YourNewsagent.com.au Frequently Asked Questions
Since the launch of YourNewsagent.com.au we have had many questions posed by newsagents and numerous discussions with newsagents seeking further information. The following provides answers to the most frequently asked questions.
A number of questions and answers are listed under each of the following category headings. Questions and answers may be viewed by clicking on any of the category headings.
If you are unable to find the answers to your questions, or you require further information, please contact the YourNewsagent.com.au Help Desk.
Phone: (03) 8525 6002 email: helpdesk@yournewsagent.com.au
1. Ownership, control & management of YourNewsagent.com.au
2. Benefits of being part of YourNewsagent.com.au
3. Subscription fees to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au
4. Making changes and posting messages on your page
5. Adding Publications & Services that are not listed
6. How to Apply to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au
7. Viewing the live site
8. Customer Account Payments
9. Stops / Starts function
10. Advantages for newsagents with an existing website
11. How customers will find your page on YourNewsagent.com.au
12. Advertisements on YourNewsagent.com.au
13. Retail Only Newsagents
14. Distribution Only Newsagents
15. Interface with newsagents' point of sale systems
16. Adding additional localities and postcodes to improve search results
17. Accessing your newsagency admin area
1. Ownership, control & management of YourNewsagent.com.au
Who owns YourNewsagent.com.au?
YourNewsagent.com.au is owned by VANA in association with the ANF.
Why is YourNewsagent.com.au owned by the industry associations?
Ownership by the industry associations allows for control by the industry. Ownership and control has been structured in such a way in order to avoid mistakes of similar initiatives in the past.
Who manages YourNewsagent.com.au?
New-Web Trading Pty Ltd is contracted by VANA to manage YourNewsagent.com.au including the operation of the YourNewsagent.com.au Help Desk.
What are the benefits of YourNewsagent.com.au for the industry?
The industry has a retail network in place and a distribution network in place and YourNewsagent.com.au now provides for an online presence to communicate and deal with customers in an online environment. YourNewsagent.com.au offers the newsagency network to customers as it has never been offered before, combining the benefits of the strong newsagency network with the accessibility of the online world. Being the online focal point for the industry, YourNewsagent.com.au will be supported by key industry suppliers and publishers with many opportunities to be explored to enhance the newsagency network through all that an online presence offers.
2. Benefits of being part of YourNewsagent.com.au
What are the benefits of YourNewsagent.com.au for my business?
YourNewsagent.com.au offers a cost effective way for you to communicate and deal with your customers in the online environment. Becoming part of YourNewsagent.com.au will allow you to display your business to new and existing customers twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Customers will be able to: find information about the products and services you offer; view your special promotions and community notice board; pay their customer account online; arrange to stop / start newspaper deliveries; and readily find your location and contact details. YourNewsagent.com.au will be supported by key industry suppliers and publishers. YourNewsagent.com.au also provides you with access to the Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility offering a cost effective and secure means to accept payments online.
3. Subscription fees to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au
What is the annual subscription fee?
The annual subscription fee to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au is $295.
Click here for more information about annual subscriptions
What are the subscription fees for multiple store newsagents?
For newsagents with multiple stores the subscription fees are $295.00 plus $73.75 for each additional store.
Click here for more information about annual subscriptions
4. Making changes and posting messages on your page
How can changes be made to my page?
You may use your username and password to access your administration area to make changes to your page.
Will there be additional costs involved in making changes?
There will be no charges for any changes made within the current design and content of the site in that you are able to directly manage changes for services etc through your administration area. If there are new logos or publications to be added they will be added to the lists on request and newsagents will then be able to add these to their pages.
Am I able to post messages regarding special promotions etc?
Within your administration area you are able to place information about promotions, specials and important notices (eg: late newspaper deliveries) Notices placed by you will be displayed in the "Alerts" and "Your community" sections of your page.
Will there be further development of YourNewsagent.com.au?
There may be further development of additional functions and features (eg: e-commerce functions) that may be developed to become part of YourNewsagent.com.au and may be offered as additional options and possibly with a different subscription fee structure.
5. Adding Publications & Services that are not listed
How can I add a publication I deliver that is not listed?
