PTI stands for Papertrey Ink. This is a collective smack blog and Papertrey Ink review page. Papertrey Ink's continuously poor customer service has lead to a page dedicated to discussion of this stamp company and recommendations for alternative stamp companies. Minimal censorship here- I prefer to leave it up to posters' discretion.
The opinions posted on this blog belong to our visitors and we are not paid for our honest reviews ;)
@ everyone who thinks smackers ran Rick off: Damn, conjecture much?
Why can't it be that he is just busy? We did just have a freaking holiday.
He was in here when shit was seriously flying around about him specifically and he didn't shrink back from any accusation or take his toys and go home back then....why would he now?
Math, flood in your craft space sucks. Do you feel, though, that organizing your stuff is as much a part of the enjoyable process of crafting as actual crafting?
Yikes - I received a 5th(?) response from the new zendesk customer service portal. The response was from Dave. So I guess the new CS team is the old team.
I personally don't care if Rick is here or not and certainly my posts weren't meant to "run him off". Like someone said, it's been a few days plus a holiday weekend, CHILL OUT.
He will surely be back with all the ego stroking and the fawning woman.
"@ everyone who thinks smackers ran Rick off: Damn, conjecture much?
Why can't it be that he is just busy? We did just have a freaking holiday." ======================== (Rick posted the following on 4/4): If my presence threatens or bothers anyone here I will be saddened but will respect the group conscience and depart.. The last thing I wanted to do was make anyone uncomfortable or pissed off...
==================== Sorry, 9:12. My ability to read was apparently fueling your pissy disposition. (sarcasm) ==================
WPlus9 update - I ordered on Wednesday night and had my delicious WPlus9 products in my hands on Friday!! I live on the West Coast, so they arrived so freakin' fast!! WPlus9 ROCKS!!
No, 10:19, it was hardly your ability to read that fueled my pissy disposition. It was your inability to follow along. What you so lovingly quoted wasn't the last time Rick checked in here.
Should we all use small words for you going forward....you know, to help you keep up?
11:54, is it necessary to be so rude? Walk away if what people say irritates you. It's as simple as that. No need to start a feeding frenzy on each other . . . can't we all just get along?
Oredered on Friday and received my WPlus9 order today. Cardstock is "almost" identical to PTI. Just a tad bit lighter in weight, but not by much, some would barely notice. Close enough for me. Hope they get some yummy colors, if so , no need EVER AGAIN for PTI.
Maybe I misread the person who got a "Dave" response from a "zendesk" email but you do realize that "Zendesk" is nothing more than "customer service ticket" software and it still has to be USED by someone.
Garbage in, garbage out.
It's kind of like that sea monkey comment from awhile back. You actually still have to DO something with that software.
Uhoh. The lovely Miss T made a design team. Gel-a-Tins. I didn't even know they made stamps any more. I haven't seen anything from them in quite a few years when there was a cute card I liked in PaperCrafts mag - used their stamps.
the garbage in garbage out comment makes no sense to me. I'm guessing that with something like zendesk theyll be able to avoid the whole, "we're sorry but we've lost track of all the emails, please try again" problem. this way they can track issues, see what's still pending, etc.
I was the one who got the Dave response from Zendesk.
I was secretly hoping these tickets got rerouted to another team (er, person?). What was interesting to me was that there was no CS name on the first 4 responses. Then this last response suddenly had Dave's name on it. I don't know how to interpret that.
BTW, they seem to have no idea how to help me on my issue, which is one that several have experienced according to what I read on the forum. I don't know what the problem is. And now Dave has sent me an identical set of steps to try again (twice in one day). I guess that makes me an idiot...someone who tries the same thing over and over again, expecting a different response. I'm about to give up on PTI completely. @@
I made the garbage in, garbage out statement. Basically I just meant that the software isn't going to do everything for them. If they don't customize it appropriately and learn how to manage it, they're still going to have the same problems. Looked kind of idiot-proof though so maybe there's hope. I wonder if getting responses without Dave's name and then getting his name is just one of those "learning curve" things or just that they're learning how to get things set up to suit their needs.
I honestly hope they can work it out. I've been more "they deserve to lose business" in the past but I'm quietly pulling for them now. Of course, if the stamps themselves don't get more interesting, maybe it won't make any difference. They've been pretty blah lately and things like that awful background today are not going to bring them back!
I can say the same - nothing fabulous today either. Although I remember a time when I would be tempted - because I was in the "PTI habit." It used to be one of maybe three stores I would buy from regularly and then just didn't look anywhere else. Not now.
And then shame on me for looking at the blogs because there's Dawn McSunshine using that ghastly combination of turquoise and Kelly green again! G-ross.
Those notched flowers are the ugliest thing I've ever seen!!! They remind me of something a preschooler would make with a paper plate, and the kid wouldn't need a die for it!
That's a great comparison - I remember making those paper plate ones! And who wouldn't just punch a circle and notch it if they wanted to? I don't really get the die craze. Some, sure. Cool shapes you'd never make by hand. But to cut out every stamp? And then if it's too intricate to want to cut out by hand, then it's a pain to line the stamp up anyway.
I actually like the tree set from Maile. It's pretty basic, but the shapes can be used for multiple things.
The new birds, however, are terrible (sorry!). And the feathered tail of the bird makes it look like it's defecating. The new baby stamp set is also pretty bad. Aren't there some better graphic artists out there?
I don't buy dies to use with stamps. Really it's more trouble to line up the stamp than to fussy cut it. There's so many lazy crafters on the PTI boards. If you want everything prefab, just buy the finished cards people!
The only stamps I buy to use with dies are from another company that are compatible with Spellbinders - so much easier to stamp first, then fit into the Spellbinders die.
I thought the same thing about the bird ... although, more of an "explosive diarrhea" than a fart. I just could not see it as a "tail" no matter how hard I squinted.
Why does the script die look like it was glued together in the middle? Doesn't that defeat the point of a die?
