XchangeIT sent an email yesterday to 607 newsagents using various computer systems advising they have been making the mistake of sending data to the now closed magazine distributor Network Services. Note: click on the image to see the email.
Some time fter emailing newsagents, XchangeIT advised the software companies. Of course that was too late as newsagents had swamped help desks asking what to do.
XchangeIT should have contacted the software companies first as this would have led to a discussion about the possible causes and guided XchangeIT to provide more useful and respectful communication. Instead, the email shifted the blame to newsagents and their software provider – when, in fact, the problem could be brought on by neither.
The XchangeIT email should have been tailored for each newsagent, advising them of the title(s) involved as this is the first step to understanding the issue(s) and understanding is vital for resolution.
If XchangeIT understood and cared about customer service of newsagents and its relationship with the software companies it would have taken a more helpful approach rather than sending a vague email to 607 newsagents yesterday.
One way software companies and newsagents can hide this problem is to turn off sending sales data to Network. At Tower Systems, the newsagency software company I own, we chose to not do this automatically as our view was and is that newsagents need to know if they have a data issue. Hiding it achieves nothing.
I received the email. What is the downside for me if I do nothing …does it matter ?
Colin I was wondering the same thing ,it was more of a who cares moment for me . First they said I was doing it but yet the email was not personally addressed to me .
It matters because this must be Network delivered stock, mainly AWW Cookbooks and if you submit your returns to Network instead of Gotch you wont get credited for it. If you want to own a collection of coverless cookbooks then keep not caring.
There are several reasons this can occur. Every newsagent affected needs to know the titles involved. resolutions starts from there.
Steve , nothing to do with returns. it is only that you sold old issues instead current issues as your scanner pick up old mag issues.
No Steve, I don’t think it’s anythiing to do with the AWW titles. I just got off the phone to XchangeIT who were as vague as ever. But for me it appears to be Take5 and two other titles in the last 6 weeks that have not gone through correctly. Apparently they are trying to access Networks servers so that they can ascertain exactly what titles are going back incorrectly. In other words they have no idea.
What is of concern is that almost certain some credits aren’t going through correctly so it will be interesting to see what happens from here. Usual chirping crickets sound also coming from the ANF I’ve noted as well so far.
And I’ve just checked the titles on my Tower POS under the “supply” tab and they are correctly showing the prefered supplier as G&G which to me at least indicates the problem isn’t at my end !
You can log on to the XchangeIT website and look at the SL2 report of sales to Network. Mine were the Select AFL Album (scanned as 2014 issue not 2016) and Horse Deals (now through IPS so who knows what happened there). Good Luck!
Paul there is a title that has switched from network to IPS and IPS sent out problematic data that could see you sell an old Network barcode for the title. This is another example where XchangeIT should play a role.
Thanks Mark but I don’t deal with IPS (I refuse to trade under their rules and supply) so I can rule out it being an IPS problem in my case.
Okay so XchangeIT needs to advise the title(s) involved so you can work out what you are selling from Network.
Steve sorry but been busy today and missed your comment but as others said you have it wrong
No worries Shaun I’ll grab my dunces hat and head for the corner.
This sounds to me like a “wasn’t me” moment. Have spent 3 hours on it this morning and still not fixed.
I don’t understand if I have returned mags
ONLY to GG how does it get involved with Network. Retailer tells me if I am trying to
send a product which is not GG so why is there such an issue here
June, this is from your daily sales data that goes through XchangeIT each night. You can only tell by logging on to your XchangeIT website and searching for any SL2 files transferred to Network over the past month. Very frustrating – good luck.
June XchangeIT has failed you and many newsagents by not providing more informative initial communication. Instead, they bounced you to your software company, that had no choice but to bounce you to XchangeIT for the information they should have provided in the first place.