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Post by anonrefugee on Jan 4, 2017 13:44:50 GMT
I randomly checked this morning during break and the store page came up. The home page still says November, but maybe this is progress? I don't have my password with me to see if it's actually working, but wanted to share my hope. kerribradford.com/store/index.php/classes.html
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
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Post by Loydene on Jan 4, 2017 18:45:35 GMT
Oh My STARS!!!! Nearing 4 months!!
I just tried to log on -- well, let the computer log on since it remembers stuff -- on the "my classes" page isn't loading. So, she may be selling, but she apparently still isn't granting access!
ETA: "My classes" loaded -- with the September (!!)purchases. I haven't tried to access them since I'm busy (clearly not so busy as to not post here -- but busy anyway!)
ETA - Again: Now I'm wondering if she is going to offer some sort of recompense?
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
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Post by Loydene on Jan 4, 2017 19:11:29 GMT
Okay -- it is ONLY titles of classes that are loading ... no content ... even of previously purchased classes.
Sigh ............
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Post by anonrefugee on Jan 4, 2017 19:31:28 GMT
Okay -- it is ONLY titles of classes that are loading ... no content ... even of previously purchased classes. Sigh ............ Bummer! I was hopeful, by next week there's no pretending I have extra time!
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
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Post by Loydene on Jan 4, 2017 22:28:59 GMT
I posted on KB Facebook page that I was able to access the "My Classes" page but that classes weren't loading -- thinking that maybe the feedback would be helpful. Below is what she emailed back to me> I can't imagine that you and I are the only ones hitting her web site at least daily checking to see if anything is available!! And it is her greatest bother is that the site is "ugly" -- I'd be more concerned about the inability of my customers to receive what they have paid for. *** Hey Loydene! I deleted your post on my FB page because I didn't want the masses to be aware of what you'd told me. Technically you're not suppose to be able to get into it. The hard part of all this transferring of customer info is that my store has to be live for them to do it. But unless one uses a direct link, most people don't access it. The site is broken and doesn't look pretty and it bothers me greatly that people can access it. This company doing the importing…man…I had no idea they would be such a challenge to work with. So frustrating having to wait on them to get everything in, especially when the site has been ready for weeks. Every day I hope that today will be the day…. *********
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,129
Location: New York, NY
Jun 26, 2014 18:02:19 GMT
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Post by christinec68 on Jan 5, 2017 0:05:04 GMT
The importing of customer info has been going on for weeks. I asked about it on her fb page yesterday and got a similar response...smiley faces and all.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Jan 5, 2017 1:12:19 GMT
Hey Loydene! I deleted your post on my FB page because I didn't want the masses to be aware of what you'd told me. Technically you're not suppose to be able to get into it. The hard part of all this transferring of customer info is that my store has to be live for them to do it. But unless one uses a direct link, most people don't access it. The site is broken and doesn't look pretty and it bothers me greatly that people can access it. This company doing the importing…man…I had no idea they would be such a challenge to work with. So frustrating having to wait on them to get everything in, especially when the site has been ready for weeks. Wow! Just wow at her response. So much bullsh*t. I can't even. Argument n°1: "I deleted your message on FB because I want to protect YOU! I'm such a nice person." Capital letter F that! Kerri just doesn't want any negative talk about her brand and her website on her social media so she's cleaning up after all her angry customers. Argument n°2: "I can't believe how long this other company is taking to important my client database." I'm sorry but what? Either she has a client base the size of amazon.com or she's blatantly lying. No way does it take that long. No way. I know this because I actually have had to deal second-hand with some issues due to importing client databases. Girlfriend is not trying hard enough if she hasn't had this fixed since... September now? I don't know why I keep being amazed by people who shove the blame on other people (who are impossible to pinpoint since she doesn't release the info about that company and thus we cannot directly ask why it's allegedly taking so long and how long ago they started the process). The audacity "...man..." Argument n°3: "I'm so annoyed my site isn't looking perfect and ready to be rolled out already." Stop with the supposed perfectionism excuse to stall. 4 months. That's more than a full season! I can't with this woman. I just can't. 100% unreliable. I'm surprised people haven't been ruder and demanding access to the material they paid for it. She's been very lucky she has been able to get away with this. But, trust me, it's all lies. She's pretending to be all sunflowers and sunshine while working at the time rate she wants and very likely doing a lot of the work herself (because it's free of charge) while messing stuff up and causing even greater delay. I see no admission of guilt, no remorse, no shame in her communications. That's a major red flag.
