Video Box Office negotiations
Video Box Office negotiations

On this day, significant labour strikes erupted across multiple industries in Belgium, triggered by the controversial dismissal of magistrate Jean-Marc Connerotte by the Supreme Court.

I was also negotiating with Video Box Office regarding their terms and with Mr Gilbert about bread supplies

The strikes represented a widespread expression of professional and public dissatisfaction with the judicial system's internal procedures and perceived injustices.

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The Belgian strikes represented a widespread expression of professional and public dissatisfaction with the judicial system's internal procedures and perceived injustices.

Briefing Redgrave manager Sarah : re. Video Box Office terms

Following my recent meeting with Gerry Hooper at the shop and our review of our video operation, we have agreed terms which have the effect of making economies to reduce our weekly break-even point from £75pw (including VAT) to £57pw (incl. Vat).

This has been done by removing the VBO insurance (which should be all right as we have not had any videos lost or causing damage to users sets and we can hold users accountable for any lost tapes anyway); by discontinuing the hire of the “A” board (as everyone knows we do videos now and we can add videos to a to a new “A” board I am considering); and by reducing from 2 to 1 the number of Top Titles we get in each exchange.

With respect to our pricing policy, I do not feel that we gain too much by being cheap as our recent offers have not led to increased business.

I think we should keep the main titles at £2 and charge the rest out (including children’s videos) at £1. As we plan to increase the proportion of children’s videos, this latter point assumes more importance.

We still seem to be getting sales analysed at £1.50 so please make sure the staff are no longer pressing that mid-week Top Title button!

Dear Mr Gilbert, Under pressure of your instructions to Dave, Sarah paid your bread invoice this morning without me seeing it but, when subsequently checked, it was not in accordance with the new terms agreed and understood with Richard Haydon.

Firstly, the 20% was applied to a 81p retail price rather than the 80p we are currently charging. At 80p, we are already a penny above the 79p recommended retail price.

The bread could stand an 81p price, as I have said to Richard, but I think that we should all charge the same and calculate our discounts accordingly. Are we now settling for a 81p price for Richard’s bread?

Secondly, you have only applied a 15% discount  to the cakes and this is in direct contradiction to what was agreed and understood. We were to maintain at least a 20% margin on everything.

Lastly, remains the question of Richard’s bread returns. As the baker, he is quite happy to have day-old bread for slicing as the day’s bread is on the soft side for this purpose.

The idea was for us to take the extra supplies (for which I notice you have happily accepted Richard’s instructions as we are receiving quantities in excess of our bread plan) and return any over with the next day’s supplies.

In this way, we could avoid being out of stock, maximise customer satisfaction with day-fresh bread and thus increase sales to the advantage of all four of us at no cost to you.

Please accept Richard’s instructions for accepting the bread returns and remove your instruction to Dave not to do so as this does not help the cause and leads to conflict.

The management and staff at Redgrave Spa Post Office & Stores re determined to ensure that we become a major outlet for competitive, fresh and convenient supplies, courteously and efficiently provided.

We look to suppliers that value our business, treat us as a customer, keep us in touch with future promotions and generally share these objectives.

P.S. Whilst writing, I note that, despite our daily requests for Allinson promotion 800g loaves (and confirmation from Allied Bakeries that these are freely available to us via you), you continue to supply the non-promotion coded loaves.