The bear and other items on display in the Government owned Australia Post shop say nothing about postage, the core product of this business. Not content to pursue independent newsagents through their stationery and greeting card offers, this Government owned business is also pursuing traditional seasons such as Mother’s day by offering items you would usually expect to find in a newsagency at this time.
One way the Prime Minister could help small business newsagents would be to turn Government owned Post Offices into, well, Post Offices.
The Act does, after all, say that postal services are the core and the rest are to be incidental. Visit a Government owned Post Office and see how they treat these incidental items compared to their core products.
Trouble is, like servos, their core products & services are woefully unprofitable. Rather, their money is made from whatever other merchandise they can get in their shops. Some of this is via AP’s buying group for office supplies, toys etc, but also via other sources at the discretion of the proprietor. For example, when I lived in Vic, my local PO was run by born-again christians. So, they offered a very comprehensive range of christian merchandise, because that was their ‘thing’.
A bit like how we try to offer as many motorcycle mags as we can get our hands on – not because they’re terribly profitable, but because that’s our ‘thing’.
Without a body to attack this all I do in protest is not sell stamps. Well one stamp for one card purchased only – That’s it.
I get the “Oh but the queue is too big and I only want $20 worth of stamps” I answer with “Yes, but they sell MY products and don’t provide the speedy service. If they didn’t have someone putting on stock, they’d serve you faster”.
AP copying of our model is confusing to consumers, people think I’m a post office! Not fair.
*This topic does my head in. I’m going off for a sook, I just want to live in a perfect and fair world.
Some Newsagent also work in conjunction with Licensed Post Offices. This work generates quite good income if you know what you are doing. Much better than returning magazines which is a waste of time.
Ditto, Michael.
What gets me as well is that AP get commissions for stamps. We don’t!
And customers whine that we won’t sell them by the book. Why the hell should we?? The AP proprietor who sold them to us already has their commission.
As for customer confusion, it’s also no fun copping reactions to “no, sorry, we’re too little for lotto, and too small for scratchies”. “But you’re a newsagent, aren’t you?” “Erm, yes”. “So, you should sell lotto”.
Erm, no.
Definately in agreement, next thing we will hear is they will be selling Big Mac’s.
I wish their was something we could do about this, The Government are deaf on any arguments that are laid before them. Very hard to understand, I feel this could be a 4 Corners type story on how our own Government is betraying small business by pumping millions into it own enterprise.
ARRGH. Just had a guy walk in a ask for stamps, we said no and he said “that is strange”
The 4 Corners idea is excellent. I’m just scared the producer will say “What? Newsagents don’t make a profit selling stamps”?
Worse, the look of disappointment when we can’t sell people stamps to NZ, UK etc etc. Worse still when we can’t tell them how much it will cost.
Sooo rrrrr eeee!
Anyway, back on topic, the problem is that AP is too stingy with their commissions to be interested in anything pointed out about muscling in on others’ core business. And we thought Coles and Woolies were wolves in sheeps’ clothing?
our AP right above of our newsagency, they cancelled our licence to buy stamp from them since they moved in to our shopping centre. well ,luckily i found an alternative supplier who gave double comm than Ap and they won’t be able to stop me selling stamps, express post etc.
why should i limit my customers ,if i can give a better service than Ap.
It is not just newsagents that have to compete with government owned AP stores. Why should officeworks, phone shops, electrical stores, book stores, gift shops or your local computer store have to compete with government owned competition. I think this should be more than just newsagents trying to get an ear in Canberra. Why can’t our associations be more like the Pharmacy Guild or could we join other groups of retailers to make more noise?
Eric how do you get commission
Yes, I’d be interested in that, too.
Shaun s and Y&G,
You can apply the aust post to become a post point operator. It cost about $500-$600 per year and you get a 5% commission. Don’t hold your breath waiting for approval as they are tighter then a frogs you know what in giving approvals. If there is a post office near you they have the final say. Go on the net because there is alternatives to Aust post but they don’t advertise too much as they can get in a hard time.
shaun
are you sydney newsagent?
i can give you the phone no. of the supplier
no up in sunny north queensland (raining again )
Mark H
I hear you! We must bombard our Associations with questions like these as well as post our frustrations and offerrings on here.
It only takes 5 minutes. If you have a pro forma already, the complaint is nearly finished.
Member or not:-
Start bombarding your Associations, they have no recourse if we do this! if we do not Bombard they cannot represent you.
Spot on re: AP competition as usual. Dont run a newsagent, but an electrical store.. tired of having Australia Post across the road steal my sales for printers, shredders, external hard drives, USB drives, software, prepaid mobile phones/credit, itunes cards.. the list goes on. Most of the time their price is woeful, occasioning to been above RRP. and don’t get me started on their ink prices. =P
In the case of AP selling electronics, etc. Often I’ve found that they don’t know jack about the products they are trying to sell.
That really sucks for a potential consumer if the person selling it doesn’t know.
If they can only answer questions about postal products and services, then thats all they should sell.
Aaron, you are right. Appalling customer service usually. Unfortunately, the Government drives traffic to these 850+ retail stores they own.
with the case of selling and buying goods from AP i think some customer are quit happy about there service system. perhaps i guess sometime they are not to sure.