Any Former Paperboys On the Forum?
 

I didn't have a route, but I often helped my friend with his. Saturday nights, getting the Sunday edition put together was a chore, interrupted by some outrageous rubber band fights. :D

Carroll, Iowa: Where The Childhood Paper Route Is Alive And Well : NPR

This kid is right out of central casting . . .

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014...ca-s40-c85.jpg


Jaxson Kulhmann says he gets a check every two weeks for about $45. "I'm saving up for a trip to Washington, D.C. — it's a class trip," he says. "And, like, the church group [LCMS] — we're saving up to go to the National Youth Gathering in 2016 in Louisiana."

I did some running around with the Excursion on my down time. Not sure you would call it a "paper boy" thing since I would not deliver door to door. It was a weekly paper that we put in establishments so we would drop off 50 and count out last week's and change next week's schedule. Also did flower delivery on big flower days since I could pick up a buttload of stuff each time without having to keep going back and forth. Once the Excursion was paid off, I stopped it a few years ago.

Delivered a rural 19 paper route from 5th through 7th grade as a kid in Michigan. Winter time wasn't so fun except for ice storms when I could ice skate my route. School might get cancelled due to snow storms but those darn papers always got dropped off.

Delivered three years-- Detroit Times then the Detroit News.
Bike stolen once.

I threw the Fort Worth Press for a few years. It was the first business I ever ran and it taught me how to make sales, collect on those sales and to never trust a sales manager.

Doesn't have to be a sales manager. Could be anything else. All they need is the right reason and they will knife you in the back.

Does former rule out current ???

Rochester Times Union for me. Around here newspaper delivery is a joke. I get the NYT and Denver Post. Very lucky if they arrive 3 out of 5 days. They're morning papers. Arriving the past week or so around 830am. Calls to the district manager are a joke. They go right to India. I've considered walking the mile and a half to the newspaper building to complain but there's probably a direct line to Delhi in the lobby. I'm pretty sure that nowadays the Denver Post consists of two guys in a basement somewhere. CU journalism school closed down. A disaster for democracy.

I delivered the Roswell Daily Record in '66 and '67. Was about 14-15. Had approx. 80 houses on my route. At first we charged $1.75 and kept $.50 of that. $40 a month wasn't much but hey, something, and I just checked an inflation calculator which states that would be equivalent to $283 in 2013 (!?).

I received a harsh lesson in what can happen in the private sector toward the end of my days with them (we left Roswell in '67) when the Record decreed that we were still to charge $1.75 but that we had to remit $1.35 per paper per month, and keep, of course, 40 cents a customer. A pay cut basically. They couldn't raise it to $1.85 apparently. :rolleyes:

Sometime in the 90s I saw a picture of Joseph Stalin holding up a copy of the Roswell Daily Record with the word ALIENS! in 'second coming' font blazoned across the top, this in some politburo type meeting in Moscow. This about 8 years before we moved to Roswell and 19 years before I delivered the paper. Degrees of separation - me and Joe Stalin.

San Diego Evening Tribune, from Athena to 'B'.

The Evening Star (Washington D.C.) Before it's demise, THE paper of record in Washington. circa 57-58.

A fiercely independent voice in Washington

From its earliest years, the Star was a contrarian powerhouse, not afraid to buck Washington’s prevailing political winds. Prior to the Civil War, as abolitionists decried slavery in their own publications, the Star presented both sides of the debate. During the War itself, the Star’s excellent reporting increased its popularity; even today Civil War historians frequently cite Star articles at length. By the mid-20th century—a period marked by McCarthyism, landmark Civil Rights legislation and the beginning of the space race—the Star reached its zenith in local circulation and national influence. Between 1944 and 1981, Star writers, reporters and cartoonists accumulated 10 Pulitzer Prizes.

Washington Evening Star (1852-1981) | Readex

After that, I delivered the Washington Post (59-60). Both routes from 7th grade through 10th. Both routes were in Bethesda MD.

I couldn't agree with you more. I was only using the term sales manager since he was the first person I had ever run into that would take advantage of me. I was somewhat shocked that an adult would try to cheat a ten year old, but I figured out my age had nothing to do with it. That type of person cheats everyone.

I mentioned this to a guy today at the Coffee Shop and he said he was also once a paperboy. I told him I could still remember my route to some degree and he said he could not only remember his route but who wanted the paper delivered to their porch, those who whined if the paper was late during a snowstorm, those who paid by check..... Who writes a check for less than two dollars? Well, besides The Dude, that is.

And for both of us this was over fifty-five years ago.

But being a paperboy is a good way to be introduced to business. The guy I was talking to today is a respected public official. Another guy I know who was a paperboy is a multi-million dollar real estate investor and rancher. I make a pretty good living scamming people by telling them I can write.....

You just never know where that first job will take you.

I disagree. Think about this. It is less profitable PER cheating session but less risk. I might sue him or send over the "good old boys" over for a chat with him but a 10 yo is more likely to allow him to escape. If he were any good, he'd go for higher stakes but he wasn't hence you.

