UMI Price Increases (3 messages) Marcia Tuttle 16 Oct 1996 15:42 UTC
Message 1---------- Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 08:58:14 EST From: MS_RESPASS <mrespass@GEORGIAN.EDU> Subject: Re: UMI Price Increases (Sandy Barstow) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 16:48:10 -0600 From: "Sandra M. Barstow" <SBarstow@UWYO.EDU> Subject: UMI Price Increases In comparing our 1996 UMI renewal invoice to our 1995 invoice, we found that some of our titles had increased by astronomical percentages. For example, the JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT cost $25.50 last year, but $100.00 this year. By calling our customer service representative, we learned that apparently a form letter was sent with the renewal invoices to customers, explaining that the prices of low-sales-volume journals were being increased to a level that would recover their costs. (We didn't see this letter.) One would think that the high-sales-volume journals would have had their prices decreased, since they were no longer subsidizing the esoteric publications, but none of our microform journals were cheaper this year than last. We were assured by the customer service person that these were one-time increases (of this magnitude). However, if libraries decide to cancel these journals because we can no longer afford them, I would assume that the remaining subscribers would see further large price increases. Has anybody out there in SERIALST-land been thinking about how to respond to this problem? Sandy Barstow Head of Acquisitions University of Wyoming Libraries sbarstow@uwyo.edu We have cancelled a number of titles that increased substantially. Unfortunately, we had been hoping to increase our microform collection and decrease our binding. However, the increases just made the microform unaffordable for us. Marie Respass Georgian Court College Lakewood, NJ mrespass@georgian.edu ----- Message 2---------- Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 08:23:02 -0400 From: James MacLeod <jmac@LOC.GOV> Subject: UMI Price Increases (Sandy Barstow) -Reply We also found significant increases in the cost of many of our UMI subscriptions. However, UMI offered a one year discount, which eliminated most of the increase. However, when we inquired about these increases we were told that the new increased prices will become the base price for 1998, with whatever additional increment UMI may apply at that time. And, the discount for this year (1997) is good only for this one year to aid in "adjusting" to the new price schedule. Needless to say, any library with a significant UMI account is going to feel this price increase where it hurts! Ouch! Jim MacLeod Head, Subscription & Microform Section Order Division Library of Congress Washington, DC "My opinions are my own. Nobody else would claim them." ----- Message 3---------- Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 08:29:15 -0700 From: Donna Packer <d3737@HENSON.CC.WWU.EDU> Subject: Re: UMI Price Increases (Sandy Barstow) Our response was immediately to review our list of microform subscriptions and see whether there were any we could manage without. We found a few. And, yes, I'm sorry to say I was fully aware of the potential impact of these cancellations on those subscribers remaining. I always hope that somehow the price of something reflects its production, marketing and sales costs, plus a modest profit sufficient to allow its producer to do some R&D and equipment updates, and, yes, one expect somes return on investment for the owners (and shareholders, if any). Whether, in the case of a publisher, that price is set with respect to one specific title, or a range of titles, who knows? I suppose practices vary. Still, this kind of sudden jump in price makes me think that any publisher who does that is not conducting continual reviews of their products and pricing structures. Otherwise, I like to think, necessary price increases would be gradual in nature ( assuming, of course, the publication remains essentially the same in size and content). This is clearly a fantasy of mine. Perhaps there are other views/ideas? - Donna Packer Head of Access Services Western Washington University