Tag Archives: Kingsway

Is there an alternative to Kingsway?

Posted on July 11, 2010 by | 18 Comments

This is the question one commenter asked last month in response to Kingsway’s failure to address trade customers’ concerns about being effectively priced out of the market by their practice of comparing their online shop prices to their own RRPs. Astonishingly, as I prepare this post more than a month later, neither Kingsway nor David C Cook have yet shown the courtesy of offering a constructive response. No doubt if there have been any changes since, someone will let us us know via the comments.

To answer the question, however: both yes and no: no, in that Kingsway are the sole supplier of their own products; but yes, in that there are plenty of other artists out there on other labels — Kingsway do not have a monopoly on good Christian music.

Some other Christian music suppliers that come immediately to mind are:

  • Elevation: Own label products including ICC Recordings from events such as Greenbelt, Keswick, New Wine and Spring Harvest. Distributors for Vineyard Records UK. Carriage-free shipping by 2nd class post standard, 1st class available for a “nominal fee”; normally same day despatch on orders placed by 11am.
    Facebook | Twitter

As for Kingsway product itself, until Kingsway are inclined to put their house in order and are able to bring their ordering process up to speed, in real terms we’re better off ordering via STL anyway: with STL we know that if a product is in stock, it will be normally be shipped same day if ordered online before 4pm (2.30pm for telephone, fax or email), and if you’ve signed up to STL’s Retail Partnership programme you have the extra advantages that come with that.

In short, then, there is no shortage of alternatives to Kingsway, and it makes much more sense as a long term strategy to trade with companies that want to work with us than with a company that seems by its deeds if not by its words to have set itself against us.

→ 18 Comments

Posted in Christian Music, Christian Suppliers

Tagged , , , , , ,

Kingsway and the Frightening Art of Stone Throwing: a Response to Paul Slennett

Posted on June 30, 2010 by | 1 Comment

IF YOU’RE ON Paul Slennett’s emailing list you’ll no doubt have received a copy of his recent comment about the Kingsway polls, but you may be scratching your head and wondering where that comment is. You’ll find it directly on the polls themselves:

  1. Is Kingsway’s practice of comparing their own prices to their own RRPs in order to present things at a discount fair?
  2. Is a meeting in London on July 21st the best way forward for this discussion?

Paul writes:

“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone”

I believe God is speaking to us through the words of Jesus about the tower of Siloam:

4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

If we gave a contemporary application to these verses, it could read like this:

Do you think that Kingsway are more guilty than us booksellers? I tell you, no! But unless we repent we too will be judged. In the same way, do we think that the Christian bookshops and STL that had to close last year are more guilty than the rest of us? I tell you, no, but unless we repent we too will all perish.

It’s an important point that Paul raises and I take this opportunity to thank him for doing so. I have replied (on both polls, since Paul left his comment on both polls) as follows:

Hi Paul and thanks for your observations.

I have no interest in throwing stones: the last thing I want to see is Kingsway destroyed. On the contrary, it’s because I want to see Kingsway thrive and excel that I am highlighting this issue. I and several others raised these questions with Kingsway privately long before they were raised in public, but Kingsway failed to address the issue constructively.

As followers of Christ do we not have a duty of care towards our brothers and sisters in the faith to challenge them when they go astray? Do we not have a responsibility to highlight hypocrisy when we see it? Is this not what you now believe yourself to be doing in challenging my challenge to Kingsway?

You are right: we all need to examine ourselves. I am painfully aware of Jesus’ teaching about those with logs in their eyes attempting to remove splinters from others’ — but does that teaching take away our responsibilities towards one another? Should we remain silent when we see the “Tower of Siloam” about to collapse on our neighbours’ heads?

The tower may have collapsed on the old STL — but does that mean we should stand back and allow another tower to collapse on Kingsway? Should we not rather be there amidst the rubble helping dig the survivors out?

If you haven’t done so, Paul, please go read my post In Defence of Kingsway: I say again what I essentially said there: Kingsway are not the enemy. I want to continue trading with them and I want to continue supplying their product to my customers — but they need to work with me, with all of us, to make that possible.

