Anyone here familiar with "Southwestern Company" books?

[LScot]

A young saleswoman just left my house trying to seel me a set of handbooks from this company (www.Southwestern.com).

I'm thinking about purchasing the first two volumes of the handbooks. They looked really nice. Looked like reference books for everyday homework--not like an encyclopedia.

Like the math section walked you through the steps of a math problem--even showed "moms' way" and how they do it it nowadays! LOL I was never a math whiz so I know I'll need refreshing. It would be nice to have something to be able to refer to. (They have more subjects than math--that one is just my phobia!!)

Anyone familiar?

 

[bsnyder]

Yes, Brenda. We have the set. They are very useful books.

The company has been around for a long time. My high school/college boyfriend sold the books in college, to help finance his education. They traditionally use college kids to sell the books and send them far away from home. My boyfriend did his selling in Iowa.

Our salesman was from London, and he was so cute and personable.

 

[LauraC]

We had someone come by our house last year. He was from the country of Estonia and seemed like a really nice guy. We bought two of the books and my 11 year old daughter loves them (in fact, she was just looking through one of them tonight and thinking about trying one of the science experiments. My 13 year old son has used the history portions for some of his papers during his last school year.

The only problem I found was that they automatically shipped me a smaller, update volume this year that contained all of the historical events, science breakthroughts, etc., for the previous year of 1993. It also included an invoice. Since I didn't order it, I didnt' pay the invoice. I've never heard anything more from them, but I bet they don't send me an update next year! However, the update is kind of nice, so I may just get around to paying it if I decide I want one next year!

I will tell you that when they come back to bring you the books you've ordered, they will try to sell you some software CD's. But the guy who sold me our books was not a hard seller. I said "no" once and that was the end of it.

 

[LScot]

Thanks to you both!

I have a 10yo DD who would probably sit and read these. She will read the dictionary... definitely doesn't get that from me or DH. But I did think they looked very useful and the girl selling was a doll--she was from Indiana and seemed very bright and just so nice to talk to. Not a hard sell at all.

Thanks again for the input!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We also have the big reference books (and some of the easier level books that we bought a few years ago). We found the sales people pleasant and the books very "approachable", if you will. It was so funny--when the guy was here, Belle immediately opened one up and started reading intently. how could we say no after that? Plus, at the time, Buzz was 6, about to enter first grade, and he's been reading since age 3, is WAY above grade level, so the sales guy asked if he could use us as a reference at his othere visits in the area!

By the way, what really sold me on getting the books, aside from my kids loving them, was this anecdote I'd heard from a friend: We have a girl in out scout troop who was battling cancer last summer. She's okay now, which is great, but she stayed back last year, comes from a disadvantaged background (lives in an old trailer, etc.). Sweet as they come, though. Anyway, the sales guy just gave her the set of reference books, and never said a word to anyone. Knowing that, how could I turn the kid down?

 

[Pooh's Mom]

So glad to read this, I'll have to show my DH. The sweetest young girl came by on Friday selling these. She was from um, Latvia I think she said. Very strong accent, but spoke English well. She actually teared up when she talked about how she missed her family and was glad to be going home next month. Anyway, I thought the dictionary type books for young kids were cute, funny definitions for things and my daughter is always asking what things mean. I decided the price was good and something I would buy at a store if I saw it. I put it on the charge card in case there were any problems. I'm happy to see positive reports. Of course, after I post this the horror stories will probably pop up.

Cindy