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justifying purchase from less than favorable company...
Not naming names here Im gonna try to stay on the neutral side of the fence...
Lets starts out saying i used to LOVE this company.i admired it and aspired to own everything they had to offer..even when as far as totalling up a full cost and figuring out how long it would be before id own it...then i made ONE order..something wasn't quite right...i had ordered a stamp pad thats color wasn't even close to what was depicted online (three different computers i checked showed an aqua/light teal and what i got was more of a deep evergreen) ..when i contacted customer service to see if there was a mistake i pretty much got a "we've had plenty of great feedback on that color from customers..tough luck not our problem.." :/ that kind of upset me because i mean i though that quality and the happiness of the customer was supposed to come first...so i pretty much swore off the company even more so after seeing a lot of negative feedback about them on here as well....however i still continue to get their monthly release letter and for the last few releases I've seen a few things I've fallen on love with...
my question is...no matter how much you love the concept of what you see would you absolutely refuse to get it because of company reputation or would you just throw in the towel and order anyway??
For you, it's not just reputation, it's personal experience. Of course, it's completely up to you, but by buying again, you are kind of accepting the way they treated you. Personally, I'd get myself off the mailing list & onto some from more reputable companies.
__________________ Bexx Pyne - Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator My SU! Site My Blog
Lol I think i <3 you metalcharm!! maybe i ought to go steal someones internet so i can find places that have similar things.i just get so overwhelmed when looking at places to buy stuff because i want everything!!
My new trick is to put things in my cart & save it till the next day. If I still want it then, I'll get it. Usually works quite well! It also avoids most "Doh! Forgot to order X" moments.
__________________ Bexx Pyne - Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator My SU! Site My Blog
What would keep me from buying really cute stuff online? BAD service. What's the point??? Yes, I could place 5 orders with them and all be fine, but if I place a 6th order and it is messed up. AND they don't want to fix it, then basically I threw $XX.XX number of dollars out the window!!! Nope, to many complaints for me to continue business with a company that doesn't care. There is always another company that has cute stuff!!! AND care about their customers!
I would not order. There are so many wonderful companies, with quality products, and run by people who really care about their customers, that I would not give in.
I do understand that it's not easy when you like the company's offerings. In that case, I have only two words of advice: Don't look
After reading so much about the terrible, awful, horrible, no good, very bad way that this company (we ALL know who you mean...) treats its customers, I feel guilty even using the one stamp set (and dies) that I got as a GIFT! I just can't condone them in any way, especially with my $$. Personal choice, of course, but like others have said - there are some really great companies out there that actually CARE about their customers, not just their bottom line...
Forgot to say that I still see some of their new things (I follow Melissa's blog and get the "Designer Tips" email now and then), and I'll be intrigued enough to click over to the website, but then my stomach ties in knots and I feel kinda queasy (like I'm cheating on somebody or something - go figure!), so I click back out of it again...totally not worth it!
If I were standing in a retail store and heard a customer being treated badly by a manager or owner, I would not continue to shop there and would not want one penny of my money supporting them. So why would I do anything differently for an online store? If I spend money at their site, I feel like I'm supporting a behavior that I don't condone and I don't want to be associated with.
I've never ordered from them, but I've read enough comments on these boards to keep me from even looking at their site. But I think you just have to do what feels right to you.
I've stopped buying from some companies (not only stamp/scrapbook companies) because of poor customer service. I think that if you continue to buy from these companies, then you are condoning their bad behavior. That's why some of these companies continue to treat their customers badly. I feel the same way about stores that don't treat their customers well. My money can best be spent elsewhere. I don't care how fabulous their products are.
Pretty Terrible and Inconsiderate way to have been treated? ;)
I busted out laughing when I read your acronym. That is priceless.
I have kept buying from some inconsiderate companies. I understand your conundrum. My main reason is because that particular company offers something other companies don't. Once another company does I drop inconsiderate company.
I have noticed when I buy from companies that I feel like deserve a side eye I don't feel very good about my purchase. Then I don't enjoy using it.
I would keep your Wish List and see what other stamp & die companies have similar. A lot of stamp companies are coming out with similar items and some of them are better. I keep a Wish List of things and buy all over the place even when I like all the companies. I do really understand about stampers who prefer to stay with one company and do not want to shop everywhere.
I've stopped buying from some companies (not only stamp/scrapbook companies) because of poor customer service. I think that if you continue to buy from these companies, then you are condoning their bad behavior. That's why some of these companies continue to treat their customers badly. I feel the same way about stores that don't treat their customers well. My money can best be spent elsewhere. I don't care how fabulous their products are.
Ditto this completely.
I love the designs and design team inspirations from the company, but I haven't ordered in forever. Just can't - as much as I want lots of the products, I can't justify purchasing based on what's been happening for way too long (and I hadn't had any issues when I did order). They won't do anything to change their behavior if people keep purchasing from them. The only way to get their attention is to hit them in their bottom line.
I order from that company monthly....as do many others. I have never had a bad experience with them and until I do personally i don't have a problem with them. I remember another company that had problems at the beginning and thanks to many Stampers Unanimously ordering from them, they are still around. It's your choice!
