Saturday, February 28, 2009

7-11 Magazine Hawker

The other day I found a 7-11 with MANY, MANY magazines in English. AND they were the American versions, not the British ones!! The British versions are full of things I don't understand and people I have never heard of... (although I learned that a "stone" means 14 pounds which I think is completely absurd. 14? How about 10 or even 15... 14 pounds? Okay...)

Either way... I was very excited to find these magazines because I was looking for a birthday gift for another American woman over here. Erica, if you are reading - stop... because this next part will be really tacky. :) But whatever, we're friends...

250 kroner!!! I paid $50 for four magazines!!! I saved the receipt for our little scrapbook because I think that is ridiculous! I laughed out loud as the cashier told me the grand total. I said, "Do you know that that is $50?!?" :) With a confused look on his face he asked me if they were special magazines... and I just replied, "Yes", and left the store appalled at how many kroners I had just spent.

As I gave my friend the magazines... I said, "Give them back when you are done so I can read them." HA HA - Talk about TACKY! We get desperate here in Denmark when it comes to English reading material. :) It's all in good fun though.

Never again will I whine/winge about $5 for a magazine. I will never whine/winge about lots of things now... At this point I'd even happily pay the Canadian price on a book. :)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The DSB kiosk at the train station has the largest selection of magazines http://www.bladguiden.dk

You can order cheaper magazine subscritions by ordering online here http://www.bladkiosken.dk

Live, Play, and Read Together said...

I want a turn...

Kelli Nørgaard said...

hey, I know you are going to head right to the train station to pick up some magazines, right?! LOL

Isn´t it amazing that we get so excited to see what we have been missing that we will pay almost any price for it?! But would NEVER pay that in the states!! I hope she loves her gift!

Jen said...

Wow, I pay £3.25 for a copy of People when I see it at Borders, to get my own American fix, I think that's about $5, then all these cards fall out telling me if I lived in the US I could get it for $0.01.

And I thought that was bad!

C and H Romenesko said...

I'd happily pass along my stash of Real Simple, if you're interested.

BABS said...

I have five billion magazines in English, and another seven zillion magazines in American (mostly Oprah).

When every body is asleep I get them out and count them and stroke them and smooth their crumpled pages out.

There aint nuthin like a proper magazine to an expat.

Tara said...

Anonymous - I think the 7-11 on Fredericks Alle has WAY more... and US editions. I haven't been to the train station lately though.

C&H - YES I will read your Real Simple!!! I can think of 10 women who would LOVE to read them!!

:) I haven't thrown away anything in English since being here... we just pass it along to the next!

Julie said...

Wow, I can't believe how expensive things are there!!

Anonymous said...

now will you buy me more books?

Anonymous said...

Tara if you really think the 7-11 at Frederik's Allé has WAY more magazines than the DSB Kiosk in Århus, then I don't think you have ever been to the DSB Kiosk.
I don't know about the number of English language magazines, but the total number of magazines at the DSB Kisok is probably at least 10 times more than the number of magazines at the 7-11 at Frederik's Allé.
Maybe you went to the DSB "supermaket" on the left hand when you walk into the train station instead of the smaller DSB Kiosk on the right hand?

Jeanette said...

Hi Tara

In fact I just made a Google search on "evaporated milk", and then I ended up here. Now I've been reading your blog for an hour. I love your writing. It's really interesting to hear about Denmark seen from "the outside". I perfectly understand your frustrations about the differences between our countries. I once lived in Scotland for 6 months, and even though it's not that far away, so many things are different. You feel safe with the things you're used to, and when they're not available, the frustration gets under your skin. That's how I felt anyway.
About the magazines - I hate the high prices as well. And on many other products here in DK as well. Even though I was born and raised here, I never get used to just accepting the huge taxes on some things.

I wish all the best for you and your family - and thanks for an hour of entertainment.. :-D

Julianna

Tara said...

Thanks Julianna... and if you need evaporated milk they have some here in Hamburg! :) I think I even found it at Bazar Vest too. :)

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