Change March Madness Format to Resources instead of Authors

Let's discuss which format would be best for next year: author vs. author or resource vs. resource. I personally have been pushing to see a resource vs. resource format.

I can see the benefits to both, but I think the author vs. author format has gone stale. This year's offerings are not much different from years past. The one thing the bothers me the most is that I don't really know what resources from a particular author will be discounted. So, while this format produces more resources at a discounted price, few may actually be ones I want to buy. I'm voting blind.

I would love to see Logos implement a new format for next year - a resources vs. resource one. While this will produce less resources at a discounted price, I'll know exactly what I'm voting for (and will potentially buy). This will also be a good format for resources that have multiple authors or obscure authors. I know of plenty of great resources that were authored by someone who doesn't really have a large body of work. It's stuff like this that never seems to have a chance in the author vs. author format.

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Comments

Francis

I agree, Josh. As grateful as I am for the discounts I have had in past years, I am tired of always seeing the same authors year after year. I am sure it benefits newer users though. But for those of us who have already taken advantage of previous winners (and it tends to be the same ones who go deep into the tournament: Carson, Fee, Wright...) it would be nice to have a shot at something else.

I would suggest, however, that perhaps collections of resources would be a better choice than individual resources. In the current format, when an author advances, the discount applies to a number of their resources. It would be less interesting if an author was only replaced by one resource. But a thematic group of resources could be pitched against other groups and then the discount applied to all resources within a group (which could be bought individually).

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702683#Comment_702683

I agree, Josh. As grateful as I am for the discounts I have had in past years, I am tired of always seeing the same authors year after year. I am sure it benefits newer users though. But for those of us who have already taken advantage of previous winners (and it tends to be the same ones who go deep into the tournament: Carson, Fee, Wright...) it would be nice to have a shot at something else.

I would suggest, however, that perhaps collections of resources would be a better choice than individual resources. In the current format, when an author advances, the discount applies to a number of their resources. It would be less interesting if an author was only replaced by one resource. But a thematic group of resources could be pitched against other groups and then the discount applied to all resources within a group (which could be bought individually).

Yes, when I picture what a resource vs. resource format looks like, I imagine it being quite varied. Not just limited to single book verse single book, but perhaps commentary set vs. commentary set, bundle vs. bundle, dictionary vs. dictionary, etc.

Virgil Buttram

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702690#Comment_702690

Throwing a vote in favor of this.

Everett Headley

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702714#Comment_702714

Darcy S. Van Horn

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702683#Comment_702683

I agree, Josh. As grateful as I am for the discounts I have had in past years, I am tired of always seeing the same authors year after year. I am sure it benefits newer users though. But for those of us who have already taken advantage of previous winners (and it tends to be the same ones who go deep into the tournament: Carson, Fee, Wright...) it would be nice to have a shot at something else.

I would suggest, however, that perhaps collections of resources would be a better choice than individual resources. In the current format, when an author advances, the discount applies to a number of their resources. It would be less interesting if an author was only replaced by one resource. But a thematic group of resources could be pitched against other groups and then the discount applied to all resources within a group (which could be bought individually).

[Y][Y][Y] I would really like to see Francis' suggestion implemented next year!

Levi Durfey

[Y] Agreed...I think they should mix up the format every year—authors one year, resources the next, and maybe even another way we haven't dreamt up yet.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702719#Comment_702719

I can tell you guys are fairly new maybe not so new but the resource versus resource format is what Logos used to use I don't know why they changed to author vs author. I definitely agree we need some variety, this author versus author is getting old and freaking annoying to say the least; especially when not all the works by that author are on sale.

I have decided not to vote this year and just choose from whatever is on sale at the end.

DAL

Dave Hooton

I personally have been pushing to see a resource vs. resource format.

I'm not doing this year's Madness because the Author format is a lottery for resources, not to mention my voting...

Stephen McCracken

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702835#Comment_702835

I too was disappointed with what is included.

I would like to have seen, not just the books by a particular person (i.e. Karl Barth) but books about the author (i.e. those who have written on Barth's Theology). For me, there was no point of voting for Barth when I have all his Dogmatics. But if it had included books about him in the category then that would have opened up a very interesting competition.

