Pre-Pubs at Christmas?

Dan Pritchett said:

We have a lot of Pre-Pubs that we could ship in December. 

Do you mean there are some ready that don't have ship dates listed yet?  Because I only see 4 pre-pubs currently listed for December, two for January, and 4 for Q1-2011. 

I would prefer you ship the ones already listed, but not add any new ones in December.  Especially if you are planning any Christmas specials.  [:D]

Todd Phillips said:

Because I only see 4 pre-pubs currently listed for December, two for January, and 4 for Q1-2011. 

I have 25 pre-pubs that say December.

For me, the credit card cut-off date is the 18th, so I'd be perfectly happy if they all came the day before Christmas. [:)]

Is there any update on what's happening with the Anchor Yale Reference Library? Might that be one of the December pre-pubs?

The psychological impact of a delay in billing until next year would be helpful for me and my house... even though Jan is usually my fiscally lean month.

  I've got to get a new roof for Christmas...[:(]  While I hope Logos offers some Christmas specials, I'm probably unable to take on more than I've already committed to.  Darn that Zondervan 2 offering...[;)]

P.S. Could 2011 be "opposite year" for billing and Logos process orders in reverse alphabetical order?  I think I always wind up waiting a couple days (usually across a weekend) between when others get their resources and when mine electronically post.

33 on Pre-Pub for $2065.40...any delay would be very helpful...unless you want to work something else out [:D]

Delay sounds good. My projects are absorbing my funds.

• My daughter is getting married Decenber 14th.  [{] [}]
• My home's electrical upgrade is caught in a power struggle between the electrical company and the building inspector with me playing peacemaker trying to get the job done. [I]
• Christmas is at my parents in Kansas. [G]
• And I want Zondervan Bundle #2 almost as much as I wanted Zondervan Bundle #1. [8-|]

Yeah, delay sounds good. [O]

Dan Pritchett said:

Ship all Pre-Pubs up until December "x" and then no more until January "x"?

December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day)  through January 3rd (end of New Year's holidays in Japan)  [D]

Todd Phillips said:

Because I only see 4 pre-pubs currently listed for December, two for January, and 4 for Q1-2011. 

Yeah, I had "&unlocked=yes" in my prepub URL (i.e., only the ones I've ordered).  Unfortunately there's no indication on the page that it's filtered for that, which is why I was confused.  I thought it wasn't showing everything, but I couldn't figure out why.

If you do delay, let us know--I will reorder products I've canceled.

This is doubtless problematic. However, what about, during this month, an email to those with pre-pubs that are ready to go telling them they are ready, and letting them download them on their own. Then all those not downloaded in December will download automatically on January 15? Just an idea. Probably more work, but then, my ideas usually are.

Dan, thank you for this post. I don't put anything on a CC; it all goes on my debit card. I have a rather large amount coming out of my account between now and the end of January--too much for this time of year. However, my book allowance does get rejuvanated at the first of the year. I have been waiting for some time for my Pre-Pubs and would prefer to bite the bullet and have them when they are finished. I have already planned on not pursuing any Christmas specials (if offered) this year so that I could afford them. But if they are delayed I will be content to wait.

I currently don't have a huge number of pre-pubs due to ship in December, so I'm happy with them shipping. However, I would be very glad if you could work out a way of allowing pre-pubs to be added to a payment plan. I don't have an annual book budget, so my purchases come out of my monthly salary. The 'lumpiness' of pre-pub releases is therefore a real problem to me. One month I might spend $1,500, the next just a few hundred dollars. I appreciate the maths would be complicated if you allowed us to add orders to existing payment plans, but I can imagine a lovely little chart (a bit like the community pricing chart), that showed us what our payments over time would look like. When we placed an order, we could either pay, or ask for it to be added to a plan. As it stands, I rarely use payment plans, as I have to pay the $5/month fee for every plan, which is not affordable if you have multiple purchases per month.

Mark Barnes said:

As it stands, I rarely use payment plans, as I have to pay the $5/month fee for every plan, which is not affordable if you have multiple purchases per month.

Mark, were you aware that you can save multiple $5 fees per month by contacting your sales rep when making a larger purchase and having them recalculate your monthly payment by adding your new purchases to your existing plan? This does not apply to PrePub orders though. I would guess that anyone could request that their existing multiple plans be combined together also.

Thanks to one of Dan's earlier posts, December prepubs are not a concern for me now.

I agree. I'd like to see the one already listed for Dec go ahead, but no more. Thanks

Praiser said:

Thanks to one of Dan's earlier posts, December prepubs are not a concern for me now.

[:D]  Now where did Matthew stash that stack of Logos "snapshot coupons"?   [:D]

       [6] Maybe Fred Chapman can remind me! [6]

Count me in as one who would like to see prepubs ship as soon as they are available.  I'm one of those who finds delays and long waits for prupubs frustrating (Yale Bible Library, Hebrew Pronunciation;  I'd like to have the books while I'm still young enough to enjoy them [:P]). As Logos ramps up production of books having accounts where customers could add money in advance or expanding the payment option (maybe requiring a first payment at shipment to gaurantee the number of orders for prepubs) might be options. 

Am I getting the message that there is no individualization going on here? My thinking was that pre-pubs were orders and that my order would be processed individually as my order was placed. I would think that being computer-based it is up to us to click on the download button and that would would put the charge on my credit card!?! Otherwise, it sound like a complete lack of personalization. I have waited long enough and feel if it's ready I should be able to chose - for myself, depending on my conditions - to download or not to download. To download or not to download that is the question I want to be able to answer irrespective of the situations others may be experiencing.

Frankly, I though your 'server' allowed each of us to connect to the 'mother ship' and get what we needed at the time it was available. It appears as if there is more than one circumstance that keeps me from getting my pre-pub: (1) When it is ready; and (2) When others determine my accessibility. I don't like that.

