No, that would not make sense for packages to be shipped from the manufacturer to the DT. Each manufacturer (stamps, dies, paper, inks) would ship to the warehouse, and then the warehouse would ship to the DT. They would also stock their shelves in anticipation of release night.
Doesn't the manufacturer usually send out "proof" stamp sets for the company to check to make sure there are no defects or mistakes before producing larger quantities?
If I were Nichole, I would have the proof sets sent to me to check them. Then she can use those to at least have her samples up as she is pretty much the primary blogger. This is why it surprises me that she did not have them... unless there's some other thing she was waiting on - I can't remember exactly how she phrased her first post today.
I would assume the manufacturer sends the order to the warehouse and then they send the DT theirs. It is puzzling that someone often does not have their stamps in time to post - I don't understand why this wouldn't be done well in advance.
I love music as much as the next person, but without it life would be a mistake?!!?!?! Oh boy, that sentiment is a lot for a stamp set to overcome. If I loved the rest of the set, I think I'd toss that nonsense in the trash.
"Due to weather delays that effected shipping times"? Weather delays EFFECTED? No. The weather delays AFFECTED shipping times. Good grief. Nichole will never learn, will she?
PTI says they plan the releases a year ahead. BUT that doesn't mean they order the products from the manufacturer a year ahead. I assume that PTI waits until a month or two ahead of the scheduled release to tell the manufacturer to go ahead and make the planned products. So, given the crazy weather since mid-December, it makes perfect sense that deliveries to both Nichole and the DT members have been held up and are late. Don't smack them for things that are out of their control like weather disruptions to shipping times. SMH (Disclaimer: I am not a PTI uni.)
9:24 I agree. I went to TJ's this week and they didn't have ground beef. The trucks were delayed due to the storms. It amazes me how unbending smackers can be when it comes to PTI.
With regards to DT members getting their stuff late, I think there was another stamp company that had this problem... I I think wplus9 a few months back?
small (very) stamp company owner here My stamps have never been held up. I always get a "proof" set first to approve. I have a small DT and the manufacturer sends all to me and then I send out. Getting them in time for a release is easy if you plan it out in advance. I get the proof set, approve it and then place my order. I'm sure the order goes to the warehouse in Cincinnati and then they have to sort it out and mail it. snow ice can affect the warehouse staff being able to get to work and then mail out the stuff. it's pretty clear that PTI cuts it close -- most of the DT appears to only have the stamps for a week or so from what they've said in the past. That's too close for me. I'm a nervous nellie type and my dt gets the stamps a full 3 weeks before release. one reason PTI probably cuts it close is that it costs money to upfront the purchase and then store a release in advance of sales I can imagine that their release is huge. multiple sets, dies, etc. they must have a ton of boxes
however PTI needs that DT to sell the stuff. without those peeks no one is buying.if my sets didn't show up for the dt, i'd delay the release for a few days. if i was one of the designers getting a commission i'd be very unhappy.
People keep talking about a warehouse in Cincinnati. Is this PTI or is it the manufacturer PTI uses? I know Nichole lives in TN, but is PTI based in Cincinnati? Why would PTI send the stuff to Nichole for her to send to the DT?
9:38 am - The PTI warehouse is located in Cincinnati, where 2 of the 3 partners live and already had a family business. All customer orders are shipped from Cincinnati. It would only make sense that the DT supply boxes start there, as well.
And as far as awkward sentiments go, the "My Heart POPS for You" from MFT's Heart Balloons takes the prize for this month! Messy and fatal!
That's still BS 9:24. They've had ongoing issues and they SHOULD order their stamp sets at least two months ahead of the release. Weather has nothing to do with that - that's one of the reasons you need to order earlier! I know what you're saying ... they plan but don't order a year ahead. But by now you would think they'd have learned their lesson - especially this time of year.
Besides grammar etc., I have my own pet peeve about Nichole's blog. It's those damn "inspirational photos" and the phony "photo credit" caption.
I was curious about something in one of the photos and it took me to what looks like a photog blog but there's a disclaimer from the blogger saying the photos are not all hers and if her watermark isn't on them they belong to the owner.... but where the hell is the owner's name? Top it off, this asinine blog not only had music but it changed my cursor to her blog name - tiny and pale. How stupid is that?
