It’s just a matter of time. Campuses are noticing that the company is in trouble. Lack of help in the stores, their student’s having to compete for textbooks (SODA orders for other campuses), and etc.... They see how the company is thinking and they don’t like it. I know that all campuses might not care. I truly believe that there are more out there that do than do not.
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The schools have enough problems trying to deal with the pandemic, they are not paying attention to what is going on with the bookstore. They will, however, be looking for that commision check soon. And for some of the large schools there are minimum commissions regardless of how poor the sales have been. Follett has not paid any vendors for months, I doubt they'll pay the schools.
With what money? Follett isn't going to be paying anybody anytime soon. The family will take whatever is left and run before they start paying out their debts.
It's unlikely the campuses know. If the know, they don't care. As long as they get their check on time, they don't care. Campuses stood by while the support model for faculty and students were dashed and slashed. They stood by while the professionals they had come to know were driven out through abuse. They simply don't care.
Time to put the focus on GM, clearly books and course materials are a losing game, unless your school has financial aid for books. Publishing partners are no longer partners, the stomp all over the stores now. The margin, the overhead, the shipping expense of ist and oms, the amount of time and physical labor to run a text dept. Is a lose lose situation. Our reputation has been dragged thru the mud.
Cengage partnering with Ivy Tech to provide course materials.
Publishers will work directly with the schools to provide digital direct access models. The publisher will pay the commissions to the schools.
Whether the school is public, non profit, or for profit it's all about the money. The schools won't do nothing until the rent stops being paid. It's not like any of the other brick and mortar bookstore chains are expanding. The future is online and colleges won't be getting even a slight cut of the money.
If commissions to the schools are based on sales one would assume the schools know what to expect? These are supposed to be institutions of higher learning.
Schools will care if and when Follett starts to delay commission payments to them.