MattGZat said:

Am I getting the message that there is no individualization going on here? My thinking was that pre-pubs were orders and that my order would be processed individually as my order was placed. I would think that being computer-based it is up to us to click on the download button and that would would put the charge on my credit card!?! Otherwise, it sound like a complete lack of personalization. I have waited long enough and feel if it's ready I should be able to chose - for myself, depending on my conditions - to download or not to download. To download or not to download that is the question I want to be able to answer irrespective of the situations others may be experiencing.

Frankly, I though your 'server' allowed each of us to connect to the 'mother ship' and get what we needed at the time it was available. It appears as if there is more than one circumstance that keeps me from getting my pre-pub: (1) When it is ready; and (2) When others determine my accessibility. I don't like that.

Prepubs are different and typically they are NOT an individual thing - when they are ready, you get a native that the unlock is available, and your credit card has been charged.  But here is why, it's just a different business transaction:

Logos: "If you, our customers, will help us minimize the risk of producing a resource that too few people will want by agreeing contractually to buy it as soon as it is ready, we will make it worth your while by giving you a (sometimes very significant) discount. We can also then only work on things we know people want, and not delay you getting resources you want by us working on the wrong things."

In all respect for people's situations, I think the more Logos compromises this transaction type the less worthwhile it will be. Understandably so, people want the big discount but control over when they buy. That's agreeing to the benefit without giving the benefit to Logos, or at least not as much benefit. Maybe there are ways to deal with that, without affecting others willing to buy the product as soon as it's ready.

I think it's great Logos is trying to find ways to help its customers, but if I agree to buy a prepub, I want it as soon as Logos can deliver it, because that;'s what they promised. I want it for the agreed price as well. If Logos wants to introduce a third type of deal besides prepubs and normal sales that's great, but please don't change the game for those of us committed to prepubs. If Logos wants to give people some extra time to decide to buy the prepub after ship date, that's their business as well and a very kind thing to do.  But any artificial delays in prepub shipments negatively affects the customers that may really feel they need these resources for their work, ministry, or faith life. Please don't do that Logos!

I too would like a delay (till around April 15th).

I also agree with everyone that a long term solution needs to be put in place.

You know, the tone of some posts is quite unfortunate and maybe unacceptable.  We are supposed to be Christians first, not capitalists first, but Christian.  If push comes to shove, I'll either cancel several items, or use my savings to cover my $2000.00 plus in pre-pubs.  I'm saddened that some have not considered much other than their own desires and opinions.  First of all, the OWNER of the company is asking for feedback to make getting through December as smooth as possible for everyone (company and customer).  Second of all, I don't remember a time in Logos history when the number of new releases was so numerous.  No publisher releases new resources at this rate because it doesn't usually make good business sense.  Logos stands to lose a ton of money too if most of us pull our pre-pub orders.  When one "commits" to a pre-pub, one has no idea of a release date.  Some have taken over a year, other are due to release a month after it is listed.

I have almost 2800 resources many only have 500-1000.  We all want "our" new ones yesterday, but as a way to make this best for Logos and our Brothers and Sisters, maybe we can all do what Dan asked and give our "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" and then let Logos decide.  These forums have become a place where people don't seem to care about the attitude behind what they write or the perception of their attitude.  Let's think of others before we think of ourself...that includes Logos.  If they believe it's a better idea to just release everything and lose some (who knows how many) sales, then that is up to them.  If they decide on some of the user suggested ideas for the future...more power to everyone involved.

Please remember, most Logos users are of modest to low income if you're looking at the average church attender and (pastors, students, etc.).  Let's consider all users, not just our particular case.  I would love to see Logos figure something out that allows those most financially heavily invested in their product to have a much greater flexible option to purchasing pre-pubs (like a gold-star program or something).

I pray my tone is one of grace, mercy, and love.  Please forgive me if I've offended or spoken any truth without love.  Your fellow servant...Michael

MattGZat said:

It does not appear appropriate to 'muzzle the ox' that has worked so long to bring the title out and not have immediate access to the money others and myself said they would pay when the resource was available.

Delayed gratification usually pays a richer dividend.

Hi Matt, and welcome to the forums.

There may actually be a benefit to Logos to delay the release of December Pre-Pubs. I imagine Logos is planning some type of sales effort for the holidays. So they will probably get all our money anyways. (Ooh, I can't wait!) It is also hard to put a price on goodwill. Logos has a track record of going the second mile for customer satisfaction.

I don't think Dan Pritchett was coerced into starting this thread. It is doubtless he is reading the responses and whatever action that might result will be whatever is deemed best. Up till now Logos has been very generous (and usually succesful) in their sales decisions. I am eager to see what becomes of this one. [:P]

tom collinge said:

Matthew C Jones said:

Delayed gratification usually pays a richer dividend.

For those of us who cannot afford the pre-pubs now, we will just delete them.

I was not suggesting you cancel any orders. I was telling MattGZat that Logos might actually profit from delaying some December shipments.

I bet there are a lot of us in a financial pinch right now. That would explain why Dan asked the question to begin with. Before you jump the gun and delete orders, give Dan a chance to get the feedback he asked for and see what comes of it.

tom collinge said:

Matthew C Jones said:

I was not suggesting you cancel any orders

True, but I will have no choice but to cancel my orders because I simply cannot afford them right now.

But you may not have to afford them "now."  Hold back a few days and maybe something will develop. It is easier to wait & see than try and re-instate a cheap Pre-Pub (that may have originated in Community Pricing.)  Besides that, Grandma might give you an early Christmas present of Logos credit! [G]

Well said, Jim.

I'd prefer to just go with what is slated and hold off on any additional ones so I can see what the new year holds after Christmas.