DigiScrap Discussions

Critique Blogs

2008-07-26T18:48:00.002-05:00

Okay - Sharia asked me to do this topic a while ago and I haven't had a chance till now. But I want to. I'm only aware of one blog of this type - where a designer gives the blogger permission to critique their designs/kits and show problems, etc. If there are more blogs of this kind, I'm not aware of 'em.

Here's what I think. If you've given a blog of this kind permission to critique, then you can't really complain when they do - no matter how unpleasant, nitpicky or disappointing it might be. However, I'd assume that the blogger (and, by extension, the comments they allow) would be CONSTRUCTIVE. Not insulting or attacking. If that's the case all the way around, then nobody's got any argument with them.

However, if the blogger is critiquing product without permission or being nasty about it, I think there's no place for that. If somebody has a problem with the quality of a designer's product, there's only ONE PLACE where that should be hashed out. Between that customer and the designer. Not on a 3rd party anonymous blog. For one reason, how is the designer supposed to know there's a problem they need to address if they aren't made aware of the problem? Are we just hoping that designer will stumble upon this blog and find it? For another reason, the issue is really only between the customer who paid for the product and the designer who made it. It's really nobody else's business unless the problem doesn't get rectified.

Now, on the one blog I've seen, the main problem I have with it is that the problems being found are, for the most part, ridiculously anal. As a scrapper, my main concern is that the products look good when put together into a layout and then printed. I don't want a lot of stray pixels or jaggedy edges or blurry images. Is something extracted perfectly to 400%? I don't care. Some of what I saw there honestly made me say, "Are you KIDDING ME??" I know everybody has different standards and should be able to find products that meet those standards, but there is high quality and then there's just plain anal, IMO. I have yet to find a product that I've used that looks like total crap when printed out. I've seen some papers that look "better" than others, but nothing I've used looks really BAD. So I wonder, are we encouraging scrappers to have truly unrealistic expectations about what to expect in a product? I wonder.

Scrapper's Choice Awards at DST

2008-05-24T16:19:00.002-05:00

Hey - guess who's still alive?

I don't know if anybody's following this anymore - I really haven't had anything to talk about here (FYI - I'm ALWAYS open to suggestions, ideas, reviews if anybody has something they want to talk about), so I haven't been posting. But, today I have something.

The DST Scrapper's Choice Award winners were announced last night/today and I'm really curious to get some unbiased, uncensored opinions about what y'all think. I'll be perfectly frank - I'm disappointed that I didn't get chosen in the category I submitted myself for, but them's the breaks. What I DID find a bit interesting (and troublesome) was that I was seeing the same names over & over & over again, both in the winner's circle and in the honorable mention circle. I know we can't be completely fair (one win per year kind of thing), but I was just a tad annoyed that the same people were winning practically every category. Some even won both nominated & submitted versions of a category & then went on to take the honorable mentions, too. Seems a bit overkill, IMO.

Anyway, beyond my own disappointment, I'd love to know what y'all thought. Be frank, but be kind. There's no need to tear people apart - just share your feelings honestly.

Clarification

2008-02-06T16:20:00.000-06:00

I was totally unclear in the last post, but that's okay. What I was talking about specifically was that there were a couple DST posts where people were either asking "Where can I find journaling classes?" or "Let's talk seriously about journaling..." - wanting to work on making journaling better, etc. After being prodded by some of my CT members, I decided to offer a class that deals specifically with journaling - the problems we have with writing and how to get more comfortable with it - which was specifically what people were asking for.

So, I set it up with online registration and it's only $10 for 8 weeks (which I thought was very reasonable), and went around answering those threads with the opportunity I'd created as a solution to a problem. I got ZERO response. So my assumption can only be 1)the people in the threads just wanted to complain and not actually solve their issue 2)I suck so incredibly much that nobody wants to sign up for my class; or 3) they only want to do it if it's free. I understand #3. I do. I know everybody's budget for this hobby is limited and $10 for many people is just more than they can afford at this point. So I don't question that. I have to charge something because of the time it's costing me to put this together.

It's just frustrating to create something in response to a specific request and then get completely ignored. I don't THINK I suck that much that no one wants to sign up, but maybe I've pissed enough people off along the way....? Oh well. In the time since I originally posted that last post, some people have signed up, so that's awesome. BTW - I can't WAIT to start this class. I think you guys who have signed up are going to be very, very pleased.

