faq | Purchasing Academy

Frequently asked questions

If you have a question or need assistance and it is not in our FAQ please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help!

How can I easily expense the cost of my Membership or Product through my employer?

Your payment and billing information are securely managed by FastSpring.
After purchasing your Membership or Product, you have received a confirmation email from FastSpring containing a “Manage Your Orders” link.
By following this link, you can access your FastSpring account and download your invoices from the tab “Orders”.
Many employers actively support professional development and continuous learning. Through your Account, you can access your achievements under ‘Account > Achievements’, where you’ll find a complete overview of your badges, certificates, and related PDH/CPD points. Including these accomplishments with your reimbursement request will help demonstrate the value of the investment.
Pinpointing the enormous cost differences between traditional education and Purchasing Academy will surely help.
You may also want to encourage your employer to explore a 3-day free trial. Chances are that they, and other colleagues, will benefit from expanding their knowledge and skills as well—and we’re here to help them do exactly that.

How do I get a Membership or Product?

On our website, you can subscribe to a Membership or buy a product
You are redirected (with a pop-up) to complete the financial transaction through our reseller
Make sure to type your email address correctly !
At this email address, you receive two emails from FastSpring. One email to confirm your order, and one to manage your account with FastSpring (managing your payment method, and downloading invoices)
And you receive one from Purchasing Academy. It includes a link you can click to first set the password for your Membership or Product.
From there, follow the instructions to onboard.

How do I change or update my Payment Method?

Please refer to the information provided to you by FastSpring when you purchased your Membership.
It contains a link to your FastSpring account, where you can update your Payment Method.

I lost my password; how do I proceed?

Go to https://purchasing.academy
Select ‘Login’
Select ‘Lost your password?’ at the bottom of the login screen
Next, please enter your username or email address and select ‘Get new password’.
You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password

How can I change my username or password?

• Go to ‘Account’ in the hamburger menu.
• Here you find the option ‘Set New Password’ to change your password.
• Do not forget to click ‘Update profile’ at the bottom of the screen.
• Your username is automatically generated when activating your Membership or Product. It’s based on your first name, sometimes combined with a number. It is unique and cannot be changed.

How can I change my email address?

Go to ‘Account’ in the hamburger menu.
In your account, you can find the email address that FastSpring sent to us. You provided it to FastSpring when purchasing your Membership or Product. It is used to communicate with FastSpring about the financial status of your Membership or Product.
We understand that you sometimes may need to change your email address. When this happens:

1. First contact FastSpring customer support. They will first have to change your email address in their system.
2. Secondly, after FastSpring updates your email address, please email support@purchasing.academy with both your old and new email addresses. Once we have also changed your email address in our system, your Membership or Product will be available again. Beware: when your email address has been updated by FastSpring but not yet by Purchasing Academy, your Membership or Product will be temporarily frozen.

How can I change my first and last name in my account?

These are unique data fields provided by FastSpring that you filled in when purchasing your Membership or Product.
They cannot be changed.

Which name appears on my certificates?

Your first and last name, as provided when you purchased your Membership with FastSpring, are automatically printed on all your digital certificates.

What new content can I expect?

New content is published bi-weekly.
Please study the ‘Release plan’ in our hamburger menu for more details.

How do I know which content I have already studied and which I have not?

For each video, an orange progress bar indicates your progress when selected. Even when you switch between devices, progress is recorded. This enables you to navigate the content easily.
Once you’ve fully studied a video, it will be marked with a green checkmark in the horizontal or vertical sliders next to the small video icons.
You can also mark a video as ‘completed’ manually by clicking the button below it while studying it.
When new content is added, you will receive a notification.
In your ‘Account’ in the hamburger menu, you will find ‘Course progress details’, which explains (as a percentage) the courses you did not (partially) complete, helping you to navigate.

Is my personal data safe?

The personal data we need to fulfill your services is stored by Purchasing Academy on a Virtual Private Server (VPN) in Europe. We are committed to safeguarding them. For more information, please refer to our Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Statement. You will find both in the hamburger menu.
Your financial information is stored by FastSpring, not Purchasing Academy. Please refer to the information in their privacy statement and Terms & Conditions, which they provided and that you agreed to when you purchased your Membership or Product.

How do I upgrade, downgrade, or cancel my Membership?

Go to ‘Membership’ in the hamburger menu.
You will now see your available options to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your Membership.
Once you select an option, the consequences are detailed, and you must choose to proceed or cancel.
If you choose to proceed, consequences will take effect. For implications and their timing, see the questions:
- What happens if I upgrade my Membership
- What happens if I downgrade my Membership
- What happens if I cancel my Membership

What happens if I upgrade my Membership during the free trial?

