The rest of the story...a place to freely discuss "the hub of the digital scrapbook community"
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Happy Easter!
I told you I would be back around Easter! What has been going on around the digi scene? Looks like the Scrapper Awards are coming to DST soon, always some good controversy with those. National Scrapbook day coming hopefully some good sales.
I have plenty in my stash that's unused. With the bit of CU stuff I've bought, I've been able to make everything I've needed or wanted that I didn't already have. I've also used a few freebies here and there.
Being more frugal with my shopping has actually given my creativity quite a boost.
I invested about $100 into some very versatile CU things, and I don't forsee the need to ever buy much again. It's been great for my budget and for my scrapping!
Interesting. In the last post people were complaining about CU sellers because noone but designers use CU. A bit of a turn around in this post.
I agree with using CU stash. It's worth the investment. And I usually like kits because of the color scheme. I have a lot of the CU items designers use.
But I still buy kits from designers that I know I can quickly put a page together.
I haven't bought any CU at all, I just make my own stuff with what I have. There are tons of resources out there that you can use for personal things. I just get that and best of all, it's free.
I've never bought any CU stuff, thought about it, but haven't yet done it. As for spending there just hasn't been much that's been calling my name. Everything is really looking the same, even the fantasy stuff is all starting the look the same. I'm scrapping more than ever, but using more and more of my unused stash. And really, it has nothing to do with money or a budget, there's just very little these days that I see to spend my money on. Even my favorite designers, there's nothing new and exciting.
And no, to answer designers questions before they come, I have no idea what new and different things I want to see. There's really nothing I can pinpoint. I just know what's out there right now is not what I want or what I'm looking for. When 10 new kits from 10 different designers come out in one day and there's very little difference in them, right down to color schemes, well it's just become boring.
I know what you mean! All designers jumped into the fantasy wagon. These fantasy kits are everywhere and I'm so tired of them. Obviously, they sell, if designers keep making them, but I can't wait for this trend to pass.
I am with you on the fantasy stuff. My grandchildren are not angels they are normal toddlers and I have no use for any of the fantasy items. I just want to scrap their lives and leave memories for them.
I am still shopping. I can buy CU and make my own papers, but I like coordinated papers and elements. Someone has done the work for me. It is all good and fine that some here stopped shopping but I can't wait for NSD sales.
There are plenty of non fantasy type kits. Maybe you need to look at other shops besides SPD or A5.
April 13, 2009 4:02 PMI don't shop at either store, it just goes back to my statement earlier, fantasy or not, all the kits are starting to look the same to me. I think I just need to take a nice long break from shopping and scrap with my huge stash. Maybe after a break I'll find something I like, it's just not happening right now.
Buyer's remorse? Yes I have. I'm not going to name names because the last time I did, I was smacked for being jealous, or overly fussy or something! The list of people that I did buy from was completely overlooked in the rush to see the negative.
I have to agree with those who are saying it's all starting to look the same. There are a few designers who stand out, but mostly, it's just one big blur.
I've had plenty of buyer's remorse which makes me reluctant to try anyone new anymore. I'm sticking with the ones who consistently put out good product and who don't get into immature bitch-fests.
There's really nothing I can pinpoint. I just know what's out there right now is not what I want or what I'm looking for. When 10 new kits from 10 different designers come out in one day and there's very little difference in them, right down to color schemes, well it's just become boring.
April 13, 2009 7:46 AM
yep-I SO agree with this!
It's not just A5 and SPD that are glutted with fantasy kits, but I HAVE almost completely quit looking at those two stores (along with a few others).
Like someone else said, I just can't wait for this fantasy trend to die out. Problem is, all the designers will jump on the next bandwagon when it starts up, too-blech.
These days, I'm pretty much shopping off my hard drives.
Mostly on grab bags, which is why I buy only from a select few or only if I've seen a reveal. I don't care what BIG name puts it out-I've been plenty disappointed by the big names as many times or if not more than other bags.
Case in point was one of the very first LDD bags-it was all previously released stuff, and if I remember correctly, that was NOT stated until there were some complaints. There had been lots and lots of kiss asses pimping the bag at DST, and after I bought it, I was more than just a little disappointed. It pretty much stopped me cold from shopping there very much-just left a bad taste.
And no, to answer designers questions before they come, I have no idea what new and different things I want to see. There's really nothing I can pinpoint. I just know what's out there right now is not what I want or what I'm looking for. When 10 new kits from 10 different designers come out in one day and there's very little difference in them, right down to color schemes, well it's just become boring.
April 13, 2009 7:46 AM ------------------------------- Maybe you just need to try buying elsewhere???
I recently went through my stash and deleted most of the Jen Wilson products that I have. I was really into her when I first started scrapping and bought tons of her stuff before I knew that the quality is horrid. Kim Christensen is another one with bad quality, but I don't know if she's even designing anymore.
I recently went through my stash and deleted most of the Jen Wilson products that I have. I was really into her when I first started scrapping and bought tons of her stuff before I knew that the quality is horrid. Kim Christensen is another one with bad quality, but I don't know if she's even designing anymore.
April 14, 2009 3:10 AMOh same here! I kept a few of the boys' things from Jen's kits that I use a lot, but otherwise everything went. I think I always bought from JW because of the hype at the time. She was the "ultimate" designer, she was who you had to buy from if you wanted the best. Thank God I learned there's better out there. I did the same thing with Gina Miller. I had tons of her early stuff. Now I think all I have are her stitches, and I'm not quite sure why I kept those.
April 13, 2009 9:51 PMI've tried that, and it really doesn't seem to matter who or where I try to go. There's just simply nothing there.
And you know, I get it, I really do. Designers follow the trends and make what sells. I get that. And how many ways are there to do things over and over again and make them new and fresh and different. I get all that. So I guess what it boils down to is I'll just have to wait until the next trend comes out and see what happens then. In the meantime I'll just be happy to scrap with my stash and use some of the poor, neglected, bought-but-never-been-used kits that are sitting on my EHD begging me to put them to good use.
3:10 & 5:38 I disagree with you. I think Jen W makes gorgeous digital paper. I don't care for her elements; but her papers still beat everyone else out IMHO.
I've never really understood the Jen Wilson appeal, and the hype over her stuff was beyond ridiculous. She's done a few good papers, but I have found stuff out there that's equal to or better than hers from day 1. She doesn't have a great track record with consistency and customer service, either.
Another over-hyped designer was Gina Miller. A few ok things, but never enough to justify the attention, fuss, and drama.
I really wish digi could just lose that whole scrap-star mentality. It's been unraveling the paper side, and it will do the same in digi if the sheeples keep buying into it :(
You are forgetting that at the time of the Kim/Jen/Gina hayday, there wasn't much to choose from. Not nearly as many stores and selling at Scrapbookbytes meant you were a "good" designer. They were some of the best designers at that time.
Kim doesn't sell anymore that I know of. I don't buy Jen Wilson's elements because her quality isn't always top notch. But she does design some nice looking stuff. So it's disappointing that it is lipstick on a pig. I would buy it if I knew there weren't so many strays.
I still like Gina's designs. They print really clear! (at least the last kit I worked with did!)
Thank you for that link. I started out paper scrapping and posted a few times at 2peas, but a very rude bitch ruined it for me. I don't get what her problem is and never posted a paper layout again. She probably hangs out at the smack blog. I think the digiworld is full of sunshine compared to that world.
You are forgetting that at the time of the Kim/Jen/Gina hayday, there wasn't much to choose from. Not nearly as many stores and selling at Scrapbookbytes meant you were a "good" designer. They were some of the best designers at that time.
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And funnily enough, there really wasn't that 'star' designer mentality around at the time either, not until DST anyway. I nwever hung at 2Peas, so it could have been over there.
Back to buyer's remorse, designers I've bought from and regretted:
Corina Nielsen (great ideas, just not well executed) Gina Miller (her earlier stuff is much better, when she took the time) Jen Wilson (her elements) Christina Renee (blurry, badly recolored etc) Lorie Davison Birgit Kerr Phuong Ton Doris Castle ON Designs Jen U Jeann G Designs
So many, in fact, I'm not going to list them all. But, designers I haven't had a problem with:
Ztampf Tracy Ann Robinson Erica Hite Sylvie Wagner Meredith Fenwick Holly Designs Jofia De Voe Scarlett Heels Media Syrin at Catscrap Vinnie Pearce Ida at Catscrap Natalie Braxton Kate Hadfield Something Blue Studios
and a few more. I thought I would balance out the post.
And funnily enough, there really wasn't that 'star' designer mentality around at the time either, not until DST anyway. I nwever hung at 2Peas, so it could have been over there.You're so right, it did all start with DST. No it didn't happen at 2peas because we weren't allowed to discuss designers if they didn't sell at 2peas, and there weren't many there at the time of the mass exodus. Gina was one of the first I ever bought from, and I bought from her consistently, same with Traci Sims. I just don't know that either one ever evolved much from the beginning, KWIM? Not to say that either one is a bad designer, just that once there was more of a choice out there well...Gina and Traci just didn't have as much oomph anymore.
do we really need any sales? I havent seen anything that I just have to buy, have you?
For some reason that I can not explain, I am dying for Photogenic by Paislee Press. At oScraps. http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=21808&cat=329&page=2 but for $8.00 I am not buying......
SUTYCS~~I haven't been impressed. The pages are all fantasy. Nothing that I could ever see in a scrapbook for grandma. $5.00 for a kit--seems a little too much. The pros and beginners look the same--as a matter of fact all the pages look the same.
I disagree, it didn't start at DST. They were popular way before DST even came around. They were leading the trends back then. The designer star concept has and always will be around.
I was reading Gina's and Kim's blogs way before DST even existed! And many people were commenting and applying for their CT calls. They didn't need DST to put them in the great designer position. But when DST came around, they didn't have to join in or get lost in the shuffle.
SUTYCS~~I haven't been impressed. The pages are all fantasy. This doesn't surprise me considering the sponsoring stores. Most of the kits cater to the fantasy scrapper.
http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=21808&cat=329&page=2 but for $8.00 I am not buying......
April 14, 2009 9:22 PM -------------------------------- You are kidding me right? $8 for that much stuff is a resonable price, and no I am not the designer, not remotely affiliated with O-scraps or ever bought there for that matter. I design for another site. \Do you know how much time goes into a kit that size? A kit that size would take me at least a week full time to do. $8 is a bargain.
I disagree, it didn't start at DST. They were popular way before DST even came around. They were leading the trends back then. The designer star concept has and always will be around.
I was reading Gina's and Kim's blogs way before DST even existed! And many people were commenting and applying for their CT calls. They didn't need DST to put them in the great designer position. But when DST came around, they didn't have to join in or get lost in the shuffle.
April 14, 2009 10:04 PM ----------------------------- I had never heard of them prior to DST, but then I didn't hang out at 2peas either.
I'm really sorry you were not happy with my products. I will gladly refund your purchase(s), no questions asked, and your name will not be brought up. Please send me an email or PM. Thanks.
I had never heard of them prior to DST, but then I didn't hang out at 2peas either.
April 14, 2009 10:53 PM
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Just because you never heard of them doesn't mean that they rose to stardom only with DST!
I wasn't hanging out at 2Peas. I didn't like it there. I forum hopped at TDC & Scrapbook Bytes & sometimes Scrap Artist. I think Gina was at TDC before I started digital. SB used to have freebies and a decent membership program. Well, they were good back then. LOL!!!
Back then there really wasn't a central place like DST except for Digi Scrap Previews but I don't remember that they had a forum. Maybe P4D but I didn't hang out there either.
I'm really sorry you were not happy with my products. I will gladly refund your purchase(s), no questions asked, and your name will not be brought up. Please send me an email or PM. Thanks.
April 14, 2009 11:36 PM
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Thanks for the offer, that is totally sweet of you. I hope I didn't offend you, as that was not my intent. I won't take you up on your very generous offer as I have made the product in question work for me. I have only ever once asked for a refund because I was completely and totally unable to make the product work.
This is really sad! You were disappointed enough to smack her on this blog but when it comes down to it you were able to use the product? I think it would be different if you approached that list about their quality and they totally ignored you and didn't offer a refund or a resolution.
I'd say who I like but then it would be considered pimping and most people on this blog wouldn't agree. ----------------------------------- Who cares what anyone else on this blog thinks. Isn't this blog all about saying what you want to say?
She had a following when she was at Scrapbook-bytes, way before DST was in existence. Her style was unique and fun and she had a heavy presence on the boards and her blog.
I've outgrown her style, she closed the blog I loved to read, and she just doesn't have the same presence she had before. But I think she has a good following that will help keep her business steady while she spends time raising her family.
WTF is with all these FUGLY poser doll thingys in kits. --------------------------------- None of the kits I look at have Fugly poser doll thingys. You need to diversify!
She had a following when she was at Scrapbook-bytes, way before DST was in existence. Her style was unique and fun and she had a heavy presence on the boards and her blog.You are spot on here. I never missed one of her challenges and I think I bought every kit the minute it was released. But she lost some of the uniqueness when digi got so big. And, while I know this is a business for her, closing her blog took away the friendliness and closeness that was once there. I understand why she closed her blog, but it still took something away from those of us who started out with Gina.
I find it so interesting. The designers you won't buy from and the ones you will buy from are still only a spit in the bucket. I mean how many stores are out there now and how many designers and whether it's DST or a smack blog it's the same names over and over and over and over.
Don't want fantasy? There are plenty of designers out there who don't particular like fantasy either. Open your eyes, check the not so popular designers and stores and you might just find a diamond in the rough.
Don't want fantasy? There are plenty of designers out there who don't particular like fantasy either. Open your eyes, check the not so popular designers and stores and you might just find a diamond in the rough.
April 15, 2009 6:18 PM
This isn't the first post where someone has said to check the 'not so popular' designers. Why not throw some names or stores out there? Enlighten us, please.
