Why the dislike for Studio Calico?

I have been a subscriber to SC for a long time and I have not had any problems with their customer service or company.

I've had really HORRIBLE customer service from them. More than once. I used to subscribe and there were 2 or 3 times that they claimed items in a kit were exclusive (causing a frenzy) only to find out that you could purchase those things elswhere.

The biggest thing for me was any time there was an issue April would get on and make really snarky and snide comments instead of trying to seem apologetic (or at the very least just being quiet). I decided not to renew my subscription after my six months expired and they were going to charge me for NOT renewing. It wasn't until I threatened to call the BBB that they told me I wouldn't be charged. People flamed me and thought I was crazy on 2P's until they tried to do it to other subscribers.

I really have no idea. I have been a member since 2008, so either I have very low expectations or I am very lucky and should play the lottery more often. I have literally bought hundreds of items from SC in that time. Has every order arrived perfectly every time over those years? No. There have been 3 damaged shipments by UPS ruining contents inside. All were replaced by SC, including a December Daily kit. There have been a few missing items, but replacements were promptly sent. I have always been acknowledged promptly, politely, and responsively with any communication that I've initiated with customer service, or even April herself. I can't remember ever missing a kit or item that I really wanted. I dropped my subscription 2 years ago for two months, still bought kits, and then resubcribed. I had no problem with CS honoring my request to drop my membership, no hassle, no fee. It was addressed immediately and efficiently.

If I choose to leave in the near future it will be because I am starting to back up on supplies or that the general feel of the kits isn't my style anymore. As a customer, I have been pleased with the overall SC experience all of these years.

I think SC is overpriced. I also think their kits and lines tend to blend...colours, shapes, patterns, it feels very predictable and similar. I got a little tired of using them. However, I do enjoy some of the exclusives and some of the stamps. I had no issues with CS, and while I know getting add ons is hard, I didn't have an issue with it.

I think pairing with AE will be fine because she's a strong enough presence to keep the personality of her products. She is certainly not as drawn to colour and contrast as I am, so I know many of her products will not appeal to me, but her stamps and journaling products certainly will!

I just hope they keep prices reasonable. I know their Christmas kit is always WAY too expensive for what you get.

I had some issues when I decided to end my subscription.

I really like the Studio Calico products and kits. I also understand the limited quantities or craziness to their reveals _ if I had a business I wouldn't want excess inventory. But their customer service is horrible. I had a few minors issue and one huge one in which I was made to seem in their messages to me to be unable to understand even the simplest meaning of words- a dumbass. I also started to dislike the way the customer was always wrong and didn't understand a product as a way for covering up a mistake or poor production. They frequently locked any complaint threads on their message board to keep the "yay studio calico" theme going. If the Foster's sold it tomorrow I would return but I absolutely refuse to give any of my money to someone who thinks that customers are that stupid. There are lots of companies and kits that will take my money, give me a product and don't treat me like trash.

That (the international shipping fiasco) was the last major SCcustomer service foul up I can recall. I've had some issues with them and I don't "love" the reveal process but overall I've been pretty happy with them. I think they did get really popular really fast and just didn't have the customer service skills yet. I do think they are here to stay and I don't think it's a bad thing . I thought AE was probably collaborating with studio calico...she's a single mom with two kids and needs her brand to make money. I think she probably took it's far as she could on her own . I really think this will be a good partnership.

I've not subscribed to their monthly kits but have taken classes there and order from them a few times and not had any trouble. They do have bad reputation for CS but I haven't experienced it.

I have nothing negative to say about SC except I don't like the frenzy. I stopped my sub this month after 6 months because I have yet to use one full kit. Before I began the subscription I basically had 5-6 year old product that I was working with and I wanted to get newer products. I feel like while it did fulfill that need, I wanted a huge variety. I ended up purchasing a few different warehouse boxes. I am now overflowing with newer product. I feel I can take that $30.00 and spend it on more personalized product.
I asked CS to hold off on shipping one kit because I knew I would not be home. They were not crazy about doing it but they did and I appreciate that. I also cancelled and although they replied at first asking me if they could change my mind somehow , ultimately they cancelled without issue. Lastly, I think one thing I did not like was that I chose a not so great month to start the sub and a few days afterwards they offered a special if you joined. It seemed to happen each month after that too. I did not get any deal or anything special . I suppose I could have emailed to ask but why should I!? I started on a certain month and if you are offering new subs a deal it should go for all new subs that month.

I've been a subscriber since 2008 - I have had excellent customer service over the years. I had one box damaged by UPS which was replaced promptly and a couple of missing items, which were also replaced.

I find the forums and community to be a pretty positive place. I'm not one for much drama, so I don't mind that SC has locked threads that got quite nasty...but that's just me. I understand that others don't like so much monitoring.

I am a little tired of all the PINK in the kits lately as I have 5 boys...

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sorry to hear that.

I never had a problem with Studio Calico until recently. I kept having items missing from my kits. Their response was always "I will personally make sure to add it to your next month's kit." Which would be fine if they actually followed through, but they never did. I eventually cancelled as it seemed the only way to receive my missing items and even then they only sent one.

These responses were interesting to read. I've been over there since mid 2011 but don't subscribe because I can't keep up. That said, for at least a year I was buying 2+ kits every month. I've had the best customer service from any online store there (replacement items sent immediately, apology notes and free product/credit when something sells out, and more), but have always read so many responses of people H-A-T-I-N-G Studio Calico with a passion. I didn't realize so much of was just reveal frenzy. For a while, it was bad. However, it's been SO much better than those early years. Things last more that 1 second past midnight, for one. For another, for better or worse they are pretty upfront with "this is the way it works" in regards to reveal timing and acknowledging that they do kind of suck at anticipating kit demand. For me, the acknowledgement that reveal isn't going to change and that some months were just underestimated is much better than a company lying about supply or jerking people around with different reveal times and days each month.

They aren't perfect (and I do miss Lori's tact on the message boards. Some public responses by the team HAVE made me cringe in the past), but they're also a multi-million dollar company that still listens to customer suggestions and for the most part delivers on their promises, so, I guess I just won't ever get some of the hate.

ETA the December Daily kit is laughably overpriced though, whoever said that is right on....which is probably why it didn't sell that fast last year.