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Post by anonrefugee on Jan 5, 2017 1:24:01 GMT
Wow, it's almost comical. It's all about her! No concern about her customers and the FACT they can't get merchandise they paid for. Am I the only one who reads her posts this way? We might be tired of big box and big manufacturers driving out the little shops, however this is an example of the reason it happens. And if one of them withheld our paid merchandise there would be an uprising that would carry over to the no scrap side of this message board. ETA sleepingbooty, not only have our things been missing for four months- it's probably one of the biggest crafting seasons of the year!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 14, 2024 23:10:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 7:28:09 GMT
I have been following the Kerri threads for a couple of months now. I can't believe how badly she is handling the rebuilding of her web site. As a side job I test companies software & web sites to see if there is in vulnerabilities in security.
I don't know the specifics of how she got her site hacked into the first place. I know how damaging and detrimental it can be. She is having way too many issues with these new people she hired. She is going to get hacked again. Girlfriend is just advertising her vulnerabilities. I guarantee whoever hacked her first is probably watching to see if they can do it again.
I thought about mentioning this earlier. I didn't want to get barked at. I am not trying to attack her in any way shape or form. I honestly am more worried about all of her customers and their information. I am worried about all of you more than her business. I am not judging her. I know she is a scrapbook designer and not trained in web hosting or web security. This is not something she might even be thinking about. I want you all to be safe.
She needs to fire whoever. Find a better secure web site host and builder. Nobody takes this long to build a web site. I am sure we have a couple of professional web designer's over here who are probably wondering the same things I am about her site.
If you were able to get in her site when you were not supposed too. Somebody else is in there fishing too. It is the first vulnerability I look for. Make sure she is protecting your credit card and private information.
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Post by anniefb on Jan 5, 2017 8:10:55 GMT
Ugh really not up and running yet? Incredibly frustrating.
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Post by kerribradfordstudio on Jan 5, 2017 13:25:54 GMT
I am so very sorry many of you are frustrated about my website. I share your frustration. I try to remain as positive as I can from the outside over a situation that has been extremely frustrating and out of my control for the last month (throwing in holiday time as well). When I set out to make a brand new website, control over my site was one of the biggest factors for me because of this very reason...having to rely and wait on others to do things that I could not do. I have been through this before and did not want to go through it again.
Customer service has always been one of my highest priorities in my business. That is why I have continued to share updates and repeatedly say that I am more than happy to send anyone their kits or if there's something they want to purchase that we can work around the purchase another way. The only downside is the class access.
I'm not out to 'blame' anyone, but rather explain and inform. This company importing the customer information has ended up being more trying than I ever thought. Each day I sit by my computer waiting for good news.
Hindsight is amazing in a perfect world. Had I known they would have been like this, I would have chosen differently. (I'm with you guys...it shouldn't take this long.) But we can't all be blessed with the superpower of hindsight. You just continue to move forward with hope every day.
To address your comments about accessing the old site...it is the old site, not the new one. It is broken--and 'ugly'--which is why it's not being used. Unfortunately, as I'd explained privately to Loydene, there are circumstances for which it needs to be 'on'...and I so wish it didn't have to work like that for this very reason.
I can assure you that each and every one of you--my customers, my friends--have been at the core of everything I do. Each day I agonize and am anxious over what's happening, knowing how it affects you. This hasn't been easy for you guys and it definitely hasn't been easy for me.
But I still try to keep a positive attitude. My husband and I talk about how there's a reason for everything or a lesson to learn, but we're constantly trying to see what the 'reason' is here or what lesson we're suppose to learn. I think I'm beyond learning the lesson of patience. Please bear with me while this gets worked out. If you have any questions or concerns, I'm happy to address them--here or via email at kerri@kerribradford.com.