After selecting your upgrade, you’ll immediately gain access to your new Membership benefits.
On your first billing date, after your free trial, the monthly price of your new Membership will apply.
You will find your next billing date in the information provided by FastSpring when you purchased your Membership, or under the ‘Manage Membership’ option in your Account.

What happens if I upgrade my Membership after the free trial?

After selecting your upgrade, you’ll immediately gain access to your new Membership benefits.
On your next billing date, the monthly price of your new Membership will apply.
You may be charged the price difference for the remaining days of your billing period.
You will find your next billing date in the information provided by FastSpring when you purchased your Membership, or under the ‘Manage Membership’ option in your Account.

What happens if I downgrade my Membership during the free trial?

After selecting your downgrade, you will immediately gain access to your new Membership benefits.
On your first billing date, after your free trial, the monthly price of your new Membership will apply.
You will find your next billing date in the information provided by FastSpring when you purchased your Membership, or under the ‘Manage Membership’ option in your Account.

What happens if I downgrade my Membership after the free trial?

After selecting your downgrade, you’ll retain full access to your current Membership benefits until your next billing date.
From then on, the lower monthly charge will apply, and your new access level will take effect.
You will find your next billing date on the information provided by FastSpring when you purchased your Membership, or under the option ‘Manage Membership’ in your Account.

What happens if I cancel my Membership during the free trial?

After selecting this option, you’ll retain full access to your current Membership benefits until the end of your trial period.
After that, it will be terminated.
Until then, you can choose to un-cancel and restore your Membership at any time.
Please note that once your Membership is terminated, you will be removed from our database and lose all your progress data, earned badges, obtained certificates, and access to the community. Others can no longer verify the authenticity of your certificates and badges on our website. You also might no longer qualify for your original discounted pricing.

What happens if I cancel my Membership after the free trial?

After selecting this option, you’ll retain full access to your current Membership facilities until the end of your billing cycle.
After that, it will be terminated.
Until then, you can choose to un-cancel and restore your Membership at any time.
Please note that once your Membership is terminated, you will be removed from our database and lose all progress data, earned badges, obtained certificates, and access to the community. Others can no longer verify the authenticity of your certificates and badges on our website. You also might no longer qualify for your original discounted pricing.

I cancelled my Membership. How do I un-cancel it?

After selecting this option, your previously canceled Membership will be immediately restored.
And you’ll be charged once your new billing cycle begins.
Once restored, you can upgrade instantly.
Also, you can downgrade or cancel your Membership monthly.

How can I get a refund?

Purchasing Academy does not offer refunds, as clearly stated in our Terms & Conditions, which you agreed to.
Please study ‘Refunds’ in our hamburger menu for more details.

Which badges, certificates, and diplomas can I attain?

Please study the ‘Rewards table’ in our hamburger menu.
It displays multiple badges, certificates, and diplomas.
Those available display numbers that refer to the PDH/CPD points they correspond to.
There’s a separate video on PDH/CPD points in the introduction section.

How do I earn Professional Development Hours (PDH) or Continous Professional Development (CPD) points?

Once you’ve completed a fully published chapter, you’re rewarded with a badge with corresponding PDH/CPD points.
After passing exams for a fully published course, you’ve earned a certificate with corresponding PDH/CPD points.
When attending a Live Program and successfully completing it, you are awarded a diploma with corresponding PDH/CPD points.
Please study the Rewards Table in our hamburger menu. It displays all badges, certificates, and diplomas. Those now available are the ones with a number, representing their PDH/CPD credentials.
After earning badges, certificates, or diplomas, you will find them in your Account under Achievements, which displays your progress, including your PDH/CPD credentials.

How do I download my certificates?

Select ‘Account’ in the hamburger menu.
If you have taken exams, you will find your results here.
If you completed an exam with 80% (or more) correct answers, you will see ‘certificate’.
Click it to download your personalized, valuable certificate showcasing your achievements.
Add your certificate to your LinkedIn profile and showcase the PDF certificate under ‘media’.
In the Introduction part of the main menu, you will find the video ‘Share & verify achievements’, specifically dedicated to this topic.

How do I share my earned badges and certificates on social media?

In the Introduction part of the main menu, you will find the video ‘Share & verify achievements’, specifically dedicated to this topic.
In our hamburger menu, select ‘Achievements’.
If you have obtained badges or certificates, they will be listed in a table.
In the far-right column, you can directly share on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn (select one of the icons).
Please note that you must be logged in to access these social media platforms.

How can my achievements (badges and certificates) be verified?

