WHA WHA WHAAAAA the first BAD mail bag

I am very careful to watch what I say or write when it comes to reviewing or feedback. I, also an online merchant with 2 stores know this can make or break you.....I have had not so great experiences but this I had to post.

I got a heartsy voucher from bodyluxe  I waited over a month to use it as I find sometimes that's better with the bath and body stuff..After all the rave reviews and the bragging about being in the emmy swag bag I though how could I lose. This is EASILY the most obvious case of sellers riding previous accolades EVER!

I ordered 2 healing organic balms, 1 perfume sample and a room spray....

The room spray is glorious I will admit, and I was sent a small sample of bath salts also but alas these items were purchased as a gift for a friends based on the packaging I thought it was a beautiful gift to give. 

Needless to say the only thing good were said salts and spray .

the 2 balms came in ugly little white tubs (standard nothing special)  not the clear jar with beautiful labels shown in pictures that include the ingredients....one had a simple label with the name, the other no label at all. I had to go thru all my purchases to find out....than the perfume sample isn't labeled either....the kicker is I was charged 8$ shipping and the actual cost was 3.28$. I don't know about other sellers but if I charge you 8$ for shipping and it's 3.28 I refund you 4$....I understand this is heartsy deal and it's kinda hard to do but a credit would have been nice!   it;s not even about the 4$ it's the point that I work as hard for my money as anyone else....

I ordered

I got

I will say when I spoke to the seller before the purchase she seemed to be great to deal with...had I known about the balms I would have ordered something else as these were gifts. To not even have the ingredients listed or a card included with it is not a good idea. I often don't have ingredients listed on my label but I always jot them down on a note card or paper and include it as people do have allergies. name labels are nice to simply so I can know what it is I ordered without having to go all thru my list of purchases.

I will say it all smells good, but please if your going to charge PREMIUM prices please do a PREMIUM job!

i'm sorry if this all seems harsh, I guess i'm growing tired of some sellers coasting thru while doing the minimal amount of effort needed while me and many sellers I know busting our butts to make sales with far better presentation, and effort put forth!

It feels bad to write something not nice about a company who likely did'nt see the problem in the first place....but it also feels pretty crappy to be on the receiving end of something I ordered that turned out to be not what I thought!

Share your thoughts!

MAIL CALL Bubbles and bugs!

bubbles and bugs is this sweet shop owner that seems to be able to find any fabric and make the cutest necktie tops. Some have suspenders...mine never do. I first came across her when looking for construction stuff for the boy... I got an amazing brown top with a dump truck tie.....

Well The boy is sooooooo into green eggs and ham....I figured i'd never find a thing. I spent hours searching etsy, ebay and so on...so I dropped bubbles and bugs a line and asked if she could help....within literally minutes she sent me back a sample...IT WAS PERFECT. With bubbles and bugs you can get a tshirt or long sleeve in an insane amount of colors...So I picked BRIGHT ORANGE (i think it looks great with blue jeans)  

Well today it arrived.... I don't have a picture but I will tonight....It's unreal  this is the necktie piece she cut for the top on a white top

There is no doubt in the world I will use this seller again. Infact I am thinking of doing shirts for all the kids in our family, as she has alomost everything kids love! I would reccomend this seller to ANYBODY and she can be found HERE   thanks Jaymee for everything!!!

A very good mail call indeed!

some sellers get it so right!!!!!  As still wait for some orders I ordered 4-6 weeks ago....(shakes head) I thought i'd share with you my delightful mail call today....it was a great way to end a weekend.



                                                                      Pixel Prince
I got a big pink and purple polkadot tube from the pixel prince.....I rarely even get gifts wrapped so nice! What a lovely suprise. I love buttons...pinback buttons...a quick quip of one's personality on a tiny button. I bought to many to post here but here's a few including a button made to a keychain. I also got a beautiful poster as well. It was shipped fast and carefully. Pixel prince can be found HERE

The Petite Package

Ok I have a serious  thing for packaging supplies, glassine bags, tags and all of the sort. If you've ever shopped with me there is no doubt that you have noticed this. So when The petite package offered  up an amazing deal I could'nt resist! I ended up asking for a custom listing that included some great stickers. a lovely package of supplies and it came fast, beautifully branded and I adore it. Seller was amazing in setting stuff up for me,,,double checking an error I made. I will no doubt be a customer of this store.

