[Publib] Possible scam

[Meg VanPatten]

This happens a lot.   If they say that we have bought before I just say
no.  I do not get into any discussion or explanations just keep saying
NO.



*******************************************

Margaret (Meg) Van Patten, MLS
Head Reference/Adult Services
Baldwinsville Public Library
33 East Genesee Street
Baldwinsville, New York 13027-2575

http://www.bville.lib.ny.us

315-635-5631 ext 206 (voice)
315-635-6760 (fax)
megv at bville.lib.ny.us (e-mail)


-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Lynne Ingersoll
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 4:12 PM
To: 'Tom Cooper'; 'Julie Rinaldi'; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Possible scam

Along the same lines, though not a scam per se, I have had it with ABD.
They call frequently with package deals that sometimes sound ok.  This
time
it was the ARCO civil service, postal, firefighter and police exam
books.
When I opened the box three of the titles were 2005 editions (with the
2008
due for publication soon) which I already had.  The third was a 2008.
On
top of that, the great price per book was $29.99!!!  Retail is $14.99 -
$16.99 and B&T has them for $10.77.   I called them yesterday to tell
them I
was sending them back; they graciously said they wouldn't bill me for a
"restocking fee"; we have to pay the postage to return them.  This
happened
once before but I thought they'd cleaned up their act.  Then, another
person
called me today with a different pitch (for Petersen's titles).  I just
said
I wasn't interested and hung up.  The nerve!

Lynne S. Ingersoll
Reference Services Manager
Technical Services Manager
Blue Island Public Library
2433 York Street
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 388-1078 x21
(708) 388-9301 Fax


-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Tom Cooper
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:30 PM
To: Julie Rinaldi; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Possible scam

It's not so much a scam as a high pressure sales tactic that skirts the
boundaries of ethical behavior. Their 'plan B,' once you say no, is to
call again and try to get someone else on the phone who will fall for
it. They'll say something like, 'You always get our publications, we
just need to confirm the shipping address.' Sometimes it works, because
the person they get doesn't know that by offering the address, they have
just placed an order. That's why it's important to talk to everyone who
answers phones and make sure they understand that absolutely anything
dealing with ordering must be referred to whoever is responsible for
acquisitions or collection development. 

Tom Cooper, Director
Webster Groves Public Library
301 E. Lockwood
Webster Groves, MO 63119

(314) 961-3784
tcooper at wgpl.org

Do not judge beliefs by their plausibility, but by the harm they may do.
                                             Nassim Nicholas Taleb
-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Julie Rinaldi
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 12:16 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Possible scam

Has anyone else received a call from a publisher (Oxford something, I
think), insisting your library has bought "all" of its publications in
the past and wanting to send a new reference set for review?  The woman
told me we had purchased "Reference Library of Black American Men" and
"Reference Library of Black American Women" from this publisher, neither
of which is in our collection.  She insisted we had taken books from the
publisher on review before, which is a practice we don't follow, having
been burned once before.  I had to tell her no several times, after she
questioned our policy.  Just a heads up on a possible scam.


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