No excuses

2008-01-28T08:55:00.001-06:00

Sorry, guys. Seriously - I had NOTHING to talk about, so I wasn't posting. I honestly never thought anybody would care.

I haven't abandoned y'all at all. I totally have no ideas for what, in the digiscrappin' world, needs discussing. What about you?

Oh, wait. I do have one thing. What is up with this? People spend time on message boards, asking for some sort of service or product to be provided them. They practically beg someone to give them what they're asking for. Then, somebody (or bodies) does (or do) and these people DISAPPEAR. They don't check it out, they don't sign up, they don't buy it, they don't even ask questions or comment on it to say, "Hey, that's close to what I wanted, but I also need this." Leaving the person who stepped up to think one of 2 things:

1. They, and everything they touch or think about, sucks beyond sucking.
2. Those people asking for whatever it is only desire to whine & complain about what they DON'T have or CAN'T do and have no actual desire to solve, fix, learn, or improve said issue.

What is the DEAL?

Avast ye hearties....

2007-12-14T15:42:00.000-06:00

....for the bleeding Jolly Roger be sailing proud!! That's right, folks. Pirates are among us. And they're flipping all of us the bird. At the end of the comments from the last post was this...

What does everyone think of all this blatant pirating that is going on? I am not a lawyer, but it has to have stepped over some legal lines, right? My husband thinks that the blog sites just dont have the manpower or money to prosecute all these things, but I dont know if I agree with that.

I don't know either. I know that it's TOTALLY stepped over the legal lines. A lot of those blogs & forums are set up for the express purpose of pirating, so to report them does nothing. And when I did try to report one blog, I got this email:

Hello,

It is our policy to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the text of which can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office website: http://lcWeb.loc.gov/copyright/ ) and other applicable intellectual property laws, which may include removing or disabling access to material claimed to be the subject of infringing activity.

To file a notice of infringement with us, you must provide a written communication (by fax or regular mail, not by email) that sets forth the items specified below. Please note that pursuant to that Act, you may be liable to the alleged infringer for damages (including costs and attorneys' fees) if you materially misrepresent that you own an item when you in fact do not. Indeed, in a recent case (please see http://www.onlinepolicy.org/action/legpolicy/opg_v_diebold/ for more information), a company that sent an infringement notification seeking removal of online materials that were protected by the fair use doctrine was ordered to pay such costs and attorneys fees. The company agreed to pay over $100,000. Accordingly, if you are not sure whether material available online infringes your copyright, we suggest that you first contact an attorney.

To expedite our ability to process your request, please use the following format (including section numbers):

1. Identify in sufficient detail the copyrighted work that you believe has been infringed upon. This must include identification of specific posts, as opposed to entire sites. Posts must be referenced by either the dates in which they appear or the permalink of the post. For example,
http://example.blogspot.com/archives/2003_01_21_example_archive.html#2104575.

2. Identify the material that you claim is infringing upon the copyrighted work listed in item #1 above.

YOU MUST IDENTIFY EACH POST BY PERMALINK OR DATE THAT ALLEGEDLY CONTAINS INFRINGING MATERIAL. The permalink for a post is usually found by clicking on the timestamp of the post.

3. Provide information reasonably sufficient to permit Blogger to contact you (email address is preferred).

4. Include the following statement: "I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials described above on the allegedly infringing web pages is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law."

5. Include the following statement: "I swear, under penalty of perjury, hat the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of anexclusive right that is allegedly infringed."

6. Sign the paper.

7. Send the written communication to the following address:

Google, Inc.
Attn: Blogger Legal Support, DMCA complaints
1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy
Mountain View, CA 94043

OR Fax to:
(650) 618-2680, Attn: Blogger Legal Support, DMCA complaints

Sincerely,
The Blogger Team

Which I can't do, because I'm not the injured party. I guess each designer has to file for EACH. INDIVIDUAL. POST. Talk about time consuming!! Though all the Blogger powers-that-be would need to do is look at the flagged/reported blog & see that all they're doing is file sharing. Oh well. Because the pirated designers have nothing better to do than mail & fax stuff all over creation to shut this crap down.

I don't know. It totally pisses me off, but it seems futile to fight. I mean, you shut one place down & another will pop up. Plus, it's not like these people would actually buy the products if the sharing were eliminated. I believe that a lot of these people are hoarders. They just want the thrill of getting stuff for free. They're not actually going to use all of it. I know a woman who had a bunch of stuff that, while I couldn't prove it, I think she pirated. Like vBulletin and PS and PSP and other commercial products. She might have used one or 2 of them, but she didn't run a site, so she didn't need vBulletin.