The petite package can be found HERE

I honestly wish I had more to share with you but I just don't.  I am guessing that most people are torn between their stores and back to school.   I know I have fallen slightly behind myself.. So to all you parents I wish you and your wee ones a great year of success. My son is going back to school...sr kindergarden  and even got his haircut despite mass disapproval!  I hope to have some better mailbag reviews soon,

PS we have ordered our christmas candle supplies!!! stay tuned, we also have alot more new items in the store including some vintage pyrex...flower earrings, and a great sale starting tommorow!  HUGE in fact!

Take care and check back often. We will soon be having a giveaway so get your friends, neighbours whoever as the more that play the more that will win!!

MAIL BAG - and EARLY haha I suprise myself sometimes!

Yep.....the CNE is in town....that means the end of the summer. It's 11 days until back to school..I lucked out and had a boy who hit that grows really slow stage this year so he needed nothing for school.....however that does'nt mean I did''nt but him stuff anyways!

I got some labels like these....  Honestly I do like the product but it took awhile to get proofs, and than tok longer to arrive. But the labels are fun, vibrant and very sticky. These were purchased  at The Lollipop Label Shop
 I would give this shot a second try though for sure as the fints, combo packs, and pictures are so cute.

This is not my sons name either but it's the site's photo.

I bought my furry son a nice gift!!! He's our 74 lb goldendoodle co-jack (long story)

We ran across The Fyber Stud thru Heartsy. A man crochet artist that is funny, patient, actually cares about what he sells, has amazing attention to detail and a shop worth spending a bit more for a great item. I read theu and just fell in love with this thinner crochet mat.

I'm really hopefull that the dog will hate it and it becomes mine...Thanks Rohn we will be back to shop with you  Click here for  TheFyberStud

more coming soon.....

Also we will soon be doing our first giveaway soon! 

I know it's been awhile. But i'll make it worth it

So summer is winding down.....am I the only mom counting th  days until the school bell rings? It seems my mom is right. She told me that this time of year the parents get as sick of the kids somedays as do the kids of the parents.

so lots to go on today!!!

NEWS
Sarah, the great girl that helps me when my shops get busy has opened her own store. I have never met someone so obsessed with paper in my life. Tissue paper, cardstock, wrapping paper  ANYTHING
http://www.pushinpaper.etsy.com/ is her shop. It's adorable and her work is amazing!

Mailbag

So I am starting to put things away for birthdays and christmas (7 birthdays from sept-jan plus christmas)

Jodiscraftemporium is truly one of my best shopping times ever. Anytime I ever shop here it's simple, and everything from transaction to product is perfect! I purchased this set for my mom

4 simple crocheted clothes for her kitchen. She has a romantic dreamy kitchen, and I know these will go beautifully. My mom is stating the value of shopping handmade. I have vowed to have a totally 100% handmade only holidays!   check out jodi's shop. you'll find so much stuff. And she's been known to do some custom work too.  I had a carpet made and thru various washes and being in the kitchen it still looks brand new. It honestly delights me everytime I see it. Click here for jodi's shop

Tulips treasures is a canadian seller. I found tulip thru bnr's and also heartsy. I found her shop FULL of great stuff. A mix of accessories, skin care and more I was delighted to find this Shea Lavender butter.

It is so simple in it's make up but glorious in it's smooth creamy perfection. It literally melts into your skin but the scent lingers forever it's amazing. I've been using it as after care for my new tattoos also and it's PERFECT! I aalso picked up some great hair clips and a cute pewter nest ring at this store too. How great to have such a mix of stuff in one place. Click here for tulips treasure

Piixwixcandleco is a shop I ran into thru BNR's on Etsy. I am a sucker for solid perfume...so when I found out I could buy 3 and get one free I was ready!!!! I picked wild cherry vanilla, lavender lemon, and nag champra  patchoulli. As my free one she did a custom nag champra. they arrived fast....really fast. In adorable metal slide tins they are the perfect size. They are highly fragrant but when applied they are not over powering at all.

This one was my fave....it's not a smell I would normally pick....it reminds me of cherry lifesavers  mmmmmm.  Find this great store here by clicking here

I will be adding more to this list this evening....but.... I have the whole house to myself....no son, hubby or dog....so i'm off to draw a long bath and make some food nobody else in the house likes|! 

