Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 20:11:03 -0500
From: Rosanna O'Neil (Siena Library Co.) <siena_at_blazenet.net>
Subject: Caveat Emptor--know the market price before buying online
Dear Colleagues:
In this profession, if we don't help each other, who will? As a friend
and
colleague, I would like offer you some assistance in safeguarding your
budgets when buying online.
The Internet offers many options for acquisitions departments,
especially
the plethora of online retailers. These retailers at first were a
panacea, offering fast, effective means for acquiring materials
directly.
However, our extensive experience with online buying has led us to one
conclusion: CAVEAT EMPTOR!
The Dotcom retailers offering new and/or used items, while pointedly
courting libraries, are not policing their sites and are thereby
condoning
the presence of questionable, and sometimes dishonest sellers despite
complaints. The trust that libraries enjoy with the traditional library
vendor
is lost on an online retailer/used book site as their mixed agenda makes
libraries just another customer, not their main focus. Their goal is to
build
highly profitable websites and the size of the database is the means to
that end. They will, therefore, allow anyone to sell there including
individuals that reload entire websites (most often copyrighted and
taken
without permission), and then sell items they don't own at exaggerated
prices meant to deceive the buyer.
What is worse is that as long as the website (and appallingly the
owners of the stolen databases) profit from the consumer who succumbs
to the scammers' traps ("consumers" including libraries, whose trust the
website owner has cultivated and enjoys), the deception continues and
the libraries pay the price. So while the Internet has made it easier
for
libraries to order, for example, rush orders and out-of-print titles,
this
medium for buying has unfortunately become a less desirable place for
libraries as it has also created an unpoliced environment where
libraries
can be victimized.
Based on this current climate, I would like to suggest that libraries
use
the following website BEFORE buying any books online. Avoid the
temptation to go to your favorite site just because you have a credit
card
or they invoice libraries. It is truly worthwhile to do your homework
because
the more prepared you are, the safer your funds will be.
www.addall.com
(there are others, but I find this one to be the most
efficient and effective; I am not connected with this site in any way)
For those who have never used it, the entry page of this website offers
new
book price comparisons, but also includes some new/used sites. There is
a
link on this page to the "used books" page. We search BOTH of these
areas
before buying as the "used books" page offers a fuller picture of the
used
market, whereas the initial price comparison page only offers used book
sites
that also sell new books. ADDALL is also adding other formats like CDs
and
videos. These areas are less developed but are growing as well.
When using ADDALL, search a few different ways, not just by ISBN. And
with
search strategies, especially on the "used books" side, less is better.
Rosanna O'Neil, M.L.S.
Siena Library Company
"When you need service, not just a database"
2101 Pennsylvania Ave., Ste. 101
York, PA 17404-1754
PH: (717) 852-8712
FAX: (717) 852-8554
Received on Tue Nov 26 2002 - 20:25:55 EST