Is it better to buy curriculum online or purchase at a convention?

[Pster]

I have been working on a list of "needs" for the upcoming school year. (or...to be used as soon as we finish up what we are doing) and someone reminded me of the hs convention in Orlando coming up in spring. I've never gone before but now that we are close - I'd like to attend.

 

So....is it better to purchase my things now? Online? Or to try and buy them at the conference? (assuming you *can* do that - maybe not all vendor will be there - I have nooooo idea what to expect - other than it's BIG) Are the prices different?

 

I'm afraid to go to the convention and get sucked into something new and "exciting"!! lol I'll come home with more than I need! lol

 

what do you think?

[Arch at Home]

I went to convention last year for two reasons. First I wanted to look at possible curriculums for future reference and second to place my Rainbow Resources order. Placing it at the convention saved me shipping.

[Laura K (NC)]

That's what I have done for several years. I have a hard time buying something unless I've seen it first. Many vendors will ship their materials free if you order them at the convention.

 

When I go to a convention I usually have a pretty good idea of what I want. I'll check some catalogs like Rainbow Resource (or online, if I've lost the catalog) to see what their prices are. I might check another source or two to check prices. I make a chart of all the books I want to buy for each child, and include the prices I've found, and I leave big empty spaces if I have absolutely no idea what I want for a subject. I definitely know what subjects I want to teach the next year before I go to a convention.

 

Then I go to the vendors who have used books first and buy whatever they have that is on my list. Then I go all the way around the convention, marking on my chart who has the books I like, and if their prices are better than I've found online or locally. Rainbow Resource does not always have the best prices! I do occasionally buy books that are far better than anything I had put on my list, and sometimes I buy the occasional extras, but I seldom get out of hand.

 

I think no matter what, some homeschoolers (like me) will buy books that we never use, or that never work out. I'm pretty frugal, though, and figures it all works out in the end, especially if you are able to resell your books when you're done with them.

[mcconnellboys]

I'd make a list and only buy what's on the list. Some vendors offer discounts at convention. You generally save on shipping and handling, too.

 

I like to actually have a book in my hand and look at it (if it's something new) before I buy it. I just can't get a feel for things perusing them online.

 

Some of the larger catalog companies, such as RRC, have terrible online websites. I'd rather order from RRC's catalog than try to navigate their website.

 

Some large conventions have used book sections set up where you can shop for very inexpensive curriculum.

 

You might not find everything you're looking for at convention, but if you're looking for new materials you've never used before, you can certainly get a better feel for them by at least looking at them at convention (I also include on my to-buy list the lowest catalog price I've found), even if you decide to wait and order when you get back home.

 

Regena

[Pster]

I had no idea there would be used book sections or dealers - that's great! Plus - I really didn't the price would vary so much between dealers. Guess that's good if you don't mind doing some "window shopping"!

 

thanks for the tidbits - I will def make a list of what I want and the prices I have found it at.

 

I would like to see some of the things I have on my list before buying!

[HollyDay]

The closest convention to me is 6 hours. So, besides fuel, and food, I need a hotel room. The admission to conventions can be pretty expensive too. I didnt go the last couple years due to these expenses. But, I am considering going to one this year so I can look at some things I have never seen in person before.

 

Many places offer free shipping in the spring - I always try to catch those deals too. I would say if your shipping is less than the expenses of the convention - they wait. If not, go ahead and order

[Sandy in Indy]

I'd go to convention anyway so shopping is a bonus. I tend to have an idea of what I'm looking for and what the prices of items are before I go. I'm not organized enough to make a list with prices as LauraK does, but her system sounds good! I do get enticed to pick up a few unplanned things at convention but I've never come home and thought I'd really blown the budget on something useless.

[Beth in TN]

The past several years I purchased all my curriculum either online or at a local homeschool store. Last year I was finally able to attend the HS convention in Nashville where I was able to see exactly which curriculum I was interested in before making a purchase. I loved not paying for shipping. One piece of advice is to shop around before making a purchase. I overpaid on one or two items because I didn't check prices.

[mcconnellboys]

Now I don't know what convention you're planning on attending, but you might be able to look at a vendor listing online ahead of time and tell whether or not there will be used curriculum there. I know that when I went to the Indy convention, they had a large booth of used materials. I've also been to a smaller, area convention that had a huge amount of used materials. I don't think Cincy had that last year, but it was their first year, so maybe they will have more this year.....

 

Regena

[Basketmaker Amy]

Hi,

 

I've been to the FPEA (Orlando) convention the last two years. I usually have my list ready in January and watch for things on the swap board. I usually wait to purchase my other items at the convention. There are a couple of items I am interested in looking at this year and the authors are going to be speakers. In the past the only "savings" I had was shipping. However, I did find out from Robin Finley that if you attend her talk about Analytical Grammar this year, you will get a 10% discount.

 

It does require self control in the vendors hall...so many neat products...but so little time and money!!!

 

Maybe I'll see you there!

(Warning: it is huge! 15,000 people!)

[Jennefer@SSA]

that I love the basket in your avatar. I have thought that several times but finally decided I should tell you. You are one talented lady!

