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Visiting other newsagencies

I’d be interested in how newsagents go about visiting other newsagencies.  Do you make an appointment?  Do you identify yourself in-store?  Do you ask before taking photos?  Do you share feedback to their face or behind their back?

Newsagents can learn a lot from each other … fresh eyes and all that. The owner of the store being visited can also share insights and explanations that could provide a better understanding of what is seen.

Partly because of what I write here, my newsagencies have been visited many times over the years. I appreciate the courtesy of an appointment. I appreciate being asked if photos can be taken. What I don’t like is the people who talk about what they saw (or think they saw) behind your back without the courtesy of even telling you they were in your shop.

What’s your experience?

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  1. jessie

    I regularly visit other newsagents but most of the time as a customer not another newsagent, as I have read here many times we are not our own customer so many times I find I want to travel to another newsagent for a special card or gift, once I made myself known to the manager simply to ask them about an acp book stand, they laughed and responded with “if you were a newsagent you would know where to get it.” Needless to say I do not go back to that newsagent and I did mention to my acp rep about my experience.

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  2. shauns

    I just go in as a customer ,if i want to ask something then i would introduce my self but i do not think i would be taking any pictures .

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  3. mary

    I would never make an appointment and I would never expect another agent to make one in my store.
    I make an effort to get to as many other newsagents as I can.Even on holidays I will go and have a look at the local one.
    I go as a customer,it is not very often I feel the need to ask questions but if I ever did I would introduce myself.
    I just like to see how others do it and see if I can learn anything.Sometimes I see positive things others negative.if I see anything negative I make sure it is not done in our store.

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  4. david

    Always introduce myself as I would expect the same. Always tell the owner anything I plan to say to others. It’s what being in a fraternity is about.

    Why you would see something bad and keep it to yourself or tell others but not the owner is beyond me.

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  5. Angelo

    I’ve visited heaps of newsagents whilst away visiting family or on the rare holiday and look forward to visiting the local Newsagency. If they’re not busy I generally strike up a conversation and introduce myself and quite enjoy speaking with another person in the channel I make a living out of. I’ve had quite a few introduce themselves when in my store and I really appreciate it.
    Anyone taking pictures randomly in any shop is simply being very rude and would make other customers, staff and the owner draw their attention to that person. I think it’s appalling behaviour.
    Checking out other Newsagencies has been good for me in that I can see how others display and stock things and I try to take something away with me when doing so be it positive or negative. I think managing your own four walls can lead to a type of “operating blindness” for want of a better expression.

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  6. Jannette Mcdonald

    I have often introduced myself when I visit another Newsagency. I often find that I get staff there and they look at me really blankly as if to say… “so”. I’d love to make an appointment, but I know myself, if you make an appointment at my shop, I can guarantee you that will be when a huge number of people walk in the store after being quiet for the previous 1/2 hour.
    If you visit me, please come and see me, I’d love to talk about how to improve. Any suggestions, please I’d love to hear them.
    Any questions, I’d love the opportunity to answer them.

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  7. M

    Jannette,

    Where is your newsagency?

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  8. Jeff

    I’d never visit a newsagency to see what it is doing without saying hello and speaking with the owner or manager. I don’t understand anyone who would unless they want to use the information to compete in some way.

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  9. SHAUNS

    Jeff if you where on a holiday and went into a newsagency to buy a lotto ticket would you not have a quick glance around ,i think you would . Surley you wouldn’t make an appointment for that would you .

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  10. Brendan

    I have had a look around other newsagents in the past but have always introduced my self when they were not serving. This has also happened in my store. The appointment is not a must to me unless maybe there was some serious business to discuss but introducing yourself is a must. As for photos, definitely ask.

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  11. carol mckinna

    Usually have a look around if I am a newsagency for something else. I like to see what their prices are compared to mine. I usuallly go our of my way to introduce myself.

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  12. shauns

    off topic , i am searching for a low carb cook book /magazine for a customer has anyoe got a tittle that i could search for ?

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  13. Mark Fletcher

    I think if you are there to genuinely purchase a product, cool. But if you are there to look over the business, learn from it, steal ideas or to gossip about it at some later stage – introduce yourself.

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  14. carol mckinna

    Shaun – google , google, google

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  15. shauns

    Mark i sence someone has bagged one of your newsagencys , come on spill the beans .

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  16. shauns

    carol i did Google Google Google there is so much out there was really just looking for a recomendation for a good one

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  17. Mark Fletcher

    No Shaun. But we are getting plenty of unannounced visitors, some of whom take photos. A genuine colleague would not do this.

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  18. Nelson

    http://www.newsagencyblog.com.au/2009/02/11/newsagency-closes-and-helps-other-newsagents/
    Mark, Out of interest did you seek this newsagents permission before you snapped the photos, identify yourself in store or let them know face to face what you were going to publish on this blog about them and their business and share feedback with them etc.

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  19. Mark Fletcher

    Nelson, no, they were closed as the post says. I had spoken to them previously about their situation and discussed what I planned to write.

    By the way, good to have you back.

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  20. Jannette Mcdonald

    My newsagency is in Ulladulla, NSW.

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  21. peter stewart

    I visited and introduced myself to our closest newsagency when we bought our shop. I havent had the need or want to go back in there since.
    when on holidays, maybe a quick look around whilst i buy something, no appointment or introducing myself either.

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