Whilst I don't subscribe to this particular product we do have a number
of e-journals. I think it is ludicrous to have such a massive increase
unless the volume and breadth of content is correspondingly increased,
and I whilst I have come across similar requests in the past would never
agree to paying so much and have successfully negotiated down such
requests in the past. Agreeing to such demands just builds up problems
for the future.  I will now unashamedly plug a course that I do for
ASLIB on negotiating online subscriptions ;-)

Negotiating Online Subscriptions
21 May 2004 pm - FULLY BOOKED! 
21 May 2004 am 
20 September 2004 pm 
6 December 2004 pm 
?150 plus VAT (?176.25) Aslib corporate members 
?187.50 plus VAT (?220.31) Non members 
Half day workshops
Programme Features
A key introduction to the thorny issue of negotiating with suppliers,
covering: 

Preparing for meetings 
Practical clauses for letters reserving the right to cancel your
subscription 
What to look at in the contract 
Hints and tips for arguing your case 
How to get the price down and/or negotiate more favourable terms 
Strategies to keep costs down for future years 
Discussion of own experiences and concerns 
Why you should attend:
It is tough out there at the moment. We all need to make an impression
on our employers and one way we can achieve this is to save money. It is
often awkward talking about money and this session gives practical
guidance on how to broach the subject with the publisher. This session
is aimed at anyone who has to deal with online resource renewals, new
subscriptions or cancellations. The workshop provides practical tips and
strategies you can really use. Delegates will be able to learn from the
experience of the presenter as well as have the opportunity to discuss
their own experiences. 

On completing the course, you will be able to:
understand the preparation needed before negotiation begins 
have to hand tips and solutions that you can use in negotiating down a
price 
feel more confident about negotiating down a price with a publisher 
hopefully, impress your employer with the savings that you make, without
compromising on the resources. 

http://www.aslib.co.uk/training/2/18.html

Kind regards

Fiona

Fiona Durrant
Library & Information Centre Manager
Knowledge Management Department
Baker & McKenzie
100 New Bridge Street
London EC4V 6JA
Direct: + 44 (0)20 7919 1858
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7919 1000
Fax: + 44 (0)20 7919 1999



-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by the UK Serials Group
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Marina Logan-Bruce
Sent: 05 May 2004 16:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Nature price increases


yes we were also gobsmacked but we've paid up this year because of user
demand. our bill was about 50% up on last year

Marina

Marina Logan Bruce
Library Services Manager
St. George's Hospital Medical School
Cranmer Terrace
LONDON SW17 0RE
Tel: 020 8725 5452


----- Original Message -----
From: James Watson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2004 5:27 pm
Subject: Nature price increases

> Dear all,
>
> Here at UCL we've just received our quote for the renewal of the
> majorityof our Nature e-journals. I was rather shocked to discover
> that the price
> increase across the 14 titles was nearly 75% on last year.
>
> I contacted NPG about the large price increase and the reasons
> that were
> given were the introduction of COUNTER compliant stats and that the
> e-journals were previously under priced in comparison with the print.
>
> hmm. Seems like a big increase to me...
>
> Has everyone else out there had a similar experience?
>
> cheers
> James
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> James Watson
> Electronic Journals Administrator
> Library Services
> University College London
> Gower Street
> London
> WC1E 6BT
> 020 7679 7380
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/ejournal/
>
>
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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