Have you ever just gotten your order from Rainbow Resource?

[Tangerine]

I have never, not once, just received my order from Rainbow Resource.  There is always a backordered item.  I'm starting to think that they just don't keep the things from that enormous catalog in stock, and order things to stock after they are ordered.  Am I just unlucky?  Do other people just order, and then get their order with no delays?

[fourcatmom]

I think I have only had one item back ordered and I order most of my stuff from there. It's never been a problem for me. Sorry! Hope you get your goodies soon. :001_smile:

[Woodland Mist Academy]

I've made many orders over the course of several years. (Usually two or three orders a year, with several items for each order.) If I recall correctly, I have only had one back-ordered item. Usually the order just arrives with no unexpected happenings.

 

 

 

 

[elinnea]

I usually get all the things I ordered at once. The exception seems to be if I order during a busy time like in August.

[KRG]

I've only had 1 back-ordered item.  That was last year and I can't even remember what it was.

[Tangerine]

Alas.  It must be me.  :tongue_smilie: 

[Paige]

I have received everything at once. I've also had some backorders. I guess it's about 50/50 for me. I find them annoying but I still order.

[catz]

I think some publishers end up with more backorders than others.  Which may be a supply problem with the publisher and not necessarily Rainbow Resources fault.  Just a thought.  I noticed once when I was looking for a particular piece of curriculum, it was backordered everywhere I looked.  

 

I haven't ordered a ton from them, but have not had a backorder.

[Erin]

I don't think I've ever had issues either
(I've probably jinxed myself now.  ;) )

[Kathryn]

I've had back orders a couple of times, but only with summer orders.

[bibliophile]

Once, many years ago, I waited over 3 weeks to get my order. It then arrived when I was on vacation. 

 

Since then, I have paid the extra $10 so they will ship even if any items are backordered. I also always make sure to buy something little (like a pencil) that will disqualify the order from being shipped media mail.

[Tangerine]

Since then, I have paid the extra $10 so they will ship even if any items are backordered. I also always make sure to buy something little (like a pencil) that will disqualify the order from being shipped media mail.

That's a little bit of genius.

[Peaceful Isle]

I also always make sure to buy something little (like a pencil) that will disqualify the order from being shipped media mail.

Why didn't I think of this??? This is a totally awesome idea.

[Tangerine]

I'm just afraid that would be the item that was backordered!  Once it was a paintbrush, another time it was a ruler out of an entire manipulative kit.

[redsquirrel]

I have ordered every year for 8 years. I have NEVER not had something backordered. I've even had them cancell something due to it not being available. I've also never had anything that was in stock arrive in a timely manner. It always takes weeks and weeks.

 

I now only order from them when I have no choice. I will order from Amazon or Amazon marketplace or direct from the publisher.

[fourcatmom]

Maybe it has more to do with the time of year? I usually order in July.

[fourcatmom]

I'm just afraid that would be the item that was backordered!  Once it was a paintbrush, another time it was a ruler out of an entire manipulative kit.

 

That would be annoying to say the least! :thumbdown:

[My3Munchkins]

I normally don't have a problem with backorders.  However, 2 recent orders were delayed due to backorders.  One order was held and then sent without the backordered items.  When I received a backorder notice for my most recent order, I looked around online and saw that the item wasn't available many places.  I went ahead and cancelled the item.

[twoxcell]

I have always just gotten my order from RR. ;)

[Artichoke]

We've not ever had a problem with back orders. What drives me crazy is the lack of a shipping notice or tracking. Over the years, I've ordered less and less from them unless their price is just too good to miss.

[momto10blessings]

I've rarely had a back ordered item. Usually it takes 2+ weeks to receive my order, but last week I received my order in 5 days! I was (am) amazed.

[maize]

I've had a lot of RR orders and only once or twice had a backorder.

[I talk to the trees]

I have never had a backorder. They did send me the wrong level workbook once, but that was resolved quickly and easily. Here, let me share some of my "Good RR Luck" with you all! (Use your imagination, folks! We don't have a fairy dust sprinkling smilie!)

[freesia]

I think I have only had one item back ordered and I order most of my stuff from there. It's never been a problem for me. Sorry! Hope you get your goodies soon. :001_smile:

Same here and I've ordered for at least 6 years straight.

[HRAAB]

I vaguely remember having an item on backorder, but it was a long time ago.  If I was constantly having this problem, I would be frustrated, too.

[newhsmom]

I place a big order every year and have never had a back ordered item. I got everything really quickly this year, but I always order right at the beginning of summer.

[Tap]

nope.

[idnib]

I've never had a backorder but we school year-round so I order at odd times, just getting the next thing as we near the end of the previous.

[readwithem]

I've ordered from them at least 50 times (since "graduating" from homeschool, I now buy for the school where I tutor) and have never had a backorder.  I usually receive my shipment within a week of placing an order.  I always check their "bargain" bin and once got a book that was too damaged to use.  They sent me a brand new copy of the same book.  I love Rainbow.

 

I'm sorry you are having such a problem.  I would call them and see whether there is a better way for you to order so you don't have backorders.

[NancyNellen]

One backorder in roughly 12 orders. I guess I order the right things ;-)

[sunflowerlady]

I have never had a problem with them.

[vickjul]

My last three orders have all had backordered items. The most recent order was especially infuriating. My entire order was held a full week due to the backorders, even though the customer service rep told me over the phone that the backordered items would not arrive within their 5-day business day hold window and would be shipped later. So they held my order for a week (5 business days), then turned around and shipped the exact same items they had available to ship the day I placed my order.