I expanded on why I believe it’s important to speak out on issues such as this on my personal blog a few weeks ago in a post entitled Seek ye the good. There seems to be a tendency in some Christian circles to think that we should always and only adopt a lovey dovey sugar’n'sweet niceness in our dealings with each other: we should never criticise, never call one another out for fear of being like those people who dragged that woman — who was undoubtedly guilty, scripture does not pretend otherwise — before Jesus. Let’s face it, who wants to be on the receiving end of that sort of comment from Jesus: Let the one without sin cast the first stone.

But there are important differences in this scenario: those people who dragged the woman before Jesus were out to test him, if possible to bring him down; and if the truth be known I suspect they didn’t care one whit about the woman or her ‘sin’ — if she died as a result of that confrontation, tough. She was nothing but an object to her accusers, a conveniently weak and defenceless person who they could use to trap the prophet who threatened the status quo.

In our scenario, we have Kingsway, a giant of the Christian publishing world, a company so large that by John Paculabo’s own admission, if STL’s prospective buyers had got wind of the fact that Kingsway were considering withdrawing from their STL distribution agreement then those buyers might well have had second thoughts about taking on the business; almost certainly, a significantly lower price would have been secured for the deal: Kingsway, a company that prides itself in its work to alleviate poverty through the Ray of Hope Amazon River Kids project and now in its support of issues of justice and mercy in its promotion of the Micah Challenge.

No: no weak damsel here betrayed by the very men to whom she had turned for what may have been her only way to make a living. Instead, the situation is turned upside-down and back-to-front: we who look up to Kingsway as a company to lead the way, who look up to John Paculabo as a man who we honoured at CBC 2007 with the Angus Hudson Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding service within and beyond our trade, who look up to Kingsway as a trading partner enabling us to make a living — we find ourselves betrayed over a simple matter of trade justice that requires nothing more than an executive decision to put right.

And so, with this woman, we kneel at Jesus’ feet … guilty as charged: making a living from selling Kingsway product. Kingsway have the power to take that trade away from us, to deliver it direct to our customers themselves — but now they are caught in the very act of that delivery, like a rabbit in the glare of a car’s headlights … and as Jesus sweeps his gaze across our trade, I wonder what he sees?

He bends down and writes something in the sand. Siloam’s tower teeters on the edge of another collapse. Who will shout a warning? Who will pick up the pieces? How can I remain silent?

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Christian Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Kingsway: The Poll Results – because the questions haven’t gone away…

Posted on June 24, 2010 by | 13 Comments
Kingsway Polls: Because the questions won’t go away…

Kingsway Polls - Because the questions won’t go away…

OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO I’ve steered away from the Kingsway pricing issue simply to give the company, and John Paculabo in particular as the company’s spokesman, some breathing space and an opportunity to reflect upon the concerns raised. Those concerns, of course, have not gone away: on what basis do Kingsway consider it a reflection of the King’s way — of Jesus’ way — to promote songs and albums about justice but trade in a way that is so unfair to many of its trading partners? To operate a pricing policy that seems to brazenly fly in the face of Her Majesty’s Government’s guidelines for pricing?

Perhaps there is a reasonable, ethical basis upon which a Christian company can conduct its business in this way, but I confess that I can’t see it. If you can, please do explain.

The polls remain open and I’ll be reinstating that post on the front page over the next few days to give anyone who missed it first time around an opportunity to vote. As far as I can see at the time of preparing this post, nothing has changed and there is no reason to close the polls: revisiting Kingsway’s listing for the not-quite-so-new ‘Very Best of Graham Kendrick’ album as a typical example, Kingsway are still comparing their ‘discounted’ prices to their own RRPs despite never having charged those RRPs. Perhaps the guidelines that apply to all other retailers simply don’t apply to Kingsway? I don’t know. If you do, please do explain.

To the poll results so far, however:

Poll 1: Is Kingsway’s practice of comparing their own prices to their own RRPs in order to present things at a discount fair?

Is Kingsway's practice of comparing their own prices to their own RRPs in order to present things at a discount fair? (Results)

Poll 2: Is a meeting in London on July 21st the best way forward for this discussion?

