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I think you might be right. But I also think personal attacks and/or bashing a company are also a no no which is what some people thought some of the posts did. But, hey, thanks for getting us back on track to the anger, nastiness, and hating SU and profiteering demos.
No, I wanted people to get back to the civil discussion about whether or not (and why) they think the mini products are worth the price 'to them'. I'm against the anger, nastiness and bashing, too. I think the verdict so far is the price for some is okay and for others it's not.
Kathy
__________________ I love talking about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about. ~ Oscar Wilde
A friend of mine told me about a seminar that talks about how to make a good profit as a stamping demo. Rule number one: You only need FIVE sets- TOTAL. You don't need to buy everything from mini catalogs, and you don't stamp for yourself- it's just a business. So if you want to make a great profit- it's got to be a business, I think MOST SU (TAC, CTMH, CM) demos are demos because it's also their hobby.
Holy carp! No WONDER I never cut it as a business demo! Prolly has somethin' to do with the fact that I bowled right past this rule before I even BECAME a demo! :rolleyes: ;) (Actually, I "only" have about 245 sets more than I "should"--think that has something to do with cutting in to my profitability?):mrgreen:
I mean I really want to know. Because I've read similar threads about how people hate to cut their stamps and why does SU! make them. Then you read threads saying, "Dammit, I like cutting my own and I like saving the money from having them cut for me!"
No matter what a company does, there will be a certain segment of the buying population that will not like whatever it is they did. So I guess I answered my own question, "NO, because it's not about winning, it's about providing products that will appeal to the greatest number of people in the target population." Not EVERY person in the target population...naturally, there will be some people who will be displeased no matter what.
Personally, I love the die cut stamps...had to trim a couple, it's true, but most got slapped down and were ready to use immediately. I regret that prices are higher, but I also regret that gas prices, home heating, water, and insurance costs are also going up. I am glad to buy from a company, though, that still makes most of its products in the USA. I'm tired of sending so much of my cash to China. If that means I have to pay more for a stamp, then I guess that's what I'll have to do. At least I don't have to worry about lead paint on my stamps or toxic ingredients in my toothpaste. I can hold onto the wood of my stamps knowing that people in the US are employed to harvest the wood in a sustainable way. That makes me feel good.
Since stamping is a luxury item anyway, I can choose to buy fewer stamps at higher prices and be a bit more creative with them to get my money's worth or buy more stamps at lower prices that I may use once and never again. I guess it's all how you look at it. ;)
Well said Jan, I totally agree. I ruin my stamps when I cut them out! I'm cutting challenged! LOL My demo cuts them for me, but I always feel guilty that she does it for me, I try to do something 'extra' for her as payment. I love buying American products and keeping Americans working. I love that everything SU cordinates, the fact that the stamps are in sets helps me be more creative. I have a ton of stuff from other companies that I never use & will be putting in my garage sale in a couple of weeks. I haven't ordered from the mini yet so I don't have any of the diecut sets, but I'm sure they are awesome. I'm not excited about the stamps in the mini, but it will give me a chance to stock up on the gorjus designer paper & accessories that I always put off getting b/c the stamps seem more important. I have dozens of sets & can put them to work. And as many have said the prices are going up on everything!
well....step away from the computers ladies and go turn on your TV's - that footsie playing Senator who got caught in an airport bathroom allegedly looking for a partner (guy on guy) is about to have a press conference! Not sure it will beat this....but I really want to know what the secret signals are!
well....step away from the computers ladies and go turn on your TV's - that footsie playing Senator who got caught in an airport bathroom allegedly looking for a partner (guy on guy) is about to have a press conference! Not sure it will beat this....but I really want to know what the secret signals are!
I was VERY curious too as I didn't even know about these signals -- the CNN article describes it.
