From my perspective, I can only see this working if you have a small print collection, and apart from the payment method, you would have to consider whether you value a consolidation check-in/labelling service an agent can provide, how you deal with claiming cycles, and whether Amazon can keep up with the changing marketplace that now exists in the serials world.

 

I’m also curious as to how Amazon sells at such a discounted rate when list prices from publishers are much higher; for example, no agent usually offers a personal rate to an institution, and as Judith says, what about online tier prices?

 

Louise

 

Louise Cole

Senior Information Advisor (Collections)

Nightingale Centre, Kingston Hill Campus

Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

Surrey

KT2 7LB

 

Email louise.cole@kingston.ac.uk

Telephone 020 8417 5383 or 020 8417 7074

Fax 020 8417 5312

 

 

 

 

I agree with Judith, I can’t imagine trying to manage our subscriptions one by one.  I also don’t have the means to pay Amazon with a credit card, etc. Caitlin, have you spoken with EBSCO if you are not satisfied with them? 

 

 

 

I have order some titles through Amazon and have had very good luck.  What is even better is their magazine Subscription Management area.  You can print off invoices, check approximate expiration dates and email magazines through that area if you are having a problem and Amazon will assist if there is a problem.  I have ordered there for several years.  Reminders come from there for renewals and it is easy to renew there if you so desire.

Kathy Renner

---

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] on behalf of Downing, Caitlin [cdowning@SANTAROSA.EDU]
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 5:26 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Using AMAZON as a subscription service?

Hi All –

A library administrator came across the following (below) and wanting more information.  Have any of you considered using Amazon as a source for purchasing your library subscriptions (instead a subscription service like Cox or EBSCO?)  Either for all or part of your subscription list?

 

Hi,

 We’re dissatisfied with EBSCO’s service for our print periodicals. I learned that Amazon offers magazine subscriptions and I looked at some titles and the price difference is very attractive. I called Amazon Magazine Subscriptions customer service to ask if the subscription rate listed (for example, Scientific American is $24.97/year from Amazon vs. $69/year through EBSCO) is a personal rate and/or if they have an institutional subscription rate. The answer: Amazon provides the one rate to anyone who wants to subscribe. And, yes, a library can subscribe. Has anyone tried to use Amazon for some/all periodical subscriptions? Thanks.

 

(Sent by a Librarian at a Community College)

 

Thanks for any feedback you can give us.   Much appreciated.

 

Caitlin Downing

Library - Periodicals

Santa Rosa Jr. College

1501 Mendocino Ave.

Santa Rosa, CA   95401
(707)  527-4543

 

 

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