Anyway - I know you either think it's wrong or it's okay, so that discussion is pretty fruitless. Let's talk to the people who believe it's wrong. What, if anything, can we do about it?

And, hey, thanks to those who had my back on the last stuff over on the dish. I took the bait & I shouldn't have, because it doesn't matter WHAT I or any designer does; we're wrong. We're the evil empire bent on sticking it to the little guy - even though most of us ARE the little guy. Even once I prove myself to not be a liar or a thief, then the attack changes to "Well, your stuff sucks anyway. I wouldn't take it if it were free. Naa-nah-naa-nah-boo-boo". I just don't understand how you can make it through the day if you're this stupid. I mean...wouldn't you be constantly setting yourself on fire & stuff??

Whatever.

Apparently...

2007-12-03T23:35:00.001-06:00

....we can't please anybody. It seems that all the complaining & moaning by the community about the designers & products out there boils down to this:

Nothing is good enough & everything sucks.

Apparently. No matter what a designer does, it fails in some area. Colors are bad. Elements are scanned & extracted. Too many papers. Not enough papers. Too many patterns. Too many solids. Everything looks too "digital". The designer didn't create anything herself - it's all scanned. It's the same crap you find in 937584685 other stores. I've never seen anything like that & it's stupid. You're too popular of a designer. You're totally unheard of, so you must suck.

I'm ready to give up. I make what I like - what appeals to me aesthetically. Yes, I use commercial use actions, overlays, and other products. I use Dover. I scan & extract. And, according to many people, that means I'm not a designer. I'm not creative, I'm a "scan-artist". But if I made everything using Photoshop with no CU products and no scanning, I'd suck because it would all look "digital".

When did we go from "I don't like that particular designer/design and therefore, I just won't buy it" to "OMGYOUSUCKSOBADIWANNAVOMIT". When did we start deciding who is & isn't "worthy" to call themselves a designer? Yes, there are a LOT of designers out there who make stuff that I simply do not like. It's not my style. It doesn't appeal to me at all. But I wouldn't publicly trash them because I don't like it. I just won't buy it. I won't recommend it to friends. And, if they're as poor as I think, they'll just go out of business.

Why is there such negativity?? Why are we (as a community) so busy tearing each other down? Are we that sad & miserable in our own lives that we have to make everybody else as sad & pathetic as we are?? Is it POSSIBLE that the designs that make you want to vomit actually make somebody else happy?? Yes, it's true. But, of course, in those people's minds, that means the happy people are too stupid to breathe.

:sigh:

Thoughts??

What the H*ll???

2007-11-28T10:12:00.000-06:00

So, in reading the DD blog, I come across someone who decides that, in order to bring down the mighty CRD, it's okay to give a link to the 4shared account where pre & post extraction items are being stored. To prove that"she don't do her own work". Which...whatever. So somebody helps her with extractions. Big whoop.

The point is, I point out that this was an idiotic response to it and I'm totally attacked. Called "bullsh*t", "the more you talk, the dumber you sound", and everybody jumps to the defense of someone who SHARED LINKS, Y'ALL.

I gave up after about 3 posts because it was obvious I wasn't getting anywhere &, like I said, it was like trying to teach a pig to sing - wastes my time & annoys the pig. So, whatever gets you through the night. You tell yourself whatever you need to - doesn't change the fact that it was wrong.

Anyway - is this de rigeur for annoyed/irritated customers?? It's okay to bash a designer you don't like by giving out links to "prove" your point? Because if it is, that's just whacked. I have no intention of trying to knock sense into a bunch of onion-heads who think it is, but I have to get some rational, adult POV. What the H*LL???

Well...she came out of hiding

2007-11-25T22:36:00.001-06:00

Looks like Ashley Olsen finally came out of hiding to explain/apologize/make things right. Claiming "breakdown" and really bad judgment, she's promising to make right what she's done & then disappear.

What do y'all think? I'm totally not involved in any of it, so I'm not upset or anything. I'm glad she finally came out & if she fixes what she's done, I hope those who were wronged can forgive her. I just don't get the whole 5 weeks with no contact thing.

Kit for review!

