Encyclopedia Britannica Update
Comments
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That may be a very good assessment Mark. If so, being silent on status for so long is an example of FL's desire to avoid transparency for the fear missed expectations will alienate, when it's possible that over time the customer base gets more alienated by the lack of communications and transparency (which doesn't even address the issue of, 'why don't you get better at meeting expectations?' if that is the primary fear that drives your communication strategy). FL likely sees this thread as proof that customers are unforgiving when expectations are missed, when in reality I think there is much more disappointment in a failure to regularly offer meaningful updates. We all see through our own filters...
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Ben has posted 19 times with updates, answers and responses in this thread of just 5 (and a bit) pages. He and FaithLife have been thoroughly transparent by admitting that a mistake was made and it will take an as-yet unknown period of time to address.
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Gordon Jones said:
Ben has posted 19 times with updates, answers and responses in this thread of just 5 (and a bit) pages. He and FaithLife have been thoroughly transparent by admitting that a mistake was made and it will take an as-yet unknown period of time to address.
And this failure to provide any menaingful expectations gives you confidence that FL is company with a future?
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Gordon Jones said:
Ben has posted 19 times with updates, answers and responses in this thread of just 5 (and a bit) pages. He and FaithLife have been thoroughly transparent by admitting that a mistake was made and it will take an as-yet unknown period of time to address.
I think Ben is a good guy trying to do the best job possible, and he totally gets the current situation, so I have nothing critical to say about him at all. But the policy of communication is far from what you describe if someone bothers to 'look it up':
Let's go back to Jan 18 - "Hope to have by Feb 2, probably will be longer, let you know when there is a firm date.' - ok, this lets us have an idea of what to expect - don't hold me to it, but we are talking next what, 2-8 weeks? Certainly not what you would say if it was a year off. W're probably all on the same page here, no one will hold the date as locked-in.
January 22 - replied to a question on an individual account - no update
March 29 (two months later) - "Nothing to report, we are working on it." - to the casual observer there has been a major change of direction not communicated! We went from hope for Feb 2 but it will be longer, to no information at all when going to the trouble to reply. Not to mention, nothing came out for over two months until asked. Something big happened that was not anticipated Jan 18, and no one bothered to tell customers.
Mar 31 - a series of replies clarifying that FL realizes what has happened, doesn't want more mistakes, refunds will be honored if requested. Nothing on current status, current plan or expectations.
April 4 - we are working on it.
Since April 4 (7 more weeks) - nothing.
Again, I can't stress enough I think Ben is trying to be visible, let us know he is watching this thread and cares, this is a company policy IMHO - and to call this communication "thoroughly transparent' is just inaccurate.
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I agree wirh Mark mentally. It's much bigger. I'm happy to wait, since I never expected. Like Logos getting Carta.
But I also agree with Don. A company that asks customers to accept risk (thousands of digital licenses not transferable in a crash). But very reluctant to communicate for fear of risk.
My reaction is to then minimize the risk ... especially after they dumped so much talent not too long ago. My imagination is not lazy.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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Denise said:
My reaction is to then minimize the risk ... especially after they dumped so much talent not too long ago. My imagination is not lazy.
Again, well put.
Logos 7 Collectors Edition
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Hi All,
OK, with the caveat that the timeline for this project has been hard to define, I can tentatively say that we hope to ship the EBNE sometime in July or August. Please understand that this is not a promised ship date but a projection based on where the project is currently.
If this projection changes, I'll be sure to let you know right away.
Senior Director, Content Products
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I would give two considerations. First, completing that 60 volume project and shipping it will (hopefully) prove to understandably skeptical people that Noet/FaithLife [i]can[/i] pull off large projects. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the immediate cash infusion from shipping it will be very good for Noet's bottom line.James Taylor said:Jan Krohn said:I'm not gonna ask whether work on the EBNE can commence next month after the Great Books have been released...
That's precisely where the tension lies with me... Completing new 60 volume projects BEFORE the supposed *Highest-Priority* projects are completed. IMO, if it were top priority, then no big projects should be released before it is finished, but what do I know
“The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara
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Ben Amundgaard said:
we hope to ship the EBNE sometime in July or August. Please understand that this is not a promised ship date but a projection based on where the project is currently.
Thanks for the "tentative" update, I appreciate the response
Logos 10 | Dell Inspiron 7373 | Windows 11 Pro 64, i7, 16GB, SSD | iPhone 13 Pro Max
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Don Awalt said:Gordon Jones said:
Ben has posted 19 times with updates, answers and responses in this thread of just 5 (and a bit) pages. He and FaithLife have been thoroughly transparent by admitting that a mistake was made and it will take an as-yet unknown period of time to address.
I think Ben is a good guy trying to do the best job possible, and he totally gets the current situation, so I have nothing critical to say about him at all. But the policy of communication is far from what you describe if someone bothers to 'look it up':
Let's go back to Jan 18 - "Hope to have by Feb 2, probably will be longer, let you know when there is a firm date.' - ok, this lets us have an idea of what to expect - don't hold me to it, but we are talking next what, 2-8 weeks? Certainly not what you would say if it was a year off. W're probably all on the same page here, no one will hold the date as locked-in.
