Responses follow the original posting. These appeared in my email today.
Where they have been for a month is a mystery of the internet. They are
from 1/9/03. Apologies to the posters. See #6 for a little different
take. ja
From: Mary-Bess Halford <mhalford_at_bethanywv.edu>
I am having a problem with a very pushy company called IT DataDirect which
claims that I have signed on for a number of its products when I am quite
sure that I have not. The procedure is that the item has been on back
order and is now winging its way to me attached to a very hefty price
tag. Has anybody else had trouble with them? How do I get them to
stop? Or am I just developing a persecution complex? Thanks for any
insight you can give.
Mary-Bess Halford
Library Director
T. W. Phillips Memorial Library
Bethany College
Bethany, WV 26032
Responses: #5
1/9/03
From: "Janellyn P Kleiner" <jkleiner_at_lsu.edu>
Different name --- that's why I didn't recognize them. They have been
operating that scam for years. They tried it on us a few times until they
realized that we were not going to bite. We don't pay for what we don't
order and that's that.Do not be threatened by them or other so-called
companies trying to run similar scans.
Recently, a new one cropped up in Louisiana --- supposedly all universities
were to order all books through this one vendor. We ignored it -- I don't
know what happened with the smaller schools -- I do know that some were
asking questions about the "vendor".
Jane Kleiner
Associate Dean of Libraries for Collection Services
The LSU Libraries
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
===== #6
1/9/03
From: Oak Knoll Books <johnlaird_at_oakknoll.com>
I have read with interest the replies about the Problem Companies and scam
artists that are making life difficult for librarians. The other side of
the coin is they are also making it difficult for legitimate
publishers. For example, I work for a small (30-40 new books a year)
specialty (books about books) publisher and because we feel the jobbers are
doing a poor job of representing us, we are starting a new direct marketing
effort. This new program will save libraries 30% off retail and get books
delivered faster. However, when I try to find out who is the right person
to talk to in collection development by making cold calls to libraries I am
met with suspicion and distrust. This is a new experience for me because
we have been in business over 25 years and have some of the most
prestigious libraries in the world as clients. Almost every library has at
least few of our titles, "Encyclopedia Of The Book" or "ABC For Book
Collectors" for example and some have hundreds of our titles. We really
want to help libraries, while making enough profit to stay in business,
because books are our business. But if you won't talk to us because you
don't know who we are and we can't tell you who we are because you won't
talk to us, we will both be losing out.
So to help you identify the "Problem Companies" ask them if they are a
member of the Association of American Publishers ( web site
http://www.publishers.org/ ). This is the principle trade association of
the book publishing industry and insists it members uphold the highest
ethical standards. They have a list of member companies on the web site,
most with links, so you can quickly verify a company is a member. There
are legitimate companies who are not members but this is one easily checked
filter that you can use to identify who is legitimate.
Now you can help me. How do I contact the right person in your library
and convince them I am legitimate so I can explain our new program?
You can reply on list, off list, or stop our booth at the American
Library
Association Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia and talk to me in person. I
really would like your input.
Sincerely,
John Laird
Director of Library Sales
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware Street
New Castle, DE 19720 USA
Phone: 302-328-7232
Fax: 302-328-7274
E-mail: johnlaird_at_oakknoll.com
Web: http://www.oakknoll.com
Received on Fri Feb 07 2003 - 02:14:54 EST