kaybree
Full Member
Posts: 248
Jul 23, 2015 10:38:23 GMT
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Post by kaybree on Aug 12, 2015 2:23:43 GMT
Okay, ladies, I need to vent. Last week they post a really decent unboxing video and get praised up the wahzoo. Today, the new CS experience manager is asking for self-nominations for DIY videographers to start making the unboxing videos for SC? WTH is going on there. This seems so counter-intuitive and downright stupid if you ask me. I just don't get it. If they don't have time to do things like that themselves, don't parcel it out the equally untrained and inexperienced. These videos should be top-quality to encourage sales and subscriptions. This doesn't not seem like a positive way to drum up business and retain disgruntled customers. No offence, but I really don't care what people think of an embellie or plan to do with it when I watch an unboxing video. Show me the product and let me decide what I like and how I'll use it, please and thank-you. Thanks for listening (and not locking me down.) LOL I don't have a dog in this fight but, I do think there are some non-professional you-tubers who do better up boxing videos than some of the videos I've seen from the SC design team. Not that what I've seen is bad from the DT but sometimes the true customers are a bit more enthusiastic. I'm not sure they can get that my asking for it on a MB though...seems like it has to be authentic to really work! I also prefer the member gallery at SC over the DT gallery for the same reason. SC to English translation: "Who wants a free kit in exchange for blowing smoke up our asses and telling the world how effing great we are?" And the cheerleaders scream "MEMEMEMEMEMEPICKME!!!" |
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Post by abr79 on Aug 12, 2015 12:57:14 GMT
Okay, ladies, I need to vent. Last week they post a really decent unboxing video and get praised up the wahzoo. Today, the new CS experience manager is asking for self-nominations for DIY videographers to start making the unboxing videos for SC? WTH is going on there. This seems so counter-intuitive and downright stupid if you ask me. I just don't get it. If they don't have time to do things like that themselves, don't parcel it out the equally untrained and inexperienced. These videos should be top-quality to encourage sales and subscriptions. This doesn't not seem like a positive way to drum up business and retain disgruntled customers. No offence, but I really don't care what people think of an embellie or plan to do with it when I watch an unboxing video. Show me the product and let me decide what I like and how I'll use it, please and thank-you. Thanks for listening (and not locking me down.) LOL Yeah....I'm really not sure why they'd post an "open call", so to speak. What they should have done was go through YouTube, searched for SC unboxing videos and reach out - privately - to those who piqued their interest. This is so unprofessional and the beginning of potential drama and issues. Also, kind of a popularity contest, which never sets well. |
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leahbear1
Junior Member
Posts: 60 
Member is Online
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Post by leahbear1 on Aug 12, 2015 13:35:44 GMT
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Post by freeatlast on Aug 12, 2015 14:11:59 GMT
Whoa is right leahbear1. My estimate was about half of that. I think they need to rewrite the description if they make the 2016 list. A membership-based scrapbooking center that sells scrapbooking and card-making kits, features the work of over 125,000 craft designers and provides online support and encouragement for scrapbook and crafts enthusiasts. Anyone want to help them out with a rewrite? |
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Post by katemac on Aug 12, 2015 14:26:17 GMT
holy shit. (wait, can we swear here?)  |
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Post by aggiebonfire00 on Aug 12, 2015 15:01:23 GMT
And yet people still give them grace when they screw up orders. This isn't a "baby" company. They have been in business for 8 years. They need to get their shit together. If you are charging me $5+ shipping for each kit, you better pack my order correctly. I will not pay that much money to have my kits delivered, and then wait another month because they screwed it up. And I can't even "welcome" the new Starbucks girl. All I want to say is, "Good Luck!"
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Post by abr79 on Aug 12, 2015 15:20:15 GMT
Exactly aggiebonfire00 ...the "oops! We made a mistake!" Doesn't work anymore. 7+ million in revenue and they're still making mistakes that aren't even acceptable for my size of business??? Samantha posted on her IG a photo of the warehouse and said something about their quality assurance team working hard with all the product arrivals. I wanted to ask "you DO have a QA team???" Also, perhaps I don't understand how those numbers work...which is kind of scary since I'm a business owner (my excuse is that I don't handle the financials...)...but wasn't April giving us all a sob story about how they're losing money which is why they had to make the changes? Does this revenue number not include losses? Like, is it a gross revenue kind of thing (before overhead and losses and such)? |
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Post by doesitmatter on Aug 12, 2015 15:21:16 GMT
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Post by icequeen on Aug 12, 2015 18:48:17 GMT
abragg79, the losing money claim makes sense if this $7 million is the gross revenue of all companies under the SC umbrella. In the past year, they've added AE, BPC, and ABM and increased warehouse space all of which would increase the value of SC as the parent company. Growing this fast in a relatively short period of time may not have paid off as well as projected. I'm just speculating, but it would also explain the knee-jerk price increase, operating changes and commitment demands on subscribers.
