What has happened to our Customer Service ?

Wow! I've been away for three years ?!?

A lot has happened to me in that time, healthwise, emotionally you name it.

That is all on my other blog, so I will try an keep this one to jewelry making, ethics, etc.

Today I want to discuss how customer service affects our outlook on other companies, and in turn how we treat our customers,  reflects on us.

I have long been a customer of one bead seller online. I could always get what I wanted in bulk size packaging and was relatively happy. I had read a few complaints in a FaceBook group I participate in, but comtinued to defend this company.  Well, sadly as they have grown, their service is now suffering.

The company was originally Auntie's Beads, now it is Auntie's Beads Direct.
I began noticing last year, that each order always had a few items on back order. Normally not an issue for me, but I found I had to keep the invoice out and after a few weeks, send a friendly email asking when my item would be received. Now, mind you these items were still showing as in stock and ready to ship.

At one point, I sent a friendly email to one of the co-owners asking if there was an issue in the "backorder department" and stating why. I was assured they looked at the back orders daily. Somehow, I still felt I was being missed. You know that feeling.

It had been awhile since ordering and they were having a great "pre-order" sale. The term pre-order should have clued me in.  I placed two orders, only needing ONE item, Super Duos Pearl Shine White. I agreed to the pre-order shipping terms and thus began my wait.

I received one shipping notice with a tracking number. My package arrived and yes there were back ordered items ! Now if I order early and a company has weeks to get their inventory set, why is there a back order ?  And the Pearl Shine White was one of those items. Those I need for upcoming orders- and I stated that !

Now I have a plethora of emails between us. They say it was shipped and received. I sent them photos of EVERYTHING  that arrived along with the invoices - showing the White Pearl Shine Super Duos as being backordered. They still adamantly refuse to admit there could be an error, because the post office says it was delivered.  I received the other backordered items along with a duplicate order of a different color super duo, reflecting back, yes there was an error made on their part. Someone read that invoice backordered item incorrectly and sent me a duplicate of something I had already received and NOT what I was missing. I suggested this as a possible misread on their part, giving them a professional way out.. Nope.. "This is not on us !" was the response I received. Seriously ?!? you speak to a long time customer this way?

I was offered a shipping refund on the duplicate order AFTER I ship them back, not a refund so I can ship them (something I would automatically offer a customer of mine). I was also asked if I wanted a refund for the Pearl Shine White as they have NO idea when they can get more in !  Yet is shows available on their site at this time. The one item I needed and did not receive.

The end result ? I await the refund for the Pearl Shine White, because I will not ship back the duplicate beads until I receive it. I refuse to go through this mumbo jumbo again !

Moral to my story...
Treat your customers with the care and consideration you would love to receive. They will reward you with loyal repeat business.

I had no idea how long I've been away !

Goodness how time flies !
Well in all honesty, July and August were pretty much a blur for me. i was in and out of the hospital the entire time !  :(

I am now working with leather as well as my wire working, beading and chain maille.

Watch closely.....


There will be a New Years Day Giveaway on my FB Page starting tomorrow !!!  One day only !!!

I do hope many will share - with FaceBook making all those horrid changes trying to shut us little businesses out.. shame on them !

Happy stalking ! and Entering


Happy New Year to you all !

Guess My Size Giveaway !

I've been lapse in keeping up with my blog. I have two blogs, and *hangs head* sadly have neglected both.

Being away for such a lengthy time, I think my return should herald a giveaway !  Would you like that?
I think everyone loves a giveaway, especially if they win right?

So... here you have it ! This is a 11x8mm faceted Blue Goldstone with Swarovski crystal embellishment, wrapped in Copper Wire.

To enter:

The first person to guess the correct size will win this eye-catching beauty.

1.Comments must be posted under this blog post.

2.  You may only guess twice. Please no multiple guesses.

3."Anonymous " entries will cannot be accepted  (I have no way to contact you) 

4. I must be able to contact you, for a mailing address within 24 hours or the next person closest to the correct size will be the new winner.

I can always be contacted via my FaceBook page with any questions. Simply click on message and type away :)

Have fun ! Guess away  ♥

Organizing

I've spent the last few months organizing what I like to call my "Design Palace"
I figure if men can have a Man Cave we can have a Design Palace right?


That being said, I have discovered many goodies I had long forgotten about !  Oh my ! the items I found !

My local friends are enjoying this trek through time as they get the items I have chosen to toss out. They love the beads, old tools, wire, and even yes I found some shiny silver elastic.  Didn't we stop using that in the Dark Ages sometime ... lol

In my re-arranging I came across a case of jewelry making kits I had purchased when I was teaching jewelry making basics. There is a variety with each being slightly different from the others. I soon stopped teaching with them as I never seemed to have enough of a certain kit the EVERY student just had to make.

