$4.05

Four dollars and a nickel. That’s what it now costs to mail a single issue of Two-Cylinder magazine. No, that’s not for all of those 20,000-plus magazines that go out together. Mailed to U.S. destinations, they are sent using the appropriate Periodical Rate. The $4.05 rate comes into play when we mail a single issue, such as a back issue.

When the new postal rate became effective earlier this year, we looked through records to try to determine what it costs when Two-Cylinder members do not renew in time to stay on the current mailing list. In 2005, we single-mailed over 2000 magazines. If that held true in 2006, it would amount to over $8000. With the price of printing continually inching up, we simply cannot continue to not charge postage when mailing magazines to fill the gap for late renewals.

Late renewals will now and in the future, begin with the next regular issue. Example: A renewal is due for the July–August issue, but isn’t received until after that issue is already on the press or in the mail. Consequently, the member will receive the September–October issue, and will need to purchase July–August as a back issue if they wish to maintain a complete set. The price of the back issue, postpaid, is currently $10.00. Obviously, the best way to avoid having to purchase a back issue to to renew promptly, and a good way to save about six dollars each cycle is to renew for two years instead of one.

Early renewals will not get lost in the shuffle or overlap a current membership. They will always be attached to the end of membership cycle, so there is absolutely no problem in renewing several weeks, months, or even a year early.

We thank you for your understanding on this subject.
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