Kingsway Poll 2: Results as at 23/06/2010

Is a meeting in London on July 21st the best way forward for this discussion? (Results)

It’s a fascinating set of results, with 59 out of 81 (73%) respondents to the fairness question agreeing that Kingsway’s practice is either ‘a bit dodgy at best’ or ‘completely outrageous’. Interestingly, however, 21 voters (26%) think it’s a ‘perfectly acceptable’ practice — and I hope that someone from amongst those 21 will have the courage of their convictions and offer us an explanation for that. Perhaps those 21 are correct and the rest of us have misunderstood the true dynamics of the situation?

As for the meeting, only 1 person has booked the date in their diary. Whoever you are, if the meeting does go ahead, you are hereby cordially invited to contribute a guest post to let the rest of us know what transpires. The majority by far, 40 out of 54 (74%) respondents, believe that the meeting is unnecessary, although 18 voters (33%) concede that a meeting is ‘probably the only way to get a sensible response from Kingsway.’ 12 voters (22%) think that the meeting is a good idea but can’t make it.

I therefore suggest to John that his call for a meeting may not in fact be the best way for Kingsway to deal with this issue. But it is, of course, your call entirely, John: thank you for listening to your customers’ concerns.

→ 13 Comments

Posted in Christian Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kingsway: Trade Distribution Update

Posted on June 16, 2010 by | Leave a comment
Kingsway - Breaking News, 15/06/2010

Kingsway - Breaking News, 15/06/2010 (pdf, 135kb)

In an upbeat message to trade customers, Kingsway have announced a number of significant improvements to their distribution services including increased staffing levels at both ends of the ordering process. Four more staff  have been appointed in customer services and twelve extra staff are now working in warehousing, pick & pack, despatch and admin. Further developments are in the pipeline which should see a 300% increase in the picking area by the end of August 2010, leading to increased stock availability, improved accuracy and faster turnaround of orders.

The announcement makes no mention, however, of trade customers’ ongoing concerns over Kingsway’s price comparisons practice at kingswayshop.com, a source of frustration and disappointment for UK Christian retailers which has recently gained international attention. As yet it remains unclear whether or not the meeting called for by John Paculabo to address this issue (suggested date 21st July 2010) will go ahead.

The full announcement, issued yesterday, 15/06/2010, is as follows:

Kingsway: Breaking News

Dear Friends,
I am writing to you with an update on Kingsway’s Distribution.

As you know there have been many changes over the last 6 months here in Eastbourne since we have taken our distribution back in house.

We have shipped over 7000 orders to date and we acknowledge that there have been some issues with accuracy and speed.

We have been working hard to improve this and have been working with our consultants who have been responsible for the set up of distribution for Gardners Books UK and David C Cook Canada.

We have already begun to implement some of their recommendations that will improve the 3 key areas for you our customers of Speed, accuracy and availability.

The following steps have already been introduced:

  • 4 more staff dedicated to customer service and sales
  • An evening warehouse shift to allow an extra 6 hours of pick, pack and dispatch
  • 12 new warehouse and admin staff to increase the turnaround of orders.

The next stage for us is to increase the size of our picking areas in our warehouse. This is well under way and by the End of August we will have 300% more picking areas which will increase availability enormously.

I will give you a weekly update on how things are progressing here at Kingsway.

If you have any questions or queries then please contact me.

Best regards,

James Batterbee
Telephone Sales Manager

Unlike kingswayshop.com, David C Cook Canada’s consumer site, yourmusiczone.com, does not undercut retailers’ prices. For a Canadian Christian bookseller’s perspective on yourmusiczone.com see YourMusicZone Website Re-Launch.

As noted last week, carriage free shipping applies to all Kingsway UK trade orders until at least the end of June 2010. I take this opportunity to thank James Batterbee and the rest of the customer service and warehouse team for all their efforts on our behalf.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Announcements, Christian Music, Christian Suppliers, News

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

In Defence of Kingsway

Posted on June 14, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Over the last few days concerns have been raised over the ‘tone’ of discussions here with regards to Kingsway, perhaps the strongest concern being voiced by the pseudonymous Al:

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this issue, it has all the feel of a quite vituperative crusade against Kingsway, which is out of all proportion to the alleged “deceit” which is apparently being perpetrated. I noticed in one of the discussions on this issue that the word “illegal” was used (and the reference to government guidelines rather gives the impression that some “crime” is being committed).

