Follett Corporation provides educational materials to public libraries, schools, and colleges.
The company was founded in 1873 by Charles M. Barnes when he opened a book store in Wheaton, Illinois. He named his business the C.M. Barnes Company and moved it to Chicago three years later.
C.W. Follett joined the company in 1901. Charles retired and his son William took over the company in 1902. By then, the company was a wholesaler, selling books throughout the Midwest.
In 1912 C.W. Follett became vice president, and in 1923 purchased the company.
Meanwhile, C.M. Barnes sold his interest in the company in 1917 and moved to New York, where he partnered with G. Clifford Noble to found Barnes & Noble.
After C.W. Follett purchased the company, he brought on his three sons to the family business. When he died in 1952 his son, Dwight Follett took over, renaming the company Follett Corporation.
Follett Corporation continues to be family business today, though for the first time the CEO is not a family member. The company serves more than 5 million students through 1,600 physical and online stores, has 9,000 employees, and had $2.72 billion in revenue in 2011.
Follett Corporation
Follett Corporation provides educational materials to public libraries, schools, and colleges.
The company was founded in 1873 by Charles M. Barnes when he opened a book store in Wheaton, Illinois. He named his business the C.M. Barnes Company and moved it to Chicago three years later.
C.W. Follett joined the company in 1901. Charles retired and his son William took over the company in 1902. By then, the company was a wholesaler, selling books throughout the Midwest.
History
In 1912 C.W. Follett became vice president, and in 1923 purchased the company.
Meanwhile, C.M. Barnes sold his interest in the company in 1917 and moved to New York, where he partnered with G. Clifford Noble to found Barnes & Noble.
After C.W. Follett purchased the company, he brought on his three sons to the family business. When he died in 1952 his son, Dwight Follett took over, renaming the company Follett Corporation.
Follett Corporation continues to be family business today, though for the first time the CEO is not a family member. The company serves more than 5 million students through 1,600 physical and online stores, has 9,000 employees, and had $2.72 billion in revenue in 2011.
Follett needs to significantly improve their communication with their customers. I have, or rather, had, been renting books for my son in high school. When I returned last year’s book, apparently I had returned the wrong book. I received no communication from them, so I had to assume they received my return. Then today I got a call from them saying I had to pay the full amount of the book or else they would send me to a collection agency. They claim that they sent back the wrong book, but they fail to show a proof of that. I never received the wrong book back. I never heard from them that I sent the wrong book. This is the first time I am hearing from them and they are threatening to send to collection if I don’t pay.
I will not ruin my credit for $65 but this company has lost another customer, and hopefully more of others that should be cautious when dealing with this company.
The person on the phone stated that the emails they sent to remind me were a courtesy and that I should have known which book I rented. Oh wow, such a courtesy. It’s like saying “We’re nice as we can be, but we’re not nice enough to make things easy for you, so it’s your problem. If you fail to keep up, it’s more money for us.”
A simple phone call at that time, or an email, when they realized I sent the wrong book, would have made me a happy and appreciative customer. Hearing 6 months later and being threatened to be sent to a collection agency if I don’t pay for the full amount, does NOT make me a happy or appreciative customer.
Poor customer service. Very poor.