Thank you, Kerri
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Post by shutterbug2sue on Jan 5, 2017 17:36:53 GMT
I am so very sorry many of you are frustrated about my website. I share your frustration. I try to remain as positive as I can from the outside over a situation that has been extremely frustrating and out of my control for the last month (throwing in holiday time as well). When I set out to make a brand new website, control over my site was one of the biggest factors for me because of this very reason...having to rely and wait on others to do things that I could not do. I have been through this before and did not want to go through it again. Customer service has always been one of my highest priorities in my business. That is why I have continued to share updates and repeatedly say that I am more than happy to send anyone their kits or if there's something they want to purchase that we can work around the purchase another way. The only downside is the class access. I'm not out to 'blame' anyone, but rather explain and inform. This company importing the customer information has ended up being more trying than I ever thought. Each day I sit by my computer waiting for good news. Hindsight is amazing in a perfect world. Had I known they would have been like this, I would have chosen differently. ( I'm with you guys...it shouldn't take this long.) But we can't all be blessed with the superpower of hindsight. You just continue to move forward with hope every day. To address your comments about accessing the old site...it is the old site, not the new one. It is broken--and 'ugly'--which is why it's not being used. Unfortunately, as I'd explained privately to Loydene, there are circumstances for which it needs to be 'on'...and I so wish it didn't have to work like that for this very reason. I can assure you that each and every one of you--my customers, my friends--have been at the core of everything I do. Each day I agonize and am anxious over what's happening, knowing how it affects you. This hasn't been easy for you guys and it definitely hasn't been easy for me. But I still try to keep a positive attitude. My husband and I talk about how there's a reason for everything or a lesson to learn, but we're constantly trying to see what the 'reason' is here or what lesson we're suppose to learn. I think I'm beyond learning the lesson of patience. Please bear with me while this gets worked out. If you have any questions or concerns, I'm happy to address them--here or via email at kerri@kerribradford.com. Thank you, Kerri Then fire that company and hire a new company that can perform! All I'm reading is that you're disappointed in others actions, but you NEED to be in control as it's your name/site/business. Sometimes a business takes a financial hit for the betterment of their customer base. You should also look into the IT/hack concerns mentioned above - no need to have this happen again.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
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Post by Loydene on Jan 5, 2017 19:05:32 GMT
Then fire that company and hire a new company that can perform! All I'm reading is that you're disappointed in others actions, but you NEED to be in control as it's your name/site/business. Sometimes a business takes a financial hit for the betterment of their customer base. You should also look into the IT/hack concerns mentioned above - no need to have this happen again.
I totally agree. As a business woman, I wouldn't be looking for some cosmic "reason" any longer ... or I would have decided the reason is that the company I hired is not performing ... and would be long gone into a major tight lipped discussion with that company about their failures and responsibly for my customer loss! As long as she isn't doing that, they have little reason to believe they are holding up a real business. I really like Kerri Bradford's esthetic -- a love the bold look and a bit of "sass" in phrasing etc. But, I already wasn't totally enamored with her teaching style (she is too much "do this" while doing something, then "this" while merely showing another action) --- all without actually articulating the steps ( eg: go to the file icon, pull down the menu to modify, then rotate the design 90 degrees, then under the modify menu, group the design ..... ). I hoped that I might have learned enough to take the next classes without needing all the "in between steps" to be articulated. But .... this debacle has probably done it for me. At this point, I cannot imagine purchasing anything from her again. There are other stores, other files, other designs, better teachers, any of whom have a higher interest in customer satisfaction. And - just a point -- in her post, she said that she communicated with me "privately" -- and that it is correct in the sense that she didn't post on her Facebook page that she'd removed my post and why she took that action. What I do with any communication that I receive is only my business -- since I'd posted about my attempts to gain access, and clearly people were and are interested in what is going on with that site, I shared information I received.
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nylene
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,465
Jun 28, 2014 14:59:59 GMT
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Post by nylene on Jan 5, 2017 19:35:14 GMT
I agree that the whole situation has been a fiasco. I can't even imagine the amount of money she has lost during this 3+ month of being unable to set up the website. I know I have bought a lot of cut files from other designers. I used to always check her site first.
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sophikins
Full Member
Posts: 239
Aug 30, 2014 15:12:27 GMT
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Post by sophikins on Jan 5, 2017 21:15:11 GMT
I have purchased at least half a dozen classes from her. I was upset when I could not access them during Thanksgiving vacation when I had some time. Now all of Christmas break is done and over. Still no access. How does this differ from any other internet fraud where they take our money but do not supply the product?
I certainly hope she offers some compensation to her customers who paid the money but could not use the product. I think access to other courses for at least the time we could not get to the courses we had previously purchased would be a start. That MIGHT convince her customers to buy classes from her again, although even then I am not sure I would take the chance.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,141
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Jan 5, 2017 22:30:41 GMT
Don't know Kerri, although I was considering signing up for her Cameo classes, thinking I would "buy now, do classes later" when I had more time after moving. I'm glad that I never got around to buying the classes.
