HOW MANY COPIES IN THE SHOPS?

Depending on where you look it's relatively easy to find the number of copies of newspapers and magazines being supplied to individual shops.

This image, albeit a grainy one taken on my iPhone, was snapped recently at a leading bookshop in Bangkok. It clearly shows the number of copies of some newspapers and magazine being supplied. This delivery note was pinned to the top of a pile of newspapers and magazines, and clearly available for anyone to read. It also shows the price, and the level of commission payable per sale.

Here you can see that 30 copies of number one Thai language daily newspaper Thai Rath were supplied, along with two copies of business monthly magazine Leader Time and five copies of the bi-weekly English language newspaper Pattaya Mail.

I'm guessing that publishers will be in two minds about this level of data being on display. Those claiming vastly exaggerated sales will be appalled whereas those with decent levels of distribution will not be too bothered.