If you shared your badges or certificates on your LinkedIn profile, a unique number, the Achievement ID (for instance, 126F40B34-154F), and a URL were added.
Anyone can verify your credentials by selecting ‘show credential’ in your LinkedIn profile. It will redirect them to Purchasing Academy’s website, where your credentials will be automatically displayed.
If you do not want to share your badges and certificates on LinkedIn:
- Go to our hamburger menu and select ‘Achievements’.
- If you attained badges or certificates, they are listed in a table, including their unique ‘Achievement ID’
- Got to https://purchasing.academy
- Select ‘Verify’ and use the unique Achievement ID to verify your achievement.
- By following the instructions, anyone (HR, recruiters, or potential employers) can verify your credentials. Simply share your Achievement ID (or include it on your resume) and direct them to https://purchasing.academy and ‘Verify’.

How do I add my badges and certificates to my professional LinkedIn profile?

In the Introduction part of the main menu, you will find the video ‘Share & verify achievements’, specifically dedicated to this topic.
In our hamburger menu, select ‘Achievements’.
If you attained badges or certificates, they will be listed in a table.
In the far-right column, you will also find the option ‘LinkedIn add to profile’, where you can easily add both badges and certificates to your professional LinkedIn profile, and share your achievements in your timeline. Just click on it and follow the instructions.
When adding your certificate to your professional profile, we recommend that you first download your digital certificate (please refer to ‘How do I download my certificates?’). When you add the certificate, LinkedIn offers the option to upload ‘Media’. Here you can add your digital certificate to your LinkedIn profile.
Please note that when adding your certificate or badge to your LinkedIn profile, a unique number (for example, 126F40B34-154F) and URL are generated. Recruiters or employers can use them to verify your credentials on our website. Please refer to: How can my achievements be verified?
Please note that you must be logged in to Linkedin.

How do I share my achievements in my LinkedIn timeline, so my network is informed of my continuing improvement

On LinkedIn, you start writing a normal post.
At the bottom, you see the ‘+’ icon; click on it.
Next, you select ‘celebrate an occasion’ (the little star icon).
A list of occasions is now shown, including ‘New Certification.’
You can add a stock picture, or you could download our logo and use it.
Next, you can add personal remarks and post your achievement.

How can I participate in online events?

Please study the ‘Online events’ section in our main menu.

How can I participate in live programs?

Please study the ‘Live Programs’ section in our main menu.

How can I get a personal coach?

Once you have selected a Tulip Membership, we will contact you for a personal intake, which will enable us to match you with the best expert for your specific needs.

How can I leave remarks or ask questions on various topics?

Select ‘Community’ in our main menu.
Here, you will find separate groups for different courses and topics, where you can post questions and remarks, and engage in valuable discussions.
Or email us at support@purchasing.academy

How can I leave a review?

Once you have completed several courses, you will receive an email asking for your review.
Or you can email your review to support@purchasing.academy.

I am an expat living in the Netherlands. How can I buy a Membership?

We recognize that, living in the Netherlands and not fully mastering Dutch, there are few purchasing education options available.
When you’re in this situation, we’re committed to helping you obtain the best possible education.
Go to www.inkoopacademie.nl to learn about the special offer they have for expats living in the Netherlands
Or you can email your request, including your LinkedIn profile, to support@purchasing.academy.

As a company, we want to purchase memberships for multiple employees.

Are you interested in valuable, extensive, and fun purchasing courses for your professionals, potentially across multiple countries?
Of course, you can use the company credit card to purchase Memberships for everyone
Or have employees claim expenses.
If you are interested in a corporate contract for multiple users on a single invoice, maybe want to add company-specific content or options, or even live programs, contact us at support@purchasing.academy, and we will be happy to get in touch.

Ik woon in Nederland, hoe kan ik een Membership kopen?

In Nederland is het speciale ‘VIP Zilver NL’ Membership beschikbaar.
In hechte samenwerking met InkoopAcademie worden enorme kortingen aangeboden voor ex-deelnemers aan InkoopAcademie opleidingen, expats in Nederland en ZZP’ers binnen het vakgebied.
Kijk op inkoopacademie.nl voor de mogelijkheden.

How do I participate in Purchasing Academy’s affiliate program?

Please study the ‘Affiliate program & partners’ in our hamburger menu for more details.

Did not find your question? ... where do you go for help...

For questions about purchases, payments, invoices, unexpected charges, changing your payment method, or VAT, please visit https://FastSpring.com and log in using the credentials they emailed you when you purchased your Membership or Product.
Purchasing Academy is responsible for managing your Membership (including upgrades, downgrades, cancellations, and un-cancellations) and fulfilling the services that are part of your Membership or Product. For all questions about these topics, we recommend checking the frequently asked questions first.
If you cannot find the answer you’re looking for, please feel free to email us at support@purchasing.academy. We aim to reply within 24 business hours.