Harassment of customers by a magazine vendor
In the Heidekreis region, two street magazines – Hinz & Kunzt from Hamburg and Asphalt from Hannover – are making headlines for different reasons. While Hinz & Kunzt, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and the highest-circulating street magazine in Germany, is an inclusive project aimed at providing unbureaucratic job opportunities and fostering social climate, Asphalt's vendors have been causing concerns.
Ralf Ehlers, the manager of Edeka branches in the Heidekreis, has had to call the police due to incidents involving Asphalt vendors. These vendors, often found in front of supermarkets such as Rewe at the station or Aldi at the Bohemheide, have been reported for aggressive behaviour and questionable practices. Some have been observed approaching women, especially elderly ones, and claiming not to have change after a purchase.
The responsible entity behind Asphalt, an offshoot of the GP Günter Papenburg AG group, consolidated all five asphalt mixing plants under one company, GP Papenburg Asphaltwerke GmbH, on January 1, 2016. However, the legality of these street vendors is a gray area, with only vendors possessing a valid ID considered legitimate.
Each vendor of Hinz & Kunzt, on the other hand, undergoes an application process and personal interview before being assigned a sales spot at a supermarket. Each officially registered vendor carries a personalized ID with their own number and a passport photo. Cashless payment is possible via the QR code on the newer ID of Hinz and Kunzt.
The monthly magazine costs 2.20 euros, with the vendor receiving 1.10 euros. The average sales commission ranges between 90 and 100 euros. Not all unreported vendors in the Heidekreis are acting fraudulently, but property owners have the right to ask them to leave the premises if they present fake IDs.
The Heidekreis police are aware of these illegal sales situations and have dealt with similar cases in the past. The magazine aims to provide an unbureaucratic job opportunity for people who have little chance on the regular job market and to foster the social climate in the city. As such, it continues to gain support from the community, despite the occasional controversy.
In Hamburg and surrounding areas, more than 500 people sell the magazine, contributing to its success as the highest-circulating street magazine in Germany. The Heidekreis, with its proximity to Hannover, serves as a meeting point for these two projects, adding another layer of complexity to the region's social landscape.