The places I shop that don't have a lot of fantasy. Some of these might be popular some not. I don't really understand what would define a "popular" vs. an "unknown" designer. I'm really all over the place. I don't care about names or if they are using commercial use stuff. If I like it, I buy it. I just want to be able to scrap my pages using kits that I enjoy working with! I'm not on CT's.
So here's some on my regular shopping list:
ES (Juno, Connie P., Nikki Scott, a few others) Scrap Matters (Tracie S. & Megan T. and others) Danielle C. at Digital Candy Valorie Brown @ FPD (good sales too!) Bren Boone & Amanda Heimann @ Scrap Orchard Aja at Scrap Artist Karah F. @ Oscraps (love her new release!) Sweet Shoppe (whether you like them or not they don't do the fantasy stuff)
This is really sad! You were disappointed enough to smack her on this blog ------
I said I had buyer's remorse buying something form her, I didn't smack her. Sheesh, some people just read what they want to read. I was very polite in my response and everything. You must be looking for trouble.
I find it so interesting. The designers you won't buy from and the ones you will buy from are still only a spit in the bucket ------------------
It wasn't the whole list of designers that I do buy from and don't buy from, I did specify that. I find that interesting too. Why is that people only read what they want to read?
Who gets into immature bitch-fests? Name please?Lily. Having a fit because some other designer made a blog template that had a wavy shape like one that she made. and of course the idea was hers first (rolling eyes) and no one else should be able to use it. She went on and on AND ON about it and how wrong and terrible it was. and how dare they call themselves a designer when they just copy her, yada yada yada. She even wrote to a store owner asking them to remove a blog set because she was sure the person copied her and stole her HTML. not true on either account. And the 'stolen HTML' was just basic code that everyone uses to put an image in the background. Not exactly her intellectual property. doh. Fortunately the store owner did not remove it. but another designers name was drug through the mud, being accused of only copying the great Lily. She even said something about talking to an attorney and supposedly 'he said' you just can't do this.
I am sooooo tired of stores that don't change their "bargains" FPD has had "clearance" items for months and their "weekly" specials have had soo many of the same things week after week.
I said I had buyer's remorse buying something form her, I didn't smack her. Sheesh, some people just read what they want to read. I was very polite in my response and everything. You must be looking for trouble.
Whoa. Now I have no problem paying $9 for a kit i like, but that is hideous... looks so 'digital' IMHO. Sure there are people out there who love that style, each to their own i guess.
Don't want fantasy? There are plenty of designers out there who don't particular like fantasy either. Open your eyes, check the not so popular designers and stores and you might just find a diamond in the rough.
April 15, 2009 6:18 PMI already shop at lesser-known stores with lesser-known designers. That doesn't change the fact that, to me, everything looks the same these days, be it fantasy or non-fantasy. With that said I really have been checking out scrapmatters a lot lately. And I have to agree with the poster above, you can smack SSD all you want, but you damned sure won't find any fantasy kits there, and it's one place I know I can go when all else fails. And I've even started shopping at ES again since Joedee is gone. Another one of my go-to stores is SBE.
I'm quite tired of the fantasy kits as well. I think they make gorgeous layouts but not the type I like to do. I like to shop at SSD, SUN, ScrapMatters occasionally,.. but I'm really not picky. If I like it, I buy it no matter who it's from. If I don't know them I at least give them a shot.
----------------------- no she didn't. Saying that you weren't happy with a product is not smacking someone. Are you really so small minded that you can't separate an opinion about item quality from personal smack????
no she didn't. Saying that you weren't happy with a product is not smacking someone. Are you really so small minded that you can't separate an opinion about item quality from personal smack????
April 16, 2009 2:28 PM
I never said it was a personal smack. A smack is a smack whether personal or not. The reasonable way to deal with disastifaction of a product is to talk to the designer. A large number of designers will give you a refund or fix the quality problem. I think if they blow you off and don't fix the problem then that would be a different story.
I don't see how I could be considered small minded when the preference is to have a direct confrontation with the designer first before smacking them on a blog! I think it is very small minded to smack someone when you found a way to use the product.
Some people (like me) enjoy the artistic side of digiscrapping. It's why I prefer digital over paper because I have more control and tons more options with what I can do. Yes, I scrap "normal" pages like you would with paper but I do like experimenting and a lot of times, I don't even use pictures or photos...I just create neat pictures with what I buy, seeing what I can come up with. Fantasy and those types of kits allow me to stretch beyond the traditional style. When I want to stick a photo in a frame and throw some flowers and ribbons around it, I can do that but when I'm looking for more, the options are out there for me to do so, so I'm glad there are all kinds of styles. That's just me, though. I would probably stop buying if the fantasy and other outside the norm style of kits stop being made.
I'm the original poster that said Jen Wilson's quality is horrid. You're right that her elements are far worse than her paper, but her paper isn't that much better. If you look closely, she uses pixelated clipart in her paper. That's why she has to grunge it up so much. I will use her papers once in a while, but they could be executed better.
I could only use the product after I had to fix it. Imagine buying a dress that you were happy with but when you got it home, the whole hem came undone. It's not a big enough issue to take back, so you fix it yourself. But you never buy that brand again. That's all. It was not a smack.
Anyone can buy from any designer that they like. However, I will not buy from the designers on my list that I had a problem with. I'm so over fixing blurry objects, poor extractions and color issues. Because this happens often enough, I've not bought anything in a long time.
I may have given out a hand slap, but that is not the same as a smack.
What is your problem? Seriously? I did not smack any of them. Seeing as you are posting on a smack blog and using my posts, you are smacking me then by your own admission. DUH! Except, I'm smart enough not to see it like that.
I don't like the products of the designers, that is not the same as smacking the designers. If it comes right down to it, the only think I might have smacked is the product! If you look at the post, I didn't say one bad thing about the designers, only the product.
8:14 you might as well give up. That's just not the type of person to argue with. She won't let up, not that she'll say anything intelligent, just keep repeating the same thing over and over again, like DUH. So save yourself some typing and just ignore her. I thought your post was done very nicely, not smacking at all, and I'm obviously not the only one.
I think people consider it smack because there is a list of designers to avoid since it is like a hem coming loose off a dress.
I am not sure how else to interpret that.
Though at first it looked at the list was a style difference, however I think the OP ended up handing out more smack, oops I mean hand slaps. And no, I am not one of the other posters.
I think this blog is not healthy for me to read. :\
This is for anyone, if the problem you have is some poor quality, though I really try to not have those issues, but if you do, please please let me know. I think any designer would want to know. It would be truly appreciated.
If it is a style or difference in color then well, that is a different issue. If you are unhappy, my offer stands and it goes for anyone, please just let me know. I would never share your name or information with anyone else.
Just for the record, and in my personal scrapping experience, some of the designers listed on the buyer's remorse list have excellent quality and I wonder if it is just a personal difference in taste.
I am very reclusive by nature and am nervous just typing this in a public, especially an anonymous, forum. To be honest, I am hurt, and I certainly understand everyone has different taste. That makes the world a more interesting place. Well, now I am just rambling on.
The point of this dragged out post was to let everyone know that they are welcome to contact me if there is ever a problem. I am not a big name designer nor have a huge following. I do appreciate each and every customer that I have, and I sincerely mean that. Well until you hate me and smack me on a blog (okay I am just kidding on that one, but I couldn't help it). :)
It isn't a matter of taste difference, because if you look at the list of designers that I continue to buy from, they have a similar style to the ones that I will not buy from. However, I do know that I have a very high resolution monitor, and I think that's the problem. It may not look blurry to you, but it does to me because my monitor resolution is so high.
I'm sorry that some people here cannot see an honest criticism for what it is and insist on it being a smack. This is the kind of attitude that I avoid at DST and it's disappointing to see it here too.
I bought an alpha called "Vintage Alpha Stamps" from Kim Sheen/KCS Designs through PDW. I had them in the file for about 3 months or so and finally took them out to use. I applied a metallic style to them and what happened next shocked the crap out of me. They are appalling. She "extracted" them I guess and didn't even bother to check for strays. The ENTIRE graphic is so filled with strays that they are unusable. I have been digiscrapping for about 4 years and I have never seen product sold in this state.
I contacted the store twice to ask for my money back or for the designer to fix the product and then send me a new zip. I even emailed the designer directly. Neither of them bothered to contact me back.
So, Kim Sheen/KCS Designs and Plain Digital Wrapper are off my shopping list. I tell everyone I know to beware.
No customer should be ignored when they bring a product issue to the attention of a store owner - not to mention the designer.
That's bad CS. The few times I did contact the designer/store, I received an answer. It's just too bad that the 'fixed' product was just as bad as the original.
I've had problems with stray pixels too. One designer, whose stuff I love but haven't bought because of issues with her freebies does it a bit. I only discovered it when I was trimming down my PNG files and the trim action wouldn't get rid of the empty space. So I applied a stroke and there was a ton of strays. I cleaned them up but as I said, haven't bought anything from her, even though I really like her freebies. I just don't want to pay for something I have to fix.
2:11: You should contact her so she at least knows that she has problems with her products even if they are freebies. I know it sounds impossible but she may not be aware of the strays. CU items come with them and designers often assume that they are already high quality. Or she's just missing it if scanning her own items.
Their security sucks a bit, don't you think? Why would that be a security issue? It's not like they are sharing pesonal information because you can access the "hidden" manufacturers by typing the next number in the url.
For some reason that I can not explain, I am dying for Photogenic by Paislee Press. At oScraps. http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=21808&cat=329&page=2 but for $8.00 I am not buying......
April 14, 2009 9:22 PM _______________
It looks way too simple for a $8 kit. And I see there is some green foliage that doesn't fit the color scheme. What's with that? They can't recolor properly?
It looks way too simple for a $8 kit. And I see there is some green foliage that doesn't fit the color scheme. What's with that? They can't recolor properly?
-------- I am not the designer of the kit or associated with the site in anyway, but I have to ask, what color are the leaves supposed to be? Blue? Red? If you recolor the leaves, they don't look natural anymore.
If you take a rubber band and a paper, and make them the same exact shade of blue that doesn't seem as real to me. I think it looks more realistic to have slight variations.
For a designer to make one mistake is understandable, but to make many is unacceptable.
I have nothing personal against Jen Wilson, but I will never purchase her products again. She has had numerous spelling errors in word art and stray pixels. It was really too bad because I liked her style a lot. But I deleted nearly everything I owned of hers off my hard drive.
And yes, I pointed out the mistakes to her and she replaced the files in question. But that doesn't replace the $30 hardbound book that has a spelling error in it. I'm not going to purchase from people who don't proofread their work.
So all I ask of designers is to please proofread your work carefully and check for stray pixels. It's not difficult to do.
2:11: You should contact her so she at least knows that she has problems with her products even if they are freebies. I know it sounds impossible but she may not be aware of the strays. CU items come with them and designers often assume that they are already high quality. Or she's just missing it if scanning her own items
_______________ Freebies...you get what you pay for. Enough said about that.
As for the excuse about presuming CU items are high quality is insane. Even if her kit is nothing but cu items, once she saves them in her kit with her name, she now owns them and the quality of her items is only for her to be responsible for. If she's not checking quality as soon as she opens that cu item to use, she's just plain lazy and an extremely poor excuse for a designer. Checking for strays and making sure your items are crisp and clear is NOT hard to do. One or two missed pixels...not a big deal but still easy to find.
I'm sorry that some people here cannot see an honest criticism for what it is and insist on it being a smack. This is the kind of attitude that I avoid at DST and it's disappointing to see it here too.
^^^^^^
I consider an honest criticism to be like the one right after your post about the problems with Kim Sheen's stuff. But just a list of designers that a person is had "buyers remorse" over is not constructive criticism. She only included notes on a couple of them. If a designer sees that list then what can she learn from it? It isn't helpful or constructive information. I don't know if I would go so far as to call it a smack.
Everyone should be allowed to voice their opinions on this blog. Just because they defend someone being smacked doesn't mean that they have a DST attitude or that this place is becoming like DST. They just don't agree with what the other poster had to say. It seems that posters here think they should just be allowed to say whatever they want and everyone will just agree.
I consider an honest criticism to be like the one right after your post about the problems with Kim Sheen's stuff. But just a list of designers that a person is had "buyers remorse" over is not constructive criticism. She only included notes on a couple of them. If a designer sees that list then what can she learn from it? It isn't helpful or constructive information. I don't know if I would go so far as to call it a smack.
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It's not my job to tell a designer what she did wrong. I've been there and done that, to no avail. All my notes would have been pretty much the same on the designers that I listed. Maybe I should have just included a ditto?
The only remorse I have now is listing those designers.
Freebies...you get what you pay for. Enough said about that.
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Designers users freebies as a promotional tool. It's a sample of their work. If the freebie isn't good enough, I won't make a purchase. So, she has lost sales. I would have happily purchased everything she makes but I won't.
2:48 And yes, I pointed out the mistakes to her and she replaced the files in question. But that doesn't replace the $30 hardbound book that has a spelling error in it. I'm not going to purchase from people who don't proofread their work.
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Ummm.........you obviously don't proof read either or you would have picked up the error before you had your book printed. LOL
Well, sometimes I have found a small stray or so and I have gone ahead and fixed it. It isn't that I think its right or that I am not disappointed in the designer, but usually its because I really need to use the product and don't have time to mess with trying to get it fixed and returned to me. That said, I don't buy from them again.
However, this particular alpha is 26 individual pieces and the amount of work it will take to clean it up to a usable level is not worth the money I paid. When you stroke the alpha, it literally disappears in the muck of strays.
Also, I totally agree with a previous poster that if a designer takes a CU product and doesn't check it out, then makes a freebie..the quality of that freebie lies with her rep, not the original CU designer.
I think that every designer should have someone else double check their kits for strays, typos, missing letters, wrong dpi, blurries, etc. It helps to have another set of eyes.
Scrapbook Bytes has gone downhill since. Many of the original stores have gone downhill because all the "good" designers moved to the now popular stores. How many of the first stores still exist anymore? SBB, SOTB, Digitals. I can't believe Theres K is selling at SBB. Her overlays are blurry.
