The offer from our local government owned Australia Post store was compelling. Reflex for $4.95 a ream. This is around $1.50 a ream less that newsagents pay their wholesaler today. But, wait, it gets better! Spend over $50 and Reflex is delivered free.
I have a couple of issue with this: Newsagents ought to be able to buy better through their warehouses; Australia Post should not be able to use its government protected monopoly to take business from small businesses, it’s not why they were created. I am hopeful that Kevin Rudd’s new team in Canberra will look at this and Australia Posts pursuit of newsagents.
Given that the brochures offers up to a truck load of Reflex, maybe I should take the opportunity and grab the cheap stock while I can. Checking the fine print, I can’t as I don’t have a fork lift to receive it.
It’s a sad state of affairs when the Big W’s and Australia Post can be considered default warehouses for newsagents to buy Reflex (and other stationery) from.
I am all for supporting our traditional suppliers but there comes a time when uncompetitive pricing forces us to look elsewhere – when you can buy Reflex plain and recycled</b) for $4.07 +GST from Big W, why wouldn’t you do it?
Pre-election, I wrote to my local Liberal member and the Labour candidate re the unfair advantage enjoyed by Australia Post – the absolutely nil response from both probably reflected the total lack of interest both major partys have in small business!