However, something that happened to me during our renovations may give some insight here. We hired a contractor recommended by someone we trusted. Unfortunately, after we had paid the contractor a certain amount of the money, he started flaking on us. He just didn't show up a lot of days that he was supposed to come and work on our job. He gave one excuse after another, but we had spent so much of the money allotted for the renovations, that we couldn't just hire someone else. I wish we had vetted him better.
My husband finally called him and threatened him with legal action and said for every day beyond a certain date that our job was not finished, DH would deduct $500 per day penalty from what we still had left to pay. The threat of legal action and financial penalties finally got the guy to finish the job. The fact is, we didn't have the money to sue him, but the threat did get him back on the job.
However, because of the constant delays of the contractor, we ended up losing the house we were having built, which was contingent upon our selling our home. The job took so long to finish that we had no time left to sell it, and the home we'd had built went to someone else.
Sometimes you can get so deep in financially that you can't just fire the current people doing the job. I learned some serious lessons for the future, such as build penalties into a contract for unreasonable delays. We had not done that and had taken the contractor's word that he would finish in the time frame that he originally promised.
Sometimes a mistake like that just can't be turned over to another contractor, company, whatever. She's probably in a similar situation where she was too trusting and put in too much of the money she had for the project before realizing she had chosen the wrong company to do it. At this point, I can guess why she's just desperately hoping the company will finish the job. However, the threat of a lawsuit did work for us. Maybe it would work for her if she (or someone representing her) is willing to get tough about it. Not everyone can pull it off without an actual letter from a lawyer.
In the meantime, she is unfortunately alienating customers. As another poster said, she has probably lost a lot of money due to this fiasco.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
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Post by Loydene on Jan 6, 2017 2:32:46 GMT
scrapnnana -- a major point with the rebuild of her site was that she was doing it herself ... until she got to the point that she didn't know HOW to do it. So, she was looking for help for a partial job. Another difference to your situation is that your over extension affected only you -- KB's over extension is negatively impacting her customers
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Post by merry27 on Jan 6, 2017 2:56:52 GMT
I have also purchased several classes that I would have liked to access this past month or two. One is a History project type class and I wanted to start on Jan 1
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Post by anonrefugee on Jan 6, 2017 14:57:06 GMT
I have no words, or maybe I have too many. kerribradfordstudio I appreciate you responding here, yet it appears you only did it to imply you were betrayed by a RefuPea for quoting you. I'm sure you've known of this forum before now and could have used it to communicate with your customers. I can't imagine telling my clients I have no control about my services. And I do not get paid until they are delivered! You have real design talent, but need to get some coaching in business. It's "nice" you are experiencing personal growth from this, yet we- those who have paid you - are still without product. Maybe you should concentrate on that before we start viewing this as an internet fraud.
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sophikins
Full Member
Posts: 239
Aug 30, 2014 15:12:27 GMT
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Post by sophikins on Jan 6, 2017 15:37:33 GMT
I learned some serious lessons for the future, such as build penalties into a contract for unreasonable delays. We had not done that and had taken the contractor's word that he would finish in the time frame that he originally promised. Actually this could apply directly to Kerri Bradford Studios for us as her customers/clients. We have paid her for those classes. There has been an unreasonable delay (now going into FIVE months) without access to the classes we have paid for. It seems like she has broken her contact with those of us who paid for access to her classes. I hope she provides us with some sort of compensation. (Maybe she can use all of this time when her site is down to design some classes and cut files to offer to customers whose money she has already taken.)
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Post by mom on Jan 6, 2017 15:47:30 GMT
Ok, I am going to chime in.
I was actually the person who emailed Kerri - telling her of this thread. I don't know if she knew of it before me or not.
As I told her, I have no dog in this fight. I have never purchased from her (I don't think so, anyway). I thought she deserved to know exactly what her customers are saying. I truly expected to see her come on - much like Kelly Purkey - and own up to the mess that has been made. Apologize and find a way to make it right.
*sigh* That isn't what is going to happen, apparently.
Do I think Kerri is an internet fraud? No. But do I think this situation certainly causes her to look like one? Yeah. If SC did this (I have purchased digital stuff from them) I would be livid. Yes bad things happen (the hack) but to just expect your clients to be ok with not getting their product is wrong. Its wrong for any company to expect that.
And while the personal growth is a great thing - telling your customers that you're expecting this growth while they have nothing is just silly. No offense, but you customers don't care if you grow. They want what they paid for. Period.
