Re: Cellular & molecular life sciences (Steve Black) ERCELAA@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu 11 May 1999 20:38 UTC
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:15:52 -0400 From: Steve Black <blacks@ROSNET.STROSE.EDU> Subject: Re: Cellular & molecular life sciences add'l vol (John Lucas) John Lucas wrote about an additional volume of a journal being published in the current calendar year: > It seems that because of > > "an increasing number of high quality manuscripts. We feel that > our readership should benefit from these articles and have decided > to publish an additional volume of CMLS in 1999. I became incensed enough about a similar situation with a different publisher last year to make an aggressive complaint. The basis of my complaint was the original subscription terms, which stated that one was subscribing to a calendar year's worth of issues. The subscription was for the calendar year, *not* for a certain number of pages or articles. If you want to do more than grumble, the first step is to carefully review the terms of the subscription. If you feel there is a discrepancy between the subscription terms and their current billing, complain. If you don't get a response, then write to United States Bureau of Consumer Protection, and complain that the publisher is not living up to the terms of your contract. If you do complain, I recommend: 1. Make absolutely certain you have the facts right. 2. Review your complaint with your director, so she/he knows what's up. 3. Be polite, stick to the facts, and keep the grounds of your complaint consistent. 4. Once you start, pursue the complaint to the end. My view is that a subscription is a contract that can't be changed without the informed consent of both parties. However, as far as I know, my view has not made it through a court (can anyone correct me on that?). In this case the publisher is saying a volume consists of whatever they feel like making a volume. I find that unacceptable, but reasonable minds could differ. FWIW, my complaint was eventually resolved pretty much to my satisfaction, but it took a great deal of persistence, and an unwillingess to be bluffed into backing off. Believe me, they won't reply right off by saying "Gee, you're so right, please excuse us!" My library doesn't subscribe to this journal, but I'll keep an eye on our titles from that publisher. My feeling is that if we just pay bills like these while muttering under our breaths, it's the equivalent of saying "Thank you sir, may I have another" (picture the scene from Animal House). Formally complaining is a major hassle, but there's no reason why we should put up with unfair business practices. Steve Black Reference, Instruction, and Serials Librarian Neil Hellman Library The College of Saint Rose 392 Western Ave. Albany, NY 12203 (518) 458-5494 blacks@rosnet.strose.edu