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Re: Architects, Contractors,Engineers Guide to Construction Costs -- 2003 -- 3 messages Stephen Clark 12 Feb 2003 18:26 UTC

3 messages:

1)-------------------------------------

Subject: RE:Architects, Contractors,Engineers Guide to Construction Costs
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 11:43:06 -0500
From: "McCall, Patti" <Patti.McCall@albmolecular.com>

How would they be able to prove a library even received the book?  Into
the circular file it goes.....
Patti

2)------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 09:56:42 -0700
From: Dan Lester <dan@riverofdata.com>
Organization: RiverOfData.com
Subject: Re[2]: Architects,Contractors,Engineers Guide to Construction
Costs -- 2003 -- Lucy Duhon

Wednesday, February 12, 2003, 9:26:20 AM, you wrote:

 > Tricky wording.  What's the definition of the word "accept"?  Not
 > returning the book?  Not responding with "CANCEL" to their fax number?
 >   Yes, I agree, this is a very annoying tactic because it places a
 > burden on the recipient to respond.  And even having to respond with a
 > two-minute fax transaction is too much, in my opinion.

As noted, however, you don't have to respond.  If you think that
responding in one way or another will help avoid more from these
jokers in the future, great, give it a try.  Personally I don't think
the responses help prevent future abuses.

 > I think I'll take Adam Wilder's advice and send the publisher a letter
 > similar to the one he uses.  Still, this is a lot of trouble to have
  > to go through.  I have half a mind to just let the book sit and not
   > worry about it.

Sending the letter would be seen by some as a CYA step, which might be
useful.  On the other hand, the chances of them trying to sue you,
make you send the book back, or anything else, are remote.  These guys
know the law and just choose to ignore it.  If they came after you, it
would open them up to bigger legal problems, which they don't want.

cheers

dan

--
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler  dan@RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho  83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com  www.gailndan.com  Stop Global Whining!

3)-------------------------
From: "Peter Picerno" <ppicerno@nova.edu>
Subject: RE: Architects, Contractors,Engineers Guide to Construction
Costs -- 2003 -- Lucy Duhon
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 12:52:25 -0500

I can think of several ways to respond:
(1) The simplest is, of course, to send the "this is an illegal business
transaction" letter and forget about the whole matter ... after all,
they sent the book without your asking for the solicitation. In that way
I think it's like the sample laundry detergent or toothpaste which
occasionally gets hung on your doorknob - do you return those to the
companies who have sent them?
(2) If you want to respond to the "THIS IS NOT A BILL ... ACCEPT THIS
OFFER" stuff (and I have no idea how legal or illegal that sentence of
theirs is and/or whether it would stand up in a court of law), I would
fax them your non-acceptance and state that the book will be returned
when they provide you with a return label, the cost of postage, and the
cost of whatever else is involved in returning it (i.e., staff time
billed at $x per hour).
(3) simply report them to your local and state Better Business Bureaux
and/or District Attorney's office.
(4) wait for them to make the next move and read them the language from
Title 39 of Section 3009 of the US Code.

Peter Picerno

-----Original Message-----
Subject: Re: Architects, Contractors,Engineers Guide to Construction
Costs -- 2003 -- Barbara Dietsch
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 11:18:06 -0500
From: "Duhon, Lucy C" <LDuhon@UTNet.UToledo.Edu>

The notice (proforma invoice) that came with my copy states in big bold
print at the bottom:  "THIS IS NOT A BILL.  THIS IS A SOLICITATION.  YOU
ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY ... UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER."

Tricky wording.  What's the definition of the word "accept"?  Not
returning the book?  Not responding with "CANCEL" to their fax number?
   Yes, I agree, this is a very annoying tactic because it places a
burden on the recipient to respond.  And even having to respond with a
two-minute fax transaction is too much, in my opinion.

I think I'll take Adam Wilder's advice and send the publisher a letter
similar to the one he uses.  Still, this is a lot of trouble to have to
go through.  I have half a mind to just let the book sit and not worry
about it.

Lucy Duhon
Serials Librarian
Carlson Library/Serials Dept.
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH  43606

(419) 530-2838
(419) 530-2726 [fax]
lucy.duhon@utoledo.edu <mailto:lucy.duhon@utoledo.edu>

-----Original Message-----
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:40:19 -0500
From: Dietsch.Barbara@epamail.epa.gov
Subject: Re: Architects, Contractors,Engineers Guide to Construction
Costs -- 2003 -- Jewel Rucker

I also received this publication.  Needless to say, I was a little
perturbed with their tactics.  I sent faxes to both of their numbers and
have yet to receive a reply.  I guess I'll hold on to it for a few more
months before I throw it in the recycling bin.

I would like to hear from other listers when you decide to discard.

barb

*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,
    Barbara Dietsch, Serials Coordinator
    EPA Library - UNC Contract Staff
    109 Alexander Drive (C267-01)
    Research Triangle Park, NC  27711
    919.541.0726
    dietsch.barbara@epa.gov
*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,,.-*"*-.,