wendybern Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I just feel like complaining, and if I do it there, they'll probably delete my post. I've been a Sonlight customer since 2001, and I've had "heirloom" status for years -- what that got me was forum access and a 10% discount on all purchases. All of a sudden, even though my badges still show heirloom, their system won't give me the discount. Their answer is, "prove how many Cores you've purchased." Huh? Thanks. I just needed to whine about it. Feel better now. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiobrain Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Wow, that's some extra shiny customer service. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I just feel like complaining, and if I do it there, they'll probably delete my post. I've been a Sonlight customer since 2001, and I've had "heirloom" status for years -- what that got me was forum access and a 10% discount on all purchases. All of a sudden, even though my badges still show heirloom, their system won't give me the discount. Their answer is, "prove how many Cores you've purchased." Huh? Thanks. I just needed to whine about it. Feel better now. :001_smile: So you asked them about it and that was their reply? I recall reading others having problems with repurchase discounts getting the same answer. Another reason I left Sonlight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 They want you to prove something that their database should show? :confused: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendybern Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Awww... I *really* feel better now that I got some sympathy. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Wow. From what I've read about them over the years, it would appear their service philosophy is "the customer can go to hell." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I just feel like complaining, and if I do it there, they'll probably delete my post. I've been a Sonlight customer since 2001, and I've had "heirloom" status for years -- what that got me was forum access and a 10% discount on all purchases. All of a sudden, even though my badges still show heirloom, their system won't give me the discount. Their answer is, "prove how many Cores you've purchased." Huh? Thanks. I just needed to whine about it. Feel better now. :001_smile: Wow, best keep those invoices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Wow. Stellar company there. I keep wanting to like Sonlight enough to use it but then I keep reading stories like this. I wonder if they know how many people that turns off of their company. Also, their mushy gushy stories they email me all the time really annoy me. I need to unsub from their email list. :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Another Jen Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow. From what I've read about them over the years, it would appear their service philosophy is "the customer can go to hell." Exactly. I wanted to love them- but after buying almost every core ig they sell and many many books, math programs etc- they only alienated me with their lack of customer service. Now, I just won't buy from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 It makes me glad that I never went with Sonlight in the first place. I wanted something rigorous for my daughter (back when she was homeschooling) and A LOT of the books used in the upper cores are WAY below grade average so I went with something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Yikes. I guess I need to find something from PHP that I don't already own as a thanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma2Luke Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 One of the main reasons I left Sonlight (after only being a client for 2 years) was their customer service...or lack thereof. I also didn't like the way they kept you on tenderhooks wondering about their curriculum redesigns and then giving you only a 2 week window to order the soon-to-be-outdated products.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKDmom Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Huh? Isn't the point of heirloom status that you are a valued customer for life?? I have heirloom status too, but I got annoyed enough with their philosophies that I decided I won't be purchasing from them ever again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnsinkableKristen Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow. From what I've read about them over the years, it would appear their service philosophy is "the customer can go to hell." :lol: Yikes. I guess I need to find something from PHP that I don't already own as a thanks? :iagree:Looks like I need to listen to another lecture :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennay Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Interesting. What does your customer account record show? It should be right there when you log in. Although I use SL, I have my issues with the direction I see the company heading and some of their marketing/planning decision. But I have never found customer service to be lacking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 :iagree:Looks like I need to listen to another lecture :D I am looking, but I think they are going to have to put out some new stuff (especially for the older set), lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodhaven Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Sorry you are having such a difficult time getting this fixed! :grouphug: My own experience with their customer service has always been beyond great. I do hope this gets straightened out soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow. From what I've read about them over the years, it would appear their service philosophy is "the customer can go to hell." :lol: Yep, customer service has always been a struggle for that company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow. Stellar company there. I keep wanting to like Sonlight enough to use it but then I keep reading stories like this. I wonder if they know how many people that turns off of their company. Also, their mushy gushy stories they email me all the time really annoy me. I need to unsub from their email list. :p I have never purchased from them, I did unsubscribe from the email list because of the story emails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) I have a friend who was loving them for about two years, and then it all went south. She has also said their boards were not helpful in helping her make decisions, as many posts sound like adverts, as opposed to helpful discussion of what actually works. Edited July 31, 2012 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanvan Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Heard waaaay too many stories like this one! Vote with your $$ and go somewhere else! