While I understand the desire for pricing transparency, I can't
think of an industry where it is practiced, or understand the
value to the buyer, since it often favors the seller.
When I was a publisher and purchasing printing, composition, or
Web services, there was no openness in pricing. I am sure in
other services purchased by universities, from IS services to
construction, contracts are awarded in response to RFPs, often on
a closed bid basis.
Perhaps there are economists on the listserv who can comment on
whether open or hidden pricing trends lower pricing for buyers.
My experience with printing services is that closed pricing
drives down prices, as printers cut margins to the minimum or
bundle services to gain business. I would think that librarians
have the greatest bargaining power when they are not operating
from a take-it-or-leave-it menu of prices.
Peter Banks
Banks Publishing
Publications Consulting and Services
pbanks@bankspub.com
On 9/25/06 6:21 PM, "Debi Baker" <ddbaker@uoregon.edu> wrote:
Good luck, Rick! I've had to speak to such a lawyer and found
the major concern was based on his own actions during law
school where he violated fair use. Seems we are seeing a lot
more of this, particularly in the newly-minted JDs.
Regards,
********************************************************************
Debi Baker Orbis Cascade Alliance
Projects Manager ddbaker@uoregon.edu
1299 University of Oregon voice: (541) 346-1832
Eugene, OR 97403-1299 fax: (541) 346-1968
********************************************************************
On Fri, 22 Sep 2006, Rick Anderson wrote:
(Apologies for cross-posting)
Some readers of this list might recall recent discussion of a
newly revised clause in Nature's license agreement, one which now
requires that the library keep both the license terms and the
price confidential. When I objected (strenuously) to this license
provision to my sales rep -- and mentioned the problem on-list --
I was told that the pricing confidentiality language was going to
be taken out and that pricing information was going to be posted
publicly. Now the word from Nature is that the pricing
confidentiality language is staying in after all, even though it
is apparently still going to be posted publicly (if you figure
that one out, let me know).
If this bothers you, you may want to register your displeasure
with the company. When I did so, I was told that "it's the
lawyers." I've asked to speak with one of the lawyers. We'll
see whether that happens.
FYI,
Rick Anderson
----
Rick Anderson
Dir. of Resource Acquisition
University of Nevada, Reno Libraries
rickand@unr.edu