Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I have been with this demonstrator for almost 2 years and have spent buukoo bucks (70+ sets) with her. She has 2 classes per month, one for a 2 page scrapbook spread and the other we make at least 3 projects ie: 2 cards and a box or 3 cards. With the cards we get the clear envelopes. Each class if $15. We use her supplies.
She has now, since April, started a home party make up business with a popular brand of makeup. (PINK)In the last 2 months she has had her classes, she is not prepared . We arrive and she gets us started with the 1st project while she is in the other room cutting up stuff. She says she has been so busy she has not had time to do anything, that she "just thought of these projects this afternoon" She has run out of the envelopes last month and we went this time and she still had not ordered any envelopes.(too busy) Both times we have had problems with dry ink pads. She has not ordered the refills.(too Busy) Still she charges the same. She emailed us that the catalogs are in and we can stop by to pick them up but she can't talk as she will be busy with a makeup class. "Just come in the door and pick them up. Can't talk." Now I don't expect her to sit and chat but an acknowledgement that we were there would be nice. I guess that was the last straw that really angered me. I am paying her money too. Oh well I have ranted enough. Thanks for listening. I guess I have to decide what I'm gonna do. Keep going to her or not. What would you do??
If you are un-happy first tell her then move on. There are so many demonstrators out there that are willing to give you the best customers service and assistance.
On the other hand do realize it is very time consuming to cut and come up with projects. As I said before if you are unhappy tell her and then move on.
Sounds like your demonstrator may be a little busy! Maybe stamping is becoming a secondary interest to her right now. It is easy to sometimes get a little burned out preparing for classes, cutting paper, coming up with ideas, etc. (not justifying, just putting a positive spin). She might get more interested soon! You should definitely let her know how your feeling. She may not even realize how she is coming across.
It might be a good idea for you to consider signing up yourself. That way you can get a discount and not have to be at someone's mercy.
__________________ Shannon
Stampin' in the Woodlands, TX
Sounds like your demonstrator may be a little busy! Maybe stamping is becoming a secondary interest to her right now. It is easy to sometimes get a little burned out preparing for classes, cutting paper, coming up with ideas, etc. (not justifying, just putting a positive spin). She might get more interested soon! You should definitely let her know how your feeling. She may not even realize how she is coming across.
It might be a good idea for you to consider signing up yourself. That way you can get a discount and not have to be at someone's mercy.
Yes, definitely sounds like you need to move on. I certainly wouldn't keep paying $15 for a class in which you are not getting your moneys worth.
Yep! Sign up yourself! Maybe if other ladies at the classes feel the same way about her classes, they will start coming to yours!
I'd probably find another demonstrator if I was not getting what I wanted from her. If I don't have time to prepare fully for a workshop, then I do not schedule one and charge people for one, that is just rude! There are many many demos out there - shop around - maybe someone else will have some fresh new ideas for you as well. I know a good one in Elk Grove, CA if you are shopping in this area LOL
I would definitely find another demo! Your time is also valuable, and you pay to learn. This seems very much to be a lack of interest in not only Stampin Up, but in her friends/customers as well :(
One time.. I would figure.. OK she is having a bad day.. but twice? What do you owe her? She obviously figures she doesn't owe her group anything. I would definitely run to the nearest exit, do a search in my area, and find myself another demo.. one who truly loves stamping, and appreciates her customers.
Good luck.. but most of all.. have fun stamping!
__________________ Proud to be a Stampin' Up! Demo... and a "Rubber Mutt"
I would be disappointed too! I think I would mention to her that her last few classes have not been up to par, and give her one more try. If she did it again, I'd be outta there. Do the other people in her classes feel the same way? If everyone mentioned something to her, then she might wake up and realize that she needs to be devoting a little more attention to her stamping customers!
__________________ Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been!
It is such a hard thing to tell someone that they are "falling down on the job" but it is your money that you are spending. I go over to mamakimberly's once a month and for $10.00 we make 6 AWESOME (you know, you've seen her stuff!) cards and have a great time. She is VERY prepared and has an outline of what we are doing. You have to be organized!!!
__________________
Jackie G. (aka Jacquita) SCSmember #656
Write your sorrows in sand and your blessings in stone.
Wow, that really stinks. You are spending a good amount of money and you aren't getting the BEST out of it. She should be giving you all 110%. That's my personal opinion. When I have classes in my home, I always try to think, "Okay, if I was a guest, what would I want? What would I need?" Besides, as a Demo, she should take GREAT PRIDE in SU's products and keep her stock full.
I am sorry you have to go through this!!
I know of a demo in Northern CA if you need one! LOL
__________________ -Flo Wife to Tim 10/23/99 Mom to Isabelle 5/4/04, Sam 8/16/07
When you are paying for a service you expect to get it. Please talk to her, if she has the time, and explain how you feel. If you don't, you'll feel bad about it even if it's not your fault. If it continues or she doesn't have the time to talk, then take yourself to a new person who can appreciate what a great customer you are!
Location: { land of the free & home of the brave }
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think that you would be out of line to tell her (via phone, e-mail or in person) something along the lines of, 'Hey; you seem like you're way too busy lately and that the stamping classes are more frustrating for you than anything. Rather than continue to add to your frustration, I am going to sit out for a while and I'll be happy to come back when you feel that you are less stressed/have more time to devote to preparing for them.'
Maybe she doesn't realize how badly she's let it fall by the wayside, maybe it's just not a priority for her any more, maybe she's not enjoying it... whatever is going on it's easy to be nice while still letting her know that it's not up to par. Maybe she will get the hint and get back on track, maybe she'll decide to just let it go altogether. Either way, you've said your piece and are free to either go back to her or move on.
sEND HER A CARd TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE NOT HAPPY. You know, that's how I got started with SU! My demonstrator was not doing so good, new or not, and I thought I can do a better job than this. So I am! =) I was also supposed to sign up under her, and I didn't. I found someone else here in town that had a 500 person downline in another state, and had not gotten into business here since she was new to the area. She is wonderful as a resource and is most helpful. There are tons of people out there that would be more than happy to accomodate you. Especailly if you are a good customer.. they would want you! I am sure you wouldn't have to look far. Good luck with the situation.