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kolamum Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow, best keep those invoices. Oh I was thinking this very thought. I'm disappointed to hear so many issues with the CS, I didn't have issues with it, but that means nothing. I know so many people struggled with the WP CS too & I had no issues there either. I'm shocked they told you to prove it though considering all your badges are showing up. The badges are linked directly to your account so it's obviously registering somewhere in their system that you are an Heirloom customer.. I think they need IT guys. I know a really fantastic one who wouldn't even have their website down for DAYS for a measly upgrade. :lol: Sorry I've gotten a little off track now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 :rolleyes: That is Sonlight for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I actually dislike SL intensely on a personal level but this sounds like a simple glitch. Go in your account and copy your order history and email Judy (who is supposedly customer champion but actually is a total witch.) Have you called them? emailed? This is a simple fix. Or just bash them all over the net. I can endorse that too.;) I think the product itself is sub par, esp in the upper level cores. Core 6/ G was the worst thing I ever saw. A a bunch of dreary old books which none of us wanted to read. And if I had to read about one more dang dog going missing... I don't know. Like I said, I remember several very long-time users/well-known posters being told that they couldn't have the repurchase discount. Apparently, during one of their many system upgrades, purchases made before x year got dumped and they don't trust people to tell them the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Yikes. I guess I need to find something from PHP that I don't already own as a thanks? :smilielol5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SitLongTalkMuch Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I don't know. Like I said, I remember several very long-time users/well-known posters being told that they couldn't have the repurchase discount. Apparently, during one of their many system upgrades, purchases made before x year got dumped and they don't trust people to tell them the truth. This. I WAS a long time SL customer, but no more. I had heirloom status (made my first purchase in 2001, 2 full cores that year and MANY more). My records could not be located and I was told by SL to prove my status with receipts. I had not saved the receipts and POOF (yeah I'm going there) I lost my HL status. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelAR05 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Another customer here who left Sonlight. I was with them for 3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow. Extra glad for the great customer service I've always received from Oak Meadow and Teaching Textbooks! I wouldn't use SL because I go with secular curricula, but I'd never use a company with such horrid customer service! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 SL started to irk me years ago when they had a rant about how if you have a child spending a ridiculous amount of time on say, music, they weren't going to get a full education in! Oh wait, and then they came out their their 4 day core a bit later. I can't have been the only one that wanted more that just reading in my child's life... Nope, that's why I left. OP, that's more than a little ridiculous considering that they should have all that info at their fingertips. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanvan Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Well, they ticked me off as soon as I got their catalog years ago with their 10 Reasons Why We Are Superior and All You Inferior People Shouldn't Use Our Curriculum.....wait, that's not what they call the list is it.....oh,well, that's how I remember it (and I happen to be in line with most of their beliefs, but I don't like to see others put down for having differing opinions. It also seems like a foolish business practice). Then again, at least they were up front about their attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 This. I WAS a long time SL customer, but no more. I had heirloom status (made my first purchase in 2001, 2 full cores that year and MANY more). My records could not be located and I was told by SL to prove my status with receipts. I had not saved the receipts and POOF (yeah I'm going there) I lost my HL status. :rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I this is to be expected, from an author who has NEVER ACTUALLY HSED A HIGH SCHOOLER!!!! They don't point out in their literature any more that they stuck all their kids back in the system at the high school level... :confused: I did not know that. I've been looking at every high school level curricula out there lately. SL makes a good case for a well-rounded hs education through their curricula. They present themselves as having expertise at the hs level. I know I'd have to do a lot of editing to make it work, but I wasn't looking at the whole shebang, more at parts and pieces. If the authors haven't ever actually homeschooled a high-schooler, then... well... what is the point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 :confused: I did not know that. I've been looking at every high school level curricula out there lately. SL makes a good case for a well-rounded hs education through their curricula. They present themselves as having expertise at the hs level. I know I'd have to do a lot of editing to make it work, but I wasn't looking at the whole shebang, more at parts and pieces. If the authors haven't ever actually homeschooled a high-schooler, then... well... what is the point? You have to read everything very carefully now before you can find this info on their site. A big thing was made of it temporarily with one of Sarita's singatures not long ago, it brought up the debate about the meaning of "homeschool graduate". