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Post by Lori McMud on Feb 21, 2016 4:15:19 GMT
The first time I went (2 years ago), it was a cluster @@@@. Last year they had a different checkout process. You gave your product to a clerk and they gave you a number. They tallied the product total and called your number when it was ready. I also did not go until Friday night, so there really were not any lines.
This year will be interesting.
Lori
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Post by catseatcheese on Feb 21, 2016 10:12:45 GMT
Hmmm...well, it does make me a bit sad as I like their products. I have a big stash of their papers and some embellishments/stickers. I sometimes wonder if one or two people on glass door make "fake accounts" to hurt a reputation.
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 21, 2016 14:23:18 GMT
I agree the lines can be long, but I haven't found it to be that much hassle. I think most people were very friendly, understanding it's crowded.
I saw one customer last year that was really rude about the checkout process. I just can't understand getting that upset over buying scrapbook supplies none of us probably need. It's not like we are fighting over the last loaf of bread!
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Deleted
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May 7, 2024 20:40:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 14:49:49 GMT
So I'm a little confused. I have always thought that it was a married couple who did everything and that's why it always took so long to get anything produced. And I was also under the impression that they manufactured and packaged their own product. Now, in the beginning, when they produced several lines a year and were mostly on time, I am sure it took a number of employees to help do the work, perhaps outside of designing. But - and it's a huge BUT - they haven't produced much of anything for years now so what did the employees have to do? Why would they even need employees? So strange! I always thought there was something weird going on there and now we know there definitely is/was. I don't think I want to buy any more of their product. I've never knew about the people who worked at OA, or how many employees they had there, so I can't answer any of that. I only learned of them maybe three years ago, and have for the longest been hunting down past collections. I had always heard how slow they were to get collections out, or not to count on what they told you (now we know why), but never did I hear anything bad about the owners, which I'm surprised about. It does make you wonder why they needed employees when they haven't produced much in the last few years. I'm still shocked at those reviews though. angee - Is there something specific you're looking for, or a specific collection? Full collections, or partial? I'd be happy to look thru what I have. I really don't know what, or how many, collections I have, but I can tell you I have their label stickers coming out the ying yang.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 21, 2016 15:00:49 GMT
The first time I went (2 years ago), it was a cluster @@@@. Last year they had a different checkout process. You gave your product to a clerk and they gave you a number. They tallied the product total and called your number when it was ready. I also did not go until Friday night, so there really were not any lines. This year will be interesting. Lori I missed the last one because the timing was bad for me to get over there without my kid, so at least they're trying something different. That narrow hallway made me claustrophobic and I don't normally have those issues!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 21, 2016 15:06:52 GMT
Hmmm...well, it does make me a bit sad as I like their products. I have a big stash of their papers and some embellishments/stickers. I sometimes wonder if one or two people on glass door make "fake accounts" to hurt a reputation. I question the reports on glass door because it seemed to me that those were the exact same reports that were on there a few years ago but the dates on them are now newer. I haven't looked on there in at least 2-3 years but the dates on those comments are now listed as being from 2014-2015 instead of 2012-2013. Weird.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 21, 2016 15:12:17 GMT
I agree the lines can be long, but I haven't found it to be that much hassle. I think most people were very friendly, understanding it's crowded. I saw one customer last year that was really rude about the checkout process. I just can't understand getting that upset over buying scrapbook supplies none of us probably need. It's not like we are fighting over the last loaf of bread! Ha ha, I think my DH's severe dislike of crowds is rubbing off on me after all these years! Any time there are that many people in a small space, I get a little twitchy these days. Maybe they will be utilizing the former Paper Made space for the upcoming sale. When the store closed they mentioned something about using the classroom for future crops, etc.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 20:40:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 15:21:47 GMT
That store wasn't open very long, was it?
How was it run? I remember wondering if they were going to sell only OA, or other manufacturers, etc.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 21, 2016 23:32:15 GMT
@devildog It wasn't open long at all. It was nicely done, I think some of the fixtures came from the closed Archiver's stores. It wasn't just OA. They had stuff from other manus too, a lot of American Crafts brands, Tim Holtz/Ranger, Echo Park/Carta Bella, Doodlebug, Sizzix dies, adhesives and mixed media stuff, rubber stamps from a few companies and a ton of cardstock. Their closing sale and final weekend of business was terribly timed for me (3rd weekend in Dec., right before Christmas) and there was no way I could get over there without taking DD with me and with everything else we had going on.