'Twas a family affair.
 

When I was a young boy growing up in Marin County, a neighborhood boy delivered the Marin County "Independent Journal" to homes in our neighborhood.

Well, sometimes he did, (on a bicycle).

But mostly, his mother drove him around in a brand spanking new gold 1958 Chevy Impala coupe and he tossed the papers out the window in the direction of the driveways.

I had mixed feelings about that...

Better than Mom just coming to work and peddling girl scout cookies. Girl doesn't even do anything at all. For that, I just buy if I need to. Usually, not at all. OTOH, if some kid comes to my door, I feel he earned it even if Mom and Dad escorted him and drove him around. For that case, I buy it even if I don't need it.

Delivered the Chicago Daily news for about a year trading off days with a partner. We had to come in roll the papers buy the rubber band then deliver by bicycle, basket in front with hooks that held the straps from the pouch that fit the basket. As I remember now the girls noticed who had the hooks on their bikes and the ring that held the route cards. Moved on from that to painting garage doors, and mowing lawns. Just a "little" over seven years ago now so I can admit it without worrying about the IRS.

Not sure what the point of the thread is; theft, crime?

I delivered the West Omaha Sun, then the Omaha World-Herald when a young teen. H#ll of it is, I now invest in the OWH as a shareholder - lol.....times they change! :)

Not sure whose problem that is. ;)

I had a route from fifth grade til I graduated high school. Best business training I ever had!

Indeed. :)

Talk of paperboys and his mind goes to 'theft, crime?' Hoo-kay.

When I got the route I had about 40 or 50 customers. After three years or so I had built it up to over 100. I used to sell new subscriptions and win trips places.....about five or six trips places in busses with a hundred other paper boys...sitting around in hotel rooms at night playing poker in our underwear....heh! No whiskey or cigars though.;)

Remember the Grit Newspaper?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grit_(newspaper)

A buddy of mine sold it around '61. A national paper, you had to go out and hustle up customers. Pretty marginal.

Delivered papers even during hurricane hazel in Toronto in 1954. I was eleven or twelve. . Had no ideal it was going on except the general conditions seemed really harsh that afternoon. Nearest I ever cane to being struck by lightning as well. Perhaps it hit 30 feet away.

Many people lost there lives that afternoon and evening. The houses proximity to each other possibly gave some breaking of the weather in the densily populated area of my route. The rain was more horrific than the winds.

Brought the route with 100 customers and enlarged it somewhat. Probably for 15.00 back then. As another member mentioned there were various promotions that got you places.

One nursing home I delivered to had an attractive nurse that collected the money for me. She would hike her uniform dress and fish the money out of the top of her nylons. This was in the days of garter belts and individual nylon stockings. I was quite young but never minded this weekly display.

It is a little sobering to realize that all of my customers back then have probably departed by now.

1964-5-6-7-8...West 75th street New York, NY 10023....I was 13 in 64, got a dog(Collie Mutt), had to walk her every day and one day a doorman on Central Park West asked if I could get him a regular coffee and a daily news. Before long all the doormen and elevator operators at the now famous San Remo (where an apartment recently sold for 24 Million!) wanted me to bring them not only coffees but Chinese food, hamburgers, donuts and as time progressed additional New York Daily News for many of the tennants in the twin towered 27 story building. By the time I was a senior in high school the senior doorman asked me if I wanted a job as the relief doorman/elevator operator which I gladly took on. By this time I must have had about thirty to forty regular newspaper customers and had a good income stream which kept me always with pocket money to pretty much do a lot of fun teenager things. I also got to meet and know a lot of very famous people many on a first name basis. Funny thing was when I got the job on the door, people would come in and toss me their car keys without ever asking me if I had a driver's licence (which I didn't) and I would have to park and retrieve cars. Thats pretty much how I learned to drive...and the cars! The stories I could tell.

Better tell them now.;)

I delivered the paper morning and evening with my brother and then took it over when he got a job at Dairy Queen. That was in Lynchburg Va can't remember how much I made but we had about 150 customers
I hated the spider webs in the morning! :eek:
I think it helped my brother more than me, he has done really well. He has 2 mercedes a 2008 and 2013 both diesel suv's he loves them. :D

I thought you were going to reveal that one of you went on to owning several Dairy Queens? :confused: :D That would have been of interest to me. :) I declined buying a couple DQs recently - the owner wanted about 2X what they were worth, by any standard of business valuation. If your brother owns 2 Mercedes', he must be doing OK! ;)

What for?;)

im thinking about picking one up.

I tried it for 6 months. It turned out to be rather pathetic for me.

Every other Day I got a Flat Tire somewhere on My Route and had to push the Bike Back Home and fix it.

I spent some of the Money I earned on Thorn Proof Inner Tubes and the very next day got as far as the Corner of My Street and ran over A Tack and got a Flat.

There was some Bigger Kid from a competing Paper that did not like Me in His Territory. We had Fight while We were still seated on our Bikes. I hit this Guy many time to no noticeable effect.
Before He left he grabbed several Papers out of My Bag and threw the shredding part of the Papers and I had to go home to replace them.