10 April 2012 06:15 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I believe they are individual letter dies in a script font. I guess you could glue the letters separately (not touching), but looks like Betsy glued them together.
OK, had to go look at the blogs to know what people are talking about... Thankfully Dawn's was the last one, because I think she may have ruined my vision with those cards!
Can someone please explain what "Land Sakes" means??? I have never heard that before...
Damn, I was coming here to say that I think it's smart of Rick to lock that thread. I know a lot of people will say it's a tactic to bury the issue, but I think it's just a way to manage the wildfire that would've come from it.
The OP came and stated her reason for posting, very clearly, and Rick was respectful of that post. He even went a step further and emailed the owners about her post (which he doesn't actually have to do).
I don't think it's saying shut up customers b/c if anyone else has a problem they're not forbidden from posting it there on the forum, just like that OP did. In fact, it may work more to your advantage b/c locking threads will cause ppl to start more and more threads, as opposed to one ridiculously long thread.
Anyhoo, I was just commenting to say I think Rick handled it wisely and respectfully.
07:24 did you have something you wanted to add to the thread? I contacted the customer only because she is posting CS issues on the forum. Now that the new CS system has been put in place (which has it's own forum), I would really like for these things to be addressed there. But since she had already been dealing with CS, I forwarded her message to Julie and Julie contacted her directly. I left the posting on the forum...
Saying you are forwarding to Julie and then locking the thread is like saying "go to hell and then slamming a door". We KNOW from experience that sending to Julie means the same as dropping your letter in the trash.
Excuse me but what about 7:34's post don't you get. It is the truth and we have all witnessed it dozens of times. You don't have to be Jesus to see what is going on.
I see no problem with locking the thread, but I think the new CS system should be mentioned in that post. Has PTI formally rolled out the new CS system? I mean have they posted about it on the forums or blog?
Not to rag on Rick, but his post only mentions an email to Julie. Nary a word on the zendesk or CS forum.
The appropriate thing Rick should have done was simply direct the person, by link, to the new CS Zendesk option. Saying he was forwarding it to Julie brought sarcastic laughter from all over the world.
Egads, you all weren't kidding! I couldn't find a single thing, not even a little bit of something, to provide even a smidgen of temptation to buy! It really is amazing. I used to be able to look at things in the countdown that I would never buy, but still find myself seeing the appeal of it in the way the DT used it, or a color combo at least.
After seeing what's on offer, I'll bet that some of the other companies that have been mentioned here will be having better-than-usual sales again!
For those who only wanted that sunburst stamp from the Nativity set, go to WPlus9. I got the new star set and it includes a sunburst and tons of other useful stuff!
http://www.wplus9.com/super-star/
The price is comparable to the Nativity set, but I know I wouldn't use the other Nativity stamps at all. I ordered them last Wednesday and they were delivered yesterday, yay!!!
07:50 It has been made public on the main store website for over a week now.
10 April 2012 07:56 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you go searching for it, right? Also from my perspective, the only apparent change is the email address. Not trying to be argumentative with you Rick, just saying that the big "improvement" is not readily apparent. And I only saw it under Contact Us, not the Customer Service tab (but I admit I didn't look long for it there).
Rick - maybe I'm an idiot but I see nowhere on the main customer website that addresses the new customer service system or that there is a forum for it.
I can click on customer serice and then on contact us, which then asks me to email a new customer service email - but that in no way says "well here is the new system and there is a forum for it"
I have no idea where a CS forum would be located and there is no link to it on the main website
Rick - a note you may pass on to the website folks/owners. For those of us still having trouble logging onto the website, the old email address still shows up for contact when having trouble logging in. It would probably be beneficial (since the website login issue is widespread and ongoing) to update that prompt with the new zendesk email addy.
2 releases in a row with nothing even slightly tempting? What is happening to this company? It really is sad what they have been offering lately. I am really glad there are new companies popping up all over to fill in the gap. I keep hoping PTI will one day return to what it was, in all aspects, but I suspect their 15 minutes of fame is over.
I don't think it is Rick's job either. And I don't consider him responsible for any CS stuff.
BUT, since he did bring it up here, the questions/comments are directed to him. I just think it's a shame that with all things PTI, getting information is like pulling teeth.
08:09 Will do that. Incidentally I have discovered a solution to almost every login issue....email me if you are having trouble. I have one right now that is giving fits but all the rest have been solved... why am I involved at all? Cause I want to help...
I don't know Rick. I like my anonymity here. I'd rather Dave just respond and fix the damn thing (though we've been going back and forth for weeks now... he seems pretty clueless). Lol. I appreciate your offer though. If it doesn't shake soon, I'll email you.
You know, I'm not sure Rick really cares who you are/that you're here. Just email him and get the issue taken care of (hopefully). I don't really think he's here to rat people out.
I am only here to try and help where help is needed. I have not interest in who posts here...or who hangs here...or who doesn't like me or PTI...it's really none of my business. I am just happy to help where I can...
I think it was probably good Rick locked the thread or there would have been a lot like me who would say not to let that Paypal claim expire and go somewhere else.
A lot of companies also issue RMA (return merchandise authorization) labels via email so you don't have to wait for a shipping label to be sent. They could consider something like that.
I'm guessing that if you generate an incident number for CS, they you are able to view it's progress? It's not a public forum you mentioned, is it, Rick?
I may email you if I ever need to access PTI again. I used the account reactivation password code I was emailed and it doesn't work. So far, it doesn't matter anyway.
I saw 'zendesk' in the contact email, too. You'd kind of think that if PTI wanted people to even have the impression CS was changing, that those responsible would make a point of it somewhere publicly. Maybe they will if they find it's working.
Hope Renate gets her ink pads. I was impressed she went to the phone number and not surprised at the response. :face: Love someone's comment about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!
The Three Stooges don't want to change anything. Why the fuck haven't they announced these "new procedures"?? Cuz they are fucking idiots who don't have a clue how to run a business properly!
