According to the NFRN: Last weekend (April 26) the cover price of the Saturday edition went up 10p from £1.50 to £1.60, but the retail margin dropped from 23 per cent to 22.18 per cent.
And from Monday (April 28) the cover price of Monday to Saturday editions increased to 75p, but the margin was cut from 24.28 per cent to 23.3 per cent.
As a result some retailers have said they are reviewing their support for the newspaper.
Bachu Ramji, from Ramji News in Wibsey, Bradford said: “I have been running my shop for the past 25 years and being a Yorkshire man have always supported the Yorkshire Post. This time enough is enough and my patience has run out. I have decided to stand firm and not accept this reduction in margin. I will not hold any extra copies on the counter. I am removing all advertising material and will not support any promotions. To cover the cost, all readers of the Yorkshire Post will have to pay a surcharge if any of them want it delivered.”
Ian Simpson from London News and Toys in York added: “Due to the latest round of Yorkshire Post price increase and a reduction in terms again, I have taken the decision to remove all point of sale items and will refuse to do any promotions with this company.”
Stephen Hunter from Old Road News in Bradford continued: “I have supported the Yorkshire Post for many years now and have always participated in promotional activity. This weekend, with very short notice, I was informed of yet another price increase along with a cut in terms. Is this how I'm repaid for my support? Well, enough is enough and I now withdraw my support, from displaying your newspaper, from accepting any more future subscription vouchers, from accepting any money off coupons, from displaying any point of sale and also by increasing the delivery charge to all home delivery orders.”
The NFRN's News Operations Manager Jerry Hayes and National Councillor James Wilkinson met with senior executives from the newspaper last Friday to see if there were ways in which the NFRN and Yorkshire Post could work together to restore the margin but members from the district have said that the offer of redress does not go far enough.
