please empty your brain below
A last farewell?

Are you moving on to Places New?

Lyle | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 8:09 a.m. | #

I don't understand this. Doesn't the new bloke deserve the same support as an independent. Surely you will build up the same relationship with him in a few weeks.

Rick | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 8:18 a.m. | #

Yes - give the new guy a chance, I say!

(Though if you switch to a postal subscription for TO you'll save a small fortune...)

Dan | 18.02.09 - 8:21 a.m. | #

Now, you can't tell a story like that and not explain why you won't be going there again! Are you moving home?

Jag | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 8:28 a.m. | #

No, I dont understand either. There's a definite hole in your story, DG.

Exit, pursued by a bear | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 8:58 a.m. | #

Are you moving to the proper side of the river DG??

SELondoner | 18.02.09 - 9:11 a.m. | #

DG,

I think you need to explain the lacuna in your story. I, for one, am concerned.

michael | 18.02.09 - 9:12 a.m. | #

SELondoner - good theory. My money's on the move South of the river too

SWLondoner | 18.02.09 - 9:32 a.m. | #

My relationship with my local newsagent is very similar - I get my paper from him every day and two copies of 2000AD comic (one for me and one for a friend) every Wednesday. I try not to give him £20 notes and he saves the comics when I'm on holiday. I thought of taking up the newspaper subscription offer the Guardian has, where you pay with vouchers in the shop, but I'm concerned that he may get less money out of it (I haven't had a chance to ask him). I'd rather have a viable newsagent round the corner than save a few pence on my daily paper, on the whole.

And where ARE you going?

Baldassaro | 18.02.09 - 10:07 a.m. | #

DG is not moving because he say's he does not want to end up back in that supermarket queue.

Colin in Thailand | 18.02.09 - 10:07 a.m. | #

If the kiosk closes now, we know who to blame!

Ian | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 10:11 a.m. | #

I didn't understand either. If smiley bloke is back next Tuesday why can't he get your £4.09?

Amused | 18.02.09 - 11:01 a.m. | #

I know I've told you before that it's much cheaper to get RT on subscription... And it arrives on Tuesday morning.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 11:21 a.m. | #

Having that kind of relationship with retailers is one of the things that makes London feel like a smaller, friendlier place, less impersonal than it can sometimes.

When I first started using my local kiosk, it used to annoy me when the proprietor ranted to me every day about the headline on one of the tabloids (normally either about the moral decline of the country or about which country we were bombing that week), because it seemed like an intrusion. Now, after several years I look forward to it, like getting an extra level of commentary for free with my Guardian every day.

Geoff | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 11:53 a.m. | #

Why not patronise Gary, who sells newspapers outside Mile End tube? He's a nice bloke and a local character. Give you a bit of exercise on your Tuesdays.

dg writes: Because he's not there after work.

em\\_in\\_e3 | 18.02.09 - 12:06 p.m. | #

my local newsagent at st johns wood station is miserable. 6 years, and not a hello or thank you. Now i just drop exact change, take my telegraph, and buzz off.
In tescos they all know me, you get a smile, and clubcard points.
I will always present the other side - not wishy washy sentimentalism!

k | 18.02.09 - 2:54 p.m. | #

good, I'm glad I'm not the only confused by the story.
DG: Why are giving up on the kiosk?

Jon Allen | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 3:13 p.m. | #

The luxury of a kiosk has disappeared in Canada. Now it's a blasted steel box that won't give you change or bites you when it snaps shut. It's legislation probably to get everyone off the streets selling anything. While there's still time you might want yours listed by the National Trust.

And thanks for years of illuminating writing. Built a little monument to DG on my blog for literary unfortunates overseas.

Alan Gillis | Homepage | 18.02.09 - 7:38 p.m. | #

A typical DG post, simultaneously informative and infuriatingly vague

trad or anon | 18.02.09 - 8:37 p.m. | #

I'd agree with other commenters - give the new guy a chance, I say! Give me independent kiosk sellers to supermarkets any day.

As for customer service, I had to ring up TfL's customer helpline the other day. They were surprisingly helpful, and it's also a local rate 020 number, which makes the service even better. Now if TfL can just get the tube running properly...

Andrewh | 18.02.09 - 11:21 p.m. | #

DG has replied to a comment but not to the main question.
I suspect the answer is big.
February Mystery Count did you say?

Craigaroonie | 19.02.09 - 4:11 a.m. | #

If you were taking the 'supporting independents' thing seriously, you'd be buying your literature directly from the authors, not going through the megacorporations that are the BBC and Time Out Group

We only take those principles as far as it's convenient to us, don't we.

K | 19.02.09 - 8:55 a.m. | #

Well, it looks like DG will be moving. My vote is that it will be to Canvey Island

Ian | Homepage | 19.02.09 - 9:25 a.m. | #











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