Rick email Julie is exactly like flushing the email down the toilet. Julie is a cunt!
I have just a general rant about Father's Day stamp sets. Why do they always center around fixing stuff, grilling, lazy boy recliners, golf or ties? There is way more to my dad than any of those things. And he doesn't laze around doing nothing, he doesn't play golf, and he doesn't wear a tie. I know a ton of dads who can't stand argyle and aren't particularly good with tools.
To me, a card with tools on it is like saying "Hey, thanks for always being their to fetch the hair ball out of the stopped up drain" like there is nothing more valuable about the guy than what he can DO for you. What about the guys who can't do much in the garage but they sure love their kids like no one else's business, and have great character and are supremely loyal to their family? Or the dads who travel long miles for a job they HATE but do it because the want to provide for their family. Where is that stamp? Oh yeah, those stamps are like 1% of the Father's Day stamps out there.
Um, Ami, I know you were trying to be helpful and all but was it really your place to post that those links are where PTI wants people to start logging their complaints? What if PTI isn't ready for the onslaught yet? I appreciate your intent but speaking for PTI is kinda bold.
9:12 - its on the website for the whole world to see, what is wrong with it being brought up on the forum? Again, lack of communication that customers need to help with!
@9:12 - Those links have been in use for a few weeks. I just want everyone to get all the help possible so their issues are resolved. I really don't care whether I was "speaking for PTI" or not.
My personal opinon is that I don't think PTI wants to or needs to change. They still have those faithful buying each release keeping them afloat.
I do think PTI is all about the money and until they get hit in the pocketbook, I don't see any incentive for them change.
I'll keep voicing my opinion publically here, on 2Peas, SCS and the PTI forum.
09:20 I agree. It's on the main store site...It's not like there has been a rush in the last 30 minutes to create tickets :) It is just a little sparse right now and will be populated with CS info as time goes on....
I think Rick should've locked that thread on the ink pads. Otherwise, you'll either get a bunch of unicorns saying they "hope" or "know" that she'll get her ink pads soon , or those up in arms will relay their horror stories as well. Rick, if her issue were truly resolved, it would be nice to see an update - so people aren't wondering what happened and think PTI just blatantly locked the thread to shut her up.
I whole-heartedly agree that it's not Rick's job to announce the new CS ticket portal. The PTI heads should do that. Not sure Ami should have done that either, but only because I feel the accountability should be with PTI and not with their customers to communicate on their behalf.
Truly, I don't think Rick gives a whoop who's posting here or not. I think he's just trying to help. BTW, Rick, I had my friend send you an email last night on her login issue. She said you responded promptly and even after hours! Nice!
I e-mailed Rick and said "I read on the smack blog that you could help with..." While a lot of us are posting as anonymous, I think we know who some of us are. Wait. We know who some of us are? Ah shit, you know what I mean.
you know, I used to kind of like Mish's funky, layered up style. Now it just grates on my nerves and looks sloppy. Feel better now that I got that off my chest.
on the 10th as in today, or last month? As far as I can tell it is an automated process that happens on the web server when you place an order... you wanna email me the order info and I can try and find out what happened?
It was this month, Rick. Thanks for asking. I'm just going to let it ride and see what happens out of curiosity ~ I'm sure it will show up on my doorstep in 10-30 days even with no email info whatsoever ;).
It just makes you wonder - why them and no one else?
you click on the contact us allllll the way dowwwwn at the bottom of the webpage and it takes you to the new portal.
You click on customer service at the top of the page and then click on that contact us and it just says "send an email to this address" no explaination no way to track anything at all.
Typical PTI - having everything in multiple places on the webpage and none of it gives the same info.
When a ticket is submitted via email, it sends a confirmation with information on the new portal. So by clicking that link and sending an email the customer is given instructions...
Father's Day stamps . . . found a great one once through Gina K of a dad flying a kite with his daughter of all things . . . my husband is always doing fun things with the kids, he's the best dad. You just have to look around. He doesn't wear ties or golf either, but he is handy, although I'd feel like bopping someone on the head if I got a card for Mother's Day with a wash machine on it just like I wouldn't give him a card with a hammer.
I still like Michelle W's cards but I am not into Project Life at all.That to me looks all the same. My favorite cards of hers were from a year or so ago.
I know that I will like her collab set with Nichole and I will also like the gardening set. Not so much that I will order but I will like them.
I know it is not just me, because I have purchased 4 sets from other places in the last couple of weeks. The PTI stuff has gotten so blah! I am still spending my craft budget monthly, but in some really cool places!
Maybe this is supposed to be an off month? They might have put out some great new things for the anniversary festivities and then decided to have an off month? I honestly have no idea how the yearly planning goes.
I am really not loving the super size trend. There must be people asking for the larger versions though or they wouldn't be making them.
I don't think any company aims for anything less than to knock it out of the park every time! They'd be better off with a release every 2 months or something - do dies or colors or whatever but stop doing stamps every month.
Super-size did get popular several months ago, and weren't there a couple of larger sentiment sets? Enough is enough. HA- I'd find which sets they were but it's impossible on that site! Shouldn't "Stamps by Category" list the categories for you to click on?? Who's going to go for pages & pages looking for the category name??
OK, so I just received Gina K's cardstock. I bought each of the sampler packs to get a sample of each of the colors.
I have to say all and all they are pretty good! The thickness is the same as PTI. The pink shades are a bit off imo, but there are nice blue and green tones.
Peachy Keen is a perfect match for Melon Berry and Turquoise Sea is perfect match to Hawaiian Shores.
Oh and I should note that the colors on Gina's website DO NOT look like they do in real life. Which makes it hard to figure out what to order.
Look at the sample color for Ocean Mist, it looks different in the main "swatch" then it does in the Spring Sampler. In real life, it is a touch bluer than Aqua Mist.
Mish's stuff is so sloppy. It's just not good. And I agree that the new script dies are odd, funky, something. I can't imagine those are going to be hot sellers. Granted we haven't seen it all, but this month is not good. Not good at all.
