In the 1990s, 7-ELEVEN challenged the newspaper and magazine distribution system. They succeeded in breaking the monopoly newsagents had on distribution.
Today, I am aware of 7-ELEVEN, (a franchisee or the company itself I am not sure) demonstrating double standards. They are pressuring a state government authority into not allowing a newsagent two hundred metres away to sell transport tickets.
So much for their pitch years ago for competition. Those trying to block a local newsagent selling transport tickets are showing themselves up as protectionists.
If 7-ELEVEN were true to their pitch to the ACCC and its predecessors on competition, they would stop the putting of an argument for protection as it appears is being put today. They would not try and block the newsagent nearby getting transit tickets. After all, they got magazines and newspapers in their shops.
I am surprised that newsagents have not voiced an opinion on this or am I wrong to raise concerns about double standards at 7-ELEVEN.
This seems to be the way that supermarket and/or convenience chains operate – add bullying and whingeing to that as well.
Supermarkets are pretty good as subagents at wanting to pick the eyes out of the magazine range whilst cutting across lines such as greeting cards and stationery and then reacting with threats to “go direct” on magazines when you dare to stock a few “supermarket” lines such as milk and bread – never mind that we open at 4.00am and they don’t open until 7.00am.
Double standards for sure.
As with mags and newspapers, unless we are represented as one industry by one national body, all we are are small kids crying in the corner that no one takes notice of. It is the same as the majors wanting to change the trading hours in WA, if they want it they will get it no matter who objects.
This may be why no one has commented, no point in pissing into the wind.
Up here on the Sunshine Coast, I applied to Translink, the Government Department responsible for bus services, to be an agent for Go-Card.
I was told there was no need for an outlet at Coolum, as the area was adequately serviced by 7-11 at either Marcoola (20km return trip) or Noosa (30km return trip)
God only knows what was in the deal between Translink and 7-11, but it is certainly creating a lot of inconvenience for the average bus passenger!
My State MP is curreently making representations on my behalf to Translink. Will let you know how I get on.
I applied for Go Card as well. I was told that there was no sales history for Deception Bay so no need for an outlet! With logic processes like that, trout live in trees (apologies tio Monty Python).
another undertable $$$ debacle
I would add that there are NO outlets in Deception Bay, so no surprise there is no sales history
Brett, The Supanews franchise got the rights to sell the Go-cards out of Newsagencies (Bligh Govt intiative).
We can at least build a rocket out of wood and fly to the sun – It won’t get burnt because we’ll land there at night!
Bet it would if we had daylight savings..
And yet the Qld Transport Minister last Thursday stated on ABC radio that consumers could get a card ‘at their local newsagency’.
Don’t you love Queensland!
You’ve got to put you watch back an hour and fifteen years everytime you come into it!
I really hate that phrase, ‘at your local newsagency’ it is rare that the circumstance being described is actually applicable. Some are in groups, some are not, some are participating, some are not. Gee wouldn’t it be great if we had national representation!
Not only did they get Mags and Newspapers-what about Lotto?