What is the CENGAGE LEARNING Discount Shipping Program and who can join?
The new Cengage Learning freight program is offered to all qualifying Cengage Learning customers currently using collect freight terms.
The current market has provided an opportunity for Cengage Learning to offer a discount freight program for qualifying customers who currently have collect freight terms and do not currently participate in a Cengage Learning prepaid freight program.
It provides CENGAGE Learning customers with:
- Up to a 15% savings over the current market freight rates
- Labor savings by eliminating the office task of writing checks to pay the freight carriers
-
Improved profitability by including freight payment with your Cengage product payment
When our customers are successful, we are successful and this is a partnership you can take to the bank!!!
Click here to view sample savings
The Cengage program is right for you if you want to:
- Save money and cut your shipping expenses
- Eliminate the task of writing checks direct to transportation companies
- Eliminate the task of filing loss and damage claims with carriers and the grief associated with collecting payment
- Improve your cash flow by paying freight costs at the same time you pay your Cengage Learning invoice for products purchased
- Improve the efficiency of your sales order processing cycle
- Improve your profitability
Unlike the national associations that charge a membership fee to join their program, Cengage Learning offers our program for free…. So it costs $0.00, the rates are lower and there are no commitments.
This is truly a win – win partnership with Cengage Learning that provides great savings.
Simply click here now and request our Discount Freight Program. Once your account is set up, we will email your confirmation.
More information needed before registering? Click Here
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What
is the Cengage Learning Service Plus Program?
This is a customer loyalty program for college stores. Our major objectives with this program are to drive and reward good business behavior on the part of our college store customers. This includes rewarding the growth of the net Cengage purchases and lower returns, as well as our inventory in place.
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What
do stores have to do to qualify for each level?
| Bronze
Level |
- All
Cengage Learning college stores qualify at the Bronze
Level
|
| Gold
Level |
- Stores
must maintain a net purchase volume
of $25,000
- Returns ratio is less than 20%
- Maintain
a consistently good payment performance
|
| Platinum
Level |
- Stores
must maintain a net purchase volume
of $50,000
- Returns ratio is less than 15%
- Maintain
a consistently good payment performance
|
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What
are the benefits of this program?
| Bronze
Level |
- Centralized
Permission Service
- Stock
Locator Service
- Inventory
in Place
- Deferred
Payments in June, July and November upon request
|
| Gold
Level |
- All
Bronze Level benefits, plus:
- ½ % discount on online and pubnet orders shipped mid-November through December 31.
|
| Platinum
Level |
- All
Bronze Level benefits, plus:
- 1% discount on online and pubnet orders shipped mid-November through December 31.
|
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What
are the reasons for the qualification criteria at each
level?
We
carefully studied store behaviors and their impact on our
business. These qualifications reflect accepted good business
practices while encouraging increased purchases and reducing
costs for both Cengage Learning and the store. Specifically:
Purchase volume: We want to encourage additional purchases
of both adopted and affiliated Cengage Learning products.
As a frame of reference for you, $25,000 represents just
500 units (using our $50 average product price) and $50,000
just 1,000 units.
Returns
percentage: It is generally accepted that an annual returns
rate below 20% represents an efficient college store textbook
operation. Currently, 750 college stores maintain return
rates less than 15%.
The
bill-to account just needs to meet Credit Department approval
to qualify for Gold or Platinum status per the following
guidelines:
- No orders
held due to delinquent balances
- No invalid
and/or excessive deductions from payments
- No balances
over 60 days past due
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Are
there exceptions to these qualifications and what are they?
Only
overstock returns (as opposed to corrections to any Cengage
Learning errors such as double shipments or incorrect titles)
are included in the stores' return percentages. Returns
coded with a CM are overstock and will be used in the calculations
for Service Plus. Contact customer service if you feel your
returns should be coded differently.
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Does Cengage Learning have an Inventory in Place program?
Cengage Learning has discontinued their Inventory in Place program.
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What
is the Returns Policy?
The
Returns Policy includes the following guidelines:
- Returns are allowed for products bought directly from Cengage USA. Product purchased from overseas and returned to the Cengage Distribution Center will be refused back to the customer and no credit will be issued.
- Returns must be shipped prepaid by traceable
means and be accompanied by one packing list per carton indicating
quantity and titles returned.
- Returns must reference the original invoice
numbers for titles included. If a college store wishes to return
materials but do not have a copy of the original invoice, they
should request permission from Customer Service.
- Returns must be in saleable condition.
All software and CD-ROMs must be returned to Cengage Learning
with the original envelope seal or package seal unbroken and intact.
Custom-published titles carry a returns limit of 20% of the quantity
ordered and must be returned within 12 months of the invoice date.
All bundles must be in their original unbroken shrink-wrap.
- Returns must be packed in cartons of at
least 257 lbs. test for larger boxes and 200 lbs. test for smaller
(similar to Cengage Learning's shipping standards). Product must
be packed with sufficient and appropriate packing material.
