---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 12:24:46 -0500
From: Susan Andrews <Susan_Andrews@TAMU-COMMERCE.EDU>
Subject: Re: International Financial Statistics Yearbook (Rani Sinha)

In my opinion, every vendor has one or two features that I especially like
or don't like.  I haven't found any that I think are perfect.  As to the
claiming problem, I have 2 suggestions.  First let EBSCO know that you
*did* claim in time (and you should have proof of those claims somewhere).
Second, there is a list (and it is free), that EBSCO can send you that
gives unusual claiming restrictions from your publishers.  It takes a fair
amound of manpower and time to go through and reset your claiming times on
your system or to make notes regarding claiming, but sometimes it is worth
it.
Now as to the price increases (from another post on the same vein), I had
to get used to that myself, when I started working with that part of the
job.  However, at this point, I am aware of only one vendor who claims not
to pass on price increases, and the service from that vendor has been
appalling, according to all reports (and this is not all third-hand gossip
- my little sister (also a librarian) works at a library that uses this
vendor and they are desperately trying to get another (and asked my advice
on the subject)).

Another comment, from other posts on vendor service, or really an
observation that needs to be made, is that you may think that you have
given your vendor plenty of time to correct the problem, but they are
working with the *publishers* and they are the ones that it takes so long
to get through to (usually).  I got aggravated with address problems last
year, so I decided to bypass my vendor and see if I did any better.  Three
to four letters per publication, and about a year later, I decided that the
problem was not my vendor, but the publisher (one publisher repeatedly
informed me that the address correction I kept sending was the address they
were using and I repeatedly sent them copies of my address label showing
them that that was **not** the case).

I am not saying that the vendors are perfect, I am just saying that you
need to cut them a little slack and remember that they are having to deal
with the publishers (which can be a real adventure).

At 07:13 PM 04/11/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 10:16:29 -0400
>From: Rani Sinha <sinhav@mail.lafayette.edu>
>Subject: for serialsst, please
>
>Lafayette College has a standing order with the IMF,  publisher of
>*International Financial Statistics Yearbook* via EBSCO, our serials
>vendor.  We paid for the 2000 edition in advance, but the volume failed
>to arrive.  We were finally informed by EBSCO that the publishers have
>said since we did not claim the missing issue within three months, we
>must pay again for a "replacement."  We have been claiming all through
>the calendar year and in any case did not know there was a three month
>limit for claiming.
>
>Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?  Any suggestions from
>readers?  I definitely don't want to pay a second time.  That smacks of
>sleaziness.  Thanks.
>V. Rani Sinha
>Acquisitions/Serials Librarian
>Skillman Library
>Lafayette College
>Easton, PA
>
Susan Andrews
Head, Serials Librarian
Texas A&M University-Commerce
P.O. Box 3011
Commerce, TX 75429-3011
Susan_Andrews@tamu-commerce.edu
(903)886-5733