Anyone else get the “Métropolitain Express”?
Even though I have a “no flyers” sticker on the mailbox, I got a copy of the Métropolitain Express today, a small paper I’d never seen before. Has anyone else seen it, or know where it comes from? There’s no credit block on it anywhere.
Sixteen pages, real estate ads, some information about Ahuntsic and Villeray which could be right off the city site, a bit of generic cultural news, and the indication you can inquire about advertising, with an address at metropolitainexpress.com, although the website at that address is only a “coming soon” sort of placeholder (in English, yet).
At first I thought it might be a tricky move by Transcontinental to get around the Publisac issue, but it doesn’t seem to be.
Closest thing I can think of is the Westmount Independent, which is mostly supported by real estate listings. It may have occurred to some entrepreneur that the model could be made to work in other places.
ReneB 15:37 on 2023-01-18 Permalink
Domain was registered with Tucows in Toronto on 2022-11-02 with contact privacy enabled.
A bit strange to distribute a newspaper without a working website.
Jonathan 16:03 on 2023-01-18 Permalink
I also received it despite having the no flyers sticker. I also looked into it when I received it… I suspect that it’s supported by the real estate industry.
I do find it great that it has the summary of the borough council meetings. Nowhere else would there be a summary.
denpanosekai 16:36 on 2023-01-18 Permalink
They got a distribution deal with Canada Post which bypasses your no-junk sticker, because it’s now “legitimate” mail. Not unlike the useless flyers you get from your federal MP.
mare 00:46 on 2023-01-19 Permalink
@denpanosekai The Canada Post distribution deal has been canceled after a two month test showed it caused too many health issues with letter carriers. I guess that extra weight and the fact they suddenly had to deliver at every house was part of the reason.
https://themediaword.com/canada-post-suspends-distribution-of-the-publisac/
denpanosekai 10:26 on 2023-01-19 Permalink
oh wow @mare interesting thanks! I did notice a Verdun newspaper (Explore I think) stopped showing at some point last year.