Chit Chatting into February - Chatty Metalsmiths Monthly Chat Thread

[#1]

Hey all - welcome! The more the merrier 'round these parts - we don't bite! Please just keep the rules in mind ( no calling out, play nice etc etc)

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AbellaBlue = Jessica
AHeronDesign=Anna
aimeepawluk = Aimee
ajjewelrydesigns = Angela
AlegraJewelry = Vicki
AlegriaDesigns = Marina
AlexSharDesigns = Gaynor
AlisonMooreDesigns = Ally
AmyEstelleMetalworks = Amy
anidem = Jesse
AnnealedHeart= Amanda
artdi = Diana
AZBluerockers = Mary Lou
bagsnstuff = Dianna
BeatrizFortes = Beatriz
BellaBijouJewellery = Jaime
BellaBijouToo = Jaime
bddesigns= Christen
bijoutery = Jen, Jennifer, or bijoutery
BrazinHussyStudio = Carol
BrendasBeadsandMore = Brenda
Brokentreasures= Amanda
Brontotheroocity= James L.
BurlapBudda=Jen K.
cabbingrough = LauraH
CGWhitfield = CG, or Cliff
CharOuellette = Char
Chrissilynn2=Chrissi
Chrissicabs=Chrissi
coldfeetstudio = Deborah
corybethy = Cory
craftysou = Soula
cutforyou = Keith Cler
DaisiemaiCreations = Janea
DaVineJewelry = Danielle
DeesumDesigns= Molly
DeirdreCunningham = Deirdre
Dharlee = Dharlee aka Debbie
DiemDesignsJewelry = Sarah Jo
DominicanLounge= Alpha
Doxallodesigns = Janice
Doxallostudio = Janice
DragonflyDreamers=Wendy
Duffy Designs= Duffy
Eklektisch = Cole
Elementaldesigns= Denise
Emerald Eyes Jewelry = Angela
EmilyWiserJewelry = Emily
Epiphany of a Dragonfly = Wanda
evelynjewelry = Evelyn
evittscreekarts= Lois
ericafreestone = Erica
EyemaginationRSB = Robin
FiliGraceJewelry = Grace
fix8ion = Tammy
FlaviaBennettDesigns = Flavia
FoldAndSpindle = Mike
FoxyGirlBoutique = Melissa
gailwilliamsjewelry=gail
GirlLovesGlitter = Lilian
happyment = Rasa
HappyTortoiseSupply = Jason
HappyTurtleDesigns = Ken
Hartleystudio = Ann
Hellfire Workshop= Michael
HRBeaDesign = Heather
InbarBareket = Inbar
InstantArtifact = Ashley
JackStones = Jack
JaneaPauline = Janea
JaneDeaux = Gabby
JaneDeauxDeLuxe = Gabby
JazznJewelry = Kathy
jdwoody=James
JelliesJewelry = Jack
JenniferCasady = Jen or Jennifer
Jewelrybysala= Lori
Jewelrytutorials = Janice
JonesingforJewelry = Carin
JooniJewelry = Yoko
Juliekirkjewellery = Julie
JudithGayleDesigns= Judy
KarlaWheelerDesign = Karla
karmahjean = Karen
KateCalcottDesigns = Kate
KBerlinMetalsmith = Berlin
KellyDesignStudios = Kelly
kiliari = Raina
KimberlyBellDesigns = Kim
KimVGlass = Kim V
KipkalinkaJewels= Christine
KitandCaboodleShop = Gayle
KriksSilver = Kristie
lamazonian = Vema
LaraLewis = Lara
LauraRoberson= Laura
lavomatique = elizabeth
LCarlsonJewelry = Liesl
LeahBestDesigns=Leah
Lilnut = Caroline
LjBjewelry=Laura Jane
LilyEmmeJewelry = Valerie
litapsilverj = Lita
Littlecherryhill = Emma
Lovebuttonsca = Laura
Loveinatangle=Nance
lsueszabo = Sue
Luxedesignworkshop = Peg
madstarsilver = Marilyn
MarcusBerknerJewelry = Marcus
MariTStudio = Marina
Markaplan = Mark
mattjohnsondesigns =Matt
Maythenwolfbane= Nicole
Metalluxe = Peg
MetalAdornments = MorganRae
MieleMelograno = Liz
MissToryDesigns = Lina
MoMoMetals = Mo
MostlyStoneware = Kathy
mizgeorge = george
novadesigns = Tess
novaofsweden = Tess
NRjewellerydesign = Nikki
OiseauMetalArts= Damon
Oldetownsmithy= Roy Dunn
oller13= Vegas
OrmanaDesign = Katya
OverThinkingIt = Bree
panterapens = Matthew
Pinkcoyotejewelry=Lee
Ppennee = Pennee
Prox = Jen
PureDichotomy = Wendy
Quite Clever Jewelry = E.B.
RadianTrace = Ronnie
Ranchiquita = Becki
RI Beach Jewelry = Paula
Ristra Ranch = Vanessa
rmddesigns = Rachel
rockaholic=Peggy
RyanQuantzStudios=Ryan
sbevisdesigns = sue
ScrapMetal = Addie
SeaglassReinvented = Korie
Seek2sustain = Francesca and Claudette
Senobar=Senobar
ShireJewelry = Lisa
SilverBlueberry = Esmeralda
SilverLinesJewelry = Jenny
SilverMade Studio = Teresa
silvermaven= Carol and Jackie
SilverspotMetalworks = Jessee J. Smith
SimpleDesignJewelry=Lisa
slathered = Sharon
StoneBeautiful = Jenn
StoneTemple = Mark
SToNZ = Susan
SugarCity = Grace
SweetOliveJewelry = Amy
SylviaAnderson= Sylvia Anderson
Taitaya= Marleena
Tattooedgrannysgoods = Joni
thebutterflygirl = Veronika
TheSilverExperience = Beth
TheSilverPearl = Mary Anne
TheSpeeceCollection = Pat
ThirteenGems=Melissa
tinkertown = Sue (tinkerSue)
TeklasTreasures = Kyra
Treasuregypsy = Darcy
TreeFrogJewelry = Sheryl
TuHu=Donna
TwoSilverMoons = Birgit
UnionStudioMetals= Michelle & Margarett
UntwistedSister=Terri
valerietyler = Valerie
verysmallbird = Heather
VillainAccessories = Brandi
VisionQuest = kim or VQ
WednesdaysDesign= Kristina (Wednesday)
WiredHeArtJewelry = Misty
wpcardenas= Wanda
xekebcustomsilver = Victoria
Zenamels = Julie
10Fold = Erica
2trickpony = Rachel
3sweetpeasjewelry = Gina

