A few weeks ago I wrote about a free fidget spinner being offered by the Daily Mail in the UK. Now we have The Weekend West The Sunday Times offering a free fidget spinner. With fidget spinner sales in the toilet and some with stock left dumping them below cost, I wonder if this giveaway is too late.
This is the second giveaway by the West/Sunday Times in as many weeks. Free socks for WA Day public holiday last Monday now this. Both of these promotions are in conjunction with Caltex where customers will have to collect their ‘free’ product from. I’ve had a number of customers coming in to collect their socks because they expect Newsagents to be the logical distribution point rather than a Servo and haven’t read the ‘fine print’.
David I had no idea, I had not seen the fine print. Shame on the publisher for pushing people away fro then channel that is the longest relationship for them.
There’s been a number of these Caltex only promo’s, problem is as David states customers expect newsagents to have them when we dont. Their next question is “well where’s the nearest Caltex”, the answer in my case is “there isn’t one anywhere near here”. At this point I seem to end up being to blame for a lack of Caltex servo’s as well as not having whatever crap product The West is giving away.
Shame on Adam Everret (ex News) – he should know better in terms of loyalty the real channel
7West sent out a email today clarifying the situation with the Caltex only fidget spinner promo. Caltex have purchased the spinners themselves not 7West so fair enough I guess. To be honest I’m glad not to be involved, it’s just disappointing customers I don’t like.
Steve I wonder why 7West was not clear about this from the outset.
Mark, I can speak for 7West’s motives but unlike other Caltex only promo’s, the one last month was a pair of socks, finger spinners are still popular. My guess is because of that popularity customers question Newsagents and Newsagent question 7West. Hence they felt the need to clarify why it was Caltex only.
The ads in the papers have always said it is Caltex only.
Splashed in the West Australian all this last week telling us the readers we could pick up a fidget spinner From Caltex servos participating in the offer.
It seems that the offer is only if the paper is brought from a participating Service station. In my case Wangara
I’ve had both my Saturday and Sunday newspaper stolen from my lawn this weekend, probably by local kids chasing this dumb promotion!
I Googled the subject and this site came up.
David, back when my newsagency delivered newspapers, the most common thief was male: 45 – 65.
BTW, the fidget spinner is worthless as the market is flooded and retailers are doing almost anything to get rid of them.
This promo really isn’t any fun. 2 hours in on a Monday morning and I’ve already had 2 coupons cut out of the paper and handed to me in the expectation I’m going to give them a spinner.
Caltex are selling their free stock instead of giving if free for cutting of WA paper. When you ask them they give execuses i.e. not received stock or all given out but actually I have been visiting same petro station of caltex with coupon everyday twice from the day coupon came in paper and till date only came back with their excuses. West Australian Newspaper should inquire into it as it makes bad reputation of the newspaper because of Caltex stores.