Hi all,
I don't have any pictures for you today because I'm on my new laptop and there are no pictures in it yet. But I need to vent a little and ask for your opinion. I will end up making my own decision of course, and I think I may already know what I want to do, but I would like some other points of view please. So I just re-signed up with Stampin Up. I had issues getting them to change my active status to a military status when we moved over here. According to the SOFA (status of forces agreement) that the AF has with Italy, I am not allowed to have a business. So, I can NOT sell Stampin up products while living in Italy. Not a problem for me at all since I am not a sales person and the actual "selling" part of the business is my least favorite part of it all. So, i finally got dropped as a demo because I hadn't met the quarterly minimum. I decided to go ahead and sign up again, order the special starter kit for $85, and just enjoy my discount on Stampin Up products for the next 2+ years with no worries about minimums. Ok, sounds sweet right? Well, I've been hearing a buzz about some new rule on not promoting other company's products. I finally went to the SU! website today and got the lowdown in detail. Well, I don't like it. Frankly, I just don't like it. In my case, I can not LEGALLY sell, promote, or engage in any in-home business activities while living here in Italy that could bring income in for me. So, I don't! I have no problem with the SOFA rules at all. I am not a salesperson. I just want my discount. LOL! But now I can't even enjoy and share that enjoyment for other companies. At least, that's how I feel I'm being restricted. I realize that promoting competing companies is bad business, but I'm not in this for the "business." Just the fun and the discount! Ok, so I LOVE my Copics, and I LOVE TGF's style of stamps. But because I just typed that sentence, I am now in violation of the SU! contract. I don't think I can continue with SU! if this is going to be the case. It's no secret that I want to be on the TGF or Club Anya DT (I didn't make it this time btw) but now I can't do that and be a SU! demo. So, I think that I will have to quit SU! before I've even received my new starter kit. It was a waste of my money, apparently, to re-sign. I just can't NOT promote other companies and products that I lvoe to use! Well, the saying goes, "when one door closes, another opens" so we'll have to see what happens. I'll enjoy Stampin Up products as long as I can, but I'm a little sad that I won't have easy access to the products anymore. Honestly, the style of stamps is not entirely my "cuppa joe" but the cardstock and accessories are things I really enjoy. Especially all the coordination. Oh well, things change and that's ok. Change can be good. What do you all think about this? Am I doing what I need to? Should I stick with Stampin Up even though I don't have the freedom to create with what I want? Ok, so I can use what I want to create, but I can't let you all know where it came from! Ok, enough blabbering. If you have made it this far on this extremely long post, thank you. I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen to (read) my vent.
Until next post, with pictures, be blessed!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
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9 comments:
Vent away!
Seriously, my sentiments EXACTLY. I signed up with SU! last year because I love their product. I don't do it for the money, I already have a full time job for that. My blog is my blog - if I want to say what brand something is, I should be able to. If someone asks me where I got something, I should point them in the right direction.
I understand it's about the SU! business. There are a ton of ladies who are great business women and only use SU! I'm not hating on that. But what SU! is doing as a company to the hobby demo is a form of censorship. No way am I going to continue to be a demo now... I love my TGF stamps and other brands and Copics too much! AND I'd love to be on a DT one of these days (sorry to hear you didn't make TGF or Club Anya - you do great work, I'm surprised!) and I will never be able to do that if I re-sign with SU!
I think they're going to lose a lot of demos on October 1st....
(sorry so long!)
I totally agree with Jo! Thats pretty poor for SU, I thought they were all about 'the family'. Looks like it's really all about the sales.
Like Jo says, her blog is her blog, your blog is your blog, my blog is my blog and stampin' up's blog is stampin' up's blog!!
xx
I'm not a SU demo and I've never been one so my opinion probably doesn't count for much. I don't believe SU should be able to censor your own personal blog that they do not pay for. It's called freedom of speech (we do still live in the USA right...even if stationed overseas)! I too am under the same feeling that SU stamps really aren't my "cuppa tea" but I do like their paper and accessories. I think they are trying to force out the hobby demos which is silly because money is money and in the long run they will be losing a lot of business. Just my opinion for what it's worth. I wish you the best of luck with your decision Angie and I'm sorry that you didn't make the TGF/Club Anya DT this time but keep trying because your work is amazing! Big Hugs!
Ohhhh the can of worms. I am sure Shelli & co. would love to rewind and think this over before it hit the fan. In all honesty Angie, I wouldn't continue SU for that very reason. Although I am a huge fan of their cardstock, I haven't purchased a stamp from them in a while. In addition, after 3 months of back to back $500 sales (each month, mind you) they had the nerve to put me on probationary status when I PCS-ed cross country. Never mind that I didn't have a home in VA yet or that our household goods were still in storage somewhere. They still expected me to find the clientele to meet my minimum. Hmph.
It was then that I left, seems as if SU hasn't changed much since I was first intro'd to it 12 years ago. They don't carry a variety of stamps, and the turnaround time for an order is too long for me to wait. Personally, I would ask them for my money to be refunded and that I would return the starter kit. What I say and do on my blog should never be controlled by some already established company who does very little to personally address me, except when I don't make them enough money. bleh. :P
At least Marie knows your address by heart.;)Good luck hun, I think you have more fun at the Club and on the Farm.
I don't understand it because the SOFA is at every base overseas and I know there are a lot of people who sell it here. But it sounds like a bunch of BS! Do what your heart tells you to and what you think is right!
Nicole
I'm not fond of SU! either, my dear. I actually got dropped around a year ago for not making sales. What really put a bad taste in my mouth was that they never made you know who (the lady who sold to you before me) resign after she stole from several other ladies on the base and didn't put their orders in bu collected $$. They never seemed overly concerned about it. And what's worse is she was always my upline, even after the whole incident and her owing me money, leaving me with unfilled orders when she moved, etc. So I lost respect for SU! after that, and things were never the same. I don't agree with their policy that they are trying to enforce with you either. I know they are a business and have to prtect their best interest, but they should let you just be a hobby demonstrator and do whatever you wish. Could you do that??? Just make your minimums and stay for the discount for yourself, and be on the DT elsewhere? Hum??? I think getting away from SU! is the best thing with the direction you are headed. I agree that their stamps aren't the greatest (as far as design) but their paper, adhesives and embellishments are the best! Okay, well keep us updated!!
I have never sold anything like SU or other products but I would just like to add that companies should know that people like us (who like to create) are going to always look around, see what we like and see what is new out there. They shouldn't be afraid of some competition because if their product is quality, we will come back. I stick with good service and quality. I got away from buying CM products years ago when their sales people starting telling me that their product was the "only quality" product on the market and that I couldn't bring my items from other companies to scrapbook crops.
We are not stupid consumers -- we will go with what we like. They should embrace all of what people are willing to say about them AND other companies.
Good luck, Angie!
Drop em Angie. I'm boycotting them and know most of the big names out here in Blog world are doing the same. Sure hope the top of those uplines can still take the vacations they have come to expect each year. Those die hard gals, could sign up their husbands and continue to get the discount in their names right???? LOL or hmmmm, I have two daughters over the age of 18, if I was interested in beating them at their little game. Just some thoughts
I don't see what their problem is...especially if you are not actually selling. I remember going to other ST demos and they use other products(because it was cheaper) while still demo the ST stuff. Anyways...vent away, it's never good to hold anything in if it's bugging you. Missing you and the kiddos!
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