[cgwhitfield]

I think unless a signature is required, just 'delivered', it does depend on the security of wherever it's left. For mine, I don't opt for a signature for practical reasons - so many aren't ever at home during the day - but that does put it in the no man's land of trust.

They always seem to leave a notice card for mine unless it can be physically put into a secure location. Odds are it was taken, most people aren't going to run a scam that way. Good luck. It's the kind of thing where I'd choke it down and replace.

[kimberlybelldesigns]

So much bad news.

Sue, I hope your computers can be fixed. I get those emails all the time and almost clicked on them too.

Good luck with you claim Susan. I'd definitely go into the PO and try to talk to someone in a management position.

[Former_Member]

I'd keep trying with the post office and get more details to confirm exactly where it was delivered to. In the meantime, I'd replace the item. It sucks, but it's pretty much just a cost of doing business.

There are a certain percentage of losses all along the way - sometimes you'll mess up a piece and have to scrap it, sometimes you'll break a stone, sometimes something might get stolen at a show. If you're like me, sometimes you'll do something stupid and break a tool. And sometimes a mailed package won't arrive.

The part that would really gripe my wagger is PAYING for insurance, but then not getting satisfaction when something goes missing. So I would pursue that probably to the ends of the earth.

If they won't honor the insurance, then maybe it's not worth buying insurance...? I might want to change how I ship.

[Former_Member]

Oh, hey... checking stats, I actually got a hit from Browse the other day! Woohoo! I didn't notice it because I've been so focused on whether the cars are getting any traffic. (They're not.)

[SToNZ]

Wendy Wetherbee says
don't have a clue what you would do once the PO denies your insurance claim. I guess if you believe the customer then you have to issue a refund. Or send them a replacement. sigh. Seems like it would be an easy way to scam a hard working artist. Hope they are on the level.
------
I do think she's being honest. I have sold to her before. She's not really even trying to get me to give her a refund, though I think I might have to.
I can't replace the item as it was one of a kind.
(vintage piece, reworked)
I think I'll try to get her to go to her local po and work on them. (She says they have screwed up before with delivering her mail)
If she has no luck, I'll just refund her $.
Sigh.

[SToNZ]

Matthew Davis says
If they won't honor the insurance, then maybe it's not worth buying insurance...? I might want to change how I ship.
------
I know. Really. What's the point of the insurance!??

[cgwhitfield]

The way I ship comes with $100 insurance but I never pay for extra. At $3 per $100 (I think) for extra insurance I now have a theoretical fund of savings that would be a real chunk of money.

Edit, and not going through the hassle of making a claim is a plus for me too.

[PPennee]

The new thing around here I was told at the PO, is a contracted deivery service for packages. I think I already posted here that I went looking for tracking for a package from hoover and strong the other week- it said it was delivered but I never got it. I took the tracking number into the PO and they said their records showed a notice was left, but it wasn't. The service the PO uses is marking they delivered or left a notice but not necessarly doing their job and actually leaving a notice- could it be something like that where your customer lives?

[cgwhitfield]

Recently had a customer ask about where their package was. Turns out the notice card was received by the mother, who had forgotten to mention it.

So many ways for it to go wrong it's a wonder the system works as well as it does. But as long as you can blame your mother.....

