I have been contacted by a newsagent who feels let down by the ANF over a pricing change for their Certificate IV Training Course. I’ll let them explain the situation in their own words:
I registered to do the course from ANF, Certificate IV in retail management. They charged me $1,995 for the course advertised on their site on Friday, 17/12/10. On Monday, 20/12/10 I received a promotion from ANF said that to register for the course from 20/12/10 the cost is only $975.
I called the ANF and asked if I can get the refund for the course as there is only 1 day different from the day I registered and the promotion day.
They said they will not give refunded in my case as the I registered the course before the promotion started.
My concern is, yes I registered the course before the promotion started, but only 1 days different, and I am sure that at the time I registered, they should have known that there is a promotion running and if they act professionally as they are there for, they should advised me on that.
We work so hard to make one thousand dollars. We have to sell few thousands of papers to get one thousand and in only one days different and the Body, who proudly said to act on the interest of newsagency. But in this case not at all as they only act on their interest.
Given that the ANF would have (should have) known on the Friday of the price change on the Monday, I would have expected them to readily agree to the $1,000 refund. It’s what a business which cares about customer service would do.
What do newsagents think about this?
i think this is typical of the ANF or any of the associations. and its another reason why im not a member. when they start behaving like they are acting in the interests of their own members, then i will join.
give this and other newsagents their $1000 refund. it is very un-ethical.
Pure greed, give it back ANF.
Unbelievable!! But it is what we have come to expect from this mob.
Really??
Before we bought our business, we were told we were contractually obliged (by Network, I think) to undertake that training. We asked them why, then had out predecessors not done it. No answer. We never did it, and don’t intend to.
Is it still ‘compulsory’?
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!
SHAME ON YOU BLOODY ANF!!!!
if i could have nothing to do with ANF , i will .
Do you carry on like this a s a shareholder (directly or indirectly) of Coles or Woolies when a product you brought today is cheaper tomorrow? The principle is the same, only the dollars vary. However, if the ANF gets the money for the training, discretion would be good but is the training is outsourced and ANF is passing on a discount from the training organisation, then there is little ANF can do for you.
Yes Aaron, you take it back and get a refund on the item and then buy it at the cheaper price.
We regularly advise our customers that something will be on sale if it is only a few days out from the sale. We do this to maintain customer relations and it is a great goodwill gestureshowing respect for our customers. The ANF is proving a lack of good will and intergity in treating a member as it is. If I were a member (which after there handling of Bill Express of I no intentionof becoming again) this would be enough for meto resign membership.
I would be more concerned at the ANF’s inept 30 page report that we receieved today outlining suggested changes for the delivery of Newspapers. Oops ! lack of any suggestions I should have said. It is 30 pages of well worn therories that delivers noting.
Another waste af time money and members money spent of windwo dressing with no facts for suggested change.
Disgusted
I just finished reading the report.
It basically gives a list of principles that ANF thinks should be used to guide the way forward.
I was expecting the report to give recommendations on the way forward.
What a waste of time and money.
I think the biggest danger to newsagents is not the publishers, but the incompetent associations.
Isn’t this ironical. I did not renew my membership this year because of inaction on their behalf over numerous matters concerning newsagents AND only this morning I received an email from them asking me to rejoin and that newsagents can only have a united voice if we all joined the ANF. This only confirms my actions. BAH HUMBUG
I am currently studying both the cert 4 in retail management and also part of the first intake of newsagency diploma students. Both courses are great and opperated by external training companies on behalf of VANA at a fraction of the price quoted here.
But yes, this situation could have been avoided with better notification.
The course is a joke. Apparently a business degree & retail experience means nothing. I dont need lessons on how to hang posters thanks.
This is an association that is supposed to support all members and to protect their interests as newsagencies. This shows that the ANF is just like any other business, with a bottom line. Self interest above that of its members. Perhaps they forgot that they only exist to serve their members.
Disgusting.
So who is putting their name forward to get on the board try and change all these things we dont like about the ANF? The opportunity is not far away!
anf is supposedly FOR the newsagents. why can’t they just refund the money back? the best interest of the newsagent is paramount anyway.
i did not renew this year because of gross inaction. TALK does not count as action to me. if i’m going down, im taking them with me.
Glenn, to achieve real and sustained change you would need to organise a ticket to change directors in the three largest states. A single Director is useless.
Mark, I agree. There seems to be so much that is unpopular about what the ANF does, and so many people dropping their membership, which is understandable, but jumping from a sinking ship does not help save it. Surely there is a starting point where meaningful change can occur to bring the ANF to where we all want it to be. It is a matter of ascertaining what that point is and getting the right people in there to do it with the support of the masses, rather than the bickering and criticism we see at the moment.
I think a national body like the ANF is worth saving if we can get it working in our best interests. I would like to see meaningful and constructive discussion on the how to address these issues, rather than simply throwing mud from the sidelines. Unfortunately we see more of the latter because the former is too hard.
I contacted the manager of ANF to see if there is a solution for us, but the answer is still a big “No”.
I also asked him, if he think ANF acted professionally in this situation, can he make some comments on this blogs to explaint that they did act proffessionally, but the answer is still “No” due to company policy.
I wonder if there are somethings that ANF want to cover up on this issue that’s why they don’t want the public to know more about this.
I feel bad on this situation as ANF knew that I have to take this course anyway or I might loose my contract with the supply. And they think that we are just a small newsagency in a country side, that’s how it happened.
I talked to my staff on this and she said they are a big organisation, so they knew that a small newsagency can do nothing about this. if a customer here find out they are ripped off by $1000 in this way, you will make you to move out of town the next day. what she said is quite true…
Anyway, thank you every one to have your say on this. Thank you…
Glenn
It all comes down to newsagents. I served on the ANF Board as Deputy Chairman for a year in 2004. It was an interesting experience watching board members voting as a block, putting their needs ahead of the needs of newsagents and missing opportunities to serve newsagents fearlessly.
Grass roots newsagents have had many opportunities over the last five years, as the ANF facilitated Bill Express mess unfolded, to take control of the association. They have not taken up the opportunities.
Newsagents receive the representation they vote for.
Joe, you sound like a decent hard working man please dont give up on this as it is absolutely wrong. I dont know anyone at the ANF but am sure they read this blog and would be appalled if they do not reverse thier decision on this one.
Come on ANF have some Christmas spirit for Joe i am sure it would go a long way to showing some commitment to the channel…….
This newsagent finds the ANF’s actions appalling. Just as we have come to expect. I’m sorry for Joe and every other incoming newsagent who gets caught out by things like this, perpetrated by the ANF and their kind in the name of unity. What a crock!!
Joe, have you actually handed over your hard-earned? Can you cancel payment?
The course requirement is one of the most pathetic cases of coercion I’ve ever heard.
If it was that important, then they should insist on it as a PRE requisite, rather than a POST requisite. Besides, one could get themslves into an awful lot of trouble in the time they give you to do the course.
We are all responsible for the mess we are in. Quick to be critical but slow with our actions and solutions. If you are not impressed with your association, then do something about it.
As for the ANF, yes they should credit back the overcharged amount, but maybe they can not afford it. They have bigger problems with their debt burden and lack of vision
Do we have to do the course or not ?
I do recived a letter dated on 15th Dec 2010 say:” please be aware also that newsagents that complete the training receve 25% commission from ACP,as opposed to 12.5% commission going to those that have not completed the course.”
We have been own our newsagency over 8ys not a member of ANF.
Please help me.
Hong you have your answer – it all depends on the commission you want. newsXpress members are not required to do the ANF training because of the training and support provided to members.