 

Blessings,

[sassenach]

FPEA is such a great convention, in the future, I think I'll be flying back for it. (That seems extreme, but it's really just an excuse for me to have a weekend with my girlfriends- we just moved away). The vendor hall usually takes me a couple of days to go through. First off, don't buy something the first time you visit a booth, unless you already planned to buy. Go through once and highlight the booths you want to return to.

 

The other thing about FPEA, is the seminars are awesome. I would go just for those. In fact, they have so many seminars that are just great Christian parenting classes, that my girlfriend and I talked another friend, who doesn't even homeschool, into going with us. The hotel is beautiful, so if it works for your budget, stay with some friends! My bday is the end of April, so my present was splitting a room with a few friends on that Friday.

 

That was a little rabbit trail! All that to say that FPEA is awesome and I'm really sad that I won't be making it this year. I absolutely would go. I just thought of another tip. Bring a rolling crate with you to carry all of your purchases. They're $15 at office depot and well worth it.

[Pster]

where did you find a list of vendors that would be there? I looked online last night but couldn't find any such link. Maybe you only get it when you register? (which I haven't done yet)

 

thanks!

[Basketmaker Amy]

where did you find a list of vendors that would be there? I looked online last night but couldn't find any such link. Maybe you only get it when you register? (which I haven't done yet)

 

thanks!

 

I found out about Analytical Grammar's seminar because I e-mailed them and asked them if they were going. FPEA will list the vendors on their website as the convention gets closer. They listed some of their main speakers in their newsletter a couple of months ago. I can't locate it right now, but I do remember that Andrew Adams of "Teaching the Classics" will be there. (I only remember that because I am very interested in that program.)

 

The seminars are wonderful. Very encouraging and informative.

[BizyPenguin]

I didn't read the other replies, but I like the idea of seeing materials before buying them. That said, I've never been to a convention. I like checking out Christianbook.com and Rainbow Resource before buying curricula b/c quite often you can peek inside the books there and get some idea if you like them or not.

[Testimony]

I was reading some of the other posts. Some moms would have to go far. I only go an hour away from my home. It saves me on shipping. I can actually see it and touch it. I get great buys on the used curricula. I also sell my used books there. I can get up to 50% of my fee to the convention by selling books.

 

We make it a family affair. My husband and sons go also. We have lunch and show what we got at each booth.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I prefer to buy at the convention when it's something that I'm undecided on so I can actually look through the entire book. I also pick up as much of my other curriculum (that I haven't found used) as possible to save on shipping. A few of the items I buy like the Critical Thinking products are actually discounted there. I do make sure I have a set budget (with just a little bit of extra money for unexpected gems) to make sure I don't go overboard on spending, and I take a list of what I'm interested in with prices to make sure I don't overpay.

[H0MEFree]

PLEASE BUY AT THE CONVENTION!!!

 

The people who put on the convention NEED you to.

 

Vendors will not come back if they do not have a good weekend there.

Would you if you were a vendor?

Those booths cost a pretty penny and the trouble to load it all, drive it there from great distances, unload it, set up the booth, run the booth, take it all down, load it back up, drive it home and with the added expense of stying in some hotel usually?

Homeschoolers really do not think about the trouble a vendor goes to and the money the spend to be there.

 

So, if you don't buy there- they will be discouraged and maybe not come back.

 

This is especially true at the smaller fairs.

 

(I am the vendor coordinator for our local homeschool fair)

[Beth in Central TX]

I know it depends on the vendor, but I would be more willing to buy from them at a convention if they offered better deals. Some of them give a 10% discount, but from my experience, most charge the full retail price and then I have to pay sales tax on top of that. If I want to look at something before I buy it, I generally wait a purchase it at a convention. However, if it's something I know I want to buy, I usually buy it on-line because even with shipping, it's usually a better deal; more times than not, I can get free shipping which makes it an even better deal. I'm all for supporting the publishers, but I have a homeschool budget to work within too.

[Amy loves Bud]

Haven't read the other replies, but here are my two pennies.

 

If I know exactly what i want to buy ahead of time, I try to get it at the convention to save on shipping. For example, we use MUS and I know what the next levels are that I will need, so I just pick them up there.

 

BUT, if I am going to the convention to peruse options because I haven't yet decided on a particular curriculum, I don't like to buy it there. There is just too much information coming in at once and I like to go home and mull it over in the quiet before making the final decision. There are so many neat things out there, it's easy to get impulsive. I think I save more than shipping costs by avoiding bad impulsive decisions.

 

Hope this is helpful!

[Kari C in SC]

FPEA is such a great convention, in the future, I think I'll be flying back for it. (That seems extreme, but it's really just an excuse for me to have a weekend with my girlfriends- we just moved away).

 

I am doing this EXACT thing. We just moved from the Tampa area in January. My kids have become so used to going to the convention with their friends that they can't stand to miss it! LOL! I feel the same way, so my oldest ds will drive down early that week to spend time with friends and then meet up with me and my dd. We have a few friends graduating this year too. It is just a fun time for us all.