Nichole puts up {photo credit} but really just grabs things off Pinterest and we all know how seldom those lead back to the originator. Pinterest should be closed.
Yeah, they just try to get too highbrow sometimes or the sentiments lean to the cloying and overly sentimental. Wish they could get it right. There are many stamp sets I would have loved if they hadn't screwed up the sentiments. Including Dawn's weird angle multi-font ones ... blech.
The only ones who came close to selling me on anything today are Lauren and Erin. I'm a little curious about Lizzie's sympathy sentiments. Hope there's only the one clunker in there.
Now 8:34 be on the level. You know we.talked.about all kinds of.things when we met Nichole for dinner the another night. She was so receptive to our suggestions. And she.bought dinner.
I'm on both sides with this one. On the one hand, I love what she is trying to accomplish. On the other hand, I don't like get a dose of preachy either. Maybe a sidebar to a different topical blog would be more appropriate than schmooshing them together.
I think it's kind of a "whoa" moment to click over to what you expect is a light and fun cardmaking blog only to be faced with this kind of issue. Kind of a smack in the face - but maybe that's what she's going for so that people take notice and learn more about the problem.
I love the Mod Melts. Once I pour the hot glue into the molds, I give the mold a light tap from the bottom, and that smooths out the glue. It's definitely a learning curve, though. I ruined a few pieces before I figured it out.
All of Nichole's samples are just plain boring.... She usually has at least one decent card per day, but I've been thoroughly unimpressed today and yesterday. Meh.
I thought they spotlight an old set every month? I do agree with the sale idea. More sales and stocks would move. Win win all around. I am looking forward to February though :)
I still think PTI is uniquely smack-worthy. But I haven't personally had trouble with orders (got caught in a few of their debacles but would never order anything besides stamps at this point) and would be willing to place an order. However, in a couple of years, I have yet to find that much that I like. Several times I had four or five items in my cart but after awhile I just forget about them. The other day I went through the stamp sets by release date, trying to remember what I had put in my cart at various times, and didn't like anything. Maybe in a few years I'll have enough $5 sets to get free shipping, lol!
why do you think PTI needs 3 more stamp designers? i have plenty of folks who I think would be a great addition to its DT but putting out any name here invites smacking of the person . no thanks
Laura's bird card today realy shows how badly solid PTI stamps actually stamp. It's can't be the fault of the Versamark ink I assume she is using. But maybe it is her EP?
MIM has got to be some sort of horrible joke. Dawn wants to be fired and Nichole won't let her go so Dawn is trying her best to get Nichole to call it quits.
When I saw the samples for MIM, I thought something was wrong with my computer because the pictures were so blurry. Who knew that blurry is a technique?
I had to see what the response was to the MIM. Two comments. One likes the stamp set and the other mentions that too.
I think most of the 10 that are there so far look better than the sample. One person said, she went the "less is more" route... good thinking, lol! Most of the others did a simple shadow stamping. No one seemed all that crazy about the technique. One said she had to stamp a solid stamp in the center of her flowers and "keep them still" to "add some stability."
There is one with a lot of ferny, feathery flowers and leaves that actually looks pretty darn cool. And loads better than someone else's ;) .
Here's how you handle an ink problem. In today's mail I received an ink pad and the following:
Dear valued customer, We are sending you this replacement because we recently discovered a defect in one of our ink formulas. It is an extremely rate case, but for some reason the specific ink color formulation of Orangeade separates over time. In over 20 years, our manufacturer has only experienced this issue one other time. This issue affects the Orangeaide ink formula only. Please discontinue use and discard the defective Orangeade ink/refill.
All other colors in our Creative Color line are perfectly fine. Please continue use as normal.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. While this is an isolated and rare case, we understand consumer confidence is very important. We will continue to improve and bring you the highest products on the market. Guaranteed.
Thank you for supporting Mama Elephant. We wish you a happy and crafty new year!
I say "Well done, Mama Elephant! Well done!' You notified me. I didn't have to do anything to get a replacement. You didn't deny the problem. You apologized. And for that customer care, Mama Elephant, I will continue to support you..