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle My Bell Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow. From what I've read about them over the years, it would appear their service philosophy is "the customer can go to hell." Yup... I learned this about 8 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 :confused: I did not know that. I've been looking at every high school level curricula out there lately. SL makes a good case for a well-rounded hs education through their curricula. They present themselves as having expertise at the hs level. I know I'd have to do a lot of editing to make it work, but I wasn't looking at the whole shebang, more at parts and pieces. If the authors haven't ever actually homeschooled a high-schooler, then... well... what is the point? Nope. None of the Holzmann kids were hs'ed through high school. Some of the high school level stuff was written by their daughter Amy; I'm not sure about the rest of it. This, put together with recent movings towards a much more conservative religious position than I am comfortable with, has led me far away from them. Also the misleading information; for a while Sarita listed her kids as homeschool graduates even though not one had done any high school at home. When she was called on it, she (through Judy) explained that she meant it as (paraphrasing) they had graduated from their home school days into life, even if that was not a high school graduation, and that each was now a productive adult. Ummm. No. Once people pushed back against that, they changed the tag-line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniper Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 :confused: I did not know that. I've been looking at every high school level curricula out there lately. SL makes a good case for a well-rounded hs education through their curricula. They present themselves as having expertise at the hs level. I know I'd have to do a lot of editing to make it work, but I wasn't looking at the whole shebang, more at parts and pieces. If the authors haven't ever actually homeschooled a high-schooler, then... well... what is the point? I didn't realize this either. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 This is the 3rd thread I've read today about problems with Sonlight. Geez, am I ever glad I never used them! I was thinking the same thing, and it's not even March! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Isn't is about the time John jumps in to defend SL? He used to do that on these boards, and by now, he's surely heard about this thread. I haven't been on all day, and I'm surprised no one has gotten upset. This is a change from the past too. It's quite a horrible reputation, which they've unfortunately brought upon themselves. Repeatedly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Isn't is about the time John jumps in to defend SL? He used to do that on these boards, and by now, he's surely heard about this thread. I haven't been on all day, and I'm surprised no one has gotten upset. This is a change from the past too. It's quite a horrible reputation, which they've unfortunately brought upon themselves. Repeatedly. I thought he quit running SL ages and ages ago. :confused: I remember threads here about it speculating on what would happen to the company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I feel badly for SL. I've always thought their customer service was wonderful. What on earth has happened? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I thought he quit running SL ages and ages ago. :confused: I remember threads here about it speculating on what would happen to the company. Yes he's no longer involved in running SL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 So Sarita runs it now...why do people not like her? She seems sweet to me on videos I've seen. I know she has made a lot of changes to the IG structure, but how has her running the company affected their customer service so dramatically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 According to what John said in his video (it's referenced around here somewhere I swear), Sarita is heading the company and making the curriculum choices, while the kids are in the process of taking on more and more of the operations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniBlondes Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 This is our first year and we chose Sonlight for many things. But mostly because it seemed easier at the time. Now I'm all nervous. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disney Dreaming Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 This is our first year and we chose Sonlight for many things. But mostly because it seemed easier at the time. Now I'm all nervous. :blink: Use it and make your own decision. There are many that have no complaints and just don't voice their opinions. I haven't had any issues with them so far other than placing my dd in the correct core. Everyone will have a different experience.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinmami01 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Use it and make your own decision. There are many that have no complaints and just don't voice their opinions. I haven't had any issues with them so far other than placing my dd in the correct core. Everyone will have a different experience.:) :iagree: We are returning to Sonlight after taking a 2 year break. No complaints here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKDmom Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 This is our first year and we chose Sonlight for many things. But mostly because it seemed easier at the time. Now I'm all nervous. :blink: You'll probably be fine. :grouphug: I never had a problem with SL's customer service, and I loved the first year I used their cores. It was what I needed at the time. Once I got more confident in my abilities, I also started to see what I felt were flaws in SL's philosophies. I don't regret the time I spent with them...I just won't be using them in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 :lol::lol::lol: There was another thread below this one, and I just misread this as "Mormons revoked my heirloom status." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I thought he quit running SL ages and ages ago. :confused: I remember threads here about it speculating on what would happen to the company. Perhaps technically. It's not like John no longer has any connection to the company (as in the way that Jay Wile is no longer connected with Apologia). Sarita is still president, and this is taken from their website. "John resigned from regular day-to-day operations of Sonlight on April 1, 2008. Since that time, he has been participating more as a company owner-consultant so that he can pursue other projects and brand development, such as Sonlight's umbrella company . . . " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 So Sarita runs it now...why do people not like her? She seems sweet to me on videos I've seen. I know she has made a lot of changes to the IG structure, but how has her running the company affected their customer service so dramatically? It hasn't. Their CS issues go back many, many years (8? 10?). It's a long history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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