"USA Today Exploits Airport Customers"

Friday, November 30, 2007

USA Today Exploits Airport Customers         
BY PAULINE ARMBRUST    
Airport Revenue News

    
Beginning December 17th, the cover price of a single copy of USA Today will
be hiked up 33% to $1-but only in airport stores. Several retailers as well
as airport managers have expressed their disapproval of the price hike,
particularly in light of the strident efforts made over the years to
implement and promote street pricing.

In a letter sent to airport retailers the company did not give a reason for
its decision but one retailer stated, "USA Today's reason for this
airport-only price increase was based on sales information from their last
retail increase, which indicated the only market that did not have a sales
decrease was the airport market. The retailer further states that the
increase, "will unfairly gouge the traveling public, create an impression of
taking advantage of a captured customer, and cause much distress to our
hourly sales associates who will feel the brunt of the customer
dissatisfaction."

Some property managers have said they will post signs disclaiming
responsibility for the price increase. Another said it will require the
price to stay at 75 cents regardless.

"This is unprecedented," says a former newspaper distributor. "If they [USA
Today] picked just the airport environment to hike the price that is
troublesome. If it was a geographical decision because the location is
farther outside their zones, then they have an argument. But they have
singled out airports as a business unit so they're going to have a big fight
on their hands." 

More to follow on this breaking story.


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