I've also had a backordered item cancelled due to its supposedly being unavailable from the publisher. Yet the item is still an active listing on their website. ...

[bettyandbob]

I haven't ordered in about three years, but it never had a problem. Maybe they've changed how they handle their warehouse.

[Brilliant]

I just had to laugh when I saw the title of this post.  Ordering from RR is one of the things I DON'T miss about being done with homeschooling.

 

Anybody remember Great Christian Books?  I was just happy they refunded my credit card for back-ordered items before they went under.  I like to order from "somebody other than Amazon" but sometimes it's just nice to know you'll have your books in 2 days no matter what.

[Tangerine]

I don't order from them frequently, because I'm in Illinois and I have to pay sales tax.  I'm amazed that people have ordered so many times with no problems.  I don't need anything in a hurry, so I'm not upset at all.  I just kind of play the "what will delay my order this time" game when I place one.

[Alicia64]

We ordered Math Mammoth books and the Well Planned Day calendar last week and they arrived today.

 

Maybe it's just a fluke w/ the items you're ordering.

 

Alley

[Renaissance Mom]

I'm another one who has ordered multiple times each year for 8 years now. Occasionally there is a back order, but I don't mind that they hold it a week to wait. The back ordered item almost always comes in during that week and they ship. A few times, they just shipped the in stock part of the order after waiting the week and shipped the back ordered item when it came in. I rarely order during the summer, though. I love RR because they've always been so prompt to deal with any questions or damaged items. They've sent replacement parts quickly without a hassle. They are my favorite homeschool supplier.

[Serenade]

I have never, not once, just received my order from Rainbow Resource.  There is always a backordered item.  I'm starting to think that they just don't keep the things from that enormous catalog in stock, and order things to stock after they are ordered.  Am I just unlucky?  Do other people just order, and then get their order with no delays?

I'm like you, I almost always have something backordered. I wish they would post by the item if it is in stock or not, because sometimes I don't want my order held up for something I may have been able to do without.

 

Maybe they do indicate now if something is backordered before one places the order? I haven't ordered from them in a while because I am frustrated by this.

[prairiegirl]

I have been ordering from RR for 12 years now--2 or 3 times a year--and I have only had a backordered item once.  I live in Canada and I have had much better service from RR than I have ever had from Canadian suppliers. 

[Desert Strawberry]

I order from them exclusively for a few years now.  I don't recall ever having a backorder. I order at odd times and receive my orders very quickly. I do larger orders with free shipping. It never takes as long as they say. 

[emmaluv+2more]

When I was a new homeschooler I read somewhere about RR shipping delay frustrations. I had already ordered from them several times and always gotten my items with lightning speed (I'm in Missouri). That was 4 years ago. I now know what everyone was talking about. My last several orders have had back ordered items and have taken forever to arrive.

 

It frustrates me because they don't notify the buyer that there are back orders (at least I've never received any kind of notification) so I don't know unless I ask. If it weren't for their incredible prices I would definitely shop elsewhere (and do when price allows).

[school17777]

I usually place a big order twice a year and there is almost always an item on back order. My last order in Feb, there were two items on back order. Neither came during the hold period. One item came a couple of months later (Rainbow told me it would be this late after my order was processed). I wish there was a way to see if the item was on back order before the order was placed.

[Penny_P]

Yup.  I've only ordered from RR twice.  Back-ordered twice.  I avoid them.  It really set my homeschool back a few weeks last year.

[ajfries]

I've placed 2 orders & one of them had a backordered item. And I didn't get that item for close to 2 months after. It was just a read aloud history book, so it didn't put us back much, but I was less than impressed.

[Annie G]

I've been done homeschooling for a few years, but I do remember the torture of ordering from RR.  Sometimes it was MONTHS before the stuff came in. Ugh. They told me it was due to convention season (which here in Illinois used to be in April/May, don't know about now), 

 

So fast forward and dd is now homeschooling. Last year she needed some things from RR and I wanted to pay for them-and yes, there were things out of stock. It took 6 weeks.  You remember how it was those first few years homeschooling, when you were still excited about getting new books? Yeah. 6 weeks was torture for her. This year she ordered in March so she'd have her stuff so she could start in August- and got her stuff in like 3 days. Go figure. 

[VeteranMom]

I ordered some items on 5/31.  One item was backordered and I was notified about it on 6/4.  Items that weren't backordered were shipped on 6/10.  I got my items on 6/14.  I'm still waiting for one backordered book.  So, it was 15 days and I still don't have my full order.

I've had better luck with cbd.  I usually order from CBD, but RR had something that CBD didn't.

[MicheleinMN]

I don't order from RR unless I absolutely have to and can afford to wait for ages.  Usually I just go elsewhere.  Sometimes 2 day Amazon Prime (which takes 3 or more days to my area) feels too long for me to wait.  

[trulycrabby]

I have ordered from them about ten times in the last year, :o and have never yet had a backorder.

[G5052]

When I used to order in the summer, yes, delays were common.

 

Now most of my purchases are done at other times of the year, and I haven't had a backorder in a long time.

[Caclcoca]

I usually place two big orders a year with RR and a couple of little ones.  The little ones almost never have back orders, but the big ones usually do.  I have always gotten a "back ordered item" notice the next business day.  It usually takes 10 days for my order to arrive, but since I expect it, the time doesn't bother me.  I do get impatient with other shipping delays.  Amazon Prime has me spoiled!