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I am a demonstrator for Michael's. Yesterday, they had me demo-ing rubber stamps. Since I have been doing a lot of stamping lately, I was excited. One word for their ink....YUCK! Two words for their watercolor pencils...WAY YUCK... I rubbed and rubbed and got a flimsy gray image, not even a clear crisp image at that. People who stopped by the station were interested but I wanted to tell them that this is jackleg ink and pathetic watercolor pencils! You need SU ink (and stamps, pencils and cardstock). Add to this the fact that I am very cheap and since I get a discount at Michael's, I usually want to purchase non SU if possible. If you are not yet a SU snob, go to Michael's and get some $1.99 ink and $14.99 pencils. By the end of your experiment, you will SO be a SU snob.
__________________ If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got.
I used to by the paper and can tell you I have a HUGE difference in the quality of projects!!!
I had a customer who ran out of SU paper for announcements, so they ended up running to teh local craft shop tp get them. She was soooo mad that the image bled through and did not take as cleanly as weth SU!
I also think SU has the best quality!
__________________ I want people to be afraid of how much they love me-M. Scott
I recently got my SIL interested in stamping in her scrapbooks. However she only bought stamps & inks. Well for Christmas I got her some cardstocks too. She was doing a page with our Real Red, and ran out of it, and ran to the craft store to pick up more red. She called me later and pleaded "help! Do you have any more of the Real Red on hand." I tried not to giggle at her. She couldn't believe how many shades of red there were at the store & none of them looked as nice as SU. Now she's convinced too that the SU! cardstock looks so good with the inks, and and has such a nice quality to it.
You can tell them and tell them, but the moment they finally figure it out for themselves is so gratifying!!
I only buy fibers, zyron refills and foam brushes from Michaels and thats only because I work for a newspaper and I can get all the free 40% off coupons I want and so its like getting the sale price everytime I go ... $4 for entire skeins... cheaper than the small amout in the SU fancy fibers and just as good. I'm glad I never have to pay full price for zyron refills.
Otherwise I don't shop there. The inks (with the exception of certain brands) is cheap and horrible and the stamps are overpriced and they have the same ones year after year.
Well, I never thought I would say this...because I am a bargain hunter ..........butttttttttttttttttttt I too am a SU snob. Oh say it ain't so. Was never going to buy their paper or pencils or markers since I could always get them CHEAP at Michaels. THAT IS until used their paper, pencils and markers in a stamp camp. I am now so snobbish I can't even stand myself :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
__________________ Our last name isn't Hilton and we don't have maid service - so clean up after yourself! ~Me~
I demo for Michael's in Raleigh, NC and it is so hard to come up with creative ideas using their stamp pads...I end up embossing everything and using Versamark! I never realized the difference until now, but it's killing me!! I teach stamping and scrapbooking and it's getting harder and harder! (and I just recently started!) Don't get me wrong, I love teaching and doing the classes, but not being able to use SU! is killing me!
I think I am in that same catagory... I compare everything to SU! Nothing beats it! Another SU Snob!
Our Hobby Lobby has someone come in and they Demo SU products... I haven't figured that one out yet, but they have samples hanging right by the entry doors. Will Michael's allow that??
I saw the title of your post and thought "oh no"! Now I'm ROTFL! I too am a SU Snob and darn proud of it!!! I once (notice the word once) bought Michael's paper and was sooooo disappointed in the quality (just above construction paper IMHO) that I never bought it again. Go SU!!
Totally not allowed, by Michael's and SU! We aren't allowed to demo SU! in competitor locations! I would think Hobby Lobby would fall into the category! I cannot talk about my SU! stuff at Michael's per their policy and SU!'s...I can only hand out my business card and they can contact me outside of the store....
Location: This must be heaven...there are stamps & scrapbooks EVERYWHERE!!!
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I am a SU Snob too!!! I frequent JoAnn's and AC Moore as well. Tonight, I met a lady in the stamping isle who commented on how cute she thought the Easter stamps were. I casually mentioned that they WERE cute, but would take her a long time to find coordinating stamps to make a great Easter project. I told her about SU and how strongly I felt about the products. She asked for my phone number and I offered to get her a catlog.
__________________ Noelle
"If God brings you TO it, He will bring you THROUGH it!"
OMG I am the biggest SU snob ever, and proud OF it, too! LOL
Matter of fact yesterday I did a workshop and was showing the markers... someone asked me about how long they lasted. After I said my piece, another lady says to the first one, "You know you can get these at the dollar store and they last a long time." My jaw is still hurting from hitting the floor!
__________________ Lisa There is a fine line between HOBBY and MENTAL ILLNESS http://thestampinabode.stampinup.net
I like their collage packs and patterned scrapbook paper, but hey, the store is an hour drive one way and I get to go there 3 times a year, no more...
I'm saving to be a demo so I can have the quality stuff delivered to my door :o) I love SU products!!!
__________________ Anna.
"Fearless is not the absence of fear. Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you." (Taylor Swift)
When I first started stamping I bought my white cardstock there, thinking that paper is paper. I'm so glad I have come to my senses--SU cardstock is the best regardless of what color it is! Sometimes I'll buy polyshrink there with a coupon, but I mostly avoid that section now. Count me in as a member of the SU snob squad!!
Count me in too! SU! Snob and proud of it. I buy a few things at Mikes, but mostly embellishments. The few times I've bought CS or ink I've been terribly disappointed. Suzanne
__________________ Suzanne
WAS hot shot executive. NOW Alexi's mom - PRICELESS!!
