Home Educators' Discounts
Dateline: 2/12/98
By Ann Zeise
In this feature I will step you through the procedure for
getting educators' discounts. As a homeschooling teacher you
are entitled to receive discounts through businesses that offer
such discounts to public school teachers or private tutors.
Please read the other features I wrote concerning selecting
a name for your homeschool and homeschool
stationery. You will need some physical proof you are a teacher
before going to a business and asking for educators' specials.
Don't be fooled by any homeschool organization that says they'll
provide you with an ID for money: you already have a computer
and printer, and you only need to spend a bit more for paper.
Guilt Relief
Skip over this section if you are the type who has no qualms
asking for lower pricing, but I know some of you probably just
HATE to haggle. First off, you are a real "educator"
and don't let anyone tell you differently. Secondly, you aren't
taking anything from the store that they aren't pleased to give.
Businesses are used to giving discounts to those other than public
school teachers, people such as tutors, coaches, scout leaders,
and others involved with teaching, such as music teachers. The
IRS gives tax breaks to the store and the manufacturer for contributing
to educational enterprises. You are also helping their Public
Relations programs, which love to boast how much they help education.
Hope that helps.
Types of Businesses to Ask
Homeschoolers have asked and received discounts at all sorts
of places of business:
- Arts & Crafts
- Bookstores
- Catalog Suppliers of all sorts of things
- Computer Stores (computer hardware and software for teacher
& students)
- Furniture Stores (student desks & chairs)
- General Merchandise
- Hardware Stores (For all those bookshelves and projects)
- Museums
- Music Stores
- Office Supply
- Science Stores
- Sewing Stores
- Sporting goods
- Video Stores
Who to Ask
Ask for the general manager in most businesses or for
the sales person in charge of corporate accounts at larger
businesses. Ask that person if they give an "educators'
discount" BEFORE you tell them you are a homeschooler.
A "yes" answer will give them less room to wiggle out
once you do tell them you homeschool. If they say "yes,"
tell them you are a homeschool teacher (No need to go into great
detail.) and you'd like to apply to get an educators' discount
as you "plan to be purchasing several hundreds of dollars
of merchandise from them for your homeschool within the next
year." OK, so maybe you are exaggerating, but with a discount
and winning the state lottery you might!
What to Expect
The business may want any combination of the following, so
be prepared.
- Have an ID card that "proves" you are a teacher.
This is where creating a homeschool teacher's
ID with your computer and printer comes in handy.
- Have a written statement on letterhead from your school saying
you are authorized by that school to make purchases. It won't
matter that you've made up that school letterhead on your computer
and your husband has nicely signed it as "principal"
so you may make purchases in the school's name. (And vice versa
so your husband can shop at his favorite "homeschool supply"
stores.)
Now, the store manager knows you are a homeschooler. They
just need to make a copy of these documents to give to their
accountant. In turn, they may issue you a special card to use
when making purchases, or ask that you make your purchases at
the "business window" where they'll have an account
set up for you.
Firms that Offer Discounts or Freebies
to Homeschoolers
Please contribute to this list by emailing
me. Say it is for the "Educators' Discount" page.
I'll add the merchant and their link here. This list does not
mean I endorse these merchants or their products. The list is
of firms that are not typically thought of as resources for homeschoolers.
This is not a list of discounters in general. Better buys exist,
so do shop around.
Academic Superstore
AN A TO Z AFFILIATE
Homeschool families can purchase their software at education
rates. Some manufacturers have restrictions. All the top name
brands, Mac & Windows and some Linux. Free shipping.
Apple's
Home for Homeschools
AN A TO Z AFFILIATE
Homeschool families can get Apple products at educator rates.
Hot item now: Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard for only $116! New and refurbished iPods
- engraved, too, if you'd like! Best prices on new Apple products are here
for homeschoolers and instructors!
Big 5 Sporting
Goods
Local manager offered me last sale price on whatever I wanted,
for this month only. Not a regular policy, so you should talk
to your individual store manager.
