Independent newsagents are refusing to enter the Fabulous colour supplement, which previously came free with the Word of the World, in The Sun tomorrow (Saturday).
Kieran McDonnell, president of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN), said: It seems the Word of the World is not stagnant but is acquiring a free ride to market inside News Internationals (NIs) other titles.
NI has decided that Fabulous will be inserted in a polybag and distributed to retailers in the Saturday edition of The Sun. This is being done, said the NFNRN, to maintain NIs advertising revenue, all of which is being kept to itself.
McDonnell said the act would significantly increase the burden of the Saturday Sun and touch on the price of national news delivery (HND) as retailers will want to gain their delivery resources to deal with the extra weight.
So how often are retailers being paid to pay for the heavier delivery on a Saturday? The answernothing, he said.
McDonnell contacted NI but, he said, the party refused to reconsider its decision.
Since the word was announced, the NFRN said it telephone lines have been red hot with irate members saying that they have had plenty of being mistreated by NI, following its percentage margin cuts last year.
Some newsagents are taking matters into their own men by separating Fabulous from the Saturday package and advising HND customers that it is usable for appeal in the shop.
McDonnell said: Whilst, for sound reasons, this is not something that the NFRN can condone, we leave not condemn it either since one can indicate that it is either average or proper to expect newsagents to find extra delivery costs without payment. Why should they?
The substance to News International (and any other publisher considering similar action) is No Pay, No Play! If that way that advertisers start getting twitchy about investing in Fabulous Magazine (which may or may not reach readers), then so be it.
Source: NFRN
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