Firm Order Vendor Survey Responses

Summary of Answers from Firm Order Vendor Survey

1) Briefly describe the volume of domestic and foreign firm orders your
department makes.
We received a wide range of numbers, but the average for domestic firm
orders in one year was approximately 10,700 with a range from 3,900 to
22,800.
The average for foreign orders was approximately 5,300 with a range from
100 to 17,500.

2) Have you shifted from a country of publication orientation to some
other approach for your firm orders?
Three of the eight responses were no.  The remaining five all responded
yes,
but for very different reasons.  Some of the reasons included vendor
performance, electronic transmission of data, Web presence, use of a
jobber, and unreliable foreign distributors.

3) If so, have you measured the success of this approach?
Some of the measurements report increased efficiency.  The main criteria
in selecting a vendor for some departments is the level of discount
followed by the delivery time, shipping costs, status reporting and
number of errors.  One department uses “surrogates”, UK and US
distributors in place of Latin American and African distributors, to
improve in quality and reliability of service.  An another general
criterion lies in which source for a particular title can supply it most
quickly.

4) What criteria do you use in selecting firm order vendors for domestic
vendors?
? timeliness
? client history
? value-added service provision
? responsiveness
? tolerance of ambiguity
? discounts
? coverage
? clear and accurate invoices
? shipping costs
? Web services
? Excellence in customer service

5) Do you use different criteria for foreign vendors than you do for
domestic?  If so, what differs?
Most of the responses replied that their expectations were higher for
domestic vendors.  Different criteria included higher expectations of
domestic vendors in the areas of online ordering, shelf ready processing
and bibliographic records.  Other criteria for foreign vendors are
communications, geographic proximity, whether they accept payment in US
dollars and turnaround time.  One response differed saying their
department does not have different criteria and we need to be realistic
and accept technological development of the country where the vendor is
located.

6) How does the fact that a request is rush affect your vendor selection
for domestic orders?
Many of the answers point to going direct, using the web and consulting
records on vendor performance.

7) How does the fact that a request is rush affect your vendor selection
for foreign orders?
The common response seemed to be that rushing a foreign order is a sort
of oxymoron, but other answers suggest once again vendor performance and
speed.

8) How do you handle selector suggestions regarding vendor choice?
All of the responses indicated they welcome suggestions but reserve the
right to make the final decision in selecting a vendor.  One department
agrees with bibliographers upon vendors for each country to avoid later
discussion.  Another responded it depends on the title involved.

Thanks to all of those who took the time to respond and provide insights
into the factors affecting their firm order vendor selection decisions.
Janet
--

                             Janet L. Flowers
                      Head / Acquisitions Department
                                  CB 3902
                               Davis Library
                 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
                        Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890

                           Phone:  919-962-1120
                            FAX:   919-962-4450
                     url: http://www.lib.unc.edu/acq/