Magazine publishers who wonder why newsagents early return their titles should read this. Some newsagents received these toys from Gordon and Gotch on Monday.
Yeah, a magazine distributor has sent newsagents these Shoulder Buddies for sale at 25% GP. Newsagents get 50% and more GP on toys so why would they offer these for less? There is no obvious or promoted magazine link.
So close to Christmas with shops already brimming with stock – who at Gotch approved this? Who has treated newsagents this way? The Gotch leadership owes newsagents an explanation.
This is an appalling abuse of the newsagency channel by Gordon and Gotch. Gotch should not distribute toys. Newsagents have many toy suppliers at their disposal and the ability to achieve 50% (and more) GP.
No wonder 50% of newsagents are reducing magazine space in-store. Most feel that this is the only way they can control supply.
I would not be surprised if some newsagents struck out at Gotch and early returned magazines in punishment against Gotch. Yes, I understand such move could be crazy … but think about how abused some newsagents will feel.
Footnote: I did not receive this product in any of my stores.
Shameful
I wonder if they sent them to any agents that are on ‘topped’ returns?
Mark – a bit more fuel for the fire eh! Know what I mean?
It’s just like the trading cards, certain childrens activity packs and some magazines both G&G and Network supply. Why would I keep them when I can get similar or in some cases the same product and sell for much higher GP than what they supply at ?
If they are silly enough to send it to me, I am happy to top it for them and save them the trouble of reissuing it to some other newsagent.
Got mine this morning…..didnt even get out of the half crushed box that they came in.
What a nice Christmas gift from your magazine distributor.
Lucky it was GG and not IPS. With GG you can clear it in this months returns, no financial impact on your business. When IPS delivers unsolicited crap on your doorstep you’re stuck with it until scheduled returns time. Low margin or not, I think in this case we are dealing with the lesser of 2 evils.
IPS will not deliver unsolicited titles. If they are, contact them. If that does not work, let me know.
On this junk from Gotch – you have to pay return freight.
May,
Have you spoken with IPS about these things?
We have found IPS very delightful to deal with, you just need to have an honest discussion with them about any issues you are facing.
Cheers
Al
IPS are far and away the most helpful distribution agents with whom we deal.
In SA we get excellent support and we NEVER get our stock in the condition we
received it today.
Aust open mags ripped and dirty before they are even undone.
It is shameful the way the stock is treated
by the distribution companies.
They will say that someone else delivers it
but they are ACCOUNTABLE for it and they
obviously do not care.
Poor old publishers just have to cop it.
If I was a publisher I would change to IPS
in an instant to ensure excellent delivery
and extra % on sales and NO I AM NOT
INVOLVED WITH IPS IN ANY WAY.
I just think it is important – especially here- to acknowledge good works when we are so disparaging of the bad stuff, of
which there is plenty. GG and Network do
not care about the condition of our supplies and it is going from bad to worse.
A TRAINING DAY FOR PACKERS AND DELIVERERS SHOULD BE ON YOUR AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR.
Today I got Moshi Monsters Figurines 5 pack. Just 6 units, I’ll sell these before the end of the day. Called for more, got the ‘sorry sir, no more stock avail’. What a waste of time, this is a collectable/tradable like footy cards, not sure why they would bother. Got told only 1800 accross Australia, so that means that there were probably 300 newsagents that got 6 packs each. Who wins here? G&G paid to distribute x 1800, Supplier sells 1800 in one go, & I get 6 x $3 in margin…..
Ben this is why we should be able order what we want. We could sell more.
My 6 are still out the in limbo land
Newsagents who want to complain could email the Gotch Managing Director: craig.davison@gordongotch.com.au. Don’t expect a response though.
It can’t just be us, can it? We have a dozen or so ‘niche’ IPS titles on our shelves (or stored), none of which we ordered. No early returns & the website won’t allow you to kill your orders, I’m not prepared to use the call centre every week to fix the situation, all we need is web-based control of allocation or an early return mechanism & we’re sorted. Not rocket-surgery but I guess they have their reason for making us jump through hoops to cut allocations.
May, I find myself in a similar position. That said, I haven’t been bothered to call them either so I guess its my own fault. I’d prefer to change allocations on the web, as it takes me less time and I can do it after hours. To be honest I find their website to be a bit unwieldy, Gotch is even worse, Network is ok. IPS are still far better that Gotch in terms of allocations, but then they have less crap titles than Gotch!
May,
Just send them an email to cancel future orders of titles you don’t want, you don’t need to call. You can do this through the feedback menu on their website. This doesn’t help with stock already received though.
They action the request promptly.
Dean
Yes Ips are pretty good but i wish they would change their website a little because it is really useless , maybe start by getting rid of the feedback part and change it to CONTACT US . This would save a lot of confusion . They also need a sales history part when changing allocation -just a thought or is it there somewhere ? Other than that no real probs with IPS .
And nothing from NANA or the ANF.
Same problem here May
Got a credit through this morning dropping WS price to 3.15exc, now giving a 50% margin!
Coincidence??
Bit late since I had already early returned them all 🙂