This post seeks to address those concerns: first of all, there is no ‘crusade’ against Kingsway, vituperative or otherwise, and I apologise if that has seemed the case; second, when a supplier engages in a business tactic that undermines its trade partners, when concerns about that matter are brought to the supplier’s attention, when that supplier’s Executive Director refuses to address the issue and treats the forum where those concerns are raised with open contempt, then I think the level of debate thus far is neither unreasonable nor unwarranted and its tone remarkably restrained; third, the question of the legality of Kingsway’s price comparison practice can, I  suggest, only be determined by the courts or perhaps ruled upon by the Office of Fair Trading, but we have not yet reached that point and I for one hope that we do not (for the specific context of my earlier use of the word ‘illegal’ please see this comment).

The Government guidelines exist for two main purposes: to help traders ensure that they comply with the law; and to provide protection for consumers against traders who do not. Kingsway, I suggest, need to:

  1. Examine their price comparison practice with specific reference to those guidelines
  2. Reflect upon the impact that their practice is having upon their trade partners
  3. Decide how they wish to address the matter

Until they address the matter, the questions won’t go away.

Back to the notion of a ‘crusade against Kingsway’, however: I reiterate what I have said before: Kingsway produce some excellent product — my customers love it and I want to supply it to them, but Kingsway themselves are enticing my customers away. I say again: I do not wish to cease trading in Kingsway product.

And listen to this heart cry from Michael Gibson:

I am one of those who has voiced concern publicly more than most. I have done so out of frustration more than anything else. I honestly believe that Kingsway have misunderstood the motives behind many of the comments so let me make my position clear. I WANT TO TRADE WITH KINGSWAY! I just can’t in the current circumstances. John you may not be contributing to this any more but if you’re still reading it then get my remark…see my problem…see my heart and give me a reason to smile and buy from you. That’s what I want to do and I believe that’s what many of us want to do.

None of us here, to my knowledge, bear Kingsway any ill will. They are an important trading partner and represent some important artists who I am sure would be equally heartbroken if they knew of this ludicrous state of affairs.

So let there be no further misunderstanding: let this post stand in testimony to Kingsway’s excellence; let those who wish to sing Kingsway’s praises do so freely; and to John Paculabo I say, as I said at the end of our last email exchange:

My thoughts and prayers are with you and all your colleagues at Kingsway:
May you find the grace to work your way though this difficult time;
May God’s love surround you;
May you find peace.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Christian Music, Christian Suppliers

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Truth, Lies and CD Prices: Taking a Closer Look at Kingsway’s Price Comparisons

Posted on June 8, 2010 by | 20 Comments
BERR Pricing practices guide: guidance for traders on good practice in giving information about prices

BERR Pricing Practices Guide (pdf, 422kb)

Today I’d like to take a closer look at Kingsway’s CD price comparisons, with specific reference to the Government’s Pricing Practices Guide: guidance for traders on good practice in giving information about prices (pdf, 422kb | Google Docs ‘Quick View’). If you’re brave (or foolhardy) enough to follow my personal blog you’ll recognise the first few paragraphs, adapted from my weekend post, Kingsway: dishonest discounts or fair practice?

It seems to me that any company advertising their own products on the basis of “Our price £X, RRP £Y” when they themselves have set the RRP is operating in a grey area at best, if they’re not actually being downright dishonest. When a supposedly Christian company engages in this sort of practice, it’s a double whammy. But what does the Government guidance itself say? Whilst the guidance is not comprehensive, several sections have some bearing on this situation:

1.2 Comparisons with the trader’s own previous price

1.2.3 (a) A price used as a basis for comparison should have been your most recent price available for 28 consecutive days or more;

Kingsway, of course, are not claiming that their RRPs are a ‘previous price’ so it could be argued that the specific guidance of 1.2.3 (a) does not apply. But if the RRP has never been charged, is it not a purely fictional device? Let’s move on, then, to consider the guidance on RRPs:

1.6 Comparisons with “Recommended Retail Price” or similar

1.6.1 You should not use a recommended retail price, or similar, as a basis of comparison which is not genuine, or if it differs significantly from the price at which the product is generally sold.