Another week another mail bag call!

ahhhhh it's been such a great week!

hot, sticky but full of mail

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm   where to start 

first of all before I forget we have added to out bath line and candles line

I have come up with the best detox bath ever  only 3 ingerdients  essential oil 100% pure and blended (orange,grapefruit,lavender,black pepper but not in that order) Dead sea salt and french green clay....mmmmmmmmm it's so nice. and after you feel all sleepy, not just because of the lavender but the green clay draws so much out of your body in the way of impurities.

than I used the same relaxing sensual essential oils and started a pretty gray candle line of votives and melts, even some in flower shapes

 

So onto mail week!

I got my great as always package from http://www.etsy.com/shop/DragonflyExpression . She makes THE most beautiful paper flowers, the same ones I have used in my jewelry.... I got these

Than I got a package from http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkdottedowl full of yummy goodness  butterfly scrub soaps, twist up soaps, and lemmongrass fluff soap....great stuff and super shipping. her page is full of stuff!

I caved and bought a heartsy deal for a stitch of mine. http://www.etsy.com/shop/astitchofmine I love beautiful mats and runners for tables and I so quickly fell in love with  this beautiful neat blue and yellow table runner that is perfect in our house I just love it and it is sooooo well made

It's always a joyfull day when my orders arrive from PKSTUFF http://www.etsy.com/shop/PKStuff

She's awesome funny and way talented.. Everything is always made perfectly and she's even done some custom pieces for me

so I got

LOVE!!! and it fits in my organizer

well it seems I was self spoiled this week but it's still STILL because of the postal strike!   although it's been fun the last few weeks getting all my backlogged orders.

SO I guess it will soon be onto school shopping and starting to put xmas stuff away!

Well we'll catch up next week......hopefully sooner and it won't be so hot!!!!!  

feel free to share your thoughts, or if you've purchased from any of the shops in my blog ad your own opinions.....I love to hear from readers!

Be careful what you wish for when it comes to heartsy

So I finally made it to heartsy   whoopie


having tried so hard to get featured, I realize what a waste of time it was... One person at heartsy would tell me one thing while someone else told me another... Than I was told that a certain amount of vip vouchers are issued,,which is a total lie   you see they don't set aside anything. they ASSUME it's 20-30%   in my case try 27 out of 36 sold were vip's///Our heartsy feature ended up COSTING me over 50$... not to mention stocking up on supplies for packaging, extra items made, worying about keeping up and so on...

I'm thrilled that some customers got some great deals and I got to clear out my store,  but at what cost. At the end of it all I think I had 3 people spend more than their voucher.....many of the people who voted and encouraged me did'nt shop with me (which is fine too i'm just sayin)

But the lowest of the low is how some stores (perhaps thru no fault of their own) seem to get multi day extensions, or giveaway promos on their pages that help them sell out with no rhyme or reason, while others don't even hear about it. Being pressured into vip stuff with the line of "well let's try it this way and see what happens"- because of course the better the vip deal the more sign up's they get at my cost....MANY times thru the day I asked for help and all day I was told well, lets see what happens thruout the day and guess what  it's 930pm and nobody has done SQUAT. I was offered 4$ per vip voucher to offset the money I lost  but considering I only wanted to do an extra 5$ for vip's ...well we know what i;m getting at. What blew my mind was the lies about the amount of vouchers "set aside" for vip's, that there is no such thing....they just assume a percentage,,,,and then a situation like mine comes up and "oh I guess we were wrong"

The whole situation has rubbed me the wrong way. I was invited to resubmit, but considering all of this not only don't I want to submit again, Id rather forget heartsy all together. I would hate to think there may be other sellers in the same shoes...i'd rather pay full price and let a seller not feel lied to, degraded, and lose their creative spirit.   I almost considered closing my store....wondering if the problem was me....

I am so glad I met new people, got to get rid of alot, but I am very suprised at what being a heartsy feature REALLY meant.... But I guess I don't believe in rising to the top on the backs of others...

Heartsy serves a purpose....But it is NOTHING like what it appears....it is simply another walmart or costco.....corporate greed has now  found it's way into the handmade world....the one nice pure thing left.....

Be careful what you wish for......because you might get it.  If you still want to try for heartsy go ahead....who am I to stop you. Months ago I would have read this post and thought it was "the sellers" problem.... but having read about broken promises to people who had issues, lies told and believe me thie list will grow, i've decided i'd rather pay an items true worth.....than make an artist question their worth.

So to heartsy... Thanks for Nothing!!! (oh except lying, not offering all sellers the same chance, not caring that some of us donate to charity) I hope you got what you wanted out of it....I sure did'nt...