Logos Is Too Expensive

Joel, welcome to the forums. I doubt you are that much in the minority.

But the details are important. I have the OL simply because it had a specific resource no one else had at the time, along with some of the Logos tools. Had no need for 'scholars' etc. So Logos saved me money. Quite affordable for what I wanted.

Then there's the  bottom 3 packages. Again hard to say. Is everyone like you? I don't really know (not joking).

Joel Reed said:

the first four software packages are so useless. (I.E. Christian Home, Bible Study Library, Leaders Library, and Original Languages

I started out purchasing separate resources that interested me since they had a super sale on at the time.  Eventually I moved to the Original Languages package.  While the OL needs some supplementing in grammars and lexica (notably BDAG [don't open your bible study program without it] and HALOT [you could conceivably to with this since BDB is still quite useful]), it really isn't a bad starter package.  I wouldn't mind seeing them remove the TDNT and putting BDAG in its place.  Anything lower than OL is not for someone who has training in biblical studies in my opinion.  If you start out with OL, you will get credit for what you already own if you upgrade—especially if you pick up the phone and call a sales rep.  Many have complained about the high cost of Logos resources, and I wouldn't mind getting them a bit cheaper myself (well, I'm human, aren't I?  Don't answer that [:)]).  What you get, however, is well worth the price, and if you take advantage of Logos' offers and Community Pricing you can save some money compared to what you would otherwise pay.

Joel Reed said:

I think this is my biggest problem ... Are Christians here to make lots of money through ministry, or help other Christians grow in their faith? 

We really aren't talking about one Christian helping another.  We are talking about a Christian business which needs to make a profit in order to be able to continue in business and offer the products they have chosen to produce.  If they can't pay the help, the rent, the utilities, etc. and come out with a few $$ left over they won't be around a few years (or less) down the road. 

Joel Reed said:

As I mentioned in my previous posts ... there is a difference between paying the bills and charging too much for a product.

There's nothing wrong with making money in a Ministry, but there is such a thing as taking advantage of your customers.

I'm sorry to hear that you apparently feel they are "taking advantage."  I think they are simply being wise businessmen.  How much experience do you have in business?

Joel,

I don't know how much you have used Logos, but I believe you definitely get what you pay for. I didn't purchase it for a long time because I couldn't afford it. But now that I am a user, I believe that every penny has been very well spent. If all Logos offered was digital books, then it would be way over priced. But what you are buying are not just digital books, but an amazing multi-platform software system that allows you to use the books like never before. I am constantly blow away as I learn new features in Logos. 

I would encourage you to give it a try. If you are unhappy you can always sell your books for a $20 transfer fee. 

Also, I think if you were aware of all that Logos provides in terms of support and service, you would not consider their software overpriced at all. 

Again, you get what you pay for. 

Best wishes. 

Joel Reed said:

Wow, you sound pretty defensive there fella ... do you work for Logos or something?

If you're addressing me, the answer is 'No."  I'm just a long-time customer.

I too am in no way affiliated with Logos other than being a user for several years. I will admit Logos is expensive (some are almost as expensive). Logos does a great job of bringing many products to publication in a relatively timely matter, with very extensive reference tagging going many works quickly and efficiently. It is by no means an ideal piece of software but it is one of the best pieces out there for Biblical study. It is usually competitively priced when comparing copyrighted resources, and indeed when items are in prepublication they are a great bargain. Lets look at a favourite one of mine.

New Interpreter's Bible

Hard Cover retail $799 (Amazon Pricing $503.31)

Software Retail $799 (Amazon Pricing $473.30)

Logos New Interpreter's Bible (12 vols.) $479.95

This is not even the fairest comparison, since while you may do quick searches with the Abingdon software (Folio is it's core engine ), it cannot be run without the CDROM being in the drive and it is really little more advanced than a PDF reader. The software barely runs on systems after XP (a patched version was released, but most owners of the software have been trying to have it phased out since the turn of century, since it has been sold from microsoft, in the last year maybe the new owners will put more work in it, but even Abingdon has seen the writing on the wall and refused to put their new Bible dictionary in it preferring to release it in a browser compatible base (with a registration card asking several questions about which Bible software you use most). Logos runs on Mac, Windows, with somewhat limited mobile applications (still get many great fears and most of your library) for iOS/Android and web browser access from anywhere with Biblia.com. Logos allows you to use dozens of different Bible versions, NIB CD has NIV(with deutroconaical books from NAB) and NRSV only. 

As you can see it is competitively priced and may not unfairly be compared with calling the NIB CD like a mass paperback version, compared to Logos as a leather-bound edition with gilded pages. I am glad there are various pieces of software out there, I do think Logos is a bit more expensive but will say it is well worth it in my mind's eye.

-dan

Chris Roberts said:

How about my favorite comparison, from an area where I think Logos is vastly overpriced: public domain works. Jonathan Edwards 2 volume set in Logos: $119.95. A competitor: $9.99.

