There is an interesting discussion going on in the UK about the cover price of newspapers and magazines. Some newsagents want no cover price printed on publications so they can set the prices themselves. The National Federation of Newsagents in the UK, recently decided to investigate the feasibility of removing cover prices.
An issue driving the UK discussion – who carries the cost of the supply chain – is relevant in Australia. While magazine publishers and distributors have made great strides in cutting costs out of their supply models in recent years, the refusal of some to transact efficiently with newsagents has denied us the opportunity to cut costs out of our businesses.