SU Retirement Rant

[bdeyes9]

I hope no one takes offense at my post but I am really bummed at the way SU handles retirement. Items officially retire in June. SU announces retirement in April...I'm ok with this so far. The thing I'm not ok with is the while supplies last policy and the fact that their web site crashes on their busiest day of the year. If you are going to create an ordering frenzy then have a web site that can handle the volume of customers you would have on a day like today.
I got up at 2:00 AM EST to place my order, I wanted to be certain I could get the retired items I want only to have the system freeze up kick me out and not be able to get back in. I ended up placing the order through my demo and the system crashed on her... When last we spoke she was waiting to get back in. Shame on Stampin up for not making retired items available till the actual retirement date!!

[Cartermrc]

I agree, it's bcome a mess and a feeding frenzy. I can't be bothered with it anymore, I will find another brand if I want something that's retiring that badly. And ALL the 12 by 12 cs is gone? You know that cs is going to show up on eBay at ludicrous prices.

I like their products but I don't like them when this time of year rolls around!

[sillyfilly]

It is very poor the way they do this. The thing that gets me is you should be able to buy the product until the end of June. I understand they don't want left over inventory but this is poor c/s. I got card stock last month knowing it would all be gone.

[Ching]

Has it always been like this? wow!

I haven't purchased SU in years.

My computer is freezing right now. I can't even just LOOK at what's retired on the site since I can't instantly visualize what the item is by just reading the list. :(

[lesliespringer]

I have learned a long time ago, if you what something specific from SU,order it BEFORE retirement list is released.

I have found out not only SU but any craft item I want, if I wait till it goes on sell, well chances are I won't be able to purchase it.

[Cartermrc]

JMHO here, but I think SU has been in a tighter financial situation for several years, especially since the economy tanked and new companies have appeared to compete with them. Warehousing stock costs money and that could be why they are so ruthless now with the "while supplies last" ideology. Not selling retail in stores also means they reach a smaller customer base and have to keep demos and customers buying new things. So we see their colors come and go more quickly or a punch shape change slightly, for example.

I am just a consumer and have no financial or business expertise, but I wouldn't want to run a business in this day and age! I hope they hang in and can grow and change with the times.

[bdeyes9]

No word yet on how many items on my order were sold out. My Demo did tell me that Pistachio Pudding CS was gone. But shame on me for not getting the in colors sooner.
I will order them well in advance next year.

[allee's]

I had found several items on the retired list that I thought I would like to have. After 10 failed attempts yesterday and today to order I have decided that I can do without them just fine.

[Cartermrc]

All I want is the small oval punch, that I don't think will sell out before my demo's workshop at the end of this week. I ordered some Strawberry Slush cs a couple of weeks ago, knowing all of that would sell out quickly. I hate all the hysteria!

[muscrat]

I think all I'm getting is the poppies background stamp and they'll keep making the stamps until May 20 I think. I got my reinkers in February.

[pattydeon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by muscrat

I think all I'm getting is the poppies background stamp and they'll keep making the stamps until May 20 I think. I got my reinkers in February.

They're going to keep making the stamps until May 26th.

[xayide2]

Some of the stamp sets I can live without, but the inks, reinkers and certain colors of cardstock I get when they're released. They don't stick around very long. But I did get a couple items off the retirement list that I wanted.

[SmurfBE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ching

Has it always been like this? wow!

I haven't purchased SU in years.

My computer is freezing right now. I can't even just LOOK at what's retired on the site since I can't instantly visualize what the item is by just reading the list. :(

No, it hasn't always been like this because it has only been the last few years that Stampin' Up! released a retiring accessories list. Before that, they only had a retiring stamp list and we found out about the accessories when the new catalog came and the retired accessory wasn't in there.

[lesliespringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ching

Has it always been like this? wow!

I haven't purchased SU in years.

My computer is freezing right now. I can't even just LOOK at what's retired on the site since I can't instantly visualize what the item is by just reading the list. :(

It has been like this for the retiring in-colors. Trust me, I know, cause I STILL have paper from the very first year of the in-colors.