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Post by kerribradfordstudio on Jan 6, 2017 18:43:34 GMT
It seems the things I say gets misconstrued, but here goes.
1. Know that I have always said that I would email kits to anyone that needed them. Classes were the only item inaccessible. That being said, I've sent PDFs or freebies to some people for their classes that have asked about them so that they could at least have that content. I am not out to be fraudulent in any way.
2. While I was aware that this board existed, it's not something I read, nor do I read any message boards, for that matter. All communication about my situation (up until this point) has been provided on my own personal social media (mostly FB), where I believe it should be. It's where I believe people would come to see what's going on.
3. I truly did believe my site would be back up in November. I performed most tasks, used a service that could help with the stuff I didn't know (security, deeper backend stuff, etc.) and the site was ready. The mistake was in relying on a different company to import customer information. I had no idea I would encounter what I have over the past few weeks. That's the most frustrating part of it all. I could have been up in November if it weren't for this one piece.
4. My intent with coming out here was to help you understand the situation as well as explain my reason for the communication that I'd had with a customer that was shared here. I would hope you'd understand why I didn't want it public that you could get to the store since it was live for a period of time during this transition. It's not meant to be used, but I had to have it turned 'on' much to my dismay.
I'm just trying to make the best out of a bad situation that I never asked for. I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude through all this and I do like to share what I feel. I'm trying to understand why I can't have a perfect reset of my business and why I had to have this happen in the first place. What I've created here in my neck of the woods over the past 6 1/2 years has been for all of you. I love to design wonderful things for you to use, to help increase your skills, to have fun and share ideas, to make a community where people enjoy coming every day. I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for all of you and the community in the KBS world. I have truly anguished over all of this, countless sleepless nights--even as I type my stomach is in knots--because I know how it's affecting you.
If I didn't say something the right way or if you've misinterpreted what my intentions were for saying what I've said, know that I've been truly doing everything in my power to get going again and to get those that ask what they need. If you have any questions or need anything, please email me at kerri@kerribradford.com. I'm always willing to help.
Thank you for listening. Kerri
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
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Post by Loydene on Jan 6, 2017 19:42:56 GMT
Before anyone starts looking at me as if I've complained about ONLY access -- I don't have any PDFs nor have any PDFs of the 3 classes I purchased been offered to me! And I have been communicating with KB since September 16 when I purchased the classes and the site went down. I have been trying to be relatively "nice" about this ... so haven't said all that much ... and when saying something have edited my words to try to remove most of the real snark. In the early emails, she told me that I've been included in all her group emails (none of which I received). She told me initially that she would send "the information", but finally realized that my September 16 purchase was 3 classes ... not some cut files -- and she then said there was nothing she could do about the classes until the site was back up. She did send me some "freebies" (her term - I think anything included with the purchase of the class is a purchase) attached to one of the classes.
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Post by kerribradfordstudio on Jan 6, 2017 20:39:28 GMT
My apologies on the phrasing of sending the PDFs--which I've corrected in my previous message. In my head I was thinking one thing and didn't write it correctly. I sent them to some people who had asked for them...as well as offering the freebies. Thinking I would be up quickly in the beginning, it didn't occur to me to at least offer PDFs to those who asked for class access. It wasn't until things weren't looking as efficient as I thought that it occurred to me that PDFs could be a temporary solution. Unfortunately, it's an impossible, time-consuming task to send them to every person in a class--especially not knowing who had downloaded their content at any time over the past few years, I had to take it on a case by case basis.
Sorry for the confusion there.
To further clarify, I also have no control over whether or not a customer's email service treats my email as spam. Emails explaining what had happened were sent to anyone who had purchased that day before the crash.
