The new Cardplai offer which is being launched exclusively to newsagents through our Tower Systems eziPass software is ready for newsagents to sign up in advance of the February 2009 launch. Go to their website to see the details. The Cardplai cards is exclusive to newsagents and launched with a solid advertising campaign promoting newsagents.
How is this new offer being taken up by newsagents?
It sounds pretty good.
I just logged in to the Cardplai website to register and had completed everything up to reading the terms and conditions only to find that we have to agree to sell at least 20 cards per calendar month. Does this mean that if we do not sell 20 cards that we will be charged for them anyway? Not really the definition of consignment stock that I am used to. Sounds like a potential win/lose situation win for Cardplai and lose for us if we don’t cut the mustard. I would like to think that we would sell that many, but I can not guarantee it. It sounded like a really good offer for Newsagents right up until the point where we are the only ones who can lose in the deal!
The minium monthly a sale of 20 cards per site does not mean that if you don’t sell 20 cards you are charged for them. It simply means that the costs associated with running a unique program like Cardplai require us to focus our attention on those who are willing to support the program. If you do not achieve sales of 20 cards a month initially, the Cardplai will team will work within you to help you increase sales. If you consistently do not achieve the minium sales figures of 20 cards per month then you lose access to the program. You will never be charged for cards that you have not or cannot sell. We see the Cardplai program as a genuine partnership between the newsagents and Cardplai and as with all partnerships it is realistic to expect both parties to perform. We are backing you with a unique product on consignment, newsagency exclusivity, national advertising, PR and marketing strategies, all specifically designed to drive activity into your newsagency. With all of this activity we have created the opportunity for you to generate sales well beyond the minium targets and with digital music sales are growing at a rate of 50% per year, this is a real opportunity for newsagents to generate repeat business.
I am of the opinion that even though we may want to support the program, there might be not enough demand for it.
We did not do very well with Itunes so we are going to give this a miss for now.
Given our location I don’t believe we can achieve minimum of 20 sales a month although explanation above seems to say that we’ll not be charged if we do not achieve it.
However I am still not comfortable with the fact that it’s written into the terms and conditions regardless of the verbal reassurance above.
Why have it in print if it serves no intention of charging the retailer at all?
If it serves another purpose, best to spell out the terms clearly.
we do not like another BillExpress fiasco.
Bario,
It’s new and no one knows. I love that it is exclsuive to newsagents and is to br promoted heavily on appropriate media – Hamish and Andy for example.
With Bill Express they wanted a $25,000 commitment. Cardplai want $100. Bill Express paid cents, Cardplai pays a 50% commission on card sales.
I have no commercial agreement with them other than as a retailer in my stores. I could have taken a cut but said no in order to drive a better outcome for newsagents.
Newsagents need to engage with new ideas. The time we don’t good ideas go elsewhere.
Mark
No problems with the initial $100 commitment but just being wary of terms and conditions
– the clause on minimum sales is still too open-ended for my liking.
we can and should engage with new ideas to go forward but not when open-ended terms and conditions may possibly lead to our detriment at later stage if circumstances head “south”.
Call me pessimistic but better safe than sorry!
Bario,
As I understand it, the clause is about establishing a benchmark for viability. If youlre not doing the minimum then you’d probably want out as they probably would. I see it as a good thing.
Mark
We declined due to fact were are in a regional area not covered by the radio network being used.