--- Forwarded Message from Judi Franz <[log in to unmask]> ---

>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
>References: <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 07:38:31 -0700
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum               <[log in to unmask]>
>From: Judi Franz <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5694 Cheng-Tsui Pricing

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Ouch! That does seem out of line, and we have never encountered that 
kind of pricing system. However, I am also fortunate because the way 
UCI's facility is set up, we don't actually purchase any of the 
materials - the departments do. They then give us the materials to 
handle the duplication and/or digitizing and distribution (and 
associated permissions).

The same goes for our video collection and a good portion of software 
- the department pays, or the instructor receives a grant to buy the 
materials which are then housed here.


Judi
Judi Franz, Director
Humanities Instructional Resource Center
269 Humanities Hall
University of California, Irvine
(949) 824-6344
http://www.humanities.uci.edu/hirc


>--- Forwarded Message from "Read Gilgen" <[log in to unmask]> ---
>
> >Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 09:56:45 -0500
> >From: "Read Gilgen" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Cheng-Tsui Pricing
>
>------------------
>Has anyone had dealings with Cheng-Tsui?  We have a new Chinese prof 
>who needs the tapes to accompany his text book ("Integrated Chinese" 
>from Cheng-Tsui).  We think the prices are outrageous.  For just the 
>first semester, the student cost for the four (4!) cassette tapes is 
>$53.  Second semester is only three tapes for $43.  And second year 
>(two semesters) is $83.  In other words, over two years of Chinese a 
>student would be asked to pay nearly $170 just for the tapes.
>
>OK, so we go to the language lab model and buy a set to be copied 
>for students.  They now want to charge a different language lab fee 
>of $440 for the same sets.
>
>This seems quite out of step with other publishers.  We don't charge 
>student lab fees, so these costs hit us hard.  I can imagine it 
>would be worse at smaller schools with correspondingly smaller 
>budgets.  And if we were forced to do this with all of the languages 
>we teach (nearly 50 any given semester)... well I think you can see 
>the problem.
>
>Unfortunately this prof didn't speak with us first to explore 
>alternatives, so we'll be forced to go along.  (Also, unfortunately, 
>he's here only a year until the regular prof returns to use his own 
>materials.)  But I just wanted to get reactions from others of you.
>
>Read Gilgen
>University of Wisconsin