How do magazines get their magazines sold in stores, do the stores buy them, do the mags send them and...?

Question

then make profit of however many sell and the rest are sent back, are the mags making a profit or less when selling in stores?

Answer 1

Magazines are sold, basically, on consignment. The store is invoiced for a cost lower than the cover price, then sells them for the cover price. Generally, magazines are merchandised through a company that sends someone to the store to set out the magazines, and help decide which magazines to sell there. They still make a profit, but probably make more of one when they sell by subscription (thus, the lower price).