With a sell through hovering at 60%, I was surprised that Bauer (formerly ACP) decided we needed more stock of TechLife magazine. Our supply was bumped up by one copy. Okay,not much … but there is no justification in the sales data.
Every extra copy supplied to us above what we can reasonably sell makes us less competitive.
I suspect that most of our competitors – supermarkets and some others – do not have the same financial risk with oversupply that we face. If I am right it makes even one extra copy being sent to us appalling behaviour.
Bauer demands payment on time for a level of indebtedness over which we have too little control.
I’m committed to making progress on this issue in 2013.
Same here this morning with Empire Magazine. Normally sell 3-4 copies. Last month we recieved 7 copies (early returned 2 and took another 2 off the shelf this morning), today we recieved 8 copies. Maybe they think cause Big Arnie is on the cover I will be too scared to early return this month……
Alan this year already we have had so many re-distributions of mags that I am
giddy. I have, in all cases, still had copies
of the relevant mags on my shelf but with
the data available to Network they have elected to send me more (15 copies extra
at 15.95 each in one instance). They have all been returned but the point is that we will have to pay the bill before we
get the money back and that is abuse.
Empire magazine this morning got 11 and
have only ever sold 4 and it went from 7 to 11 with ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION.
I could go on and on but we all know how it happens.
Network’s grab for our cashflow has been
disgusting since Xmas.
Some of the mags were in such disgusting
appearance (torn and dirty and scratched)
and it was obvious that they were previously onsale even before I looked them up.
Vogue Aust came this morning with an insert that protruded from the top of the mag and I had to take them all out because the packers had packed them so badly that EVERY INSERT WAS TORN THROUGH which made the product unsaleable unless I removed the insert.
One can only imagine the heartache of being a publisher reading what we newsagents have to say about how we receive their publications.
The distributors need a bomb under them
and the packers need TRAINING, TRAINING TRAINING – IT AIN’T ROCKET SCIENCE. Folded posters top and bottom of the parcel and strap carefully.
There you are – THAT’S HOW YOU DO IT??
I’m wondering why Bauer is not even attempting to change a system which was obviously not sustainable for the previous company?
Or maybe they thought they could just do a better job at oversupply than APC?
Steven I think it will be another six months before we see any significant change from Bauer ownership.