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Post by cmpeter on May 20, 2023 14:36:36 GMT
I manage a few e-commerce sites. Not craft related (gift cards). On one we offer gift boxes. Production times for the boxes (produced in China) is 8-10 weeks). Shipping by container ship is another 10-12 weeks. If we want to create a new design it’s another 8 weeks on average (design, approvals, tweaks and prototypes). It’s definitely not quick. We start working on our new holiday designs in March each year.
Shipping is definitely costlier. Last year we raised our FedEx costs by $1.00 after 4 years of no price increases. We are looking at doing the same for this year. We do not pad our shipping, but use breakeven pricing. We don’t use UPS. FedEx is $9.95 for 2 day and $16.95 for 1 day.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on May 20, 2023 15:58:04 GMT
It occurs to me that I have been a sucker for much of this. When I read folks talking about how they can resist because they have plenty, I guess I'm vulnerable because having been out of the hobby for a decade or two, I felt like I had nothing. I think I am learning to resist the sales and coupons a little more… I am still vulnerable to the clearance sale savings. I like to think that because I've been out of the hobby, things that are old hat or boring to other and/or that my taste is somewhat outside the mainstream. I realize it could also be that these things are on clearance because they're just not good. I try to read reviews…Mostly I think I've done ok with clearance shopping. A few things I've bought really just to see what something was like -- I did that with one of the older Spellbinders subscription card kits. I knew it was on clearance because it hadn't been a popular one, but I figured it would be representative of the sorts of things they put into these kits (and then imagine it without the stamp and die sets to get an idea of the new quick card kit). I find it interesting that Altenew was bragging about their generous discounts during their retreat, but they weren't all that… But I LOVE their weekly sales, if you can stay disciplined, know exactly what you want, and wait for it to show up deeply discounted. I think it is totally understandable that you had to build up a stash after being out of the hobby for so long, and it helps that your DH is supportive. Mine is, too. Otherwise, my stash would probably be quite a bit smaller. My opinion is that things go on clearance mostly because the style isn’t popular or trendy, or because it was popular, and the company overbought because they overestimated what the demand would be. I buy what I like, regardless of the trends, and if I get them for a hefty discount, all the better. However, every time I organize, I realize that some of the things I bought on impulse because they seemed a great deal were not the great deal that I thought they were, because I have trouble using them. I am definitely better than I used to be. I think a lot more carefully now about the impulse buys, and I have to truly like something and be confident that I will use it. If I am on the fence, or not sure, I remind myself: “I have enough.” That has actually helped me walk away from many unnecessary purchases for the past six months. But not always.  |
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Post by MichyM on May 20, 2023 17:17:30 GMT
I manage a few e-commerce sites. Not craft related (gift cards). On one we offer gift boxes. Production times for the boxes (produced in China) is 8-10 weeks). Shipping by container ship is another 10-12 weeks. If we want to create a new design it’s another 8 weeks on average (design, approvals, tweaks and prototypes). It’s definitely not quick. We start working on our new holiday designs in March each year. Shipping is definitely costlier. Last year we raised our FedEx costs by $1.00 after 4 years of no price increases. We are looking at doing the same for this year. We do not pad our shipping, but use breakeven pricing. We don’t use UPS. FedEx is $9.95 for 2 day and $16.95 for 1 day. 100% this. I do want to clarify why the 10-12 weeks shipping. Obviously it does not take that long to cross the ocean. Unless one has enough goods to fill an entire container oneself, the container sits in port until it is completely filled with goods. Plus there is the time in port at the other end. Often the containers on a ship will be offloaded and sit in port for some time (think of the time during the worst of the pandemic when there were few employees to offload ships, thus adding to the supply shortage) before they clear customs, etc... |
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Post by don on May 20, 2023 17:30:20 GMT
I have no LSS and few conventions near me, but I plan to go to the closest one which will be held in late September. I've never been to one and until you started talking about going, don , I didn't know anything about them. I hope you are able to go, and have a great experience. |
