Page Three Webbo don’t go!
THIRD PARTY INSERTS
Whilst on the subject of third party Inserts the NFRN have allowed the publishers to get their own way yet again, gone are the days of cumulative payment, or insult payment as it was known. Everyone within the industry is aware of the input I personally put into this matter THREE YEARS AGO, and at the height of this battle there were over 3400 newsagents who supported the inserts battle against the publishers.
Publishers were getting countless problems with unhappy Advertisers, who had paid for their merchandise to reach the consumer only finding many being withdrawn and being sent back to the Advertisers in big brown envelopes each week, The TPI group aim was solely to be rewarded in a manner of normality of being financially paid for the work involved of carrying TPI to the consumers premises.
The biggest problem that arose was the gutless people of the NFRN National Council who failed in their duty to represent the members in the manner the member expected. The National President at the time Sam Whiteside allowed me to speak at a National Council meeting where I emphasised the importance that every National Councillor registered and to tell their own branch members to do like wise.
How many National Councillors registered out of 49 members? NINE, so its those so called officials at the NFRN who failed to back the TPI Group who will remain as gutless as before, the only problem they have now the publisher will continue to shit all over them simply because they failed to back the “Webbo” at the time when the battle was being won. That’s why the publishers currently put in as many inserts the advertisers are prepared to pay them for because the NFRN no longer protest.
What other industry would accept such conditions? What other Industry would allow its workforce to work without being paid? Why should the Independent Newsagents work for the major stores without being paid, would they work for the Independent Newsagent without being re-reimbursed? Of course not, that’s why there are so many newsagents who follow the Webbo mould of refusing to work without being paid in the normal financial manner, the likes of the ARGOS, DEBENHAMS, CURRYS, HALFORDS, DFS, TOYS “R” US can go and stuff themselves, there is no way in this world they will benefit from my assistance until the publishers pay for the work involved.
VOUCHERS:
Another horrible word, just ask the wife who has the monumental task of sending these back to the wholesaler each week, There was a “pillock” who said in the weekly trade magazine a few weeks ago that vouchers was a god send to all newsagents and we should stop moaning.
The Newsagent receives one pence for each voucher, the same payment rate that was set 25 years ago, and we should be grateful! Its about time someone got real and realised the publishers are screwing us again BIG TIME. Vouchers bring in business for sure, but for the newsagent we become a bank for the publishers, some times not receiving our money for a three week period.
Take the Express vouchers, who ever came along with this idea needs shooting, certainly no brains, and certainly not improving sales for the Express, most loyal customers cant be bothered to cut a paper voucher out for 10p?, yes some people who have plenty of time do hand the vouchers in, BUT its NOT increasing sales.
For those no brains newsagents who think 1p payment is honourable, I challenge you to tell your customers what you receive for handling their vouchers, and find one person who doesn’t believe you the newsagent have a screw loose! Most customers wouldn’t believe you either!
NFRN
The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) is at its lowest point in history, and its getting worse every day with members realising the people running this organisation are merely greedy unprofessional people filling their own pockets rather than attending to members needs. Furthermore its about to get worse (if that’s possible) if the current system remains in place whereby the hierarchy bend the rules to suit themselves and there’s too many dim wits who toe the party line as such unable to see further than their nose.
I point the finger at Mike Mitchelson, Barry Taylor, and Sam Whiteside to name but three, these men have been around the block enough times to know the score inside out, they allow the likes of Khonat, Singh, Chambers, Hopkins and Maitland to make the rules and fill their own pockets in the process. The Federation is dying and the rate the membership is falling then the money will soon disappear, and the three named men will have some questions to answer should the Webbo prediction prove correct
When will the members of the federation realise the serious problems that lie ahead is down to the people they trust, gone is the days of the old pals act of you vote for me and vice versa, the NFRN members deserve the best and certainly nothing less. The current format is so far behind the times it can only lead to disaster, it needs professional people who will represent the membership in a manner expected for the contributions made each week, the days of glorified paper boys feeding their own pockets with the emphasis on making their CVs look more impressive has to stop now.
The position of NFRN National President must be a figure head position only, surely everyone can see the problems this has caused recently, and if in June 2010 Parminder Singh takes the role in its present identity then it will be the case of the last one out closed the doors and switch the lights out, the federation will die of death.
Then there’s the General Manager Paul Chambers, he reminds me of Seth Armstrong from Emmerdale! this man has been around the block within the Industry, but no one has a good word to say about him! The NFRN decide to employ him as general manager, where he has brought unity within the walls of Yeoman house to a standstill.
The man has to go, but whilst he reads and writes Khonat letters he will have a role until next June, but in the meantime he will continue causing problems for others, whilst filling his own pockets with SEVENTY GRAND a year wages plus a car etc; etc; Paul Chambers known as the “Gulliver” of the news trade Industry, who has been around the block and finally ends up in the elephants graveyard known as the NFRN, the serious underachievers! At the end of the day it must be said “
What a waste of members money!
Next week we name the good men, and the bad ones and the stories you haven’t heard before!
