Our supply of the latest issue of Cruzin magazine, out today, is up by 33%. There is no justification for this in our sales data. The only explanation can be that NDD, the distributor, has been sent stock by the publisher and has to get it out of their warehouse. I checked the magazine out to see if there is a reason for the increase. I could not find anything. Also, no posters – so no means of promoting sales growth. We are returning several copies early but the distribution model with NDD being what it is, we will be out of pocket for this unjustified increased supply for at least a month.
People at NDD complain about blog post like this. They say I am unfair, that I pick on them. The best way to get me to not draw attention to their failed magazine distribution model would be for them to get it right and to treat my newsagency and all newsagencies with respect. They need to stop treating us as their bank.
That you pick on them???
If they walked into my store right now, they’ed be walking out with all the extra crap they’ve sent.
I’ve put numbers down fairly, respecting what I sell. I’ve adjusted supply online with standing orders (Which, somewhere in the contract, states is legally binding).
It’s taken me a lot of time to get the range of my store to how it needs to be. The extra stock they’ve sent IS going to sit in the backroom for it’s duration, I don’t need it and didn’t ask for it.
THERE IS NO MORE SHELF SPACE TO PUT THESE EXTRA TITLES.
This must be a cash grab to go to (I’m surmising like they do with my allocation) the “Mark Fletcher Suppression Fund”.
NDD is not the only distributor do to this – it seems to depend on the publisher (for which the distributor is a happy accomplice). Consider Scooby Doo Comic Capers’ distributed by Gordon & Gotch. Issue 1 I received 3 and sold 2; Issue 2 I received 3 and sold 1. Today I received Issue 3: 8 copies. There is no justification of this whatsoever. This publisher, Otter Press, will then collect the unsolds, rebag them and send them to NDD for reselling in multi-packs. These will also be oversupplied, so there must be huge returns from other newsagencies as well, so how the publisher ends up making any money I don’t know. Yes, it’s much easier to return, get credits and change/cancel quantities from GG than NDD, but it’s not possible to predict in advance sudden changes or initial supply!
While I’m whinging, I could also add those useless US puzzle books GG distributes. As fast as I cancel what they send me, they find more of the same crap to replace them with: I had no idea Kappa published so many titles!
Chris, email Gotch about the US crosswords. You’ll be able to stop them. Let me know if I can help.
NDC is also getting in on the act of the over supply issue .The last issue of BABE SERIES I received 8 and sold 2 this issue we received 14. Going through the history of this mag we have an average sale of 25% so there is no reason for the extra supplies