Daily Sport in your local Coop

[redhappy]

I started a thread a while back, somewhere on mumsnet, possibly AIBU.

Basically I started turning over the top copy of the Sport. Complained a few times. Found out on here some others around the country were doing the same.

I have noticed that now they fold over the top copy so it obscures the image. Has anybody else seen this? I'm hoping it's company policy now, not just my local store

[tabouleh]

Some of us complained about this over on the co-op feedback thread.

They have passed MN some info re this:

"The Co-operative say "Our aim is to always display any titles that may be for an adult audience away from those aimed at younger audiences. We will be happy to take this matter up locally if this is not being done and would ask that you contact our Customer Relations team by e-mailing [email protected]."

Surely once the "top copy" is bought the next copy can be seen - perhaps they should ALL be turned over! Or better still is there is cover over the top which is obscured and is lifted to get access.

redhappy - have you seen the MN campaign thread asking for feedback about this type of issue? It is here.

[PosieComeHereMyPreciousParker]

I frequently turn over and obscure these things....well if I have to wait in a queue I need to occupy my time!!

[CommanderGhoul]

I actually turned over the Sport in my local newsagents as it had a huge picture of a woman dressed as a maid, bent over in stockings and suspenders. Vile.

[MrsClown]

I go into a small coop in a small village near where I work. I always turn over the daily sport. However, I will mention the coops policy next time I go in. It makes me absolutely sick to the back teeth. I actually asked a young man the other day if he would be comfortable going into a shop where fit, naked men were on display. Luckily the guy was honest and said he wouldnt want to put up with that! I also take objection when companies call things like the daily sport 'adult entertainment' They are not, they are for male entertainment. Arent women adults also, it certainly does not entertain me.

Please see OBJECT website.

Sadly, my son's 16 year old girlfriend visited today and was discussing these issues with her. She said that those pictures in her full view make her feel small and she hates it. She also has to wait for her bus at night outside a strip club, which intimidates her. She thought she was the only person who thought like that!

[MillyR]

I emailed the Co-op a while back about their magazine display and got this response:


'Thank you for contacting the Co-operative Careline regarding the sale of men's magazines at your local store and may I initially begin by apologising for the delay in replying to you.

The Co-op endeavour to stock a range of newspapers and magazines that appeal to broad and varied audiences, and which compliments our position as the leading community retailer. Clearly, some titles will not be to every individual's taste. While it is not our intention to act as a censor, we will endeavour to ensure the titles we stock have general public acceptability, do not promote illegal activities or include content unsuitable for the age range most likely to read the title. In stores where we provide an ordering service, we will supply titles on request that we may choose not to stock.

As a responsible retailer we carry out random spot checks on many of the more contentious titles to ensure they do not go beyond the general level of acceptability. We also ensure that the men's lifestyle magazines are displayed on the top shelf of the fixture at diagonal opposite to the comic category. These magazines are placed on the highest point out of sight of children.'

[JessinAvalon]

Wow! Really pleased to hear that Mumsnetters are doing this too. I turn over the Sport and other lads mags in the Co-op and every other store where I see them displayed on full view. I am thoroughly sick of seeing some barely legal women's crotch shown from behind as she bends over provocatively when I go to buy my milk and paper in my local Co-op.

Last year, someone from the Co-op was on the Guardian's ethical policy Q&A web forum for a week. He got inundated with questions about selling lads mags and The Sport and replied with a very poor answer. A few months later we organised a mass email protest and got hundreds of people to email over the space of about 2 days to ask how their ethical stance is compatible with the sale of these mags and to ask why they refuse to cover them up.

The Co-op just ignored us all! We are thinking of organising a similar action again.