athomemom Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Let me just say that I have been burned badly before buying used. Up until that point all was well and all transactions were fine. Now, I am scared! It is more economical to buy used, of course. I am having a difficult time. I would rather buy new, but I don't have a $$ tree. Also, it's kind of hard to find a SL complete core for sale at the moment. I think it comes out better to buy the whole core than it does to piece it. SIGH. I think I need to talk with someone about these issues. LOL :D Thanks for being my therapist today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Make sure the person has a good rating on here, make sure the person is a long time user of the forum and posts. I have only been "kind of burned" once so far. I ordered something and it took over 3 months to get to me. Through emails of "there is a snow storm" to "the kids are sick" and then a long period of silence, I finally did get my items. Anyway, hugs.....I buy mostly used as well if I can. Thankfully, we do have a used curriculum store here and I can get almost all of the SL books for 50% off retail there. I buy the IG new from SL. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Let me just say that I have been burned badly before buying used. Up until that point all was well and all transactions were fine. Now, I am scared! It is more economical to buy used, of course. I am having a difficult time. I would rather buy new, but I don't have a $$ tree. Also, it's kind of hard to find a SL complete core for sale at the moment. I think it comes out better to buy the whole core than it does to piece it. SIGH. I think I need to talk with someone about these issues. LOL :D Thanks for being my therapist today! You may have a better experience and feel more secure if you can either buy in person (so that you see the material before you purchase) or from a company of some sort than through an individual. I know I bought a few things used through Amazon from individual sellers (fulfillment by Amazon) that weren't what was advertised in some way and I had no problem getting a return and refund. Amazon seems to have at least one or two complete cores available used right now. We are fortunate to have a homeschool consignment store in our area as well as several used curriculum sales hosted by groups in the spring and early summer. If your area doesn't have this, perhaps it would be worth your while to help organize a sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Well, it IS scary, especially when you're talking about that kind of money. I would be much less afraid to buy a $20 book, but a $300 SL core is a different matter. I once put together a Core program with used books, but I think it's like people on the SL forums say, I'm not sure it saved me a great deal of money. But I've heard from others that it can so maybe I just wasn't lucky enough. Shipping all those individual books will add up to a lot. I haven't been on the SL forums in a while though I am still a member. Didn't I hear that the Used board was gone now? I know that SL has a payment plan but of course that doesn't reduce the overall price. Oh, and you can check eBay. I only buy from sellers with very good ratings. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I have been fortunate that I have not been burned. I have purchased here as well as through babycenter.com's homeschool curriculum exchange, ebay, and through homeschoolclassifieds.com. So there is a success story for you. :) The other recommendation I have is find out if your local HS group does a swap (or you could coordinate one). My group does and it's great. Product is, of course, limited to what is on hand but last year I was able to find everything I was looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamsFamily Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 (edited) You could just buy the instructors' guides and the harder to find books directly from SL. Do a little research and find out which ones are readily available at your library or others' used listings. The problem with SL is there are so many good books in their cores. No one wants to give up the good ones! :) Have you tried half.com? Or homeschoolclassifieds.com? You could bargain with people on homeschoolclassifieds now. Nothing seems to be moving on that site at the moment. It won't liven back up until February. Edited December 2, 2011 by AdamsFamily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I'm sorry! I have been pretty fortunate thus far. It does scare me a bit. I feel safer using PayPal whenever I can, and if they want me to cover the fees -- I will -- just to get the buyers protection. I am grateful for the used sellers... unfortunately, one bad experience really sours one on the extra effort to buy used (and for me, it really IS extra effort!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I think most people are honest. It's too bad that you got a bad apple :( As for piecing together a Core for cheap, it can be done if you have a good used bookstore in your area AND you don't care about having the exact same edition that they schedule. I used SL for many years (all except for 200 and 530) and I've never needed to purchase a complete one from SL. Buying directly from them would be easier, but I enjoyed the hunt ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 You could just buy the instructors' guides and the harder to find books directly from SL. Do a little research and find out which ones are readily available at your library or others' used listings. The problem with SL is there are so many good books in their cores. No one wants to give up the good ones! :) Have you tried half.com? Or homeschoolclassifieds.com? You could bargain with people on homeschoolclassifieds now. Nothing seems to be moving on that site at the moment. It won't liven back up until February. There are quite a few books available at the library. Right now I can pay either $170 for what I'd need to get started from SL, or try to buy the used set. I think three books or so are different from the current IG. For Core H are there additional LA pages that I should be concerned with or is it