Friday, January 22nd
2021 Homeschool Supply Company Reviews
Nest Learning
Nest Learning (and its parent company, Nest Entertainment) started out more than two decades ago as a producer of animated stories from the Bible and from American and world history. However, they've expanded to be a retailer of a wide range of products, including homeschool supplies. You may even be a little overwhelmed to see just how many different categories of products are sold on this site: far beyond what you might need to teach your kids at home, with jewelry, home decor, and even pet products!
Discount promotions
When we visited the Nest Learning site recently, we got a pop-up offering a 15% discount on our first offer if we signed up for their email list. We also saw that they were offering free shipping on all orders of at least $99 with a coupon code provided at the top of the site, so be sure to look there for any offers that might be in place at the time of your visit. Otherwise, expect shipping costs ranging from $6.95 to $16.95, depending on the purchase amount of your order.
Lots to offer
Nest Learning has a lot to offer when considering the breadth of the homeschool supplies they sell. While the site has a decidedly religious focus, you can still find plenty of non-religious options: whichever you prefer. For example, under the Math category, you can buy AOP's LifePac Consumer Math, Saxon Algebra, Houghton Mifflin's Complete Homeschool Kit for 7/8, and so on. Many products are discounted from retail prices too.
Good teaching resources
Our favorite category when shopping for homeschool supplies is probably Teaching Resources. Here, you'll find classroom resources like posters and certificates, school supplies such as dry erase boards and file folders, and craft supplies to color, paint and glue to your heart's content.
Haphazard shopping experience
However, using this site to actually find what you need is a little haphazard at best. The dropdown boxes at the top of the page can give you a good start: shop by brand, homeschool curriculum, grade level and more. So far, so good.
Patience needed
But, we had a less polished shopping experience when we clicked on the Math category in a banner ad. Looking at the filtering options on the side of the page there, we saw useful distinctions like grade levels and brands, but also fairly useless choices like bar code numbers and other information we couldn't make sense of. Even within some categories, we found items that didn't seem to fit (for example, a multi-tool on a carabiner clip for classroom supplies?). For that reason, you may want to make frequent use of the search bar and dropdown boxes on the main page, or plan on spending some extra time to browse through the site once you're in a category you've selected.
20% restocking fee on returns
How about returns? As long as your products haven't been opened, you can return them within 30 days of your original purchase date and you'll need a Return Authorization Number. You can either exchange them or request a refund, but refunds will incur a 20% restocking fee. This isn't the most generous policy we've seen.
Customer complaints
Because Nest Learning has a well-rounded inventory of homeschool supplies, we hoped they would be a retailer we could endorse. Unfortunately, their "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau earned them our lowest ranking. With more than 50 complaints filed with the BBB over the year leading up to the time of this evaluation, Nest Learning hasn't exactly given the best impression. In many other places (like Nest's social media channels and third-party review sites), people complain about being charged and never receiving their orders - all while still getting plenty of marketing emails encouraging more purchases!
Can't recommend
Yes, Nest Learning has options for all ages, all approaches to homeschooling, and homeschool supplies that go well beyond curricula. But, where it really counts - namely, customer service and the overall shopper experience - we can't confidently recommend this company as a trustworthy retailer. We encourage you to consider the higher-ranked homeschool supply stores in our review.
More Homeschool Supply Company Reviews
The 10 Best Homeschool Supply Companies
Where Can You Find the Best Selection of Homeschool Supplies?
Homeschooling is on the rise in the United States, with an estimated 2.5 million students - and those numbers growing anywhere from 2-8% every year.
Whether you're a seasoned home educator looking for new and innovative curricula and materials to work into your plans, or you're brand-new and need all the help you can get, you'll definitely need a reliable, affordable source of homeschool supplies.
Continued from above...
Fortunately, all of the books, worksheets, science equipment and anything else you could possibly want for teaching your child(ren) at home are easily found online. The top retailers of homeschool supplies can help you narrow down what you need - A single curriculum or mix-and-match? Digital platform, parent-taught, or a hybrid? - and get it to you at prices you can afford.
Plus, it can take some trial-and-error as you determine which approach to homeschooling works for your family. What went well in your first year may need to be switched up in the second year, as you get more comfortable or as your learners' ages and needs shift with time. That's normal! While no homeschool supply store is going to let you return used workbooks and art supplies, the best retailers do have generous policies for items you get home, take one look and say "This is NOT what I thought I was getting!"
No two retailers of homeschool supplies are exactly the same. Some sell curricula from just one publisher, while others offer choices across multiple companies. Other stores give you an eclectic array of workbooks, musical instruments and other items, so that you can piece together a custom approach to your kids' studies. Finally, you'll find some sites that only sell online home education programs, from self-paced to remote learning with a certified teacher. The sky's the limit!
So, what should you look for when deciding where to buy your homeschool supplies? Naturally, that will depend on what you're hoping to find, whether that's a new curriculum or just some fun extras to supplement what you're already doing. However, here are a few criteria that can help you choose:
- Easy-to-Use Website. No matter what kind of supplies you need for your homeschool, you want an online store that is hassle-free. Look for a site that's clean and updated, with an intuitive layout, good search features and results filters, and definitely a secure URL!
- Selection. How much variety is there when considering the store's inventory? True, if you already know you just want the curriculum of one specific publisher, you can go directly to their site to make your purchase - but you might also want additional supplies that they don't carry. A wider selection makes it more likely that you can do one-stop shopping instead of making multiple orders from different stores.
- Return Policy. If your homeschool supplies arrive and you decide you don't want them, can you send them back for a refund? If so, how long will you have to do so?
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best homeschool supply providers available today. We hope this information helps you find the right curriculum, program, or supplemental materials to confidently educate your children at home!
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