I could tell pretty early on that they were swirling the drain because they cut their hours to just Fridays and Saturdays not very long after they opened, which meant they weren't getting enough business during the week to justify being open. Personally, I don't think it was a very good location for a scrap store being buried in the middle of an office park on the far southern edge of the metro. If they would have been more centrally located I'm sure it would have been much easier for more people to get there more often, but I'm sure it was to take advantage of the space near their warehouse. I was 45 minutes away one way, so getting over there for anything would easily mean being gone 3-4 hours. I just don't have that kind of time, and I'm sure I wasn't alone there.
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 22, 2016 14:19:10 GMT
I could tell pretty early on that they were swirling the drain because they cut their hours to just Fridays and Saturdays not very long after they opened, which meant they weren't getting enough business during the week to justify being open. Personally, I don't think it was a very good location for a scrap store being buried in the middle of an office park on the far southern edge of the metro. If they would have been more centrally located I'm sure it would have been much easier for more people to get there more often, but I'm sure it was to take advantage of the space near their warehouse. I was 45 minutes away one way, so getting over there for anything would easily mean being gone 3-4 hours. I just don't have that kind of time, and I'm sure I wasn't alone there. I agree - the location was really bad. I am also 45 minutes away in the north metro. It was buried in an industrial park that I have to map on my phone every time I go there.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 22, 2016 14:36:57 GMT
I give them props for trying, but anytime you're talking about retail you have to do what suits your *customers* best and not what suits you best, including location, hours, inventory carried, staffing, everything. If it's not easy and convenient for your customers (especially when those target customers are busy --probably working-- women with limited free time to shop) they aren't going to go out of their way to do business with you. That's just reality. At least that was MY reality, both as a shop owner and as a customer.
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Post by danimakesgood on Feb 22, 2016 20:18:55 GMT
Someone please correct me here - did October Afternoon have a kit club or do a monthly subscription before they started producing their lines or at the same time?
Or was there was another kit club called October Afternoon that didn't last very long?
I feel like I have memory of once purchasing from a kit club called October Afternoon, like fall of 2007.
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Post by impearia on Feb 23, 2016 23:34:48 GMT
Hmmm...well, it does make me a bit sad as I like their products. I have a big stash of their papers and some embellishments/stickers. I sometimes wonder if one or two people on glass door make "fake accounts" to hurt a reputation. I question the reports on glass door because it seemed to me that those were the exact same reports that were on there a few years ago but the dates on them are now newer. I haven't looked on there in at least 2-3 years but the dates on those comments are now listed as being from 2014-2015 instead of 2012-2013. Weird. I think it seems somewhat suspect too. There has always been a few people full of vitrol for OA for whatever reason. And the problem with the internet is it is far too easy for people to set up whatever account and post what they like regardless of veracity. Since I do not know both sides I can't be sure the claims are valid at all.
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Post by Skellinton on Feb 24, 2016 3:56:01 GMT
Someone please correct me here - did October Afternoon have a kit club or do a monthly subscription before they started producing their lines or at the same time? Or was there was another kit club called October Afternoon that didn't last very long? I feel like I have memory of once purchasing from a kit club called October Afternoon, like fall of 2007. They did start out as a kit club.
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Post by Skellinton on Feb 24, 2016 4:01:35 GMT
I too wonder about the complaints, they all seem to be written in a similar style, I think at least some of them where written by the same person.
If OA needs an influx of cash, they should rerelease some of their older designs. I would buy the tar out of their Detours, Hometown, Weathervane, Night Light, and Rocket Age lines. Seriously, I bet they would sell like hot cakes.