You may request additional publications to be listed during the sign up steps or you may contact the YourNewsagent.com.au Help Desk to request any additions required.
How can I add Services that are not listed?
You may request additional services to be listed during the sign up steps or you may contact the YourNewsagent.com.au Help Desk to request any additions required.
6. How to Apply to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au
How can I Apply to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au?
Follow the steps on the application page. If you need any assistance contact the YourNewsagent.com.au Help Desk.
7. Viewing the live site
How can I see YourNewsagent.com.au in operation?
YourNewsagent.com.au is now live and may be viewed by visiting YourNewsagent.com.au.
8. Customer Account Payments
What are the customer account payment options available?
There are two payment methods available for you to accept payments online, you may choose either or both.
Payment Method 1 - Internet Banking
This option allows for customers to make a payment using their internet banking service and then to notify you that a payment has been made, making it easy for you to track customer payments made into your bank account. An example may be viewed by visiting the payments page on the Mountain View News site
Payment Method 2 - Credit Card
This option allows for customers to make secure credit card payments using your Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility. An example may be viewed by visiting the payments page on the Avoca Newsagency site
Both Payment Methods
For an example of both payment methods being accepted visit the payments page on the Werribee Authorised News site
How do I arrange to accept customer account payments on my site?
There are two payment methods available for you to accept payments online, you may choose either or both.
Payment Method 1 - Internet Banking
Internet banking customer payments may be set up using any bank account you wish to nominate for customers to make internet banking payments into. This is simple to set up, you only need to notify the YourNewsagent Help Desk of the Account Name, BSB and account number of the bank account you wish payments to be made to. The function will be activated within one business day of receiving your request.
Payment Method 2 - Credit Card
To accept credit card payments you need to establish a Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility. This facility has been negotiated by YourNewsagent.com.au to give you the best possible option to accept credit card payments online. This function will be activated within one week of Suncorp receiving your completed application forms.
The following documents are required to establish the online credit card payment facility.
1 Quotation for Merchant Facilities - Suncorp Virtual POS
• Outlines the Suncorp offer & fees.
2 Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Application
• Required to be completed in order to establish the facility to accept credit card payments online.
• Technical contact details on page 1 and all of pages 3 & 4 may be marked “As for YourNewsagent.com.au”
• For assistance contact Donna Clarke of Suncorp on 0417 790 496 or the YourNewsagent Help Desk
3 Suncorp Account Application
• Required to be completed unless you have an existing Suncorp business account you wish to use.
• This establishes a Suncorp bank account into which credit card payments are paid to and is required in order to avoid bank transfer fees that would otherwise be incurred.
• For assistance contact Donna Clarke of Suncorp on 0417 790 496
Completed forms should be faxed to - Fax: (07) 5579 2177 Attention: Donna Clarke
What are the benefits of the Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility?
The Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility allows a cost effective means for newsagents to accept payments online. Payments are completed with banking level security. Payments are credited to your account on the following calendar day.
For further information visit the Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility information page.
What are the costs associated with the Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility?
There is a Suncorp account establishment fee of $50 plus a transaction fee of 1.25%. A minimum monthly transaction fee of $20 per month is being waived by Suncorp for the first 12 months.
For further information visit the Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility information page.
What if I do not need to receive online payments?
You will not be required to establish a Suncorp account and the account payments function is able to be hidden on your page on YourNewsagent.com.au. If the account payments option is not applicable to your business and is still displayed on your page you should contact us and we are able to have this function removed from your page.
Why are the transaction charges different to my store charges?
Online transaction fees are typically higher than over the counter fees. The Suncorp offer incorporated in YourNewsagent.com.au has been negotiated in order to provide what is a very good offer in relation to accepting online payments.
For further information visit the Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility information page.
How will I be notified of account payments made online?
You will be notified by e-mail of all account payments that are made online. Information regarding the account payments may also be viewed within your administration area.
9. Stops / Starts function
How will I be notified of stops /starts delivery requests made online?
You will be notified by e-mail of all stops /starts delivery requests that are made online. Information regarding the requests may also be viewed within your administration area.
What is the timeframe required of customers for stops / starts requests?
Customers will be advised that at least 24 hours notice is required for all stops / starts requests.
10. Advantages for newsagents with an existing website
I already have a website why should I also be part of YourNewsagent.com.au?