I love my ME inks, they are definitely not manufactured by Stewart Superior. Instead they are the same as Impress and Amuse. I think they handled this very well, good for them. Hear that, PTI?
what difference does it make who manufactures the ink? the point isn't that the ink had issues, the point is what a company does when it discovers a problem. is it proactive? or does it PTI the customer.
it makes a difference because "In over 20 years, our manufacturer has only experienced this issue one other time. " This is a lie, and if they have issues with one ink now, they will have more (probably many inks are bad).
If PTI could get the same ink formulation as ME, why don't they??? Besides, even if PTI could get the same ink, they would still pull that customer service BS when one ink goes bad. The bottom line is it's not the bad ink, misspelled stamps, defective impression plates, etc. It's the people at PTI that are ultimately the problem. Many other companies weather business problems with little or no fall out.
"You rock awesome"??? What a terrible sentiment....
ReplyDeleteso you are designing a sentiment set. what would it say?
ReplyDeleteIn an awesome font, it would say: Happy Birthday, Thank You, Thinking of You, With Sympathy, and other basics.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the one who criticized other sentiment sets, but this is what I really want.
No, that would not make sense for packages to be shipped from the manufacturer to the DT. Each manufacturer (stamps, dies, paper, inks) would ship to the warehouse, and then the warehouse would ship to the DT. They would also stock their shelves in anticipation of release night.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in seeing more of the Sympathy/Encouragement sentiments. Those could be good if they are straightforward. Especially a $15 set.
ReplyDelete"You rock awesome" makes no grammatical sense!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the manufacturer usually send out "proof" stamp sets for the company to check to make sure there are no defects or mistakes before producing larger quantities?
ReplyDeleteIf I were Nichole, I would have the proof sets sent to me to check them. Then she can use those to at least have her samples up as she is pretty much the primary blogger. This is why it surprises me that she did not have them... unless there's some other thing she was waiting on - I can't remember exactly how she phrased her first post today.
I would assume the manufacturer sends the order to the warehouse and then they send the DT theirs. It is puzzling that someone often does not have their stamps in time to post - I don't understand why this wouldn't be done well in advance.
7:43 I agree with you. The "sending you hope" one doesn't inspire confidence though. How do you send someone hope?
ReplyDeleteI love music as much as the next person, but without it life would be a mistake?!!?!?! Oh boy, that sentiment is a lot for a stamp set to overcome. If I loved the rest of the set, I think I'd toss that nonsense in the trash.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't PTI figure out how to create sets with normal sentiments?
ReplyDeletedon't believe everything you read. dmonkey life heart same as is normal don't you wonder chris everything olymipics bites bites bites
ReplyDeleteSo, I guess for my sister who is completely deaf, life is a mistake.
ReplyDeleteThey should have picked a better quote for the music set.
ReplyDeleteI like the four square samples but not the price tag.
ReplyDelete"Due to weather delays that effected shipping times"? Weather delays EFFECTED? No. The weather delays AFFECTED shipping times. Good grief. Nichole will never learn, will she?
ReplyDeletePTI says they plan the releases a year ahead. BUT that doesn't mean they order the products from the manufacturer a year ahead. I assume that PTI waits until a month or two ahead of the scheduled release to tell the manufacturer to go ahead and make the planned products. So, given the crazy weather since mid-December, it makes perfect sense that deliveries to both Nichole and the DT members have been held up and are late.
ReplyDeleteDon't smack them for things that are out of their control like weather disruptions to shipping times.
SMH
(Disclaimer: I am not a PTI uni.)
^^^^ and you are perfect?
ReplyDelete9:24 I agree. I went to TJ's this week and they didn't have ground beef. The trucks were delayed due to the storms. It amazes me how unbending smackers can be when it comes to PTI.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we see these repeated delays with other companies? Because they plan ahead.
ReplyDelete"Affected" should have been pretty obvious to Nichole, but oh well---
How hard is it to cut squares and punch circles in the center? Do people really need dies for this?
I don't have problems with the die price, the $24 price tag for the stamp set is what I am sad about. The dies are cheap at $6.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to DT members getting their stuff late, I think there was another stamp company that had this problem... I I think wplus9 a few months back?
