Further to my post yesterday about Speedway Racing News advertising directly against newsagents, David Tapp, Managing Director, had this to say to a newsagent who complained to him:
Thanks for your email. It’s a pity you feel the way you do. Thanks for taking the time to write.
This demonstrates a lack of understanding and care for the key retail distribution network for the title. The years of support through space allocation and merchandising is worth nought it would seem.
No wonder newsagents are quitting Speedway Racing News. We are. Publishers need to respect our channel. Using us to promote against ourselves is appalling behaviour.
The challenge now is to get the distributor to honour the wishes of newsagents. Yes, our magazine distribution system is so broken that titles newsagents say they do not wish to carry often work their way back onto the shelves.
At least that agent got a reply.
We wrote to Express several months ago about the same thing, and are still awaiting a response. It’s been at the back of my mind to request all Express titles be dropped, except this may jeopardise further supply from the distributor of any other titles.
This is why I ask whether other agents are willing to take the ‘next step’, in terms of backing up their actions to other titles, rather than decisively targeting a small niche title. Actions regarding larger publications have (generally) merely increased labour, without actual removal of the offending publications in many cases I’ve read about here.
I do wonder whether hurting a small title because its practices have hurt us as a channel, is just easier on our businesses than taking on the big boys, who also do that on a far larger scale.
Just a thought.
Y & G i would say just because it is easier and sales are not that great for the tittle anyway . just like the other month when i got massively over supplied on bacon busters this title i would never knock back because it is a great sale i just early return part of it
i can’t even sell 1 copy , what the heck about this mag or this supplier?
Next step; if he wishes to treat our chanel with disrespect we can do the same; what other titles does this clown in his portfolio please?
That’s it Vaughan. Just the one and I think it’s for sale.
David’s the type of guy with more than one finger in one pie : publisher, writer of what he wants to read, promoter, comentator, Rabbitoh’s board?
Dickhead?
I’ve met him once and know of him, got the “FIGJAM” vibe….
It wasn’t a question 🙂
Then perhaps you might want to leave the question mark off next time.
Yes U R…
Tapp is the sort of person that thinks he knows everything.
He continually bites the hand that feeds him, this is just another case on a massive list of his egotistical failures.
Michael, you are a very good judge ofcharacter, FIGJAM sums him up perfectly
“Yes, our magazine distribution system is so broken that titles newsagents say they do not wish to carry often work their way back onto the shelves.”
This sentence alone says volumes about the real problem. The violation of the Trade Practices Act. Whether a contract has been signed or not, the Act is still being violated by these distributors who utilise the newsagency channel as their cashflow cash cows.
Even after saying No to a particular title(s) there are ongoing issues with regards to receiving the titles you do actually request. This is known as “bundling” and is against the Act.
The party [ANF] who should be dealing with this either lacks the will or the knowledge to assist this newsagency channel. The toothless tiger [ACCC] most definitely will not assist.
So, until someone either gets a class action against the distributor or takes them on by themselves, we keep on keeping on!
i can’t even sell 1 copy either. Waste of shelf space. I moved this product and put that new title “Totally Speedway” in its place. Now that title generates me income!
Bye bye SRN
I apologise as this is totally off the topic… i am looking for a wrapping machine. Can anyone give me any suggestion/advice. Preference give to silent operating and compact size and of course $. Thanks.
what makes you think that a question about a wrapping machine is off topic.
nah i dont got one.
UNRESERVED APOLOGY TO NEWSAGENT OPERATORS
This post has been submitted due to the understandable backlash concerning a subscription advert appearing on the back cover of issue #401 of Speedway Racing News Magazine.
I am extremely concerned by what has transpired and suffice to say the subscription advert will never appear on the back cover again. In fact, if there is to be a subscription advert appear anywhere in the magazine again in the future, it will be significantly overhauled to ensure that newsagent operators around Australia are not offended by its contents.
I do wish to extend a sincere apology to all newsagents and I can assure you there will not be a repeat performance.
Everyone in business is entitled to make a mistake and that has been the case on this occasion.
It goes without saying this is a difficult business (producing a fortnightly niche title is no place for the feint hearted).
I also regret my initial response when a newsagent wrote to me to express their concern. Once again I was under enormous pressure at the time and would handle things differently given another opportunity.
