Well, I have finally gotten hold of both of these companies. What I have come to understand is that it is not in fact *all* of these stores, thank goodness. It is apparently up to each individual store owner to act according to the reactions of his customers when deciding weather to put the magazine behind counters or in full public view. I know there is at least one store in chicago (7-eleven) who has chosen to put the magazine behind the counter. I am sure there are others. But at least it seems like the *majority* of these stores have used common sense and chosen *not* to. If anyone runs into a store which *is* putting the magazine behind the counter, it would be advisable (according to the people at corproate level) to take it up with the individual store owners. Thanks for looking into this, everyone. I am so relieved that this is not *all* of the 7-elevens and Winn-Dixies like I was led to believe!! Nicki Clark