Am I being too picky?

[passionforpaper]

A little background before I get to the question: A company whose products I've purchased has released new dies and coordinating stamp sets that are too lovely for words. One of the sentiments that fits an image that goes with the die...(you get the idea)...is missing an apostrophe. When I questioned a company rep about the critical omission, the rep said they felt that the apostrophe was "artistic interference," so they agreed to NOT use it. As much as I wanted to purchase several items, I can't because of this glaring error. Adding the apostrophe myself would look too obvious because of the lack of a space.

Am I being too picky? Isn't proper punctuation (on a serious sentiment -- not a pun or anything whimsical) valued any more? Would YOU buy the product(s)?

[okiechic]

Ack! I would never use it. You are not too picky.

[passionforpaper]

Thanks, Laura!

[Metalcharm]

Artistic interference?? Sounds like an excuse they came up with because someone couldn't spell and someone else couldn't proof read. ;)

I wouldn't use or buy it either.

[MathGoddess]

That would drive me crazy, too! I would not buy it, and I would let the company know why!

PS - Send me a pm if you want a "backup" to contact the company. Maybe they need to hear this from more than one voice!

[passionforpaper]

If I get more support, yes I'd like to send you a pm. I've searched the SCS site but can't see how to send a private message. Can you tell me, please?

[MathGoddess]

Quote:

Originally Posted by passionforpaper

If I get more support, yes I'd like to send you a pm. I've searched the SCS site but can't see how to send a private message. Can you tell me, please?

Sure!

Just click on "MathGoddess" to the left

[KatarinaM]

If I really liked the sentiment, I'd get it anyway. I'd just put a little apostrophe myself with a Copic multiliner or ZIG permanent pen. I try not to sweat over small stuff, life's too short, lol.

[NancyK.]

No you are not too picky - this was just poor and sloppy editing on their part. And they did not want to pay to re manufacture a correct set. Shame on them.

[PedalPower]

That would drive me nutso. I couldn't use it. Just couldn't.

[NwP]

Nope, I wouldn't get it. I couldn't send out something with an error like that.

[RiverIsis]

My grammar isn't great however, if I paid for a sentiment that should have an apostrophe in it, then I want my apostrophe otherwise to me it is defective. Sounds to me they don't want to admit an error and recall/reproduce the sentiment in its correct form.

[MelDeLlanos]

I would happily send a comment to the company too, more people telling them might help!!

I wouldn't use something with such an obvious mistake. Using it would make it seem to anyone who saw your work that YOU didn't know it was wrong.

[cat_woman]

I wouldn't buy or use a sentiment that wasn't spelled correctly or had incorrect punctuation. Artistic interference - sheesh!

[kphorse]

When I pay *hard earned* money for something, I expect it to be right! That includes spelling and grammer...

[buggainok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatarinaM

If I really liked the sentiment, I'd get it anyway. I'd just put a little apostrophe myself with a Copic multiliner or ZIG permanent pen. I try not to sweat over small stuff, life's too short, lol.

That's what I would do, too. I want things to be right, but I'm willing to do a little bit to make them right, lol.

I'm afraid as more and more folks spend time texting with their thumbs and using abbreviations instead of words (and their brains, ha!) that we will have more dumbing down of proper word usage.

[Allistamps123]

It would drive me crazy too!

[Cathy H]

I wouldn't buy it. And I would let them know why I wasn't buying it.

[sc magnolia]

No, you are NOT too picky! I wouldn't buy it either, and I will be glad to add my voice to the company. You can PM me as well.

[Scrapjanny]

I wouldn't buy it either. Artistic interference? Really?

[Anemone]

Nope. Not too picky. I wouldn't buy it either, because I would never be able to bring myself to use it.

[passionforpaper]

Thank you all so much for your support. I wasn't expecting so many postive responses. Glad I'm not the only one who wants my cards to be correct!

[SkyNacho]

I wouldn't buy it either, but it's MUCH easier to add missing punctuation than it is to try to take it out when it is in but doesn't belong!

[Cindy55]

No way would I buy it. It would make me crazy everytime I looked at it.

[Ellibelle]

Not too picky at all, I wouldn't buy it either.

[blueheron]

Count me among those who would not buy or use the stamp missing the apostrophe. It is one of my pet peeves. I also find the manufacturer's excuse unacceptable and inane.