I am extremely remorseful and hope that our valued partners at retail level stick with a title that has been around for 25 years (I have been the publisher for 12 of those years).
The thing that amazes me in this instance is the “personal nature” of some posts I have seen submitted relating to this issue. People that don’t even know me have posted, in some cases defamatory comments, that are grossly inaccurate. One would hope things will be kept in perspective going foward and individuals that have made an error in judgement are not character assassinated in a public forum.
To be blunt, our sales have been impacted on due to the “internet” in recent years; which I’m led to believe has had a negative effect on almost every title on the market. Therefore, we can ill afford to endure further losses in sales.
Once again I sincerely apologise to all stakeholders.
Regards
David Tapp
Publisher
Speedway Racing News Magazine
David, I accept your apology. But you’ve thrown Newsagents a wheel, and now caught yourself a rut and junked it (You know what I’m saying).
Can you possibly give Newsagents a “progressive rate increase in margin” based on previous sales? Like sell one copy get 25% margin, sell two get 30%, to a set limit.
Or maybe get local race teams to show their cars at their local Newsagency to sign autographs and talk to drivers etc, to willing Newsagents, this would create sales for both of us and get teams the exposure sponsors want.
Or maybe have up for grabs a trip to the GASC, which can only be won by readers buying a magazine in store, having a coupon inside in that has the place of purchase/ or agents stamp. One purchase for one entry. The Newsagent who sell the winning coupon wins $500 for promoting it?
Just a few ideas.
Thanks for your response Mr Tapp but your title will never appear on the stands again.
To say “everyone is entitled” to make a mistake is just a cop out! You have been quick to fire off your disapproval and any and everything without research or information on many many occasions over your 12 years.
Just look at your initial response to a fellow newsagenter. You reap what you sew!
Well sunshine, You’ve cooked your goose this time once and for all.
I hope foxtel wakes up to themselves and shelves ALL your 3rd rate programs too.
Lets step back for a moment and take the emotion out of this. Take the mag off the shelf like I have because the add threatend future sales and like titles are selling at a better rate.
David Tapp has made a mistake, that’s fine I ‘ll accept that. The other mistake made was it actually put the title on our radar and thus once under scrutiny it didn’t stack up. Yes I sell 1 or 2 these people will be easily identified and put on a put-away system.
For those that think he still wins due to the fact that I will still sell the product have a good look. No product profile instore. Putaway customers are very loyal but they also browse like mags. In some cases I have had customers switch.
Well, David Tapp, you’ve had that add in your magazine for the past 12 months. How can you call that a mistake? Under enormous pressure? Tapp, if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen!
Here’s an idea for all you whingeing newsagents. Why not take every magazine off the shelves, then you won’t have any worries. You won’t be selling any mags that dare to offer subscriptions, you won’t have to deal with the distributor, or annoying customers. Life will be sweet.
Billy enjoy your subscriptions would hate it if you ever would have to leave your house ..
I don’t subscribe to any (and never have). I buy them at the newsagents. But, of course I might have to take out subs if the newsagents are going to remove mags that offer subscriptions. Should save on rent anyway. They’ll only need a shop half the size.
And I was wondering whether or not “Bill Fox” could be made into a ‘magshop’ anagram – but only for a second.. LOL 😀
Thanks for your contribution to the blog Bill. It has helped us all wake up and smell the roses. Any other nuggets of wisdom to help us out?
Fox as in F.O.X. wasnt that in a movie with big store owned by Tom Hanks takes out small bookshop owned by Meg Ryan…
In case there is anyone wondering, I have no association with SRN or anyone involved with SRN, I just find this whole situation amazing. Someone pays money to publish a magazine. That magazine is supplied to you (the newsagents) to sell and you get a cut of the cover price for doing nothing more than displaying it and a bit of paperwork. Money for jam in my opinion so why would you not stock any particular title (unless it wasn’t selling any copies). I repeat, I’ve never subscribed to a magazine in my life, even though it can often be chaper, because I like going to the newsagent, and I buy quite a few mags on different topics – mainly speedway, computers, and a couple of others, so I’m all for newsagents being profitable. I just don’t understand why you’d take magazines of the shelf thus diminshing you income, even if only by a small amount. Any stuff about subscriptions is rubbish. Every publication on your shelves would offer subs I should imagine. And why shouldn’t they. The publisher is taking all the financial risk, it would be remiss of them not to chase every sale they can.