1.6.2 You should not use an RRP or similar for goods that only you supply.

Given that Kingsway’s RRPs are not generally charged by Kingsway themselves but are only used in their dealings with other traders, any claim that those RRPs are genuine seems a tad shaky at best; and since Kingsway are the sole supplier of Kingsway products — even when made available through other traders — then, with the best will in the world, I’m finding it difficult to see how Kingsway’s practice can be interpreted as anything but a deception, the ‘discount’ nothing more than bait to draw people in, the RRP a hook to hang it from. The deception may not be intentional, of course: most speeding motorists don’t intend to break the speed limit either — my concern here is not with intentions but consequences.

Let’s examine a specific example: backtrack for a moment to section 1.3:

1.3 Introductory offers, after-sale or after-promotion prices

1.3.3 You should not indicate an after-sale or after-promotion price if you do not intend to continue to offer identical products at that price for a reasonable time. What is reasonable will depend on the circumstances. In general terms a period of at least 28 consecutive days in the 3 months after the end of the offer period or after the offer stocks run out may in many circumstances be reasonable…

Now consider the following before and after screenshots of the new ‘Very Best of Graham Kendrick’ album:

The Very Best of Graham Kendrick: Pre-order price £10.99 compared to RRP £14.99

Before: The Very Best of Graham Kendrick - Pre-order price £10.99 v/s RRP £14.99

Customers were invited to ‘pre-order’ at £10.99 on the basis of a 27% saving against the RRP of £14.99. But afterwards, now that the album is available, we find this:

The Very Best of Graham Kendrick: Kingsway price £11.99, Kingsway RRP £14.99

After: The Very Best of Graham Kendrick: Kingsway price £11.99 v/s Kingsway RRP £14.99

The ‘pre-order’ offer period is over but the actual price now being charged by Kingsway is only £11.99: customers who thought they’d be saving £4.00 by placing a ‘pre-order’ have in fact only saved £1.00.

Perhaps Kingsway intended to charge the so-called RRP but forgot? Only Kingsway themselves can answer that question, of course, but the guidance notes are not about intentions: they are about practice, designed to protect consumers from unfair trading activities as set out at the beginning of the guidance notes:

1.1 Price comparisons generally

1.1.1 The CPRs [Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008] prohibit traders from giving false or misleading information, or omitting material information, about price or the manner of calculation of the price for a product, where this causes or is likely to cause the average consumer to take a transactional decision he would not otherwise have taken. If you choose to make price comparisons, you should therefore be able to justify them, and to show that any claims you make are accurate and valid – in particular, that any price advantage claimed is real.

Would “the average consumer” have taken the “transactional decision” to ‘pre-order’ this album had they known that the price was only going to rise by £1.00 rather than by £4.00? Only those who made that decision can answer that question for certain, but it seems fair to say that the price advantage claimed was not real.

So now we watch this space: You Have Shown Us: Songs of Justice, Mercy and Humility: Pre-order price, £9.99; RRP, £12.99:

You Have Shown Us: Songs of Justice, Mercy and Humility: Pre-order price, £9.99; RRP, £12.99

You Have Shown Us - Songs of Justice, Mercy and Humility - Pre-order price, £9.99; RRP, £12.99

Will customers placing ‘pre-orders’ for this item really save £3.00, 23% off the advertised RRP? Or will the price simply go up by £1.00 as per the Kendrick album? Will Kingsway rise to the Micah Challenge’s call for trade justice in their own business practices? Or will John Paculabo attempt to sidestep Micah’s challenge as he did when I cited Amos?

My updated message to Kingsway is this:

Please stop misleading your personal customers and undermining your retail partners with your dishonest discounts and fictionalised RRPs. You make a beautiful noise — but that noise is no more than a resounding gong, a clanging cymbal if you build it upon dishonourable or deceptive business practices.

The beauty of your worship recordings is marred by your behaviour — as Amos said so long ago, “Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Don’t just record songs about justice: practice it!

