Stuart, yes the catalog is ENORMOUS. Imagine the shipping expense of just the catalog, to customers, sales reps, purchasing departments, labs, etc. It's printed once per year, along with smaller, supplemental catalogs more often.
I shudder at the speculation that E.Merck could change course. Don't forget, E.Merck, even as 49% stockholder, well-aware of Chemdex thing, but wouldn't have been able to prevent a vote on it (i have NO IDEA if E.Merck supported or not...have been out of that loop too long).
Needless to say, with as many suppliers as VWR has, the catalog is outdated, in some respects, as soon as it is printed....much like Ma Bell's phonebooks. However, the database in the computer there for inventory is REAL time...a phone call can provide what the catalog never will.
If VWR is not FIRST on the web, it is still a MUST to survive.
Just my opinions,
Baldwin |