Give it up ladies, rather than bash SU all day long, go hug your children, smile at a neighbor give the grocery clerk a compliment, ask the gas station attendant how their day is, pet your animal, ......oh better yet, go buy stamps from someone other than SU...... get my point.[/QUOTE]
I get your point loud and clear. I will be voting with my feet from now on & not in SU's direction. As I can see the SU demo's don't won't us to suggest other ways just to move on to other companies. I'm mooooving on!
well....step away from the computers ladies and go turn on your TV's - that footsie playing Senator who got caught in an airport bathroom allegedly looking for a partner (guy on guy) is about to have a press conference! Not sure it will beat this....but I really want to know what the secret signals are!
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
__________________ I'm a loser ~ 19.2 pounds gone...lots more to go!
I think the poll shows the feelings of most demos. I too was originally taken aback by the prices but understand the business need. SU! Products (including the wrapping paper) are still in line with many name brand items. Also, many of my customers have expressed extreme pleasure with the items being dye cut and have even stated that they aren't put off by the prices if it means they get dye cut stamp sets. Just my opinion. . .
I became a TAC Angel in May, and I've strictly run it as a business. I don't buy everything I see and want, as tempting as that is...I do try to remember I won't make money that way...So I buy what I need, and that's it. But when I do make purchases, I make sure they are the ones I love, and really want, so I'm killing 2 birds with one stone!! TAC stamps are terrific, and very affordable!!! Just my opinion....Karen.
You are absolutely right Novell. That is why I only buy SU paper...and A*Muse Stamps! :-D
I have been a SU woman for a long long time, and until they make some changes to their products, and their pricing structure....I just won't spend the money for their product like I did in the past.
SU paper and A Muse stamps? That's waaay more expensive, unless you do the 'amuse' layout of one stamp and one layer of CS.
I started out with AMuse stamps at my LSS and once I found SU I was RELIEVED cause it was so much more economical.
Im not dissing your choice, but when I buy stamps individually it always ends up more. Heck, I paid around $8 for a SINGLE fluffles stamp.......but I love that darn cat! If I bought 6 fluffles, that you cant use together that's $48 right there.
I understand people not caring for certain designs and what not that's ok. I think TAC has some of the ugliest stamps I've ever seen. But I know there are people here that like it.
Come on ladies. Just because this thread closes, we are not yet desperate enough to do housework. My inet is still up so it isnt cleaning day :P. I still have time so I will go find another thread to read and do some stamping. In my house you know the inet is down if the house is clean.
__________________
Christina Carnahan - Mom to Nathan 8, Iian 8, Cloe 6, and Matt 5.
Come on ladies. Just because this thread closes, we are not yet desperate enough to do housework. My inet is still up so it isnt cleaning day :P. I still have time so I will go find another thread to read and do some stamping. In my house you know the inet is down if the house is clean.
The inet would have to be down.... the satellite would need to be down.... and the A/C would have to be out, making it too hot to stamp before I would look to HOUSE CLEANING as an alternative! Of course if the A/C was out, it would be too hot to clean house too and I'd be at Panera in THEIR A/C with my laptop and their wifi! ROFL!
Oh cool!! Must not have been closed!
So, I for one, HAVE stamped today!! Finshed up 8 cards for JAMIs swap due saturday! Gotta finish up the other different 16!!! That means I gotta go.....in a minute!!!
I LOVE SU stamps (ink, cardstock, and dp too!)------they feel a little pricey (I guess they aren't when you compare to 1 stamp from lss, etc.), but it just makes me only get sets that I LOVE (unfortunately there are a lot I love). I will never stop buying from SU. I would like an unmounted option tho ;)
I got my cobwebs vacuumed out of the corners, my light fixture globes all taken down and run through the dishwasher and put back up again, the rest of the light fixture has also been cleaned, kitchen cabinets all scrubbed, kitchen and living room walls all scrubbed, windows cleaned inside and out, floors vacuumed, kids fed and kitchen cleaned up 3 times, and 3 loads of laundry done...woot woot! what aprofitable day, and I think after I go and take my shower I may head to my stamp room for a bit.
__________________ I'm a loser ~ 19.2 pounds gone...lots more to go!
don't want to take all the fun out of this, but y'all are teetering on the edge. to close the thread, or not to close the thread? hmm...