→ 20 Comments

Posted in Christian Music

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Weekend Knockabout: The Ultimate Christian Product Awards

Posted on June 5, 2010 by | 24 Comments

Roll up, roll up now ladies and gentlemen! Gather round now, please, for this weekend’s extravaganza: spring has sprung, summer is sizzling and it’s time for some marketing madness as we bring you [cue trumpet fanfare and roll of drums] The Ultimate Christian Product Awards!

Nick Page, eat your heart out: your writing career with HarperCollins is finished. There’s nothing left to write now. Vicky Beeching, your days as a worship leader are over: the best that can ever be has already been done. HarperCollins, Kingsway: you can both close down now. You have fought the fight, you have run the race: there are no more Christian books to publish, no more worship albums to produce. John Paculabo, you can relax at last: no one cares about your prices anymore because there’s only one product to sell!

As for us, as Christian retailers, we can sweep the shelves clear! Sweep them clear, I say, and fill them with these, The Ultimate Christian Products! Let’s go further: with only two products worthy of shelf space beside the Bible, let’s replace ourselves with instant-burn digital download POD vending machines: the only things to quibble over are the prices, but with the only staff overheads being the machine tenders’ wages, that shouldn’t be a problem. Amazon: you are history.

So fast forward to the Awards Ceremony, my friends: we have two entrants, one book and one CD:

Collins Bible Companion: The only book you need beside the Bible

Collins Bible Companion - The only book you need beside the Bible
The Best Hymns Album in the World ... Ever

The Best Hymns Album in the World ... Ever

But now, behold, a mystery!! Both products have been around for a while: the Collins “Only book you need besides the Bible” Companion came out in October last year; and Kingsway’s Best Hymns Album in the World… Ever was released in March this year — yet both publishers are still producing more stuff!

Could it be they don’t believe their own marketing spin? Could it really be nothing but hype?? No, no, my friends: this is reality!

And do we have a winner in this two-horse race? Indeed we do, ladies and gentlemen, indeed we do — and in time honoured tradition I can now announce the results. In no particular order, then:

HarperCollins, I am so sorry: you are out of the competition. Please step aside. I am so sorry: you’ve given us a magnificent product but it hasn’t quite made the grade. The judges love you, the audience at home love you — no, please, don’t cry. Step over there, please, my darlings. Thank you, thank you so much.

And so we come to the winner of this weekend’s show, and that winner is … [flashing lights, fireworks, orchestra in full swing] … patience, now, please ladies and gentlemen: the winner is Kingsway!!

Congratulations, my dears. Yes, you have won. Yes, it’s true, it’s really true: the Ultimate Christian Product award goes to Kingsway — but not for the Best Hymns Album in the World… Ever! No, for  a surprise new entry as the rolling banner that tempts us with Best Hymns Album in the World… Ever rolls around again to offer us:

Kingsway: You Have Shown Us: Songs of Mercy, Justice & Humility

Kingsway: You Have Shown Us: Songs of Mercy, Justice & Humility

Yes! Songs of Justice, Mercy and Humility! Yes, that’s it, take a bow. Yes, this award is really yours. Stand tall now, with pride! Stand tall!!

But wait, there’s more! Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to let you know that not only have Kingsway won the UCP award but they also want to share the proceeds of their marketing madness with you by offering all their own products at below their own RRPs!

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen: visit kingswayshop.com today and you can buy the Best Hymns Album in the World… Ever at Kingsway price, £12.99; Kingsway RRP, £16.99 and ‘pre-order’ You Have Shown Us: Songs of Justice, Mercy and Humility at Kingsway price, £9.99; Kingsway RRP, £12.99. That’s both albums, the winner and the runner up, for Kingsway price, £22.98, Kingsway RRP, £29.98: you save and Kingsway wins! Or is it the other way around? I truly don’t know.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you and goodnight. Goodnight from all of us at the Ultimate Christian Product Awards ceremony. Enjoy your evening. Thank you. Goodnight.