Location: Take off, eh? - to the great white north
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stampoholicsunanimous
I am a SU Snob too!!! I frequent JoAnn's and AC Moore as well. Tonight, I met a lady in the stamping isle who commented on how cute she thought the Easter stamps were. I casually mentioned that they WERE cute, but would take her a long time to find coordinating stamps to make a great Easter project. I told her about SU and how strongly I felt about the products. She asked for my phone number and I offered to get her a catlog.
:lol: :lol: Looks like I'll have to frequent the local Mike's to increase my customer base! :lol:
SU! snob checkin in! I buy only things that SU! doesn't sell. It's all about quality, quality, quality!
Question for the original poster: Do you *have* to use the crappy ink in your demonstrations, or can you use the ColorBox ink that Michael's sells? Same goes with the watercolor pencils - do you have to use the ones in the stamping/scrapbooking section, or can you use the ones from the art supplies aisle (like where the Prismacolor pencils are)? I'm just genuinely curious, I'm not trying to start up something. I've never had the opportunity to attend any of the classes offered at our local Michael's. Come to think of it, I don't know that they've ever had any stamping classes.
I like a lot of different stamp companies, but I love the inks and paper from SU. I love that they coordinate but also the quality. the paper is just smooth and lovely and the inks last a very long time.
I like the stamps, although of course not all of them. I don't like to limit myself to SU stamps, but lately I have. There are other companies with some more creative stamps, but I really like having examples to copy/alter and this site to get inspired!! I hope SU pays this site!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
Once you become a SU snob, it is hard to use anything else in my opinion =) I don't think I could go back to other things or generic stuff. I know wow we are such SU snobs
I think I am in that same catagory... I compare everything to SU! Nothing beats it! Another SU Snob!
Our Hobby Lobby has someone come in and they Demo SU products... I haven't figured that one out yet, but they have samples hanging right by the entry doors. Will Michael's allow that??
Oh Yeah! SU Snob and dang proud of it. (I too, immediately, oh no, someone was rude, how horrible, hehe ROFLMBO)
The "ONLY" thing I've purchased that I like better than SU is the Durwent Watercolor Pencils. They are really awesome, but I also had them before I really got into watercoloring so I don't feel too badly.
Of course, my 9yo DD gets to use their papers, etc., because I'm not a demo at the moment and she'll have to make due until I sign up again. Then, I'll really be in trouble because she won't get to just use the paper willy-nilly as she does now, will have to learn how to respect it and make the most of it. And, worst of all, she'll learn the quality of it and never want to go back.
But, that's ok, I've got a customer for life... well, until she's old enough to be her own demo, that is.
I have only been introduced to SU in the last month and a half and I am already in the snob ranks. Lord help me when I become a demonstator next month!
I am a snob too!! SU! paper is by far the best! If only they would make a textured paper...I would be in heaven. I too only by SU! and rarely go shopping at scrapbook stores. I LOVE SU!
Tina
__________________ StArT tHe DaY WiTh A sMiLe And GeT iT OVeR WiTh! *��)
�.�* ��.�*��) �.*�*�)
(�.�� (� ;.*TiNa .~*
"Demonstrators may find opportunities to teach stamping in their communities, either for free or for a fee. If the class is held in a competitive retail environment, such as a stamp or scrapbooking store, demonstrators may not use their Stampin’ Up! products in the class or take orders. If permitted to do so by the store, they may hand out Stampin’ Up! business cards so that interested students can contact them later if they wish."
Is that the right paragraph for dealing with Hobby Lobby demo-ing SU! stuff?
I'm also an SU! snob.
I'll buy fibers at Michael's, and if I see a neat punch in a stamping store, I might get it, or a very specialized stamp. SU! doesn't have much for St. Pat's Day, so sometimes I'll pick up a stamp for that. For general stamping, SU! has the best.
__________________ Kathy Wrose "Fun must be always." - Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks "It was fun." - Kirk, Star Trek: Generations
I don't know if I qualify as an SU snob, but will say that even being a newbie, I'm noticing a difference in cardstock (see Michelle, been listening, lol). I was making rushed birthday card with cardstock from a "generic" pack and the back of the card felt so flimsy! I also notice that I reach for my inkspots more than my generic pads (only use brown since I don't have all the colors yet).
Yes that was the part of the manual. I am not allowed to use any of my SU! stuff and that's the hardest part! :? I wonder how all these hobby lobby demos are allowed to do this?
I recently got a job a one of the above mentioned craft stores and was told I could have a stamp class if I would like. I'm also a Su demonstrator.
How do you try and sell products when you know they are inferior to SU's?
I haven't bought one stamp from there yet. The only thing I bought were some Kaleidacolor pads at half off. They are not the SU colors but I can use them for personal use. I'm a SU snob and proud of it!!!
Cheryl
Yes that was the part of the manual. I am not allowed to use any of my SU! stuff and that's the hardest part! :? I wonder how all these hobby lobby demos are allowed to do this?
Katie
They are not allowed. They are either ignorant and haven't bothered to check out this info to make sure they are in compliance, or they already know and are doing it anyway against policy, thinking no one will report it.
When I saw this happening in a Michael's store, I asked to speak to the manager. I said, "Hi, I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator (handed her my card) Stampin' Up! does not permit their images to be marketed in a retail store front, the demonstration of their products in a retail store front, NOR samples shown to draw participants for classes.
There are many demonstrators in this area and they shop your store! It is very likely they will see this violation and report it to Stampin' Up!'s legal department. Stampin' Up! takes this type of copyright law violation very seriously and will contact you. I'm just trying to save you some grief right now. And, if you wish to verify this information, you may contact Stampin' Up! directly at 1-800-Stampup." And, I write that number on the back of my card so they can call to verify--so they know I'm not just blowin' smoke.
The manager took my word for it and removed the displays immediately. And, the next time I stopped in, there were no SU! images on display for their stamping classes.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
SU snob
