I am disappointed in the poor reporting by the ANF of the ACCC conference held Thursday last week to consider issues raised about the proposed trial of new magazine supply rules.
The note published does not accurately report what happened. Nor does it accurately inform newsagents about the trial. My view is that the reporting reflects an ignorance these associations bring to their roles of serving newsagents.
Had these associations been doing their job they would have petitioned the ACCC for the conference. Instead, it fell to newsXpress to do this for newsagents. You are welcome ANF and NANA.
Several ANF representatives have reportedly complained to newsagents that I am wrong to have written to the ACCC about the issue and wrong about specifics. I say reportedly because no ANF representative has said this to me. But that’s typical – they will complain about you behind your back and act as if nothing is wrong to your face.
Reps of the ANF have reportedly said the trial rules allow newsagents to early return. Anyone at the ANF who had read the trial rules would have seen that newsagents are not permitted to early return. Here is what the rules say:
4. Early Returns
A Distributor will not be required to accept Early Returns from Retailers, except where such Early Return is
made by a Retailer to correct an error in allocations quantity.
There is no mention in the rules of newsagents having control over supply – meaning you have to rely on what the distributors do and their track record is less than idea on this front.
The ANF has failed newsagents o this issue and now it is engaged in spin which fails to fully inform newsagents about the proposed new rules.
Every dollar newsagents pay the ANF directly or indirectly extends this inadequate representation of the channel.
The ANFs press release is inaccurate , It should have read “The MPA along with the support of the ANF have applied to the ACCC ”
A Newsagent here in SA told me he spoke to an ANF representative over concerns surrounding the ANF supporting the MPA application to the ACCC
When pressed on the issue of early returns the ANF representative response was ” early returns are a privilege not a right ” and when pressed on supermarkets and their advantages over newsagents, the response was ” that’s a different department it has nothing to do with you”
What arrogance ! we compete against supermarkets it has everything to do with us .
I don’t understand why any Newsagent would want to fund these clown’s wages . The only way to change their behaviour is to withdraw your membership
Mark I have heard similar from others. also, of ANF representatives saying that those complaining about the proposed new magazine supply rules. When challenges, one ANF staffer admitted they had not read the proposed new rules.
Early returns are embedded is the rules and processes established by the distributors. They are an obligation NOT a privilege.
” early returns are a privilege not a right ”, I guess paying my inflated NDC magazine bills is also a privilege.
This comment, together with the ANF’s ” somethings better than nothing” approach to the MPA proposal is why I cancelled my membership after 11 years.
The ANF is all care and no substance. Continue round up the ants while the elephants are getting away. Their latest loyal announcement yesterday shows exactly that they lack priority.
Bill the best thing newsagents can do is resign and invest the savings in their businesses.