You are forgetting that at the time of the Kim/Jen/Gina hayday, there wasn't much to choose from. Not nearly as many stores and selling at Scrapbookbytes meant you were a "good" designer. They were some of the best designers at that time.
Also, I totally agree with a previous poster that if a designer takes a CU product and doesn't check it out, then makes a freebie..the quality of that freebie lies with her rep, not the original CU designer.
April 18, 2009 4:25 AM
^^^^^^
In this post I am not talking about freebies. Just product for sale. It does lie on her rep. It never has been said that it wasn't her responsibility or that it is a good excuse. But mistakes do happen. Designers miss stuff. And you deserve something in return for paying for a product that isn't up to par. Even if you can fix it yourself an email to the designer is still in order requesting something for their mistake. And if you like the designer they hopefully won't make the same mistake again.
Someone above talked about a falling hem in a dress. There would be very few circumstances that I would fix that myself if the dress was brand new. I would request a refund or at the very least a discount for having to fix the dress myself. And a store with good customer would want me to be happy in the end.
Every designer can check til they are blue in the face and still on occasion miss something. Designers are human and humans make mistakes. Saying that if an entire freebie or kit is messed up then I can see a reason for not ever buying from that particular designer again. But I've bought where I've had to fix a little pixel or smooth a little edge because I perfer to do it that way and not think twice about buying from the designer again. It would be a wondeful world if everyone in it was perfect. I happen to be one who can on occasion acknowledge the imperfections of mere mortals and go on about my business. Obviously some here can't because usually the ones who denigrate those with flaws are definitely not flawless. I don't know a perfect person on this earth. If we had that kind of perfection wouldn't it be a wonderful world.
About the thread at DST regarding yahoo groups sharing sales info...I am not seeing SSD on this safe list they have created...are they the ones sharing?
About the thread at DST regarding yahoo groups sharing sales info...I am not seeing SSD on this safe list they have created...are they the ones sharing?
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Ignore all that rubbish. Just because a store isn't on the "list" doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong. The whole thing was blown way out of proportion. Some of the stores not on that "list" aren't on it simply because the owners don't bother with DST. Not everyone has even heard of DST. DST is not the be all and end all. And let's not get confused here.........it isn't DST's "list". DST didn't instigate it. Should they be held responsible for contributing to the debacle? Yes. BUT it isn't their "list" Remember - just because a store isn't on that list doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong. The whole thing should be deleted from DST.
Remember - just because a store isn't on that list doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong. The whole thing should be deleted from DST.
April 18, 2009 9:15 AM
This is exactly the kind of crap that has people so fed up with DST. Unnecessary drama like this and Shannon and her mod squad won't do a damn thing about it.
But let someone say that they were ripped off by the likes of Joedee, Ashley Olsen, Michelle Pearson, etc. and threads are moved, deleted, and people are bullied into silence.
DST is big but just because they don't put a store on some list they put out means jack shit. I would sincerely hope that customers who see that list would not disregard a store simply because it's not mentioned by DST.
I just read through the sharing personal informatoin threads over at DST and I would have to say: wow, for real?
Serously...do any of you complaining about sharing information own a grocery store customer card? Do any of you complaining own a credit card? Do any of you complaining have a SSN? Have you ever given to a charity like the ASPCA? If you said yes to one or all of the questions above, please sit down as I have some shocking news for you. YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED ALL THE TIME. Yes, that's right. Every time you get a credit card offer in the mail, it's because someone somewhere dove into your credit report, saw your credit information and decided you would be eligible for a new credit card. Once you give to a large public charity, your information is then put on a list for ALL of them to start coming out of the woodwork to pine for your money. Once you use your cutstomer card at a grocery store, you are put into their system and your buying habits are watched. You get junk mail and telemarketer phone calls because someone somewhere has your private information.
I can walk into any courthouse anywhere and find out information on anyone in that county about their home purchase (when, how much, where, tax info, value), any pending court cases, lawsuits or liens against them, etcetera. That's ALL public information.
So frikkin' calm down about your private information being shared with designers and store owners. Good lord. Unless you live under a rock in Antarctica and never buy anything, your information is publicly available for anyone to find and use.
^^^ @@ It's not people here that are complaining about personal info sharing, it's people at DST. Why not take your rant there so the people who need to read it will see it?
What I find interesting about that whole thread is that blushbutter pushed the OP to make that original post. Seems like she sort of threw Christon under the bus.
THEN she has the nerve to accuse one store that she apparently doesn't like of being dishonest.
Blushbutter sounds like one of the bigger troublemakers in digi.
And that DST list doesn't mean squat. No one with a full brain cell would expect store owners to have to go to DST and assure people that their private info. is safe. Your private info is never safe from the moment you put it out ANY.where and DST is hardly the authority on where consumers should shop.
Blushbutter sounds like one of the bigger troublemakers in digi. ^^^ Possibly, but I can unequivocally say that she's one of the crappiest designers in digi! Those crazy dolls of hers are beyond creepy.
IMO, any designer that uses DST for anything other than advertising or maybe getting tips, tricks or quick answers in the designer forum aren't doing themselves any good.
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
I am a store owner and I have to say that while I will not get involved publicly in the discussion over at DST, I have always been mortified by this practice.
No one should be privy to any designer's sales but the designer and store owner. No one. I have always found this practice to be a direct violation of privacy.
While I believe that this method came about innocently enough as a method to update designers on their sales, it is process that no one seems to have thought about all the way through.
One store owner actually said a while back that having everyone see each other's sale helps with motivation. Yeah right. I think the motivation comes from strong leadership and support from the management, not from pitting designers against each other within a passive/aggressive process.
IMO, any designer that uses DST for anything other than advertising or maybe getting tips, tricks or quick answers in the designer forum aren't doing themselves any good.
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
I wish there was an entity similar to the BBB for diggy designers. A customer could file a complaint, file out a form. The complaint would need to be substantiated by proof, and the number of complaints could be cross indexed to the designer's name. Even allowing for an occasional "jealousy-motivated" false complaint, or "drama-mongering" by people, over time the statistics would bear out the validity of customers complaints, at least on the issues of quality like jaggies and sloppiness of execution.
I find it a bit sad that Kitty Chen posted a LO in Gallery Standouts today that is made from her new kit. She posted a LO in GSO's that was made with her OWN kit. Geeze-not saying it's not a great LO, but for her to post it herself...just odd.
go for it 1:48. many have suggested it. usually a blog is set-up for about 3 weeks after the suggestion and then it fizzles out because noone is interested.
She always ask basic questions in the DCR ''How do you do this, how do you do that?'' I would expect more from a Scrapartist designer. She looks like she can't design and she's just good at using the Dover images.
go for it 1:48. many have suggested it. usually a blog is set-up for about 3 weeks after the suggestion and then it fizzles out because noone is interested.
April 18, 2009 2:34 PM ________________________
Maybe that's one reason it didn't work? A blog, esp an anon one, creates too many problems to successfully handle the issue of customer service/quality of product sold to the diggy public.
And yet, I see a growing need for just such a thing. Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
April 18, 2009 4:52 PM
_______________
Well, they did speak up about the photography class so that doesn't prove your point.
With kits that are poor quality an oportunity should be given to the designer to correct the problem before publically announcing that they suck. I think that is a customer service issue and doesn't belong in forums.
You want that type of service, then you're going to have to build it. But I bet anything it will fail because designers won't support it. Partly because of blogs like this where people can just hate a designer because they are anon.
She always ask basic questions in the DCR ''How do you do this, how do you do that?'' I would expect more from a Scrapartist designer. She looks like she can't design and she's just good at using the Dover images.
April 18, 2009 4:27 PM
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I don't have access to the DCR.
How would that make her "petty or insecure"? Sounds like she is secure in the fact that she doesn't know how to do everything and is trying to move beyond her scope of talent.
I wouldn't expect every designer to know how to do everything in photoshop. I respect anyone who would ask a lot of questions to grow in their profession.
I find it a bit sad that Kitty Chen posted a LO in Gallery Standouts today that is made from her new kit. She posted a LO in GSO's that was made with her OWN kit. Geeze-not saying it's not a great LO, but for her to post it herself...just odd.
Every designer can check til they are blue in the face and still on occasion miss something. Designers are human and humans make mistakes. Saying that if an entire freebie or kit is messed up then I can see a reason for not ever buying from that particular designer again. -----------------
I agree. The freebies that I'm talking about had mistakes in every single one of them. I overlook the occasional mistake, but if it happens repeatedly, then it's see ya later.
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
April 18, 2009 11:51 AM ________________
Like Jodie Paterson (Gypsy Chick).
April 18, 2009 1:16 PM ---------------
like yourself for instance? Why so concerned what Jodie is doing?
I wish there was an entity similar to the BBB for diggy designers. A customer could file a complaint, file out a form. The complaint would need to be substantiated by proof, and the number of complaints could be cross indexed to the designer's name. ^^^^ 1:48, Customers at DST asked for this type of thing more than once. Shannon and her designer friends shot it down. More than once.
Well, they did speak up about the photography class so that doesn't prove your point. -------------------- Only 2 or 3 people spoke up, and as soon as they did, the thread was MOVED, so it totally proves her point.
Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
April 18, 2009 4:52 PMAs for the majority being afraid to complain I don't know why really they would be. If you think about it we're all really anon. This is the internet we can be whoever we want to be if we choose.
Only other thing is those that are themselves are afraid of being "blacklisted" in the community. If you're a "big" name scrapper, have lots of digi friends or whatever, you might very well be dropped from the friends list if you open your mouth.
That's how it is with a big group of women. Too bitchy! Need some more guys to break things up and keep it real! LOL
Only 2 or 3 people spoke up, and as soon as they did, the thread was MOVED, so it totally proves her point.
April 19, 2009 9:12 AM
^^^^ It doesn't prove her point. She was saying that people are afraid to speak up. Well, NOT everyone is afraid to speak up because someone did. And the thread being moved has nothing to do with the fact that someone did speak up.
This BBB idea comes up all the time and noone ever actually puts something together. And it pisses me off that people are pointing fingers at Shannon (and her buddies) for preventing it from happening. NO! it's just that it isn't something that is easy to develop and it's going to cost money. This person is going to have to be passionate about their cause and have really thick skin.
So if you want a BBB for the digi world, you will probably have to be the one to step up and create it. DST can't prevent a site like that from happening. They don't have any power.
You're right. I should have proofread it. And I learned two lessons: proofread designer's work and don't purchase from designers who don't. But the point is, I shouldn't have to. The designer should have done it.
2:48 And yes, I pointed out the mistakes to her and she replaced the files in question. But that doesn't replace the $30 hardbound book that has a spelling error in it. I'm not going to purchase from people who don't proofread their work.
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Ummm.........you obviously don't proof read either or you would have picked up the error before you had your book printed. LOL
Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
April 18, 2009 4:52 PM
_______________
Well, they did speak up about the photography class so that doesn't prove your point.
^^^^^^^^^ She said that too many people were afraid to speak publicly, not that NO ONE in that thread spoke up. She's completely correct.
Two or three people spoke up. Many more said "PM me for more info"--because they were afraid to speak out publicly. They weren't afraid to give their opinion-they were just afraid to put it out there at DST. Which bring us right back to the original question-why?
And the thread being moved has nothing to do with the fact that someone did speak up.
April 19, 2009 9:43 AM
The thread being moved only after the complaints were posted has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that someone spoke up.
It sat there for over two months, and then within a week or two of the complaints, it was moved to another forum that people would be much less likely to check when looking for feedback on photography classes.
I wonder if the DST apologists can explain the hit and miss and pick and choose moderation, frequent downtime, late newsletters, promises that never materialize (faster speeds, less gallery problems, site upgrades, site remodels). Not to mention all the deadlines that are never met, from the Insider to the DST CT and hot product crap and on and on.
I'm really interested to see what your explanation is for all those things.
You all are such morons. I was replying to a post that was speaking about the FEAR of posting anything negative at DST. The thread being moved does NOT change the fact that someone was BRAVE enough to speak up.
It's two different issues. Some people are willing to speak up and they did regard the photography class.
I'm really interested to see what your explanation is for all those things.
April 19, 2009 11:06 AM
The explanation for all that is simple. It's a direct result of the character and the attitude of DST's founder and those that she surrounds herself with.
It's not going to change. Best advice is find another site to check for new products, sales, etc. There are some others starting to crop up.
11:06 I'm wondering how you are invested in the site that you would care so much? ^^^^ I could ask the exact same thing of you!
April 19, 2009 11:34 AM
^^^^^^
I already said that I don't care about that stuff. That's not the reason that I visit DST. I post in the gallery, look at ISO threads, maybe chat in a NBSR post, and look at new products. Site redesign, moderation, etc. doesn't matter.
The thread being moved does NOT change the fact that someone was BRAVE enough to speak up. --- No one said that it did.
You are the only one confusing the two issues, or trying to so that attention is drawn away from the original point.
The original post said that too many people were afraid to speak publicly at DST.
The other poster(s) said that only 2 or 3 people spoke publicly. That's absolutely true.
They also said that many more than 2 or 3 said to PM them. Obviously they did not want to speak out publicly. They were willing to share their opinions, just NOT at DST's public forums.
So the original question still stands. WHY are so many afraid or unwilling to give an honest opinion about something like a photography class at DST?
WHY are so many afraid or unwilling to give an honest opinion about something like a photography class at DST?
April 19, 2009 11:55 AM
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It has very little to do with DST. And more about how some people handle problems. Some prefer to be private about it. Other's are willing to speak out. I may be fired up about an issue but that doesn't mean that I'm going to write the newspaper to have an editorial published.
No, you are the one who's wrong. There were people willing to help out. Shannon is the one who put out the final no.
April 19, 2009 10:53 AM
there was a post in the DCR discussing that Shannon was going to make this happen at DST. Some designers were pissed off about it and didn't feel DST was the place to do this.
there was a post in the DCR discussing that Shannon was going to make this happen at DST. Some designers were pissed off about it and didn't feel DST was the place to do this.
