Don't bother to stop by the Star's Northland Bureau---it's has been closed since March.
12-14-2009 KC STAR CLOSES OFFICES, BUT KEEPS SIGNAGE People driving to the KCI Airport over the holidays will likely see a prominent building along I-29 with signage proudly proclaiming it is the The Kansas City Star's Northland office. However, if customers actually stop by and try to get any assistance in the office they will find out the Bureau has been closed since March. The same is true if anyone visits the Star's eastern Jackson County and Wyandotte County offices, which have also been shuttered. It is possible the Star wants to give the impression it still has a presence in those communities. "You would think that The Star, after closing these bureaus, would have taken the signage off its Northland and eastern Jackson County bureaus (the Wyandotte office was located on a fifth floor)," says a former Star employee. "Both bureaus were in prominent storefront locations and visible from highways. Lots of people came in off the streets wanting to buy ads, complain about not getting their paper, cancel their subscription and even in some cases start one." The ex-employee says having signage on closed Star buildings is irritating from a customer service standpoint. "It's because people are still probably stopping at the two bureaus with a question or concern. Maybe the folks running The Star have higher priorities, such as trying to keep the paper afloat. Or maybe they just don't care," says the reporter. "Whatever the case, they need to realize that The Star's image today is probably more negative than it ever has in its 129-year history. "That image is certainly not going to improve when someone drives to either the Northland or eastern Jackson County bureaus hoping to talk to somebody about an incorrect bill or a delivery problem only to find the doors locked and the office dark."
12-15-2009 BARGAIN ADVERTISING? "Given the amount of vacant commercial real estate these days, it'd be interesting to see if or how much McClatchy is paying to the owners of said strip centers in return for keeping their brand up in lights - at least until the next tenant for the vacant space signs on the dotted line. Billboard companies charge high dollar for spacealong those two corridors given their high traffic. Could be bargain advertising for The Star." ---Michael Bushnell
OLD NEWS "Very old news regarding the Star's bureau closing.Plus, they don't own the buildings and have no control over the signage.That is up to the landlord.This post was weak.I don't see the point." --Malcom Haney
SCOTT SIMON RESPONDS "Mr. Haney, You are wrong stating the Kansas City Star has no control regarding the signs. No one may use a trademarked name without permission by the owner. McClatchy can issue a notice to the owner of the property to remove the sign. "The cost of such physical removal is dependant on the contractual arrangement between the two parties in regard to the lease and the subsequent vacancy of that lease. Trademark usage is a simple concept. If you don't use it, you can't use it. And if the trademark owner demands it not be displayed to the public, you have to comply or pay them the rights to display it. "And don't assume old news isn't interesting to someone. As someone who know longer lives in Kansas City, I appreciate news like this. I did not know the paper had closed bureaus. You need to go back to school, to take business and law courses regarding trademark usage. And don't assume. You know the rest to that story. --Scott Simon, Former KMBZ Reporter, St. Louis
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