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Post by peachiceteas on Aug 12, 2015 19:43:52 GMT
I am trying to be positive on the boards, I really am. But it's like a car crash over there, everyone stops and stares and keeps looking.
Just goes to show why April doesn't give two sheeeets if she's turning over that much money. Her 'ignoring the people who pay my bills' attitude will only cause her problems eventually.
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Post by aggiebonfire00 on Aug 12, 2015 19:47:33 GMT
And that thread where I posted about Rob telling me to not share what he told me in an email disappeared.  |
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Post by abr79 on Aug 12, 2015 19:52:47 GMT
It looks like the thread about missing items has been deleted ? Not surprised. Yep, looks like it's gone. I wonder how long the card kit canceling thread will stay?! the one started by macaddict? It's.gone now. She posted her resolution (which was more misinformation) and now.its.gone. |
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kaybree
Full Member
Posts: 248
Jul 23, 2015 10:38:23 GMT
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Post by kaybree on Aug 12, 2015 19:52:39 GMT
And that thread where I posted about Rob telling me to not share what he told me in an email disappeared. What thread was that? What did Rob tell you?? |
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Post by anniefb on Aug 12, 2015 19:58:51 GMT
Random Question (sad I have to ask here because they'd lock my thread over there): I received my items with that little note saying "sorry we ran out so we sent you a note instead and kept your money. we'll reach out to you soon".... What.The.Heck? Is this what goes on over there? You don't ship me what I've paid for, don't tell me, keep my money, and then tell me to wait for you to contact me?! *deep breath Gabi* So, when this happens, do you all normally reach out first or does someone eventually contact you? once contact happens, do they just issue a crappy store credit? I really don't want that because all its going to do is be eaten up by shipping (i'm west coast and it takes over 7 days if i don't do some type of rush shipping). That's ridiculous. If they couldn't supply what you ordered, you should get an immediate refund. I had one missing item from an order a few months ago but I have to say SC were very good about it and sent it to me right away - none of the 'we'll put it in your next month's box' crap that you sometimes hear about. |
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Post by anniefb on Aug 12, 2015 20:00:02 GMT
It's taking a lot of inner strength not to. But I value some of the relationships I've made with other members too much to do that to their threads. like impearia Last Call thread...I want to snarkily ask SC staff if her thread is technically transactional in nature since purchases are being discussed. But I won't because she rocks and doesn't deserve her thread locked or deleted any more than JHenry did hers...and I don't want to be a d-bag. LOL. Thank you abr79. You rock too! I agree I have met so many lovely people at SC. Sorry it took me so long to respond btw, I am deathly ill and not getting on the boards as much as I would like... anyway, at least lots of us are together here now! Sorry to hear you're not well, impearia. Hope you feel better soon! |
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Post by abr79 on Aug 12, 2015 20:07:25 GMT
aggiebonfire00 another of your comments was deleted as well in that card making support thread. Under Jen Picard's comment. Hilarious. At this point they need to just close the boards down. They are paying someone to go through and delete posts and threads? Come on...spend your 7m a bit more wisely. Unless April is doing it in her free time. icequeen good points about their acquisition of BPC, ABM and AE...that probably explains the spike in revenue.
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Post by anniefb on Aug 12, 2015 20:10:01 GMT
abragg79, the losing money claim makes sense if this $7 million is the gross revenue of all companies under the SC umbrella. In the past year, they've added AE, BPC, and ABM and increased warehouse space all of which would increase the value of SC as the parent company. Growing this fast in a relatively short period of time may not have paid off as well as projected. I'm just speculating, but it would also explain the knee-jerk price increase, operating changes and commitment demands on subscribers. And 72 employees - that sounds like a lot to me, if you take the $7M as the gross revenue. |
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Post by peachiceteas on Aug 12, 2015 20:13:47 GMT
And that thread where I posted about Rob telling me to not share what he told me in an email disappeared. I replied to you and basically said, you're not the only one. Not me personally but I have heard from others that he did a lot of that. |
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Post by meganliane on Aug 12, 2015 20:27:04 GMT
I am guessing that is gross revenue in the article. It is a lot but if you have a lot of expense and debt (although they may not have any debt) well that goes away quickly. my guess is they just were not being very profitable on the kits so they needed to restructure to make it work. The reason I think it is not as profitable is because they are making exclusive products to fill the kits. That has to be costly..
