Wow. If they'd done that to me, they'd never get another penny. When I registered, I checked off all grade levels. First of all, just because a kid is "in" whatever grade doesn't mean s/he's working at that level in all subjects. Second, my kids *are* going to progress, and I prefer to read through, evaluate, and decide how to use materials BEFORE I get to the point of implementing them.
Yikes! I just called to check on my order, and the lady said that they had so many orders from homeschoolers that they were back logged trying to confirm all of them. What's with all the security? They aren't selling the answers to the SAT for Pete's Sake. And could I have simply lied and said that I taught at a local school district and wanted the stuff shipped to my house? Would they have called the school district? Geez, do you need a prescription now to get school supplies! If they are indeed selling our orders out from under us while they delay, I think we need to have a chat with them.
That happened to me this time too. I ordered on the 6th of January. On the 15th I received an email asking me to verify some of the school information. I replied right away and then on the 20th they wrote again telling me which items were no longer available. All but two of my items were not available. I emailed them back and told them to cancel what was left of my order.
I'm glad to hear that it's not just me waiting on my order. I thought that it may have gotten lost in the mail. They seem like they are not very homeschool friendly!
They told me (on the phone) that they would not send to a "home address," but it had to go to the "school" address (??). She said they were having trouble because the post office had no record of a school at my address. I asked if she could put just my name on it, instead of our homeschool name as well, and she siad no, they were required to send it to the school name. I just chuckled and said, "You go ahead and send it, it'll get here." They didn't even send it through the USPS. They used UPS, and we get shipments from them several times a week. I'm not feeling very good about them as a company after the general tenor of experiences.
It kills me that I ordered way before some of you and they have contacted you. I do get mail at my house with our school name on it... after all it contains my last name. I'm gonna stand firm on the never ever offering them a penny of my money.
How strange...It came addressed to me. I never even put in a school name because we dont have an official name. I am really sorry about the way some of you have been treated! I am almost considering not ordering again just based on how you were treated!
Well, I just had a nice chat with a rep from Scholastic. Here's the deal... They do not sell our books out from under us; once we click on the item it is removed from the computer's inventory. The online ordering system does not allow for backorders. She says that the $1 sale generates such a number of orders that an item can go out of stock in seconds. So if the item is out of stock, it simply deletes it from the order. If you call their 800 number, the rep can place the order as a backorder (as long as it is not a discontinued item) and it will ship as soon as it arrives in the warehouse. There were four items on mine that got cancelled, and she put them on backorder for me and I still got the $1 price. She told me to tell you all that you could do the same. Also, the reason they must verify that we are teachers (homeschool or otherwise) is because of a legal agreement with the publishers. It is their intention to keep the limited stock for teachers and homeschoolers and not for the general public. She was very helpful, and I got all but one of my choices as it was not being printed anymore. Oh and all new schools and teacher go through the same verification process that we do. Items can only be shipped to a teacher's home address after she has an order shipped to a verified school. I was ready to fight, but I guess the troops can stand down now. Hope this helps you all.
I placed an order last year and received it promptly without any of these issues. Here is the response that I got via email from a rep at scholastic when I wrote to inquire about my order: Alice, I hope that the rep that you talked to was the one that is correct because it seems to me that she contradicts what the rep wrote in reply to me.
According to the rep I talked to the system doesn't work that way. She said the computer system removes the item from cyber inventory the moment we hit send on our order form. I hope she's right too or I might have to pick up my pitch fork again, because selling our order out from under us gets my dander up! She was very apologetic, and she said that they would backorder any items that you weren't able to get if you called them. I told her that Scholastic's name becoming "mud" among many in the homeschool community over this, but she claimed that their policies were designed to "save the limited inventory specifically for schools AND homeschoolers". Oh, and she says that we are getting the special pricing that is reserved for schools and homeschools. Now I wish I'd thought to write down her name in case you all get a rep who disagrees.
I called to have my items placed on backorder and this is what I was told, some of the items once they are gone they are gone. There is no reorder for them so they can't put them on backorder. only 4 of the 10 or so items that I did not get were able to be put on backorder and she told me that I should not be surprised if I did not get those either.
I ordered about seven things and got a confirmation email right away. Last time I tried to order I heard nothing and never got a thing. I will see what happens this time.
Sounds like I talked to the only rep who is concerned with keeping our business! I hope she wasn't just trying to pacify me. I'll post if I ever get my backorder.
I just got an email asking: 1. If my children attended any other schools 2. What grades they were in 3. Name of my Homeschool They said they would process my order as soon as I answered back. I emailed immediately.
I still have heard NOTHING from them since I emailed then on Friday. I still am more disgusted with their service than I have ever been with anyone I have ever delt with online.
They have cancelled 5 of 20 that I ordered, so far. I am hoping for shipment soon. I think your right, they are not on the same page.
I was told the same thing today! I'm not happy about this at all. Last year it went smoothly and everyone I know who ordered through one of the charter schools in our area had no problem. I guess they didn't know the name of the charter I am using, so now I probably won't get what I orderd. :cry: I'm bummed.
