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News Corp. late advising newsagents on DVD promotion

News Corp has been late in providing newsagents information about a DVD promotion to kick off a week from now.

In an ideal world, News Corp. would advise software companies two or three weeks out so they could write advice for proper implementation of the offer using gar various software packages.

What happened this week is that News Corp. in Queensland advised newsagents and newsagents advised the software companies. Then, other News Corp. offices sent out their advice.

Newspaper publishers need to pay more attention to helping newsagents run their businesses more efficiently. Late notice about promotions and not engaging with all stakeholders, such as newsagency software companies, costs newsagents time they don’t have.

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  1. Jenny

    Would appreciate email at start of year with dates and promotion details so we can plan much better with related giftware

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  2. John Fitzpatrick

    Mark,
    SA Distribution Newsagents were notified about this promotion on the 29th September (almost two weeks ago) by the local branch of News.
    If other News Ltd state branches have been slack and not proactive in notifying Newsagents, then newsagents need to get stuck into (by ANF?) local News management.
    In SA, there has been no need for any communication from software companies about the implementation.
    It easy, simple and straight forward.
    All info required was in the email sent by News.
    Regards
    John

    2 likes

  3. Murray

    and still only 7.5 % commission !!! its an insult to be honest

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  4. shauns

    I cant believe we sell them for that commission but yet we do ,myself included . I just wish we could all stick together and say 25% or shove it .

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  5. Steve

    The first boxes of DVD’s were delivered with the Sunday Times on Saturday night in WA. What’s the commission, do I have to waste time going online to confirm they have arrived, buggered if I know. No email as yet or correspondence with the delivery. I did read in the Sunday Times that the promotion starts next week so perhaps Newscorp considers that effective communication.

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  6. Paul

    I was informed by the area rep about this promo at least 8 weeks ago. I’ve opted out of taking part in the promotion (or any further News promotions) as at 7.5% commission it isn’t even worth a fraction of my time or effort.
    Until they start increasing the amount we are paid I won’t be putting any more of my time, space or effort into promoting the papers anymore. Not like it’s really worth it anyhow with the decreasing circulation numbers they are suffering anyhow.
    Much more profitable areas for me to spend my time ! 😉

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  7. shauns

    If I happen to sell out of all the stock they send me I am set to make a whopping $3.50 /day . So when you factor in we will also sell out of papers some of those day I will also loose a few sales because those that actually want the paper to read and not just for the coupon will miss out . Paul I think I am with you on this one !!!

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  8. Chris

    I am looking forward to this promotion. I think it will be a success and I am expecting to sell around 150 a day which is around $55 GP a day plus the extra tele commission as I have ordered more papers to cater for the demand. Plus it gives me an opportunity to market other sectors of my business to new customers which is perfect as we come up to Christmas. The increased foot traffic is great to market my higher GP products.
    But yes it would be good if this was done through our POS providers so it could be implemented properly so it can be more accurately measured.

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  9. shauns

    Chris not sure what pos system you have but it would only take a few minutes to enter the stock in so you can measure it . We do this with stock all the time so I am not understanding what the problem is on this one

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  10. Steve

    Received an email about this promotion today, 3 days after I received the DVD. I’d single out Newscorp for bad communication skills but I think that would be unfair to Network who seem to have decided of late that newsagent don’t need to be informed that a title (which has been invoiced for that delivery date) has been delayed. Why tell us that a title has been delayed when we can waste time going online to report shortages and then assume, without really knowing, that because its not listed it must be delayed.

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  11. Chris

    Hi Shauns,
    I mean that it should be done through Xchangeit so that the Publisher gets real time sales data compared with the sales data they get 2 months after the promotion is over. Faster information leads to being able to adjust supplies depending on whether agents are selling more or less of the dvd’s over the promotion period.

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  12. shauns

    Chris ok that makes sence

    0 likes

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