2007-11-20T11:36:00.000-06:00

Hey y'all! Sharia's offered up another kit for review by all you great readers. Here are the details:

I sent it to scrapreview.blogspot.com, but since I don't really care for/about anonymity, I'd like it to go on the digiscrapdiscussions blog for preview review as well.

It's a mini kit which includes:

5 papers
1 gift tag
1 scrolled doodle
2 ribbons (1 folded, 2 straight (red & green))
1 candy cane
1 tree
1 8x10 peice of writing paper
1 word art (christmas joy)
1 wrapped/painted cardboard frame
1 button (comes in red and green)
1 flower (comes in red and green)
1 ribbon wrapped gift box front

She's looking for a PREVIEW review - since you don't have the actual pieces, she's not asking about kit quality, except as it applies to what you're seeing in the preview - are there enough elements, do the colors work together, does the preview show it off, etc.

I'm sorry

2007-11-19T09:23:00.001-06:00

I honestly thought since nobody was posting or asking questions, y'all were kind of done here. But I'm pleasantly surprised to know that y'all still want to chat here!

Okay - so what's on your mind? What's going on in the community that's concerning you or exciting you or irking you? I know that SUAS contest is over - I didn't really follow it because I HATE scrapping contests - so do y'all think it was run well & fairly?

What else is on your mind? And know that y'all don't have to wait for me! If you have something to talk about, just post it here. If it needs a new topic, I'll give it one so more people can see it.

What are we thinking about?

2007-10-29T21:33:00.001-05:00

Okay - I haven't had anything much to say lately, but I'm wondering if y'all do. Are we all happy slappy with the industry/community or is there something brewing you need to talk about? We're still here, so feel free to talk about whatever's on your mind.

New Question

2007-10-18T12:25:00.000-05:00

Today's question is from Sharia - because she's kicking tail at keeping me in questions!!

How do customers feel about unsolicited emails that say 'thank you' from a designer? I've always wanted to send these emails, but I never have. I' thought customers would think of it as a sort of intrusion.

So, do customers appreciate these sorts of emails, or would they just rather NOT have them? Also, do customers feel that if a designer chooses to thank them, they'd prefer stuff/coupons versus just a regular 'thanks' email?

Sorry, guys

2007-10-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Don't know how 4 days went by without me posting anything, but it did. Sorry.

I actually don't have a topic to discuss right now. So I'm opening up the floor to all y'all. What do YOU want to talk about? Are there some pressing community issues that you need to discuss?

Go for it.

Today I'VE got a question

2007-10-08T21:07:00.000-05:00

So I'm talking with my parents about my store & they decide to share their opinion that I need to change my store's name. And I balk. Nevermind that the store's name is very special to me & that it's connected to my little Butternug Squash & I use him as my logo & all that, but I'm thinking that, at this point, changing names might totally mess up the few customers I DO have.
I know that Butternug Squash is a very difficult name to remember. I know that people constantly change that "g" to a "t" and that error makes Googling me a risky proposition. But I'm worried about coming up with a new name & confuzzling everyone as to who's the new kid on the block - but she's really not that new. I've busted my hump getting my name as recognized as it is (which isn't terribly, I admit) so I just don't know what's the best route.

Any feedback?

ScrapReview

2007-10-05T11:04:00.000-05:00

Somebody took some initiative (good job!!) and started up another anonymous, moderated blog to do what y'all said you want.
Check out ScrapReview.blogspot.com

I think that's better, anyway. People might feel weird asking for reviews on a site run by somebody whose name they know. However the offer stands. If y'all want me to do it or ANYBODY wants to have their feedback/review done here, all ya gotta do is ask.

I also want to say, again, that since so many people seem disillusioned with DST and/or the community in general - in terms of finding a place where they feel welcomed & they fit in, please feel free to come over to the Butternug Squash forum & join in. Me & my CT members have tried to keep the place going on our own, but we just can't do it. We'd be THRILLED to have anybody new over there starting discussions, participating in discussions, asking questions, asking for help - any of it. We PROMISE you will feel welcomed, accepted, and, hopefully, find a new place to hang out.
http://butternugsquash.com/phpBB/index.php

Is there anything special anybody wants to talk about today & over the weekend?

Specific Question

2007-10-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

Okay guys - yesterday's discussion got some people thinking - which is so, so good. This comment from Stephanie fostered an email response to me:

Change 3: Designers - make a point to go to the boards/threads (DST/MSA - the bigger ones), and maybe post and update - what your working on - what your looking forward to - ask for suggestions/comments - what we'd like to see. Start a thread. It only has to be one day a week.

