Pros
Generally, you get to work on your own, with e-supervison, usually setting your own work hours. The work is physically demanding, but usually not excessively so. As a vendor, you create relationships with store personnel, which can help improve your job networking for the future.
Cons
TNG sends far too many copies of magazines. Readerlink sends far too many books. Fact is, physical magazines & books are both dying off, slowly but surely. The next generations will be reading e-books & e-magazines. The good news is SMS is diversifying by getting into inventory mgt, merchandising of alternative products, such as sunglasses, bottled water & beanie babies. Problem is, logistics isn't keeping up with this growth. In many stores, particularly Kroger, there's little to no available space for overstock boxes of beanie babies, bottled water, etc.
SMS doesn't pay fairly for drive time between stores. While driving, TNG Merchandisers are paid an hourly wage, however, there's no mileage reimbursement.
TNG leaves much to be desired when it comes to timeliness consistency of deliveries from depots to various stores. And what usually happens is TNG Merchandisers' jobs are made much more difficult, because currently there's no system in place linking communication between depots, delivery drivers & TNG Merchandisers.