|
|
Post by Skellinton on Aug 26, 2015 15:20:13 GMT
If there was any issue they needed to address sooner rather than later, font size of their message board posts wasn't it. True dat. But now they have everyone singing their praises because they really listen to their customers! They care so much! They are so innovative! They are so responsive! They are so awesome!!!!! |
|
|
|
Post by katemac on Aug 26, 2015 17:20:27 GMT
I really like Scraptastic. It sucks that she's been having website issues, but she's really great about responding to customers. I've been very happy!
|
|
|
|
Post by anniefb on Aug 26, 2015 19:36:15 GMT
If there was any issue they needed to address sooner rather than later, font size of their message board posts wasn't it. True dat. But now they have everyone singing their praises because they really listen to their customers! They care so much! They are so innovative! They are so responsive! They are so awesome!!!!! Gotta just laugh  |
|
|
|
Post by saralovesducks on Aug 27, 2015 9:46:55 GMT
I've been doing sort of an "event-centric" PL, mixing it with the story kits. I try to capture the quieter moments too, but I don't stress about it. It takes the pressure off and I love the variety. Plus Ali's kits are usually very flexible and adaptable! For 2016 I wanted to switch to a bigger album but the 9x12 page protectors feel too big, and I'm not crazy about depending on SC to get them :/ Them having the monopoly on the albums is probably a "for now" instance. Who's to say that AC won't get on board next year? I find that 9x12 (pockets) gives enough space to combine photos, journaling, and some filler/decorative cards for a themed or event based layout. What size are you currently using for your PL? I'd suggest trying out a spread or two in 9x12 and see if it's workable for you before deciding. The other album option is cutting down an AC modern album because they use the standard three ring system inside. Right now I'm using 6x8. Sometimes it's too small, but only sometimes, and I like that it doesn't take up space and makes me "edit" the pictures that go in. I was considering switching to 6x12, and having a separate 8x11 album for layouts since I don't make a lot. Mostly I adapt the Story Kits to a pocket format. I have 9x12 PP I bought a while ago to try the size but haven't gotten around to it yet. Decisions!! The feedback here really helps though. |
|
|
|
Post by bethquiroz on Aug 27, 2015 21:13:18 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by mdith4him on Aug 27, 2015 23:04:55 GMT
It will probably get locked or various posts deleted soon...
|
|
Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,233 
|
Post by Peamac on Aug 27, 2015 23:15:35 GMT
I posted the other day about the difference between stationAry (which most people have been using in their posts) and stationEry (what it should be), but it was deleted.  cath4k, oaksong, and mdith4him- ETA- I should have said that at least the corrections were made in that thread, after my post went missing!  8/31- ETA: I just saw that my post was actually NOT deleted, and the OP commented on my post (English is not her first language). Hopefully other posters misusing the E/A in the word will see it, though. So, my apologies to her for thinking it was deleted. I really hate how some comments are hidden and the little number needs to be clicked on to be able to see them all. I'm so used to every other message board being like it is here, where you can see all the comments at once. |
|
|
|
Post by mdith4him on Aug 27, 2015 23:42:04 GMT
I posted the other day about the difference between stationAry (which most people have been using in their posts) and stationEry (what it should be), but it was deleted. Seriously?!? How the crap does that violate the TOU?? |
|
oaksong
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,167
Location: LA Suburbia
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
|
Post by oaksong on Aug 27, 2015 23:47:07 GMT
I posted the other day about the difference between stationAry (which most people have been using in their posts) and stationEry (what it should be), but it was deleted. Troublemaker!  |
|
|
|
Post by cath4k on Aug 28, 2015 0:18:50 GMT
I posted the other day about the difference between stationAry (which most people have been using in their posts) and stationEry (what it should be), but it was deleted. Really??? I just posted on the thread about the board being slower and made the comment that I don't typically post things that would get deleted - but, uh, I don't know, maybe I do. I totally don't understand what gets deleted and what doesn't. As I said in that thread though, I am not going to overthink posting. I just don't how much longer I will bother posting at all. |
|
|
|
Post by kellyv on Aug 28, 2015 1:31:50 GMT
my thought when i was reading that post is that maybe their whole plan is to simply let the message boards fizzle and die because then they won't even need to 'police' them. i was going to post to the thread in question but i don't want to have it deleted on my account. anyway, i can't get the thought out of my head.
|
|
|
|
Post by abr79 on Aug 28, 2015 1:54:40 GMT
my thought when i was reading that post is that maybe their whole plan is to simply let the message boards fizzle and die because then they won't even need to 'police' them. i was going to post to the thread in question but i don't want to have it deleted on my account. anyway, i can't get the thought out of my head. I agree that it feels like they want the boards to go away. May explain why there hasn't been much on the boards from SC. The latest post by alakard's is pretty awesome, though. Good on her for calling it all out. Too bad it will probably be deleted by mid-morning tomorrow. |
|
|
|
Post by lisacharlotte on Aug 28, 2015 2:18:03 GMT
I wish we could get the inside story. I can't believe that nobody is leaking any dirt on what is going on. Can they all be drinking the kool aid that hard? I'd be worried about my job.