all writing and no extra worksheets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 I think most people are honest. It's too bad that you got a bad apple :( As for piecing together a Core for cheap, it can be done if you have a good used bookstore in your area AND you don't care about having the exact same edition that they schedule. I used SL for many years (all except for 200 and 530) and I've never needed to purchase a complete one from SL. Buying directly from them would be easier, but I enjoyed the hunt ;) Yes! I don't mind the hunt, but right now it's kind of sparse. LOL :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Make sure the person has a good rating on here, make sure the person is a long time user of the forum and posts. I have only been "kind of burned" once so far. I ordered something and it took over 3 months to get to me. Through emails of "there is a snow storm" to "the kids are sick" and then a long period of silence, I finally did get my items. Anyway, hugs.....I buy mostly used as well if I can. Thankfully, we do have a used curriculum store here and I can get almost all of the SL books for 50% off retail there. I buy the IG new from SL. Dawn We recently moved across the country. I had a WONDERFUL homeschool store back home. SIGH I miss my little lady in that book store. She was so sweet. She still sends me notes. :001_smile: I miss her almost as much as I miss the store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 We recently moved across the country. I had a WONDERFUL homeschool store back home. SIGH I miss my little lady in that book store. She was so sweet. She still sends me notes. :001_smile: I miss her almost as much as I miss the store. Would she be able to help? What if you gave a list of what you need and ask her to ship it to you at media mail rate? That wouldn't be a bad deal if she had a good bit of what you need. It's just rough when you end up having to pay shipping for each book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Would she be able to help? What if you gave a list of what you need and ask her to ship it to you at media mail rate? That wouldn't be a bad deal if she had a good bit of what you need. It's just rough when you end up having to pay shipping for each book. She might have a few of the books. The IG is what I need most. I do have free shipping with Amazon which helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 There are quite a few books available at the library. Right now I can pay either $170 for what I'd need to get started from SL, or try to buy the used set. I think three books or so are different from the current IG. For Core H are there additional LA pages that I should be concerned with or is it all writing and no extra worksheets? Well the good thing about starting now is that you'll be cycling through the books from the library at a different time than everyone else. :) I second buying the IG new from SL. By doing that you'll be able to access their forums for free for the next year. I don't remember there being any LA worksheets at that level, it was all writing instruction & lit analysis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Which core IG are you wanting? Did you list it in the WTB section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Which core IG are you wanting?Did you list it in the WTB section? Core H (7) I haven't listed anything in the WTB section. I typically haven't gotten any responses there. It's okay though. Hubby thought a new IG was worth it. So, I placed my order for it. But I will need readers and read alouds! I am sending you a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Do you want me to check out local HS store for the 50% off (plus shipping?) I would be willing to do that as I typically go there at least every couple of months. Our local store does not sell IGs for a reasonable price. They sell it for 80% of retail even if it is 8 years old. I think it is ridiculous so I prefer to get the IG new or buy a one or two year old one from someone here. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Core H (7) I haven't listed anything in the WTB section. I typically haven't gotten any responses there. It's okay though. Hubby thought a new IG was worth it. So, I placed my order for it. But I will need readers and read alouds! I am sending you a PM. Your local used home school store has almost all of those books.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 Do you want me to check out local HS store for the 50% off (plus shipping?) I would be willing to do that as I typically go there at least every couple of months. Our local store does not sell IGs for a reasonable price. They sell it for 80% of retail even if it is 8 years old. I think it is ridiculous so I prefer to get the IG new or buy a one or two year old one from someone here. Dawn You are too sweet! I ordered a new IG and a couple of books that the library does not have. I need to make a list of the ones I need...Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 Your local used home school store has almost all of those books.:)[/quote Really?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomandlorih Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I have had really good luck with www.abebooks.com. I've ordered from there multiple times and always been happy. There is also www.Thriftbooks.com but I have not personally used them. Also, check to see if your library participates in ILLiad, at least that's what they call our Inter-Library Loan department.. Our library will borrow a book they don't own from another library for free. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I have cores 3 and 4 (two separate cores, not the combined 3+4 core) for sale, minus a consumable workbook or two. The new letters for these cores are D are E. Let me know if you're interested. I haven't gotten around to listing them on ebay or here yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Your local used home school store has almost all of those books.:)[/quote Really?! Absolutely. I've seen them there with my own two eyes.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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