Book Fairs

["Youngblood, Sharron" <YoungbloodS@TYLER.SPRNET.ORG>]

Several times on this listserve, I have seen requests for information about
book fairs.  Well, I have a story!

For the last five years our middle school with a population of approximately
1100 students has had two book fairs each year.  We have been using
Scholastic and been pleased.  However, last year at TLA in April, I looked
over what TROLL BOOK FAIRS had to offer for middle school students and
booked a fair.  I had to change the dates from the ones I originally set at
TLA and had to call several times to get a letter confirming the new
delivery and pick up dates.  It's rather a long story.  Suffice it to say,
the book fair was delivered four days early and it was a book fair for
elementary students.   When I called them, Terry, the Operations Manager,
said the right books would be delivered and the wrong ones picked up BEFORE
Friday.  It didn't happen.  The Troll people never called me back even when
they said they would.  I called several times Friday and finally about three
o'clock (after being assured it would be delivered by 2:00 p.m.)  I talked
to Mac McGuire, manager of the Dallas office, who told me the books would
not be delivered until Monday morning!  I cancelled the Troll book fair.  We
were scheduled to open at 7:30a.m. Monday morning and classes were scheduled
to start coming at 8:45 a.m.----and you know how some teachers are about
their plans being changed (however, ours are very flexible).

Needless to say, there's more to the story - these are just the highlights.

Troll personnel NEVER called me back even when they said they would get
'right back' to me.

The wrong book fair cases and boxes sat in our library for a week and a half
before they were picked up.

The only explanation was that they had A truck to break down and they had a
lot of book fairs to deliver because the next week was
TLA.  I told them that I didn't think they meant TLA and explained what it
is and asked if they meant Public School Week.  It seems to me if a truck
breaks down, you send another one or rent one if necessary to get the job
done.

A woman from TROLL called the week March 6 to confirm the pick up date which
she said was the week of the 13th (our Spring Break) even though the
confirmation letter I  FINALLY (I called them 10-29-99 and finally received
one in January) received stated the pick up date would be the week of March
20.

I NEVER received an apology unless you call Mr. McGuire saying 'that's
awful' at 3:00 Friday an apology.

I have not heard a word from anyone at Troll since then.  I have written a
letter to the district manager, Donna McIntire. I just wish I knew the name
of the president of the company.

One more note...About 3:15 that Friday afternoon, I called Michelle Justice,
our Scholastic Representative, told her what happened and she and Bradley
Phillips, along with the warehouse manager packed up a book fair for us and
it was delivered to our school BEFORE 7:30 a.m. the next Monday morning.  We
opened up only 30 minutes behind schedule!  ATTABOY Scholastic!!

Thanks for listening - I almost feel better now.

Sharron Youngblood, Librarian
Hubbard Middle School, Tyler, TX 75703
youngbloods@tyler.sprnet.org

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