We are producing a regular newsletter called The CABDEV Insider. It has been well received and contains information about new items, extra savings, and helpful tips and information about materials and Montessori.  Here are links to our current and past:

 

The Insider - October 2011
The Insider - September 2011
The Insider - July 2011
The Insider - June 2011
The Insider 3 - April 2011

The HQ materials we offer are made with better raw materials, have a superior finish, and the precision is better on items like the binomial cube (when compared to our Economy Plus line). The painted finish (where applicable) is noticeably better and more durable. For example, our "good" binomial cube sells for $95 (cdn) and the less expensive one we have sells for $39. I have customers who report that the cheap model's finish simply doesn't hold up as well. One customer in particular said that the economy priced one (after 10 months of use) looked like the more expensive one she bought from us 9 years earlier. I recognize that this is a higher use item and environments will differ, but Montessorians in every environment will agree on the beauty of the materials and the importance of their presentation in the classroom. Many of our unpainted Economy items are quite good. The Economy globes are of a decent quality but once again the finish is not as nice (FYI: globes all bounce and break the same way). The HQ beads we sell are smoother and brighter in colour; both lines are individual nylon beads on a copper wire. We have chosen our Economy Plus materials to offer good value for money. Many people have opted to mix and match our HQ and Economy to maximize their budget.

 

Comparing different suppliers and their materials can be a difficult task. The type of wood used, the finishing process, the quality of the finish itself, and the precision are all factors that impact durability and price. Unfortunately, when all you have is a picture on the internet and a low price it is hard to know why it’s not as good, exactly what will show up at your door, or how well it will stand up in the classroom? Terms like “quality” and “premium” have become diluted from misuse because not all suppliers view quality the same way. The long and short of it ... not all premium or discount lines are the same, nobody can sell the exact same thing for 70% less, and dealing with people you can trust will help you maximize getting what you paid for.

Learning about money.

We've got some new supporting materials for tens, teens, hundreds, and the spindle boxes.

Great materials for Lower and Upper elementary.

This is an ever expanding list as ETC continues to develop more items every year.

Recent additions include Grammar Card material and items for Middle School.

 

Visit our CATALOG section to view the full line of available products.  Prices where shown are in US dollars.