The ANF bulletin sent out tonight contains disappointing and false assertions.
The ANF bulletin says: The ANF is aware of a fax that was recently distributed nationally by Tower Systems. The fax contained some misleading and false statements in relation to ANF initiatives on behalf of newsagents.
I say – the ANF bulletin publishes no information which demonstrates that what I published was false or misleading. The claim was made on letterhead from a business representing Suncorp.
The ANF bulletin says: FACT: Touch solutions began talking to the ANF and Tower Systems about providing value added services to the newsagent industry early this year.
I say – this statement is, at best, inaccurate and at worst an outright lie. Tower released the value added services through eziPass in October 2007. The ANF promoted this in its own bulletin. Why then would they try and revise history?
The ANF bulletin says: FACT: The St George help desk provides assistance to both ANF and Tower Systems.
I say – Last week St.George established a separate Tower only help desk in part to resolve the challenges of what look like competing offers – the Tower offer and the ANF offer.
The ANF bulletin says: FACT: The ANF does not receive any commission on pre paid products with Suncorp or St George.
I say – the ANF needs to declare its commission, rebate and or other revenue arrangements associated with mobile recharge, phonecard and other product sales and merchant services transacted. The above ‘fact’ statement is not helpful without full disclosure. If the ANF makes nothing and its to make nothing why are newsagents asked to nominate ANF membership.
Several months ago Don MacAskill acting CEO of the ANF called me late one evening and asked if he could promote the Tower eziPass platform to newsagents alongside an offer from St George and Suncorp in the ANF bulletin. I advised I am okay with this as long as he understands there would be no revenue for the ANF as the Tower work was being done pro bono for newsagents. He agreed. The ANF promoted eziPass in an email that went out that night and once more a few days later. That was the end of it.
Tonight’s email from the association continues its poor track record of service and transparency on Bill Express related matters. I want the ANF to act as an association and not a commercial body.
This public dispute with the ANF is not edifying for them or for me. My issue is that newsagents deserve better representation. Te ANF had a great opportunity several months ago to start afresh. It did not choose this course and has had to spend much time since defending the indefensible about Bill Express.
Mark, you are right. This dispute is not edifying for anyone.
I’m afraid this blog is full of self-interest. Your self-interest.
You will point to the assertion that “I” have brokered this, “I” organised this. You are a poser. These deals obviously give you leverage with financial constitutions for your companies. You, however, pose as “pro bono”. A pose indeed, but your fan club will no doubt continue to salute. Your ‘Mini-Me’, Jarryd, will waltz in, on cue.
It is transparent that you will reply that you are selflessly doing all this for the benefit of the newsagency industry of Australia, that you are not making a ‘nickel’.
[Under challenge, you will no doubt search out the IP of critical e-mails such as this. This computer is based in Doncaster (Vic.), and has been used by others in the past. But it matters not where this particular computer is based, or who it is criticises you. The fact is that you are hopelessly conflicted. The fact is that your reply will go on the attack, and not reply to the kernel of this argument.]
The other fact remains that you are suckering in many newsagents for your own gain, luring them into your Tower network. Good luck to you, I guess.
This blog demonstrates that most of the newsagent participants here are – almost without exception – hopelessly inadequate with the English language … poorly understanding that the marketing of the English language that is what the newsagncy business is all about. This blog demonstrates that just about every entry contains expression and thinking only one-step apart from a sub-teenage newsboy.
The focus of this blog is the old 80:20 role. 80 per cent of this blog over the past few weeks is concerned about the Bill Express problem that actually concerns less than 20 per cent of the main game. Newsagents have a focus on this blog that is on the hole, not the doughnut. This is encouraged by you, seeking a wider network signing up for your Tower enterprises.
Congratulations Mark. You continue to sucker low-educated newsagents into your own power-game. Perhaps Tower should be re-named Power. With your penchant for buzz-phrases, no doubt when you suggest there should be a CZAR, it is certain it would be Czar Mark.
You words demonstate that you can be a nasty pr*ick, Mark. Your ambition will catch you out. There is always a smarter man just around the corner.
Concerned, give me a call on 0418 321 338, come to my offices or one of my newsagencies and meet face to face. See for yourself if what you have written is true.
You’re entitled to your opinion. However, you are not dealing with the facts.
I have been working with newsagents for 27 years. My track record is public for all to see.
Less than 3% of all posts here are about Bill Express
Mark
I read the letter from Mobius about our obligations to them, what about thier obligations to me. They are required to keep the system in working order and organise repairs if needed, and as far as my system goes it does not work and there is little chance of repair. I cancelled our repayments only after the collapse of BE because the sytem no longer supplied what it was made for ie phone recharge. If mobius wants my money they need to supply me with a working platform.
Concerned,
I read and reply to this blog somewhere during my 16 hour day within my newsagency. I apologise if they seem uneducated and childlike to you, but fatigue does play a part. It would be great to be able to sit back and double check grammer and spelling before posting but like thousands of other newsagents we have larger problems at present. As far as marketing of the english language is what newsagents are about, where have you been living? Our magazine/newspaper sales make up about 20% of our overall sales, long gone are the days that a newsagent made money out of paper sales. I read this blog because unlike others it keeps up to date, it is up to the reader to judge whats fact or fiction. If you don’t like it reply using your name and what qualifications you have within the newsagent industry. My name is Luke Scott and we have owned our family newsagency since 1989 and I work 7 days a week 95 hour per week and my wife does the same. It is stupidity what we are doing I agree but this country is built on idiots like us.
Again caoncerned I apologise for the mistakes.
Mark maybe you can include an spelling and grammer check to the blog to keep concerned happy.
Concerned, I note you choose anonymity, this is a good ploy as your command of the English language is deficient.