[Makalah]

Perhaps whoever does the next email to the company can send the company a link to this thread, with 25+ people supporting you in this.

[melissa59]

My friends and acquaintances who are not stampers or scrappers work in the field of print media. I can't see any of them being forgiving of a company that sells a stamp missing an apostrophe.

That said, I tend to make a lot of mistakes in my posts, especially when I type on this laptop. Somehow, I hit something (probably with the heel of my hand) that sometimes causes a letter, word or even entire bits of text to disappear or cut from one area and paste in another. :-O

But then, I don't put a price tag on my mangled posts and and claim my mistakes are "art". LOL

[melissa59]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NancyK.

No you are not too picky - this was just poor and sloppy editing on their part. And they did not want to pay to re manufacture a correct set. Shame on them.

Remember the movie, "Elf", where the company sends out a children's book missing the final two pages? That's what this reminds me of.

[lylacfey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metalcharm

Artistic interference?? Sounds like an excuse they came up with because someone couldn't spell and someone else couldn't proof read. ;)

I wouldn't use or buy it either.

I am in agreement 100%

That response would have made me angry. Artistic Interference? My DH would say that is somebody not doing their job. You can send me a PM too. The company needs to know we are not pleased with that kind of response. Personally, I don't want to buy from a company who feels that way. I understand from a big corporation a response like that. Could be a customer support rep who hates her job. If the President of a company said that I would be furious! This is a small company. I am assuming it's a small company. My DH works for a small company if he pulled a stunt like that the customers would be irate. My DH would not be working. No, your not being nit picky.

[Cook22]

I would find it hard to use a sentiment with poor grammar. If I really liked all the rest of the set I might buy it and not use that stamp. I agree with SkyNacho that it's easier to insert punctuation than take it out, but still it tends to throw the spacing out and visually it's never as good as if the correct punctuation had been there in the first place. You could say it spoils it artistically, LOL.

[jp1989]

100% AGREE. I would not buy it. English and grammar skills in this country are already in a sorry state. No sense to perpetuate it. Someone was not doing their job.

[Angelnorth]

I'm a proofreader so I certainly wouldn't use the stamp, I would feel it reflected badly on my own language skills and awareness. I have told two different companies about errors in sentiments in the past - both thanked me for pointing it out, pulled the sets and had them remade with the correction.

I know times are tough and nobody wants to trash inventory but offering the sets with a mistake at a discount to those who don't care or are willing to fill in missing punctuation with a marker might be an option.

I agree with the suggestion to point the company in question to this thread so it's obvious that lots of people do care about whether grammar and punctuation are correct on the stamps they buy and their buying decisions are influenced accordingly!

[Joan B]

a consumer can never be too picky when it comes to matters of personal preference . . . or grammar...

[ribbongirls]

I wouldn't buy it either.

And the actual mistake doesn't bother me as much as the lame response they gave about "artistic interference".

[ceramicat1]

I couldn't buy it, it would bother me to know it was wrong.

[Phantom]

Absolutely not too picky!!!!

And I was sure when I read your question that you'd be in good company ~ there have been many threads over the years where we've blown off steam about poor grammar and punctuation ! Warms my heart to know those things still matter to so many.

I hope many more customers let the company know that their decision has lost them sales. "Artistic interference" ??? Hogwash.

Good for you, Linda, and if you'd like to send me a PM as well, I will add my support!

[fionna51]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom

I hope many more customers let the company know that their decision has lost them sales. "Artistic interference" ??? Hogwash.

Good for you, Linda, and if you'd like to send me a PM as well, I will add my support!

Yep, me too!

Makes me think again of a youtube video this year of some kids at a school who did the hallelujah chorus with the flip up cards...and the TEACHER did "King of King's" and Lord of Lord's". A Teacher! Hmpffff!

[barbara32ca]

I am really surprised at the customer service reps answer to your question. I wonder if the owner knows? Maybe this will be enlightening to them.

Barbara

[MaryEileen]

I agree with you. I would not knowingly send anything that isn't correct. I also make mistakes when I type. I do try to look it over before sending. Whenever you send something to be manufactured, or to be distributed, it should be correct. Proofreading would save some of these companies money. I worked in a school, and if a letter or notice went home with a mistake, the phone would ring off the hook.