--- Forwarded Message from Cindy Evans <[log in to unmask]> ---

>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 10:10:05 -0400
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum               <[log in to unmask]>
>From: Cindy Evans <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5694 Cheng-Tsui Pricing

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I was also horrified at the prices.  I went ahead and spent $443 for the
tapes--a big chunk of my modest budget for instructional materials.  I told
the representative that I am not accustomed to paying for langauge lab
tapes and her only explanation was that the market is "different" for Asian
languages.
Cindy Evans
Skidmore College

>--- 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


_____________________________________________________________
Cindy Evans, Director
Foreign Language Resource Center                [log in to unmask]
and Lecturer in French                          phone:  518-580-5205
Skidmore College                                fax:    518-580-5230
_____________________________________________________________