Logos closes reseller channels

There are some things I just don't understand about business.  This is one of them. 

What does this mean for selling Logos at the local bookstore?  It sounds like that's over.

I just don't get it.  [:^)]

Mark A. Smith said:

Logos Bible Software has elected to transition out of ALL
distribution and reseller relationships!

I'm guessing, by the sound of this, that Logos is just moving their retail distribution to a separate company. Perhaps even a spin-off company wholly owned by Logos.

Just a guess...

Lifeway as not had a base package on shelf for some time.

I'm not sure whether I should share this before Halloween, but can't you see? Isn't it obvious? First, Zondervan joins in. Then, resellers are eliminated. It's all moving toward the one-worldwide-Bible-software company. And soon we will be wearing the software in our hands through iphone. WATCH OUT! BEWARE of the mark! (evil laughter)...

Disclaimer: this is a joke. this is a joke. this is a joke. this is a joke.

I inquired of Rejoice Software about their ability to deliver the upcoming Tyndale Commentary and received the following reply:

Hi Richard



Yes, the announcement only pertains to products published by Logos. In this instance, the Tyndale set is being published by InterVarsity Press. We haven't sold any Logos-published products in several years. The Libronix products that we carry are being made available by the print publishers who have decided to license the Libronix technology, and then produce their own product. For example, Baker Book House publishes their own material in Libronix format, and they have produced several products that we carry: Sproul, Geisler, Baker NT Commentary, Baker Exegetical, and these products are completely unrelated to any decisions that Logos, the company, makes regarding their own published materials. We stopped offering Logos published materials about 3 years ago. But we have continued to make Libronix products available from Baker Book House, and in this case, IVP (as well as many others, like AMG's Bible Essentials), and will continue to offer IVP products like The Essential IVP Ref. Collection, Bible Speaks Today, etc.



I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.



Thanks,



Michael White

Thomas Black said:

Oh well then, nothing to see.  Move along.

You mean now I have to come up with something else to complain about? that stinks.

This may be 'not a big deal' to purchasers in the US and Canada, but it would be a big deal to us in (places like) Australia, who depend on resellers (there are really only three in Australia). The US postage on a base package would be pretty prohibitive, and once you get to AU$1,000 we have to pay import duties. I'd suggest that, if that happened, it would really mean Logos exiting the Australian market.

Colin

How about product like "Bible Speaks Today" and "Essential IVP Reference Collection", and all the other 3rd party product that use Libronix?

Kenneth Shawver said:

Philippians 2:14

14 Do all things ^zwithout ⁴complaining and ^adisputing,

Who's complaining???

and here all this time I thought that verse said " Do all things without champagne and dissipation" [:D]

David Buckham said:

To my knowledge Logos still has the Ambassadors program that offers the software at a 25% discount.    Maybe this means the Ambassadors are about to have some new venues of sales opened up to them.

all about Christ,

David

Although I have purchased a couple of add-ons to Logos through third-party resellers due to pricing, there is another issue to this change in operations.  Given that the longevity of our software depends upon the long-term success of Logos, how is Logos going to market its base products?  It was radio marketing for Illumina software that drove me into my local Christian bookstore to check out the available software.  After evaluation of the options, I chose Logos... but had Logos not been in that bookstore, I would now be using a different software package.  Now, I may be one of a small minority (I usually am), but it would be interesting to know what percentage of sales of Logos base packages are through 1) Direct sales (salesforce/internet), 2) Resellers, 3) Ambassador program/referrals, 4) Seminaries/Bible colleges, etc.  It may be that this decision impacts only a small percentage of sales...

Mike

Bob Pritchett said:

The decision was based on a careful analysis of our sales; you can be assured that we didn't turn off any channel that was doing significant business.

Hi Bob. I can absolutely understand that for North America. I'm hoping that there will still be some retail presence in Australia, otherwise it will effectively mean you leave our marketplace, which I think would be very sad.

Colin

Bob Pritchett said:

Colin Thornby said:

I'm hoping that there will still be some retail presence in Australia

We examined our international sales and found that direct sales from overseas were dramatically higher than sales through distributors. In the age of the Internet, people communicate directly. (Case in point: You're corresponding with me directly, not our Australian distributor.)

Yes, they do tend to, but I found out about your product through an Australian retailer, not through your website. I'm on here because I own Scholars super duper package, appreciate it and the community that has formed around it. I purchased my base package through an Australian retailer, not through Logos - if it had not been there I would not have bought it, and thus bought into your system. I purchased the upgrades and so on through Logos because they don't need to be physically delivered (generally).

If I'd had to import your software myself, I'd have paid AU$1,775 including import duties and taxes. If I'd bought it in Australia it would have been quite a bit lower (I reckon around AU$1,300).

Obviously it is your decision. All I'd point out is that you can't rely, in other territories, on people getting hold of American Christian magazines and so on, because they don't have wide circulation here. That means your visibility will be poor. There is another thing - Australians are different to Americans, I understand. We have a much smaller 'mail order' culture - it has never been as common here. Australians like to look, feel and experience before they buy, particularly larger purchases. We also like to know someone we can get hold of easily stands behind the product - I know Logos does, is reachable and so on, but others may not until the experience it, which they won't until they buy it and so on.

I absolutely agree with the efficiency of distributing software via the Internet. I'd suggest, though, that if you want to continue to have a share of the market in Australia you need to have some sort of strategy to do it. However - you may be choosing to concentrate on North America, and that is a valid choice. I don't know what your sales figures are. You might also be choosing to focus on 'power users' who would tend to do research and then purchase happily this way. Again - a valid choice.

I regularly recommend your products and show people how to use them (we don't have the benefit of Camp Logos here), and it will be sad if people can't buy them easily.

MJ. Smith said:

Pastor Jerry Bush said:

This only bothers me because it reduces competition, and that usually leads to higher prices.

Come on all you half-emptiers; it means we don't have to spend our time shopping around for the best price.

I don't buy much from other retailers (once, maybe twice), but it kind of reminds me of the old Tennesee Ernie Ford song popular in the late 50's "I owe my soul to the company store" -- oh well, I already do.  [H]