Disadvantages:

When subscribed through an agent, it will not be possible to correspond with the publishers regarding the missing issues of periodicals in the absence of details of payment of subscription rates. It is necessary to check the subscription rates claimed by the agent for each and every title with the publishers rates which consumes the time and energy of the staff. The agents will not  be  able to know about the "non-receipt" till they are intimated by the subscribers, since the publishers supply the periodicals directly to the subscribers. Hence,  some, agents decline to undertake the responsibility of arranging replacements for the missing issues. There are case of some agents who have not remitted the subscriptions in time to the publishers leading  to 61, in  the supply of  periodicals and resulting  in incomplete volumes due to interrupted supply of some issues. Agents claim handling charges in case of periodicals published by learned societies and professional institutions, which do not offer agency commission. Institutions  will remain  in the dark  about the non-receipt of  subscription amounts by the publishers till they are intimated by the latter. The conversion rates for foreign currencies  claimed  by the agents have to 1: checked with the conversion rates circulated by the Good Offices committee from time to time. There are cases of subscription agents who create complications by refusing to take responsibility over claims for missing issues in violation of the agreement. In such cases the execution of the agreement is no remedy unless supported by a security deposit. The subscription agent has to be appointed after calling for quotations and selecting the lowest. The work involved in calling for quotations and appointing the agent will take much time resulting in the delay of payment of subscriptions which can affect the regular and prompt supply of periodicals. Changes in the administrative setup aw subscription agents cause  interruption and some-times complete stoppage of supply.