- Returns of superseded titles must be received
within 120 days of publication of the new edition. The Last Date
to Return the superseded titles can be found on the Upcoming Editions page. This page is updated weekly.
- Returns of Out
of Print titles must be received within 120 days of notification.
The Last Date to Return the Out of Print titles can be found on
the page. This page is updated every month.
- A $10.00 shipping fee will be charged for all refused returns.
- The returns policy timeframe is dependent upon the Service Plus status level of the bookstore. Platinum is Life of Edition, Gold is 15 months from invoice date, and Bronze is 12 months from the invoice date. Twenty percent of the original quantity ordered on Custom product can be returned up to 12 months from the invoice date regardless of the store's Service Plus status.
- Course cancellation returns must include the full quantity originally ordered. All paperwork for course cancellation returns must be clearly marked "course cancellation".
- Your store-specific lists of My New Editions and My Out of Prints can be found on your store's home page. Link "your store's home page" to: http://serviceplus.cengage.com/MyServicePlus/
Original Invoice Date:
October, November & December
Time Frame to Return:
October 1st - March 31st
Original Invoice Date:
January, February, March of current year
Time Frame to Return:
January 1st - April 31st of current year
Original Invoice Date:
April, May, June, July, August, September of current year
Time Frame to Return:
April 1st - October 31st of current year
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What is the procedure for counting cartons before signing for a shipment and how do I make claims?
Counting cartons when signing-
It is the receiving persons responsibility to verify carton count (not skid count) of all incoming shipments. If this is not done and if there is a shortage later that has not been noted on the POD, no claim can be filed.
Marking the delivery receipt subject to count does not take away customer liability. All cartons must be counted and signed for.
Damaged cartons when signing-
The receiving person must note all visible damages on delivery receipt as well as call the delivering terminal within 48 hours to arrange a damage inspection. Once the inspection has been done, the customer will need to call into Cengage Learning customer service to advise them of the damages and fax a copy of the inspection to the customer service representative. If this is not done, no claim can be filed.
If the damages are not visible when signing in the shipment, then the customer will need to call the carrier immediately and advise the carrier of the damages. The carrier then will arrange a damage inspection. Once the customer receives a copy of the inspection report, he/she will need to call customer service to advise what has been damaged and fax a copy of the inspection report.
Mixed cartons in pallet when signing-
If the receiving person notices cartons that do not belong to them when signing for their shipment, they need to refuse those cartons and make note on the delivery receipt of how many cartons were refused and why.
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Does Cengage Learning offer a Rush Reorder Program?
Effective November 15, 2007, Cengage Learning discontinued their Rush Reorder Program.
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What is the Stock Locator Program?
When Cengage Learning is out-of-stock on an active title, Customer Service can assist by providing a list of other stores that have purchased the title in question. You can obtain this information by giving Customer Service the ISBN in question and you can then contact the listed stores to arrange a stock transfer. Cengage Learning does not get involved in either the transfer of stock or the financial reconciliation. Remember that this service is for current, active titles only.
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How
often will we evaluate the status of our customers?
Once a year on July 1st, we evaluate the Service Plus statistics of every college store for the program’s 12-month review period: July 1st through June 30th.
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What is our Deferred
Payment Program and how can I take advantage of it?
Deferred payments allows you to order early and pay after rush. When placing your orders' you can request deferred payments in June until September 15th, July until September 15th, and November until January 15th. Request deferred payments in the Special Instructions on Pubnet and click on the "deferred payment" box when ordering on-line.
This program is subject to Credit Approval and only available by request.
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What is Cengage Learning’s Deferred Shipment policy?
In response to customer requests, Cengage Learning does accept orders that specify deferred shipping. Please note, however, that if stock is low, it is possible to experience out-of-stocks when the order releases on the deferred ship date.
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What is Cengage's InfoTrac Card Replacement Policy?
InfoTrac cards that are stolen or missing from new Cengage textbooks can be replaced through Cengage Learning Customer Service at 800-354-9706.
If you need to return a book from which the InfoTrac card has been removed, request the replacement card via Customer Service at the toll-free number referenced above. After receiving the replacement card, please note the following before making your return:
- Books purchased with the InfoTrac card bound in should be shrinkwrapped with the InfoTrac card placed on the page with the remaining bound in tab before returning.
- Books purchased with the InfoTrac card loose inside the front cover should be shrinkwrapped with the InfoTrac card placed inside the front cover and stickered with the original InfoTrac package ISBN before returning.
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What is Cengage Learning's Pricing Structure?
Cengage Learning has a one-price structure for its college textbooks. The policy ensures that on-line retailers, distributors, and college bookstores will all pay one uniform net price when purchasing college textbooks from Cengage Learning. Price increases are generally restricted to 5/1 and 11/1; however, prices are subject to change without notice.
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How can I find out more about IChapters.com?
Contact Customer Service with any concerns about commission payments or registration at:
Customer Service
Phone: 800-354-9706
Email: tl.ichapters@Cengage.com
Detailed information about the program, registration and FAQs can be found on the iChapters.com page.
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