ORIGINAL: KidEpoxy
STL says
Exaclty and the AMA has been changing prices both forwards and backwards. In fact right now it's 30% less to purchase a full page spread, then it was 3 years ago ... why do you think that is? Because sales have slowed down. When sales speed up, their raise rates again.
That is a claim that the rates are set by ad sales
However, Mark S says
This includes making sure that our advertising rates are inline with industry standards as well as responsibly managing all of the expenses associated with publication
Which tosses STLs theory out the window and replaces it with the actual reasoning they raised the rates: Arbitrarily heavyhanded rate hike because they saw others were charging more and wanted to charge more too.... and that last bit about expenses responsibility means to cut the cash hemorrage a bit (aka run more profitably <aka less lossfully>)
Quick show of hands,
who thinks STLs reason is why Muncie just raised rates,
and who thinks Mark S's reason is why.
It certainly is within reason that MarkS could be wrong,
STL, are you saying MarkS is wrong?
<edit+>
STL,
just how much is the Fullpage that you say is 30%less 'right now'?
Touche! Yes, KE in this case Mark shows good intention, but looking at competitors pricepoints don't mean anything now. Aligning your pricepoints only matter when your first starting up, after that, you can only price your products at a price that sells, this is why you don't see WalMart clothing products on Saks Fifth Ave shelves. However Mark's comment is more realisitc, then Hoss'. Go back and copy/paste DM point of view of where/why pricepoints are set in MA, he noted that before and he was dead on and that's why he's President and both Hoss and Mark are running to be his flunkie (as per Hoss).
In re pricing ... look it up if you care that much. Call them for historical rates, give yourself a little due dilligence on your end.