ReplyDeletesmall (very) stamp company owner here My stamps have never been held up. I always get a "proof" set first to approve. I have a small DT and the manufacturer sends all to me and then I send out. Getting them in time for a release is easy if you plan it out in advance. I get the proof set, approve it and then place my order. I'm sure the order goes to the warehouse in Cincinnati and then they have to sort it out and mail it. snow ice can affect the warehouse staff being able to get to work and then mail out the stuff. it's pretty clear that PTI cuts it close -- most of the DT appears to only have the stamps for a week or so from what they've said in the past. That's too close for me. I'm a nervous nellie type and my dt gets the stamps a full 3 weeks before release. one reason PTI probably cuts it close is that it costs money to upfront the purchase and then store a release in advance of sales I can imagine that their release is huge. multiple sets, dies, etc. they must have a ton of boxes
ReplyDeletehowever PTI needs that DT to sell the stuff. without those peeks no one is buying.if my sets didn't show up for the dt, i'd delay the release for a few days. if i was one of the designers getting a commission i'd be very unhappy.
Wow, thanks for the inside info on how this works. You're probably right of course.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard about pti dt changes in February?
ReplyDeleteyes Nichole called me and told me what is happening. sorry cannot share.
ReplyDelete^^^
ReplyDeleteThis! LOL
People keep talking about a warehouse in Cincinnati. Is this PTI or is it the manufacturer PTI uses? I know Nichole lives in TN, but is PTI based in Cincinnati? Why would PTI send the stuff to Nichole for her to send to the DT?
ReplyDelete9:26 pm,
ReplyDeleteYou are an idiot.
Try not commenting until you actually read and understand what other people have posted.
7:56 pm,
ReplyDeleteI am sending PTI hope. LOL
9:38 am - The PTI warehouse is located in Cincinnati, where 2 of the 3 partners live and already had a family business. All customer orders are shipped from Cincinnati. It would only make sense that the DT supply boxes start there, as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as awkward sentiments go, the "My Heart POPS for You" from MFT's Heart Balloons takes the prize for this month! Messy and fatal!
That's still BS 9:24. They've had ongoing issues and they SHOULD order their stamp sets at least two months ahead of the release. Weather has nothing to do with that - that's one of the reasons you need to order earlier! I know what you're saying ... they plan but don't order a year ahead. But by now you would think they'd have learned their lesson - especially this time of year.
ReplyDeleteBesides grammar etc., I have my own pet peeve about Nichole's blog. It's those damn "inspirational photos" and the phony "photo credit" caption.
ReplyDeleteI was curious about something in one of the photos and it took me to what looks like a photog blog but there's a disclaimer from the blogger saying the photos are not all hers and if her watermark isn't on them they belong to the owner.... but where the hell is the owner's name? Top it off, this asinine blog not only had music but it changed my cursor to her blog name - tiny and pale. How stupid is that?
Nichole puts up {photo credit} but really just grabs things off Pinterest and we all know how seldom those lead back to the originator. Pinterest should be closed.
Actually the link took me first to Pinterest.. Of course... then the photog blog. Asinine.
ReplyDeleteTheir release date has been the 15th since they started!!! PLAN AHEAD!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is not random, blind smacking on poor little PTI that can't control the weather.
Thank you 6:23 - that's what I was talking about.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you manage your business very well and there are too few Nervous Nellies at some other stores ;) ;) .
Wish you much success with your business!
Funny 8:34 :) . I don't even know you but I could actually hear the dry sarcasm with that zinger.
ReplyDeleteHaha 9:40!
ReplyDeleteYeah, they just try to get too highbrow sometimes or the sentiments lean to the cloying and overly sentimental. Wish they could get it right. There are many stamp sets I would have loved if they hadn't screwed up the sentiments. Including Dawn's weird angle multi-font ones ... blech.
10:44! Yes! Messy and fatal! LOL.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, it's just awful.
The only ones who came close to selling me on anything today are Lauren and Erin. I'm a little curious about Lizzie's sympathy sentiments. Hope there's only the one clunker in there.
ReplyDeleteSince when has PTI "learned their lesson" on anything. They are like brick walls when it comes to changing for the better.