April 19, 2009 12:07 PM
And Shannon is the one who caved and told those without DCR access that it wouldn't happen at DST.
It has very little to do with DST. And more about how some people handle problems. Some prefer to be private about it. Other's are willing to speak out. I may be fired up about an issue but that doesn't mean that I'm going to write the newspaper to have an editorial published.
April 19, 2009 12:01 PM
I agree with you up to a point. Certainly, the bigger issue is that there are many scrappers and designers who cannot separate honest opinions and feedback from personal judgements.
BUT, so many people have been bullied for speaking up and offering honest opinions at DST that it's made the problem worse.
The fact that the feature has to be turned on does not change the fact that it is an option.
April 19, 2009 6:30 PM
__________
Yet another STUPID conspiracy theory. Big DST Moderator is watching your every move. Knows your every coupon code and RAK. Oh my! We should all be scared!
It requires a hack to make that work for vbulletin. It's unlikely that Shannon has taken the time to install the hack. The only other way to do it is to go into the phpMyAdmin and find the private messages table. That's not an easy thing to do. It's also unlikely that a moderator would have access that far into the backend.
who has actually been bullied at DST for expressing their opinions? How were they bullied? Just wondering.
April 19, 2009 4:26 PM --------------------------
I remember one instance when Jen Wilson was still really popular and someone made a thread talking about Jen's lack of CS and the OP got slammed but good. It was horrible.
I don't hang out at DST or MSA and haven't even looked at the new one around. DST is full of CT pimping and I dislike Shannon's methods. And I do not care for MSA because of the owners.
So I'm wondering, what DO we want to see in a community forum?
And why do all of you who leak stuff out of that forum think it's OK? _____________ Why do you even care?
That's my biggest question about a lot of things that get discussed here and at DST. Then again, I can then double-standard that back to myself..why do I even care why you care? *sigh* There's way too much wondering and worrying about who's doing what, when where and why. Not just in this whole world of digiscrap but everywhere.
That's my biggest question about a lot of things that get discussed here and at DST... Not just in this whole world of digiscrap but everywhere.
April 20, 2009 9:39 AM"
_________________________________
I care because I wanted seomthing better for myself. I wanted DST to be a place where I felt welcome and valued - even if my opinion didn't match admin's. I didn't expect everyone to agree with me or even like me, but the bullying is unnecessary. And I was disappointed that those people who held the power to stop it and set an example were some of the worst to engage in the practice.
And when people pretend like it's not happening or that they don't see it, then they enable the bullies and are a step away from being one also.
I didn't expect everyone to agree with me or even like me, but the bullying is unnecessary. And I was disappointed that those people who held the power to stop it and set an example were some of the worst to engage in the practice.
And when people pretend like it's not happening or that they don't see it, then they enable the bullies and are a step away from being one also.
April 20, 2009 10:03 AM ____
other than the Jen Wilson thing posted above, what other times has there been bullying by admin at DST? (I didn't see it that way even in the Jen Wilson thread).
I'm not enabling. How can I when I just don't see it? Maybe I just have thicker skin? And aren't you enabling by not standing up for what you believe?
How can you be sure I didn't complain to an authority figure on the bullying? Sometimes, the OP is hard to defend because of the way they brought up the topic - going public first instead of trying private, or with belligerence instead of respectfully. But squashing all criticism of pet designers isn't right either. Taking someone's money makes you responsible to meet the level of service or product that you sold to that customer. Saying I didn't receive what I paid for and being able to back up that claim with clear evidence, shouldn't be a reason to black ball. But I think as long as DST is so strongly biased toward a certain set of people who happen to be designers, then it's allowed itself to become a tool for petty criminals to continue to take advantage of others.
Then there's different opinions on the very existence of bullying and black balling in the diggy community. You say you don't see it, I say I do. Telling me to grow a thicker skin, doesn't change the fact that much of the negativity at a site like DST is unnecessary and admin sanctioned. It's sanctioned when it's ignored and it's sanctioned when the owner exhibits a blatant favoritism for one member over another. The standards for a regular Joe vs a Forum Leader or Site Owner are different.
I find it incredibly ironic that posters here are complaining about bullying but yet here we are at a place where meaness, ugliness, bullying, and lies are welcome. Before you say "Then what are you doing here?" I come here because it makes me laugh that the irony continues on and on.
It is my belief that the reason such "bullying" can occur is because some store owners, designers & perhaps even Shannon to a small extent, don't perceive their businesses for what they are - businesses. They aren't the local church social craft fare or a hat wearing tea party - but bonafide businesses taking money from customers. So, it did not surprise me then and it does not surprise me now when I see ANYONE who comes forward with a customer service complaint, or wanting to warn of a service issue or product fault, that they are then turned into enemy #1.
Why don't you think more shops have customer satisfaction surveys or even ranking systems attached to their sites? They don't want to be rated or judged.
It reminds me of that scene in "Something to talk about" when Julia Robert's character is attending the ladies league meeting. They all have their heads in the sand and don't want to know the truth about their husbands cheating or whatever...they end up clamoring for the exit when the truth starts to roll.
Same with this community. People come on this board and talk their own brand of smack about how horrible it is, how destructive the posters are. No, the way I see it is most of the time its just raw truth and its a rare breed that can stand up for it and be real.
If a product is bad or a customer has been treated badly, by God it should not be prohibited to express it.
Just because something is truth, doesn't make it bullying. You don't come here for irony. You come here because you are hoping to see a train wreck. You LOVE the drama. You LOVE the smack. Here's a buck - go spew your two headed bullcrap somewhere else.
If a product is bad or a customer has been treated badly, by God it should not be prohibited to express it.
April 20, 2009 2:20 PM
__________
But why does DST have to be the place to do that? The site owner (even if she is making money off advertising) can determine the purpose of her site. She has determined that DST isn't going to focus on that aspect.
That means someone else is going to have to pick up that ball. Everyone wants to drop it in Shannon's lap and then bitch that she doesn't catch it right. I can't say I blame her for bowing out on that one!
But I don't really see anywhere that says that you can't say whatever you want. The problem is that people want to be able to provide feedback publically but then they don't want to accept the consequences for saying something negative. It is going to make someone angry. Not everyone is going to reply with "I totally agree and you are so wise for pointing this out." But that's what the poster exposing the problem seems to be expecting. They don't want the designer or site owner to defend themselves. They don't want the public to say "This post doesn't belong here, you should keep it private." And then when those things are posted people start thinking that the person has been "black balled."? It's all based on feelings and assumed relationships that aren't anywhere near what's really going on.
I don't think the DST issues are going to matter soon. I've noticed the social side of the site has slowed considerably in the last few weeks. It seems to be the same 10-20 people posting. Even the designers advertising sales seem to be the same ones, and not ones I shop with. Eventually people will just stop going at all.
It started off as a nice place when I first started scrapping, and I felt welcome there. I don't get that feeling anymore and I've never been malicious towards anyone. Oh well, time to move on.
Shannon's favortism in action?? How about when she allowed My PicTales to blatantly pimp and advertise all over her forum, and then when My PicTales couldn't handle the orders they got with THEIR coupon offer, Shannon out and out told people they couldn't post about it at DST. How did she know that people hadn't already tried to contact MyPicTales about the problems?
That's just one instance. But it's one instance too many.
It's not that ironic that people here are complaining about the bullying at DST.
This place is what it is-a smack and gossip blog. That's everyone's expectation going in. I know that I'm not going to believe a lot of what I read here, and I know that some people are here just to mess with others and stir the pot.
But at DST, many of us joined there because of how it's portrayed. We were told that's it's a "warm, inviting and friendly place," where we would be allowed to speak up about stores, products, etc.
People who joined expected consistency and none of the game-playing and underhanded bullying (ala 2peas for those of us who joined in the exodus). It didn't take long to see that it wasn't going to happen.
You can dress up a pig all you want, but at the end of the day, it's still a pig under that dress.
This place-we all know it's a pig-no one's playing games and pretending it isn't. You can't even try to say that about DST-it's just a pig with lipstick and frills.
You say you don't see it, I say I do. Telling me to grow a thicker skin, doesn't change the fact that much of the negativity at a site like DST is unnecessary and admin sanctioned. It's sanctioned when it's ignored and it's sanctioned when the owner exhibits a blatant favoritism for one member over another. The standards for a regular Joe vs a Forum Leader or Site Owner are different.
Just because something is truth, doesn't make it bullying. ^^^ True dat.
And coming here just to mess with people and stir things up? WAY more sick and twisted than any of the smack about REAL, legitimate problems that can't be discussed anywhere else.
Sometimes the truth isn't pleasant. That's just too damn bad-it still needs to be out in the open.
And coming here just to mess with people and stir things up? WAY more sick and twisted than any of the smack about REAL, legitimate problems that can't be discussed anywhere else.
Sometimes the truth isn't pleasant. That's just too damn bad-it still needs to be out in the open.
April 20, 2009 4:48 PM
And three's been so much of that that hasn't already been brought up at DST? It's just the same bitter crap over and over.
I am just an average scrapper, not a designer. I am not active on any CT's, although I have been in the past. I am not active in any "scrapbook community", I don't post on the message boards, and I don't post my layouts online anymore. I read the Digi boards for entertainment, and am constantly amazed at what people share on the internet. I freely admit to reading the scrapbook smack blogs, it is a guilty pleasure.
You can email me at: DSTHallofFame@gmail.com
1,420 comments:
1 – 200 of 1420 Newer› Newest»okay third
I'll play -
fourth
what the hell. fifth.
do we really need any sales?
I havent seen anything that I just have to buy, have you?
I haven't bought anything in eight months.
there definitely hasn't been as much worth buying in the past 6 months or so
I don't know where you all are shopping, but I have found lot's of stuff to buy. I am saving up though for NSD - should be great savings all weekend.
Tenth! HA!! lol
What are you all scrapping with if you haven't been buying? I mean I have a stash but I like something fresh and new every once in a while.
I have plenty in my stash that's unused. With the bit of CU stuff I've bought, I've been able to make everything I've needed or wanted that I didn't already have. I've also used a few freebies here and there.
Being more frugal with my shopping has actually given my creativity quite a boost.
cheese baps
I invested about $100 into some very versatile CU things, and I don't forsee the need to ever buy much again. It's been great for my budget and for my scrapping!
Interesting. In the last post people were complaining about CU sellers because noone but designers use CU. A bit of a turn around in this post.
I agree with using CU stash. It's worth the investment. And I usually like kits because of the color scheme. I have a lot of the CU items designers use.
But I still buy kits from designers that I know I can quickly put a page together.
I haven't bought any CU at all, I just make my own stuff with what I have. There are tons of resources out there that you can use for personal things. I just get that and best of all, it's free.
I've never bought any CU stuff, thought about it, but haven't yet done it. As for spending there just hasn't been much that's been calling my name. Everything is really looking the same, even the fantasy stuff is all starting the look the same. I'm scrapping more than ever, but using more and more of my unused stash. And really, it has nothing to do with money or a budget, there's just very little these days that I see to spend my money on. Even my favorite designers, there's nothing new and exciting.
And no, to answer designers questions before they come, I have no idea what new and different things I want to see. There's really nothing I can pinpoint. I just know what's out there right now is not what I want or what I'm looking for. When 10 new kits from 10 different designers come out in one day and there's very little difference in them, right down to color schemes, well it's just become boring.
I know what you mean! All designers jumped into the fantasy wagon. These fantasy kits are everywhere and I'm so tired of them. Obviously, they sell, if designers keep making them, but I can't wait for this trend to pass.
I am with you on the fantasy stuff. My grandchildren are not angels they are normal toddlers and I have no use for any of the fantasy items. I just want to scrap their lives and leave memories for them.
There are plenty of non fantasy type kits. Maybe you need to look at other shops besides SPD or A5.
I am still shopping. I can buy CU and make my own papers, but I like coordinated papers and elements. Someone has done the work for me. It is all good and fine that some here stopped shopping but I can't wait for NSD sales.
Any thoughts on the So You Think You Can Scrap contest?
There are plenty of non fantasy type kits. Maybe you need to look at other shops besides SPD or A5.
April 13, 2009 4:02 PMI don't shop at either store, it just goes back to my statement earlier, fantasy or not, all the kits are starting to look the same to me. I think I just need to take a nice long break from shopping and scrap with my huge stash. Maybe after a break I'll find something I like, it's just not happening right now.
I miss Jamie Young at FPD. I wish she'd show up there or somewhere else soon. I love her stuff.
Could we talk about "buyer's remorse?"
What item do you wish you NEVER bought? Just never use it? Quality was not as expected?
I bought Traci Murphy's drop shadows. Never use them- and feel bad b/c you can either make them, or download them free. I bought them a long time ago.
By "download them free," I meant by like Flergs or whoever. You can also make them on separate layers- more realistic.
I love Traci's metal drop shadow. I use it all the time. I've been pleased with her actions.
Buyer's remorse? Yes I have. I'm not going to name names because the last time I did, I was smacked for being jealous, or overly fussy or something! The list of people that I did buy from was completely overlooked in the rush to see the negative.
I have to agree with those who are saying it's all starting to look the same. There are a few designers who stand out, but mostly, it's just one big blur.
I've had plenty of buyer's remorse which makes me reluctant to try anyone new anymore. I'm sticking with the ones who consistently put out good product and who don't get into immature bitch-fests.
Who gets into immature bitch-fests? Name please?
There's really nothing I can pinpoint. I just know what's out there right now is not what I want or what I'm looking for. When 10 new kits from 10 different designers come out in one day and there's very little difference in them, right down to color schemes, well it's just become boring.
April 13, 2009 7:46 AM
yep-I SO agree with this!
It's not just A5 and SPD that are glutted with fantasy kits, but I HAVE almost completely quit looking at those two stores (along with a few others).