For a while, I felt so angry that I didn't even want to use any of my old sets. Now I am using them again and not feeling bad about it but I still won't advertise on my blog or tell friends where I got the stamps from.
Hopefully this zendesk CS system will help PTI keep on top of the CS issues and give them a way to keep track of what has been resolved and what still needs to be fixed. Progress is good.
And I'd love to know why are there still issues with prize packages? It should be embarassing to PTI that they lead people on for months just waiting. And sid Joan B get banned?
Just curious...for those that feel that the peeks have been underwhelming and the projects boring and/or sloppy, do you really feel they are that bad? I am trying to figure out if I really just don't like the projects or my taste has actually changed since souring on PTI and seeking out other companies. I am leaning toward my taste changing because I think I am over PTI's style.
23.19. Sort of agree with you, I think my taste has changed as well. And I have been put off PTI because of their CS issues. Heck, people are still waiting on prize packages and anniversary sets.
And as an international I have to be really keen on the product to pay for the awful shipping.
I have been stamping for 15 years. When I first became interested in PTI about 4 years ago, everything was so fresh and new. I now find that a lot of the designers styles have stayed the same and I am getting bored. They are still good, it's just that my taste has changed.
Um... So instead of showing that they are 100% genuine about customer concerns and actually acting on them independantly of being pressured to do the right thing by concerned forum members, concerns can only be broached in a locked/closeted away forum? Hmm. Sounds fishy to me. Where is the transparency and integrity in that? So what you get a ticket? Still faced to wait and pray for a real answer and solution. The only difference is unicorns will be allowed unfettered ignorance and fairy dust.
169 comments:
The Sneak Peeks are very boring!
Rick just posted a pic of his work space:
http://forum.papertreyink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34597
Too bad he didn't post a pic of the smack blog :)
Rick's last post said if we wanted him, we could reach him by email. I'm assuming that was 'goodbye.'
OMG - sorry to hear about the flood in your craft room!
@ everyone who thinks smackers ran Rick off: Damn, conjecture much?
Why can't it be that he is just busy? We did just have a freaking holiday.
He was in here when shit was seriously flying around about him specifically and he didn't shrink back from any accusation or take his toys and go home back then....why would he now?
I doubt his feelings are so fragile.
Math, flood in your craft space sucks. Do you feel, though, that organizing your stuff is as much a part of the enjoyable process of crafting as actual crafting?
Yikes - I received a 5th(?) response from the new zendesk customer service portal. The response was from Dave. So I guess the new CS team is the old team.
No wonder they can't fix my issue!
OK, I'm officially underwhelmed by all 5 days of peeks. I even took the 20 seconds to review all 5 days again, just in case.
There is no fear that I will be buying from PTI this month...
I personally don't care if Rick is here or not and certainly my posts weren't meant to "run him off". Like someone said, it's been a few days plus a holiday weekend, CHILL OUT.
He will surely be back with all the ego stroking and the fawning woman.
Rick's last post said if we wanted him, we could reach him by email. I'm assuming that was 'goodbye.'
ASSuming.
what's with all the bitches on here lately? c'mon folks - back to smacking PTI - not each other!
"@ everyone who thinks smackers ran Rick off: Damn, conjecture much?
Why can't it be that he is just busy? We did just have a freaking holiday."
========================
(Rick posted the following on 4/4): If my presence threatens or bothers anyone here I will be saddened but will respect the group conscience and depart.. The last thing I wanted to do was make anyone uncomfortable or pissed off...
====================
Sorry, 9:12. My ability to read was apparently fueling your pissy disposition. (sarcasm)
==================
Sorry to hear about your flooded craft room OMG!
He will surely be back with all the ego stroking and the fawning woman.
--------------------
Sorry this made me laugh out loud!
You can't say this didn't go on @@
WPlus9 update - I ordered on Wednesday night and had my delicious WPlus9 products in my hands on Friday!! I live on the West Coast, so they arrived so freakin' fast!! WPlus9 ROCKS!!
No, 10:19, it was hardly your ability to read that fueled my pissy disposition. It was your inability to follow along. What you so lovingly quoted wasn't the last time Rick checked in here.
Should we all use small words for you going forward....you know, to help you keep up?
Oh unknot your panties you two.
Can't we all just be friends? ;-p
11:54, is it necessary to be so rude? Walk away if what people say irritates you. It's as simple as that. No need to start a feeding frenzy on each other . . . can't we all just get along?
10:19 and 11:54 - Both of you STFU! Geez, quit bashing each other and bash PTI!
As a P.S. to my post at 11:22, I got FREE shipping . . . PTI can't touch that with a 10 foot pole!!
I big fuzzy heart the smackers telling smackers not to smack each other.
(that was sarcasm - for the slow people)
Oredered on Friday and received my WPlus9 order today. Cardstock is "almost" identical to PTI. Just a tad bit lighter in weight, but not by much, some would barely notice. Close enough for me. Hope they get some yummy colors, if so , no need EVER AGAIN for PTI.
LOL @ 11:58
Thanks, Mommy Unicorn 12:00
Fuck off 12:07
LOL @ 12:14
I guess this is what happens when there is no current smack to band together about.
Maybe I misread the person who got a "Dave" response from a "zendesk" email but you do realize that "Zendesk" is nothing more than "customer service ticket" software and it still has to be USED by someone.
Garbage in, garbage out.
It's kind of like that sea monkey comment from awhile back. You actually still have to DO something with that software.
The customer service notice is gone from the website. I guess that means that they are all caught up.
Or 2:31 it means that they don't want any hint of trouble on the storefront that could discourage anyone new to PTI from buying.
I'd vote with 14:42 vs. 14:31 . Were you being sarcastic 14:31?
Uhoh. The lovely Miss T made a design team. Gel-a-Tins. I didn't even know they made stamps any more. I haven't seen anything from them in quite a few years when there was a cute card I liked in PaperCrafts mag - used their stamps.
