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I'd probably like to see LESS releases---maybe every couple of months instead of monthly for example. I find the monthly release become anti-climatic after a while.
I'd also like to see less repetition amongst the companies when it comes to stamping themes/dies. It seems like one company comes out with a good idea and then 10 others knock them off in different versions. I'd like to see more originality.
And of course the shipping rates to Canada are a big thing with me too. There are companies that I completely refuse to buy from (e.g. PaperTrey Ink) bc of their totally ridiculous shipping rates (even though I like a lot of their stuff). There are several companies (e.g. Unity, Gina K, MFT) that provide decent shipping rates to Canada so I don't understand why others can't follow suit. I think actually losing out on a ton of business by overpricing their shipping.
I am with the other two Canadians with the shipping cost to Canada. I have ordered from different places in the US and I don't understand how some can charge over $50 in shipping yet others charge less than $15 and the orders are similar in weight.
Free S&H. My favorite stamping company never offers free S&H. When they do it's for an exorbitant order price. Example: Free S&H on orders for $150.00. I do understand why they can't offer S&H all the time. A few months out of the year would be nice.
I'm with the other Canucks wanting better shipping prices to Canada ... and wanting more companies that will actually ship to Canada. And while they're at it, the companies that will only ship to Canada by Fedex, UPS, etc. need to give the option of USPS so we don't get gouged in brokerage fees arbitrarily applied by the company (not Customs/Duty which I recognize need to be paid when applicable).
And I'd like to see more high quality acrylic clear stamps. I like to see where I'm stamping :-)
__________________ Leslie Harnish
Sambro, Nova Scotia
Canada
Just a little off-topic comment - I think the companies that are offering deals on shipping, especially international, are losing most of the profit on those transactions. The trade-off is more volume and the smaller orders which do pay the entire shipping charge and good will of their customer base.
I mostly do only Christmas cards. So when looking through their catalog if I find a set that I like, I buy it. But then there are sets that I may only like one or two stamps from that whole set. Instead of spending a bundle on an entire set and have stamps that I know I would NEVER use, I wish I could just purchase those one or two individual stamps from that set that I like. That way I'm getting what I want and not paying for something that I'll never use.
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Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely BUT...to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand and screamingWOOHOO-WHAT A RIDE!
Many of my favorite stamp companies offer their stamps in sets. Some have enormous sets that can really do some damage to your budget. If I were in charge, I would find a way to split the really large sets into smaller, more manageable coordinating sets.
it would be nice if SU offered the option of purchasing individual stamps from any set across the board! This would be great if ALL the stamp companies that sell sets did this; but I find I most often want one or two of an entire set with SU.
I was going to say what Karen3000 said as well regarding shipping to Canada. It could be that the companies that are able to keep the cost "reasonable" are losing money on those orders. But the way they structure their business and the volume of orders overall give them the option to take a loss on things like shipping internationally. It's probably more about the bottom line of the company as a whole than it is about actual shipping charges.
Echoing the sentiments from all the Canucks. One other pet peeve - not only will some of them not ship to Canada, some of them will not take an international credit card - they require that you have a US Visa or Mastercard. Now, when I go shopping in the States (and I do quite frequently since I live in a border city), I have never had my Canadian credit card rejected - so why do I need a US card to order online???
__________________ Elizabeth
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Hand over the chocolate, and no one will get hurt!
I guess I would merge them. My favourite paper is Papertrey and my favourite stamp company (for stamps) is Crafty Secrets. So I would love for ONE store to sell Papertrey paper AND Crafty Secrets stamps - I would have NO PROBLEM meeting the $70 minimum for free shipping!!!!
I guess I would merge them. My favourite paper is Papertrey and my favourite stamp company (for stamps) is Crafty Secrets. So I would love for ONE store to sell Papertrey paper AND Crafty Secrets stamps - I would have NO PROBLEM meeting the $70 minimum for free shipping!!!!
