As part of an ACP Connections promotion, we have this display of Woman’s Day at our main counter this week – promoting the free mini cookbook which comes with the magazine. We also have the magazine in its usual location with the weeklies.
We might move the stand mid week to face customers as the leave our busiest magazine aisle and head to the counter. While only a small adjustment (90 degrees) it offers a change to store blind customers.
Just wondering whether anyone reading this blog may have some advice about the following: our newsagency is in a shopping strip with a takeaway shop two doors down. The owner of the takeaway shop has been selling bulks of newspapers and magazines for a couple of years now. He is NOT our subagent. (We already have a subagent a few doors up who sells our papers after we have closed). When we brought this to each of the publishers’ attention, we were told we needed to supply “photographic proof” of who was supplying him. We did manage to get the “proof”. We snapped the guy carrying armfulls of newspapers out of a neighbouring newsagency and loading them into his car! Unbelievalble! We advised the publishers of this and their comments varied. The magazine publishers needed to see actual covers of their magazines in the photos, one newspaper publisher said he’d breach the supplying newsagent (he didn’t), the other newspaper publisher said he needed further proof (ie; such as a “Returns Sheet” to prove the takeaway guy had a subagent agreement in place with the newsagent – Of course he had a sub agent agreement. He wouldn’t be “buying” the papers/magazines for re-sale!). To see this takeaway guy (who is unapproachable and has a tendency to be quite violent) selling newspapers and magazines supplied by another newsagent – in our territory – makes us absolutely livid! We have spoken to the rival newsagent who has denied supplying the takeaway man (even after we told the newsagent we had photos showing the guy walking out of their newsagency!). The publishers just don’t seem too interested. We don’t know what else we can do. Anyone have any advice????
Jacki,
I would document your claims and any evidence you have in writing to each newspaper publisher and magazine distributor as well as to ACP magazines and Pacific Magazines.
I expect that senior management in these companies would take such a complaint most seriously.
I’d be glad to help you with this.
you have let this go on for a couple of years now?
A subagent agreement doesn’t mean squat. You probably won’t find that kind of evidence anyway – it won’t exist.
I seriously doubt that a newsagency that conducts business so dishonestly would find such a formality necessary.
And it’s unlikely that a large newspaper publisher would take such a breach that seriously if that agent sells lots of papers for them. Most of us go to great lengths to keep our business in our own territories, despite approaches from prospective customers and other businesses. Others, sadly will take whatever they can get with no shame or modesty at all.
As far as contracts are concerned, from what you’ve said, it’s clear that they are only relevant from the supplier’s end.
Are we surprised by that? Hell no. All that huffing, puffing and contract quotes if they’re affronted in any way, yet nary a whimper when they should be going in to bat for you.
We feel for you, and hope it can be resolved ASAP. People like the takeaway guy and rival newsagent’s ethics aren’t in your control. But respective reps should be supporting you by investigating for themselves at the very least, given the status of the breach (=cardinal sin!).
My neighbouring agent cold calls my subbies asking them to change to them!
Thanks for comments everyone. Peter, to answer your question, its not that we’ve “let this go” on for a couple of years at all. We’ve been jumping up and down, sending letters to all publishers and playing “Magnum P.I.” to provide the publishers with their “photographic evidence” for 2 years!! None of it is fun. We are now in the process of gathering our second lot of evidence and we’ll do the rounds again with the publishers. We will include ACP and Pacific magazines this time too, thanks Mark. Hopefully, the “squeakiest wheel” theory will prevail…..
Sad news but do they give a hoot ,do not think so as long as they get sales.When ACP went direct to 7 11 did they give a care for agents and the sad part is as agents shut it is all their own work. Four agent have just closed in Qld
i was in this same situation when we purchased our business 3 years ago except on the other end of it . the old owners were supplying a petrol station in another town 100 ks away (a truck driver would pick up the mags and take them to the servo and take back the returns on his way back )we didn’t think anything of it being only new to the business and business wnet on as usual until 3 weeks later when the newsgent in the other town wanted to come to town and give me a hiding . As soon as i new i was doing the wrong thing i stopped it immediatly . And then i had the servo guy wanting to show how strong he is for not supplying him . As it turned out these 2 clowns hated each other and the rest of the world and figure the only way to fix something was with there fist .
In this situation the agent refuses to supply him and will not let anyone else supply him so now another agent anonomously is supplying the servo .
Do magazines come under a territory ?
Is there a reason why the takeaway shop does not want to deal with you , seems a bit silly not wanting to deal with someone that is closer