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Recently I've had some frustrating experiences with a variety of companies and online stores. Stamps that don't stick, paper corners bent, punches that don't punch. You get the drill!
The problem is that I bought all this stuff a really long time ago. In some cases, I'm not sure who the vendor is. My point is to open your packages. Look at your paper. Look at your punches. Use them immediately.
Every store has its share of errors and most of my purchases are 100% ok, but I could kick myself for not protecting myself by checking right away!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I'm right there with you. When I started to 'collect' SU, I'd order tons of stamps. But it would take me forever (5-6 months) to cut & mount them ~ I don't like cutting stamps, btw. Anyway, I bought a set from a mini catty & it ended up being defective ~ part of the stamp was creased & it was a solid type stamp so... that was enough to teach me to check everything. Later I got a wheel that was bent... ~ caught that right away & SU replaced it pronto.
Last edited by AGMommyof2; 02-16-2008 at 02:12 PM..
Reason: clarified a few things...
I've learned the hard way too. Not just with online Retailers but from here too.
I made a purchase awhile back for a punch. I opened the package and looked at it. Didn't use it for two months. The one day I thought I would use it.......Guess what? I didn't work. It wouldn't punch It was broken.
I felt let down. Beause I purchased it. and didn't check to see if it would work before contacting the person I purchased it from.
From now I Look and try out things. I make sure everything is tip top.
I am bad about trying things out when they are delivered. Have gotten burned - had a SU set but missing wood - I had to provide the set number and then was told it wasn't available (and I was figuring a block of wood was a block of wood!)
Since a customer was missing 2 wood blocks recently in a stamp set she ordered, I have been checking everything that comes to me...one of my SAB packs of rub-ons was missing 2 of the sheets and if you find this out straight away, you can get a replacement...months on and its no good as its too late...
I am also now for check everything when you receive it :-)
So true, Joan. I ordered Headline alpha from SU and didn't use it for about 6 months, though I did mount it. When I used it for the first time, I realized there was a flaw in the rubber of the S. The S for heaven's sake! So I contacted my demo, who talked to SU and I got a new S in the mail a few days later. But that taught me to check everything carefully!
This happened to me with some Anna Griffin Punches that I ordered on QVC. I waited like a year to use them, and then when I tried to, I couldn't get them to punch through the paper. Still don't know how to get them to work...
I just ordered a Marvy Uchida Giga oval punch online and I am very grateful that I happened to use it within a few days after it arrived, because it did not work. I tried foil, wax paper, etc., but the *bends* of the oval would not punch at all through any type of cardstock!
I returned it, and I am now awaiting it's replacement.
I've learned this the hard way, too. I bought the SU reinkers in all four color families just before the big changeup in 2005 because I wanted to make sure I could reink my Baroque Burgundy, Forest Foliage, etc. ink pads, even though I didn't need to replenish them right away. About a year later I finally looked in my box of Bold Brights reinkers and found a Night of Navy bottle! I was missing Only Orange. At least I was able to order the orange, and it really isn't that expensive.
I also found out this week to check. I purchased a retired set from CTMH and one of the stamps is defective. I don't think the original owner ever knew, since they weren't inked.
I'm right there with you. When I started to 'collect' SU, I'd order tons of stamps. But it would take me forever (5-6 months) to cut & mount them ~ I don't like cutting stamps, btw. Anyway, I bought a set from a mini catty & it ended up being defective ~ part of the stamp was creased & it was a solid type stamp so... that was enough to teach me to check everything. Later I got a wheel that was bent... ~ caught that right away & SU replaced it pronto.
Yeah I had this same problem too with one of the retired sets. I usually cut and mount right away but this batch of sets I had to wait for some time and when I cut the one, noticed the puckering and fold in the rubber. Oops, they were retired stamps. I believe 3 months is all you have after retirement to replace defective stamps.
__________________ Julia Gluten free on 9/15/2008. I am a Celiac. 1 in 133 Americans is a Celiac and 97% of those who have Celiac Disease are still undiagnosed. Are you one?
I am working on an ABC scrapbook, drove 40 miles to my sister's to work on it and there was NO B in the chipboard alphabet I got at Mike's. Already checked the replacement and they are all there.
This happened to me with some Anna Griffin Punches that I ordered on QVC. I waited like a year to use them, and then when I tried to, I couldn't get them to punch through the paper. Still don't know how to get them to work...
My brother got me these from QVC.....I have to put the paper in, put it on the floor and step on it with my heel to get one to work!
Something like this happened this week. A friend and I ordered a bunch of embellishment boxes from orientaltrading.com and a couple of the boxes broke during shipping. Do you know what a pain it is to go through and separate 1300 brads & eyelets? I really, really big one. Anyways, I called the company and they're sending me a $10 gift card for my inconvienence. I thought that was pretty awesome!
Yep.
I will not name company "names" .... but the lesson learned is Stop! UnPack! and CHECK! whatver delivery comes in! Do NOT put off til another day what you can sincerely do RIGHT NOW in the next 5 minutes. ;) This lesson brought to you by "Experience". ;)
Yep.
I will not name company "names" .... but the lesson learned is Stop! UnPack! and CHECK! whatver delivery comes in! Do NOT put off til another day what you can sincerely do RIGHT NOW in the next 5 minutes. ;) This lesson brought to you by "Experience". ;)
I will agree with that!! I have purchased a couple of stamps that were defective - and didn't find out til months later when I used them that they wouldn't stamp a full image... and by that time - it's too late to return them..;)
I've learned the hard way as well.. I got a stamp pad and had it for several months before opening it to use it. When I did open it the color was off and then all they wanted me to do was pay to ship it back so they could test it before they would fix it...
Recently I've had some frustrating experiences with a variety of companies and online stores. Stamps that don't stick, paper corners bent, punches that don't punch. You get the drill!
The problem is that I bought all this stuff a really long time ago. In some cases, I'm not sure who the vendor is. My point is to open your packages. Look at your paper. Look at your punches. Use them immediately.
Every store has its share of errors and most of my purchases are 100% ok, but I could kick myself for not protecting myself by checking right away!
There are definite advantages in Instant Gratification. I'm tearing off the wrapping at the mailbox...no waiting for me!
I've had more than a couple of products that were 'injured' in the mail (or at the manufacturer), but I've never had a problem getting them replaced.