Borders
Books
Borders will offer you a 20% discount from list price on almost
everything they sell: books, CDs, videos, etc. Go to the information
desk and ask for an educators' discount form. Be prepared to
show them your ID. They will issue you
a card to use when purchasing. Sort out those things that have
a greater discount already. Don't let some clerk tell you only
books from the children's section are eligible. It helps to have
your child along to prove they really do intend to read that
book on computer programming from the "adult" section.
Do not expect discounts on magazines, romance novels, etc.
Bookland
[Message] Hi everybody- I live in Brunswick, ME and Bookland
offers a 20% discount for homeschoolers! It really adds up! Later,
Colyn.
Books-A-Million
Offers an educators discount in their stores. Check store for details.
Creation Engine:
Academic Discounts on Software
Ann, we will offer any homeschool people that visit your website
free shipping on their orders. All they have to do is enter promo
code "gomilpitas" when they check out.
I visited the Discovery Channel Store in Santa Monica, CA about
two years ago. When I checked out the cashier asked if I was
an educator. When I replied that I homeschool, he immediately
gave me a discount card for the store, with no hassle and no
questions asked. Email from Lois, March 2002.
Get Smart
[Message] I live in Miramar, FL. That's between Miami Dade County
and Ft. Lauderdale. The store in my area that gives discounts
to homeschoolers is: Get Smart, Ph. (954)431-5052. Hours of operation
are: M-F- 10-9; Sat. 10-6; Sun. 12-5 (EST).
Great
Scopes
Homeschool family with a real great product offer their microscopes
at discount to other homeschool families.
Knitcetera
Online, homeschoolers can get 12% off most products in crafts,
scrapbook, knit & crochet, cross stitch, latchhook and puzzles.
We also have 6 stores in Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina
and two in Alabama.
Joann's
Fabrics & Crafts
[Message] Offers a 10% discount card to educators. At our store
(Medford, OR) I just TOLD them that I was a homeschooler and
they gave me the card, no questions or proof needed. They're
great to deal with! Hope this helps! Debra
Kinko's
Kinko's offers a discount card for academics and they usually
require little to no proof. (I know because I work there) Again
thank you for this great site, I learned quite a bit from it
and have just begun to home school my daughter. -Holly
Silicon Heights
Offers exclusive manufacturer-authorized discounts on computers
and supplies to individuals and institutions with academic qualifications,
including homeschoolers.
Virtu
Software
To create an account, simply mail or fax a copy of the paperwork
described below to Virtu Software, along with your name and email
address. Once your paperwork is verified, you will receive an
account number, which you can use when purchasing software.
World of Science store in Terre Haute, IN
Located in the Honey Creek Mall, our company offers a 15% discount
to all educators, including homeschool parents and tutors. We
offer educational toys (mostly science related), books, CD-ROMs,
videos, telescopes, microscopes, etc. It's a great store! The
address is: 3401 S. U.S. 41, Terre Haute, IN. 47802. The phone
# is 812 235-4789. Thank you. Rose
Alwine.
More Lists of Stores that Discount
to Homeschoolers
Get Your
Homeschooling Discounts!
As homeschooling grows and becomes more noticeable, the number
of stores offering discounts is increasing. Here's a list from
FOLC.
HEA Australia
Member Discounts
The HEA have negotiated the following discounts for its members.
We are speaking continually with other service providers, so
visit this page again for updates.
Homeschool
Discounts in Washington
From the Homeschooling Guide to Kitsap & North Mason Counties.
New
Hampshire Store Discounts
List of stores, addresses and what they have to offer homeschool
families.
Kim wrote and told me that in Ohio she's gotten the
following discounts at these businesses:
Books and Company, Kettering, 20%
The Learning Source, Troy, 10%
The Little Professor, Troy, 10%
Oklahoma
Discounts
HERO offers a membership card to help you prove you qualify for
an educators' discount at the stores they list.
Stores
& Services That Offer a Discount to Homeschoolers
This homeschool site also collects lists of stores and businesses
that give discounts to homeschoolers.
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