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Amazing
Correspondence: Spamming for Complementary Copies
TAA
members are invited to submit exchanges with their editors that
will illuminate author-publisher relations in a way that may
benefit fellow authors.
As with this account, names have been changed, as well as other
specific identifying information, to protect the vulnerable.
TAA
Analysis
"When comp copies enter the used-book market, they contribute
to rising textbook prices. Fluer doesn't mention this, perhaps
because he never considered the deleterious implications of
his business on college students. Every sale of a used book
is one less of a new book, which cuts into the revenue that
publishers need to amortize their expenses over the life of
an edition. To make up revenue lost to the used-book industry,
publishers have no choice but to boost prices to cover their
costs. This price inflation, initiated by the presence of used
books, then permits the used-book industry to boost its prices.
It's a vicious cycle that the used-book industry is perpetuating.
Students lose. Mr. Fluer is not the student's friend."
"My, my, Josh Fluer is so naive. There is no dignity in selling
comp copies. Profs who do it are the low-life scums of academe.
I've never known one who doesn't pocket the money. Give it to
charity? Give me a break."
"Professor Smythe makes an excellent point. Many universities
have regulations that prohibit Avon ladies and magazine subscription
solicitors from the dorms. Many of these regulations are drafted
to also keep solicitors from interfering with the business of
the university, including calls on faculty in their offices.
Solicitations by e-mail should be referred to university authorities
for an official response that tells the solicitor that he is
violating the rules. While enforcement may be difficult, such
a notice may discourage some of this untoward activity."
|
Some comp-copy solicitors
still expend shoe leather plying the halls of academe, but Josh Fluer
has bought a modem and gone modern.
September 25, 2000
This amazing correspondence began with Fluer's e-mail spam to faculty:
Dear
Professor:
Hope that you had a great summer!
If I can be
of help to you, this Fall, with any textbooks you no longer need,
please feel free to contact me.
Thank you!
Josh Fluer |
September 25,
2000
A textbook author who took umbrage at the solicitation fired back:
Josh
Fluer:
I believe that university regulations prohibit commercial activity
of the sort you are suggesting on university property, not mention
the moral issue of trafficking in textbooks that were never intended
for secondary sale.
Rachel Smythe
|
September 25,
2000
Practiced at not being well received, Fluer had a ready response. Here
it is, nonsequitur and all:
Hello,
Professor Smythe
I appreciate your not be interested in shedding any unnecessary
textbooks. Below, is my standard reply for replies like yours.
1) The publishers are far too busy, and unconcerned, about the sale
of exam/review copies. The company I send my books to was built
for the purpose of buying textbooks that professors receive. Every
year, they publish a guide to every US college campus, telling when
the begin and end the school year, and when they are on breaks/vacations.
Last weekend, while attending a baseball game in Pittsburgh, I sat
next to a Prentice Hall rep. I didn't tell him that I buy textbooks,
but I asked him what he thought about it. He said that companies
like Prentice-Hall don't take the time to worry about it. They print
up additional copies, each year, for professor review/exam copies,
and the additional cost of doing so is minimal. I asked him why
they don't send a 3-hole punched, unbound copy, instead, that couldn't
be sold. He said, that would cost money! I've even had a professor
e-mail me, saying that she received 4 copies of a textbook when
she requested 1 copy.
2) I suppose that DeVry considers that the professor is "pocketing
the money" paid by a book buyer? Unfortunately, there is no other
means of trade that people are interested in when I buy books. Many
times, I encourage professors that are hesitant to accept the money
to donate it to their department, school, or a charity. Perhaps,
if you have so many review/exam copies, that is something DeVry
should consider?
3) If you consider that, somewhere in the US, a college student
will be able to buy that book for a class they are taking, it really
doesn't make sense to just give un-required texts to students. Textbooks,
like produce, are very perishable. Yes, students will "pick up"
copies of free textbooks, in hallways, when professors offer them.
But, what is the probability that they will actually use the book,
one day? Most times, it's rare - at best.
4) Another issue that is important is that most every book comes
to a professor with their name on it. True, they work for the institution.
And, 9 out of 10 times, the text is sent to the institution (with
the professors name on it). I encourage professors who are skeptical
to consider that fact. As I pointed out, the publishers are far
too busy to worry about who is making $10 here, and $20 there. And,
since it is the professors prerogative (sp?) to keep it, throw it
in the trash, flush it down the toilet, bury it in the backyard,
etc., I feel it's their choice to sell it, should they so desire.
According to another bookbuyer, in KS, the State of Kansas has/is
debating this?
5) Sure, I'd like to make a buck when I can. We all have to earn
income, some way, that is legal. This practice is certainly legal.
I report my earnings (and deductions) to the IRS. Though many professors/institutions
look unfavorably toward book-buying, I would again urge you to consider
the fact that textbooks are very perishable. All too often, a professor
invites me to look upon a stack of textbooks that have been sitting
around for years. Since only the current edition has significant
value, it makes sense to get something for a textbook while it still
has value. And again, if the professor wants to donate the funds
to charity, etc., I really don't get involved. I wouldn't expect
to be given the books for free, especially since I'm in it to make
money.
In Summary, again I don't expect to change your mind. If DeVry has
a "clear-cut" policy on this, I would say, "fine." I'd be interested
in seeing a copy of it, if that is the case. If this policy has
been designed by you (which I certainly am not implying), I believe
you are incorrect in your decision. Overall, you cannot stop a professor
from taking books home to keep at their home library. Should they
choose to invite me over and buy them, how would you ever know?
My advice and recommendation, should you choose to accept it, is
to allow professors to decide which textbooks will never be looked
at again, are "collecting dust," and could raise significant funds
for student projects, activities, etc., that would be more difficult
to raise. I can provide those funds, everyone will be better off,
considering that students are highly unlikely to ever look at review/exam
copies they pick-up for free, and the publishers could "care less." |
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