Home Educators Resource

This review is hard for me. I am a curriculum junkie and love that there’s a place somewhat nearish where I can find used curriculum to purchase. But I am greatly disappointed and will think twice before returning. I’ve shopped here four or five times now and even sold some items to them. First of all, I have to say that the amount they offered me for my items was incredibly low. In fact, after receiving their offer I ended up removing a few of the items they wanted to give me literally pennies for, knowing I could easily sell them on eBay for much more. I only went along with the sale of the remaining items because I desperately wanted to be rid of the stuff and had taken the time and trouble to box it up. I forgave and moved on and came back for another shopping experience. However, the last time I visited, I came with my four children. Mistake. There is NOTHING for them to do in this store. There are a grand total of three toys from the 70’s in the back corner meant for infants and toddlers, but children any older are on their own. Now, one would think, being a HOMESCHOOL resource center, that the shop manager would EXPECT mothers would sometimes show up with kids in tow. After all, homeschool moms don’t drop their kids off at school each day whilst they go a-​shopping. But, like I said, there is nothing provided for keeping kids occupied, if the shop owner doesn’t, in fact, want kids touching anything. And the fact is, the very nature of their merchandise warrants looking through, touching, exploring, etc. It’s for HOMESCHOOL! Anyway, my children were mildly restless, as they had just sat for two hours at a class the store was offering that day. I wouldn’t say they were bad (I would be the first to say it if they were). They weren’t loud, they didn’t run, they didn’t make messes or break items, but they were busy. The whole shopping experience lasted maybe 10 minutes. I rounded them up and went to the register to pay. Now, many toy stores and educational stores alike put out displays at the register for customers to try a product out before purchasing, and that is what we found on this day. The product was a horseshoe magnet, and there were metal jump rings set out for customers to test the magnets. My little boys (7 and 8) each picked up a magnet and began picking up the rings, pulling them off, and repeating. They were laughing and enjoying themselves. I was maybe two feet away having my items checked out. Next thing I know, the OTHER lady in the store (the manager, perhaps?) walked over to my boys, took the magnets right out of their hands (plastic magnets, mind you!), and told them they shouldn’t be touching them unless they planned to buy them! Really?! THAT is what is expected with those displays?! I was flabbergasted. Here I was spending many a dollar at their store and my children are scolded and treated like second-​class citizens while I stood right there. I say all this to say, don’t let the name and nature of the place fool you. It is NOT a kid-​friendly store in the least. And, frankly, I am sick and tired of people, in general, who are completely intolerant of kids. I guess those people have forgotten they were once children themselves. NOT impressed with these people. They should be ashamed.