|
|
Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,233
|
Post by Peamac on Aug 28, 2015 2:46:52 GMT
abr79 and lisacharlotte- Do you think they're trying to get rid of the kits and the message boards and just focus on making products to sale in retail stores? I never went to the SC boards often and their products aren't my style so I never ordered anything from SC. The whole implosion going on over there just fascinates me- a train wreck, for sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by mom on Aug 28, 2015 2:48:01 GMT
I honestly would not be surprised if the Kit side of SC is closed after they get the new ventures of SC going (with Brene Brown, etc). Its obvious they aren't interested in retaining their customer base. DH and I have a bet on how long the 'kit side' of SC is around.  |
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Aug 28, 2015 3:44:22 GMT
I posted the other day about the difference between stationAry (which most people have been using in their posts) and stationEry (what it should be), but it was deleted. cath4k, oaksong, and mdith4him- ETA- I should have said that at least the corrections were made in that thread, after my post went missing! I taught my fifth graders that stationEry was used with a pEn or pEncil. |
|
|
|
Post by mom on Aug 28, 2015 4:03:28 GMT
I posted the other day about the difference between stationAry (which most people have been using in their posts) and stationEry (what it should be), but it was deleted. cath4k, oaksong, and mdith4him- ETA- I should have said that at least the corrections were made in that thread, after my post went missing! I taught my fifth graders that stationEry was used with a pEn or pEncil. Thats how I learned it as well! |
|
|
|
Post by anniefb on Aug 28, 2015 5:42:35 GMT
I honestly would not be surprised if the Kit side of SC is closed after they get the new ventures of SC going (with Brene Brown, etc). Its obvious they aren't interested in retaining their customer base. DH and I have a bet on how long the 'kit side' of SC is around. Yeah I wondered about this too. It seems like they're trying really hard to make all the long term customers leave. And the crackdown on the boards is just the next stage in the plan. |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 25, 2024 2:24:38 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 11:57:38 GMT
I honestly would not be surprised if the Kit side of SC is closed after they get the new ventures of SC going (with Brene Brown, etc). Its obvious they aren't interested in retaining their customer base. DH and I have a bet on how long the 'kit side' of SC is around. Yeah I wondered about this too. It seems like they're trying really hard to make all the long term customers leave. And the crackdown on the boards is just the next stage in the plan. I can't imagine that someone who seems to like to control and micro-manage everything is not orchestrating everything that is happening over there. I am just so fascinated by the psychology of it all. |
|
|
|
Post by katyscrap on Aug 28, 2015 13:53:20 GMT
I get that they might want to move away from kits but why do it the way they did and trash their reputation and alienate loyal customers in the process? I can't wrap my head around how a multi-million dollar successful company could be so stupid.
|
|
|
|
Post by abr79 on Aug 28, 2015 13:54:41 GMT
abr79 and lisacharlotte- Do you think they're trying to get rid of the kits and the message boards and just focus on making products to sale in retail stores? I never went to the SC boards often and their products aren't my style so I never ordered anything from SC. The whole implosion going on over there just fascinates me- a train wreck, for sure. I honestly don't know. The recent collaboration with Jacqui from Baby Boy Bakery makes me scratch my head (her story is tragic but she's not a scrapbooker....or even a DIYer...how'd this connection happen?). And then working with Brene Brown on her education website is also,strange. Add in the new stationEry kit (OMG...I think I kept spelling it with an "a"...I should be ashamed of myself) and the "marketing for creatives" class they push (also, if I had paid $60 for that class, I would have been asking for a refund after they marketed a card making class a week after telling everyone that no one has time to make cards anymore), I have no idea where they want to head. But I definitely don't feel like they want to be a kit club anymore. Not a scrapbooking kit club at any rate. Maybe a motivational, feel good, hipster kit club. i would love to have someone on the "inside" write an anonymous book about it all. I Agree - they can't ALL be OK with the changes that are happening (and, let's be realistic here - are still GOING to happen). |
|
|
|
Post by katyscrap on Aug 28, 2015 14:02:35 GMT
I am just so fascinated by the psychology of it all.
Yes! It really is fascinating to think about what is going through their heads every time they make a decision that from our viewpoint is just so, so wrong. We can clearly see that the right way to go is the opposite of the way they choose but they can't see it? Isn't there anyone at SC giving their advice to April and saying this is a bad idea? Or maybe, they are and she is just ignoring them and doing whatever she wants anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by katyscrap on Aug 28, 2015 14:04:23 GMT
i would love to have someone on the "inside" write an anonymous book about it all. I Agree - they can't ALL be OK with the changes that are happening (and, let's be realistic here - are still GOING to happen).