Sharia then sent me an email asking if we could talk more specifically about this. Here's her thoughts:

I find it VERY frustrating that everytime I do this, at DST where supposedly all these people that want to review products go, and I get NEARLY NO RESPONSE when I ask for someone to do something like REVIEW for me...

I'm baffled, because maybe they don't really want to do the work it takes to review the actual kit, but seems to me would rather just leave their opinions of stuff...

Last night's request for help/assistance was the 2nd request of that sort by me...and i might note that I rarely see anyone else (designer) making such a request on the public forums.

I wonder if there are ladies that will volunteer their "customer views" to look at pre-released product. Like...if we could have a list of them and ways to get in touch with them. That would be cool. I love opinions outside those of my CT.

These are VERY good points. It's terrifically frustrating for a designer to do something in response to a complaint/request by customers & then receive zero input. Honestly? It makes designers think that maybe people just want to complain & don't really want what they're asking for.

So what do we do - specifically with this issue. Customers say they want to be able to review or give feedback on kits/previews. Some designers are reaching out to offer this in a productive forum - not just anonymous bashing on a blog. Why aren't those same customers falling over themselves to do this? Is it the lack of anonymity? Do you feel that you can't be honest if the designer knows who you are? You CAN be anonymous here, so if that's it, please tell. Or if it's something else....

THIS is the kind of thing I'm talking about when I talk about affecting change. Let's figure out where the breakdown is & let's get it fixed. I know that designers want to give the customers what they want (within reason, don'tcha know...) and that customers want to be happy with what they buy. Awesome job, y'all.

Can we affect change?

2007-10-01T07:35:00.000-05:00

Okay - so we got our complain on. We shared some of the stuff that's annoying us - and it's good to get that kind of stuff off our chests. Mine, at least, doesn't need to be any bigger than it is.

So what can we do with this information? Let's start sharing ideas. What do YOU want to see changed in the digital scrapbooking community? Customers, what do you want to see designers do differently? Designers, what do you want to hear/know/see from your customers?

Don't think you have to come up with a solution for your own questions or issue. Just put it out there. If you have an idea for a solution to somebody else's problem - share it. If you know a solution idea won't work, share why.

I'm usually not one to subscribe to the Oprah philosophy of life, but I do love the idea of "be the change you want to see in the world". We may not be able to all be feeding the hungry overseas or building schools for children in the Third World, but we ARE able to effect change in our own lives on a smaller level.

You say the community is broken (or flawed)? Then let's fix it.

The feeling of "community"

2007-09-28T09:17:00.000-05:00

So it looks like the biggest issue that's bothering y'all right now is the issue of feeling ignored with forum communities. I think it's a pretty common complaint right now. The rise of celebrity scrappers, celebrity designers, "big names" in the industry - we're getting tired of it.

Here are 2 things I'm tired of (in addition to the above). The complete lack of diversity in both products & featured layouts. I'd love to see more featured layouts (especially in magazines) that have something other than blonde/blue-eyed children. It's really difficult to market a hobby to people who don't see themselves represented at all.

I'm also totally done with the one-photo and 85643895674563478968437956 elements layouts. One teeny-tiny picture down in the corner (that you can't even really see) surround by a bunch of clustered elements and then absolutely nothing else. I know they're popular & supposed to be arty, but I'm so tired of them. Probably because, to me, the point of scrapping is to preserve memories and share stories for future generations and those layouts really do neither. They don't tell anybody anything other than your ability to use 800,000 pieces of felt. And I don't think our kids & grandkids are going to be treasuring our scrapbooks, gathered around them talking about how great-grandma really knew how to place glitter on a page. They want to know who you ARE.

Okay. That's my vent. If you like the things I'm tired of, I'm not attacking you. This is my opinion, to which I am entitled. What do y'all think?

Your turn

2007-09-26T07:34:00.000-05:00

Okay folks - today is your turn to talk about whatever you want. If there's something bothering you, talk about it. If there's a question you have, ask it. If there's something you need to complain about, go ahead.
All I ask is that you follow the rules & do whatever you need to do in a respectful manner. The moderation is off, so it will stay off as long as everybody's a grown up. Which I know you will be because you guys have been so amazing.

Starting a new week

2007-09-24T09:36:00.000-05:00

Okay - sorry I was gone all weekend with no internet. I almost died.

