The Big Issue
Nov. 12th, 2009 03:11 pmI'm pretty sure that the Big Issue exists to provide gainful employment to tenuously housed and homeless people who would otherwise be reduced to begging, theft or starvation. If so, why are the stuffed suits at the Edinburgh office hassling my local vendor to increase his turnover by 200%? Further to this, why are they threatening to take his pitch off him?
Next question: Why are they producing three Christmas issues at an inflated price of £2?
The usual cover price is £1.50, 75p for the office and 75p for the vendor. The Christmas issues are £2, £1 for the office and £1 for the vendor. However, most people tip the vendor the extra 50p and call it £2 anyway. The upshot is that vendors will lose a substantial chunk of their income over the Christmas issues, unless customers continue to tip above the odds. Or, as in my case, just give him two quid and decline the magazine, which renders the whole process essentially pointless.
Next question: Why are they producing three Christmas issues at an inflated price of £2?
The usual cover price is £1.50, 75p for the office and 75p for the vendor. The Christmas issues are £2, £1 for the office and £1 for the vendor. However, most people tip the vendor the extra 50p and call it £2 anyway. The upshot is that vendors will lose a substantial chunk of their income over the Christmas issues, unless customers continue to tip above the odds. Or, as in my case, just give him two quid and decline the magazine, which renders the whole process essentially pointless.