Bill,
Sit with your local newsagent and talk about rent, labour and other costs, the sell through rate for Speedway news and then see if you think its money for jam.
However, that is irrelevant to my original blog post. My concern is about their lack of respect for their retail partners in effectively whacking us in their publication.
Thanks Mark. So what exactly did SRN say that has upset a few of you?
Bill,
Go to the top of this post and then click on the word Post in blue. This will take you to my first post on this.
Bill, do you buy SRN regularly or buy the other Speedway titles?
I saw this before and thought there must be more to it than this. Surely not just the words “Have your copy home delivered and received SRN 3 days earlier than you can find it in a newsagent”.
Surely since day 1, magazines offering subscriptions have highlighted the points that by subscribing you can get the magazine cheaper and/or sooner, because of the distribution system/costs. So why after however many years newsagencies have been in existance has this upset a few of you so much. I would have thought you’d just ignore it.
Bill,
We are paid and treated as agents. This full page ad is a slap in the face from a publihser we have served well for a long time. It’s a small pub and probably not paying its way in more than half the locations carrying it.
In my own store we get two copies a months and sell one on a good month. It is costing more than we make. A smart publisher would know this and look for ways to support the businesses which support them.
I suspect it resonated this time because we’re in tough times. Every dollar counts and every challenge to the channel is felt keenly.
In reply to Michael #31, no I don’t buy SRN regularly, only if there is a particular article or articles I want to read. Oval Express and Speedway World are the ones I buy most often, the others occasionally.
So isn’t it alright if I don’t stock it because it doesn’t sell in my store? Hence doesn’t make me money, just costs me rent, etc.
Bill. You hit the nail on the head when it comes to some readers views about subscribing to start with. They may not want to get every issue and only buy an issue if it particularly interests them.
You are correct in that every magazine has the right to spruik the subscription as it is their magazine at the end of the day however in the case of SRN it was the way in which it was spruiked and more importantly the way in which the publisher responded initially to some other Newsagents who reacted to it. A rival publisher just happens to live in my town and instead of pushing the subscription (which he respectfully already does) he devoted a page to advertising to readers to ask their Newsagent to put a copy aside for them. I won’t stock SRN in my Newsagencies anymore but do stock all the others.
The strong reaction to SRN is a manifestation of how Newsagents feel after years of spending good money to get the magazine in, displaying it and returning it if it doesn’t sell. Newsagents are the key to many of these magazines being introduced and to grow readership yet it seems that this may be lost on some publisher. Ask any Newsagent how they feel about Alpha magazine and you are guaranteed to get a similar response.
No violin request here. Just strong reaction to being ignored or poorly treated by some magazine publishers. Sure it’s their right to gain readership via subscription. Just don’t do it by putting down a Newsagent.
Reply to Michael #35. Sure. I’ve never said I thought there was anything wrong with not stocking a mag if it is not selling, my only interest was in newsagents cutting out specific mags for advertising subs when they all do it, but I accept some newsagents don’t think SRN worded their add very well.
Reply to Angelo #36. Associated threads to this have made mention of some mags running a add/coupon to set magazines aside, or reserve a copy I guess. I know newsagents have always been willing to do this since day 1, but it is not actively pushed by newsagents. As well as the adds in the mags do you think it would be worthwhile having a largish (A3 size?) sign near the mags saying you offer this service. I know most people should realise you do, but seeing the sign might encourage a few people to participate.
Out of interest do you get to say how many copies of each mag you’ll take or does the distributor decide that?
Also what’s the problem with Alpha?
Point taken Bill. Have you now changed your view of Newsagents now?
Well not really. I’ve never had it in for newsagents, and don’t care which mags are stocked, I just thought it was a massive over-reaction, and also thought it was unreasonable to single out SRN when they all advertise for subscribers, although perhaps not as SRN did.
“It’s a pity you feel the way you do. Thanks for taking the time to write”.
Very good Michael. I like it. Burst out laughing. Good luck with your agency and to others reading this. Hope my comments haven’t upset anyone too much.
No worries Bill, see you at the track!
Bill, It trust that you now accept that the comments here are not made up.
I see that SRN is now dead and buried and is no longer in the publishing game. I say, good riddance!