I've noticed a lot of talk about freebies & a lot of conflicting feelings about them. Let's talk about freebies today. Are they a necessary & useful marketing tool for designers? Do customers even bother with them? Do good freebies bring a customer back for purchases? Do customers expect freebies from every store? Do designers resent having to present more & more freebies without getting a real return on them? Will customers ignore designers who don't offer freebies? Would customers prefer a coupon for the for-sale products rather than freebies?

I know the issue of freebies has annoyed the tar out of me. For a long time I was offering a full-size freebie kit every month. Something new every month plus a few little pieces here & there. I noticed literally HUNDREDS of people coming through, getting all the freebies & never buying anything. Then they'd show up again later & get the freebies again. I never had anyone say that my freebies drew them in.

What are your thoughts? Are freebies a thing of the past or are they really useful & necessary?

More Discussion Today

2007-09-20T08:49:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thinking more about an issue that was brought up in yesterday's review. The idea of creating products that are what customers are looking for. I think good points were brought up on both sides of the issue.

For customers - it seems customers are looking for kits/products that are unique, interesting, eye-catching, non-repetitive & chock-full. It seems as if they can't really verbalize what they want specifically, but they know it when they see it. They want cutting-edge things - cool, new, unique, & fabulous.

For designers - it seems designers just don't know what people want.

My personal experience & viewpoint is that I want to provide cool new things & kits that are awesome & filled with things that grab your attention. It seems that the new things I've come up with, though, aren't fitting the bill. I pay attention to what's new & fresh & interesting. I try to find ways to bring it to the community. But then no one seems interested in it. I've done this a number of times - finding new ways to present something that's popular (like felt, for example), but the customers seem to buy the same old, same old from more well-known designers and skip over a newly imagined way of doing it.

This is absolutely NOT a whine-fest that "OMG, only the popular designers get any business!!!". I am honestly trying to figure out why new products from lesser-known designers get overlooked and more popular designers just plop some glitter on a piece of cardboard & the place goes up for grabs. What could Designer X do to grab the attention of the community?

By the way - if you want examples of what I'm talking about that I've done that's new, reimagined or unique, let me know. I don't want to just be pimping my products here, so I'm not gonna just go "SEE!! Look at this cool thing I made!!"

Today's Review

2007-09-19T07:35:00.000-05:00

Okay - today's my turn to put myself in the hot seat. I've got a new kit that's coming out tomorrow and I want to get feedback on my preview. With all my products, I have a basic preview showing everything and then in the store there's a paper close-up preview, an element close-up preview and a sample layout. I don't have the close-ups done yet, so I can't offer those as part of the preview here, but the basic preview I can. If you're interested in what my products end up looking like in my store, you can go here:
http://tinyurl.com/27q8c7

I'm interested in whatever feedback you'd like to give. Be honest - don't hold back because this is my blog. If you're uncomfortable being totally honest, be anonymous. Just give me more than "that kit is crap". :hee:

UPDATE: 12:40PM
Okay - I've added some things to the kit - 2 folded, stitched ribbons, 2 ribbon frames, 3 felt words, a knotted ribbon & a brush/PNG for the flower circle pattern I used on one of the papers. The preview is CROWDED now. It's probably the preview I'll use for advertising, but I'll probably separate the papers & elements for preview in the store just because it's so crowded. Here's a peek:

Another designer question

2007-09-18T07:40:00.000-05:00

Today's question came from Sharia Braxton via a short chat we had. She sells at Divine Digital. For those of you who read the thread over at DST, we had been talking about the necessity of customers being able to review kits - or leave feedback based on a preview. Some may have the mistaken impression that Sharia didn't want customers to be able to review her previews on aesthetics - only on quality issues. She actually doesn't feel that way. So...here's her question:

I want to know what customers can view in the product preview that can translate into feedback the designer can use to improve the kit. Like - can they tell if there are actual quality problems with the kit or can they only tell aesthetic issues? I understand and respect the need for PREVIEW BASED FEEDBACK, but as a designer trying to make sure I'm putting out product that is absolutely of the highest QUALITY, i'm interested in understanding, the best I can, how they can assist me in that based on previews only. Also, my preview galleries are always open and i'm always open to preview based feedback in my dst product gallery, if you think previews can be arranged differently so as to better showcase the kit.