Loyedene, I'm emailing you back right now with your PDFs, so please watch for that. And let me know if you don't get them today.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
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Post by Loydene on Jan 6, 2017 22:45:35 GMT
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Post by anonrefugee on Jan 7, 2017 16:50:37 GMT
It seems the things I say gets misconstrued, but here goes. 1. Know that I have always said that I would email kits to anyone that needed them. Classes were the only item inaccessible. That being said, I've sent PDFs or freebies to some people for their classes that have asked about them so that they could at least have that content. I am not out to be fraudulent in any way. 2. While I was aware that this board existed, it's not something I read, nor do I read any message boards, for that matter. All communication about my situation (up until this point) has been provided on my own personal social media (mostly FB), where I believe it should be. It's where I believe people would come to see what's going on. 3. I truly did believe my site would be back up in November. I performed most tasks, used a service that could help with the stuff I didn't know (security, deeper backend stuff, etc.) and the site was ready. The mistake was in relying on a different company to import customer information. I had no idea I would encounter what I have over the past few weeks. That's the most frustrating part of it all. I could have been up in November if it weren't for this one piece. 4. My intent with coming out here was to help you understand the situation as well as explain my reason for the communication that I'd had with a customer that was shared here. I would hope you'd understand why I didn't want it public that you could get to the store since it was live for a period of time during this transition. It's not meant to be used, but I had to have it turned 'on' much to my dismay. I'm just trying to make the best out of a bad situation that I never asked for. I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude through all this and I do like to share what I feel. I'm trying to understand why I can't have a perfect reset of my business and why I had to have this happen in the first place. What I've created here in my neck of the woods over the past 6 1/2 years has been for all of you. I love to design wonderful things for you to use, to help increase your skills, to have fun and share ideas, to make a community where people enjoy coming every day. I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for all of you and the community in the KBS world. I have truly anguished over all of this, countless sleepless nights--even as I type my stomach is in knots--because I know how it's affecting you. If I didn't say something the right way or if you've misinterpreted what my intentions were for saying what I've said, know that I've been truly doing everything in my power to get going again and to get those that ask what they need. If you have any questions or need anything, please email me at kerri@kerribradford.com. I'm always willing to help. Thank you for listening. Kerri I can understand you thinking you wanted to use your sites for communication. But seriously, if that's your goal don't leave a false date (November) up on the point of origin, the website your customers are trying to access. That's like a faded printout taped to your front door but putting a tiny paragraph in the neighborhood newspaper. You missed the most basic point for communication. You and I are not friends, I am your customer who has given you money. I never have seen your Instagram and hadn't bothered with your Facebook page until this started. Why should I spend MY extra time searching for info between your posts about other things? You have enough goodwill in the community that you aren't being raked over the coals. But please do not act like you were doing this for us, to give back, or whatever. If you're interested in Philanthropy then go local and help them. You are running a business. One assumes you enjoyed making a profit. Grow up and handle it like a business. Personally I don't think you need to give us anything but our products. This is not to bully you into a discount or gift. But you need to use some of the soul searching time to determine if you really want to do this. Most of your communication has been about the hardships it's caused You, concern over your customers comes off like an after thought.. Maybe you need to be the design talent and hire someone else to manage the business. That way you can do the part you enjoy and grow instead of implode. You will survive this, even though it will be long time before I buy from you again. I will only buy from you if I have time to immediately download any products. There won't be any spur of the moment whom purchases because you cannot be trusted.
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JustTricia
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,827
Location: Indianapolis
Jul 2, 2014 17:12:39 GMT
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Post by JustTricia on Jan 7, 2017 17:42:47 GMT
It seems the things I say gets misconstrued, but here goes. 1. Know that I have always said that I would email kits to anyone that needed them. Classes were the only item inaccessible. That being said, I've sent PDFs or freebies to some people for their classes that have asked about them so that they could at least have that content. I am not out to be fraudulent in any way. 2. While I was aware that this board existed, it's not something I read, nor do I read any message boards, for that matter. All communication about my situation (up until this point) has been provided on my own personal social media (mostly FB), where I believe it should be. It's where I believe people would come to see what's going on. 3. I truly did believe my site would be back up in November. I performed most tasks, used a service that could help with the stuff I didn't know (security, deeper backend stuff, etc.) and the site was ready. The mistake was in relying on a different company to import customer information. I had no idea I would encounter what I have over the past few weeks. That's the most frustrating part of it all. I could have been up in November if it weren't for this one piece. 