Sean

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702835#Comment_702835

I'm not doing this year's Madness because the Author format is a lottery for resources, not to mention my voting...

I think I will follow this example.

Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702835#Comment_702835

because the Author format is a lottery for resources, not to mention my voting

I am not sure I understand what you mean, Dave. How is a lottery for resources or your voting a deterrent to participation?

SineNomine

Ironically enough, the author format may allow Faithlife to discount more resources. They may be able to discount some works by a certain author 30% or 35% but not 50% or more. So if he (or she) gets voted out earlier, more resources will be discounted.

Bruce Roth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/703082#Comment_703082

Maybe what we need as variety would be to change periodically from author to series or publisher or maybe set up categories by denomination or periods of history or other creative categories.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/703108#Comment_703108

Maybe what we need as variety would be to change periodically from author to series or publisher or maybe set up categories by denomination or periods of history or other creative categories.

[Y]

Keith Larson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/703082#Comment_703082

Ironically enough, the author format may allow Faithlife to discount more resources. They may be able to discount some works by a certain author 30% or 35% but not 50% or more. So if he (or she) gets voted out earlier, more resources will be discounted.

This is exactly right! For all those who are complaining about Carson, stop and think what this means--God has blessed you enough in the past to purchase his books! Many others have not been so blessed, why do you want to deny them the opportunity of being able to purchase his books at a great discount?

Michael

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/703143#Comment_703143

After years of saving and thinking about getting Logos, I finally dove in and purchased the Gold based package a few weeks ago, so this format works out great as a new user. I'd love to get resources from the authors listed so far. Ones that some have apparently already taken advantage of in previous years.

I know I voted for Carson, Wright, Chan, etc, [:D]

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/703082#Comment_703082

Ironically enough, the author format may allow Faithlife to discount more resources. They may be able to discount some works by a certain author 30% or 35% but not 50% or more. So if he (or she) gets voted out earlier, more resources will be discounted.

Yes, I mentioned this in my post. You get more discounted resources with the author format, but you don't know which resources this might be. In one of the past years, the author I wanted to win, did. However, none of the resources they discounted were ones I wanted.

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/704591#Comment_704591

I wonder if more people would agree with me now....now that Carson looks to win again! [:@]

Fred Robbins

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/710483#Comment_710483

[:D]

Mike Childs

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/702690#Comment_702690

Yes, when I picture what a resource vs. resource format looks like, I imagine it being quite varied. Not just limited to single book verse single book, but perhaps commentary set vs. commentary set, bundle vs. bundle, dictionary vs. dictionary, etc.

It might be a bit unrealistic to expect Logos to make it possible to vote a 75% discount on a major commentary set. I expect the NICOT/NT would replace Carson as undisputed champion year after year. Publishers would never allow it, and Logos could not afford it. You would have to have much lower discounts. A 75% discount on one author is one thing, but a 75% discount on a $1200 plus commentary set would be quite another.

David Carter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/717524#Comment_717524

A 75% discount on one author is one thing, but a 75% discount on a $1200 plus commentary set would be quite another.

That would be more like Thanksgiving Tomfoolery than March Madness [:D]

Personally I prefer the author as opposed to resource format, especially now that there seems (in most cases) to be a much greater proportion of the authors' works made available than was the case in the first year of this format.

The biggest drawback in my view (Carson aside) is the situation when individual components of a collection are discounted but actually cost almost as much or possibly even more when combined than a collected works - Spurgeon being a prime example.

Ted Weis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/703108#Comment_703108

Maybe what we need as variety would be to change periodically from author to series or publisher or maybe set up categories by denomination or periods of history or other creative categories.

Here's some ideas... the result is that a variety of resources, old works created in community pricing and new works that came out of pre-pub, are put on sale

Commentary competition = Gospel of Matthew commentaries vs. Gospel of Mark commentaries. Old Testament vs. New Testament.

Systematic theology = single volumes vs. multi-volumes; American theologians vs. European theologians; ecclesiology vs. eschatology.

Authors who teach at certain seminaries = Asbury vs. Dallas

Dictionaries = Old Testament vs. New Testament

Or how about a few ideas in the "they'll never do this" category...

Mobile Ed courses compete against each other!

Resources originally created in community pricing, with winning book or series available for pennies on the dollar