As a newsagent I'll hopefully let you in on the trade secrets.
Newspapers normally arrive at a shop between 5 and 6 am. As a child cannot work before 7 am the rounds have to be prepared by an adult. Currently at £7.50 per hour. There is a weight restriction for carried newspapers 10kg so possibly different amounts each day. Or do you just take the heaviest day and stick with that all week! Delivery bags, high vis tops, wet weather clothing should be paid for by the newsagent. Some ask the parents to purchase the latter two so they can be kept. Would you like your child to wear someone else's wet gear? The newsagent has to endure the child is registered with the LEA to enable them to work. If the child is to use a bike to deliver it is the newsagents responsibility to ensure the parents have provided a roadworthy bike and that there are working lights, when required.
The sale of a newspaper to a customer generate between 5 and 10 pence per paper profit. From which a newsagent has to pay the delivery wholesaler about £55 per week to have the papers and magazines delivered and returns collected. And we haven't even got out of the door yet.
Children between 13 and under 16 cannot work before 7am and have to be finished with time to return home, change clothing and attend school on time, or the LEA may intervene. Child wages are normally set below that if a working 16 year old. Time and distance and the number of deliveries done will calculate. Possible additional pay may be added for the fact the child delivers in all weathers. Just remember that the next time you have a wet paper pushed through your letterbox. For those of you that do not pay your news account on a weekly basis. The Newsagent receives and must pay in full their wholesaler bill weekly. Non payment equals non supply the next day. So, all accounts and wages that are paid fortnightly, monthly or even longer. The newsagent had to pay from their own pocket. On such a small profit margin that can make things a bit tight for that cheerful person that greats you from behind the counter when you come to pay. Maybe you might consider paying a bit more often and regularly.
Due to the constraints of children working times a lot of newsagents now employ adults to deliver. That means you may get you paper delivered earlier in the morning as they are probably doing it as a second job. Adult pay and motor mileage hast be paid if a car is used. Times the time taken to deliver.
The newspaper does not always manage to get to the newsagent on time to enable delivery before children and adults have to move on with their day. This means the newsagent then has to deliver all the late papers to all the rounds. How many times over the last few years have you received your paper later in the morning than normal due to late supply. The newsagent as to pay for that service to you themself. No one pays them to deliver the late papers.
This is why you are charged a delivery charge for your delivery. Consumers think newsagents are paid a fortune buy the publishers, wrong. It is the newsagent who has to pay and it is the reason that a delivery service has to be self financing. If you want your child who delivers papers to receive a fair wage then be prepared to pay that amount. Don't forget also a news deliverer received holiday pay. Gosh, and the person covering the round also has to be paid. With parents taking their children off work for 4 weeks a year that means that with the customer only paying for 48 weeks delivery and the retailer having to pay for 56 weeks for each round and deliverer the costs mount.
So please consider the next time your paper is delivered, your paper is late, you think you had better pop into the newsagent and a a bit off your bill, go on holiday and say you will pay your bill when you come home. Defer payment over the holiday periods especially Christmas. When you are enjoying your holiday and bank holiday off work and you think I'll just nip down the shop for an icecream or pop. Just say thank you to your newsagent, and bring your bill up to date.
Or do you think your newsagent is there as a charity for you. Please just think if you had to constantly borrow money and receive your wages beyond your payment period would accept it at complain to your boss!!
