A 75% discount??? Wow -- We only got a 50% discount. Of course that was a
year ago.
In all candor, I too was skeptical with this offer, but it really is
reasonable. What they offered to us was everything that we get in paper
which is also on UCC Search would be 50% off if we purchase the UCC
Search, It really worked out to be cheaper.
The pitfalls, and I did encounter them, included an inability on the part
of CBC to break the invoice over two fiscal years (something we wanted).
They were able to statement us on a monthly basis (i.e. break the cost out
over 12 months), but they could not divide it by two. When they did break
it out for us they could not send separate invoices, but rather we had to
pay off of the statements. We prefer to pay from invoices.
The second hurdle was in the paper products. I had to call customer
service and accounting when the invoices did not show the agreed upon 50%
discount. Some of us would hold that this is their intention, to not come
through with their promise. I, however am willing to believe that someone
had not entered the correct information, or something like that. Anyway,
we had to refigure what titles should be included in the package and get
credit for some invoices, etc. etc.
It was a headache, but ultimately the savings was worth while. Our
situation was probably somewhat unique; at least I haven't heard of any
other similar stories. I hope however, that they have ironed out the
problems, because a company should be ready to stand behind any promotion
they put out.
******************************************
******************************************
*** ***
*** Jim Mumm ***
*** Acquisitions / Serials Librarian ***
*** ***
*** Law Library ***
*** Marquette University ***
*** Sensenbrenner Hall ***
*** 1103 W. Wisconsin Avenue ***
*** P.O. Box 3137 ***
*** Milwaukee, WI 53201-3137 ***
*** ***
*** mummj@vms.csd.mu.edu ***
*** TEL : (414) 288-5351 ***
*** FAX : (414) 288-5914 ***
*** ***
******************************************
******************************************
On Mon, 4 Dec 1995, Karol Sokol wrote:
> Okay, are we ready for the latest CBC snake oil salesman "offer"? I
> returned from lunch to find a message from our account rep about a
> special offer concerning their UCC service. Starting in 1996, CBC is
> offering a 75% discount on the price of the print service (case digests
> and treatise that currently cost approximately $4200/year) if we purchase
> the CD-ROM disk for $995 (this would include 12 months of up-dates).
> This was presented as a "win-win" situation. The print version would
> cost $1050 plus $995 for the CD-ROM, saving us $2155 in 1996. Of course,
> there was no mention of what would happen in 1997. If lawyers become
> comfortable with the CD-ROM (which is highly unlikely), will the price
> jump to some astronomical figure in 1997? Will the print version revert
> to the $4200 price, plus the price of the CD-ROM?
>
> Quite frankly, I am getting tired of the greed of the legal publishing
> community. I am also getting tired of salesmen telling me that "so and
> so law firm has already done this, so you have to also to maintain your
> competitive edge", when, in fact, I learn, from a single phone call, that
> so and so firm has not made a decision yet and is waiting for more
> information!!!! Do these people think we are idiots? By the way, for
> all the CBC Sales and Marketing people who read this message, please
> don't bother to respond. Your justifications for pure and simple greed
> are really getting on my nerves.
>
> Karol Sokol
> Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
> cgsh@netcom.com
>
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