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dsauclair
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 6:22pm | IP Logged
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Because I've read a few posts here mentioning 'educator discounts' that have been used with Barnes and Noble, I did a search and found this site called Homeschooling on a Shoestring. In your experience, is it worth getting some sort of discount card/ID from the different vendors and asking for the discount (esp. with book purchases)? Or does ordering from amazon.com with the free shipping give you the same savings?
Also, what sort of proof do you need to show to get these discount IDs? A B&N rep told me that either a membership ID from a homeschool organization or a state certification (or something on a letterhead) will be sufficient. For me, that meant finding out what organization to join (that gives IDs  )
Will anyone point me to the right direction? Thanks! 
--Diane
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Bridget
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 7:06pm | IP Logged
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Homeschool Legal Defense Association gives their members an ID card. It's probably not worth joining just for the discount. It gives me a little peace of mind for the legal protection.
I really don't use those discounts much though. I hate having to remember and then juggle those little punch cards. It's not really worth it to me.
I buy most of our books from Catholic vendors, and you can't beat Wal Mart or Costco for the basic back to school supplies. We use the library more and more these days for many books.
And, yes, I don't know if you can beat Amazon's prices and free shipping.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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5athome
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 7:43pm | IP Logged
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For B&N in particular I do not find the teacher discount very helpful. The prices of the books online at B&N for what I have bought were cheaper than in the store, even with the discount. Also, books I needed to special order were not eligible for the discount.
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sailormom
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 8:08pm | IP Logged
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I've always made my own teacher ID card, using my "school" name. It's fairly easy to do in any word processing program. Nobody has ever questioned it.
For me, the biggest advantage to obtaining the discount cards is the invitations to "Educator Appreciation" type events, where I can occasionally get a substantially greater discount than normal or a handful of really useful coupons.
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Betsy
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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I just was at Office Max and they happily gave me the teacher discount with no "proof"!! It's 15% at the store and $10 back when you spend $75. Plus online coupons. We do alot of copying so I think this will come in handy!!
Betsy
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MichelleW
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 8:58pm | IP Logged
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I don't know what the equivalent would be in your state, but in Oregon we have to file a letter of "Intent to Homeschool" for each child when the child turns seven. Once the letter is received by my local Education Service District, they send me an "Acknowledgement of Notification to Homeschool" letter on letterhead. This letter is sufficient for demonstrating eligibility for teacher discounts. Do you have to file any paperwork in your state to be allowed to homeschool? Do you ever receive an acknowledgement from wherever you filed that the paperwork was received? If it has your name and address on it then you should be able to use that. You do NOT have to join any groups. That would be like requiring a classroom teacher to join a union before being eligible to receive teacher discounts. That is not legal.
Because I don't have to submit any paperwork until my child is seven years old, I had no official "proof" I was homeschooling my first child through preschool, kindergarten and first grade. Those years I brought my own homemade-typed-on-my-computer lesson plans with me and B&N accepted those as proof.
The educator discounts I use most are B&N (they have an excellent bargain section, I bought The Story of the Orchestra for $4 and A Timeline of World History for $5), Office Depot, and Jo-Ann's.
Michelle
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stefoodie
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 9:09pm | IP Logged
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I use Staples. They send you a $10 off coupon for every $100 you spend there. Our local also doesn't tax us for school supplies.
I also used Borders before, but then they started getting picky and even a couple of Narnia related books I got they didn't want to classify as "children's books" because "adults also buy them for themselves".
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stef
mom to five
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dsauclair
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 9:38pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for the input! 
I do want to buy from our local Catholic shop/retailers so depending on the budget, I first check out what they have. Then amazon.com for the ease of doing everything when the kiddies are in bed. But nothing beats going to the children's section at the local Borders or Barnes and Noble to touch and feel the books! So for those 'impulse' book buys, a discount card will certainly help
I've yet to submit an 'intent to homeschool' form as required (I think) here in VA but I'll find out soon enough. Again, thanks for the tips.
--Diane
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: July 28 2006 at 9:46pm | IP Logged
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Since I am a penny pincher, I usually compare Amazon and Barnes and Noble before buying a book. Barnes and Noble gives 20% discount to educators, but we have to pay 8.25% sales tax. Most books qualify for the discount if you're using them for school. They rarely have the books I want in stock but will order them. (Only once has a book I ordered -- Glues, Brews and Goos -- not qualified for the discount. Something about a certain category of "textbooks" being excluded.) So I compare. If the book is more than 11% off at Amazon (free shipping and no tax), then I buy it there. If not, I buy it through my local B&N. I know... total 
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: educator discounts