→ 24 Comments

Posted in Book Trade Ramblings, Knockabout

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Problems with Kingsway cited as Acorn Direct prepares to return to UK mainland

Posted on June 1, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Acorn Direct, the online Christian music store which moved to Guernsey six years ago to take advantage of the island’s VAT exemption, have announced that they are returning to the UK mainland “for a variety of reasons” but specifically in order to counter delays experienced in their dealings with Kingsway:

[Moving back to England] will speed up deliveries by several days and with the delays currently being experienced by Kingsway Music we need all the extra time we can get. There will be a few new changes to our website as and when time permits but other than that we hope to offer you the same friendly service, the same post free prices and all the latest news in Christian music.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in News

Tagged , ,

Kingsway Polls: Because the questions won’t go away…

Posted on May 31, 2010 by | 24 Comments

Over the last few weeks we’ve been having a lively discussion about Kingsway’s practice of offering “discounts” at kingswayshop.com by comparing their own prices to their own RRPs, typified in the following screenshot of the new Very Best of Graham Kendrick album:
Read on and cast your vote: Poll 1: Is Kingsway’s practice of comparing their own prices to their own RRPs in order to present things at a discount fair? and Poll 2: Is a meeting in London on July 21st the best way forward for this discussion?

→ 24 Comments

Posted in Christian Music

Tagged , , , , , ,

Kingsway: John Paculabo Responds

Posted on May 28, 2010 by | 34 Comments

My thanks to John Paculabo of Kingsway for taking time out of his busy schedule to respond to some of the concerns that have been raised in recent posts here and in the letters section of Christian Marketplace over the last three issues (April | May | June).

Since John’s comment is fairly long, I’ll take it section by section:

Dear Bloggers,

I have been cautious with regards to contributing to this site again, as some of the comments I have seen here over recent months have been questionable to say the least. That Phil Groom feels that for the sake of transparency it is acceptable to create a blog that has no editorial checks is in my view dangerous as it allows those who wish to simply vent, name call, and at times pour abuse on individuals a free platform to do so with impunity.

I realize that Kingsway is a significant provider and throughout our history have never wanted to be offensive, repugnant, or competitive with a trade that we hope we have faithfully served for over 50 years. It is with dismay that I see on parts of the blog comments such as ‘Kingsway is a bully’, and quotes such as ‘hopefully Kingsway have not sunken that low yet’  and ‘As blatantly immoral as Kingsway’ both by Phil Groom suggesting that what we do is immoral and implying while we may have sunk low, not that low at least not Yet!

It appears to me that there are times when this blog serves the purpose of telling folks what to be afraid of, and fingering who’s to blame for it, which in turn opens the floodgates for suggestions as to what the real intentions may be, I have to say that speculation, accusation and inflammatory remarks are seldom helpful.

John, I’m glad that you overcame your reluctance and have seen fit to engage with us in open conversation. I’m not sure where you got the idea that this blog has no editorial checks, however: please be assured that it is checked and monitored quite rigorously and inappropriate comments are moderated and either countered or removed as necessary. In particular, I do not provide a platform for contributors “to simply vent, name call, and at times pour abuse on individuals” (and, incidentally, I find it offensive that you choose to make such an allegation). I invite you to read my Comments Policy for clarification.

I am encouraged by your dismay to learn that some of your customers perceive Kingsway to be a bully, and I hope that you will take the opportunity to discuss things with your staff to find out what has caused this perception and to address it. I know from private conversation as well as from comments left here that some of your customers fear the consequences of daring to speak out about what they regard as your inequitable business practices. Part of my aim with this blog is to provide a venue where people can speak freely, without intimidation or fear of reprisals, hence my decision to allow pseudonymous comments.

So, John, this blog does not exist to facilitate fear but to offer freedom, it does not exist to lay blame or to open those floodgates you fear but to open the door to informed dialogue — and I have to say that whilst I very much welcome your participation, I find your speculations about my intentions and your running this forum down singularly unhelpful.

I am more than willing to address the issues raised in the blog in recent weeks with regards to Kingsway, pricing, internet etc, and I am more than willing to share with you our aspirations and many other issues and their possible impact including a generation that expects; no demands that music is free!

However I am not willing to commit discussion to a blog where those with any axe to grind can snipe from the cover of their office, but face to face is different. I am more than happy to meet in London or anywhere else for that matter at a suitable location, and with an independent chairman. (Board meetings and Charity work means that I would not be available until the middle of July), so let’s set a date of Wednesday July 21st at 11am, venue to be decided.

