---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1993 16:45:00 CST
From: THOMAS SANDERS <TSANDERS%AUDUCVAX.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Re: Vendors and Service Charges (Scott B. Wicks)

I think we should also remember that with different vendors the mix of
services covered by the service charge may be different (i.e. an initial
low service charge may end up costing more if there are special services
needed which involve additional per-service charges with one vendor but
not the other).  Other factors include discounts for early payment,
charges or discounts related to provision of invoice in special formats,
and the general level of service received.  The size of the subscription
list, as well as the mix of titles, may affect service charge bid.

There has also been some interesting work lately on the relative prices
paid for the same journals through different vendors.  In a library with many
foreign subscriptions, this difference might prove more significant than the
actual service charge.

Thomas Sanders, Serials, Auburn University, AL (tsanders@auducvax)