Echoing the sentiments from all the Canucks. One other pet peeve - not only will some of them not ship to Canada, some of them will not take an international credit card - they require that you have a US Visa or Mastercard. Now, when I go shopping in the States (and I do quite frequently since I live in a border city), I have never had my Canadian credit card rejected - so why do I need a US card to order online???
Well said and I feel the same. A prime example is Sissix.com. They have a lot of good deals from time to time in the Outlet (and even on their regular site compared to the pricing in Canada) but they won't ship to Canada and if I did have a US address to send to, they won't accept a Canadian credit card. I've ordered from joanne.com and had items shipped to a relative in the US and they accepted my Canadian credit card.
__________________ Leslie Harnish
Sambro, Nova Scotia
Canada
Hmmm didn't think about that..... I think if I was able to fondle the products (hehehe) and see the colors in person, as well as take classes and gain tons of inspiration, that it would be well worth it to pay a few extra dollars in taxes. Think of how much we could save on the shipping fees! :-)
I love many things about SU, but the constant changing of colors gets frustrating.
I was going to say the same thing. I still don't have all of the new color card stock and before long new in-colors will be coming out. I like that the new in-colors are staying around for 2 years, but I'm just not a fan of the constant color changes.
I like some of the older products that SU and CTMH used to sell; like chalks, watercolor crayons etc.. I'd like it if they sold chalk inkpads; I love those!
More cat stamps! LOL!
I've been thinking about this and how I'd reply.
I don't have one particular favourite company, so this is more general.
Fewer releases, for those that do monthly releases.
However, I can understand that with smaller companies a regular release helps drive sales, and smaller more frequent releases (than say two or three a year) also spreads their overheads. I just don't have the budget for it these days. And in any case I like to get a feel for how I might use a stamp set before I jump in and buy it.
Stamps (and even more, papers!!) to stay available for longer - this ties in to release cycles.
I had a laugh at Lydia's response .
I like free shipping, who doesn't, but having worked in import and distribution I know that it has to be paid for somewhere (no such thing as a free lunch ), so I don't expect it. I just wish it was less arbitrary - there can be such a variation in shipping charges from one company to another. I'm more than happy with paying cost plus packing and handling, because envelopes and boxes don't come free either.
And why do some companies not even ship to Canada?
Well I know it just costs more to ship to Canada with USPS just like it does when someone in Canada ships to the U.S.
The thing that bugs me is when a company charges say $10 to ship something to Canada but when I get the envelope it only actually cost them $5 or 6. I think for some of the companies it's just too much work due to hight sales volumes to charge actual shipping costs.
I think some companies don't ship here bc
1. It's too much work to have to go to the post office to mail stuff (assuming they have to weigh etc). versus using flat rate boxes for mailing in the U.S.
2. By regular mail stuff takes up to 3 weeks or more depending on where it's coming from and ppl complain they didn't get their stuff or it got lost in the mail. I think that's why some companies will not ship by regular USPS service bc there is no tracking.
I have been cross border shopping for over 40 years. and these are my main peeves
# 1The companies that charge so much for for Canadians when others charge the same price off the web or from the catalogue. Why up to 30%+ more? Not acceptable
#2
The ones who are gaining extra by making the postage prohibitive or only use UPS which I have paid up to 70,00 for paperwork before when absolutely requiring "that" product . The post office charges 8.50 no matter what the total amount is for the same paperwork.
#3 Companies who don't have flat rate shipping. If not, don't order from them. Plain and simple. Being taken because of greed or because we live across that magical line is not acceptable to me at all.
Those are the main ones that have been problems all along.
th
And why do some companies not even ship to Canada?
The shipping costs can be quite reasonable if the USPS option without tracking is offered (standard first class or something similarly named). I think the biggest thing is that some US companies don't want the hassle of filling out a declarations form or whatever paperwork is required in order to send it over the border.
__________________ Leslie Harnish
Sambro, Nova Scotia
Canada
What one thing would you change about your favorite stamp company?
