Is upgrade from Scholars Platinum to Portfolio worth it?

Could you do better taking the same money and buying only resources that you need and will use? Things like the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary and Martyn Lloyd Jones on Ephesians for example.

Or is the Portfolio too good a bargain to pass up?

I would like to know what folks think.

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Comments

Wes Saad

It's definitely a good bargain, if you need the resources it offers. That's what it comes down to. What do you need? Would those resources be helpful to you? Or are you more interested in other resources not in that collection?

Mark Smith

Could you do better taking the same money and buying only resources that you need and will use? Things like the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary and Martyn Lloyd Jones on Ephesians for example.

Honestly I think you can do better on your own. At least that way you'll have what you want rather than what Logos wants to give you. There is not enough in Portfolio to interest me in spending over $2,000 to get it. Other will feel differently, but I've been through it an item at a time and it would be a waste of money for me.

Frank Sauer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277551#Comment_277551

Could you do better taking the same money and buying only resources that you need and will use? Things like the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary and Martyn Lloyd Jones on Ephesians for example.

Honestly I think you can do better on your own. At least that way you'll have what you want rather than what Logos wants to give you. There is not enough in Portfolio to interest me in spending over $2,000 to get it. Other will feel differently, but I've been through it an item at a time and it would be a waste of money for me.

Agree 100% Mark! If Logos users find the base package that most fits their needs, then add single or small package sets to it, they will get the most out of it. Being on Silver, for my needs neither Gold nor Platinum would be worth the cost for me, because I wouldn't use the resources I gain in comparison to what I have. Portfolio has some great commentary sets I'd like to add, but $2800 to upgrade is not worth it for me.

There are some individual titles or sets that I may add in the future, but in honesty Silver has such a wealth of wisdom to be gained, not sure there is enough time to spend on other resources...

Matt Longhorn

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277562#Comment_277562

I recently upgraded from platinum to portfolio and have personally benefitted a lot from the texts on ancient cultures. That was at the time the area that was most lacking in my studies so it fit nicely. Personally I wish I had gone portfolio right from the beginning.

That being said, there is a lot that I am probably not going to use in the portfolio package and it was possibly the easy option to add a lot more weight to my library without having to put work into picking individual titles and then calculating prices - checking discounts etc.

My personal circumstances are such that I could afford to do this without affecting anyone else through the extra output of cash - guess that that needs to be a big factor in making the jump... that or the desire to see the outside world again!

Rev. Nannette La Fosse

Hello:

Originally I bought Gold and upgraded to Platinum almost immediately. I wlll not upgrade to Portfolio just because the resources are more scholarly and right know Im looking for more homiletic or more traditional commentaries and resources line than scholarly exegesis type of resources. Those that are more academic will benefit with the upgrade. I will suggest you to do what I did when considering the upgrade from Gold to Platinum. I compared both resources with the charts are in the web and evaluated the cost with the resources. I also went and took some big sets and compared the prices by separated and did some kind of analysis in terms of cost and resources and for me the upgrade was great at that time. If you do that evealuation and see that the $2000 plus is less than what it would cost those sets in a separated way, then you are getting your deal. That is why the first step is to see if you want or need the exrtra resources that are provided in Portfolio.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277604#Comment_277604

I'm staying on Platinum right now at least until it's paid off or I win Publisher's Clearing House. I added enough other things so I think I'm pretty well off. If I was going for a doctorate, that would make it justifiable. You really need to be discerning as a steward. The value is there, it's just a question of its value to you.

I remember before I went for L4, I downloaded the beta of L4M and discovered a resource I had in my MacArthur Library that was really terrific. I never knew I had it. I keep finding things in my library that are almost like that because I simply never looked at them before.

I've tossed the Portfolio idea around before. I went from Scholar to Platinum--it was a no-brainer. I think there are other items from the Logos library that look more useful to me. I still feel like a spoiled kid in a candy store.

MJD

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277690#Comment_277690

I have Portfolio and I am happy with my purchase. I enjoy having the resources available for my Bible Study. If your personal budget allows for this, then I would not hesitate!

blessings,

Mike

Paul N

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277694#Comment_277694

I did much like Nannette, purchasing Silver and then quickly upgrading to Platinum three days later.