Does Gelatins have their own message board (crossing fingers)?
the garbage in garbage out comment makes no sense to me. I'm guessing that with something like zendesk theyll be able to avoid the whole, "we're sorry but we've lost track of all the emails, please try again" problem. this way they can track issues, see what's still pending, etc.
Gelatins used to make some cute stuff and then they disappeared for a long time.
I was the one who got the Dave response from Zendesk.
I was secretly hoping these tickets got rerouted to another team (er, person?). What was interesting to me was that there was no CS name on the first 4 responses. Then this last response suddenly had Dave's name on it. I don't know how to interpret that.
BTW, they seem to have no idea how to help me on my issue, which is one that several have experienced according to what I read on the forum. I don't know what the problem is. And now Dave has sent me an identical set of steps to try again (twice in one day). I guess that makes me an idiot...someone who tries the same thing over and over again, expecting a different response. I'm about to give up on PTI completely. @@
^^ er, insane, not "an idiot"
5:05 if you send me an email I can work to gte your issue resolved....been doing that a lot the last few days....
RRRRRRiiiicccckkkk!
Hope Rick can help out!!
I made the garbage in, garbage out statement. Basically I just meant that the software isn't going to do everything for them. If they don't customize it appropriately and learn how to manage it, they're still going to have the same problems. Looked kind of idiot-proof though so maybe there's hope. I wonder if getting responses without Dave's name and then getting his name is just one of those "learning curve" things or just that they're learning how to get things set up to suit their needs.
I honestly hope they can work it out. I've been more "they deserve to lose business" in the past but I'm quietly pulling for them now. Of course, if the stamps themselves don't get more interesting, maybe it won't make any difference. They've been pretty blah lately and things like that awful background today are not going to bring them back!
12.17
I got some cardstock from Clear and Simple stamps - quality is quite good and they have really nice colors. Might be a good alternative to PTI.
not even Betsy, Maile or Nichole made me want anything today. I didn't mention the others because they never do.
I was just coming here to post the same thing, 4:12. Nothing of interest, no inspiration at all. Same thing over and over.
I can say the same - nothing fabulous today either. Although I remember a time when I would be tempted - because I was in the "PTI habit." It used to be one of maybe three stores I would buy from regularly and then just didn't look anywhere else. Not now.
And then shame on me for looking at the blogs because there's Dawn McSunshine using that ghastly combination of turquoise and Kelly green again! G-ross.
Those notched flowers are the ugliest thing I've ever seen!!! They remind me of something a preschooler would make with a paper plate, and the kid wouldn't need a die for it!
That's a great comparison - I remember making those paper plate ones! And who wouldn't just punch a circle and notch it if they wanted to? I don't really get the die craze. Some, sure. Cool shapes you'd never make by hand. But to cut out every stamp? And then if it's too intricate to want to cut out by hand, then it's a pain to line the stamp up anyway.
Nichole stamped us a bird that's pooping rainbows.
I actually like the tree set from Maile. It's pretty basic, but the shapes can be used for multiple things.
The new birds, however, are terrible (sorry!). And the feathered tail of the bird makes it look like it's defecating. The new baby stamp set is also pretty bad. Aren't there some better graphic artists out there?
05:15 - I just had the same thought about the new birds.
Oh dear, this month is quite awful and even Betsy couldn't make it look better. And the new die she used - the scripty 'girl' looks weird.
RE: Dies
I don't buy dies to use with stamps. Really it's more trouble to line up the stamp than to fussy cut it. There's so many lazy crafters on the PTI boards. If you want everything prefab, just buy the finished cards people!
05:14: Ding, ding, ding!!!!
I wondered how long it would take for someone to say it, lol!! I just knew you all were thinkin' it!
The only stamps I buy to use with dies are from another company that are compatible with Spellbinders - so much easier to stamp first, then fit into the Spellbinders die.
Rainbow bird farts...
I agree 5:19. The script font dies look pretty bad. Not the best idea. That's the kind of thing best left to a Silhouette/Cameo.
I thought the same thing about the bird ... although, more of an "explosive diarrhea" than a fart. I just could not see it as a "tail" no matter how hard I squinted.
Lordy Bees don't use that bird on a get well card.
Why does the script die look like it was glued together in the middle? Doesn't that defeat the point of a die?
http://forum.papertreyink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34624&start=0
Ruh Roh
Anonymous said...
Why does the script die look like it was glued together in the middle? Doesn't that defeat the point of a die?
10 April 2012 06:15
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I believe they are individual letter dies in a script font. I guess you could glue the letters separately (not touching), but looks like Betsy glued them together.
06:26 Ruh Roh is right...
6:26 Once again PTI snatches defeat from the jaws of victory
Enough with the birds that all look like they are from the same genetic pool!!
OK, had to go look at the blogs to know what people are talking about... Thankfully Dawn's was the last one, because I think she may have ruined my vision with those cards!
Can someone please explain what "Land Sakes" means??? I have never heard that before...
""They are answered by Heskamp Printing and when you ask for Papertrey they claim not to know the name and hang up!!"
An example of another BLATANT lie!!
guatelicia:Can someone please explain what "Land Sakes" means??? I have never heard that before...
About the same thing as "Lordy Bees"...
I know that this is going to sound sarcastic but I like the way that you handled that issue Rick.
You didn't delete the thread and you were respectful in your answer. That scored a point with me.
(I am not sucking up and I am not commenting on the actual issue, just how Rick handled it.)
Rick,
could you tell us why the thread about the missing ink pads has been immediately locked?
Locking the thread is a fucked up move Rick! I see your back to your old shit stirring!
Why did you lock the thread, RIck?
WTF! A bird farting rainbow stink? WTF was Nichole thinking with that example?
Not Rick but...since someone else is looking into it...why get more people who are unaffected by the situation chipping in unnecessarily??
