--- Forwarded Message from Lorraine Williams <[log in to unmask]> ---

>From: Lorraine Williams <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum'"     <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: #5694 Cheng-Tsui Pricing
>Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 15:29:08 -0400
>Return-Receipt-To: Lorraine Williams <[log in to unmask]>

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At one of our NERALLD meetings a while back, one of the publishers of Asian
language materials explained to us that their costs were very high since
they sell to such a small group and that unfortunately this means that their
prices are much higher. I know this is no real answer, but I thought I would
pass it along for what it's worth. I imagine this would be the same for all
materials in the less commonly taught languages.

-----Original Message-----
From: LLTI-Editor [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 8:31 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: #5694 Cheng-Tsui Pricing


--- 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

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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