January 22 - replied to a question on an individual account - no update
March 29 (two months later) - "Nothing to report, we are working on it." - to the casual observer there has been a major change of direction not communicated! We went from hope for Feb 2 but it will be longer, to no information at all when going to the trouble to reply. Not to mention, nothing came out for over two months until asked. Something big happened that was not anticipated Jan 18, and no one bothered to tell customers.
Mar 31 - a series of replies clarifying that FL realizes what has happened, doesn't want more mistakes, refunds will be honored if requested. Nothing on current status, current plan or expectations.
April 4 - we are working on it.
Since April 4 (7 more weeks) - nothing.
Again, I can't stress enough I think Ben is trying to be visible, let us know he is watching this thread and cares, this is a company policy IMHO - and to call this communication "thoroughly transparent' is just inaccurate.
Please do not try to suggest that Ben ever suggested that February 2 was a possibility. I asked about it hoping that Candlemas might be a viable release date since we missed a Christmas time release. I want to apologize if my inquiry in anyway caused Ben to seemingly suggest it was a viable release date. Without going back there I believe all Ben said was to the effect 'I don't think that is a viable date, it is being worked on.' I do not think FL should release no books before Britanica is released, but I do think it is not unreasonable being a product that many of us have paid for to have a little more detail on how it is progressing.
Dan
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Ben Amundgaard said:
Hi All,
OK, with the caveat that the timeline for this project has been hard to define, I can tentatively say that we hope to ship the EBNE sometime in July or August. Please understand that this is not a promised ship date but a projection based on where the project is currently.
If this projection changes, I'll be sure to let you know right away.
Thank you. My response was being composed before you responded. This level of information is all I wanted. I know you have no crystal ball it could well be early if things go real good and could be later if there is any set backs. We all should know well enough it is not just formatting the text. But ensuring the numurous links and such are in place and working. With over 80,000 articles it is going to take time to do it right I know.
Dan
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Dan Francis said:
I do not think FL should release no books before Britanica is released
I don't either, and hopefully that wasn't what my post insinuated, but Ben admitted that the "Great Books of the West" was a "large project" for Noet. My concern is that Noet-specific resources that are "large projects" would be a lesser priority than Britannica. Either way I'm glad it is at least "projected" to be shipping within a few months
Logos 10 | Dell Inspiron 7373 | Windows 11 Pro 64, i7, 16GB, SSD | iPhone 13 Pro Max
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Ben Amundgaard said:
Hi All,
OK, with the caveat that the timeline for this project has been hard to define, I can tentatively say that we hope to ship the EBNE sometime in July or August. Please understand that this is not a promised ship date but a projection based on where the project is currently.
If this projection changes, I'll be sure to let you know right away.
Thank you Ben for your work on this project, and for sharing this information.
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James Taylor said:
Either way I'm glad it is at least "projected" to be shipping within a few months
Now who said it will be in the next few months?
And how many is "a few?"
I predict Logos 7 will ship before EBNE.
Logos 7 Collectors Edition
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Matthew C Jones said:
I predict Logos 7 will ship before EBNE.
I don't know my magic 8 ball only says maybe. [:D]
-Dan
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Hi Don,
You seemed to me to suggest that FL desires to avoid transparency. Forgive me if I'm mistaken. I don't think FL has been opaque. Even the latest update (thanks Ben, btw) is all "caveat", "hard to define", tentatively", "hope", "not a promise", "a projection". Of course, I understand that updates can be reassuring even when they have nothing new to report.
Blessings.
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Matthew C Jones said:
Now who said it will be in the next few months?
Ben just did, here..."I can tentatively say that we hope to ship the EBNE sometime in July or August"
Logos 10 | Dell Inspiron 7373 | Windows 11 Pro 64, i7, 16GB, SSD | iPhone 13 Pro Max
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James Taylor said:
Ben just did, here..."I can tentatively say that we hope to ship the EBNE sometime in July or August"
And in the same breath he said, "Please understand that this is not a promised ship date.."
Logos 7 Collectors Edition
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Exactly! Hence his wording of tentative, projected, caveat, etc. Nevertheless, he at least pointed us to a "tentative", "projected" ship date. Which is what I was stating originally.
Logos 10 | Dell Inspiron 7373 | Windows 11 Pro 64, i7, 16GB, SSD | iPhone 13 Pro Max
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James Taylor said:
Exactly! Hence his wording of tentative, projected, caveat, etc. Nevertheless, he at least pointed us to a "tentative", "projected" ship date. Which is what I was stating originally.
Don't you think it would have been more transparent last October for Faithlife to give a "tentative", "projected" ship date of July or August 2016?
Logos 7 Collectors Edition
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Matthew C Jones said:James Taylor said:
Exactly! Hence his wording of tentative, projected, caveat, etc. Nevertheless, he at least pointed us to a "tentative", "projected" ship date. Which is what I was stating originally.