Please don't...this is kind of funny in a wierd and twisted way and I want to see more cool smilies. Besides, I have a couple more pages to read before I can form an opinion about Tupperware.
I got my cobwebs vacuumed out of the corners, my light fixture globes all taken down and run through the dishwasher and put back up again, the rest of the light fixture has also been cleaned, kitchen cabinets all scrubbed, kitchen and living room walls all scrubbed, windows cleaned inside and out, floors vacuumed, kids fed and kitchen cleaned up 3 times, and 3 loads of laundry done...woot woot! what aprofitable day, and I think after I go and take my shower I may head to my stamp room for a bit.
I'll take some of what you're having!!! Obviously, with all that accomplished you haven't been following this thread all day.
Several points prefaced by the fact that until recently I was a demo.
Rumor has it that the demos have put out notices in a number of online places to come here and vote for the first option. I believe, for this reason, that the poll is quite heavily a vote of demos.
Secondly, as a demo, I never made a cent and I doubt anyone can unless they have huge sales. I averaged $4000 a year. After all my business costs such as bags, forms, deliveries made to homes, labels for catalogs, not to mention my time, that 20 percent did not begin to cut it. After I spent an average of $25 of my own money each time I put on a club or workshop, I would have had to make a huge total sale to even break even. This is not a way to make money and people going in to it for that are going to be shocked at how much money they are spending with SU to even maintain their business costs and keep things going. I honestly believe SU's main income is not the customers but what they require the demos to spend and many of those cannot even see that they are not making any money at this because they look at the sale only without putting all the additional costs into their bottom line.
One thing not mentioned is that while SU may be cheaper per stamp, but barely, it is very, very unusual that I would buy all the stamps in a set if I had the choice. I may use 1/2 the stamps so in my mind I double the price per stamp based on the fact that if I like a set I am forced to buy it in a set accompanied by stamps I really don't want and won't use. Comparing to single stamp purchases like A Muse is irrelevant. When I buy A Muse stamps I hand pick EVERY stamp so what I spend is well worth it. I am not buying useless excess because they give me a choice, which SU does not. Therefore, $40 for a set after tax and shipping has been added is outrageous when I will only use 3-4 stamps out of the set.
No biggie...it's just a poll. It won't lead anywhere. Thanks for your input and welcome to SCS. You will LOVE it here! :mrgreen:
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdecker
Several points prefaced by the fact that until recently I was a demo.
Rumor has it that the demos have put out notices in a number of online places to come here and vote for the first option. I believe, for this reason, that the poll is quite heavily a vote of demos.
Secondly, as a demo, I never made a cent and I doubt anyone can unless they have huge sales. I averaged $4000 a year. After all my business costs such as bags, forms, deliveries made to homes, labels for catalogs, not to mention my time, that 20 percent did not begin to cut it. After I spent an average of $25 of my own money each time I put on a club or workshop, I would have had to make a huge total sale to even break even. This is not a way to make money and people going in to it for that are going to be shocked at how much money they are spending with SU to even maintain their business costs and keep things going. I honestly believe SU's main income is not the customers but what they require the demos to spend and many of those cannot even see that they are not making any money at this because they look at the sale only without putting all the additional costs into their bottom line.
One thing not mentioned is that while SU may be cheaper per stamp, but barely, it is very, very unusual that I would buy all the stamps in a set if I had the choice. I may use 1/2 the stamps so in my mind I double the price per stamp based on the fact that if I like a set I am forced to buy it in a set accompanied by stamps I really don't want and won't use. Comparing to single stamp purchases like A Muse is irrelevant. When I buy A Muse stamps I hand pick EVERY stamp so what I spend is well worth it. I am not buying useless excess because they give me a choice, which SU does not. Therefore, $40 for a set after tax and shipping has been added is outrageous when I will only use 3-4 stamps out of the set.
I got my cobwebs vacuumed out of the corners, my light fixture globes all taken down and run through the dishwasher and put back up again, the rest of the light fixture has also been cleaned, kitchen cabinets all scrubbed, kitchen and living room walls all scrubbed, windows cleaned inside and out, floors vacuumed, kids fed and kitchen cleaned up 3 times, and 3 loads of laundry done...woot woot! what aprofitable day, and I think after I go and take my shower I may head to my stamp room for a bit.