Like someone else said, I just can't wait for this fantasy trend to die out. Problem is, all the designers will jump on the next bandwagon when it starts up, too-blech.
These days, I'm pretty much shopping off my hard drives.
Buyer's remorse-oh yeah. BTDT a few times.
Mostly on grab bags, which is why I buy only from a select few or only if I've seen a reveal. I don't care what BIG name puts it out-I've been plenty disappointed by the big names as many times or if not more than other bags.
Case in point was one of the very first LDD bags-it was all previously released stuff, and if I remember correctly, that was NOT stated until there were some complaints. There had been lots and lots of kiss asses pimping the bag at DST, and after I bought it, I was more than just a little disappointed. It pretty much stopped me cold from shopping there very much-just left a bad taste.
Who gets into immature bitch-fests? Name please?
April 13, 2009 7:41 PM
Not the OP, but these names immediately came to mind:
Traci Murphy
Kimberly Giarrusso
ScrapKitchen
Gina Miller
Amanda Dykan
Lindsay Jane
Wetfish (or something like that)
Michelle Pearson
Joedee from ES
And no, to answer designers questions before they come, I have no idea what new and different things I want to see. There's really nothing I can pinpoint. I just know what's out there right now is not what I want or what I'm looking for. When 10 new kits from 10 different designers come out in one day and there's very little difference in them, right down to color schemes, well it's just become boring.
April 13, 2009 7:46 AM
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Maybe you just need to try buying elsewhere???
I recently went through my stash and deleted most of the Jen Wilson products that I have. I was really into her when I first started scrapping and bought tons of her stuff before I knew that the quality is horrid. Kim Christensen is another one with bad quality, but I don't know if she's even designing anymore.
I recently went through my stash and deleted most of the Jen Wilson products that I have. I was really into her when I first started scrapping and bought tons of her stuff before I knew that the quality is horrid. Kim Christensen is another one with bad quality, but I don't know if she's even designing anymore.
April 14, 2009 3:10 AMOh same here! I kept a few of the boys' things from Jen's kits that I use a lot, but otherwise everything went. I think I always bought from JW because of the hype at the time. She was the "ultimate" designer, she was who you had to buy from if you wanted the best. Thank God I learned there's better out there. I did the same thing with Gina Miller. I had tons of her early stuff. Now I think all I have are her stitches, and I'm not quite sure why I kept those.
Maybe you just need to try buying elsewhere???
April 13, 2009 9:51 PMI've tried that, and it really doesn't seem to matter who or where I try to go. There's just simply nothing there.
And you know, I get it, I really do. Designers follow the trends and make what sells. I get that. And how many ways are there to do things over and over again and make them new and fresh and different. I get all that. So I guess what it boils down to is I'll just have to wait until the next trend comes out and see what happens then. In the meantime I'll just be happy to scrap with my stash and use some of the poor, neglected, bought-but-never-been-used kits that are sitting on my EHD begging me to put them to good use.
Could we talk about "buyer's remorse?"
What item do you wish you NEVER bought? Just never use it? Quality was not as expected?
I bought Traci Murphy's drop shadows. Never use them- and feel bad b/c you can either make them, or download them free. I bought them a long time ago.
April 13, 2009 6:19 PM
__________________________
That product was hands down, one of the most over pimped products I've seen in 6 years of diggy scrapping.
3:10 & 5:38 I disagree with you. I think Jen W makes gorgeous digital paper. I don't care for her elements; but her papers still beat everyone else out IMHO.
I've never really understood the Jen Wilson appeal, and the hype over her stuff was beyond ridiculous. She's done a few good papers, but I have found stuff out there that's equal to or better than hers from day 1. She doesn't have a great track record with consistency and customer service, either.
Another over-hyped designer was Gina Miller. A few ok things, but never enough to justify the attention, fuss, and drama.
I really wish digi could just lose that whole scrap-star mentality. It's been unraveling the paper side, and it will do the same in digi if the sheeples keep buying into it :(
Is there a gossip blog for paper designers? Please do share.
I think Jen Wilson has gorgeous papers.
You are forgetting that at the time of the Kim/Jen/Gina hayday, there wasn't much to choose from. Not nearly as many stores and selling at Scrapbookbytes meant you were a "good" designer. They were some of the best designers at that time.
Kim doesn't sell anymore that I know of. I don't buy Jen Wilson's elements because her quality isn't always top notch. But she does design some nice looking stuff. So it's disappointing that it is lipstick on a pig. I would buy it if I knew there weren't so many strays.
I still like Gina's designs. They print really clear! (at least the last kit I worked with did!)
4:49: http://scrapsmack.blogspot.com/
Thank you for that link. I started out paper scrapping and posted a few times at 2peas, but a very rude bitch ruined it for me. I don't get what her problem is and never posted a paper layout again. She probably hangs out at the smack blog. I think the digiworld is full of sunshine compared to that world.
2peas is enough to scare anybody away from scrapbooking!
You are forgetting that at the time of the Kim/Jen/Gina hayday, there wasn't much to choose from. Not nearly as many stores and selling at Scrapbookbytes meant you were a "good" designer. They were some of the best designers at that time.
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And funnily enough, there really wasn't that 'star' designer mentality around at the time either, not until DST anyway. I nwever hung at 2Peas, so it could have been over there.
Back to buyer's remorse, designers I've bought from and regretted:
Corina Nielsen (great ideas, just not well executed)
Gina Miller (her earlier stuff is much better, when she took the time)
Jen Wilson (her elements)
Christina Renee (blurry, badly recolored etc)
Lorie Davison
Birgit Kerr
Phuong Ton
Doris Castle
ON Designs
Jen U
Jeann G Designs
So many, in fact, I'm not going to list them all. But, designers I haven't had a problem with:
Ztampf
Tracy Ann Robinson
Erica Hite
Sylvie Wagner
Meredith Fenwick
Holly Designs
Jofia De Voe
Scarlett Heels Media
Syrin at Catscrap
Vinnie Pearce
Ida at Catscrap
Natalie Braxton
Kate Hadfield
Something Blue Studios
and a few more. I thought I would balance out the post.
And funnily enough, there really wasn't that 'star' designer mentality around at the time either, not until DST anyway. I nwever hung at 2Peas, so it could have been over there.You're so right, it did all start with DST. No it didn't happen at 2peas because we weren't allowed to discuss designers if they didn't sell at 2peas, and there weren't many there at the time of the mass exodus. Gina was one of the first I ever bought from, and I bought from her consistently, same with Traci Sims. I just don't know that either one ever evolved much from the beginning, KWIM? Not to say that either one is a bad designer, just that once there was more of a choice out there well...Gina and Traci just didn't have as much oomph anymore.
do we really need any sales?
I havent seen anything that I just have to buy, have you?
For some reason that I can not explain, I am dying for Photogenic by Paislee Press. At oScraps. http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=21808&cat=329&page=2 but for $8.00 I am not buying......
SUTYCS~~I haven't been impressed. The pages are all fantasy. Nothing that I could ever see in a scrapbook for grandma. $5.00 for a kit--seems a little too much. The pros and beginners look the same--as a matter of fact all the pages look the same.
I disagree, it didn't start at DST. They were popular way before DST even came around. They were leading the trends back then. The designer star concept has and always will be around.
I was reading Gina's and Kim's blogs way before DST even existed! And many people were commenting and applying for their CT calls. They didn't need DST to put them in the great designer position. But when DST came around, they didn't have to join in or get lost in the shuffle.
SUTYCS~~I haven't been impressed. The pages are all fantasy. This doesn't surprise me considering the sponsoring stores. Most of the kits cater to the fantasy scrapper.
http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=21808&cat=329&page=2 but for $8.00 I am not buying......
April 14, 2009 9:22 PM
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You are kidding me right? $8 for that much stuff is a resonable price, and no I am not the designer, not remotely affiliated with O-scraps or ever bought there for that matter. I design for another site. \Do you know how much time goes into a kit that size? A kit that size would take me at least a week full time to do. $8 is a bargain.
I disagree, it didn't start at DST. They were popular way before DST even came around. They were leading the trends back then. The designer star concept has and always will be around.
I was reading Gina's and Kim's blogs way before DST even existed! And many people were commenting and applying for their CT calls. They didn't need DST to put them in the great designer position. But when DST came around, they didn't have to join in or get lost in the shuffle.
April 14, 2009 10:04 PM
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I had never heard of them prior to DST, but then I didn't hang out at 2peas either.
7:03 PM
I'm really sorry you were not happy with my products. I will gladly refund your purchase(s), no questions asked, and your name will not be brought up. Please send me an email or PM. Thanks.
I had never heard of them prior to DST, but then I didn't hang out at 2peas either.
April 14, 2009 10:53 PM
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Just because you never heard of them doesn't mean that they rose to stardom only with DST!
I wasn't hanging out at 2Peas. I didn't like it there. I forum hopped at TDC & Scrapbook Bytes & sometimes Scrap Artist. I think Gina was at TDC before I started digital. SB used to have freebies and a decent membership program. Well, they were good back then. LOL!!!
Back then there really wasn't a central place like DST except for Digi Scrap Previews but I don't remember that they had a forum. Maybe P4D but I didn't hang out there either.
Blogger pton said...
7:03 PM
I'm really sorry you were not happy with my products. I will gladly refund your purchase(s), no questions asked, and your name will not be brought up. Please send me an email or PM. Thanks.
April 14, 2009 11:36 PM
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Thanks for the offer, that is totally sweet of you. I hope I didn't offend you, as that was not my intent. I won't take you up on your very generous offer as I have made the product in question work for me. I have only ever once asked for a refund because I was completely and totally unable to make the product work.
This is really sad! You were disappointed enough to smack her on this blog but when it comes down to it you were able to use the product? I think it would be different if you approached that list about their quality and they totally ignored you and didn't offer a refund or a resolution.
WTF is with all these FUGLY poser doll thingys in kits.
WTF is with all those horrible photoshop actions that incognito has been copycatting lately.
I am a bit sick of hearing of the same designers over and over, is there no new designers that yall likes?
Same goes for the stores is there any newish stores that yall think are even ok?
I'd say who I like but then it would be considered pimping and most people on this blog wouldn't agree.
Poser dolls? I haven't seen them in kits. Probably because I don't shop at certain stores.
I'd say who I like but then it would be considered pimping and most people on this blog wouldn't agree.
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Who cares what anyone else on this blog thinks. Isn't this blog all about saying what you want to say?
About Gina...
She had a following when she was at Scrapbook-bytes, way before DST was in existence. Her style was unique and fun and she had a heavy presence on the boards and her blog.
I've outgrown her style, she closed the blog I loved to read, and she just doesn't have the same presence she had before. But I think she has a good following that will help keep her business steady while she spends time raising her family.
WTF is with all these FUGLY poser doll thingys in kits.
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None of the kits I look at have Fugly poser doll thingys. You need to diversify!
Who cares what anyone else on this blog thinks. Isn't this blog all about saying what you want to say?
April 15, 2009 12:01 PM
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That's why I won't bother to post. I don't care what you think. But I still don't want them smacked on this blog because I brought up their name.
poser dolls? WTH is that?
like this:
http://www.blushbutter.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=380
About Gina...
She had a following when she was at Scrapbook-bytes, way before DST was in existence. Her style was unique and fun and she had a heavy presence on the boards and her blog.You are spot on here. I never missed one of her challenges and I think I bought every kit the minute it was released. But she lost some of the uniqueness when digi got so big. And, while I know this is a business for her, closing her blog took away the friendliness and closeness that was once there. I understand why she closed her blog, but it still took something away from those of us who started out with Gina.
I find it so interesting. The designers you won't buy from and the ones you will buy from are still only a spit in the bucket. I mean how many stores are out there now and how many designers and whether it's DST or a smack blog it's the same names over and over and over and over.
Don't want fantasy? There are plenty of designers out there who don't particular like fantasy either. Open your eyes, check the not so popular designers and stores and you might just find a diamond in the rough.
6:18 get a grip that was just one person's list.
I have never purchased from those designers and my list is completely different.
Don't want fantasy? There are plenty of designers out there who don't particular like fantasy either. Open your eyes, check the not so popular designers and stores and you might just find a diamond in the rough.
April 15, 2009 6:18 PM
This isn't the first post where someone has said to check the 'not so popular' designers. Why not throw some names or stores out there? Enlighten us, please.
The places I shop that don't have a lot of fantasy. Some of these might be popular some not. I don't really understand what would define a "popular" vs. an "unknown" designer. I'm really all over the place. I don't care about names or if they are using commercial use stuff. If I like it, I buy it. I just want to be able to scrap my pages using kits that I enjoy working with! I'm not on CT's.
So here's some on my regular shopping list:
ES (Juno, Connie P., Nikki Scott, a few others)
Scrap Matters (Tracie S. & Megan T. and others)
Danielle C. at Digital Candy
Valorie Brown @ FPD (good sales too!)
Bren Boone & Amanda Heimann @ Scrap Orchard
Aja at Scrap Artist
Karah F. @ Oscraps (love her new release!)
Sweet Shoppe (whether you like them or not they don't do the fantasy stuff)
This is really sad! You were disappointed enough to smack her on this blog
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I said I had buyer's remorse buying something form her, I didn't smack her. Sheesh, some people just read what they want to read. I was very polite in my response and everything. You must be looking for trouble.
I find it so interesting. The designers you won't buy from and the ones you will buy from are still only a spit in the bucket
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It wasn't the whole list of designers that I do buy from and don't buy from, I did specify that. I find that interesting too. Why is that people only read what they want to read?
Who gets into immature bitch-fests? Name please?Lily. Having a fit because some other designer made a blog template that had a wavy shape like one that she made. and of course the idea was hers first (rolling eyes) and no one else should be able to use it. She went on and on AND ON about it and how wrong and terrible it was. and how dare they call themselves a designer when they just copy her, yada yada yada. She even wrote to a store owner asking them to remove a blog set because she was sure the person copied her and stole her HTML. not true on either account. And the 'stolen HTML' was just basic code that everyone uses to put an image in the background. Not exactly her intellectual property. doh. Fortunately the store owner did not remove it. but another designers name was drug through the mud, being accused of only copying the great Lily. She even said something about talking to an attorney and supposedly 'he said' you just can't do this.