So...what do you as customers think. Can you view a preview & tell if there are quality issues with a kit? When you're looking at a preview & giving feedback, are you only looking at the aesthetic aspects of the kit?
Sharia's point in being resistant to reviewing previews is that, for the most part, she feels you can't really call it a "review" because you haven't really seen the kit properly. So, calling them "reviews" implies that it's more quality-focused as opposed to calling them "feedback".

Let's hear your thoughts & remember the rules. Oh, by the way, because y'all have been so wonderful, I've turned off moderation. Keep in mind that I can delete any posts that violate the rules and if we can't continue to play nice, I'll have to turn the moderation back on.

Monday Review

2007-09-17T07:25:00.000-05:00

We've got another brave soul today who's looking to get some constructive feedback on her latest kit. This is what Robyn said to me:

I felt it was one of my better kits, but it hasn't been selling as well as I had hoped so I figure it was worth a try.

Check it out, give feedback that's honest, but not hateful. If you don't like the kit, say so. All I ask is that you give reasons so that your feedback will be useful to the designer.

http://tinyurl.com/37wo9j

Customer Service...

2007-09-16T09:04:00.000-05:00

Okay - I got an email from someone regarding customer service. This seems to be a ongoing issue in this community - somebody gets bad or questionable customer service & as soon as they speak out about it, they get creamed. I think for most people, they absolutely try to rectify the issue with the store/designer before going public with it, so I don't think that's the solution. Here's what the emailer wrote me:

I won a coupon @ a store for a contest I entered...
being new to all of this, and excited about winning the coupon,
plus having had a cat hit by a car, and upset @ the time of my order...
I inadvertently entered the coupon code in the wrong place
and when it didn't show up, I paid for the entire order anyway
thinking that my coupon $ would be refunded

the store did not refund my payment :o-(
so I actually did not "win" anything
and wound up with $10.50 worth of products I actually would not have purchased @ the time

I did contact customer service
and asked if I could get the coupon extended, for another purchase
(and didn't dare ask for a refund)
and they gave me til midnite that night to make a purchase!
that would have been great, had I gotten the email that day *sigh*
but since I never saw it until 2 days later... well, the coupon was voided
I did contact customer service... again
and got no response!

sooooooooo
I figured... no problem, ya big dummy
am out $10 and I'll never order anything from that designer again
but... somehow, this just doesn't sit right with me
ya know?

Heck - this makes ME mad & I'm not involved at all. As a designer, stuff like this infuriates me, because it creates an atmosphere among customers/scrappers that they shouldn't bother even trying to enter contests or redeem coupons because the hassle involved in getting their prize just ain't worth it. I know that there are problems out there for the designers/stores - emails going to spam folders, having a life outside of the computer & taking too long to get back to people, software/store programs that just won't work - but how do we account for just not responding?

Is this a sweeping issue in the community? How do we address it? Are customers in general truly angry about the customer service they've received? How can designers/stores reduce these occurances? And, more specifically, what can this emailer do about this issue?

I don't see an alternative

2007-09-15T10:03:00.001-05:00

I think the only thing we're going to be able to do here, in terms of reviews, are voluntary ones. Because this is not really a completely objective venue, I think it isn't the best place to do product reviews. While I know many of the consumers want a place to do/read these, many designers do not want it to be here - unless comments are limited to quality issues, which, IMO, isn't comprehensive enough. I believe quality issues should be taken up with the designer directly until & unless the designer refuses to rectify the problem. Then it becomes a community issue. I think the more subjective parts of kit reviews are what consumers are seeking, but I can't in good conscience provide that against the will of the designer.

So. Here's what I'm thinking. I am more than willing to provide a venue for designers who want to voluntarily get feedback on their kits/store/designs/previews/whatever. All you'll have to do is send me the preview (or link to whatever you want reviewed) and Ill start a new post about it. If you want to remain anonymous, just leave off any label on your preview & that'll keep it anonymous.

If you're a scrapper who wants feedback on your LO - same drill. Just email me a link to your LO (or send a small picture that I can include in a post) and we'll post it for constructive feedback. The reason I want to do it this way is so every person seeking feedback gets their own post. If we just post them in existing threads, they'll get lost. So we'll give everybody their own thread.

The remainder of this blog will, I think, have the same format as the DD blog. Discussing topics & issues that are important to y'all. If you've got one, just let me know. Y'all have really encouraged me so far & I'm committed to making this a useful resource for designers & consumers alike.

