Single Copy Sales - Business Magazines

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Single Copy Sales [Print/Digital]

A single copy sold to a consumer direct by the publisher.

Principles

1. Single copy knowingly paid for by the consumer

2. Copies are purchased direct from the publisher 

3. The price paid for the publication by the consumer must be clear and conspicuous 

Requirements 

1. Single copy knowingly paid for by the consumer

1. The purchase by the consumer may be in cash or by other means agreed by ABC in writing.

2. Back issues up to 12 months old can be claimed against the issue current at the time of sale.

Guidance Available

2. Copies are purchased direct from the publisher  

1. You must account for sales on an issue by issue basis.

Guidance Available

3. The price paid for the publication by the consumer must be clear and conspicuous

1. If a voucher from a publisher controlled promotion is used the amount paid by the consumer is deemed to be the total of the cash paid to the publisher and any cash they paid for the voucher.

2. The value (or perceived value) of gifts or cover mounts to the consumer have no effect on the price paid for ABC purposes. Cash reimbursements to the consumer must be taken into account.    

3. You must retain details of promotional or special offers during the reporting period. 

Guidance Available 

Note: If you’re claiming digital copies, please also refer to the additional requirements in the Digital Copies section.

Reporting

You will report the following, which will be broken out on the ABC Certificate:

1. Total single copy sales (combined with retail sales) for the Audit Issue for UK and Other Countries.

2. As an option, the cover price of the Audit Issue for UK, ROP or the range of cover prices if reporting international circulation.

Guidance

G1. Single copy knowingly paid for by the consumer

1. Cash means legal tender notes and coins, cheque, credit/debit card, wireless payment systems.

G2. Copies are purchased direct from the publisher 

1. You will need to ensure all records required to support the single copy sale claim are available for audit. This will include financial records that adequately identify the numbers of each issue of the publication sold, including an audit trail to verify the money received.

2. For copies sold at exhibitions or events evidence you may need might include: 

   1. Till receipts/cash sheets allowing monies to be traced through to evidence of banking.
      
      
   2. Evidence that the publisher or their representatives had a presence at the exhibition or event to corroborate that copies were sold there. For example: evidence the publisher had booked a stand or pitch at the event, or evidence the copies were delivered to the event venue.

G3. The price paid for the publication by the consumer must be clear and conspicuous

1. As the price paid may be affected by promotional schemes you should keep details of purchases and promotional spends so you can demonstrate copies are purchased and that sales under incentives/offers are classified correctly, or disallowed as necessary. You can contact ABC for confidential advice, supplying copies of the promotional material and offer wording. The information kept may include:
   
   
   • Title/s involved
   • Issues involved
   • Duration of promotion
   • Outlets involved
   • Wording of the promotion displayed
   • How the resultant copies are claimed
   • How the promotion will be paid for
     
     
2. Promotions/gifts examples
   

   • If a publication ‘ABC News’ is promoted as ‘Buy ABC News and get a free bottle of water’ then the bottle of water is treated as a free gift and it is clear the price paid is solely for the purchase of the publication.

   • If the promotion is ‘Buy a bottle of water and get a free copy of ABC News’ then the publication will be treated as free for ABC purposes.

   • If the promotion is ‘Buy ABC News and a bottle of water for £1’ then the price paid for the publication is not clear and conspicuous and the copy will not be eligible as ABC circulation.