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Post by DinCA on Feb 24, 2016 4:26:53 GMT
I too wonder about the complaints, they all seem to be written in a similar style, I think at least some of them where written by the same person. If OA needs an influx of cash, they should rerelease some of their older designs. I would buy the tar out of their Detours, Hometown, Weathervane, Night Light, and Rocket Age lines. Seriously, I bet they would sell like hot cakes. And maybe they could expand those lines, too. There are lots of new people to the hobby who've never seen those collections. I agree that the complaints do seem a bit similar so maybe it's just a couple of disgruntled employees. But - and it's a huge but - this isn't the first time we've heard these complaints so I tend to think there's some truth in them. Add the continuing complaints to the production problems they are notorious for and what you end up with is a bad reputation.
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scrappyesq
Pearl Clutcher
You have always been a part of the heist. You're only mad now because you don't like your cut.
Posts: 4,029
Jun 26, 2014 19:29:07 GMT
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Post by scrappyesq on Feb 24, 2016 21:09:53 GMT
I too wonder about the complaints, they all seem to be written in a similar style, I think at least some of them where written by the same person. If OA needs an influx of cash, they should rerelease some of their older designs. I would buy the tar out of their Detours, Hometown, Weathervane, Night Light, and Rocket Age lines. Seriously, I bet they would sell like hot cakes.
We would be arm wrestling over Detours. Man, I loved that line.
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,313
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Feb 24, 2016 23:57:56 GMT
Despite few releases, the blog remained a constant source of new inspiration. Given only one blog post exists since the new year, I also fear it's the end of production for OA. I've always maintained that OA could not possibly be the owners' only source of income, rather a side business. Perhaps their poor management detailed in those complaints has finally caught up with them. Glad that I purchased all the OA on my wish list (& more) over the years...
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Feb 25, 2016 2:08:15 GMT
Despite few releases, the blog remained a constant source of new inspiration. Given only one blog post exists since the new year, I also fear it's the end of production for OA. I've always maintained that OA could not possibly be the owners' only source of income, rather a side business. Perhaps their poor management detailed in those complaints has finally caught up with them. Glad that I purchased all the OA on my wish list (& more) over the years... If they are done, I'm really going to kick myself for not getting at least one Santa Sack last year.
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Post by danimakesgood on Feb 26, 2016 5:04:48 GMT
Someone please correct me here - did October Afternoon have a kit club or do a monthly subscription before they started producing their lines or at the same time? Or was there was another kit club called October Afternoon that didn't last very long? I feel like I have memory of once purchasing from a kit club called October Afternoon, like fall of 2007. They did start out as a kit club. Ok, phew, not crazy. I didn't want to add my negative feedback if it wasn't for the right place. I remember purchasing a kit, just one, and having an issue. I think something wasn't included as promised, or something. Anyways, the customer service was awful and rude right out of the gate, they were clearly responsible for nothing and it escalated into quite a bad situation when it didn't even need to. I was completely disgusted with how they handled themselves. Seeing the feedback that I have lately, I'm so not surprised.
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novembermorning
One Post Wonder
Posts: 1
Location: Minnesota
Feb 29, 2016 18:32:51 GMT
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Post by novembermorning on Feb 29, 2016 21:27:07 GMT
I question the reports on glass door because it seemed to me that those were the exact same reports that were on there a few years ago but the dates on them are now newer. I haven't looked on there in at least 2-3 years but the dates on those comments are now listed as being from 2014-2015 instead of 2012-2013. Weird. I think it seems somewhat suspect too. There has always been a few people full of vitrol for OA for whatever reason. And the problem with the internet is it is far too easy for people to set up whatever account and post what they like regardless of veracity. Since I do not know both sides I can't be sure the claims are valid at all. I just set up this account, you're welcome to question my veracity... but take it from somebody who witnessed the toilet paper meeting (and I didn't even write that review!): - It's not just a few people that are full of vitriol towards OA.
- It is so, so deserved.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 1, 2016 1:04:12 GMT
I think it seems somewhat suspect too. There has always been a few people full of vitrol for OA for whatever reason. And the problem with the internet is it is far too easy for people to set up whatever account and post what they like regardless of veracity. Since I do not know both sides I can't be sure the claims are valid at all. I just set up this account, you're welcome to question my veracity... but take it from somebody who witnessed the toilet paper meeting (and I didn't even write that review!): - It's not just a few people that are full of vitriol towards OA.
