Affinity Programs

In these tough economic times, freight companies, like airlines, are passing higher gas prices along to customers via fuel surcharges. But one way ABA members can reduce the impact of increased freight charges is through participation in the PartnerShip Discount Shipping Program.

American Booksellers Association members participating in the Constant Contact affinity program will begin receiving rebate checks sometime next week. The checks are being sent to current bookstore members that paid for Constant Contact e-mail marketing services between April 30, 2007, and April 30, 2008.

LIBRIS (League of Independent Book Retailer Insurance Services), the insurance program owned and operated by the American Booksellers Association, recently revamped its website, making it more user-friendly for both existing and potential policyholders. The redesigned site, featuring enhanced graphics, provides comprehensive information about the insurance coverages available through LIBRIS.

Above the Treeline, the business intelligence tool that gives bookstores greater control of their inventory and the means to establish better, more collaborative relationships with publishers, will be the focus of three sessions on Saturday, May 31, at BookExpo America.

A Hotel ABA welcome desk and a lounge, bag check, and shipping center at the Los Angeles Convention -- all exclusively for ABA members -- will make life easier at this month's BookExpo America.

PartnerShip, the firm that manages the ABA Discount Shipping Program, has announced a new five percent bonus discount for ABA members who process select FedEx Express shipments online. Simply by arranging a FedEx shipment online at FedEx.com or through any FedEx approved electronic shipping device, ABA members now receive an additional five percent discount on select shipments from FedEx.

In January, the American Booksellers Association announced a near-record dividend for policyholders of its LIBRIS (League of Independent Book Retailer Insurance Services) insurance program. Now, dividend checks representing three percent of a business' annual premium are on their way to participating ABA member bookstores.

This week, Yellow Transportation announced a general rate increase on freight shipments in the U.S. and Canada of approximately 3.9 percent. The company said the increase -- "the smallest rate increase in the industry" -- became necessary due to higher costs for insurance, workers' compensation, and expenses uniquely associated with the shipping industry, such as highway tolls and cargo security.

American Booksellers Association affinity partner Bank of America Merchant Services has announced that it will be waiving the $75 application fee for booksellers who sign up for its credit card processing program from March 1 through the end of June 2008.

It's now just a week before ABA-member booksellers head to Louisville, Kentucky, for the Third Annual Winter Institute.