Alpha allocation by NDD for my Forest Hill and Frankston newsagencies today was good. I have received calls from several newsagents advising that NDD has increased allocation by between 25% and 50% on the back of a previous sell through of 50% or less. This is what newsagents feared from NDD.
Why is that?
Why do they need to increase allocation in different Newsagencies that didn’t need any increase at all?
Do they know something we don’t, like waves of people coming in to buy Alpha for this issue?
Why is it that if I have average sales of two per issue, they need to give me thirty?
What happens if NDD close more accounts and have more Newsagents closing their accounts with NDD?
I’d like to know the answers to these questions as I’m really quite perplexed.
Not being an NDD apologist, how many of those with excess quantities actually entered their wanted numbers on the NDD website? My original allocation was 60 % above my previous numbers, but I reduced it back, and that was what I happily received today. Now if only they had sent a poster with them …
One newsagent I know of requested 60 and was sent 100.
the agencies that i visited today (merchandising) i noticed all had a huge drop in order, going from double figures to single digits. hmm not sure why some are increased, some decreased. Im guessing they trialling out sales before cementing standing orders
Micheal, NDD gets paid to distribute alpha, so the more they get out into the marketplace the better off they are. Forget the newsagent who’s cashflow will be knocked around and even forget the publisher who will be swamped with returns in the near future, NDD’s main concern is to get as many copies out as they can so it is in their best interest to oversupply.
For once, NDD listened to my allocation change.
Cannot remember the actual number assigned to my account but roughly I halved it to 10 (as that’s what I usually get from News). So that’s what I received today.
On a different note, need to commend Network for amending their policy last week about online supplementary returns, ie opening up all magazines for early returns. I have happily used it for April returns as Magazines were piling up in my storeroom esp those “Complete Aussie Guides” which were not doing very well since they arrived.
At last some resolution in this area as I mentioned before in this blog that Network supplementary returns seemed to have tightened in the last 6-8 mths.
Now when will NDD implement supplementary returns on their website???
So they probably don’t like our comments here but continue to do the same old thing whether it be me this month then someone else the next.
Dead set, we’re in the twenty-first century with software that can do the job of Newsagent magazine allocation and we still have this situation.
What would NDD do if they cut every one’s account that had a problem with this behaviour?
Has anyone not being credit for some returns sent back to NDD?
Every month, I have an issue with NDD not crediting me with returns.Just received their April Statement and 2 separate lot of returns to the value of +-$600.00 has not been credited. This is precious time wasted every month with NDD. These were returned on the 6th of April.
we had some issues with supplementary returns and I noticed that they were mainly where we did early returns against delayed billing so now we watch out for that.
Bario,
Thanks for your info. Yes, I’m aware of the delayed billing but when there is 86 copies sent back as early returns and none is delayed billing-they should be Crediting us.
Guess we should bill them for our time wasted in clearing these issues every month.Very frustrating!
Thanks
Manni
i have no complain against NDD , most of their mags are good sale in our store , and for the first time i support alpha by giving them a good spot.
After all that has been said and not done on ALPHA, some comments simply amaze me like Eric’s post. Everybody has a right to an opinion however I struggle to agree with Eric’s entire post.
ALPHA commission drops from 50% commission to 30% after I think 4 years of loyal Newsagent for News Limited requirements on placement and support of this title making it a top selling title.
Newsagents close their NDD account because they cannot afford to be a member and by doing this they are denied direct supply of ALPHA after they helped ALPHA become a popular title.
I cannot afford to be a member of NDD its as simple as that. I am being denied being supplied ALPHA direct after I helped ALPHA become a popular title.
News Magazines give the ALPHA distribution to NDD knowing numerous Newsagents and affilliates are not members of NDD. They are being denied direct supply.
I cannot confirm if their are now non members of NDD, NOT of their choosing. They are being denied being supplied ALPHA direct after they helped ALPHA become a popular title.
Why would Coles, Woolies, 7 Elevens and the local butcher shop still receive ALPHA? They carry very few NDD titles compared to the now Non members of NDD NOT of there own choosing.
Something is not right here! I am a conspiracist by nature, please tell me if I am over reacting or wrong on this ALPHA issue.
Derek, you’re not over reacting.
This is an unfortunate situation driven by greed.