Here is the catch22. I've been with Logos for over a year and would say I've spent the better part of the first year familiarizing myself with all of Logos' resources. I've also found what I'll use and what I tend to leave behind when studying using Logos. This information would do you well when choosing your base package. However as time passes, resources included in Portfolio begin to be bought piece by piece until the purchase almost isn't justifiable anymore.

Don't get me wrong, it is a great deal. I would really study the list and see which resources from Portfolio you could see yourself using. You may even want to map out your resource spending with the purchase of Portfolio down the road in mind, so it's bundled price advantage will still be available should you decide to purchase.

Mike S.

I've done a little analysis on my own contained in the attached spreadsheet that identifies all the Portfolio package unique items, then provides a column where I identify what I will someday buy with or without portfolio (the "y" value in the wanted column), what I would use but questionable if I would buy (the "?" value), and I also identify what I already own.

I've only filled in current prices WRT those items that were enough interest to me that I would actually see if I would put them in the "y" or "?" state. Feel free to add links and prices and share as you like. In the case of a number of items that are part of the "Church Origins" collection, there was sufficient reason that I would never not buy the collection if I were to buy any of the books, in that case I divided the cost of the collection by the number of those books in the portfolio package and came up with $22.50 each. This may skew your analysis and you'll find their singled out prices in a comment on those cells.

To come up with your numbers, you'll need to re-sum up the "y" values... all you see here is mine. I also look at a %10 off view to reflect what I could likely get for avg. discount if I were to be patient and get other discounts through special events over time.

So for me, if I were to purchase today, I would "break even" of what I will actually purchase over time, but I would get at least $3600 in resources (logos dollars) I would surely benefit from greatly, but would never pay for separately.

I've determined that unless I can get my upgrade price down to just below $2000, it is not worth it for me today and I'm willing to pay over time instead for what I know I'd use and spend the money on different or new resources instead. (sales people reading this, feel free to call me to adjust my upgrade price! [:D])

6825.unique to portfolio.xlsx

BillS

Or is the Portfolio too good a bargain to pass up?

Only if you can afford to save that much. [:D] I can't, but I would if I could. My experience so far after upgrading to Platinum is that if I HAVE the resources, Logos makes it easy to discover usefulness in them that I'd never have anticipated or planned in advance.

Blessings on your decision.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277701#Comment_277701

Don't get me wrong, it is a great deal. I would really study the list and see which resources from Portfolio you could see yourself using. You may even want to map out your resource spending with the purchase of Portfolio down the road in mind, so it's bundled price advantage will still be available should you decide to purchase.

I agree with Paul. I ended up purchasing Portfolio after adding up resources I didn't have, but really wanted. I may have saved a minimal amount compared to buying them individually, but I got many more resources to explore. I can't say I was as thrilled to get Portfolio as I was Platinum, but I still was glad to get many of the resources. My upgrade was only about 1250 or so, ("only," he says with a wistful look in his eye)

The temptations:

get all gaga about the amount of resources and their retail price versus cost of the package
or, conversely, assuming you might not need or want resources, but really have no clue how beneficial they might be, especially for searching on topics, and wanting specialized articles and such.

whatever you do, it will take much thought. it was not a no-brainer for me, but I am glad I have it, and look forward to what other upgrades may come in the future (the BellinghamLibrary edition, for instance . . . )

Mike S.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277864#Comment_277864

or, conversely, assuming you might not need or want resources, but really have no clue how beneficial they might be, especially for searching on topics, and wanting specialized articles and such.

Great point: I would love to hear from Portfolio upgraders -- what were you "surprised" by?

Mike S.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277895#Comment_277895

anyone?

Brother Mark

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277829#Comment_277829

I've done a little analysis on my own contained in the attached spreadsheet that identifies all the Portfolio package unique items, then provides a column where I identify what I will someday buy with or without portfolio (the "y" value in the wanted column), what I would use but questionable if I would buy (the "?" value), and I also identify what I already own.

Excellent analysis Mike. I did the same kind when contemplating the upgrade from Silver to Platinum. For me, it just makes sense to add individual titles vs. a base pkg upgrade bursting with exotic resources I'm unlikely to receive any value from.

Edwin Bowden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278032#Comment_278032

I did the same kind when contemplating the upgrade from Silver to Platinum. For me, it just makes sense to add individual titles vs. a base pkg upgrade bursting with exotic resources I'm unlikely to receive any value from.