- It is so, so deserved.
I was just noting in my post that Impearia quoted that it was odd that the reviews themselves didn't change, but the dates on glass door seemed to. That is all, carry on.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 20:40:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 3:00:00 GMT
peatlejuice! peateljuice! peatlejuice!
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oaksong
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,164
Location: LA Suburbia
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Mar 2, 2016 3:31:06 GMT
peatlejuice! peateljuice! peatlejuice! November Morning.... good one!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 3, 2016 2:28:09 GMT
Did anyone go to the warehouse sale today? I had hoped to go but it was from 12-7 and I live too far away to get over there, shop and get back home before needing to get DD from the schoolbus. Couldn't go after that because we had something else going on tonight. Pretty sure I can't go tomorrow either. Bummer.
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Post by marykate on Mar 15, 2016 4:24:35 GMT
Does anyone else recall that brief moment when Webster's Pages announced an exciting new partnership with October Afternoon, and then the whole thing fell apart because OA couldn't deliver its product on time (or maybe couldn't deliver its product at all)?
That OA was (yes, past tense: I think they're finished, and have been finished for some time) very poorly managed was always pretty clear. However, I had no idea they treated their employees so shabbily. Not good. And not exactly a winning blueprint for a successful commercial venture.
That said, OA is probably my all-time favourite scrapbook company when it comes to its (always, always late -- not a week or two, and often not just a month or two, but sometimes even a year or two, late!) product lines. I mostly digi-scrap, but October Afternoon was (yes, past tense) always the paper stuff that I absolutely had to buy. They just really hit that sweet spot between vintage inspiration and contemporary application. I treasure my OA stash, the more so as I don't expect to see another kit from them, ever again.
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Post by mikklynn on Mar 15, 2016 17:34:19 GMT
Oh yes, they had a big announcement, then nothing.
Sadly, I think they are done, too. They haven't announced a new line in forever.
They had tons of old stuff left at the warehouse sale. I can't understand how after year after year of warehouse sales they still had stuff left.
Luckily, I have a lifetime supply of OA.
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Post by impearia on Mar 15, 2016 23:30:53 GMT
Does anyone else recall that brief moment when Webster's Pages announced an exciting new partnership with October Afternoon, and then the whole thing fell apart because OA couldn't deliver its product on time (or maybe couldn't deliver its product at all)? That OA was (yes, past tense: I think they're finished, and have been finished for some time) very poorly managed was always pretty clear. However, I had no idea they treated their employees so shabbily. Not good. And not exactly a winning blueprint for a successful commercial venture. That said, OA is probably my all-time favourite scrapbook company when it comes to its (always, always late -- not a week or two, and often not just a month or two, but sometimes even a year or two, late!) product lines. I mostly digi-scrap, but October Afternoon was (yes, past tense) always the paper stuff that I absolutely had to buy. They just really hit that sweet spot between vintage inspiration and contemporary application. I treasure my OA stash, the more so as I don't expect to see another kit from them, ever again. I do remember this, but I heard different versions of the story including that OA cancelled the partnership because of something on Webster's Pages end...CS issues or distribution issues or something? Who knows. We will probably never know. Webster's Pages has had a poorish track record lately of delivering things on time, funnily enough. I seriously hope OA is not done as they are my favourite SB company still in existence. RIP Sassafras! I am only worried because they aren't updating their blog. They bring lines out when and if they feel like it, it seems. And that could be at anytime...if it weren't for the terrible blog silence. Even though my OA stash is bordering on obscene I would still buy a warehouse box if they had one, haha.
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kima
New Member
Posts: 2
Mar 22, 2016 4:38:40 GMT
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Post by kima on Mar 22, 2016 4:51:36 GMT
They're not doing well, and could very well be going bankrupt. Their house was in foreclosure a couple years ago, and it looks like October afternoon is no longer active. Opened an account to let everyone know.
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kima
New Member
Posts: 2
Mar 22, 2016 4:38:40 GMT
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Post by kima on Mar 22, 2016 5:30:59 GMT
It also looks like their LLC was revoked in June of last year.
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