Dandy distribution problem?

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 16 Nov 2006, 19:14

Has anyone else experienced problems finding The Dandy in their home town recently? Over the past few weeks distribution in this area has been appalling. For the third week running I've had to visit several shops before finally finding ONE remaining copy.

And that's on a Thursday - the day it comes out! So it's hardly like they've already been snapped up.

Before that, most shops had a few copies each, and I noticed they usually sold out as the week went on. Therefore it now means that those kids won't get a copy thanks to such almost non-existent distribution. A big old git like me might roam around looking for a copy but will the kids or their parents? Doubt it! (I'm not even sure I'll bother doing it myself again. Loyalty to this old comic is starting to test my patience in more ways than one.)

This used to happen with other comics, and the reasoning was that distributors were redirecting the comics to towns/ cities where the comic sold well, expecting to sell twice as many in those areas.

Comics treated like sprouts or baked beans. Did this supply and demand system work? No. It only works if you print more copies for those areas, not deprive other areas of their copies! But of course that costs money, and accountants run the world these days.

I do hope Thomsons aren't listening to "focus groups" who have encouraged the same daft idea.

Lew

colcool007 · Post by **colcool007** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:11

Must admit that I have seen the Beano every week in my new Top Secret location,

but I have yet to see a Dandy. A worrying sign indeed. Never even thought of it until you mentioned as any UK publication here is a bonus.

Conor B · Post by **Conor B** » 18 Nov 2006, 13:48

I can only find it in one shop in the whole area I live in with loads of newsagents!

brisey · Post by **brisey** » 19 Nov 2006, 10:02

Living in Croydon-the WHS always seems to have copies.If anyone is having probs i canget and post-at cost.

Maybe there trying to boost subscriptions

brian

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 19 Nov 2006, 12:49

brisey wrote: Maybe there trying to boost subscriptions

brian

If so, it's a lousy time to do it on the run up to Christmas, to expect people to shell out a wad for subscriptions.

With the amount of reprint and feature-page padding that's starting to appear in the comic there's little incentive to commit to a subscription.

Lew

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 19 Nov 2006, 16:03

My problem is I see it everywhere I go.I can't get away from it!That goes for the Beano too,as well as all the fun size editions!

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 19 Nov 2006, 17:25

Captain Storm wrote:My problem is I see it everywhere I go.I can't get away from it!That goes for the Beano too,as well as all the fun size editions!

Are there copies left over by the time the new one replaces it? If so they're the ones that should have been redistributed to areas where there aren't any.

Thomson's distribution used to be excellent. What's influenced this change for the worst?

Lew

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 19 Nov 2006, 19:07

I work in a supermarket.They work on a sale or return policy.All publications that are not sold are returned before the new ones are stacked on the shelves.I believe in some cases the mastheads are cut out too,though this may only apply to newspapers.

Shaqui · Post by **Shaqui** » 19 Nov 2006, 19:59

I don't get either but after seeing this post I had a look, and both "beano' and 'Dandy' are available in our local Tesco.

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 19 Nov 2006, 20:07

Captain Storm wrote:I work in a supermarket.They work on a sale or return policy.All publications that are not sold are returned before the new ones are stacked on the shelves.I believe in some cases the mastheads are cut out too,though this may only apply to newspapers.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. When I said "redistributed" I meant that if supermarkets (like yours) are returning unsold comics then obviously supply is exceeding demand in your shop. So it might help sales all round if the distributors cut back on your area and distribute more to areas where The Dandy is sparse.

In my opinion of course. There may be some masterplan we don't know about but having seen this happen to other comics the end result is always bad. Hope I'm wrong.

Lew

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 20 Nov 2006, 12:02

Have to say I had a look for the "Dandy" where I stay (just outside Glasgow) and couldn't see it, loads of Beanos though - popped into Glasogw and the Dandy was there ok - how long till the rumour mills state the Dandy is being stopped lol

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 20 Nov 2006, 12:50

Cap Haggis wrote:Have to say I had a look for the "Dandy" where I stay (just outside Glasgow) and couldn't see it, loads of Beanos though - popped into Glasogw and the Dandy was there ok - how long till the rumour mills state the Dandy is being stopped lol

It's 70th anniversary is in December 2007 so I'm sure it's safe for all of next year. As long as people can actually find it in the shops that is!

Lew

Peter Gray · Post by **Peter Gray** » 20 Nov 2006, 14:23

my local newsagent awhile back stopped bringing out Dandys..But I asked them to bring it back.........now I get the Dandy there mostly.....just ask the newsagent to stock it......

You'll be buying the Dandy when Jamies work is back

Anyway I buy the Dandy for Steve Bright...Tom Paterson...Nigel P and Nick B.....so worth buying

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 20 Nov 2006, 15:21

Peter Gray wrote:.just ask the newsagent to stock it......

Newsagents have a tendency to damage reserved copies in my experience so I never bother now. Besides, ordering a copy is okay for the individual but it doesn't solve the main problem of how to increase circulation. If a title only relies on subscriptions and reservations it can't attract new customers. If potential readers don't know about it circulation can only go down, not up, surely?

Lew

David · Post by **David** » 20 Nov 2006, 17:27

Lew Stringer wrote:
Peter Gray wrote:.just ask the newsagent to stock it......

Newsagents have a tendency to damage reserved copies in my experience so I never bother now.
Lew

When I lived on Rousay, you couldn't buy any comics or magazines (or even newspapers other than The Orcadian), so you had to order them. And The beano and dandy usually had the free gifts missing (still had to pay full price though).

I haven't seen many Dandy's in shops for quite a while now (well over a year) near me. I've only seen it in one shop recently too.

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