Should amplified spruiking be banned from the CBD?
Published 1 year, 3 months ago in Shopping. 
This week, Melbourne Leader caught up with Peter Ferne, who is refusing to turn off his spruiking tape even though the council fines him $1000 every time they catch him - and his shop is opposite City Hall!
Mr Ferne runs Arthur Daley’s Clearance House and loops a tape of him spruiking his wares that draws people from Swanston St down into the basement shop. He reckons Melbourne Council’s new spruiking policy discriminates because it allows bands to play amplified music but he can’t use spruiking to make a living.
What do you think about amplified spruiking? Is it annoying, or just part of the Swanston St soundscape?
The full story is here: www.melbourneleader.com.au
7 Responses to “Should amplified spruiking be banned from the CBD?”
Leave a Reply
Your reply will not appear on the site until it has been approved
In moderation it’s ok but continuous spruiking is a irritation.
Spruiking or not won’t get me into his shop.
I think it would be easier for this guy to back off, otherwise he’ll cop a string of fines. If the Melbourne Leader keep running stories, maybe the council will re-consider their position? And if Peter becomes a target, the Leader can mention that too …
Keep yelling to get your business going, Peter. Whatever you do, you will have people flying through your door.
Shops that spruik deserve the nuke.
Love Clem’s poetry with words. But what about that dreadful man with the loud hailer that stands on Princes Bridges, the Forecourt of Flinders Street and down Swanston Street sprouting the words of the Bible in a monotone voice that just tells you he is not actually concentrating on what he’s saying.
I find people like that actually detract from being invited to participate in anything they have to offer. Like touting for business in Little Burke Street to enter a restaurant.
Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen the loud hailer for quite some months…perhaps the new by laws nuked him which is very fortunately for those in the community who don’t want to be bothered with him!
I do hope Peter would not do this spruiking thing
He’s up against the council and so he’s fighting an uphill battle. Should the poor guy end up in gaol he “might” get a small mention in the papers and then he’ll be out of sight and out of mind ay? It’s good that he may have a few supporters but would they stand by him financially?
A few years ago there was a story about a fellow who went to gaol for refusing to pay his fines; he came out a vegetable. It was sad “very sad” to see his mother crying and holding her grownup son in her arms. I never heard anymore about him after that.