ReplyDeleteNow 8:34 be on the level. You know we.talked.about all kinds of.things when we met Nichole for dinner the another night. She was so receptive to our suggestions. And she.bought dinner.
ReplyDeleteDawn's post has me gagging. I think she reads here and tries to nauseate us.
ReplyDeleteLOL - 12:14. . . . she has me on speed-dial ;) .
ReplyDelete12:30 Dawn's photos only? I didn't read but the cards/colors are bad enough.
Oh P.S.: I'm not 8:34! Didn't want 8:34 to think I was trying to impersonate her ;)
ReplyDeleteTiffany Pastor's blog is far too preachy for me.
ReplyDeleteI loved Tiffany's post today. Using her recognition to inform people about this issue is very honorable.
ReplyDeleteI'm on both sides with this one. On the one hand, I love what she is trying to accomplish. On the other hand, I don't like get a dose of preachy either. Maybe a sidebar to a different topical blog would be more appropriate than schmooshing them together.
ReplyDeleteI think it's kind of a "whoa" moment to click over to what you expect is a light and fun cardmaking blog only to be faced with this kind of issue. Kind of a smack in the face - but maybe that's what she's going for so that people take notice and learn more about the problem.
Very strange of her to suggest that her PTI card could be used for today.
ReplyDeleteThoughts on CHA?? Anyone??
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to some of the new Tim Holtz dies and the new alcohol inks. New molds for Mod Melts are coming out in June.
ReplyDeleteI liked Christina's cards for 'Life's Music' today.
ReplyDeleteBut these cards really show how badly the PTI inks stamp. The images are very splotchy. Not good.
Mod Melts don't appear to work well in real life. The surface of the finished item is rough and bubbly.
ReplyDeleteI thought all of Christina's cards were a fail except for the last one.
ReplyDeleteI love the Mod Melts. Once I pour the hot glue into the molds, I give the mold a light tap from the bottom, and that smooths out the glue. It's definitely a learning curve, though. I ruined a few pieces before I figured it out.
ReplyDelete11:25 The stamps are made to have a distressed look.
ReplyDeleteYeah, distressed look is what they will say. That will work, right?
ReplyDeleteThe musical notes are definitely intended to be distressed. But I don't think the banners from the Four Square set are meant to look like that.
ReplyDeleteWithout the dies, the PTI samples suck! The poor planning at PTI is really a joke!
ReplyDeleteAll of Nichole's samples are just plain boring.... She usually has at least one decent card per day, but I've been thoroughly unimpressed today and yesterday. Meh.
ReplyDeleteThey should spend a few months spotlighting old sets. Have a sale and then come back alive with new things.
ReplyDeleteI thought they spotlight an old set every month? I do agree with the sale idea. More sales and stocks would move. Win win all around. I am looking forward to February though :)
ReplyDeleteAnniversary time? Any idea what they will do?
ReplyDeleteI still think PTI is uniquely smack-worthy. But I haven't personally had trouble with orders (got caught in a few of their debacles but would never order anything besides stamps at this point) and would be willing to place an order. However, in a couple of years, I have yet to find that much that I like. Several times I had four or five items in my cart but after awhile I just forget about them. The other day I went through the stamp sets by release date, trying to remember what I had put in my cart at various times, and didn't like anything. Maybe in a few years I'll have enough $5 sets to get free shipping, lol!
Who should PTI hire for three open stamp designer positions?
ReplyDeleteWhy does Dawn insist on making green roses. I have never seen a green rose. Strange color choice.
ReplyDeletewhy do you think PTI needs 3 more stamp designers? i have plenty of folks who I think would be a great addition to its DT but putting out any name here invites smacking of the person . no thanks
ReplyDeleteAnd if you say Cindy Couttes I will choke you!
ReplyDelete"You be the bird, I'll be the feather ..."
ReplyDeleteWhat planet are these people from?
7:27, I was thinking the same thing. Another fail on a sentiment.
ReplyDeleteLaura's bird card today realy shows how badly solid PTI stamps actually stamp. It's can't be the fault of the Versamark ink I assume she is using. But maybe it is her EP?
ReplyDelete^^^
ReplyDeleteI just read that she used Hero Arts EP. So it's not the EP. It's the stamps.
WTH!?