I am delighted that you are willing to address the issues and I look forward to learning more of your aspirations — and I once again extend my invitation to you to contribute a guest post outlining your hopes and dreams and their possible impact. As a point of correction, however, whilst there may be some who expect music to be free, the vast majority (especially in our sector of the marketplace) still expect to pay for it: witness the success of Apple’s iTunes store, amongst others. Musicians and singers deserve to be paid and let us not take any steps to undermine their work!

To reiterate: this blog does not exist for “those with any axe to grind [to] snipe from the cover of their office” — and any who have attempted to highjack it for such purposes have been politely but firmly rebuffed, and will continue to receive short shrift.

Your offer of a face to face meeting is commendable and appreciated: thank you. The problem with that, however, has been highlighted by Melanie Carroll…

Thanks for your response but I am not able to make London on the 21st July, making London is generally very difficult due to both cost & time but on days other than monday or tuesday it is pretty much an impossibility due to staffing, and getting there & to a venue by 11am next to impossible too – however I would be more than happy to meet with you in Lincoln.

… and as Melanie has also pointed out, you have a team of on the road reps. May I suggest that you authorise and empower them to address the concerns raised? Whilst is would be wonderful if you could visit every shop yourself in person, your situation is a bit like that of Moses, who wore himself out with attempting to deal with all the people’s problems by himself: I’m sure you’re familiar with the story.

The only statement I am willing to make on this blog is that the internet exists, there is a dedicated community of people, some presumably who live miles from a Christian bookshop who either choose to, or have no alternative but to purchase a wide range of resources this way.

The general perception is that the internet is cheaper we’re not first into this market, we’ve not pioneered it, we’ve not driven prices down, neither are we the lowest price, but like it or not the expectation is that it is cheaper, that’s why ALL OF US from time to time use it for holidays, shopping, air fares etc instead of those local retailers who can supply those services.

We do not wish to take business from Christian bookshops; we’ve worked with the trade for many decades have many friends, and there are many who support us.

In the midst of the most difficult transition in our history we are still trying to introduce a partnership scheme with no risk to the trade.  There are so many reasons why we want a healthy trade, but we don’t control the buying habits of the public, or where and how they want to purchase. Our on-line prices are directed toward the ON-LINE community, the community that already exists and purchase on-line.

Have we made mistakes in this area ….probably, but not purposefully or maliciously, and none of our on-line advertising is intended to nor do we want to take business from Christian stores, it is targeted as I have said instead at those who shop this way already, and are buying resources from a number of established on-line suppliers.

John, I’m sorry to have to point out what should be blindingly obvious, but there is no separate online shopping community. The people who shop in bricks and mortar outlets are the very same people who shop online — “all of us”, as you yourself point out — and your online shop is in no way directed or targeted towards a separate online community.

So whilst you may say that you “do not wish to take business from Christian bookshops” the simple fact remains that you are doing so: your “discounting” of your own prices against your own RRPs — which I do regard as an immoral practice, especially when you do this to new titles that have never been on sale at your so-called RRPs — is undermining our trade and taking away those who would have been our customers. As per Michael Gibson’s letter in June’s Christian Marketplace: actions speak louder than words.

I am pleased that you acknowledge the possibility of having made mistakes in this area: may I encourage you to take this opportunity to rectify them?

You rightly say that the “general perception is that the internet is cheaper” and point out that you did not pioneer this — but do you really need to feed that perception? My perception — which I think you’ll find is shared by many in this trade of ours — is that you are creating artificially inflated RRPs in order to offer apparent discounts. That may not be your intention — but it is the impression you are giving.

I’ll refrain from commenting on your removal of stock from STL’s warehouse last year: that’s part of another discussion, which I’m happy to address separately if others wish to pursue it further.

Once again, then, John: I invite you to contribute a guest post outlining your vision, your goals and ambitions, here, in a venue that is open to all, regardless of geographic location and time of day. If you prefer to talk rather than write, please feel free to record a video and I’ll gladly post that.

Thank you.

→ 34 Comments

Posted in Book Trade Ramblings

Tagged , , , , ,