2 messages, 111 lines:

(1)---------------------------
Date:         Wed, 13 Sep 2000 16:28:40 -0400
From:         Eleanor Cook <COOKEI@APPSTATE.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Bell and Howell/UMI edi invoicing

Faxon certainly DOES do electronic invoicing and has for several
years!

About UMI/Bell and Howell or whatever they call themselves today:

I have repeatedly asked/complained/whined about their lack of
electronic invoicing capability. For a couple of years we were able to
get them to send the invoice in an enlarged copy so it was easier to
process - ie, read.

This year's invoice is somewhat clearer to read and they have put
spaces between each line. Very nice.

But if this company can bring us ProQuest, why can't they do
electronic invoicing?  Go figure.

*********************************************************************
Eleanor I. Cook                                  828-262-2786 (wrk)
Interim Coordinator, Acquisitions                828-262-2773 (fax)
& Serials Coordinator
Materials Processing Team
Belk Library, ASU Box 32026
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2026                             cookei@appstate.edu
*********************************************************************

(2)---------------------------
Date:         Thu, 14 Sep 2000 08:25:25 -0500
From:         "Cynthia M. Coulter" <cynthia.coulter@UNI.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Bell and Howell/UMI edi invoicing

Carrie,

Like you, we use Faxon for our subscription agent and use Innovative for
our serials and acquisitions online system.  Last year, we purchased the
serials invoice interface from Innovative and have received our serials
invoices since then from Faxon electronically.  What a time saver!  What
once took days and days of manual entry now takes less than 5 hours.  We
have over 3100 subscriptions and really appreciate the electronic option.
Faxon's technical staff proved very helpful in getting it set up.

But, I sure would like to see Bell & Howell (soon to be ProQuest, I hear)
take the same steps.

Cynthia M. Coulter
_______________________________________________________
                               Cynthia M. Coulter
                   Head, Acquisitions Department
                                   Rod Library
                     University of Northern Iowa
                           1227 W. 27th Street
                     Cedar Falls, IA 50613-3675

                         Phone: (319) 273-2801
                         Fax:     (319) 273-2913
                   Email:  cynthia.coulter@uni.edu

Carrie Ferm wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> It would be a great service.  WE are not a "large" subscriber so I don't
> think I would make much of a dent if I protested.
>
> We are a large subscriber through Faxon though and they don't have the
> service either.  Go figure.  Like you, I ask every year for the invoice
> info to be sent on disk and they don't seem to get "around to it".
>
> Thanks for letting me vent.!!!
>
> Carrie Ferm
> Augustana College Library
> Periodical Section
> Rock Island, Il  61201
>
> Phone:  (309)794-7316   Fax: (309) 794-7230
> e-mail: alicf@loki.augustana.edu
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Hemhauser [mailto:mh8498a@AMERICAN.EDU]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 11:49 AM
> To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject: Bell and Howell/UMI edi invoicing
>
> Sept 2000 marks the sixth year that I will be keying, BY HAND, the "UMI"
> invoice into our otherwise integrated library system. Has any one
> contacted Bell and Howell about their lack of a disk or edi format for
> exchanging invoice data? I call them every year and get, "We are working
> on that. Our current system can not do it...." Now they have a new system
> that they think will one day be able to handle it. Perhaps those of you
> who have large accounts with Bell and Howell could call your customer
> service rep and ask when they expect to offer edi invoicing. Let them know
> how much you want that ability. Point out that many other vendors have
> been providing it throughout the 1990s and make sure they pass your
> questions on to someone higher up. Customer service is 1-800-521-0600.
>
> We need more than one squeeky wheel. Call today.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Mark Hemhauser
> American University Library--Serials Dept.
>  <mh8498a@AMERICAN.EDU>