Travel agencies claim the issue of brochure wastage has resurfaced, with reports of excessive deliveries of unordered brochures.
Paul Gilmour, manager of Alresford Travel in Hampshire, is receiving 200 brochures a week, mostly unwanted, and now has more than 450 unordered brochures to store.
“It’s a horrendous waste. I’m convinced I am getting more brochures this year than last,” he said.
Donna Parkinson, owner of Avista Travel in Clitheroe, Lancashire, also complained of extra brochures. She said: “We might order 10 or 20 brochures but they come with six other packs we haven’t ordered. It’s a waste of paper and an inconvenience.”
Gilmour now fears he will have to pay for brochures to be taken away; in November last year he paid £250 for a skip. The extras delivered include brochures for Hoseasons and Classic Collection Holidays.
Classic Collection said Alresford Travel had been sent 60 summer-sun brochures between May 2013 and August this year that “proved surplus to requirements”.
“We will look into adjusting his supply accordingly,” said a spokesman, who urged agents unhappy with brochure deliveries to get in touch.
Hoseasons managing director Simon Altham added: “As a business that is committed to reducing unnecessary wastage we work closely with brochure distribution company BP Travel Marketing Services to ensure agents only receive the brochures they want. On occasions where this isn’t the case we would strongly urge agents to contact us as soon as possible so that we can remove them from our mailing list.”
BP, which operates trade ordering service TradeGate, said it only distributes brochures “requested by agents or upon instruction from tour operators”. It urged agents to contact operators if they are receiving too many brochure copies.
BP is looking into how to improve distribution efficiency and has three trials under way.