I read the emails with interest, and now have these experiences to relate: I ordered a DVD which did *not* show individual/institutional pricing from a dealer on Amazon. The dealer cancelled my order & then sent me an email with a link to his web site, saying that since we're a library, we had to order it there. I didn't think it was fair that he could post something on Amazon and then refuse to sell it to certain customers. I'm letting Amazon know.
I also found another DVD on Amazon which the dealer had listed with both an individual & an institutional price. Nothing daunted by the above experience, I ordered the individual one. That dealer filled the order without comment. And finally, I found & ordered a DVD which said nothing about institutional orders. The order was filled, but today I received a nice, somewhat plaintive letter from the director/dealer, saying he thought only individuals would buy from Amazon & that libraries would go to his web site. He's hoping I'll pay the difference. He's very nice & polite, and admits he's new to selling his work. I'm nonplussed as to how to answer his letter, but suppose I will come up with some diplomatic way of telling him that if he lists things on Amazon, anyone can buy them, and that I feel no necessity for paying the difference, while appreciating the struggles of independent filmmakers. MM Margery L. May Acquisitions Administrator Wesleyan University Library Acquisitions Department Olin Memorial Library 252 Church Street Middletown, CT 06459 860-685-3834 [email protected]
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
