# Periodicals on the shelf

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/periodicals-on-the-shelf/79934>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 5, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/periodicals-on-the-shelf/79934 "2001-09-05T21:42:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Carnal\_knowledge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@Carnal\_knowledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnal_knowledge)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/periodicals-on-the-shelf/79934/1 "2001-09-05T21:42:28Z")

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How can one find out exactly what day a certain magazine will be on the shelves at the bookstore?

Are there any websites that have that info?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/periodicals-on-the-shelf/79934/2 "2001-09-05T23:38:41Z")

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99% of the time, the answer is “the day they receive it”. This can vary quite a bit, depending on the publisher’s general reliability, the distributor that the store in question uses, the particular carrier that delivers to the store, etc. Your best bet is to try a newsstand or bookstore (someplace with a direct customer service focus, not just a random grocery store), and ask them when they normally get you magazine in. If they’re at all competent, they won’t guarantee a date for monthly periodicals, but they can probably give you a fairly narrow range.

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/periodicals-on-the-shelf/79934/3 "2001-09-05T23:49:09Z")

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The big mainstream publications will show up on the same day each week 99% of the time. If you’re talking about a small publication, like a literary journal, don’t wait by the store for it to show up. Those tend to get edited and published at a leisurely pace.