I am sooooo tired of stores that don't change their "bargains"
FPD has had "clearance" items for months and their "weekly" specials have had soo many of the same things week after week.
who the heck is Lily?
I said I had buyer's remorse buying something form her, I didn't smack her. Sheesh, some people just read what they want to read. I was very polite in my response and everything. You must be looking for trouble.
April 16, 2009 1:29 AM
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You're posting on a smack blog! DUH.
And you did smack her and others on that list.
"like this:
http://www.blushbutter.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=380":
Whoa. Now I have no problem paying $9 for a kit i like, but that is hideous... looks so 'digital' IMHO. Sure there are people out there who love that style, each to their own i guess.
Don't want fantasy? There are plenty of designers out there who don't particular like fantasy either. Open your eyes, check the not so popular designers and stores and you might just find a diamond in the rough.
April 15, 2009 6:18 PMI already shop at lesser-known stores with lesser-known designers. That doesn't change the fact that, to me, everything looks the same these days, be it fantasy or non-fantasy. With that said I really have been checking out scrapmatters a lot lately. And I have to agree with the poster above, you can smack SSD all you want, but you damned sure won't find any fantasy kits there, and it's one place I know I can go when all else fails. And I've even started shopping at ES again since Joedee is gone. Another one of my go-to stores is SBE.
I'm quite tired of the fantasy kits as well. I think they make gorgeous layouts but not the type I like to do. I like to shop at SSD, SUN, ScrapMatters occasionally,.. but I'm really not picky. If I like it, I buy it no matter who it's from. If I don't know them I at least give them a shot.
who the heck is Lily?
April 16, 2009 7:02 AM
ditto.
You're posting on a smack blog! DUH.
And you did smack her and others on that list.
April 16, 2009 7:08 AM
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no she didn't. Saying that you weren't happy with a product is not smacking someone. Are you really so small minded that you can't separate an opinion about item quality from personal smack????
Lily Designs:
http://www.afterfivedesigns.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=10
no she didn't. Saying that you weren't happy with a product is not smacking someone. Are you really so small minded that you can't separate an opinion about item quality from personal smack????
April 16, 2009 2:28 PM
I never said it was a personal smack. A smack is a smack whether personal or not. The reasonable way to deal with disastifaction of a product is to talk to the designer. A large number of designers will give you a refund or fix the quality problem. I think if they blow you off and don't fix the problem then that would be a different story.
I don't see how I could be considered small minded when the preference is to have a direct confrontation with the designer first before smacking them on a blog! I think it is very small minded to smack someone when you found a way to use the product.
I agree now people might think they should avoid those designers.
I think it would have helped if she included why she had buyers remorse. Was it quality issues?
About fantasy kits:
Some people (like me) enjoy the artistic side of digiscrapping. It's why I prefer digital over paper because I have more control and tons more options with what I can do. Yes, I scrap "normal" pages like you would with paper but I do like experimenting and a lot of times, I don't even use pictures or photos...I just create neat pictures with what I buy, seeing what I can come up with. Fantasy and those types of kits allow me to stretch beyond the traditional style. When I want to stick a photo in a frame and throw some flowers and ribbons around it, I can do that but when I'm looking for more, the options are out there for me to do so, so I'm glad there are all kinds of styles. That's just me, though. I would probably stop buying if the fantasy and other outside the norm style of kits stop being made.
I'm the original poster that said Jen Wilson's quality is horrid. You're right that her elements are far worse than her paper, but her paper isn't that much better. If you look closely, she uses pixelated clipart in her paper. That's why she has to grunge it up so much. I will use her papers once in a while, but they could be executed better.
I could only use the product after I had to fix it. Imagine buying a dress that you were happy with but when you got it home, the whole hem came undone. It's not a big enough issue to take back, so you fix it yourself. But you never buy that brand again. That's all. It was not a smack.
Anyone can buy from any designer that they like. However, I will not buy from the designers on my list that I had a problem with. I'm so over fixing blurry objects, poor extractions and color issues. Because this happens often enough, I've not bought anything in a long time.
I may have given out a hand slap, but that is not the same as a smack.
You're posting on a smack blog! DUH.
And you did smack her and others on that list.
April 16, 2009 7:08 AM
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What is your problem? Seriously? I did not smack any of them. Seeing as you are posting on a smack blog and using my posts, you are smacking me then by your own admission. DUH! Except, I'm smart enough not to see it like that.
I don't like the products of the designers, that is not the same as smacking the designers. If it comes right down to it, the only think I might have smacked is the product! If you look at the post, I didn't say one bad thing about the designers, only the product.
8:14 you might as well give up. That's just not the type of person to argue with. She won't let up, not that she'll say anything intelligent, just keep repeating the same thing over and over again, like DUH. So save yourself some typing and just ignore her. I thought your post was done very nicely, not smacking at all, and I'm obviously not the only one.
I think people consider it smack because there is a list of designers to avoid since it is like a hem coming loose off a dress.
I am not sure how else to interpret that.
Though at first it looked at the list was a style difference, however I think the OP ended up handing out more smack, oops I mean hand slaps. And no, I am not one of the other posters.
I think this blog is not healthy for me to read. :\
This is for anyone, if the problem you have is some poor quality, though I really try to not have those issues, but if you do, please please let me know. I think any designer would want to know. It would be truly appreciated.
If it is a style or difference in color then well, that is a different issue. If you are unhappy, my offer stands and it goes for anyone, please just let me know. I would never share your name or information with anyone else.
Just for the record, and in my personal scrapping experience, some of the designers listed on the buyer's remorse list have excellent quality and I wonder if it is just a personal difference in taste.
I am very reclusive by nature and am nervous just typing this in a public, especially an anonymous, forum. To be honest, I am hurt, and I certainly understand everyone has different taste. That makes the world a more interesting place. Well, now I am just rambling on.
The point of this dragged out post was to let everyone know that they are welcome to contact me if there is ever a problem. I am not a big name designer nor have a huge following. I do appreciate each and every customer that I have, and I sincerely mean that. Well until you hate me and smack me on a blog (okay I am just kidding on that one, but I couldn't help it). :)
It isn't a matter of taste difference, because if you look at the list of designers that I continue to buy from, they have a similar style to the ones that I will not buy from. However, I do know that I have a very high resolution monitor, and I think that's the problem. It may not look blurry to you, but it does to me because my monitor resolution is so high.
I'm sorry that some people here cannot see an honest criticism for what it is and insist on it being a smack. This is the kind of attitude that I avoid at DST and it's disappointing to see it here too.
I bought an alpha called "Vintage Alpha Stamps" from Kim Sheen/KCS Designs through PDW. I had them in the file for about 3 months or so and finally took them out to use. I applied a metallic style to them and what happened next shocked the crap out of me. They are appalling. She "extracted" them I guess and didn't even bother to check for strays. The ENTIRE graphic is so filled with strays that they are unusable. I have been digiscrapping for about 4 years and I have never seen product sold in this state.
I contacted the store twice to ask for my money back or for the designer to fix the product and then send me a new zip. I even emailed the designer directly. Neither of them bothered to contact me back.
So, Kim Sheen/KCS Designs and Plain Digital Wrapper are off my shopping list. I tell everyone I know to beware.
No customer should be ignored when they bring a product issue to the attention of a store owner - not to mention the designer.
Shame on them both.
That's bad CS. The few times I did contact the designer/store, I received an answer. It's just too bad that the 'fixed' product was just as bad as the original.
I've had problems with stray pixels too. One designer, whose stuff I love but haven't bought because of issues with her freebies does it a bit. I only discovered it when I was trimming down my PNG files and the trim action wouldn't get rid of the empty space. So I applied a stroke and there was a ton of strays. I cleaned them up but as I said, haven't bought anything from her, even though I really like her freebies. I just don't want to pay for something I have to fix.
Anyone want to guess what this person is going to be offering at SA:
http://scrapartist.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=64
Classes or what? Here's her blog
http://littlepiecesofart.typepad.com/
and look who is guesting there for May:
http://scrapartist.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=65
Their security sucks a bit, don't you think?
2:11: You should contact her so she at least knows that she has problems with her products even if they are freebies. I know it sounds impossible but she may not be aware of the strays. CU items come with them and designers often assume that they are already high quality. Or she's just missing it if scanning her own items.
Their security sucks a bit, don't you think? Why would that be a security issue? It's not like they are sharing pesonal information because you can access the "hidden" manufacturers by typing the next number in the url.
Seeing as you are posting on a smack blog and using my posts, you are smacking me then by your own admission.
~~~~
You say that like I should be offended by my own actions. The difference is that I don't have your real name. You posted real names.
You sure are defensive for being anon. I think it's funny.
For some reason that I can not explain, I am dying for Photogenic by Paislee Press. At oScraps. http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=21808&cat=329&page=2 but for $8.00 I am not buying......
April 14, 2009 9:22 PM
_______________
It looks way too simple for a $8 kit. And I see there is some green foliage that doesn't fit the color scheme. What's with that? They can't recolor properly?
2:29
security? you are an ignoramus!
It looks way too simple for a $8 kit. And I see there is some green foliage that doesn't fit the color scheme. What's with that? They can't recolor properly?
--------
I am not the designer of the kit or associated with the site in anyway, but I have to ask, what color are the leaves supposed to be? Blue? Red? If you recolor the leaves, they don't look natural anymore.
If you take a rubber band and a paper, and make them the same exact shade of blue that doesn't seem as real to me. I think it looks more realistic to have slight variations.
For a designer to make one mistake is understandable, but to make many is unacceptable.
I have nothing personal against Jen Wilson, but I will never purchase her products again. She has had numerous spelling errors in word art and stray pixels. It was really too bad because I liked her style a lot. But I deleted nearly everything I owned of hers off my hard drive.
And yes, I pointed out the mistakes to her and she replaced the files in question. But that doesn't replace the $30 hardbound book that has a spelling error in it. I'm not going to purchase from people who don't proofread their work.
So all I ask of designers is to please proofread your work carefully and check for stray pixels. It's not difficult to do.
2:11: You should contact her so she at least knows that she has problems with her products even if they are freebies. I know it sounds impossible but she may not be aware of the strays. CU items come with them and designers often assume that they are already high quality. Or she's just missing it if scanning her own items
_______________
Freebies...you get what you pay for. Enough said about that.
As for the excuse about presuming CU items are high quality is insane. Even if her kit is nothing but cu items, once she saves them in her kit with her name, she now owns them and the quality of her items is only for her to be responsible for. If she's not checking quality as soon as she opens that cu item to use, she's just plain lazy and an extremely poor excuse for a designer.
Checking for strays and making sure your items are crisp and clear is NOT hard to do. One or two missed pixels...not a big deal but still easy to find.
I'm sorry that some people here cannot see an honest criticism for what it is and insist on it being a smack. This is the kind of attitude that I avoid at DST and it's disappointing to see it here too.
^^^^^^
I consider an honest criticism to be like the one right after your post about the problems with Kim Sheen's stuff. But just a list of designers that a person is had "buyers remorse" over is not constructive criticism. She only included notes on a couple of them. If a designer sees that list then what can she learn from it? It isn't helpful or constructive information. I don't know if I would go so far as to call it a smack.
Everyone should be allowed to voice their opinions on this blog. Just because they defend someone being smacked doesn't mean that they have a DST attitude or that this place is becoming like DST. They just don't agree with what the other poster had to say. It seems that posters here think they should just be allowed to say whatever they want and everyone will just agree.
You sure are defensive for being anon. I think it's funny.
April 17, 2009 7:40 AM
-------------------
So are you, I think that's just as funny, don't you?
I consider an honest criticism to be like the one right after your post about the problems with Kim Sheen's stuff. But just a list of designers that a person is had "buyers remorse" over is not constructive criticism. She only included notes on a couple of them. If a designer sees that list then what can she learn from it? It isn't helpful or constructive information. I don't know if I would go so far as to call it a smack.
-------------------
It's not my job to tell a designer what she did wrong. I've been there and done that, to no avail. All my notes would have been pretty much the same on the designers that I listed. Maybe I should have just included a ditto?
The only remorse I have now is listing those designers.
Freebies...you get what you pay for. Enough said about that.
-----------------
Designers users freebies as a promotional tool. It's a sample of their work. If the freebie isn't good enough, I won't make a purchase. So, she has lost sales. I would have happily purchased everything she makes but I won't.
2:48
And yes, I pointed out the mistakes to her and she replaced the files in question. But that doesn't replace the $30 hardbound book that has a spelling error in it. I'm not going to purchase from people who don't proofread their work.
------------------------------
Ummm.........you obviously don't proof read either or you would have picked up the error before you had your book printed. LOL
Well, sometimes I have found a small stray or so and I have gone ahead and fixed it. It isn't that I think its right or that I am not disappointed in the designer, but usually its because I really need to use the product and don't have time to mess with trying to get it fixed and returned to me. That said, I don't buy from them again.
However, this particular alpha is 26 individual pieces and the amount of work it will take to clean it up to a usable level is not worth the money I paid. When you stroke the alpha, it literally disappears in the muck of strays.
Also, I totally agree with a previous poster that if a designer takes a CU product and doesn't check it out, then makes a freebie..the quality of that freebie lies with her rep, not the original CU designer.
I think that every designer should have someone else double check their kits for strays, typos, missing letters, wrong dpi, blurries, etc. It helps to have another set of eyes.
Scrapbook Bytes has gone downhill since. Many of the original stores have gone downhill because all the "good" designers moved to the now popular stores. How many of the first stores still exist anymore? SBB, SOTB, Digitals. I can't believe Theres K is selling at SBB. Her overlays are blurry.