Lol, that would be one fascinating read.
|
|
|
|
Post by ihaveonly1l on Aug 28, 2015 14:15:54 GMT
I see on the stationery subscription page it lists the amount of things you will receive each month (12-15.) I do not see this count on the other pages. I think when people are saying the kits are getting lighter, they are probably accurate. It seems they can call a kit whatever they want.
|
|
|
|
Post by katemac on Aug 28, 2015 14:34:58 GMT
The whole thing still just blows my mind.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall in their staff meetings.
|
|
|
|
Post by maryboys on Aug 28, 2015 16:12:55 GMT
I agree with so many others here - this is a fascinating study in psychology, pathology...
Here's my current thought, FWIW. While SC is indeed alienating their kit club members and decimating their kit club business; I don't believe it was part of the master plan. Simply because, if it was - April would have just shut it down without batting an eye - and moved on to her other business schemes. She is all about the profit and not given to the people side of things, obviously. So why would she even attempt to "ease out of" the kit club?
I've watched for so many years now, and I really believe this is coming as a huge surprise (again!) that customers are simply done. She has shown time and again that she believes the customer base is endless. That she can do absolutely anything and people will accept it and come back for more. Part of this is because it WAS that way in the beginning and for quite a few years. However, in the past 2 years, it has not been the case. I don't think it ever will be, again, unless there is new ownership.
So much more that could be discussed, but just this for now - life has definitely gone on for me since I quit subbing quite some time ago!
|
|
|
|
Post by icequeen on Aug 28, 2015 16:32:28 GMT
I wonder how much of the "left hand not knowing what the right is doing" and contradictory ideas has to do with transient staff. It seems weekly that someone new is being welcomed on their boards. And, these people are all managing or overseeing fairly important areas of service. If April is a supportive, encouraging boss, who wants to put everyone's ideas into practice, this would account for the changes we've seen in the past year. New employees with "great, fun ideas" who don't have a genuine understanding of the business or customer base aren't necessarily bringing things to the table that will have a positive outcome.
Most organizations have a three year plan to support and sustain growth, but focuses on moving the business in a specific direction. I'd love to know if they think that far ahead and if they ensure that all current practices support their goals and move them forward in that direction. And no, "make more money" isn't a logical guiding principle for making decisions. Provide products, services, and value in an environment that encourages people to happily give you their hard-earned money and you'll most likely make money. Treat them like crap and give them less while charging more and you're going to run into problems.
|
|
|
|
Post by freeatlast on Aug 28, 2015 16:42:35 GMT
Take a look at the Baby Boy Bakery website for some clue as to what SC might be doing with her. Check out the whiteboards - looks like some kind of monthly subscription. A cooking planner of some type? There are albums on the table.
Also take the Surveymonkey questionnaire linked on that page - it asks questions about cooking.
My guess is SC is looking for massive numbers of new customers. BBB has 279,000 Instagram followers. Brene Brown has 530,000 Facebook followers. If they can get even a small percentage of these people to buy a co-branded product, it could be worth a lot of $$$.
|
|
|
|
Post by icequeen on Aug 28, 2015 17:51:25 GMT
Take a look at the Baby Boy Bakery website for some clue as to what SC might be doing with her. Check out the whiteboards - looks like some kind of monthly subscription. A cooking planner of some type? There are albums on the table. Also take the Surveymonkey questionnaire linked on that page - it asks questions about cooking. My guess is SC is looking for massive numbers of new customers. BBB has 279,000 Instagram followers. Brene Brown has 530,000 Facebook followers. If they can get even a small percentage of these people to buy a co-branded product, it could be worth a lot of $$$. The partnership makes sense if you're planning to expand like you suggested. Funny thing is, SC seems to be struggling to keep up with curating and packing innovative, problem-free kits for current subscribers. I'd be wary of signing up for any SC/BBB venture in the future. But, there are a staggering number of BBB followers who may not know any better and get locked in using the new and insane subscription & shipping policies in place. |
|
|
|
Post by frenchie on Aug 28, 2015 18:30:47 GMT
Hi everyone! I'm frenchie on the SC boards and have been a lurker here for a long while. I was a longtime 2Peas member as well. I had to jump in with my thoughts after reading the thread on SC about the boards being so quiet. I agree with everything that has been said here. It's a shame that things over there have gone so wrong. My observation is that SC wants to eventually do business the way Ali and ABM are doing business. They want to sell their kits and products without any rewards status and message boards, and also start charging the 50% cancellation fees. I think they just don't want to deal with anything more than selling their products.
It all works for Ali and ABM because those of us who subscribe there knew ahead of time what to expect. I can't imagine that SC will recover all that they have lost in the last few months. They have alienated too many loyal customers.
|
|
