In addition, I think it's worth noting that we are not stupid enough to think
that we are going to get better services and a variety of access methods for
nothing.  If this "survey" were well-constructed, they would have asked how much
more we were willing to pay.  None of us would envisage an increase in the realm
of 71% though!  This view also supports the option of stepped subscriptions
where they offer a range of prices according to the package you take.

As for the assertion that the journal is underpriced by comparison to similar
titles - how on earth did they work that one out?!!  We would need some evidence
of their methodology... :)

Liz

Bowen Pat wrote:

> I attach the reply from my Journal Subscription Agent who I asked to make my
> views known about the increase in subscription to the Publisher of The
> American Journal of Psychiatry. My comments are attached at the end of the
> reply
>
> Pat
>
> Dear Pat
> I have just spoken to the Supervisor in charge of Customer Service for the
> above journal who assured me that they had undertaken a customer survey last
> year and found that customers would be willing to pay more if it included
> free internet access (thereby missing the point of free access, I feel) and
> they also discovered that their journal was considerably underpriced when
> placed alongside similar journals, hence the price increase. I pointed out
> that our customers were unhappy about this increase, especially those unable
> to use the free internet access but she said that the price remains and
> there are no discounts.
> This one is not a moveable feast apparently but I did try
> Regards
>
> 1.      I do not know how or who they surveyed but we were not conscious of
> it. It was probably an insert in the journal which as Librarians we do not
> read.
>
> 2.      They have also missed the point that they are requesting a back
> payment half way through the year when I have already settled the bill and
> closed my last years finances.
>
> 3.      Their readers are divided into several catagories
>
>                                 Dec 1999                Jan2000         Rise
>         Institutional           $165                    $310            $145
>         Individual              $108                    $116            $
> 8
>         Student                 $  54                   $  58           $
> 4
>
>         Overseas
>         Institutional           $219                    $375            $156
>         Individual              $165                    $176            $
> 11
>         Student                 $82.50                  $88.50          $
> 6
>         Single copy             $21.00                  $21.00          $
> 0
>
>         It seems that the Institutional subscriber has been hit the hardest
>         Taking the American rates in 1999 the Institutional was approx. one
> third more than the individual. In 2000 the Institutional is more than twice
> the individual!
>
>         I expect that Individual members who is probably working in the
> field would not mind paying $8 about £4 in English money to have the journal
> online. Also an IP address might not be a problem for them as they might
> have access to an IP address at either work or home and therefore be able to
> keep the printed version at the other place. Also they might be able to
> register two IP addresses. Some of us can not register an IP address.
>
>         It is also likely that they could claim the subscription against tax
> therefore a 40% tax payer would only pay 60% of the increase. Getting the
> journal this way they also do not pay VAT as they are paying a printed paper
> rate not an e-journal rate.
>
>         The Institutional Library is being forced to pay rises for many
> journals. If all publishers were to raise their prices by 71% to give
> ejournals to their readers, or because they thought they were charging less
> than other journals!  then many libraries would have to cancel a large
> number of subscriptions. There is no extra money coming into my budget for
> ejournals.or for raised subscriptions.
>
> 4.      If they felt they were undercharging compared to others why is the
> single issue price $21 this year and last, no change! Is this because the
> single issue purchase would not get access to the ejournal? If so it almost
> proves that the increase is because of the ejournal not because they felt
> they were undercharging.
>
> 5.      Why should we let them get away with this? It was probably
> Librarians who have had the largest rise that never knew about the survey
> and how many did reply out of those asked we  as Librarians know that with a
> questionnaire the percentage return is very low. Probably only those really
> interested in having the ejournal replied and were Institutional members
> told that it would increase by 71% if they said yes?
>
>

--

Liz James
Technical Services Librarian
King's Fund
11/13 Cavendish Square
London W1M 0AN
Tel: 020-7307 2559
Fax: 020-7307 2805

www.kingsfund.org.uk

"No heaven wil not ever Heaven be
Unless my cats are there to welcome me."




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