So here they sat.. Until now..
I will also be listing them for sale or you may contact me by posting a comment.


I digress...

I've chosen one of these kits to be my next giveaway ! And it is right here on my blog !

This is a Jewelry Basics kit from Cousin Corporation. It contians 81 pieces and enough to make the necklace, earrings and bracelet in the photos. There is also a detailed instruction booklet included.

I've made this particular set and really like it ! I've also used another one for the pieces. Who doesn't like all that romantic filigree metal ?

To enter:
1. Simply post a comment below this blog post.  **Please NO anonymous  posts, I can't find you if you're anonymous**

2. Check back on Monday  March 17, 2104 for the winner announcement.

3. You will have 24 hours to contact me and claim your prize or a redraw will be done.

4. You are not required to share this on FaceBook, Google +, Pinterest, Picsity or other social media sites, but it would make my day if you did !  I am on all the above media sites and it makes me smile to see a giveaway in my NewsFeed....

Good luck and don't forget to post a comment !!

30 Day Challenge Day 3

  We all know I will never be able to complete 30 days of jewelry challenges right?  Well, in all honesty I only saw the email from Fusion Beads on Saturday so I was already 2 days late. March 2md called for having a Beading Party, and since it was the 2nd - too late !

I chose to work on day 3.  Make a bracelet with matching earrings.. Easy Peasy right ?
Well, these are the items I chose:

So I started with Silver Fill Wire and Vintage Faceted Swarovski Crystals in Montana Blue.  I think that Silver brings out the shades of Blue perfectly. Though I will admit to loving Gold too !

First thought- earrings ? Not a big issue. But then I remembered I need to have 3 matching crystals. Whoa ! I need a bigger table !

I cleaned and cut my wire and set it beside each crystal as I cut.. Ideas forming in my mind. I settled on an elegant look. As I worked I realized these needed more sparkle. I added a few Swarovski Bicones in Metallic Blue and Bermuda Blue and one Crystal AB.

Now the fun part:

The earrings came out beautifully

 Here is the matching bracelet with a bit more bling at the top.

And here is the completed set !

Anastasia in all her beauty will be listed today in my Etsy shop

I enjoyed the challenge immensely ! I even used those faceted crystals I've been looking at for over a year now.. So maybe I also completed another of the daily challenges too :)

If you want a challenge and bit of fun  join the challenge- you'll unleash your creative muse from the winter doldrums !!

 

Copper In Jewelry

I've been away for the holidays , camping in the Florida Keys and have found something unique about my copper thumb ring.

My ring is made completely of wire and braided. While at home, I wear it daily.  So it gets washed continually throughout the day when I wash my hands. I marveled at how it has remained so shiny and untarnished.  It is oxidized and sealed; but after all this time, one would think I'd have to clear the tarnish at some point.

Here it has sat on the table for a few days.
I picked it up this morning to find the beautiful rosy color has darkened.

I decided to wear it anyway. To my surprise with each hand washing, the pretty rose color is returning! Only using Dawn dish detergent or soft soap and water.

I am excited to experiment further.  I normally advise removing rings when washing, cooking , etc but with Copper tgis may not be necessary.

More to follow as I experiment.

Sharing Handmade

As many of my fellow Artisans know, our handmade products are slowly being copied and mass produced.
Our hard work and passion is being, re-created into a lesser quality for a lesser price.

That being said I am hoping you will join me in spreading our Handmade beautiful works of art. Whether you create Flower Arrangements, Jewelry, Paintings, Baskets,Crochet, Knit, Sew or the many others ways he share our love, please help share it with the Global world.

I hope this doesn't end with only the Christmas season, but continues on indefinitely. I will certainly continue to do my part !  All I ask is that we take a few moments every few days and "share" anothers work.
Simple, easy and we all band together as one, showing our passion and quality for each others business.

I will be placing a similar posting such as this on my FaceBook Business Page in the notes section. I am asking any Artisan who would like to participate to post a  *valid* (please check it for us) to your business page.  I am also asking that they please share others work as well. This can be on your personal profile, blog, and Twitter. When sharing please include a link to that particular item, hopefully it can create a sale !
And the same will be done for you also.

Please use the hashtag  #ArtisanSharingArtisan    maybe we can take this further than even I hope ! Let's sprad the handmade movement and help each other  !

I will be sharing links on my FaceBook Profile, and Tweeting that same link each time I share. I've been doing this for a few weeks now and it makes me feel really good inside, helping a fellow passionate artist be seen by my friends and on Twitter !

I can be found at Twitter here 

If you would like to join me- remember to post your links here, I'll check back regularly.
And/or on my Business Page on FaceBook !