4. My intent with coming out here was to help you understand the situation as well as explain my reason for the communication that I'd had with a customer that was shared here. I would hope you'd understand why I didn't want it public that you could get to the store since it was live for a period of time during this transition. It's not meant to be used, but I had to have it turned 'on' much to my dismay. I'm just trying to make the best out of a bad situation that I never asked for. I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude through all this and I do like to share what I feel. I'm trying to understand why I can't have a perfect reset of my business and why I had to have this happen in the first place. What I've created here in my neck of the woods over the past 6 1/2 years has been for all of you. I love to design wonderful things for you to use, to help increase your skills, to have fun and share ideas, to make a community where people enjoy coming every day. I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for all of you and the community in the KBS world. I have truly anguished over all of this, countless sleepless nights--even as I type my stomach is in knots--because I know how it's affecting you. If I didn't say something the right way or if you've misinterpreted what my intentions were for saying what I've said, know that I've been truly doing everything in my power to get going again and to get those that ask what they need. If you have any questions or need anything, please email me at kerri@kerribradford.com. I'm always willing to help. Thank you for listening. Kerri "That being said, I've sent PDFs or freebies to some people for their classes that have asked about them so that they could at least have that content." Your clients shouldn't have to contact you. You know no one is able to access their classes; there HAS to be a way for you to get the contact list. I know you said you don't know who was able to download or not before the hack; that's irrelevant. Contact ALL your clients proactively via email (not social media), and get them their content. If you can't do that, then you need to refund people. Actually, not via email as you've been told (and said it wasn't your fault, again) that not everyone gets your emails. Mail a letter. The cost to mail a letter is probably less than the revenue you've lost and will lose in the future due to this. You have had people's money for MONTHS. Bare minimum, since September, so four months. For four months you have been earning interest on their money, using it for your personal needs, using it to pay for a non-functioning website, etc. And they have nothing except a debit from their bank. I agree with the above person; I have no dog in this fight but have been following it due to posts here. I get that it's a hardship on you, but stop making it about you. This isn't altruistic, this is a business and you haven't provided a service you've been paid for. But, neither has the company you paid to do it. Fire them, get it going, and get people what they paid for months ago.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,141
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Jan 7, 2017 18:53:09 GMT
loydene and sophikins, I totally agree that you are entitled to the materials and classes you bought. I honestly don't blame you for being upset. You have every right to be.
The point of my post was that she was (and maybe still is) naive about who she chose to finish her website, and it's time she stopped being so patient and nice and she may need to threaten legal action, which is what worked for us.
Yes, our situation was different in that it only affected us, not customers, but the point still applies that she can't just sit back and hope the website developer (or whoever is delaying everything) gets it done soon. Yes, she should turn it over to someone else if possible, someone who will get it done (with a penalty clause if they go beyond a certain date), but she may not have the funds left to do so. That was another point to what I posted.
I also think she needs to find a way to get the paid for materials and classes to those who have been left with no access after paying for them. If she can't, then she should issue refunds. However, it sounds as though she is saying she doesn't even know who those customers are or have any way to find out at the moment.
Customers have every right to be upset about what happened. It is now her responsibility to make things right in any way she can.
I have no dog in this fight. I have no connection to her. I have never met her. I did consider signing up for her classes and am extremely glad I never did. I do hope that those who did make purchases will get what they paid for a.s.a.p., and all in this situation have a right to be frustrated and angry. Unfortunately, if she either doesn't have the money to hire someone new, or start legal action, or even know who her customers are, it could be a long wait. Yes, she is responsible for not being smarter about it before all this became an issue. What I am saying is that you can't assume she can do what should be done, especially if she has run out of money. I assume she has a family, which probably means her income from this business may have already been spent on them. I don't think she intended any of this to happen.
I DO think she has a responsibility to find a way to get the materials to customers who are upset about not getting what they paid for, regardless. She may not like that option, if she cannot currently check who has paid and who hasn't, but I think she would be better off if she just assumed that every irate customer who emails her with details is entitled to get the materials that they say they paid for.
Based on her responses here, it appears that she got in way over her head and is just hoping things will work out. That is not responsive enough IMO. I'm sorry that wasn't clear from my first post.
I no longer have any desire to sign up for her classes now, and I doubt that will change in the future, even if she does get things straightened out.
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sophikins
Full Member
Posts: 239
Aug 30, 2014 15:12:27 GMT
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Post by sophikins on Jan 8, 2017 5:31:15 GMT
I can understand you thinking you wanted to use your sites for communication. But seriously, if that's your goal don't leave a false date (November) up on the point of origin, the website your customers are trying to access. I have to say this is one of the things that super annoys me every time I check the KerriBradford website- to say the new website is coming in November when we are well into January. It reflects poorly on communicating with customers and customer service, and is nothing short of disrespectful. At the very least update that screen and provide meaningful communication, not old useless outdated information Once you start taking money from people you are running a business and should abide by the regulations as it applies to delivering the products people have paid for.
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Post by anonrefugee on Jan 9, 2017 3:41:52 GMT
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