If a person is considering ever upgrading to a higher base pkg, they would be wise (financially) to delay buying titles that would later be acquired in the upgraded pkg. Although you receive "credit" for the titles you already have, my understanding is that it is always cheaper to add those titles through an upgrade than the credit from buying individually.

Brother Mark

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278067#Comment_278067

If a person is considering ever upgrading to a higher base pkg, they would be wise (financially) to delay buying titles that would later be acquired in the upgraded pkg. Although you receive "credit" for the titles you already have, my understanding is that it is always cheaper to add those titles through an upgrade than the credit from buying individually.

Great advice Edwin. Yes, you get credit but it isn't as significant as the discount in the base pkg upgrade, as you stated. After my cost analysis, I'd determined that it was unlikely that I'd ever upgrade my base pkg, and was unwilling to wait (or never get) resources that fit my particular needs.

Dan Pritchett

Payment plans currently max out at 12 months, but we have had many requests for longer payments, specifically so people could buy/upgrade to Portfolio. So far, we have turned these requests down, but have recently been receiving a lot more interest in them.

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Payment plans currently max out at 12 months, but we have had many requests for longer payments, specifically so people could buy/upgrade to Portfolio. So far, we have turned these requests down, but have recently been receiving a lot more interest in them.

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

While I'm not likely to jump on it this year (EEC!) I would vote in favor of it.

Bill Shewmaker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Payment plans currently max out at 12 months, but we have had many requests for longer payments, specifically so people could buy/upgrade to Portfolio. So far, we have turned these requests down, but have recently been receiving a lot more interest in them.

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

Dan, while I've only used the full 12 months 1 time (upgrade to Platinum), I would be in favor of going to 18 months for some of the bigger purchases. AND if financial circumstances improve in the mean time, we can ALWAYS pay off ealier and save the remaining $5 fees. Go for it.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278278#Comment_278278

i did portfolio in 12. it was a bigger strain for me than I thought, especially as other pre-pubs hit the market. and my upgrade price was at least half of what many say is theirs. i'd vote for the increase. I cancelled some pre-pubs during that time.

Paul N

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278278#Comment_278278

Dan I would say yes to the 18 month plan option

Michael G. Halpern

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278322#Comment_278322

Dan I would say yes to the 18 month plan option

[Y]

Brother Mark

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

Dan, I vote yes [Y] ... but I'd also suggest that 18 months is an arbitrary number when it comes to something like a portfolio base pkg, or even a sweet deal on something like the Nelson or Zondervan collections. Since Logos isn't charging interest and only a small administrative monthly fee, a multi-year plan that is geared to ensuring Logos can keep the lights on, and the customer can make the payments seems like a win-win.

Bill Moore

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278375#Comment_278375

An 18-month payment plan would be necessary were I to upgrade from Platinum to Portfolio, but I fail to see that the additional resources would be worth the $2340 plus another $90 in fees for my needs and interests. I've looked it over several times to see if I could justify the upgrade, but each time I'm further convinced that Platinum is the top package for me. (My biggest regret is that I didn't take advantage of the NICOT/NICNT when I had an opportunity to buy it at the prepub price on the payment plan, a really gracious offer at the time, but I couldn't really swing it. If that offer were made again, . . . [;)] Oh well, I've got Welwyn to pay for, and I'm really looking forward to that. Okay, enough rambling.) If you determine that Portfolio works for you, it's a great buy.

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

I think so, it would put the more expensive sets in the reach of more people.

Praiser

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

I think so, it would put the more expensive sets in the reach of more people.

I agree...I think sales of Portfolio would definitely increase...and those users would be blessed. But when you open that door...you will have more requests for purchases or payment plans over say $2000 to have the same extension also. Logos will have to weigh the cost of such an offering, but since you are asking you must be considering it. I think it will definitely create more sales (but only you know how that would affect your royalty payments and whatever else it would affect). Maybe a limited time testing window to see if it works well for Logos (would it work better for Logos on a limited scale or unlimited scale~ would being flooded with orders severely affect Logos cashflow due to royalties due)? If unlimited then I pray you will find yourselves flooded with orders.

I have Portfolio (upgraded soon after it appeared) and appreciate the abundance of quality resources it contains. Extending the payment schedule on it would open the door for more users to make that purchase!

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278495#Comment_278495

Praiser--the OP wondered if any of us could share "surprises" -- discovery of cool resources in the package we didn't know about, but found quite helpful/useful.

