The recent announcement that Fairfax Media is to cease full copy returns in the Central Coast and Wollongong regions appears to us to be a cost shifting exercise. Up to the point of terminating full copy returns, the transport cost associated with full copy returns has been at Fairfax Media’s expense. The proposal that Newsagents post mastheads to Fairfax Media and dispose of the rest of the copy shifts the expense to Newsagents. Newsagents will face a labour, postage and stationery expense and also face the expense of disposing of the unsold copies (minus mastheads).
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