Anonymous said...
guatelicia:Can someone please explain what "Land Sakes" means??? I have never heard that before...
About the same thing as "Lordy Bees"...
10 April 2012 07:09
_______________________________________________________________________
Thank you!
Locking the thread says only ONE thing---SHUT UP CUSTOMERS! It is like taking the phone off the hook.
Damn, I was coming here to say that I think it's smart of Rick to lock that thread. I know a lot of people will say it's a tactic to bury the issue, but I think it's just a way to manage the wildfire that would've come from it.
The OP came and stated her reason for posting, very clearly, and Rick was respectful of that post. He even went a step further and emailed the owners about her post (which he doesn't actually have to do).
I don't think it's saying shut up customers b/c if anyone else has a problem they're not forbidden from posting it there on the forum, just like that OP did. In fact, it may work more to your advantage b/c locking threads will cause ppl to start more and more threads, as opposed to one ridiculously long thread.
Anyhoo, I was just commenting to say I think Rick handled it wisely and respectfully.
07:24 did you have something you wanted to add to the thread? I contacted the customer only because she is posting CS issues on the forum. Now that the new CS system has been put in place (which has it's own forum), I would really like for these things to be addressed there. But since she had already been dealing with CS, I forwarded her message to Julie and Julie contacted her directly. I left the posting on the forum...
Yeah, birds with explosive diarrhea. No thanks.
I agree that even Betsy couldn't pull a rabbit out of this hat.
Saying you are forwarding to Julie and then locking the thread is like saying "go to hell and then slamming a door". We KNOW from experience that sending to Julie means the same as dropping your letter in the trash.
07:34 Except Julie has already contacted the customer and resolved the issue.
I guess 7:34 is Jesus now and knows all that goes on without seeing it for herself.
No, I'm not Rick. I'm just over being bitter for the hell of being bitter.
I like Maile's trees, too. I'm not a CAS designer, though, nor do I do well with graphic images like that. Otherwise, I'd buy that set.
Excuse me but what about 7:34's post don't you get. It is the truth and we have all witnessed it dozens of times. You don't have to be Jesus to see what is going on.
I see no problem with locking the thread, but I think the new CS system should be mentioned in that post. Has PTI formally rolled out the new CS system? I mean have they posted about it on the forums or blog?
Not to rag on Rick, but his post only mentions an email to Julie. Nary a word on the zendesk or CS forum.
I'm sorry, but the half & half die shapes make me giggle. They look like condoms to me. I know, real mature. But they're just weird.
The appropriate thing Rick should have done was simply direct the person, by link, to the new CS Zendesk option. Saying he was forwarding it to Julie brought sarcastic laughter from all over the world.
7:44, ok, so you knew that the OP had received a response from Julie after she posted that on the forum?
Since it's so easy to know what's going on and all...
smh.
Egads, you all weren't kidding! I couldn't find a single thing, not even a little bit of something, to provide even a smidgen of temptation to buy! It really is amazing. I used to be able to look at things in the countdown that I would never buy, but still find myself seeing the appeal of it in the way the DT used it, or a color combo at least.
After seeing what's on offer, I'll bet that some of the other companies that have been mentioned here will be having better-than-usual sales again!
Has the zendesk system been made "public" anywhere outside of this blog?
07:50 It has been made public on the main store website for over a week now.
An aside...
For those who only wanted that sunburst stamp from the Nativity set, go to WPlus9. I got the new star set and it includes a sunburst and tons of other useful stuff!
http://www.wplus9.com/super-star/
The price is comparable to the Nativity set, but I know I wouldn't use the other Nativity stamps at all. I ordered them last Wednesday and they were delivered yesterday, yay!!!
07:46 I also opened a ticket for the customer on the Zendesk system to make sure that the customer could track it...
Thanks for the reply, Rick.
Rick Geymonat said...
07:50 It has been made public on the main store website for over a week now.
10 April 2012 07:56
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If you go searching for it, right? Also from my perspective, the only apparent change is the email address. Not trying to be argumentative with you Rick, just saying that the big "improvement" is not readily apparent. And I only saw it under Contact Us, not the Customer Service tab (but I admit I didn't look long for it there).
Rick - maybe I'm an idiot but I see nowhere on the main customer website that addresses the new customer service system or that there is a forum for it.
I can click on customer serice and then on contact us, which then asks me to email a new customer service email - but that in no way says "well here is the new system and there is a forum for it"
I have no idea where a CS forum would be located and there is no link to it on the main website
Followed 7:58's link to w plus 9's site, and kept browsing.
Found some trees similar to Maile's: http://www.wplus9.com/funky-foliage/ and they're on clearance. These aren't all circular though.
In all fairness, I'm not sure it's up to Rick how or even if the announcement for the new CS system is made or presented on the website.
Rick - a note you may pass on to the website folks/owners. For those of us still having trouble logging onto the website, the old email address still shows up for contact when having trouble logging in. It would probably be beneficial (since the website login issue is widespread and ongoing) to update that prompt with the new zendesk email addy.
I guess you can't please everyone. I think that answering the thread and locking it was a GOOD thing. I didn't see a thing wrong with it.
2 releases in a row with nothing even slightly tempting? What is happening to this company? It really is sad what they have been offering lately. I am really glad there are new companies popping up all over to fill in the gap. I keep hoping PTI will one day return to what it was, in all aspects, but I suspect their 15 minutes of fame is over.
@8:06
I don't think it is Rick's job to roll out and explain the new CS system. But it is absolutely the owner's job to do so.
Rick stated on here that it was rolled out - I would beg to differ, as do others apparently.
It was rolled out, just not to YOUR satisfaction, LOL.
I don't think it is Rick's job either. And I don't consider him responsible for any CS stuff.
BUT, since he did bring it up here, the questions/comments are directed to him. I just think it's a shame that with all things PTI, getting information is like pulling teeth.
http://www.papertreyink.com/ContactUs/Contact_Us.aspx
08:09 Will do that. Incidentally I have discovered a solution to almost every login issue....email me if you are having trouble. I have one right now that is giving fits but all the rest have been solved... why am I involved at all? Cause I want to help...