J. A. Brown

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278278#Comment_278278

Longer payment terms would be a plus for me as well. I used the 12 month option to move from Gold to Platinum (almost immediately). This would be particularly attractive as I consider resources such as NICOT/NICNT or portfolio in preparation for doctoral studies.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278511#Comment_278511

to move from Gold to Platinum (almost immediately)

that was such a terrific upgrade, wasn't it?! it was a no-brainer for me . . . [:)]

BillS

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278513#Comment_278513

to move from Gold to Platinum (almost immediately)

that was such a terrific upgrade, wasn't it?! it was a no-brainer for me . . .

Same here. [Y][8-|]

Praiser

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278507#Comment_278507

Praiser--the OP wondered if any of us could share "surprises" -- discovery of cool resources in the package we didn't know about, but found quite helpful/useful.

oops...my reply was to Dan's posting, though I didn't include his quote:

Payment plans currently max out at 12 months, but we have had many requests for longer payments, specifically so people could buy/upgrade to Portfolio. So far, we have turned these requests down, but have recently been receiving a lot more interest in them.

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

As to the OP:

Could you do better taking the same money and buying only resources that you need and will use? Things like the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary and Martyn Lloyd Jones on Ephesians for example.

Or is the Portfolio too good a bargain to pass up?

I would like to know what folks think.

I guessed that my answer was obvious that I would encourage anyone with the ability to upgrade to do so.[:D]

I have Portfolio (upgraded soon after it appeared) and appreciate the abundance of quality resources it contains.

As for Mike's question:

or, conversely, assuming you might not need or want resources, but really have no clue how beneficial they might be, especially for searching on topics, and wanting specialized articles and such.

Great point: I would love to hear from Portfolio upgraders -- what were you "surprised" by?

I was pleasantly surprised by many of the resources that weren't on my list, but that I am finding useful.

I would say the Jewish resources and many of the commentaries...

JPS Tanakh Commentary Collection (9 vols.)
The Encyclopaedia of Judaism (5 vols.)
Jewish Law (4 vols.)
The Messianic Bible Study Collection which is part of the Ariel Ministries Messianic Collection (11 vols.) in Portfolio
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, rev. ed. (ISBE 1979–1995) (4 vols.)
International Theological Commentary (27 vols.)

Plus many others that are in Platinum as well as Portfolio. I jumped from Gold to Platinum as soon as Platinum was available, then within a month I upgraded to Portfolio. After calculating the cost of the resources Portfolio included that were on my "list" ... it would have cost me substantially more purchasing them individually, so it didn't take much thought to jump to Portfolio and get all those and lots more that I was pleasantly surprised by. I'm still discovering.

Edwin Bowden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Payment plans currently max out at 12 months, but we have had many requests for longer payments, specifically so people could buy/upgrade to Portfolio. So far, we have turned these requests down, but have recently been receiving a lot more interest in them.

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

I would prefer having an intermediate pkg that many could move up to with a 12 month plan. If a user wanted to move up to Portfolio later, it wouldn't be such a huge jump.

I'm still not convinced that I would be interested in the full Portfolio pkg.

Logos might consider a 2 track system--more technical original languages, etc. pkgs and a more general usage pkgs.l I like having a lot of dictionaries, commentaries, etc. without adding all the original language resources.

Andy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278614#Comment_278614

I would definitely be in favour of an 18 month payment plan. Some of the bigger purchases are still a stretch, even at 12 months.

I had definitely hoped to upgrade to Portfolio at some point in the future. However, I bought the Masters Collection at Christmas which seems to include a lot of the resources listed in the Portfolio upgrade (albeit some are partial collections). Strangely, the purchase of the Masters Collection does not seem to have significantly reduced my upgrade cost (indeed, I am not sure that it has reduced it at all).

Given that I will be getting less resources for the same (or similar) cost leads me to question whether the upgrade constitutes sufficient value given my circumstances. I intend to sit down over the next few weeks to evaluate what I have and what I will gain, but I may well direct my money towards adding individual resources and collections apart from the upgrade.

I agree with Dan, et al, however, that the upgrade to Platinum was phenomenal. I am also very happy with the Masters Collection.