Wendy
__________________ Wendy Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Wife of Chris and mom to 5 yr. old Jenilyn [email protected]
Yes, definitely sounds like you need to move on. I certainly wouldn't keep paying $15 for a class in which you are not getting your moneys worth.
Yep! Sign up yourself! Maybe if other ladies at the classes feel the same way about her classes, they will start coming to yours!
I totally agree!
__________________ ~Sharon~ I'm a Proud wife of my OIF III & OEF veteran! Mommy of two beautiful girls! Ages 17 years & 2 years! We *heart* adoption! My Crafting BlogOur Family/Adoption Blog
You are the customer and can shop where ever you feel you get the best customer service. There are many demonstrators who work very hard to provide good service...sure sometimes we are busier than other times...but if you are now not getting the service you want then you should take your business somewhere else.
Whoa! You would really like my classes...just $4 for three cards (it's 5 classes/$20)! Guess I'm underselling myself, but this is a good group and one of them always has a party on a class night. They're friends, first and foremost.
I would politely tell her how you feel.. Is signing up for yourself something you could even entertain doing??? Sounds like if you are that devoted to SU it might be something to think about.. The new starter kit is awesome.
I honestly don't know why you owe her an explanation. I would just find someone else. If she notices you are gone and contacts you, then give her an explanation but it sounds to me like she's too busy to even care.
Gosh, I really think you should talk to her about it. If you've been stamping 'friends' for 2 years it shouldn't be that hard. "I really feel like I need to tell you how things have gone the past couple of months from the customer's point of view."
Tell her you - and others - have been disappointed with the classes. They have not been of the quality, and the fun of, her past classes. That you felt like it was too much for her to take on right now and that you're thinking of not attending for a while - untill she has the time to devote to it again.
Then do whatever you want. Use the demo locator, become a demo, whatever works. But all it might take is a little chat from the heart with her for her to realize she's trading something she loves for something that is work (whatever her new thing is).
And it sounds like she's in over her head and may not even realize. As women we often take on too many things if we don't watch it. It's in our nature!
Or perhaps it's the start-up of her new venture. Maybe it gets better after she knows the stuff better?
If you like her as a person, tell her you HAVE to talk to her and have her meet you for coffee.
Good luck, and happy stampin!
__________________ Judi 'Stamparooni'
If you can't eat it, drink it, or stamp it
you might as well throw it away!
My now upline charges $5 for 4 card fronts, no envelopes. Pretty simple stuff. Uses cheap-o glue stick instead of mono, things weren't cut evenly, it was just kinda haphazard.
It may indeed be that your demo is too busy right now. But, if she's too busy, she needs to cancel the class. It's just not fair to take people's money when she's not putting out the effort.
Find a new demo. She's already fooled you twice.
__________________ Kathy Wrose "Fun must be always." - Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks "It was fun." - Kirk, Star Trek: Generations
The general concensus is move on and I certainaly agree. But, this is also a reminder to other SU demos to keep your customers ( and your downline ) happy. You aren't too successful without either of them.
Wow $15 and only 3 projects! I pay $10 and we make 6 to 7 cards... must be the difference between California and Illinois!
Thanks what I was thinking! We paid $15 for the last one and made 12 cards! (2 each of 6 designs) (in Wisconsin).
For the amount of money you spend you should be fairly happy with your demo IMO. I would move on. It's not easy... I know, I've done it. But I'm enjoying my hobby so much more now than I was before.
I have to admit that I did not read anyone elses responses...I just scrolled to the bottom and hit reply. SIGN UP YOURSELF GIRLFRIEND. Forget your demo. If she is "running" 2 different businesses, she obviously cannot handle both of them. Time for you to move on!!!!
We...ll....I am so hesitant to jump in on a discussion on another demonstrator's shortcomings, because I don't know both sides of this issue, but here are my two cents.
If she has been a GREAT demonstrator for you for two years and you have been happy with her until just recently, then I would talk to her in a non-confrontational way and give her a chance to respond. There might be more going on in her life than she is expressing, or it might be true that she is spending too much time with the pink company and neglecting her stamp customers. If that is true, then you don't deserve to be shortchanged, and she should know about it.
As far as the class, 3 *projects* for $15 doesn't sound so unreasonable to me. Are they detailed projects normally? Do people routinely purchase afterwards?
As a demonstrator myself, I can tell you that you have to generate revenue somewhere to sustain your business long term. When I have an event where I know I will get good sales, I will have greatly reduced or even free classes, because I know I can make up for it with the sales. If, on the other hand, I have a group that rarely purchases or purchases very little, I have to raise the price of the class to not only pay for perishable items,wear and tear on my ink pads, rrefreshments, doorprizes, etc..., but I have to be compensated for my time in preparing and executing the event.
Not saying anyone else on this thread does this, but I see WAY too many demonstrators undercut themselves, and they lose money and don't even know it. I know that many people aren't in this to make big bucks (myself included) but I do want to be in the black at the end of the day and not feel like I have let myself be taken advantage of.
Each demonstrator runs things a little differently, as you can see here. I just wanted to offer a different persective.
I hope you can work things out with your demonstrator, or find someone else who suits your needs! Good luck!
__________________
Milette
The dreamers of the day are dangerous people,For they dream their dreams with open eyes,And make them come true.- D.H. Lawrence
Demonstrator is Disappointing!
