Thanks very much to all of you who sent me information and advice on this matter.
I apologize for the delay in responding... got busy -- you know the deal.
I rec'd many private replies, too many to list verbatim. I was surprised by how many of the responses expressed very similar views.
Many of the respondents had derogatory things to say about EBSCO -- the others were silent about them (no one had nice things to say). The two primary recommendations were to either switch to William S. Hein & Co. (Hein) or to do away with a subscription agent altogether.
Among the recommendations for switching to another subscription agent, Hein was the overwhelming recommendation. Respondents had plenty of nice things to say about Hein. BTW, I gave Hein a call and it looks like they'll be cheaper than EBSCO for any subscription over $57, since they don't charge a percentage of the subscription.
Two companies had one recommendation each, Blackwells and CW Associates.
As for the tax issue, I still do not have a satisfactory answer. Our accounting department is looking into it now. I've got different independent opinions from both sides of the issue. From what I know now, I'm thinking we probably do have to pay the tax, but I'm not entirely sure -- and probably won't be until I find the time to research it myself.
A VP/General Manager from EBSCO called me after seeing my post on law-lib. I'm always impressed when companies monitor listservs and respond to indirect complaints (I suppose I'm easily impressed). Anyway, he said that he'd be more than happy to refund the tax we paid if I could show him the law that said we didn't have to pay it. He was very nice, but to me, the service-oriented response would have been for them to show me the law that says I have to pay the tax. If they wanted to keep my business, they would have made things easy for me. Vendors out there, that goes for all of you.
I could have explained all of this to EBSCO, but I didn't feel like arguing... and didn't have to... because I have decent alternatives to EBSCO's service.
Thanks again to all of you for your responses, and sorry for the delay in responding.
Don't mean to sound like a broken record, but this list is the best.
-- Mike
Michael Dahn
Manager of Intranet Development and Library Services
Carlton Fields (http://www.carltonfields.com)
813-223-7000
mdahn@carltonfields.com
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