BillS

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

Dan, it's the total dollars I can't afford... I need upgrades in smaller chunks--about $300 is what I can swing in any given year. Small church. Small salary. No book budget., only professional expenses that have to cover all expenses, not just Logos books.

I'm just sayin'...

Bill Moore

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278627#Comment_278627

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

Dan, it's the total dollars I can't afford... I need upgrades in smaller chunks--about $300 is what I can swing in any given year. Small church. Small salary. No book budget., only professional expenses that have to cover all expenses, not just Logos books.

I'm just sayin'...

Yes, something like that. I could use an upgrade that includes MacArthur's works, Lloyd-Jones, the revised ISBE or the latest Zondervan Bible Encyclopedia, and the NICOT/NICNT, all for . . . . [;)]

Mike S.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Payment plans currently max out at 12 months, but we have had many requests for longer payments, specifically so people could buy/upgrade to Portfolio. So far, we have turned these requests down, but have recently been receiving a lot more interest in them.

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

I actually think everyone (including Logos) would be better served with a different package at a lower price point with a definitive point to the package. Portfolio has some great stuff from where I sit, but if feels more like what I would call "the shotgun approach" collection.

Platinum, when I bought it, was also highly distributed, was an upgrade that clearly improved my state in commentary sets (not so today and I would have instead purchased Gold if I were making the same decision today).

If you take a look at the jump from Platinum to Portfolio, you're basically looking at a significant % jump in price, but there's not really a USP for this package.

I'd really love to see you move to a kind of "Plus" package model, or emphasis model that pulls in collections from different publishers, positions, etc. that you could add on to anything from Scholar Silver and up. What about a super-collection for the Lutherans? (I'm not Lutheran) What about a super-collection for Cultural background? What about a systematic theology super-collection? A JPS/Jewish super-collection?

Michael Anda

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278627#Comment_278627

Dan, it's the total dollars I can't afford... I need upgrades in smaller chunks--about $300 is what I can swing in any given year. Small church. Small salary. No book budget., only professional expenses that have to cover all expenses, not just Logos books.

Segmented packages WOULD be nice. It would be nice too for packages contain the ENTIRE contents of the package immediately beneath. e.g., Silver containing ALL of Gold +. Platinum containing ALL of Silver+. Perhaps that's the case now, I'm just not aware if it is. If a package has a large disparity in cost in would be nice to have logical parcels of, say, $300 that could be purchased a la carte until the package is complete, or the customer is satisfied. Whichever comes first. Maybe the $300 mark is too rigid. It would be nice to have some flexibility, at any rate.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278243#Comment_278243

Payment plans currently max out at 12 months, but we have had many requests for longer payments, specifically so people could buy/upgrade to Portfolio. So far, we have turned these requests down, but have recently been receiving a lot more interest in them.

Should we open up 18 month payment plans as an option?

Yes.; 18 months and even 24 months.

There are several big-ticket items that, even with generous discounts and a 12 month payment plan, exhaust all the expendable income many users have. Anchor Yale Bible, AYB Reference Libraries, Zondervan Collections, ICC, Hermeneia, NICOT/NICNT and the 2010 Master Collection are all desirable yet out of reach for many. And if a user buys one of these on a 12 month plan, they probably have to quit looking at the Community Pricing & Pre-Pub pages.

I wish you would consider extended payment plans for more than just Portfolio Edition purchases.

You have access to payment plan statistics and probably see the patterns easily. I'm guessing you know you could sell more if we could only afford to purchase more. Even if you offerd a great resource at hefty (and more than fair) discount, We can't buy it without the money. But you already know that.

I thank you for your creative ideas (EEC plans. etc.) to help us obtain resources that would otherwise slip away And kudos to the fine folk in Sales (Dave Kaplan, for me) and Bookkeeping (Donna Bryant & team.) They seem to juggle chainsaws & kittens to help me get the most for my money.

Brother Mark

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/278679#Comment_278679

I wish you would consider extended payment plans for more than just Portfolio Edition purchases.

[Y]

Gary Butner, Th.D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277551#Comment_277551

Honestly I think you can do better on your own. At least that way you'll have what you want rather than what Logos wants to give you. There is not enough in Portfolio to interest me in spending over $2,000 to get it. Other will feel differently, but I've been through it an item at a time and it would be a waste of money for me.

I fully agree with Mark. I purchased the NICOT and NICNT instead of upgrading to Portfolio, and I still saved a bundle of money.