The Sequin Saga (so far)

[TheSnakeLady]

I never thought that I would encounter such aggravation over something so small...

The story: I ordered a craft kit online from a craft website. This was a brand-name kit, so it's not homemade but rather mass-produced. You'd think they'd have this sort of thing down...

Anyway, I start assembling the kit, only to find out it's missing a particular set of sequins: the Large Red sequins according to the description. Not wanting to return the kit and lose any effort I'd already put into assembling it so far, I decided to contact the manufacturer and see if they couldn't just send me some replacement sequins. So I fill out their contact form on the website.

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Hi there, I bought a <brand> kit and it is missing some sequins. The kit is the Christmas <blah> kit number <number> and I am missing the Large Red Sequins. The slot is there in the package for them, but there are only 3 sequins in the package and the design uses far more than 3. Help?
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I get back the following response:
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We have received your request for replacement sequins/adornments for your needlecraft project. Please reply to this email with your name, shipping address, kit number, and item you need replaced, and we will be glad to send you the items you have requested if the kit is still current. Please include all email history in your reply.International consumers (outside of the US or Canada) - Please contact the store or distributor where you purchased your kit to get replacement items.


Thank you for contacting <company>,
EP
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Ummm... okay, I already gave the item number in the email. I guess they just want all the information in one place...


So I reply:
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Hi there, The kit is titled "Christmas <title>". The number on the kit is <number> and the UPC code is <UPC code>. I am missing the following sequins: Red (Large), which are identified as part number HR-202. My name and shipping address are:

TheSnakeLady
Where I live
City,State etc.

Thanks,
-TheSnakeLady
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I get the following reply back:
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The large blue sequins have been mailed. Please allow 12 to 14 days for delivery.


Thank you for contacting <company>,
DRI
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Um... what? I said large RED sequins! RED! RED! RED! Blue would look absolutely silly on a holly berry! ARRRRRRRGH!

So I email them back:
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Hi... I need large RED sequins, not blue. -TSL
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No response yet from them....
This isn't the first craft kit from them that has had weird or missing parts, but the other one I had replacement stuff at home so I didn't worry about it (plus I bought all the kits at the same time).

[Becks]

Anyone wanna bet that when the sequins come, they'll be purple?

[TheComputerError]

Anyone wanna bet that when the sequins come, they'll be purple?

I've got $10 on green.

[Sliceanddice]

i have 15 on black and yellow

[smileyeagle1021]

i have 15 on black and yellow

coughcough black and gold coughcough

much better combination (also the school colors of where I went to high school )

[JustADude]

Two words for ya that'll explain the whole thing, Snakelady: "Automated Response"

[Sliceanddice]

coughcough black and gold coughcough

much better combination (also the school colors of where I went to high school )

blue and orange then we are the owls, no the dragaons no the trains, blue silver and white

[TheSnakeLady]

LOL... I'll keep you posted.

Supposedly they've now shipped out Red ones this morning. Watch, if they're red, they'll be the wrong size.

[marty]

coughcough black and gold coughcough

much better combination (also the school colors of where I went to high school )

Mine too...I hated that school...but somehow I don't think they're the same one.


I'm willing to be you don't get sequins at all--my bet's on rhinestones!

[Evil Queen]

I'll bet it's something else entirely that doesn't even belong in the kit.

No monies on this one; I get paid friday.

[Princess-Snake]

My high school colors were purple, white, and orange. No, I'm not making that up.

[Becks]

Watch, if they're red, they'll be the wrong size.

Wouldn't surprise me.

[prb]

On the topic of high school colours, we were Green and Gold, but Green and Yellow if it was on something professionally printed.

[draftermatt]

Similar story. We ordered a craft shelf with all kinds of different color shelves. One of the blue shelves was broken.

So I called the catalog, waited on hold for well over 30 minutes, told them what I needed, and 5 days later a while shelf shows up.

Sigh, I call again, and sure enough 5 days later a blue shelf comes (success!).

All is well.

5 days after that another blue shelf arrives...

[Gabrielle Proctor]

It might not be worth the trouble. I know it's the principle of the thing, but you might want to go to a craft store and pick out some sequins that would work in your project instead of relying on this company. It's not like sequins are that expensive.