both full size and model, seem to come in plastic packaging, even if there's seemingly nothing to contain inside. The cover has to work really hard in that case to catch my eye which an overly cluttered cover can easily detract me if everything inside is listed.

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  3. You don't anymore. So many are covered in plastic wrap you don't know what's inside so don't buy it.

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  4. It is so long since I last did it...

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  5. Anonymous7:34 AM



    Pick up is right hand then transfer to left & flick front to back with my right hand.

    My wife holds it in her right hand and left hand flicks back page to front page.

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  6. Anonymous7:59 AM

    "Flick" or "not to flick" preceeds manipulation. The cover is key. Then, if "bitten", it is left hand "spine" and right hand "turn".

    A potential banana skin then becomes dropped "inserts" with a quick look left/right to see who is watching before picking up and/or replacement on shelf or continuing. The size of "branch" and space available is also a factor.

    Another factor is shelf placement. Many railway/transport "comics" sit quite low down and hidden under another shelf which for certain of us of a certain age may pose a problem bending!

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  7. Anonymous8:23 AM

    I agree that the bottom shelf is a disaster area for me. This is often made worse by those "pockets" that they hang off the front of shelves to fit even more magazines. They block the view of the bottom shelf completely.

    I also agree about plastic bags that don't even let you find the contents page.

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  8. Anonymous9:04 AM

    Ive only just got bck to this but it is not often usually if an item catches my attention from the cover or from a blog I will go from front to back

    Richard

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  9. Anonymous9:07 AM


    Never go to a newsagent these days. Magazines either delivered digitally via Pocketmags, Zinio or Readly etc. Where this isn't possible e.g. MRJ or NG&IRMR then postal subscription.

    I save money by not making unnecessary impulse buys and protect myself from Covid and other diseases by not handling items already handled by others.

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  10. Right hand, then flick back to front unless it's Parker's Guide which goes straight to the checkout - have I got any bonus points for that?

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  11. Anonymous10:05 AM

    Haven't been to a WHSmiths this decade. And now wont pick up a magazine that isn't protected by plastic.

    Thankfully my town's library service offers magazines online and they get most of the publications that WHSMiths sell.

    George

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  12. Held in left hand, flicked front to back. Unless its the MRJ then I just go to checkout (same with 2000AD and Zero Tolerance).

    To be honest, most modelling mags leave me cold these days. Too bright and glossy, too many boxes and bullet points. But, hey, that's what people seem to want.

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  13. Hold in right hand then flick through back to front. It's also how I read it at home as well. Oddly, I've got into the habit with RM and CM that one of the first things I look at is the preview of the next month's edition.

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  14. I usually browse a magazine from the back. This is a habit from my childhood days when newspapers (in Canada, at least) had the comics on the inside back page.

    My problem now is deciding whether the magazine is new or one I already own. This may reflect on whether I am still interested in the content or if I didn't pay attention to it.

    Or maybe I'll just buy any article on Superdetailing your TriAng Princess.

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  15. Hold in right hand, flick front to back.

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  16. Anonymous1:03 PM

    Phil

    So now you can tell us why you want to know & what the results have told you.

    Please don't start printing the magazine with page 1 at the back!!!!!!!

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