MASON CITY – The Des Moines Register seems to mean business in Mason City, as they had salesmen in town Sunday selling subscriptions at the Hy-Vee grocery store.
Two gentlemen were perched right inside the front entrance at Hy-Vee East, behind a stand with stacks of Des Moines Register newspapers. They were dressed in red shirts that said “Des Moines Register” and said they worked for the newspaper. As folks came into the store, the men approached each and offered free newspapers and reduced -price subscriptions.
“Get your Register, here!” one of the men exclaimed. They didn’t take “no” for an answer easily.
Nearby, the Globe Gazette’s Greg Wilderman, head of advertising, pushed a shopping cart, nervously watching the two men sign up subscribers, one after the other. The shoppers had big smiles on their faces as they seemed to realize that they were getting a great deal – maybe realizing they could perhaps leave their Globe Gazette behind forever.
They gave NIT’s Matt Marquardt a free paper and although he refused to buy a subscription, had a nice chat with the salesmen.
“I’m curious. How well are you doing today?” Marquardt asked.
“Real well. Selling plenty of subscriptions today,” one of the men said. “They send us all over the state.
“Well, you have come to the right place,” Marquardt told the men. “People are sick of how the Globe lies and bullies people. I bet you could sell hundreds of subscriptions today. I wish you well.”
Later, Marquardt said “The Register has the Globe beat here in Mason City. Crisp, clear photos that are not blurry and amateur like in the Globe. Real pros covering state and national issues. Full of inserts that do not appear to be missing, like the Globe. Plus, they don’t employ John Skipper, that’s their biggest advantage. I still snicker every time I think about that used $2 million printer the Globe is installing. Someone needs to tell Warren Buffet how Lee Enterprises is spending his investment.”
