taking sides: news-stands v. newsagents

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It's taken me a long time to realise that this is THE big difference between the USA and UK/IRL.

why do they not have newsagents in America? why are news-stands so rare over here?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I expect loads of people now to tell me that newsagents are VERY common in USA, while you can't move for news-stands in the UK. THIS IS LIFE.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

What is a newsagent? A newspaper/magazine shop?

― Nemo (JND), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:29 (twenty-one years ago)

it is a shop that sells newspapers and magazines, and also sweets and softdrinks and stuff like that.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

They have those at airports, train stations, and in larger cities in the US, but probably still not as common as I guess they are in the UK.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Here you buy sweets in a drugstore or even...a liquor store. It is coll to buy a reese's cup while a gizzly old dude is buying like ten of those miniature whiskey bottles ahead of you at 6pm on a friday night.

Also there are newspaper BOXES in the US. No need for shops!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

coll! gizzly! = I can't type anymore.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

the newsagents in the UK (aside from the street stands that are just one guy and a rack of newspapers/mags) seem most equivalent to a US 7-11 or something. But those vary widely within the franchise. I haven't noticed much of a difference in this kind of thing in UK vs. US the cities I've lived in.

― sgs (sgs), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I think this is really about the death of the American high street.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Every British high street should have a pub, a post office, a newsagent...and either one/both of : indian restaurant, betting shop.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Typical Brit Newsagents

Newspapers
Magazines [including top shelf typically allocated to porn/ adult magazines]
Sweets & snacks & soft drinks
Cigs
Stationary
sometimes greeting cards
Other services: Travel Tickets & Lottery & PayPoint etc

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

all that plus maybe a slurpee machine and coffee/soda fountain (and maybe gas pumps but not always) equals 7-11s or Cumby's in my experience.

I like the concept of 'the high street.'

― sgs (sgs), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

me too!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Highlight of my childhood = going to MARTIN'S newsagent to get a SLUSH PUPPY on weekends!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Slush puppy!
http://www.greatbiginflatables.com/upload/SLUSH%20PUPPY.jpg

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

My grandfather was a newsagent in a little country village. Eventually, the family sold the shop; I think it's been converted into a wee supermarket since.

― caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

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