[Michlib-l] Magazines through Amazon results

[Dana Allen]

Thank you again to everyone that responded. Here is the feedback that I've
received:



>
1:26 PM (8 minutes ago)

I have had really bad luck with Amazon magazines, personally.
Subscriptions never start, yet they keep renewing them.



We have used Popular Subscription Service for over 20 years – and every
year when I get three quotes – they are still the least expensive.  If
anyone happens to be lower (Revistas, sometimes), they are willing to work
with you to reduce the price.  We have used WT Cox and EBSCO for quotes –
and they are consistently higher.



There are some libraries that use Magazine Subscription Service Agency–
they are very cheap – but I think there was something about them that made
me cautious.  Maybe that they were meant for doctor’s office reception
rooms?  But when I look at their site – they seem to be for public
libraries.  So, maybe I should look into them again!



I’ll be glad to see what you get back!
Melissa Huisman <mhuisman at hudsonville.org
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For our fiscal year 2017-2018 I used Amazon to order all of our magazines
(we have about 60 titles) and it was deceptively easy to purchase and set
up, and a giant pain in the butt to actually manage. If you have very few
titles it might be easier but it will still take some dedication to make
sure things are renewing properly, renewing at a fair price, or not
canceled entirely. At the end of that year I stopped using Amazon to manage
our magazines and moved to WTCox. I've been very happy with them, though it
has not been quite a full year yet.
Devin Erlandson
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I haven't ordered through Amazon for my library but I have for myself.  My
biggest drawback is that it automatically renews each year without warning-
ie: I see on my credit card that I have been charged again.  And it doesn't
renew at a discounted price but at whatever full price is.  You might be
able to turn off automatic renewal but usually you get a better price the
first year if you have it turned on.

I will say that I used Amazon to look for some new magazines back in
November as it seemed many of the magazines we were getting kept ceasing
publication.  The company we use was able to get all of them for us which
was a huge plus.  Price was the same too as Amazon too.

Good luck!

Kerry Fountain, Director
Saranac Public Library 616-642-9146
Clarksville Area Library  616-693-1001
sarkf at llcoop.org
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I've ordered from Amazon for about 10 years. They don't sell all of the
magazine subscriptions available through direct purchase. Sometimes I renew
through Amazon; sometimes I renew from the renewal notice I'm sent by the
publisher. Often when I "renew" through Amazon they initiate a new
subscription and I have to report duplicate issues to the publisher and get
it sorted out.

But if it saves me money (and it has), it is worth the headache--budgets
and public perception being what they are. I just can't rely on Amazon for
everything.

Regards,
Jessica

T.A. Cutler Memorial Library
312 Michigan Ave.
Saint Louis, Michigan  48880

(989) 681-5141

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Hi Dana,

I am not a fan of Amazon's billing for our corporate account.  We use them
as a secondary for books, A/V, requests, miscellaneous items, etc.  I think
their monthly statement could be streamlined.  They have also stopped
including any backup documentation with shipments.

Amazon has some very eye catching magazine prices, but these seem to be
introductory offers that would generate a full bill after three months or
so.  One that stood out to me was "The Economist."  It looks like a great
deal at $12, but this is a 3 month initial subscription with auto-renew.
Their standard year is $152 with auto renew and that is $25 higher than our
rate through our regular vendor.  Prices fluctuate from magazine to
magazine.  Marie Claire seems to be almost free.  Harper's is double our
jobber's price.  Midwest Living is 1/3 the price.  I would be wary of
unexpected price increases through auto-renew.

It would be interesting to know how Amazon handles claims for missed
issues.  The standard magazine jobbers are pretty good at getting
replacements or getting the subscription extended when issues fail to show
up.

Over the years, we have switched between Faxon (defunct), Ebsco, WT Cox,
Ebsco and we're now with Rivistas.  We haven't used Popular.  All offered
competitive pricing, especially to lure new business. They also offer a
different level of service targeted to libraries.  If these are ephemeral
items in your collection and it doesn't matter if they arrive or come back,
Amazon might work.  I am skeptical that Amazon would provide the same level
of service as a subscription manager.  You may find you are managing all
your subscriptions individually with the publishers, which would create
more work for staff unless the collection is considered disposable.

I would recommend putting your package of titles together and shopping it
to all the jobbers that service libraries.  None will be able to match some
of Amazon's prices, but the comparison will give you the best reasonable
prices, the annual opportunity to see price increases and cancel
subscriptions as necessary.  Hope that helps some.

Paul



Paul McCann				Dexter District Library
Library Director			3255 Alpine St.
Phone: 734-426-4477			Dexter, MI 48130
Fax: 734-426-1217			www.dexter.lib.mi.us

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I just got a quote from magazine subscription service agency.  They
were lightning fast!

Their quote was over $500 cheaper than Popular.  Their website does
say they handle libraries as one of their target markets.  It might be
worth asking for a quote.



I just emailed them my excel list of current titles and they got back
to me within an hour!



Melissa Huisman

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Hope this is helpful and if you discover a new and improved solution,
please share!

-- 
Dana Allen
Administrative Clerk
Howell Carnegie District Library
Howell, Michigan
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