I don't know Rick. I like my anonymity here. I'd rather Dave just respond and fix the damn thing (though we've been going back and forth for weeks now... he seems pretty clueless). Lol. I appreciate your offer though. If it doesn't shake soon, I'll email you.
08:35 You could do what someone else did and say "My friend told me if I was having login issues I should send you an email"... :)
You know, I'm not sure Rick really cares who you are/that you're here. Just email him and get the issue taken care of (hopefully). I don't really think he's here to rat people out.
I am only here to try and help where help is needed. I have not interest in who posts here...or who hangs here...or who doesn't like me or PTI...it's really none of my business. I am just happy to help where I can...
I have not interest?? SMH..
I think it was probably good Rick locked the thread or there would have been a lot like me who would say not to let that Paypal claim expire and go somewhere else.
A lot of companies also issue RMA (return merchandise authorization) labels via email so you don't have to wait for a shipping label to be sent. They could consider something like that.
I'm guessing that if you generate an incident number for CS, they you are able to view it's progress? It's not a public forum you mentioned, is it, Rick?
I may email you if I ever need to access PTI again. I used the account reactivation password code I was emailed and it doesn't work. So far, it doesn't matter anyway.
I saw 'zendesk' in the contact email, too. You'd kind of think that if PTI wanted people to even have the impression CS was changing, that those responsible would make a point of it somewhere publicly. Maybe they will if they find it's working.
Hope Renate gets her ink pads. I was impressed she went to the phone number and not surprised at the response. :face: Love someone's comment about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!
"it's progress" !!!! Argh!! its progress
Nice forum announcement :)
The Three Stooges don't want to change anything. Why the fuck haven't they announced these "new procedures"?? Cuz they are fucking idiots who don't have a clue how to run a business properly!
Rick email Julie is exactly like flushing the email down the toilet. Julie is a cunt!
Nice going, Ami-woman-of-action!
Tell us how you really feel, 8:58.
Lordy Bees, that's a lot of swear words 8:58.
CANNOT STAND when they sugar-coat it like that....say what's on your mind!
Thank you, thank you very much...said in my best Elvis voice!
I have just a general rant about Father's Day stamp sets. Why do they always center around fixing stuff, grilling, lazy boy recliners, golf or ties? There is way more to my dad than any of those things. And he doesn't laze around doing nothing, he doesn't play golf, and he doesn't wear a tie. I know a ton of dads who can't stand argyle and aren't particularly good with tools.
To me, a card with tools on it is like saying "Hey, thanks for always being their to fetch the hair ball out of the stopped up drain" like there is nothing more valuable about the guy than what he can DO for you. What about the guys who can't do much in the garage but they sure love their kids like no one else's business, and have great character and are supremely loyal to their family? Or the dads who travel long miles for a job they HATE but do it because the want to provide for their family. Where is that stamp? Oh yeah, those stamps are like 1% of the Father's Day stamps out there.
Um, Ami, I know you were trying to be helpful and all but was it really your place to post that those links are where PTI wants people to start logging their complaints? What if PTI isn't ready for the onslaught yet? I appreciate your intent but speaking for PTI is kinda bold.
8:58, I am not skeered of your swear words, sister. Sounds like you've been burned by the stooges for a while.
Ami, thanks for posting!
8:58, wow!
9:12 - its on the website for the whole world to see, what is wrong with it being brought up on the forum? Again, lack of communication that customers need to help with!
@9:12 - Those links have been in use for a few weeks. I just want everyone to get all the help possible so their issues are resolved. I really don't care whether I was "speaking for PTI" or not.
My personal opinon is that I don't think PTI wants to or needs to change. They still have those faithful buying each release keeping them afloat.
I do think PTI is all about the money and until they get hit in the pocketbook, I don't see any incentive for them change.
I'll keep voicing my opinion publically here, on 2Peas, SCS and the PTI forum.
Bravo, Ami!
@8:58 - really? Did you have to use that language to get your point across?
09:20 I agree. It's on the main store site...It's not like there has been a rush in the last 30 minutes to create tickets :) It is just a little sparse right now and will be populated with CS info as time goes on....
I think Rick should've locked that thread on the ink pads. Otherwise, you'll either get a bunch of unicorns saying they "hope" or "know" that she'll get her ink pads soon , or those up in arms will relay their horror stories as well. Rick, if her issue were truly resolved, it would be nice to see an update - so people aren't wondering what happened and think PTI just blatantly locked the thread to shut her up.
I whole-heartedly agree that it's not Rick's job to announce the new CS ticket portal. The PTI heads should do that. Not sure Ami should have done that either, but only because I feel the accountability should be with PTI and not with their customers to communicate on their behalf.
Truly, I don't think Rick gives a whoop who's posting here or not. I think he's just trying to help. BTW, Rick, I had my friend send you an email last night on her login issue. She said you responded promptly and even after hours! Nice!
BTW, Rick, I had my friend send you an email last night on her login issue. She said you responded promptly and even after hours! Nice!
-----------------------------
Still waiting on a resolution from the developer...I just sent him a follow-up email about an hour ago and he said he would figure it out today...
Keep em coming...
Gushing on the forum on the new bird sets - guess they don't see the funny side of the 'exploding' birds.
I e-mailed Rick and said "I read on the smack blog that you could help with..." While a lot of us are posting as anonymous, I think we know who some of us are. Wait. We know who some of us are? Ah shit, you know what I mean.
Steve Holt!
you know, I used to kind of like Mish's funky, layered up style. Now it just grates on my nerves and looks sloppy. Feel better now that I got that off my chest.
I placed an order on the 10th to use up my G.C. and read "an email confirmation has been sent to you as well." No it hasn't.