YES and that is my biggest complaint with Logos, they have great prices for this type of thing in Community pricing, once they get enough to cover production costs, it is made, rather than keeping it as a affordable work available cheaply to all, it is priced as if you are buying it in a store hard covers. Logos makes a mint on every resource they offer off copyright. I had hoped to get the treasury of David on sale earlier only to discover their wonderful sale pricing was something like 3 times it's regular price. I do think this practice seems unChristian to me, but I will say it is a sound business practice for Logos to charge as much as people are prepared to pay. We are called to be wise as serpents yet innocent as doves. I do not mean this to accuse Logos of unChristian behaviour, I am not God, I have no right to sit in judgement of them. I do think they are believing people and if their practices are not proper they will find conviction in their souls to change.

-Dan

16 The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. ²The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Joel Reed said:

I have been researching some of the 'Bible Software' packages that are found on the market, and I have to say that Logos appears to be the best available. That being said it is also the most expensive software available! I am also disappointed to see Logos watering down their products by offering nearly ten different packages, especially when the first four software packages are so useless. (I.E. Christian Home, Bible Study Library, Leaders Library, and Original Languages) In my opinion the first package that should be offered is the 'Scholars Library' ...  I simply can't see any reason why Logos would be so stingy with their products. Is it just me or would it make a lot more sense for them to release their software as 'Bronze, Silver, and Gold'. (With the option to buy the portfolio) I looked at the comparison chart, and the first four packages are so striped down they don't even seem to be worth the already outrageous price they are listed at. Come on people, you can download a variety of far more complex software like 'Libre Office' completely free, but we can't seem to find reasonably priced Bible software to help us grow in our faith? 

I'm sorry to say that something is simply not right with this world. I understand the fact that you have to make a profit in order to keep your feet on the ground, but charging over $600 for a beginners package seems a bit out of line. 

I seriously hope you folks will reconsider your pricing strategy, because I am sure you would sell a lot more copies if you weren't asking so much money. It is actually quite easy to find most of the books you offer in the software on eBook websites for free, since most of the books you carry are no longer copy-written.  (E.g. The Bibles, Luther, Bunyan, etc) It bothers me to read the section on your website that says 'Over $10,000 in Print!' when that is simply not true. If you have to renegotiate with some of the Authors, please do so, because this is simply ridiculous.

If you have never used Logos 4 how can you judge it. Granted it is expenses but let me tell you there is "no" and i will repeat no bible software on this earth that will even come close to Logos 4 with all its functions. i have been studying the bible for over 40 years and have had several bible programs form the beginning of computers and bible software.

Sam West

Jack Caviness said:

Joel Reed said:

I appreciate all of the comments from everybody, even though most of them seemed somewhat bias.

I am biased against people who have never run a business yet who feel qualified to lecture successful business people as to how they should conduct business. Most people have no concept of what it takes to build a successful business, yet they constantly lecture other as to how it should be done. My wife and I said more that one that if we had known ahead of time what it was going to cost, we would never have joined our son in his new business venture. Ten years later, I am pleased we were ignorant enough to jump into the waters.

I said all that to say this, I truly admire the Pritchetts and the way they conduct Logos, and I am truly thankful to God for Logos and the $15k+ I have spent on what I consider fairly priced merchandise. the resources that I consider overpriced for the value I would derive from the, I leave for others.

Well said Brother Jack.  The Pritchetts didn't  hold a gun to our heads and made us buy their product.

Sam West

Joseph Turner said:

A lot of the resources ARE overpriced, but they usually end up on sale at some point in time.  I could not afford to buy the Hermeneia commentaries (not that $1200 is necessarily overpriced), but then they went on sale for 50%, and I jumped on that price.  The cost of the volumes that I wanted easily amounted to $600, so the other books are just extra.  The payment plans also make purchases easier.

That sale was when I picked up Hermeneia Logos was selling the Hermeneia series and the Continental Commentary series for US$600. The usual price for the Continental Commentary series was US$600 alone. To pay US$600 for both collections was just ridiculously cheap.

I don't purchase devotional literature and pastoral commentaries from Logos, I typically focus on the scholarly commentary and academic titles, print editions of which typically cost well over US$100 each. Maybe that's why I find Logos consistently cheap; not just affordable, but actually cheap.

These two threads are so funny. The minute they got posted, it was 'blood in the water'.  Can NOT let that pass.

At the sewing store I don't recall anyone getting excited if someone thought the Berninas were overpriced ... might discuss the pros/cons. At the Home Depot I don't recall anyone advocating increased prices, since absent the Home Depot, you'd pay more. Well, duh.

I've yet to meet the pastor who built a room on his house for his library.

When someone goes to Walmart and finds some high prices (now and then), everyones' ears listen up; don't want to pay too much!

I do recall an earlier forum thread questioning the ICC pricing especially on century-old writings. I don't recall the sharks explaining how that made sense.

Who's kidding here. Logos has the reputation. Go to church and try to get someone to spend hundreds of dollars on mostly public domain or older works. Good luck on that.