The next time I saw that Guy I used My Bike as a Ram and rammed Him right in the Center. That only reduced the problems I was having with Him when He saw Me.

When School started I was falling asleep in Class and I was only an average Student so sleeping made it worse.

People are always trying to get away with not paying for their Paper and you needed to go back to their House several times to collect.

What turned out to be the read deal killer was that My Parents insisted that all the Money go into the Bank and I had to beg for Money from them any time I wanted to buy something with it.

Not having access to the Fruits of My Labor took away the main reason for working.

Then for Years after I quite My Parents used the Paper Route as an example and b i t c h e d/compained at Me for "Being A Quitter".

But, I will always remember having that Paper Route.

10 @#$%*&* years with the Hartford rag.

I started out as a contract carrier after son #1 was born and my wife started staying at home. I picked up the daily bundles from a feeder box truck and delivered them to the paper carriers' houses. I think there were 12 drops on my route. Then on Saturdays I'd pick up the inserts for the Sunday paper and deliver those. I had a crew cab F350 with side boards and it would completely fill the bed over the boards and the back seat. In addition to that I had a route of about 160 customers that was bag & toss/tube so I could blow through that portion pretty quick in the car, hazards on, driving down the wrong side of the street. $1300 every two weeks for four years. Wasn't too shabby coin for a part-time gig.

Fifth year in the paper switched to a depot set up where carriers had to pick up their own papers and inserts at a central location. I was able to pick up a route of 150 customers that was close to my original one bag & toss route that I still had. Of that 310 total, there were about 20 with specific delivery locations. It worked out to about $700 every two weeks plus service/performance bonus from the paper and Christmas tip (average was $10-some paid none, some paid $50+) from the customers.

The distribution management was poor and things got progressively worse. The paper eventually cut out performance and service bonuses and cut back on reimbursements. Combined with the inability to find sub's anytime I needed to travel for business or for a day or two of vacation, I decided it was time to call it quits. The arseholes there made that an easy decision, despite having most of that money already earmarked before the paychecks even came.

They've since separated themselves from distribution completely and put the contract out to bid every two years to the lowest bidder who then hires, or doesn't, the current carriers. I've talked to some carriers who have been there for 20 years that say things have gotten even worse and are done after this Christmas.

It's no surprise that the carrier in my neighborhood has changed 4 times in the past 4 years. The days of the 12yo kid on a bike with a paper route are gone around here.

One thing that I remember was when I delivered the paper in my early teens, was the distribution manager telling us that if we did a good job, and gave good service we would earn more per year than eighty percent of the people on the planet before tips. I bet there are more than a few one percenters out there that started as paperboys.

In the beginning of 1977 A big route of 600 customers paid for better bikes as I spent 2 yrs doing the PB chore ,a had a nice setup with 5spd gearing and heavy rims and tires,a real need in a bike when delivering the heavy Sunday editions.The baskets were offered but I modified my own for longer route runs,I did use the frt baskets The Houston Chronicle offed.I remember it was something like 250lbs of me , paper and pedal power. Early rise was 5 am on weekdays ,4 am for sundays .The paper would have to be assembled by you with directions on what advertisement packet would be sleeved 1st -5th ON SUNDAY THROWS ,this took as long of time as the delivery itself.I just know the penny counters at these Newspaper giants worked every angle to save a buck . I think it was 50 cents per customer each month ,so $300 per month which to a kid is like getting paid a gold brick. As a kid it really felt like you were your own boss .I remember the guy that hired me always liked calling me bike killer due to the fact I would be on a different bike each time he came by on errands ,I just said ,"no ,just a new and improved paper runner".

You should have told that nurse that we need to collect twice per week to improve cash flow:D

I was thankful that by the time I started, almost everyone was on credit card payments. I had 3 customers who were still collect for my first 2 years. After the first six months of arranging for payment pickups and making reminder calls, I just quit collecting from them. They got the rag for free for about a year and a half. After that it was all on credit cards.

In the early sixties it was cash only. I learned all sorts of high finance to get the deal done when they did not have the right change. Like having them pay a larger sum so I can give a five dollar bill as change or such. I made a rule if they did not pay me for a month I'd cut them off. A few would come back and pay on time.

The collection angle has always been a part of business that I have paid particular attention to, and have always been pretty successful at getting paid for nearly everything I am owed.

Delivered the Pittsburgh Press for 2-3 yrs. Had a fair sized route, Had one customer who was consistently late in paying which screwed up my cut. On Sunday, the paper was supposed to be there before 8 or 9, I don't exactly remember now, but I made sure his was always the last one delivered after my route was done. He gave me some lip one day as he saw me skip him then come back. Wanted to know why I was doing this and I told him if he paid his bill on time, the paper might be there on time too. That got me a sit down in the kitchen with the route manager. LOL

Delivered papers 7 days a week for the San Antonio Light during my grade school and junior high years.

That publication went under some years ago. For many years, San Antonio had 2 daily newspapers.