Yes, we are "still kicking." Now, if you'll allow me to explain. The CD Roms on the site are mine, as you will see my name is attached to the software.
If you'll notice, the CD's that are produced by the Bible Students, the Harvest Truth database, the Bible Students Library and the Berean Bible Studies are much cheaper, simply because they are produced by us, and the postage and handling is included [priority mail, $5.00, each] unless they order more than one, then the postage is cheaper.
Now, I don't get a discount on these software, so when I order them, I have to pay not only the price for each, but also the P&H. As to the Watch Tower's and Rutherford's writings, I make NOTHING on these, as they cost me exactly $50.00 each, from the producers of these.
One can scan the various anti-witness sites, such as Witness, Inc and MacGregor Ministries and see that they also charge from $50.00 to $70.00 for each CD. So why do I offer these, if I don't make money?
First of all, I'm not in it for the money, it's a ministry. I purchased a few copies for some Bible Students, and had some extra copies, so I'm trying to deplete my supply, then the post 1920 Watch Tower stuff will be off the site, as we do not want to promote Rutherford's theology. However, I thought it would be nice for some to research the old stuff and see how and where the changes came from.
Now it is possible to get a discount from those who produce the software, however one must be willing to buy the stuff in bulk, and unless you are willing to spend hundreds if not thousands to receive the discount and make some money, then you will have to buy them at $50.00 a piece, or buy them in bulk and hope you'll be able to deplete your supply in hopes of getting your money back.
On the side, not all computers are CD-R compatible. One would need a duplicator. One other thing, you are right. I recently was made aware of a company that mass produces software for people, for a small fee, they will produce the CD, jacket, jewel case, etc and the CD's could cost you as little as 5.00 each, if you buy them in lots of 10,000, they could cost you as little as .99 each, anything over 10,000 you will have to call up. I know for a fact that the Society uses an outside company to do their software, and I know they had them mass produced by the hundreds of the thousands, and yet they hinted at a donation of up to $60.00 to $90.00, so, go figure, if they made each one for $1.00 and charge $60.00, that's a big profit.
Bible Students have a small market, the CD's are normally for members within the Church, since we're not in the millions or even hundreds of thousands, we produce the software in the low hundreds. Each CD consist of everything that is expect of a CD Rom, jewel case, full color booklet, etc. Duplicators are not cheap, as little as $900.00 for a one-to-one, forget about getting a multi- duplicator that can make several at a time, those go into the thousands, then there's the booklet maker, we use an actual printing press, NOT cheap by any means, then there's the CD printer, the printer itself cost about $900.00 depending on the quality. these print right on the CD Rom. There's a lot involved.
In fact, we were told that we lose money on the Bible Students Library which is a 2 CD set, but we wanted to make them affordable to our members.
We are a "mom and pop" show, compared to the Watch Tower, who has millions of dollars at their disposal, we don't have that luxury. We're not out to save the world. And I would asume that by your comment that "we got the "truth" you guys don't!!" that you believe we do believe that. Let me just say that, although we believe we have truth, we do not confine the rest of mankind to second death at armageddon, believing that only Bible Students will survive.
In fact, we have a much broader message than that, believing that EVERYONE get's a second chance, since in reality, they never really got a first chance having been born in sin and death and being blinded by the adversary.
Also, a scan at the more than dozen or so Bible Student website, will reveal that not all Bible Students think alike, we have our differences, and we do not demand complete conformity, as does the WT Society. We agree to disagree!
So, my point is ... before you begin to point your fingers, and making comments on things you really know nothing about, you should rely on your own research, instead of relying on someones own biased research.
Lord bless!
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Less Religion and more Jesus!
Edited by - RR on 4 March 2001 19:41:44
