Australian 360 magazine is a dud for us at Forest Hill. It has a sell through of considerably less than 50% yet the magazine experts at Network Services have increased our supply. This is the same company which cracked down on newsagents for returns fraud. I would argue that increasing supply without and basis in sales data is as bad as fraud. My frustration is that each time I try and engage with the Network about their broken supply model, promises are made but rarely kept. The health of the newsagent channel relies of a fair and just magazine supply model. One day, publishers will realise this.
I think what this industry needs is a strong body that will tackle these obviously “not fair” issues and get the results that we want – fairness.
I know there is the ANF but I think we need an alternative that will defend and help all newsagents. A sort of newsagent ombudsmen.
This behaviour continues to repeat itself. I’ve only been in this industry for a year and it has to be the worst I’ve been in. We make a mistake and pay for it but they make a mistake and we for it.