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Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Shakti on May 20, 2023 17:59:46 GMT
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Post by marg on May 20, 2023 18:47:42 GMT
marg I was reading your comments on the TE Quads thread and agree with you about the artificially limited supply. I think it can work well to some degree, encouraging/forcing people to subscribe or order immediately, but I think it can put people off (like me). I also think it can result in people buying extras to sell at inflated prices on eBay knowing that there's a demand for them, partly because resellers were crowding out legitimate customers at checkout  Yeah, the artificial shortages turn me right off. With Papertrey Ink it was every single monthly release for years. I stopped buying from there. I do genuinely feel bad for companies that underestimated how popular something would be - missing out on those sales and having people complain about it must suck so much! I am definitely a sucker for free shipping. I will almost always make sure my order meets the free shipping threshold. I'd rather buy once a year from a place in order to get free shipping than several smaller orders throughout the year. I don't like Scrapbook.com's way of doing sales, either - several people on here have mentioned this. Having weekly sales on different categories just isn't exciting to me and I never bite. I also don't care for value added promotions like scrapbook.com always does. The only exception would be is if I see something that I just fall in love with, like TE had a layering stencil that was just gorgeous for free with a $100 order a few months ago. That alone won't make me purchase, but if I was thinking about it anyway it will tip me over the edge. I don't get FOMO for new releases anymore, because in most cases I can buy the stuff later if I still want it, and I hate a frenzy, but I do have a new FOMO - for events!! I'm now struggling with not signing up for every virtual event that comes along. I had decided only to do Crop and Create from now on, but that flew out the window with the announcement of PinkFresh and The Stamp Market collaborating. No way do I want to miss that. I had then decided to do only the C&C Holiday event and not the scrapbooking one, because it's cheaper, but now I'm thinking of all the great new scrapbooking products that I'll be missing out on. It's a real problem! I do usually do all of the projects, but there are a few I'm behind on because of unexpected things that came up on the weekend of the event (like someone getting sick in my family, etc). I do have major impulse issues because I have ADHD so one way I combat impulse shopping is to put whatever I'm thinking of buying into a cart at scrapbook.com or SSS or even just wishlisting them, and then closing my tab and just thinking about it for a few days. Often the impulse will pass and I can do without it. Sometimes, though, the impulse just builds and I can't get it off of my mind and after a week or two I'll complete my purchase. This works especially well when an unexpected sale pops up - I already have my cart ready to go. I love it when a website saves carts. Amazon is genius for this. Oh, and design teams are everything - I have completely changed my mind on an item solely because of the design team's work. edited to add: The Stamp Market drives me crazy because they only have 2 designers working with them, and these were only added recently. They need to up their marketing game, imo. |
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on May 20, 2023 22:05:24 GMT
I don't get FOMO for new releases anymore, because in most cases I can buy the stuff later if I still want it, and I hate a frenzy, but I do have a new FOMO - for events!! I'm now struggling with not signing up for every virtual event that comes along. I had decided only to do Crop and Create from now on, but that flew out the window with the announcement of PinkFresh and The Stamp Market collaborating. No way do I want to miss that. I had then decided to do only the C&C Holiday event and not the scrapbooking one, because it's cheaper, but now I'm thinking of all the great new scrapbooking products that I'll be missing out on. It's a real problem! I do usually do all of the projects, but there are a few I'm behind on because of unexpected things that came up on the weekend of the event (like someone getting sick in my family, etc). This is me too. I like doing virtual events and that's where the bulk of my spending goes now. Stamp and die sets are expensive and I need to get back to my criteria of "need to use 70% of the stamps in the set and have at least 3 card ideas ready to go" before buying or wait until it's on sale. |
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Post by craftmepink on May 21, 2023 2:46:12 GMT
Definitely have FOMO towards all these cardmaking events too! I don't know why I didn't notice they had these events until recently. But now I have to sign up for every one of them.
