Maldred4 Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 I know last year WHSmiths were at one point stopping selling and then after pressure reversed a decision on selling shooting related magazines to under 14's but do they not sell shooting magazines at airports to anyone? I travel through Heathrow on a fairly regular basis and on each occasion have gone into Smiths to buy a shooting magazine for the flight. Not any magazine in particular just anything available that looks interesting, however each time there hasn't been anything on the shelves. I'd like to think that the sport is that popular all titles sell out before I get a chance to buy but i'm not sure this is the case and would assume smiths would restock anything popular in sales. Has anyone else noticed this? Does it happen at airports over the UK or are there security reasons WHSmiths dont seem to sell shooting magazines? ATB Maldred4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 never been able to buy any shooting related magazines at any London airports i'm normaly using... (Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Maybe they think someone brandishing a copy of the Field is a hijack risk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Just been through Manchester Airport & bought Sporting Gun from WHS there - Sporting Rifle was on the shelf & a couple of others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Smiths is very hit and miss with shooting mags, some branches sell loads of them and some none. I wonder if the store manager has a say, or whether they do some kind of regional demographic survey to see what will sell locally? Gay porn in Essex, that kind of thing? I travel through Heathrow a lot and they've never sold them. The Paddington station branch always has Sporting Gun, Shooting Times, Sporting Rifle etc. My local branch in Stroud has a reasonable choice. These days, even though it's inconvenient at times, I try to avoid Smiths after they put an age bar on shooting titles. I know they relented eventually under pressure, but it annoyed me and I don't trust them any more. Too urban, too bunny hugger centric and too ready to listen to a handful of gobby antis for my liking. Your small independent local newsagent is more deserving of you custom IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Most shooting mags are printed on 43xtb quality paper, which year on year is responsible for 4.3million 3rd degree paper cuts ( where the paper cut results in bleeding ) in order to save on plasters the decision to stop selling them was made after a strategic review of the sale of such magazines seven years ago. Caravan weekly and trainspotting diary are two other mags which were affected by this decision..... That's just my theory, but i may be wrong of course. - Will be looking into this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Nor train station as a rule. Perhaps the franchises know they will mostly sell women's weekly mags, comics and IT nerd stuff for those who like that sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldred4 Posted November 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 (edited) Good point Blunderbuss my local newsagent is pretty good to be fair to him so I'll ask him if he can get in Sporting Gun etc Edited November 17, 2013 by Maldred4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 I know last year WHSmiths were at one point stopping selling and then after pressure reversed a decision on selling shooting related magazines to under 14's but do they not sell shooting magazines at airports to anyone? I travel through Heathrow on a fairly regular basis and on each occasion have gone into Smiths to buy a shooting magazine for the flight. Not any magazine in particular just anything available that looks interesting, however each time there hasn't been anything on the shelves. I'd like to think that the sport is that popular all titles sell out before I get a chance to buy but i'm not sure this is the case and would assume smiths would restock anything popular in sales. Has anyone else noticed this? Does it happen at airports over the UK or are there security reasons WHSmiths dont seem to sell shooting magazines? ATB Maldred4 Have you considered asking the staff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 (edited) Have you considered asking the staff? I very much doubt that the shop floor staff would be aware of the ins and outs of stocking policy. Edited November 17, 2013 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Just been through Manchester Airport & bought Sporting Gun from WHS there - Sporting Rifle was on the shelf & a couple of others. Another one here for Manchester - always get some gun porn from WH Smiths prior to holiday, the last time was a month ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Still boycotting them after what they did last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 I very much doubt that the shop floor staff would be aware of the ins and outs of stocking policy Ok. The manager then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Never been able to buy them at Gatwick ..I don't use WHS at all or co.op for their anti field sports attitude ..money talks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoi99 Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Motorway service stations hardly ever stock shooting mags.........but they will sell you a small muffin for nearly £3 !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e2000e2000e Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 It's probably a regional thing, and what sells, Picked up a shooting times at Glasgow airport on Friday, often pick one up in motorway services especially if you are in the south west! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldred4 Posted November 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I have asked the Heathrow staff before and got the standard answer of no we havent got it not sure if we will. To be fair though they weren't store managers so not sure if they would know what lines are stocked or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Isnt CO,OP the same? Having said that my local Spar shop has stopped stocking shooting magazines, I will ask the manager why next time I see him, it will not be his choice as he beats on a local shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afastr Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I picked up a couple of airgun magazines and sporting shooter in a smiths in Birmingham international airport earlier this year. Saying that, only one of the three or so shops that they have scattered around the airport had them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) I noticed this many years ago with both Heathrow and Gatwick so tend to buy mine locally beforehand but the only trouble is resisting the temptation to read them before the boarding date ! Edited November 18, 2013 by Hamster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Spoke to Conor O'Gorman at BASC who believes that the issue is one of supply and demand and not anything to do with an anti shooting policy as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I buy the Field on my way to the US via Heathrow/Gatwick as my mate over their likes to read it - Bit hit and miss on availability, but they are there if you look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malik Posted November 19, 2013 Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 I use trains frequently. They don't have any shooting mags in St Panc either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldred4 Posted November 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2013 Think I might email WHsmiths and see what the response is and post it back here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.