Being part of YourNewsagent.com.au will display your business through customer searches for products and services. YourNewsagent.com.au will include support from publishers and suppliers that may not be possible for you to arrange directly for your individual website. YourNewsagent.com.au also provides you with access to the Suncorp Virtual POS Merchant Facility offering a cost effective and secure means to accept payments online. Newsagents with existing websites may apply to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au with a special offer of a free listing from 1st July to 31st December 2008.
11. How customers will find your page on YourNewsagent.com.au
How will customers find my page on YourNewsagent.com.au?
Customers visiting YourNewsagent.com.au will be able to easily find your page using simple to use search features. Customers will be able to add your page to their favourites list in order to be able to return to it easily. This same link (eg: www.yournewsagent.com.au/abcnewsagency) will be able to be used to direct customers directly to your page.
What support material will be available to assist me to direct customers to my page on YourNewsagent.com.au?
YourNewsagent.com.au will provide templates for you to use when sending customer accounts or for general promotions to help you to promote your page on YourNewsagent.com.au Templates will be available for you to use for pre-printing your customer accounts or to produce flyers to include with your customer accounts.
12. Advertisements on YourNewsagent.com.au
What are the benefits of advertisements appearing on YourNewsagent.com.au?
Advertising will be focused on suppliers and publishers promoting products and services that are available throughout the newsagency network. Special exclusive offers may be available to those who are part of YourNewsagent.com.au. Advertising spaces allow for specific state based advertising and promotions.
Who will benefit from advertising revenue?
The aim is for newsagents who are part of YourNewsagent.com.au to gain the benefits of advertising revenue by having the revenue used to support the operations and further development of YourNewsagent.com.au.
13. Retail Only Newsagents
What if I do not need the stops / starts functions?
The stops / starts function is able to be hidden on your page on YourNewsagent.com.au.
What if I do not need to accept online payments?
The account payments function is able to be hidden on your page on YourNewsagent.com.au.
14. Distribution Only Newsagents
How will my page be displayed to reflect the needs of a distribution only newsagent?
For distribution only newsagents you will be able to choose to have a combined "services" and "alerts" section to be displayed on your main page. This will allow you to include information about delivery areas and urgent notices (eg: late deliveries) directly on your main page.
What if I do not wish to display my business address?
Your business address will be able to be hidden on your page on YourNewsagent.com.au.
How will customers be able to find my page when searching using localities, postcodes etc?
You will be able to list the various localities and postcodes of your delivery area in order for your business to appear in search results.
15. Interface with newsagents' point of sale systems
Can payments and stops / starts be automatically entered into newsagents' point of sale systems?
At this stage the payments and stops / starts data will not be able to be automatically processed into the newsagents' point of sale systems. This functionality is allowed for within the development of YourNewsagent.com.au however it will be reliant on software providers such as Tower Systems & POS Systems providing for this within their programs before it could be functional.
16. Adding additional localities and postcodes to improve search results
How can I arrange to appear in search results for localities and postcodes other than my trading address?
You are able to request additional localities and postcodes for your newsagency to appear in search results for postcodes and localities other than your trading address. To have relevant localities and postcodes added please contact us with a list of the relevent localities and postcodes.
Having additional localities and postcodes added is particularly important for distribution newsagents who may deliver to several localities. Customers will likely search for your listing using their own postcode or locality and unless you advise us to add these postcodes you will not appear in their search results.
For retail newsagents, if your retail location is on the border of two suburbs you should advise us to add the additional suburb and postcode.
Another situation may be if you are part of a regional centre but have a different postcode to that of the regional centre identity. (eg: Booval Newsagency postcode: 4304 is within greater Ipswich, by adding the Ipswich locality and postcode 4305 Booval Newsagency now appears in the search results for Ipswich.
17. Accessing your newsagency admin area
How do I access my newsagency admin area?
There is a "Newsagent login" link on the top right corner of YourNewsagent.com.au for you to access your admin area, you will require your username and password. You should have received a username and password to access your admin area by e-mail when you signed up to be part of YourNewsagent.com.au. If you do not have this please contact us and we will provide these for you. You should use your username and password to access your admin area and become familiar with the various functions available to you.