Package Deals?

awanama · Post by **awanama** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:10 pm

I thought I read somewhere that HOD was going to start offering package deals where they would have discounts based on what you ordered or cheaper shipping. I can't find it in any of the posts.

So, am I imagining this or did I really read it?

Thanks,
Erica

Post by **Carrie** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:54 pm

Erica,

You are so right!

You are not imagining things.

We actually had all of the pricing changes set to go up on the website the day the server went down. So, the price changes had to take a back seat to the server change-over.

The package pricing is going to be discounted in order to make Heart of Dakota more of a one-stop shopping place. But I also wanted to make you aware that the Teacher's Guides are having a price increase (the first one in our 7 years of being in business).

The cost of paper and printing has risen steadily the last seven years, so we finally had to adjust our prices. Each Teacher's guide and Student Book will go up $4.00-$5.00. The retailers who do business with us are also adjusting their price to reflect the change as well.

I'm not sure when the package discounts will be up on the web. We're working through one issue at a time. I would hope by this weekend.

Blessings,
Carrie

marypoppins · Post by **marypoppins** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:57 am

"Each Teacher's guide and Student Book will go up $4.00-$5.00. The retailers who do business with us are also adjusting their price to reflect the change as well."

Doing the happy dance that I bought my manuals ahead of time!!!

awanama · Post by **awanama** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:50 am

Carrie,
When are the prices going up?
Thanks,
Erica

Post by **Carrie** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:21 pm

Erica,

The prices on the guides will go up at the same time that the package prices go down. So, in that way our customers will be getting a better deal overall even with the increase in the guide pricing. If you order now, you will save on the guides. If you order after the price change, you'll pay more for the guides, but save on the overall package. The price changes will likely go into effect within the next week, if all goes well.

In the past we have been content to have customers purchase our guides and the resources from a variety of retailers. With the changes made to discount our packages, we will be moving toward making HOD more of a one-stop-shopping for our customers. Prior to this point we have not had the time needed to keep up with packaging and shipping all HOD orders. However, as our sons grow and help more with the business, and we continue to write products, it makes sense to keep our order fulfillment in house.

At some point we may even go to being a sole source for our products, much like MFW, Sonlight, or Winter's Promise. This makes more sense for us in the long run, rather than selling our guides at quite a discount to other retailers and having them profit the most from the resale of our guide. In essence, we are competing with ourselves!

Anway, there's a short economics lesson from our house to yours for today.

Blessings,
Carrie

awanama · Post by **awanama** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:59 pm

Carrie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I think I will wait to see what the package deals are. I'm not quite sure if this is the right choice for us or not. I personally like one stop shopping and understand how much a small company looses when other retailers sell their books.

Thanks,
Erica

Post by **Carrie** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:56 pm

Erica,

I know that was way more information than you asked for, but I just wanted to take the opportunity to explain our philosophy on pricing more fully.

We'll pray that the Lord will give you peace with your curriculum decisions, whatever they may be!

Blessings,
Carrie

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:04 pm

Carrie wrote: At some point we may even go to being a sole source for our products, much like MFW, Sonlight, or Winter's Promise. This makes more sense for us in the long run, rather than selling our guides at quite a discount to other retailers and having them profit the most from the resale of our guide. In essence, we are competing with ourselves!

And thinking about the fact that they are not sold elsewhere and yet the guides are really what three times more expensive than HOD even with the price increase...it's a bargain! Plus it's the one I like the best too! So I would get it even if it was not the most economical choice of Christian publishers. But it really goes to show that HOD is thinking about the families first when you think of the price of other guides.

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:36 pm

Just curious Carrie, but when you say package discounts, how big is the package before you get a discount.

When I order the next set of materials for instance I will be looking for the Guide, the math, any science, LA matls, and history, but I usually get read alouds and reading books from the library. Would that be enough of a package to get a discount or will the discounts only be for complete packages?

Not that it would affect my decision to buy either way but I'm just curious...

Post by **Carrie** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:27 pm

Good question, LeeAnn! Each package will have its own discount. So, the Economy Package will have its own discount, the Basic Package its own, the Deluxe Package its own, etc.

That way even if you get just the bare minimum (the Economy Package) needed to make our program function, you'll get it at a discount.

Hope that helps!

Blessings,
Carrie

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:29 pm

Carrie wrote: Each package will have its own discount. So, the Economy Package will have its own discount, the Basic Package its own, the Deluxe Package its own, etc.

That way even if you get just the bare minimum (the Economy Package) needed to make our program function, you'll get it at a discount.

YAY!

That's what I was hoping for!

7under9 · Post by **7under9** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:59 am

Hello,

I am new to this board and new to HOD - I am thinking this is what we want to switch to, but I need to get it ASAP. However, we are on a very tight budget (who isn't?!) so I would love to be able to save some money.

Is there any idea of when the package discounts would be available? I am going to need to get Bigger with the extension and LHFHG.

Thanks in advance for the info ~

Gina

Post by **Carrie** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:46 pm

Gina,

Welcome to the board and to HOD!

I'm checking with our web designer today to find out a precise date when the price changes will go into effect. Our change-over to a new server has delayed the price changes, so I'll get back to the board, hopefully this evening, with that information!

Feel free to ask any questions you may have, as the ladies on the board are so great about chiming in!

Blessings,
Carrie

7under9 · Post by **7under9** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:46 pm

Thanks Carrie! I'll check back tomorrow.

Post by **Carrie** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:45 pm

Gina,

Our hardworking web-designer says the price changes will be up Sunday evening. So, by Monday morning all should be ready to go with ordering using the new pricing changes.

Blessings,
Carrie

heartofdakota.com

Package Deals?

Package Deals?

just curious

Any idea of a timeline of when this will be?