The situation you raise with our free seeds is not one that I’m particularly happy about either. We don’t want any of our readers to be disappointed, so would much prefer it if every single reader received exactly the same free gifts. However I’m afraid the strategy is a commercial decision that is all to do with our listings in supermarkets. Like many other products, the bulk of our sales come from supermarkets these days, as opposed to independent newsagents in the past, and being ‘delisted’ from a supermarket’s shelves would soon lead to our demise. In order to help keep Garden News in each supermarket’s range they demand ‘exclusive’ promotions and that’s why on some weeks, supermarket issues carry extra seeds.
As I said, it’s not ideal and certainly not our choice, so I can quite understand why you feel short-changed, although that said, subscribers on our ‘£1 an issue’ deal do get the benefit of a subscription that is very nearly half price compared to buying it in the shops.
Thank you for getting in touch and please accept my apologies for your disappointment. We do appreciate all feedback, good and bad, and will continue raising concerns about the free seeds with our publishers, as I already do.
Kind regards,
Vicky
This is another reply from my reply
We do agree, and I have sent on your email to our marketing team as an example of the feedback we get about supermarkets getting more seeds! It really is pressure from the supermarkets, who want us to provide something ‘exclusive’ to win their shelf space in stores. Otherwise, they will give it to a competing gardening magazine, so we have keep up unfortunately!
It’s definitely something we’re looking into for this year though, and hopefully we can work something out.
I did question them and said please reply this is what I wrote
I see that in shops there were two packs of free seeds (sunflowers) with this weeks mag, I feel that this is not fair on subscribers only having the one pack of free seeds. Why do we miss out on them? why do we miss out on the best deal when we are loyal customers?
I have been reading a thread on the gardeners world website forums. It has been pointed out that subscribers do not get as many free gifts of seed, as non subscribers. I think this is an appalling way to treat loyal subscribers. I had been considering taking out a subscription but I certainly will not be doing so now. There are other magazines and online sources in which I could obtain similar gardening news and information. I think you should reconsider this policy.
I did get a reply. I'm normally alerted to emails for work (far too often). But it was buried in my spam folder, so I was not notified. My reply was the same as yours.
I do understand the need for something extra so they can get there shelf space as so many other gardening mags offer lots of seeds, I suggested a different pack of seeds so the supermarkets get exclusive deals still, for subscribers on the time that they have two packs for the non subscribers
I do enjoy having my weekly mag and free seeds are a bonus and I will try to sow as many seeds as I can from this years and last years free seeds
I have not subscribed. I like that it's weekly. A once a month edition is along time between editions. I go shopping every week so it's nice to be able to pick up a new magazine to read at the same time. My husband subscribed to classic rock magazine for years. Several times it was delivered with the free CD stolen. One time we only had the plastic envelope with our address on it delivered. Someone (presumably at royal mail) had sliced it open and stolen the magazine and CD. Another reason why I'm wary of subscribing.
I have boxes of free seed. I really should get them sown. I like to have the free seeds kicking around. My husband works with people with learning disabilities. Sometimes they visit my shed. It's great that they can look through the seeds and pick what they want to sow. Then they can take a pot home with them. I especially like to give pea plants because they grow so quickly. I did hear from the mother of one that they were measuring their plant every day. Makes me smile to think about it.
I find that there are almost none of the packets are varieties that I would actually take the trouble to grow especially as there are lots of sunflowers, I don't know anyone either at the gardening club or on our allotments who bother with sunflowers!
My pal gives me most of his, I take the lot to sell at the garden club (10p per packet) for club funds and there are very few takers, so they are lying in a box at home .
I am still waiting for the wow factor from one of them!
Ps I did sow Penstemons last year and they are nifty little plants so far!
Posts
Perki - what a cheek again lets all email and complain, I will be
email : [email protected]
I have gone for the offer from Sarah Raven on page 14 with the sunflower seeds
Thanks Gardengirl. I just sent an email.
This is the reply I got
Thank you for your email.
