"New" Curriculum.

Usually, when I'm disappointed with some product or service, I'd just not buy from them again. I'd stay away from the product and not make a fuss. But sometimes, when I've been doing business with someone a while, I'll let them know I'm unhappy about something.

Well, here's what happened:

I ordered a LIFEPAC kit for science and two fourth-grade Spelling workbooks (BJU) from Christian Book Distributors. When the box arrived, I had two little boys jumping about. They get very attached to the curriculum, especially if it's from Bob Jones. They *had* to write their names on the workbooks right then and put stickers on them. You just can't return them. It would be akin to returning a new family pet because the pet store sold Sparky when he had a broken leg or ticks.

Well, I was disappointed. I know it is NOT a big deal to have a bit of printing cut off the edges of a workbook, but when you spend $40 on two notebooks, and the pages aren't neatly set in them, and the cover is mis-printed? You get a little annoyed, I should think.

I called Bob Jones Press and explained to them that no, I wasn't looking into a refund, and the workbooks still seem useable, but this isn't the quality I expect from you guys! Just to let you know that if you've started cutting corners or using a new printer that your customers ARE noticing the difference. Just log it down that I'm unhappy about it.

No, I'm not looking for a refund. No, I'm not returning the workbooks, because I have two children who would feel I've betrayed them if I did that. But... just letting you know that if it becomes a consistent problem, I won't be such a consistent customer after a while. I know they save every scrap and review I send them, as I get phone calls and answers to my reviews rather often. Usually they're very positive, but telling them FYI there's a problem in your Civil War section and perhaps we need to group Lee with the *Southern* generals in your next teacher's edition.

Well, that made me sad. That was enough for one day. The next day, I opened up the LIFEPACs. Um... I guess I must not have washed my hands as well as I thought as there is some sort of chip or barbecue sauce residue on the teacher's manual. Hm. Even though I haven't had chips or barbecue sauce, better go wash my hands before diving into the pile.

Um... now I find children's fingerprints on several of the workbooks. Not just little fingerprints, but smeary fingerprints! The picture doesn't do it justice. They are exactly the only size that I do NOT have in the house... something between Woodjie and Elf-sized. In real life, when you can hold it away from glare, it's really... gross.

How strange. The LIFEPACs came in plastic wrap! They must have repackaged a return and tried to pass it off on me as new. Which... whatever. But I'm paying for new. Maybe I'm picky. I like my stuff *new* when I pay for new. If I'm at a vendor booth at a convention, I understand everyone and their dog probably touched the book before I bought it. But I'm holding it and looking at it before I buy it.

This is different.

Well, I called CBD about the LIFEPACs, anyway. They will send me a postage sticker and mail me a new bunch of LIFEPACs. I'm out the time it took me to grouse about it, and the time it will take me to package everything up and send it back. CBD has treated me well over the years, and I'm willing to overlook things if they're just occasional... but... if it keeps happening over time, I'll just forget it and buy used stuff. I'll save money that way, but then I'll be paying for used stuff and not new stuff and getting used stuff...

You know what I mean. Would you have complained?