We received three new titles from Network Services yesterday. We didn’t order them and this is frustrating. While we might have ordered one, we would not have ordered the other two.
Network Services demands accountability from newsagents in terms of paying their account on time yet the company refuses to accept accountability for its actions that contribute to the level of indebtedness we achieve. This is an unfair situation. Yes, it has always been thus. However, it’s worse today than ever. Magazine sales are declining yet Network increases titles and therefore drives a level of indebtedness imbalanced to sales.
Network also lacks accountability when scaling out OLD titles!
We have been cut back on Womans Day for some reason despite selling out regularly.
When you try to order extras online you can’t because it is on SBR!
Even though the sales decay graph suggests most sales happen on Monday, the gurus at Bauer obviously can’t find time to analyse the sales data they are sent everyday of every week of every year so that extras can be sent in Thursday’s delivery or the sales aren’t enough to trigger SBR.
When you call customer service (now there’s an oxymoron) to try and explain this and suggest that WD should perhaps be taken off SBR, I can only imagine the puzzled looks and blank stares that must be happening at the other end.
As for trying to change allocations to resolve the issue – easy to say, a bit harder to do, impossible to get acted on!
Sold our newsagency and changeover was last Monday.(2/12)
I`m staying till Xmas to train and help
the new owner.
I`m very disappointed with IPS the way they have started sending magazines to the new owner that we have cancelled.
They could always ask the new owner if he would like try some new mags.
I know he can ring them but as all of us know the first few weeks in any new business is just a blur.
And of course GG and Network are doing what they do best (oversupply).
GG and Network did accept some early returns last week which will help.
John Sands first order has just arrived and it is way to big of a order as we were still do orders every week until the changeover.
And they will all demand payment at the end of the month or else no supply.
I have told him he must read this blog every day . As he will learn more here than any where else.
So I would like to wish Hari good luck in his new adventure.
Excellent post Gary/ACT, thank you. This is the kind of information that should be shared because it allows us all to know that we are NOT ALONE in being treated with disdain. When we took over our store, many moons ago, the John Sands stock was overwhelming and it took me a year to get the rep in line. As I learned, I bided my time and yes, they were OUT as soon as I had found better.
I’m certain IPS will be accommodating if you explain the circumstances of the takeover, we have only ever had great respect from them. I have been very impressed by the way they have incorporated the foreign language titles from Speedimpex, I think we may have missed one issue of something and doubled up on an issue of something else, but on the whole the foreign language customers have been able to get their fix uninterrupted.
In due course most of us WILL want to sell and retire, and I have started my little book of clippings and notes to help that process happen smoothly.