You are forgetting that at the time of the Kim/Jen/Gina hayday, there wasn't much to choose from. Not nearly as many stores and selling at Scrapbookbytes meant you were a "good" designer. They were some of the best designers at that time.
Also, I totally agree with a previous poster that if a designer takes a CU product and doesn't check it out, then makes a freebie..the quality of that freebie lies with her rep, not the original CU designer.
April 18, 2009 4:25 AM
^^^^^^
In this post I am not talking about freebies. Just product for sale. It does lie on her rep. It never has been said that it wasn't her responsibility or that it is a good excuse. But mistakes do happen. Designers miss stuff. And you deserve something in return for paying for a product that isn't up to par. Even if you can fix it yourself an email to the designer is still in order requesting something for their mistake. And if you like the designer they hopefully won't make the same mistake again.
Someone above talked about a falling hem in a dress. There would be very few circumstances that I would fix that myself if the dress was brand new. I would request a refund or at the very least a discount for having to fix the dress myself. And a store with good customer would want me to be happy in the end.
Every designer can check til they are blue in the face and still on occasion miss something. Designers are human and humans make mistakes. Saying that if an entire freebie or kit is messed up then I can see a reason for not ever buying from that particular designer again. But I've bought where I've had to fix a little pixel or smooth a little edge because I perfer to do it that way and not think twice about buying from the designer again. It would be a wondeful world if everyone in it was perfect. I happen to be one who can on occasion acknowledge the imperfections of mere mortals and go on about my business. Obviously some here can't because usually the ones who denigrate those with flaws are definitely not flawless. I don't know a perfect person on this earth. If we had that kind of perfection wouldn't it be a wonderful world.
About the thread at DST regarding yahoo groups sharing sales info...I am not seeing SSD on this safe list they have created...are they the ones sharing?
About the thread at DST regarding yahoo groups sharing sales info...I am not seeing SSD on this safe list they have created...are they the ones sharing?
----------------------------
Ignore all that rubbish. Just because a store isn't on the "list" doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong. The whole thing was blown way out of proportion. Some of the stores not on that "list" aren't on it simply because the owners don't bother with DST. Not everyone has even heard of DST. DST is not the be all and end all. And let's not get confused here.........it isn't DST's "list". DST didn't instigate it. Should they be held responsible for contributing to the debacle? Yes. BUT it isn't their "list" Remember - just because a store isn't on that list doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong. The whole thing should be deleted from DST.
why would SSD share? They use x-cart so designers get the invoices for their own sales. They are probably just staying out of the drama.
Remember - just because a store isn't on that list doesn't mean they are doing anything wrong. The whole thing should be deleted from DST.
April 18, 2009 9:15 AM
This is exactly the kind of crap that has people so fed up with DST. Unnecessary drama like this and Shannon and her mod squad won't do a damn thing about it.
But let someone say that they were ripped off by the likes of Joedee, Ashley Olsen, Michelle Pearson, etc. and threads are moved, deleted, and people are bullied into silence.
DST is big but just because they don't put a store on some list they put out means jack shit. I would sincerely hope that customers who see that list would not disregard a store simply because it's not mentioned by DST.
I just read through the sharing personal informatoin threads over at DST and I would have to say: wow, for real?
Serously...do any of you complaining about sharing information own a grocery store customer card? Do any of you complaining own a credit card? Do any of you complaining have a SSN? Have you ever given to a charity like the ASPCA? If you said yes to one or all of the questions above, please sit down as I have some shocking news for you. YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED ALL THE TIME. Yes, that's right. Every time you get a credit card offer in the mail, it's because someone somewhere dove into your credit report, saw your credit information and decided you would be eligible for a new credit card. Once you give to a large public charity, your information is then put on a list for ALL of them to start coming out of the woodwork to pine for your money. Once you use your cutstomer card at a grocery store, you are put into their system and your buying habits are watched. You get junk mail and telemarketer phone calls because someone somewhere has your private information.
I can walk into any courthouse anywhere and find out information on anyone in that county about their home purchase (when, how much, where, tax info, value), any pending court cases, lawsuits or liens against them, etcetera. That's ALL public information.
So frikkin' calm down about your private information being shared with designers and store owners. Good lord. Unless you live under a rock in Antarctica and never buy anything, your information is publicly available for anyone to find and use.
^^^
@@ It's not people here that are complaining about personal info sharing, it's people at DST. Why not take your rant there so the people who need to read it will see it?
What I find interesting about that whole thread is that blushbutter pushed the OP to make that original post. Seems like she sort of threw Christon under the bus.
THEN she has the nerve to accuse one store that she apparently doesn't like of being dishonest.
Blushbutter sounds like one of the bigger troublemakers in digi.
And that DST list doesn't mean squat. No one with a full brain cell would expect store owners to have to go to DST and assure people that their private info. is safe. Your private info is never safe from the moment you put it out ANY.where and DST is hardly the authority on where consumers should shop.
What a crock.
Why not take your rant there so the people who need to read it will see it?
_________
Riiiight. Since when can you say how you REALLY feel at DST? And no one from DST, including those in that thread, don't come here? uh-huh.
Riiiight. Since when can you say how you REALLY feel at DST? And no one from DST, including those in that thread, don't come here? uh-huh.
April 18, 2009 11:17 AM
suit yourself, and have a wonderful day.
Blushbutter sounds like one of the bigger troublemakers in digi.
^^^
Possibly, but I can unequivocally say that she's one of the crappiest designers in digi! Those crazy dolls of hers are beyond creepy.
If they moved the thread others would complain it was being covered up.
Damned if they do...
DST will never do anything right in some of your eyes.
And I swear Robin said somewhere SSD doesn't do this.
She did -
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showpost.php?p=1896926&postcount=101
IMO, any designer that uses DST for anything other than advertising or maybe getting tips, tricks or quick answers in the designer forum aren't doing themselves any good.
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
I am a store owner and I have to say that while I will not get involved publicly in the discussion over at DST, I have always been mortified by this practice.
No one should be privy to any designer's sales but the designer and store owner. No one. I have always found this practice to be a direct violation of privacy.
While I believe that this method came about innocently enough as a method to update designers on their sales, it is process that no one seems to have thought about all the way through.
One store owner actually said a while back that having everyone see each other's sale helps with motivation. Yeah right. I think the motivation comes from strong leadership and support from the management, not from pitting designers against each other within a passive/aggressive process.
DST will never do anything right in some of your eyes.
^^^
That's a direct result of the character of the person in charge of DST.
If they moved the thread others would complain it was being covered up.
Damned if they do...
DST will never do anything right in some of your eyes.
--------------
What a cop out.
But then, I'd expect nothing less from the resident DST sycophant(s).
12:20 PM
Exactly what I'd expect from someone who comes here to complain about anything/everything DST related, but continues to go to there.
IMO, any designer that uses DST for anything other than advertising or maybe getting tips, tricks or quick answers in the designer forum aren't doing themselves any good.
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
April 18, 2009 11:51 AM
________________
Like Jodie Paterson (Gypsy Chick).
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
April 18, 2009 11:51 AM
______________
Sounds a lot like this blog!
1:18 PM
Finally! Some truth on this blog!
I wish there was an entity similar to the BBB for diggy designers. A customer could file a complaint, file out a form. The complaint would need to be substantiated by proof, and the number of complaints could be cross indexed to the designer's name.
Even allowing for an occasional "jealousy-motivated" false complaint, or "drama-mongering" by people, over time the statistics would bear out the validity of customers complaints, at least on the issues of quality like jaggies and sloppiness of execution.
I find it a bit sad that Kitty Chen posted a LO in Gallery Standouts today that is made from her new kit. She posted a LO in GSO's that was made with her OWN kit.
Geeze-not saying it's not a great LO, but for her to post it herself...just odd.
1:18 PM
Finally! Some truth on this blog!
April 18, 2009 1:22 PM
__________________
That ain't no joke!
Pot-meet kettle.
go for it 1:48. many have suggested it. usually a blog is set-up for about 3 weeks after the suggestion and then it fizzles out because noone is interested.
Like Jodie Paterson (Gypsy Chick).
^^^^^
Why do you say that? I haven't noticed anything.
Like Jodie Paterson (Gypsy Chick).
^^^^^
Why do you say that? I haven't noticed anything.
April 18, 2009 2:39 PM
_____________
She always ask basic questions in the DCR ''How do you do this, how do you do that?'' I would expect more from a Scrapartist designer. She looks like she can't design and she's just good at using the Dover images.
go for it 1:48. many have suggested it. usually a blog is set-up for about 3 weeks after the suggestion and then it fizzles out because noone is interested.
April 18, 2009 2:34 PM
________________________
Maybe that's one reason it didn't work? A blog, esp an anon one, creates too many problems to successfully handle the issue of customer service/quality of product sold to the diggy public.
And yet, I see a growing need for just such a thing. Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
April 18, 2009 4:52 PM
_______________
Well, they did speak up about the photography class so that doesn't prove your point.
With kits that are poor quality an oportunity should be given to the designer to correct the problem before publically announcing that they suck. I think that is a customer service issue and doesn't belong in forums.
You want that type of service, then you're going to have to build it. But I bet anything it will fail because designers won't support it. Partly because of blogs like this where people can just hate a designer because they are anon.
She always ask basic questions in the DCR ''How do you do this, how do you do that?'' I would expect more from a Scrapartist designer. She looks like she can't design and she's just good at using the Dover images.
April 18, 2009 4:27 PM
-------
I don't have access to the DCR.
How would that make her "petty or insecure"? Sounds like she is secure in the fact that she doesn't know how to do everything and is trying to move beyond her scope of talent.
I wouldn't expect every designer to know how to do everything in photoshop. I respect anyone who would ask a lot of questions to grow in their profession.
What stock sites are the designers using nowadays?
I find it a bit sad that Kitty Chen posted a LO in Gallery Standouts today that is made from her new kit. She posted a LO in GSO's that was made with her OWN kit.
Geeze-not saying it's not a great LO, but for her to post it herself...just odd.
April 18, 2009 2:02 PM
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She does this sort of thing all the time.
Every designer can check til they are blue in the face and still on occasion miss something. Designers are human and humans make mistakes. Saying that if an entire freebie or kit is messed up then I can see a reason for not ever buying from that particular designer again.
-----------------
I agree. The freebies that I'm talking about had mistakes in every single one of them. I overlook the occasional mistake, but if it happens repeatedly, then it's see ya later.
A lot of them are just petty, insecure women with more focus on what everyone else is, should or shouldn't be doing than running and minding their own business.
April 18, 2009 11:51 AM
________________
Like Jodie Paterson (Gypsy Chick).
April 18, 2009 1:16 PM
---------------
like yourself for instance? Why so concerned what Jodie is doing?
I wish there was an entity similar to the BBB for diggy designers. A customer could file a complaint, file out a form. The complaint would need to be substantiated by proof, and the number of complaints could be cross indexed to the designer's name.
^^^^
1:48, Customers at DST asked for this type of thing more than once. Shannon and her designer friends shot it down. More than once.
Well, they did speak up about the photography class so that doesn't prove your point.
--------------------
Only 2 or 3 people spoke up, and as soon as they did, the thread was MOVED, so it totally proves her point.
Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
April 18, 2009 4:52 PMAs for the majority being afraid to complain I don't know why really they would be. If you think about it we're all really anon. This is the internet we can be whoever we want to be if we choose.
Only other thing is those that are themselves are afraid of being "blacklisted" in the community. If you're a "big" name scrapper, have lots of digi friends or whatever, you might very well be dropped from the friends list if you open your mouth.
That's how it is with a big group of women. Too bitchy! Need some more guys to break things up and keep it real! LOL
Shannon and her designer friends shot it down. More than once.
^^^^
WRONG! Shannon actually wanted this for DST.
Only 2 or 3 people spoke up, and as soon as they did, the thread was MOVED, so it totally proves her point.
April 19, 2009 9:12 AM
^^^^
It doesn't prove her point. She was saying that people are afraid to speak up. Well, NOT everyone is afraid to speak up because someone did. And the thread being moved has nothing to do with the fact that someone did speak up.
This BBB idea comes up all the time and noone ever actually puts something together. And it pisses me off that people are pointing fingers at Shannon (and her buddies) for preventing it from happening. NO! it's just that it isn't something that is easy to develop and it's going to cost money. This person is going to have to be passionate about their cause and have really thick skin.
So if you want a BBB for the digi world, you will probably have to be the one to step up and create it. DST can't prevent a site like that from happening. They don't have any power.
You're right. I should have proofread it. And I learned two lessons: proofread designer's work and don't purchase from designers who don't. But the point is, I shouldn't have to. The designer should have done it.
2:48
And yes, I pointed out the mistakes to her and she replaced the files in question. But that doesn't replace the $30 hardbound book that has a spelling error in it. I'm not going to purchase from people who don't proofread their work.
------------------------------
Ummm.........you obviously don't proof read either or you would have picked up the error before you had your book printed. LOL
WRONG! Shannon actually wanted this for DST.
April 19, 2009 9:39 AM
No, you are the one who's wrong. There were people willing to help out. Shannon is the one who put out the final no.
Too many people are afraid to speak up in a public forum and say that a photography class was not worth the class fee. Or that a kit they bought has elements in it that are poorly extracted. Why is that?
April 18, 2009 4:52 PM
_______________
Well, they did speak up about the photography class so that doesn't prove your point.
^^^^^^^^^
She said that too many people were afraid to speak publicly, not that NO ONE in that thread spoke up. She's completely correct.
Two or three people spoke up. Many more said "PM me for more info"--because they were afraid to speak out publicly. They weren't afraid to give their opinion-they were just afraid to put it out there at DST. Which bring us right back to the original question-why?
And the thread being moved has nothing to do with the fact that someone did speak up.
April 19, 2009 9:43 AM
The thread being moved only after the complaints were posted has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that someone spoke up.
It sat there for over two months, and then within a week or two of the complaints, it was moved to another forum that people would be much less likely to check when looking for feedback on photography classes.