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Post by needtime2scrap on Aug 12, 2015 20:44:23 GMT
Haven't we heard over and over how they are a small company? A small company to me doesn't gross over 7 million and have 72 employees
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Post by freeatlast on Aug 12, 2015 20:45:07 GMT
I have never been sure of the relationship between AE and SC. I hope SC doesn't own AE. I read somewhere that referred to it as a partnership. For sure SC provides warehousing, order fulfillment, "customer service" and the shopping cart of her website. For that they likely get a fee or % of sales. And if they are selling her the product that goes in the kits, albums, etc., there's profit there, too.
I just hope she has retained control and ownership of her brand.
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Post by scrapperal on Aug 12, 2015 20:55:04 GMT
Welcome to all the SC Refugees! It is so exciting to see all the faces! This has been such an interesting thread. I've never subscribed to any of the Studio Calico kits, but have coveted many of the items, lol.
That was a very interesting link leahbear1 posted. Isn't there a relationship between American Crafts and SC? I wonder how all that fits into the financials (and everything else).
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 12, 2015 21:00:23 GMT
Archivers has a card kit sale right now. It looks like quite a bit of product for $24.99. There are four clear stamp sets included. I have it in my cart. I do like the paper.
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Post by alissa103 on Aug 12, 2015 21:07:56 GMT
SC has their own warehouse, too, right? Those are NOT cheap. Plus an office, etc. We aren't talking about a few people packing & shipping kits out of the basement. I'm sure their overhead is $$$ these days.
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,233
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Post by Peamac on Aug 12, 2015 21:49:56 GMT
Archivers has a card kit sale right now. It looks like quite a bit of product for $24.99. There are four clear stamp sets included. I have it in my cart. I do like the paper. I got that email this morning, too. Cute stuff! |
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 12, 2015 21:51:56 GMT
Archivers has a card kit sale right now. It looks like quite a bit of product for $24.99. There are four clear stamp sets included. I have it in my cart. I do like the paper. I got that email this morning, too. Cute stuff! No longer in my cart. I bought it. I have only purchased one other card kit (SU) and it was almost all the same card. It looks like there is plenty left over. I was just bummed it didn't come with a pencil. Those things are awesome. |
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Post by aggiebonfire00 on Aug 13, 2015 2:33:48 GMT
And that thread where I posted about Rob telling me to not share what he told me in an email disappeared. What thread was that? What did Rob tell you?? ROBBOYE 2 months ago Okay, so because you have committed to us on all three kits and the cost of that today exceeds the $79 free shipping threshold, your refund will be $8.70 each month. This is only for those who sub to all three kits currently. Anyone that subs to 2 kits will have the 8.25 shipping deducted from their refund. I cant stop you from sharing this on the boards but I'm trying to answer the refund questions privately because it is different depending on what you sub to. It makes my life easier |
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Post by macaddict on Aug 13, 2015 10:48:08 GMT
I've been here for some time but I think this is my first post. I am happy to say that I am free from SC! Even though they changed my pricing then changed my card kit to a stationary kit they wanted to change me $15 to cancel. I explained to them that I was told 4 months ago that I am no longer under a contract since they changed pricing and resent them their message. They waived the $15 fee. I am happy with the outcome but I feel like they did me a "special favor" instead of admitting that I was right. I was going to cancel at the end of the year anyway, but changing my kit and automatically changing me was just wrong. Start a new kit like they did with the planner but don't say it's the "new card kit" because it is clearly not. Anyway, thank you for letting me vent. I hope this is the correct place to do it. |
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Post by katyscrap on Aug 13, 2015 14:53:46 GMT
Poor Ali is getting tarnished by association with Studio Calico.
I ordered her Week in the Life kit back in July. I still didn't have it by last week so I started a convo. They told me they were waiting for more and that mine would probably ship by next week which meant I wouldn't have by the time the class started. I cancelled.
I am so mad because I was all excited to do it along with everybody next week and doing it a week or two after everyone else just didn't appeal to me. Maybe I'll use the supplies I have on hand and participate anyway.
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Post by katyscrap on Aug 13, 2015 15:00:36 GMT
I just cancelled my Big Picture Class subscription, too. I'm letting my wallet talk, even if it's only $10 a month.
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