A first question

2007-09-14T19:33:00.000-05:00

Okay guys - here's what I'm wondering. People both here & DST have expressed an interest in having a place where they can receive CONSTRUCTIVE feedback on their layouts & designs. As far as layouts go, I'm all for it. If a scrapper wants to post their layout & get feedback on what they've done or new ideas for something different to try, I think that's great. Of course, everyone who opens themselves up for feedback has to be prepared to hear less-than-stellar comments. I wouldn't allow anything nasty or antagonistic, but constructive feedback would be awesome.

The designer issue is a stickier one. Most designers don't wish to allow critiques of their work because they fear there will be 'hate reviews' based on personality or bad reviews based on something other than quality issues. In my opinion, I think a designer should be open to a comment like, "that color palette doesn't appeal to me" or "I think there are too many patterns in the kit - too hard to work with" instead of just "there are stray pixels or jaggedy edges or other quality issues. I would love to know if a kit that looks gorgeous in previews is actually really difficult to work with because there's too many patterns & not enough solids or something like that. Designers would also like to be assured that someone who's reviewing on quality issues has actually purchased the kit - which would require somehow proving that the commenter actually paid for the kit. I don't know how to do this.

I would very much like to provide this service to the community - I think both designers & customers could benefit from these reviews. I'd like them to be as voluntary as possible - designers can submit their previews or give links to their store and ask for specific feedback. The option of anonymous comments gives all y'all the ability to be honest about it without fear of reprisal. Designers could also offer up a preview with no label (an anonymous preview, in other words) so that there isn't a preconceived notion about the designer.

Of course we'd all have to agree to be civil in our comments and helpful in our critiques, rather than unnecessarily cruel or vague. For example, "Those colors suck" is not helpful. "OMG, are you BLIND???" is not helpful. "I think that might look better with a darker blue rather than that soft cornflower blue" is helpful. "The color scheme is so bright that I think it might be difficult to work with. Maybe include a more muted color or 2?" is helpful. Does that make sense?

What do y'all think??

Puttin' my money where my mouth is

2007-09-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

Okay - so I put up how I think there's a place for open, honest, GROWN-UP conversation about what's going on the digital scrapping community. After some thought, I decided that I could be the person to provide that place. Time will tell if it's wanted or needed.

This blog will NOT be a smack blog. There's too many of those out there already. This will be the place you can come if you want to talk about issues in the community that you don't feel "safe" discussing elsewhere. However, since we've all discovered that anonymity breeds stupid behavior, there will be rules here. And all posts will be moderated. I will not allow this blog to descend into catty behavior, name-calling or rumor-mongering. There has been enough hurt & damage caused already.

So. Here's the rules, folks.
There will be ABSOLUTELY no tolerance for name-calling, personal attacks, talking trash about other people or otherwise discussing the personal/private/familial aspects of people's lives. If you feel the need to call Designer X a c**t, please go elsewhere.
All comments will be moderated. I will have to approve them before they are posted. I don't want to do this, but having seen how quickly things can fall apart on other blogs, it's necessary. Until & unless y'all can prove that we're adults who can behave appropriately.
I ask that if you have a criticism, comment or other possibly negative critique - PLEASE find a way to express WHY you feel that way. I understand it can be difficult to verbalize it sometimes, but if we want to have an area here that's useful to both consumers & designers, it's really, really necessary. Saying Kit X is "crap" is not useful. Saying Kit X is not quality because A, B & C and perhaps doing/adding Y & Z would help is very, very helpful.
If possible, try to express your opinion without using a lot of vulgar language. I know we all sometimes swear, but your opinion is more readable & taken more seriously if you use your words, y'know? I will not moderate posts based solely on swear words, but I may decide to make a rule if people treat this blog like they're auditioning for Deadwood.

I think that's it. Act like adults. Use your words. Treat others like you'd like to be treated.

For a first topic, here's what I'm thinking about. Over on DST, Miki said this:

The problems and the ugliness that were brought to light were symptoms- manifestations of deeper problems. And one blog's demise is not the end of those issues.

I totally agree with this. The blog wasn't the problem. It was a symptom of a lot of bad feelings & ugliness that's festering under the surface in our community. The blog just provided an outlet for people who, for some reason, are PISSED OFF. Eliminating a blog isn't going to eliminate those feelings or those people. So what's going on? What's everybody so incredibly angry about that they feel the need to attack, threaten and say smack that I'd be surprised to find on a high school bathroom wall?