The situation you raise with our free seeds is not one that I’m particularly happy about either. We don’t want any of our readers to be disappointed, so would much prefer it if every single reader received exactly the same free gifts. However I’m afraid the strategy is a commercial decision that is all to do with our listings in supermarkets. Like many other products, the bulk of our sales come from supermarkets these days, as opposed to independent newsagents in the past, and being ‘delisted’ from a supermarket’s shelves would soon lead to our demise. In order to help keep Garden News in each supermarket’s range they demand ‘exclusive’ promotions and that’s why on some weeks, supermarket issues carry extra seeds.
As I said, it’s not ideal and certainly not our choice, so I can quite understand why you feel short-changed, although that said, subscribers on our ‘£1 an issue’ deal do get the benefit of a subscription that is very nearly half price compared to buying it in the shops.
Thank you for getting in touch and please accept my apologies for your disappointment. We do appreciate all feedback, good and bad, and will continue raising concerns about the free seeds with our publishers, as I already do.
Kind regards,
Vicky
This is another reply from my reply
We do agree, and I have sent on your email to our marketing team as an example of the feedback we get about supermarkets getting more seeds! It really is pressure from the supermarkets, who want us to provide something ‘exclusive’ to win their shelf space in stores. Otherwise, they will give it to a competing gardening magazine, so we have keep up unfortunately!
It’s definitely something we’re looking into for this year though, and hopefully we can work something out.
that interesting GG, no surprise supermarkets using bully tactics on smaller businesses.
I've not had a reply yet.
I did question them and said please reply this is what I wrote
I see that in shops there were two packs of free seeds (sunflowers) with this weeks mag, I feel that this is not fair on subscribers only having the one pack of free seeds. Why do we miss out on them? why do we miss out on the best deal when we are loyal customers?
Lunaria email again ask for a reply
I wrote:
I have been reading a thread on the gardeners world website forums. It has been pointed out that subscribers do not get as many free gifts of seed, as non subscribers. I think this is an appalling way to treat loyal subscribers. I had been considering taking out a subscription but I certainly will not be doing so now. There are other magazines and online sources in which I could obtain similar gardening news and information. I think you should reconsider this policy.
I did get a reply. I'm normally alerted to emails for work (far too often). But it was buried in my spam folder, so I was not notified. My reply was the same as yours.
Glad you got a reply
I do understand the need for something extra so they can get there shelf space as so many other gardening mags offer lots of seeds, I suggested a different pack of seeds so the supermarkets get exclusive deals still, for subscribers on the time that they have two packs for the non subscribers
I do enjoy having my weekly mag and free seeds are a bonus and I will try to sow as many seeds as I can from this years and last years free seeds
I have not subscribed. I like that it's weekly. A once a month edition is along time between editions. I go shopping every week so it's nice to be able to pick up a new magazine to read at the same time. My husband subscribed to classic rock magazine for years. Several times it was delivered with the free CD stolen. One time we only had the plastic envelope with our address on it delivered. Someone (presumably at royal mail) had sliced it open and stolen the magazine and CD. Another reason why I'm wary of subscribing.
I have boxes of free seed. I really should get them sown. I like to have the free seeds kicking around. My husband works with people with learning disabilities. Sometimes they visit my shed. It's great that they can look through the seeds and pick what they want to sow. Then they can take a pot home with them. I especially like to give pea plants because they grow so quickly. I did hear from the mother of one that they were measuring their plant every day. Makes me smile to think about it.
Re free seeds, not only from GN but others.
I find that there are almost none of the packets are varieties that I would actually take the trouble to grow especially as there are lots of sunflowers, I don't know anyone either at the gardening club or on our allotments who bother with sunflowers!
My pal gives me most of his, I take the lot to sell at the garden club (10p per packet) for club funds and there are very few takers, so they are lying in a box at home .
I am still waiting for the wow factor from one of them!
Ps I did sow Penstemons last year and they are nifty little plants so far!