I like their card stock and have never had a problem, but if or when I do, I'll rethink it all. Their cs is cheaper than SU and comes in 12, 24 or 50 sheet packs.
A middle ground solution for you might be to only buy products from the for sale board. That way you are still getting the items that you want but you are not directly supporting the company.
I said this on another forum......I love PTI and don't have a problem ordering from them. It's a personal decision whether to stay with a company or not.....I am not swayed by anything I read to the negative ....I have my own mind and like to use it lol....
My problem is finding the time to use all the PTI stamp sets I own! Great problem to have lol!
I haven't had any problems with them. I like their products. If I did, then I would have to see how it was handled. I am assuming they didn't offer to take it back or exchange your pad? That would bother me, and if they spoke snarky to me then it would be a deal breaker. I have had great customer service from a lot of different companies. So, do what your heart feels is best.
new company growing pains is one thing horrible customer service is another and there is no excuse what so ever. I personally will not support a company that treats customers badly regardless of who the customer is. Just because "you" have not had any problems YET does not mean that you will not eventually be in that situation yourself. Casey, I would err on the side of caution, I understand it is difficult when we see something we "need" but you have personally dealt with horrible customer service, do you want to do it again?
Thanks everyone for your input.i am capable of making my own decisions i just wanted more opinions..i think what i may do is go ahead and order the couple of things that i want since i can't seem to find anything else like it and if i get bad service again then ill quit them :/
I just think they are a new company and are having a few growing pains.
Sweet cracker sandwiches, for how long is that excuse going to fly! They've been in business for over 5 years. I remember when the company started, and I can think of a number of small stamp companies that started after PTI and haven't had a fraction of the issues.
Every company has growing pains or runs into glitches. It's how they handle them that separates the wheat from the chaff. Other companies run into shipping delays because of unexpected high demand or supplier problems, and they let their customers know what is going on and when they expect to be caught up. If I purchase an item that turns out to be defective, I do not expect to be told that I must be using it wrong BEFORE THE COMPANY EVEN SEES WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH IT. And then when it turns out that many, many customers are having the same problem, I do not expect that the company will bury the information about that defect somewhere on their forum, where I may or may not see it. If a company runs a promotion where I can earn a free item by purchasing a certain number of items over the course of the year (anniversary sets, anyone?), I do not expect to wait months to receive that item; I do not expect that I will have to submit copies of my invoices to prove that I've earned it - the company's software should take care of that; and I especially do not expect the company to take the attitude that the item is a "free gift" so what am I complaining about? And if a company with growing pains does have a problem with their anniversary promotion, I absolutely expect that the same problem will not happen the next year.
I should add, I've never ordered from PTI. Someone that I was close to had customer service issues and it totally turned me off the company early on. But from what I've seen, they would make an excellent study of how NOT to run a company.
Thanks everyone for your input.i am capable of making my own decisions i just wanted more opinions..i think what i may do is go ahead and order the couple of things that i want since i can't seem to find anything else like it and if i get bad service again then ill quit them :/
I know how hard it is to find something that nobody else makes and it's just your style. I am sending good wishes your transaction is flawless and your items bring you lots of enjoyment.
Not naming names here Im gonna try to stay on the neutral side of the fence...
Lets starts out saying i used to LOVE this company.i admired it and aspired to own everything they had to offer..even when as far as totalling up a full cost and figuring out how long it would be before id own it...then i made ONE order..something wasn't quite right...i had ordered a stamp pad thats color wasn't even close to what was depicted online (three different computers i checked showed an aqua/light teal and what i got was more of a deep evergreen) ..when i contacted customer service to see if there was a mistake i pretty much got a "we've had plenty of great feedback on that color from customers..tough luck not our problem.." :/ that kind of upset me because i mean i though that quality and the happiness of the customer was supposed to come first...so i pretty much swore off the company even more so after seeing a lot of negative feedback about them on here as well....however i still continue to get their monthly release letter and for the last few releases I've seen a few things I've fallen on love with...
my question is...no matter how much you love the concept of what you see would you absolutely refuse to get it because of company reputation or would you just throw in the towel and order anyway??
If you were just talking about the comany's reputation it would be one thing, but you are not. The company actually and really treated YOU like a POS, not some random stranger on a anonymous board. Sorry, but there is nothing in heaven or hell that would compel me to spend one more cent with a company that treated me that way.
Honestly, I just don't understand this mentality. It reminds me of women who are battered and keep returning to their batterers. Unsubscribe from their updates and go on about your business.
If you were just talking about the comany's reputation it would be one thing, but you are not. The company actually and really treated YOU like a POS, not some random stranger on a anonymous board. Sorry, but there is nothing in heaven or hell that would compel me to spend one more cent with a company that treated me that way.
Honestly, I just don't understand this mentality. It reminds me of women who are battered and keep returning to their batterers. Unsubscribe from their updates and go on about your business.
For women who have been battered there is no comparison with an online store and living with daily abuse.
I've ordered from them several times in the past few months and never had a problem. Love their stamps. dies, and some of their accessories. The one thing I wold never buy from them is ink. They have had so many problems with their inks that I am not willing to take any chances with them on that. I think you just have to be pick and choose on how much of a chance you are willing to take on some of their products.
justifying purchase from less than favorable company...