ReplyDeleteIs it April 1st??
I went to Nichole's blog and saw Dawn's Make It Monday. You have GOT to be kidding me!! That is the most HORRENDOUS card/technique I've ever seen.
Big sentiment fails with the feather set. Even the ones less awful than "you be the bird.." could use a rewrite.
ReplyDeleteHow does Nichole have a photo from ACN's post when it isn't even on the woman's blog?
ReplyDelete@915
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Nichole doesn't wait until the posts are up. The usual protocol for DTs is that you email them or upload them privately ahead of time.
MIM has got to be some sort of horrible joke. Dawn wants to be fired and Nichole won't let her go so Dawn is trying her best to get Nichole to call it quits.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the samples for MIM, I thought something was wrong with my computer because the pictures were so blurry. Who knew that blurry is a technique?
ReplyDeletewould prefer that all stamp sets have no sentiments. sell those suckers separately
ReplyDeleteI had to see what the response was to the MIM. Two comments. One likes the stamp set and the other mentions that too.
ReplyDeleteI think most of the 10 that are there so far look better than the sample. One person said, she went the "less is more" route... good thinking, lol! Most of the others did a simple shadow stamping. No one seemed all that crazy about the technique. One said she had to stamp a solid stamp in the center of her flowers and "keep them still" to "add some stability."
There is one with a lot of ferny, feathery flowers and leaves that actually looks pretty darn cool. And loads better than someone else's ;) .
Here's how you handle an ink problem. In today's mail I received an ink pad and the following:
ReplyDeleteDear valued customer,
We are sending you this replacement because we recently discovered a defect in one of our ink formulas. It is an extremely rate case, but for some reason the specific ink color formulation of Orangeade separates over time. In over 20 years, our manufacturer has only experienced this issue one other time. This issue affects the Orangeaide ink formula only. Please discontinue use and discard the defective Orangeade ink/refill.
All other colors in our Creative Color line are perfectly fine. Please continue use as normal.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. While this is an isolated and rare case, we understand consumer confidence is very important. We will continue to improve and bring you the highest products on the market. Guaranteed.
Thank you for supporting Mama Elephant. We wish you a happy and crafty new year!
I say "Well done, Mama Elephant! Well done!' You notified me. I didn't have to do anything to get a replacement. You didn't deny the problem. You apologized. And for that customer care, Mama Elephant, I will continue to support you..
thanks for sharing. it always pays in the long run to do the right thing.
ReplyDeleteStanding ovation for Mama Elephant! Going to check out their inks right now.
ReplyDeleteMama Elephant gets their ink at the same place PTI does. lol
ReplyDeleteI love my ME inks, they are definitely not manufactured by Stewart Superior. Instead they are the same as Impress and Amuse. I think they handled this very well, good for them. Hear that, PTI?
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^Prove it.
ReplyDeletewhat difference does it make who manufactures the ink? the point isn't that the ink had issues, the point is what a company does when it discovers a problem. is it proactive? or does it PTI the customer.
ReplyDeleteit makes a difference because "In over 20 years, our manufacturer has only experienced this issue one other time. " This is a lie, and if they have issues with one ink now, they will have more (probably many inks are bad).
ReplyDeleteoh ok. unless you can demonstrate how you know this is a lie i cannot trust a post on a smackblog.
ReplyDeleteand if ONE more stamper posts how god led her to a DT I am going to scream. NOTE TO BLOGGERS: there is no big guy in the sky that leads you anywhere.
5:14 am. and then ME will refund me my bad ink pads. so I'm not worried. you, however, appear to be a wee bit jealous. I smell a rickster
ReplyDeleteIf a company is not going.to stand behind their own products, a smack blog sure as hell isn't going to stand behind the company. Just a random thought
ReplyDelete^^ ???? makes no sense. maybe I need java
ReplyDeleteIf PTI could get the same ink formulation as ME, why don't they??? Besides, even if PTI could get the same ink, they would still pull that customer service BS when one ink goes bad. The bottom line is it's not the bad ink, misspelled stamps, defective impression plates, etc. It's the people at PTI that are ultimately the problem. Many other companies weather business problems with little or no fall out.
ReplyDeleteNew post is up.
ReplyDelete