[EvittsCreekArts]

Hope the package turns up. I sent two packages to my daughter at Stanford last year. One had jewelry for a yoga studio, the other had w2's, birthday cards forwarded with cash in them, and Christmas gifts. Poof...gone. Then my twin sent her a keurig.Poof ....gone. All marked as delivered. Presumably stolen. PO was NO help, didn't call back, had an attitude of indifference. Nothing was insured either. GRRR. Insurance is a total joke, as there's always an amount of bureaucracy that makes it just about impossible to effect a successful claim so I takes my chances and sometimes I lose. The only way I ship to her now is signature required so at least I stand a chance of catching the thief.

[PureDichotomy]

Ugh. Horrible story Lois.

Makes me lose faith in USPS. not that my faith was particularly strong in the first place... I will say though that my issues with them seem to really be just at my own PO. everything out seems to be ok. knocking on wood. but packages to me aren't always as lucky.

[EvittsCreekArts]

I don't blame the PO except in the PIA claims process. Problem is at the mailbox with the bad guy waiting around for the lunch train.

[PureDichotomy]

In my case, it is the PO at the building and the temp carriers they use... coupled with a bad neighbor.

Im pretty sure someone at the PO building flags my stuff. Packages to my PO Box go missing, and then are mysteriously found after i ask and show them my tracking number being marked "delivered", sometimes they are not found at all. and a few times they have been "delivered" to the wrong PO Box.

at my mailbox,lots of things happen to..lately - W-2's are mysteriously opened, stapled back together and stuffed in with my other mail... clearly not a post office thing... they always put a message on it if mail gets damaged in delivery.

Im at the point when I don't know whether to send stuff to the PO box or to my mail box. both are un-reliable.

[Former_Member]

That's awful, Wendy. :(

A couple years ago I was having an issue with stuff that needed to be signed for not being delivered. No item, no notice, and I was home the whole time. Happened 3 or 4 times. The first couple, first I heard about it was when the "final notice" came 2 weeks later to let me know they were about to send it back! After that I got wise to them, and paid close attention to tracking. Or even without tracking, if something doesn't appear when I expect it, I go check at the post office after a couple of days.

Hasn't happened in a long time though. Now we have an excellent mail carrier. A couple weeks ago when I was out but needed to sign something, he left the delivery notice. But then later that afternoon, he came back to try to deliver it again before he took it back to the PO! I was so happy because it was something I really wanted and I wouldn't have been able to pick it up for about 4 days.

So I don't think USPS inherently sucks. Some of their mail carriers obviously do, but others are awesome.

[2TrickPony]

Something can get stolen out of a PO box after an item has been delivered, which is why they don't pay when they are marked delivered... however, I would file with the post office and push the matter, and the customer with the bracelet needs to query the mail carrier, her neighbors, etc. The item may be around.

There is the option of 3rd party insurance. They pay even if the item is marked delivered, or so they say.

[PureDichotomy]

I agree... I think mostly they are great. and I can't complain about them in general. They have reasonable fees to bring packages all over the country and my customers have been served well.

I think my issues are isolated here with this particular Office, and actually MOST of the people there are great.

[2TrickPony]

I agree with you Matthew. I have post office peeps who are totally awesome.
What they have told me to do when I have had trouble in other post offices is to call the 1 800 number.

[2TrickPony]

One example, I want all of my packages scanned in when I bring them in. There's one lady in Eureka who refuses to do this, even though its now the rule that they have to. She told me to go to another PO if I wanted them scanned.

Were talking here about running a wand over a bar code while the item is on the scale- takes literally 10 seconds a package. I didn't call to rat her out.
But maybe I should have?

[2TrickPony]

Also, the customer should file a police report. If someone is stealing from the PO box, that's a federal offense.

[cgwhitfield]

Rachel, how does the 'non-scanning' work? Here it's a necessary part of the adding up the total I pay.

Or is that for prepaid shipping stuff?

[Former_Member]

+1 on police involvement. And when dealing with the PO, maybe push to get postal inspectors involved. I hear they are one of the most ruthless law enforcement agencies around.

[cgwhitfield]

Rachel, do you still have the tracking stats showing in Customer Service?

[2TrickPony]

Cg- oh yes I do- its at 0% on my stats.
If they release this and publicize the stats in their current form, I predict a shit storm of epic proportions.......

[cgwhitfield]

Rachel, I'd think that would be an impossibility. The absolute variety of how sellers achieve good customer service simply can't fit into a statistical model, not even close.

But it is a little concerning that it was even attempted, and carrying on with it in the face of contrary evidence does puzzle. Just the most minor acknowledgement that it may not fit all. If they have merely stopped showing tracking stats for non-UIS sellers, well, that's just weird.

For those who do use all the bells and whistles available to them it may serve to point out the need for some tweaking with those bells and whistles.

But, big picture, it's conceptually a naked emperor.

[Former_Member]

i had a missing package last year , and i filed the claim since the seller was out of town, and left her an email saying what i had done, i had my package issue resolved in a matter of hours, mislaid in Colorado, and the buyer's immense appreciation i had made it all go, big, huge discount on my next buy and her sincere gratitude for not blaming her, over a lovely but impractical, keyless lock made in the podunk town that threw the best fireworks that my Gram took me to every year until i got too old for sleepovers...........cause i had kids to take care of......