INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINES FOR RENT

EXCLUSIVE: By The Bangkok Bugle

A service offering copies of international magazines on a rental basis has launched in Thailand.
The MagPalThailand venture, believed to be the first of its kind anywhere in the world, allows customers in Thailand to rent copies of overseas magazines from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Currently the service is offering a package of ten titles 'for him' and for her' from both countries. The 'for him' package of magazines from the U.K. includes copies of FHM, T3, Gentlemen's Quarterly, Men's Health, Esquire, Performance BMW, MacWorld, FourFourTwo, Car and Loaded. Customers can rent copies of current issues of these titles for a 3-month period for 7,130 baht. The price drops to 2,840 baht for three-month old issues. Packages for 6 and 12 month periods are also on offer. Magazines are delivered to customers who then have to return the issues to the company or face a fine. A fine is also payable for damaged copies.
The concept seems to be exactly the same as the video rental business. But for magazines? Surely if people are going to be paying what is a substantial amount of money for a selection of magazines they're going to want to keep them? The only benefit I can see is the cost saving, but that's only worthwhile if you would be buying most of the ten magazines in the packages anyway. The range is so diverse that I cannot believe anyone in Thailand is buying all ten titles right now, and savvy magazine shoppers know you can get big discounts on a diverse range of overseas magazines from Chatuchak Weekend Market - albeit it's hit and miss exactly what turns up.
Does anyone this this will work? Would anyone use a service like this?