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MommyD
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| Posted: March 11 2008 at 12:17pm | IP Logged
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I have a Barnes and Noble discount card. They didn't ask any questions when I asked for it and it says "homeschool" on it. It is to be used for books that are "in the classroom".
Yesterday I bought a boxed set of early readers, 2 books about St. Patricks Day, 2 Magic Treehouse books and one cheap Dora book for my 2 year old Dora fan. When I got to the counter, the checker looked at my card and said "are these all for classroom use?" I said yes because they were all books for the kids. He gave me the worst look and when I told him to have a nice day when we were done, he GLARED at me!!
What do you think? Was I wrong to claim "classroom use" for all of my books? I really don't think so. If I were buying a knitting book (for me, if it were for my daughter, it would be "school") or a parenting book or a cookbook, I wouldn't have used it. Thoughts??
Melissa
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jdostalik
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| Posted: March 11 2008 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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I think you are completely justified in your purchases--I would complain to the manager about this unfriendly and rude employee...
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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SusanJ
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| Posted: March 11 2008 at 12:54pm | IP Logged
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This is a tough call . . . I'm not sure I would count books for kids who weren't yet school age. I've found, though, that the B&N employees are inconsistent in their support for homeschoolers. The first time I tried to get a card they wouldn't let me but at a different store they were friendly as could be. So I wouldn't take that one guy too much to heart.
Susan
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
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[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 11 2008 at 1:02pm | IP Logged
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I've gotten that look, too. Their problem, not mine. Since we are learning all the time, all books are for classroom use; that's a hard concept for a lot of people who think in classroom-ese.
We were offered a card by an employee at the mega B&N who knows our family, so at that B&N we are never questioned. The smaller strip mall B&N is a tougher sell. I had to convince one guy that Dune was definitely a social studies book  . Well, it is...!
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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mellyrose
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| Posted: March 11 2008 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
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I don't think you were wrong to claim them all. I get varied responses when using my discount card at B&N and also Borders. Some clerks happily ring everything up and give me the discount, some ask me about each book (or ask me to separate them) but cheerfully, others are a pill about the process.
I just cheerfully smile through it all and try to present a positive attitude. When they're nasty, it's THEIR problem, not mine!
In our house, if it's a kid book, it's educational! That's my decision :)
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Melanie in AZ
Colin (11/00), Nate (05/02), Lydia (04/07)
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mama251ders
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| Posted: March 11 2008 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
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I just bought "Raising Your Spirited Child" at B&N last night and used my discount card. I consider parenting books something that will definitely be used in my classroom! The guy did not give it a second thought and we chatted quite nicely while he rang up my purchases and while my friend registered for and then used her card (to buy notebooks and a box of greeting cards!). I have bought all kinds of things with that card and have never been given any hassle about it. I have noticed that there does not seem to be a uniformly accepted policy on how the cards should be used. I wouldn't think twice about it!
Blessings,
Betsie
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: March 12 2008 at 10:45am | IP Logged
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My homeschooling group has had discussions about this, and the attitude about homeschoolers using the card really varies form cashier to cashier. I had no problem getting my card once I showed my homeschooling group membership card. I haven't had an occasion to use it, though (we rely heavily on the library).
I think your purchases were justified. If someone tried to hassle me about buying a book or two for my little one, I would tell them to see if their store has a copy of "The Read Aloud Handbook" and tell them to go read about the educational advantage of reading aloud to your child starting from a very early age.
At the same time, I would be hesitant about using my card for something like a "My Little Pony" sticker book, but not one about plants, animals, or geography. I don't know if I would use it for the greeting cards. I would think it's more educational for kids to make greeting cards themselves (motor skills, creativity, writing, etc).
I think we all should give some thought to how we use it so we can be good representatives of homeschooling; at the same time, some people just don't "get" how education isn't just something that happens in a classroom, even people who work in a place selling some of the greatest tools of education. I think they must see most books as purely recreational and can't understand how they can be enjoyable and educational.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 12 2008 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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Yeah, but Barbara...My Little Pony stickers are an important part of the classroom rewards system...  !
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: ?? about B&N teacher discount