Actually, I am most influenced on products from other 2peas. So, I guess our fellow 2peas folks does a good job at marketing for companies without getting paid, at least for me.
I never even heard about Pinkfresh Studio till someone mentioned their grab box last year. And now, I'm obsessed with their products. I never really thought about ink stenciling till someone mentioned it here. And I hadn't heard about Concord and 9th until I saw someone post about it.
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Post by marg on May 21, 2023 11:57:31 GMT
Actually, I am most influenced on products from other 2peas. So, I guess our fellow 2peas folks does a good job at marketing for companies without getting paid, at least for me. I never even heard about Pinkfresh Studio till someone mentioned their grab box last year. And now, I'm obsessed with their products. I never really thought about ink stenciling till someone mentioned it here. And I hadn't heard about Concord and 9th until I saw someone post about it. That's a good point. I put a lot of weight into word-of-mouth recommendations, and I also use this site to find new trends and companies. It's also great that we can warn each other about terrible service and products, too. |
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Post by twillerbee on May 21, 2023 13:10:14 GMT
Shipping is so expensive now and it has an upward trend specially after covid. I appreciate free shipping and try to shop from places which offers free shipping. But if I really like something then I do not mind paying for it. Shipping costs are hitting hard to small businesses more I think. They are not able to absorb shipping costs like before.
I enjoy collaborations style of marketing in crafting industry. I like mixing products from different companies as long as their design esthetics are in same line. It can also be a huge turn off for me if the companies collaborating have completely different styes. This means half the products that I will receive is not going to be used. I am more mindful about this now. I felt this more specially during SCT events.
A lot of inspiration by a design team is so appreciated. It gives me so many ideas to use products I buy.
I hate seeing bundles. Most companies offer all the products which co-ordinate together as a bundle. The OCD in me kicks in and want a bundle when I see that. I am getting better at not buying bundles anymore. I prefer separate products so I can choose what I will actually use and only buy that.
I don't like subscription kits. That's a complete gamble in my opinion and I am not comfortable buying it unseen anymore. You can cancel your monthly kits by notifying a few companies in advance but I always forget it so no more subscriptions for me.
I love virtual events. Crafting virtually is so good and no traveling needed. Traveling to some place for a crafty event is a huge expense and now I can save it and spend it on more crafty goodies.
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Post by papersilly on May 24, 2023 18:22:02 GMT
shipping is now the dealmaker or dealbreaker for me.
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Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
Troubled, complicated, and constant
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Post by Shakti on May 25, 2023 11:00:52 GMT
So, the remote events with products was something I resisted for a long time. Really remote events requiring FB is what I resisted -- including HA Stamp Alongs, which don't include product. I was doing quarterly remote SU events without a FB requirement or a product bundle.
Then someone here suggested I try FB again with a very bare-bones personal-informationless account so that I could participate in either a Stamp Along or C&CD -- I forget which one was the gateway drug. But it was a gateway drug for sure. I signed up for ALL THE THINGS!
I can see why these are savvy marketing for the companies involved. I can see how they can be a good way for a crafter to try new things and be exposed to new companies, particularly C&CD.
I think joblackford mentioned in some thread at some point that these events pulled her away from pursuing her own interests and I'm finding that as well. Although I am very quickly learning what styles attract me and what techniques I enjoy, where those two things intersect, and where they are at odds.
But right now, I'm looking at a three-day weekend and torn between getting more C&CD or Altenew retreat classes finished and put away vs. doing just about any other crafting thing.
And my box for C&9th Summer Camp is on its way. But I know that will have a turnabout stamp and jig, and that will be new to me and I've had that on my list to try for almost a year now.
I still have some interest in the Pinkfresh/Stamp Market holiday event. Registration starts the week after summer camp, so that's nice timing -- I'll see how burned out I'm feeling by then!
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