I don't understand - that is automatic from every other company, mostly within minutes. And no living human being should have anything to do with it.
on the 10th as in today, or last month? As far as I can tell it is an automated process that happens on the web server when you place an order... you wanna email me the order info and I can try and find out what happened?
It was this month, Rick. Thanks for asking. I'm just going to let it ride and see what happens out of curiosity ~ I'm sure it will show up on my doorstep in 10-30 days even with no email info whatsoever ;).
It just makes you wonder - why them and no one else?
I'll give it some time though.
Well let me know if I can help in any way...
Thanks!
How are things with the "hover snippet?"
found a mod to do it, just need to figure out how to install it :) I need to do it anyway...sometimes I have to just "figure stuff out"...
Good luck with that - looking forward to it.
so riddle me this...
you click on the contact us allllll the way dowwwwn at the bottom of the webpage and it takes you to the new portal.
You click on customer service at the top of the page and then click on that contact us and it just says "send an email to this address" no explaination no way to track anything at all.
Typical PTI - having everything in multiple places on the webpage and none of it gives the same info.
When a ticket is submitted via email, it sends a confirmation with information on the new portal. So by clicking that link and sending an email the customer is given instructions...
that must have been a recent change.... only 2 weeks ago the default email still had Jennifer E as customer service on my auto response
There have a been a lot of recent changes...
Father's Day stamps . . . found a great one once through Gina K of a dad flying a kite with his daughter of all things . . . my husband is always doing fun things with the kids, he's the best dad. You just have to look around. He doesn't wear ties or golf either, but he is handy, although I'd feel like bopping someone on the head if I got a card for Mother's Day with a wash machine on it just like I wouldn't give him a card with a hammer.
10:11, I agree about Mish. She use to be one of my favorites, lately everything is looking the same.
I still like Michelle W's cards but I am not into Project Life at all.That to me looks all the same. My favorite cards of hers were from a year or so ago.
I know that I will like her collab set with Nichole and I will also like the gardening set. Not so much that I will order but I will like them.
I know it is not just me, because I have purchased 4 sets from other places in the last couple of weeks. The PTI stuff has gotten so blah! I am still spending my craft budget monthly, but in some really cool places!
A really, really bad time for PTI to let the creativity bottom out.
Maybe this is supposed to be an off month? They might have put out some great new things for the anniversary festivities and then decided to have an off month? I honestly have no idea how the yearly planning goes.
I am really not loving the super size trend. There must be people asking for the larger versions though or they wouldn't be making them.
The new script dies look awkward.
IMO it has been 2 very off months in a row.
16:56, no company plans for an off month.
It looks like Betsy bent the girl script word down so it is not level.
Why would ANY company want any month to be an off month????
I don't think any company aims for anything less than to knock it out of the park every time! They'd be better off with a release every 2 months or something - do dies or colors or whatever but stop doing stamps every month.
Super-size did get popular several months ago, and weren't there a couple of larger sentiment sets? Enough is enough. HA- I'd find which sets they were but it's impossible on that site! Shouldn't "Stamps by Category" list the categories for you to click on?? Who's going to go for pages & pages looking for the category name??
If they aren't taking a month off, I've got nothing.
OK, so I just received Gina K's cardstock. I bought each of the sampler packs to get a sample of each of the colors.
I have to say all and all they are pretty good! The thickness is the same as PTI. The pink shades are a bit off imo, but there are nice blue and green tones.
Peachy Keen is a perfect match for Melon Berry and Turquoise Sea is perfect match to Hawaiian Shores.
Oh and I should note that the colors on Gina's website DO NOT look like they do in real life. Which makes it hard to figure out what to order.
Look at the sample color for Ocean Mist, it looks different in the main "swatch" then it does in the Spring Sampler. In real life, it is a touch bluer than Aqua Mist.
Mish's stuff is so sloppy. It's just not good. And I agree that the new script dies are odd, funky, something. I can't imagine those are going to be hot sellers. Granted we haven't seen it all, but this month is not good. Not good at all.
Did they say that Smoky Grey and Berry are the 2 colors this month? I hope so, because they don't tempt me a bit.
For a while, I felt so angry that I didn't even want to use any of my old sets. Now I am using them again and not feeling bad about it but I still won't advertise on my blog or tell friends where I got the stamps from.
ripe avocado ink this month
Hopefully this zendesk CS system will help PTI keep on top of the CS issues and give them a way to keep track of what has been resolved and what still needs to be fixed. Progress is good.
^^^ i certainly hope so, too. from personal experience it ain't looking good. keepin my fingers crossed.
since rick is so chatty, i'd like to know if all CS service issues still lead to Julie.
And I'd love to know why are there still issues with prize packages? It should be embarassing to PTI that they lead people on for months just waiting.
And sid Joan B get banned?
Just curious...for those that feel that the peeks have been underwhelming and the projects boring and/or sloppy, do you really feel they are that bad? I am trying to figure out if I really just don't like the projects or my taste has actually changed since souring on PTI and seeking out other companies. I am leaning toward my taste changing because I think I am over PTI's style.
23.19. Sort of agree with you, I think my taste has changed as well. And I have been put off PTI because of their CS issues. Heck, people are still waiting on prize packages and anniversary sets.
And as an international I have to be really keen on the product to pay for the awful shipping.
i.e. PTI's awful shipping costs.
Other US companies are heaps better on shipping costs, and delivery times.
I have been stamping for 15 years. When I first became interested in PTI about 4 years ago, everything was so fresh and new. I now find that a lot of the designers styles have stayed the same and I am getting bored. They are still good, it's just that my taste has changed.
Um... So instead of showing that they are 100% genuine about customer concerns and actually acting on them independantly of being pressured to do the right thing by concerned forum members, concerns can only be broached in a locked/closeted away forum? Hmm. Sounds fishy to me. Where is the transparency and integrity in that? So what you get a ticket? Still faced to wait and pray for a real answer and solution. The only difference is unicorns will be allowed unfettered ignorance and fairy dust.
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