I wonder if the DST apologists can explain the hit and miss and pick and choose moderation, frequent downtime, late newsletters, promises that never materialize (faster speeds, less gallery problems, site upgrades, site remodels). Not to mention all the deadlines that are never met, from the Insider to the DST CT and hot product crap and on and on.
I'm really interested to see what your explanation is for all those things.
You all are such morons. I was replying to a post that was speaking about the FEAR of posting anything negative at DST. The thread being moved does NOT change the fact that someone was BRAVE enough to speak up.
It's two different issues. Some people are willing to speak up and they did regard the photography class.
How DST handles that is a different subject.
11:06 I'm wondering how you are invested in the site that you would care so much?
I'm not an apologist. But I just don't give a crap about that stuff.
The site hasn't been down lately and I can post in the gallery. The rest of the stuff doesn't change how I use DST.
11:06 I'm wondering how you are invested in the site that you would care so much?
^^^^
I could ask the exact same thing of you!
I'm really interested to see what your explanation is for all those things.
April 19, 2009 11:06 AM
The explanation for all that is simple. It's a direct result of the character and the attitude of DST's founder and those that she surrounds herself with.
It's not going to change. Best advice is find another site to check for new products, sales, etc. There are some others starting to crop up.
Best advice is find another site to check for new products, sales, etc. There are some others starting to crop up.
April 19, 2009 11:38 AM
_____________
It won't matter to this crowd. They'll find reasons to hate that site too.
11:06 I'm wondering how you are invested in the site that you would care so much?
^^^^
I could ask the exact same thing of you!
April 19, 2009 11:34 AM
^^^^^^
I already said that I don't care about that stuff. That's not the reason that I visit DST. I post in the gallery, look at ISO threads, maybe chat in a NBSR post, and look at new products. Site redesign, moderation, etc. doesn't matter.
It won't matter to this crowd. They'll find reasons to hate that site too.
April 19, 2009 11:45 AM
Not true at all. DST is the only site that I can't stand. I'm not alone.
That obviously gets to you, doesn't it?
The thread being moved does NOT change the fact that someone was BRAVE enough to speak up.
---
No one said that it did.
You are the only one confusing the two issues, or trying to so that attention is drawn away from the original point.
The original post said that too many people were afraid to speak publicly at DST.
The other poster(s) said that only 2 or 3 people spoke publicly. That's absolutely true.
They also said that many more than 2 or 3 said to PM them. Obviously they did not want to speak out publicly. They were willing to share their opinions, just NOT at DST's public forums.
So the original question still stands. WHY are so many afraid or unwilling to give an honest opinion about something like a photography class at DST?
WHY are so many afraid or unwilling to give an honest opinion about something like a photography class at DST?
April 19, 2009 11:55 AM
__________
It has very little to do with DST. And more about how some people handle problems. Some prefer to be private about it. Other's are willing to speak out. I may be fired up about an issue but that doesn't mean that I'm going to write the newspaper to have an editorial published.
No, you are the one who's wrong. There were people willing to help out. Shannon is the one who put out the final no.
April 19, 2009 10:53 AM
there was a post in the DCR discussing that Shannon was going to make this happen at DST. Some designers were pissed off about it and didn't feel DST was the place to do this.
there was a post in the DCR discussing that Shannon was going to make this happen at DST. Some designers were pissed off about it and didn't feel DST was the place to do this.
April 19, 2009 12:07 PM
And Shannon is the one who caved and told those without DCR access that it wouldn't happen at DST.
there was a post in the DCR discussing
^^^
I wish I had a dime for every time I've seen this sentence starter on a blog or nonDST forum!
WTH does Shannon even bother with keeping the DCR "private"??
And why do all of you who leak stuff out of that forum think it's OK?
It has very little to do with DST. And more about how some people handle problems. Some prefer to be private about it. Other's are willing to speak out. I may be fired up about an issue but that doesn't mean that I'm going to write the newspaper to have an editorial published.
April 19, 2009 12:01 PM
I agree with you up to a point. Certainly, the bigger issue is that there are many scrappers and designers who cannot separate honest opinions and feedback from personal judgements.
BUT, so many people have been bullied for speaking up and offering honest opinions at DST that it's made the problem worse.
btw, most forum moderators have the ability to read PM's by all users. There is usually an option in the admin console that allows for this.
Just those who think talking in PM is private LOL.
btw, most forum moderators have the ability to read PM's by all users. There is usually an option in the admin console that allows for this.
Just those who think talking in PM is private LOL.
April 19, 2009 4:13 PM
__________
You fail to mention that the admin/owner has to turn this on. I mod at many forums and can't read PMs.
who has actually been bullied at DST for expressing their opinions? How were they bullied? Just wondering.
You fail to mention that the admin/owner has to turn this on. I mod at many forums and can't read PMs.
April 19, 2009 4:24 PM
The fact that the feature has to be turned on does not change the fact that it is an option.
The fact that the feature has to be turned on does not change the fact that it is an option.
April 19, 2009 6:30 PM
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Yet another STUPID conspiracy theory. Big DST Moderator is watching your every move. Knows your every coupon code and RAK. Oh my! We should all be scared!
It requires a hack to make that work for vbulletin. It's unlikely that Shannon has taken the time to install the hack. The only other way to do it is to go into the phpMyAdmin and find the private messages table. That's not an easy thing to do. It's also unlikely that a moderator would have access that far into the backend.
who has actually been bullied at DST for expressing their opinions? How were they bullied? Just wondering.
April 19, 2009 4:26 PM
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I remember one instance when Jen Wilson was still really popular and someone made a thread talking about Jen's lack of CS and the OP got slammed but good. It was horrible.
It won't matter to this crowd. They'll find reasons to hate that site too.
April 19, 2009 11:45 AM
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Are you including yourself in this crowd?
Are you including yourself in this crowd?
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Nope. I like DST, DSA, & MSA. I only come here to stir the pot.
I don't hang out at DST or MSA and haven't even looked at the new one around. DST is full of CT pimping and I dislike Shannon's methods. And I do not care for MSA because of the owners.
So I'm wondering, what DO we want to see in a community forum?
And why do all of you who leak stuff out of that forum think it's OK?
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Why do you even care?
That's my biggest question about a lot of things that get discussed here and at DST. Then again, I can then double-standard that back to myself..why do I even care why you care? *sigh* There's way too much wondering and worrying about who's doing what, when where and why. Not just in this whole world of digiscrap but everywhere.
"Why do you even care?
That's my biggest question about a lot of things that get discussed here and at DST... Not just in this whole world of digiscrap but everywhere.
April 20, 2009 9:39 AM"
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I care because I wanted seomthing better for myself. I wanted DST to be a place where I felt welcome and valued - even if my opinion didn't match admin's.
I didn't expect everyone to agree with me or even like me, but the bullying is unnecessary. And I was disappointed that those people who held the power to stop it and set an example were some of the worst to engage in the practice.
And when people pretend like it's not happening or that they don't see it, then they enable the bullies and are a step away from being one also.
I didn't expect everyone to agree with me or even like me, but the bullying is unnecessary. And I was disappointed that those people who held the power to stop it and set an example were some of the worst to engage in the practice.
And when people pretend like it's not happening or that they don't see it, then they enable the bullies and are a step away from being one also.
April 20, 2009 10:03 AM
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other than the Jen Wilson thing posted above, what other times has there been bullying by admin at DST? (I didn't see it that way even in the Jen Wilson thread).
I'm not enabling. How can I when I just don't see it? Maybe I just have thicker skin? And aren't you enabling by not standing up for what you believe?
How can you be sure I didn't complain to an authority figure on the bullying?
Sometimes, the OP is hard to defend because of the way they brought up the topic - going public first
instead of trying private, or with belligerence instead of respectfully. But squashing all criticism of pet
designers isn't right either. Taking someone's money makes you responsible to meet the level of service
or product that you sold to that customer. Saying I didn't receive what I paid for and being able to back
up that claim with clear evidence, shouldn't be a reason to black ball. But I think as long as DST is so
strongly biased toward a certain set of people who happen to be designers, then it's allowed itself to become
a tool for petty criminals to continue to take advantage of others.
Then there's different opinions on the very existence of bullying and black balling in the diggy community.
You say you don't see it, I say I do.
Telling me to grow a thicker skin, doesn't change the fact that much of the negativity at a site
like DST is unnecessary and admin sanctioned. It's sanctioned when it's ignored and it's sanctioned when the
owner exhibits a blatant favoritism for one member over another. The standards for a regular Joe vs a
Forum Leader or Site Owner are different.
who exactly does Shannon favor over everyone else?
I find it incredibly ironic that posters here are complaining about bullying but yet here we are at a place where meaness, ugliness, bullying, and lies are welcome. Before you say "Then what are you doing here?" I come here because it makes me laugh that the irony continues on and on.
It is my belief that the reason such "bullying" can occur is because some store owners, designers & perhaps even Shannon to a small extent, don't perceive their businesses for what they are - businesses. They aren't the local church social craft fare or a hat wearing tea party - but bonafide businesses taking money from customers. So, it did not surprise me then and it does not surprise me now when I see ANYONE who comes forward with a customer service complaint, or wanting to warn of a service issue or product fault, that they are then turned into enemy #1.
Why don't you think more shops have customer satisfaction surveys or even ranking systems attached to their sites? They don't want to be rated or judged.
It reminds me of that scene in "Something to talk about" when Julia Robert's character is attending the ladies league meeting. They all have their heads in the sand and don't want to know the truth about their husbands cheating or whatever...they end up clamoring for the exit when the truth starts to roll.
Same with this community. People come on this board and talk their own brand of smack about how horrible it is, how destructive the posters are. No, the way I see it is most of the time its just raw truth and its a rare breed that can stand up for it and be real.
If a product is bad or a customer has been treated badly, by God it should not be prohibited to express it.
2:18 - you are a HUGE piece of the problem.
Just because something is truth, doesn't make it bullying. You don't come here for irony. You come here because you are hoping to see a train wreck. You LOVE the drama. You LOVE the smack. Here's a buck - go spew your two headed bullcrap somewhere else.
If a product is bad or a customer has been treated badly, by God it should not be prohibited to express it.
April 20, 2009 2:20 PM
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But why does DST have to be the place to do that? The site owner (even if she is making money off advertising) can determine the purpose of her site. She has determined that DST isn't going to focus on that aspect.
That means someone else is going to have to pick up that ball. Everyone wants to drop it in Shannon's lap and then bitch that she doesn't catch it right. I can't say I blame her for bowing out on that one!
But I don't really see anywhere that says that you can't say whatever you want. The problem is that people want to be able to provide feedback publically but then they don't want to accept the consequences for saying something negative. It is going to make someone angry. Not everyone is going to reply with "I totally agree and you are so wise for pointing this out." But that's what the poster exposing the problem seems to be expecting. They don't want the designer or site owner to defend themselves. They don't want the public to say "This post doesn't belong here, you should keep it private." And then when those things are posted people start thinking that the person has been "black balled."? It's all based on feelings and assumed relationships that aren't anywhere near what's really going on.
You LOVE the drama. You LOVE the smack.
I never said I didn't! I also love the laughs!
Luv, 2:18
who exactly does Shannon favor over everyone else?
April 20, 2009 12:58 PM
Still wating on the response. I want to see if I'm on the list.
I don't think the DST issues are going to matter soon. I've noticed the social side of the site has slowed considerably in the last few weeks. It seems to be the same 10-20 people posting. Even the designers advertising sales seem to be the same ones, and not ones I shop with. Eventually people will just stop going at all.
It started off as a nice place when I first started scrapping, and I felt welcome there. I don't get that feeling anymore and I've never been malicious towards anyone. Oh well, time to move on.
Shannon's favortism in action?? How about when she allowed My PicTales to blatantly pimp and advertise all over her forum, and then when My PicTales couldn't handle the orders they got with THEIR coupon offer, Shannon out and out told people they couldn't post about it at DST. How did she know that people hadn't already tried to contact MyPicTales about the problems?
That's just one instance. But it's one instance too many.
It's not that ironic that people here are complaining about the bullying at DST.
This place is what it is-a smack and gossip blog. That's everyone's expectation going in. I know that I'm not going to believe a lot of what I read here, and I know that some people are here just to mess with others and stir the pot.
But at DST, many of us joined there because of how it's portrayed. We were told that's it's a "warm, inviting and friendly place," where we would be allowed to speak up about stores, products, etc.
People who joined expected consistency and none of the game-playing and underhanded bullying (ala 2peas for those of us who joined in the exodus). It didn't take long to see that it wasn't going to happen.
You can dress up a pig all you want, but at the end of the day, it's still a pig under that dress.
This place-we all know it's a pig-no one's playing games and pretending it isn't. You can't even try to say that about DST-it's just a pig with lipstick and frills.
Spot on, 10:03!!!
You say you don't see it, I say I do.
Telling me to grow a thicker skin, doesn't change the fact that much of the negativity at a site
like DST is unnecessary and admin sanctioned. It's sanctioned when it's ignored and it's sanctioned when the
owner exhibits a blatant favoritism for one member over another. The standards for a regular Joe vs a
Forum Leader or Site Owner are different.
April 20, 2009 12:19 PM
So true.
2:18 - you are a HUGE piece of the problem.
Just because something is truth, doesn't make it bullying.
^^^
True dat.
And coming here just to mess with people and stir things up? WAY more sick and twisted than any of the smack about REAL, legitimate problems that can't be discussed anywhere else.
Sometimes the truth isn't pleasant. That's just too damn bad-it still needs to be out in the open.
Still wating on the response. I want to see if I'm on the list.
April 20, 2009 2:55 PM
You're not.
And coming here just to mess with people and stir things up? WAY more sick and twisted than any of the smack about REAL, legitimate problems that can't be discussed anywhere else.
Sometimes the truth isn't pleasant. That's just too damn bad-it still needs to be out in the open.
April 20, 2009 4:48 PM
And three's been so much of that that hasn't already been brought up at DST? It's just the same bitter crap over and over.
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