Don't you think it would have been more transparent last October for Faithlife to give a "tentative", "projected" ship date of July or August 2016?
If and only if that was the tentative ship date that they themselves had at the time.
“The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara
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Thanks Ben.
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Well I missed this thread...
Ben, it would be helpful if you provided monthly updates, even if there is no update. Just coming on to say, that the project has not been forgotten nor put on the back burner, that you are still actively working on it is really all that is needed. Perhaps the first of each month for example...
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Are there any new updates on shipment
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We're still aiming for end of July or August (with all the previous caveats still in place [;)])
Senior Director, Content Products
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so....?
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Still shooting for some time in August.
Senior Director, Content Products
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Thanks for all your efforts, Ben. It's all good. [:)]
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Most people get excited about the latest movie release, sequel to a novel, the latest model Corvette, etc. We, however, are on the edge of our seats for an encyclopedia. Our mothers would be so proud [:)]
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[8-|]
Yes our mums and Dads would be pleased
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Ben, do you anticipate being able to announce anything when this ships regarding if/when any updates will be available and at what price? I seem to recall reading a long time ago that incremental updates likely would be available for this resource in the future but that nothing more specific had been worked out. Thanks.
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Are we still looking at an August ship date? Would love to have this before I start fall semester.
Nathan Parker
Visit my blog at http://focusingonthemarkministries.com
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I'll go ahead and sign up for the slot Friday to ask Ben are we there yet. Though, judging from the server-iferous L7 issues, I'd hate to be in Ben's slippers.
I already have reading time slotted on our west coast extravaganza for Brittanica ... I'm that stupid. I already decided which app to host it.
Selling Brittanica was my first job. I didn't think it was possible. Then someone wanted to buy a set. I was truly shocked.
I recommend selling encyclopedias or a more modern equivalent, to learn marketing. People. They're truly amazing.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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Denise said:
Selling Brittanica was my first job. I didn't think it was possible. Then someone wanted to buy a set. I was truly shocked.
When I left school and was desperate for a job, any job, I spent one month with a company selling Brittanica. I never sold a thing. That's when I knew sales wasn't my thing [:D]
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Yasmin, same for me!
The key marketing principle I was taught, was to walk fast. Find the customer needing the product. I was exhausted.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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Hi all,
Obviously we're getting close to the end of August and there is no ship date on the product page yet [:S]
I just sent in a request to get an updated status. I'll let you know as soon as I hear something (as you can imagine, things have been a bit hectic over the last few days!).
(I will say that I have actually seen portions of it for testing, so it is actually quite close to being complete.)
If for some reason it does go into the first week or two of September, please remember that I tried to be very clear that July-August was a very tentative prediction.
As I said, I'll give you an update as soon as I have it.
I really do believe we're close!
Senior Director, Content Products
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Ben Amundgaard said:
If for some reason it does go into the first week or two of September, please remember that I tried to be very clear that July-August was a very tentative prediction.
I remember. [:)]
“The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara
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Thanks for the update, Ben.
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Thanks Ben
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FWIW
The resource is essentially complete. We've been finishing up some cosmetic touches and triple checking a few things. Due to its enormous size this has been a lengthier process than I hoped. If all goes well we'll finish those final touches today and it will be available shortly thereafter.
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Outstanding! Speaking for many, I'm sure, heartfelt thanks to you, Ben, and the rest of your crew!
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OK, so it's the last day of August. I'm not throwing in the towel yet because there's a small chance we could actually ship it today. I'll let you know as soon as I know one way or the other.
Thanks!
Senior Director, Content Products
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My budget would really have no problem with this shipping in September.
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For many of us, it was paid for last year. FL has been probably made an estimated $.12 interest on my money while I have been waiting.
The release is truly going to be exciting for those of us who have been waiting this long. However, I am still wrestling with the idea that I could be so excited about an encyclopedia.
Jeez, what a book nerd.
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Brian,
Did you pre-order the original EBNE (Compton's) and keep the order? If so, there should be no additional charge.
Senior Director, Content Products
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I was under the understanding that those who ordered EB back when it was actually Comptons and who asked for a refund would also be allowed to put in an order at the original pre-pub price. Is that still the case?
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Hi Ben,
I did have (and explore, delightedly) the original EBNE product. After a few surprise items in the budget the same month that the encyclopedia shipped, I wound up having to get a refund to help out. I was able to get my original pre-order reinstated through customer service though, and am very excited for the upcoming EBNE + Compton's.
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Greg F said:
I was under the understanding that those who ordered EB back when it was actually Comptons and who asked for a refund would also be allowed to put in an order at the original pre-pub price. Is that still the case?
Correct. You'll need to call customer service to get your pre-pub reinstated.
Brian Losabia said:Hi Ben,
I did have (and explore, delightedly) the original EBNE product. After a few surprise items in the budget the same month that the encyclopedia shipped, I wound up having to get a refund to help out. I was able to get my original pre-order reinstated through customer service though, and am very excited for the upcoming EBNE + Compton's.
Sounds good, Brian. I just wanted to make sure we had you taken care of when it does ship.
Senior Director, Content Products
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