I quote from your missive:
“This blog demonstrates that most of the newsagent participants here are – almost without exception – hopelessly inadequate with the English language … poorly understanding that the marketing of the English language that is what the newsagncy business is all about. This blog demonstrates that just about every entry contains expression and thinking only one-step apart from a sub-teenage newsboy.”
Well done, you have butchered the language, spelt newsagency incorrectly, denigrated a large number of people in the newsagency business and exhibited a lack of understanding of what a newsagency is (how on earth do you get the idea that a newsagency is an English School!).
I am proud to be a Tower Systems employee.
Shit sorry concerned I spelt grammar with an er instead of ar, must be my hopeless grasp of the english language.
Dear Concerned, I’m not real good with the English language either, so i will put it in Aussie terms, ” Your a wanka”
Concerned.
You must be educated and obviously have a degree,
A degree in stupidity as only a person that lives in the hole in the donut would even dream up what you have stated on the blog.
I am 51 years old, a retired successful Project Manager who, along with my wife, happens to own and operate a small General Store and Newagency 40 kms from the closest town. We have no Mobile service and have only had braodband for 6-months. My last appointment prior to retiring,I was employed as a Cultural Change Manager. This involved modifying the behaviour of narrow minded persons who lived inside the hole in the donut to eat the donut and have a look in the real world. As I stated, we are remote and have very little contact with other newsagents, I have found the blog to be positive and informative. I have also, unlike you (concerned) have been able to read all of the information printed and form an opinion of my own. Thanks to Mark and many others they have kept me informed and kept me in touch with others in the same position as myself.
As for the english Language, I also have a degree in Business and I cannot see any where a successful business person is required be able to spell.
The information supplied to others on this Blog is far better than the support given to all newsagents over the past 4-years from the Bill Express business team
concerned,speaking of english, you actaually took a full page, to say to say one sentence, that alone you kept on going around in one circle. tafe or college do have subjects on how one should express themself. it is called english
Concerned
You obviously have your head up your arse.
Mark can promote Tower etc as much as he likes. It’s a free country last time I looked.
I don’t use any of his product. I have nothing to do with his company; as I already happen to have the opposition’s equipment in place. However I like the man’s style, and his website.
Perhaps you’re one of the bludgers who ‘work’ for the ANF; the joke of an organisation about to go cap in hand to the creditor’s meeting to grovel for a pathetic amount of bill payment commission.
HOW ABOUT GETTING THE RENTAL CONTRACTS TORN UP?. – NOW THAT’S WHAT WE WANT!!
I will, however say one thing positive about the ANF though: They do refund prepaid membership fees to those who resign in disgust.
Hi “Concerned”,
I just thought I would reply here to inform all readers, just how much work Tower has invested in eziPass over the last few weeks since the demise of Bill Express.
Over the last three weeks, we’ve handled about double the number support calls. Over the past 3 weeks, 43% of all calls have related to eziPass. These are calls that three weeks ago we would not have been taking. We have not received any money from these clients for the additional support we are providing.
Yes, it is true, that in the future we may convert some eziPass customers to Tower, however, in the long run, I think there will be an overall loss.
We developed eziPass because phone recharge is a habit based purchase, and anything that we can do to help newsagents get customers in the door is worth us considering. We want to create strong successful newsagents as this will not only strengthen our business but all others involved in the channel.
Mark: The blog smear strategy works every time. These guys fall for it, hook line and sinker. It really creates some quick traffic at the website.
Concerned.
Got any great positive ideas for newsagents?
I’d like to hear them.
Concerned, the reaction you got here was because you attacked newsagent as low educated, without having any real knowledge of the industry yourself, not because you attacked Mark. If this is how you get your jollies I suggest you find a dark corner and fondle yourself.
If you have problem with mark then attack him, if you want a problem with myself or other newsagents that work hard for a meager living then come to Lismore, I’m open all hours and will be happy to show you the ropes. But hey you only wanted a reaction didn’t you wanker.
Concerned,
Nothing wrong with my grasp of the English language. Nothing wrong with my Aussie either. Actually, you need to look up ‘The Aussie Slang Dictionary’, on page 64 there is a famous saying for the likes of you;
“go f#$k yourself” &
“get a life”
Sorry, but that was the uneducated part of my personality!
Luke,
I’ve been to your newsagency in Lismore. It’s no wonder you earn a meagre income.
guru,it is now time for you to establish the united newagents of australia federation[UNOA].YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT NOW
Thats great, come in again and introduce yourself as the person from the blog that won’t identify themselves and we will have a chat. I look forward to that, but I doubt if you will, it would mean you growing a backbone and a few other things. But you know where I am.
Concerned,
What is this blog smear of which you speak? I offered to meet so you could be more informed before making comments. If you don’t want that I can’t make you.
Mark Fletcher
Concerned. Please refer to Vaughan’s page no. in the Aussie Slang Dictionary. It’s concise and completely appropriate in your case.
I would suggest to others to not dignify this imbo’s pointless comment so sensitively. It’s a bit like trying to have a balanced conversation with a moron i.e. utterly futile.
AM I THE ONLY PERSON CALLING ON THE GURU TO HEAD UNOA????
I’m not making any comment on that one John.
But I could see that combo working compared to : Thomas T, Concerned and the former head of BE who’s unemployed.
Mark has more all round knowledge than the former.
Whoa….. hang on guys This peanut is a Trojan….We get them all the time on our clay target forum…..They troll the net looking for a reaction from the real Bloggers/Forum users
Basicly they are sad lonely computer nerds that have no life.
Concerned… what do you do for a living ?? Besides getting together with you and yourself and searching the net for blogs to get reactions .Gees you have an interesting life …..next time you are feeling lonley try blogging LIFE LINE maybe they might care for you because you do need the help you poor lonley man .