Affinity Programs

Effective March 13, Yellow Transportation's rates have increased by 5.95 percent on shipments in the U.S. and Canada, and the company has made adjustments to its minimum and extended service charges. According to ABA's affinity partner, PartnerShip, other carriers are expected to announce similar rate hikes soon.

This week, the American Booksellers Association announced a new partnership with Above the Treeline, LLC, which provides an online software product designed to help bookstores improve finances by optimizing inventory selection.

Effective January 2, FedEx and UPS have raised their rates. According to ABA affinity partner PartnerShip, the new base rates reflect an average increase of 3.9 percent for standard ground shipping. However, PartnerShip notes that through the ABA affinity program booksellers will continue to receive deep discounts off Fed Ex's base rates.

Booksellers should note that Bank of America, an American Booksellers Association affinity program partner, is offering ABA members a special promotion: The company is waiving the $75 application fee for member bookstores that sign up for its merchants services program by December 31, 2005. On October 31, Bank of America mailed a postcard to bookstore members detailing the offer.

Since March, when the American Booksellers Association announced its partnership with Constant Contact, a leading service provider for the management of e-mail marketing campaigns, a growing number of member bookstores have been taking advantage of Constant Contact's suite of tools that make it easy to create and send compelling e-mail newsletters and announcements, which get immediate and measurable results.

On Wednesday, October 5, ABA affinity partner PartnerShip informed customers that effective January 2, 2006, FedEx Corporation would be raising its rates for FedEx Express U.S. domestic and export express package and freight shipments by about 3.5 percent. Average shipping costs will rise 5.5 percent, offset by a two percent reduction in FedEx Express' fuel surcharge.

ABA affinity program partner Bank of America has announced that it is waiving the $75 application fee for ABA member bookstores that sign up for its merchant services program from now until December 31, 2005.

Two companies participating in ABA's affinity program have announced important new updates for ABA member booksellers. According to PartnerShip, which offers a money-saving freight program exclusively for members of the American Booksellers Association, rates for shipping by different carriers have increased an average of 5.75 percent. On the bright side, Bank of America Merchant Services is decreasing its rates for credit card and check card transactions, effective June 1.

Rate Decreases for Credit Card and Check Card Transactions

Both FedEx and UPS have recently announced an increase in their rates on ground and air shipments, effective January 3, 2005. According to PartnerShip, which offers a money-saving small-package shipping program exclusively for members of the American Booksellers Association, rates for FedEx Ground and UPS Ground shipments will increase an average of 2.9 percent, and a fuel surcharge, based on a fuel index that will vary from week to week, will be implemented.

LIBRIS (League of Independent Book Retailer Insurance Services), the insurance company created by ABA for the benefit of independent booksellers, has announced that it will soon be distributing dividends to participants in the program. Dividends to be distributed to ABA members are determined by a percentage of premiums paid on Business Owner Package and Workers' Compensation policies written from July 2002 through June 2003. Dividends distributed to non-ABA participants are equal to a smaller percentage of these premiums. Dividend checks will be mailed shortly.

Due to a recent rate change by the Visa and MasterCard associations, Bank of America Merchant Services has increased its rates for credit card transactions by 0.11 percent, effective April 1.

The rate for ABA members participating in the ABA/Bank of America credit card program has risen to 2.07 percent from 1.96 percent. All bookstores participating in the program should have received notice of this increase from Bank of America.

Contrary to the adage about the old dog and new tricks, even seasoned, longtime booksellers can learn something that improves their businesses. Take Eric Wilska, owner of The Bookloft in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and president of the New England Booksellers Asscociation: After purchasing business insurance from a private carrier for the past 30 years, he recently switched to ABA's LIBRIS, because, Wilska explained, "I saved a third of the cost for comparable coverage."

By Richard Poling, Program Director of LIBRIS

According to a June 23, 2003, New York Times article, "Nationwide, the average cost of workers' compensation insurance has risen 50 percent in the last three years." Depending on where you are located, that percentage could actually be far greater, or possibly less. For instance, California is now in a crisis where carriers have continually adopted at least 30 percent annual increases (cumulatively over 100 percent) since before 2000.

LIBRIS, ABA's insurance subsidiary, recently sent ABA bookstore members who are not currently LIBRIS policyholders an invitation to meet with a representative during BookExpo America (May 28 - June 1 in Los Angeles). Qualifying booksellers who meet with a LIBRIS representative at BEA to discuss a no-obligation quote will receive two tickets for one of the trade show's author breakfasts.

LIBRIS, ABA's insurance subsidiary, is inviting bookstore members who are not currently LIBRIS policyholders to meet with a representative during BookExpo America (May 28 - June 1 in Los Angeles). Qualifying booksellers will be sent an e-mail including a request form for an appointment at BEA to discuss a no-obligation quote. Every bookseller who meets with a LIBRIS representative at BEA will receive two tickets for one of the trade show's author breakfasts.