Wow could you come to my house for the day! Please. I'll give you some free stamps!
The inet would have to be down.... the satellite would need to be down.... and the A/C would have to be out, making it too hot to stamp before I would look to HOUSE CLEANING as an alternative! Of course if the A/C was out, it would be too hot to clean house too and I'd be at Panera in THEIR A/C with my laptop and their wifi! ROFL!
Several points prefaced by the fact that until recently I was a demo.
Rumor has it that the demos have put out notices in a number of online places to come here and vote for the first option. I believe, for this reason, that the poll is quite heavily a vote of demos.
Secondly, as a demo, I never made a cent and I doubt anyone can unless they have huge sales. I averaged $4000 a year. After all my business costs such as bags, forms, deliveries made to homes, labels for catalogs, not to mention my time, that 20 percent did not begin to cut it. After I spent an average of $25 of my own money each time I put on a club or workshop, I would have had to make a huge total sale to even break even. This is not a way to make money and people going in to it for that are going to be shocked at how much money they are spending with SU to even maintain their business costs and keep things going. I honestly believe SU's main income is not the customers but what they require the demos to spend and many of those cannot even see that they are not making any money at this because they look at the sale only without putting all the additional costs into their bottom line.
One thing not mentioned is that while SU may be cheaper per stamp, but barely, it is very, very unusual that I would buy all the stamps in a set if I had the choice. I may use 1/2 the stamps so in my mind I double the price per stamp based on the fact that if I like a set I am forced to buy it in a set accompanied by stamps I really don't want and won't use. Comparing to single stamp purchases like A Muse is irrelevant. When I buy A Muse stamps I hand pick EVERY stamp so what I spend is well worth it. I am not buying useless excess because they give me a choice, which SU does not. Therefore, $40 for a set after tax and shipping has been added is outrageous when I will only use 3-4 stamps out of the set.
I agree with your 2nd paragraph and I think this is true regarding most direct sales. I think the person who comes out best is the hostess who has a large party, if she doesn't put a lot of her own money into the party sales total, that is. Must be why my neighbor always serves wine, mimosas or some other form of alcohol at her parties. Lessens your inhibitions on spending $$$. She always has great parties and ends up with lots of freebies and hostess $$$. Obviously, these are not stamp parties. Can you imagine how the cards might look after a few drinks? We're talking some crooked images - LOL!
If the rumor in paragraph is true - how sad! It would be nice for it to have been a fair poll that shows how the general population of SU consumers feel.
I love Tupperware. How else could all those food groups co-exist together in one happy little cold place?!? And I might add that they all match wonderfully.
__________________ ~Valerie~ My Altered States "If you cant be a good example then at least be a horrible warning."
Sorry I haven't posted again ... phew - I'm out of breath! I've been running all over the place to find fellow demos to post on this poll ....:rolleyes:
How do rumors get started, they're started by the jealous people and
They get mad seein' somethin' they had and sombody else is holdin'
They tell me that temptation is very hard to resist
These wicked women, ooh, they just persist
Maybe you think it's cute, but girl, I'm not impressed
I tell you one time only with my business please don't mess
well, I'm only just 6 months with the company but my main reason for joining was to support my OWN STAMPING/SCRAPPING habit, have fun and meet people; so far so good;and since it is my business, I haven't spent money anywhere except on my business, maybe not a good idea, and as I said, really young with the company, but I'm going to give it my best shot, I really like SU
Several points prefaced by the fact that until recently I was a demo.
Rumor has it that the demos have put out notices in a number of online places to come here and vote for the first option. I believe, for this reason, that the poll is quite heavily a vote of demos.
So SU DEMOS aren't allowed to have an opinion in this poll?? This thread is getting completely out of control!
I say we all just give it up and let this darn think float to the back of the threads!!! So please, lets just let it go! Enough already! Everybody buy what you want and be done with it!
