Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Sunday School Express®?
- How does Sunday School Express (the standing order program) work?
- How do I notify you of changes?
- What if I have changes after your deadline?
- When will we receive our curriculum for the next quarter?
- When can we start?
- Our church doesn't hold Sunday school in the Summer. Can we still qualify for your standing order plan?
- Can we include lesson commentaries, attendance books, etc., in our standing order?
- Can we return material that we don't need?
- How do we pay for the material?
- Could I get the curriculum cheaper directly from a publisher?
- Why don't you offer my denominational curriculum?
- How can you provide free shipping, when most of the publishers themselves won't do that?
- What products do you provide besides Sunday school curriculum?
- If we need something else like communion cups, can we get free shipping on them, too?
Q. What is Sunday School Express®?
A. Sunday School Express® is our way of making it easier and more cost-effective by providing you with a quarterly standing order.
Q. How does Sunday School Express (the standing order program) work?
A. Sunday School Direct® provides an ongoing "standing order" for each customer. Your order for each quarter is anticipated by your prior purchase history. If there are no changes in grade levels or quantities, you will automatically receive your new order in time for the next quarter. If, however, you require changes, simply notify us of that by two months prior to the start of the next quarter, and your order will be updated accordingly.
Q. How do I notify you of changes?
A. You may notify us of your changes in whichever way is easiest for you: by toll-free telephone, by fax, e-mail, or regular mail. See our Contact Us page for more details.
Q. What if I have changes after your deadline?
A. Sunday School Direct® really doesn't have a "deadline", but having your changes two months before the start of the next quarter makes it easier for us to ensure that you have the material you need in time. If you are unable to advise of changes by that time, we will still make every effort to effect the change as quickly as possible.
Q. When will we receive our curriculum for the next quarter?
A. We attempt to have the curriculum in your hands at least two Sundays prior to the beginning of each new quarter. This is somewhat dependent on UPS or the Postal Service, as well as having your quantity changes by the time we specify. If unusual circumstances would require, we can also ship by express methods to ensure you have the material on time. The quarterly publication schedule of all publishers is as follows:
- Fall Quarter - September, October, November
- Winter Quarter - December, January February
- Spring Quarter - March, April, May
- Summer Quarter - June, July, August
Q. When can we start?
A. Anytime. Our normal schedule works on having your order 4-6 weeks ahead of each new quarter. But we will make every attempt to get an initial order to you at anytime, even if the quarter has already started.
Q. Our church doesn't hold Sunday school in the Summer. Can we still qualify for your standing order plan?
A. Yes. Just tell us, and we will code your order to be filled only during the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. The following Fall will pick right up where we left off.
Q. Can we include lesson commentaries, attendance books, etc., in our standing order?
A. Yes, lesson commentaries ship with the Fall quarter orders, and attendance books can be included in any quarter that you wish.
Q. Can we return material that we don't need?
A. Yes! We accept returns of any material purchased from us up until the end of the first month of each quarter. All material returned must, of course, be in new, unused condition, and returned at your expense. We will then issue a credit to your account or credit card.
Q. How do we pay for the material?
A. We accept all major credit cards, money orders, or church checks. Also, if requested, we will extend your church credit on open account, with terms of net 30 days. Click here for credit application form.
Q. Could I get the curriculum cheaper directly from a publisher?
A. No! Our prices are exactly the same as each publisher's prices for direct orders, but you don't have to get only one publisher's products from us to qualify for those best prices.
Q. Why don't you offer my denominational curriculum?
A. Unfortunately, a few denominational publishers do not permit us to resell their material. We have attempted to make arrangements with as many publishers as possible in order to allow churches the broadest possible selection. As we reach agreements with additional publishers, we will make their material available to you, as well. It wouldn't hurt for you to let your denominational publisher know that you would prefer to be able to obtain their material through Sunday School Direct®.
Q. How can you provide free shipping, when most of the publishers themselves won't do that?
A. Providing Sunday school curriculum is the core of our ministry. We believe so strongly in the ministry of your Sunday school, that we forego a sizable part of our profit in order to provide that benefit to you when you are on our standing order program. (There is a minimum order of $30.00 per quarter required for the free shipping to apply. Note that outside the United States, we may have to charge you part of the shipping costs.)
Q. What products do you provide besides Sunday school curriculum?
A. While Sunday school curriculum is our main thrust, we also provide a full line of church and Christian products. We offer books, Bibles, music, as well as hymnals, pew Bibles, offering envelopes, communion ware and general church supplies, even including baptistries and steeples. You can also check out the full line of products by going to our home page and link to the area of your choice.
Q. If we need something else like communion cups, can we get free shipping on them, too?
A. Yes! As long as your order can be shipped together with your curriculum standing order, we will ship the whole order free. With a little planning, you can save substantially on all of your church needs.
If you have a question not covered here, please contact us, and we'll do our best to answer it.