Just a thought if I am the only numpty that cannot use this machine wonder why it is necessary to release videos as it says on their blog to help people, just an observation but never needed a video with the Grand Calibur
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Just a thought if I am the only numpty that cannot use this machine wonder why it is necessary to release videos as it says on their blog to help people, just an observation but never needed a video with the Grand Calibur
Well - if I had been undecided, reading this thread would have certainly made my mind up - not to buy one! I love my Cuttlebug, it cuts/embosses everything I throw at it but I would like to be able to cut/emboss bigger stuff. I saw this new machine at Doncaster and wondered about it - now I know not to go there. Even if it was proved to be the best machine on the planet - the treatment dished out to Pippa is an absolute disgrace. Any trader who so disrespects his customers will certainly never see any of my money!
Thankyou for your kind words and support Pippa.X
That's the point now isnt it ? - if the machine works or not isnt the issue - it's how you get treated by the retailer. An expensive craft item should last for at least a year - hope those who have said they have no problems at the moment are confident that should they need any help - or a fault develop- that a solution will be forthcoming - or will the die be blamed, no metal shim, no spray, your fault you're not doing it right - watch the videos. We have to be able to shop with confidence - can you imagine going down this route with M&S, Argos,Amazon - in fact thinking about it I've never heard of anyone having this sort of hassle before- apart from on Watchdog of course !!
These companies have millions of pounds to play with most craft shops have a meagre budget to play with, most of the craft shops I have been to are very helpful this one included, with all the fuss I decided to bit the bullet so I drove 140 miles to go look at the machine.
I would have waited but I am going on holiday and would miss the event, and the event is about 5 miles form my house.
I was received with a friendly smile and they were very helpful I spent an hour or so being shown the machine. I purchased the machine and I have been playing with ever since, it took some time to get used to, 3 days on and I am now managing to get everything to cut and emboss.
I apologise for the outburst earlier but I became frustrated at the comments.
Pippa I do hope you sort out your problems with the company,
So, having a meagre budget means they can have the worse customer services ever ?
Do you think the big stores started off that size - or did they build up a customer base on their outstanding customer services, no quibble returns policies?
As you have bitten the bullet and purchased a machine fingers crossed the meagre budget lasts if you have a problem 6 months down the line !
That is very brave to apologise and of course you have only had a very positive experience so it can be difficult to hear criticism when you want to sing praises!
We have probably all been in a situation where somebody criticises a person/activity/place we like and it can feel personal at first. As you say I hope Pippa resolves her problems very soon,
Louise x
The advantage with using small independent places is that usually you get that personal service that the big chains are sometimes lacking. Crafting is one of those industries where personal service is of great value especially when it comes to fresh-to-the-market stash and equipment.
The big chains do indeed have million pound budgets and they also spend millions of pounds on advertising. Small shops don't have this luxury so it's all the more important for them to have a spotless reputation when it comes to how they deal with customers and any potential issues. In these days of social media it is impossible to expect people not to discuss how they have been treated, good or bad.
I agree with the above and probably if I had bought something from one of the big stores I would have had a refund some time ago, I think it is the lack of customer service that is so upsetting I did not buy this machine just to pick a fight with this company I bought it to use, I am not in business and have no hidden agenda as was suggested, for me it would not work why would anyone want to cause themselves the stress and aggravation if the machine was ok I am glad the lady had a positive outcome to her purchase and I hope it continues to be so I just ask for a full refund for my machine and this company and myself need never communicate again Pippa .X
I am going to use the grand Calibur as an example you have to excuse me getting on a bit and memory is going.
when the machine was released you could not emboss so you needed to buy the raspberry plate (how many people would have got there money back do you think, I never did) and this from the manufacturers of the dies I never I had to pay the full price and it took ages.
and now they have released a statement that a metal plate may be required to use some of their detail dies, and how many people would have been given those plates do you think.
Spellbinders in my opinion are a leading name in craft products like amazon, Argos, etc,
:rolleyes:
Again !! its Their money back - not there !! - sorry drives me mad !! - LOL
£135
Including all plates and embossing mat.. There is nothing extra you will need to buy!
Isnt this the banner that the shop launched this machine with ? I cant remember Spellbinder making such a claim - especially as the GC cuts Spellbinder dies straight from the box . The GC also comes with an embossing plate - well mine does ! The raspberry plate is to cut other makes.
I understand with this machine you now need a metal shim, a spray and to watch 12 videos? So not quite the "all singing you dont need anything else" it was advertised is it ?
Having said that - each to their own - if you like the retro chunky 70's look - its a personal choice- it's no longer what the machine does is it ? It's what to expect from the retailer.
I can't beliieve you would expect to buy an expensive bit of craft kit - have a problem with it for whatever reason, get in touch with the seller - be told you are wrong , it's the dies- have a shop worker try to talk you thru the process because the owner wont talk to you - (he send threatening text messages), so you pay to send it back so they can check it - said retailer then shows your letter to all and sundry whilst claiming a "perfect" machine in the shop is your return - but no-one actually saw it come out of the box. He then puts a post on his facebook page telling his "friends" to join UKS and sing the praises of the machine - which some do and some make personal attacks on the girl with the problem. Does he alter his FB page saying - no I dont agree with what you are doing - that's not the way we work - no - he doesnt . What he does do is "un-friend" people who post on his FB page when they disagree with his tactics.
By this time Pippa has had enough - she's not happy with the machine and not happy with the treatment (!!) so requests a refund under the Distance Selling regulations. And what does she get - he's not going to refund as SHE'S USED IT !!!
Now unless he sells these machines as ornaments how exactly did he think she was going to know her's didnt work ??
So, honest opinion here - you are saying that's what you expect if you have a problem with Spellbinder, Amazon, Agros ??
Spellbinder are indeed a huge name in crafting - and they protect that name with their customer service - if I have a problem with my GC in the first year - they will collect - repair or replace and return to me -all for free.
Fingers crossed you get the same ... but not holding my breath.......
The machine comes with everything needed to start cutting straight away :) x
In support of Pippa I am updating you all with the latest on my machine
I traveled to see them on Saturday (140 mile round trip)
They actually replaced my machine. They didn't really have a choice as they could see that the casing was coming apart but how many of the machines are not visibly faulty.
When I first saw the machine demonstrated at Doncaster I took a Botanical swirls die with me and got them to run this through to see how it cut and it was seeing it cut this that convinced me to buy the machine. This was without a metal plate!!!
Before i came away with a replacement machine on Saturday I got them "To show me what I was doing wrong". The lady in the shop prepared to run this die through again and the man told her to use the metal plate but i said not to as i had seen it work without the metal plate. She ran the die through and it did work!!
it also confirmed to me that the way I was putting the dies through was correct and i didn't need numerous videos to show me how to use a die cutting machine. Using the pressure switch isn't exactly Rocket science is it.
He then went on to say that dies like the Tattered Lace dies or any other dies that do not emboss will not cut very well through any machine as the manufacturing process of the dies is not right!! I told him I had numerous Tattered Lace dies and they cut beautifully on my Joy Trouvaille machine although i do have to turn them 90 degrees as the pressure is not even all the way across. This is also the case for me with any other detailed dies whether they emboss or not. So he had to admit defeat (to me) on that.
The reason I bought this new machine was that I wanted an even pressure all the way across
I did end up buying the metal plate and that spray stuff he goes on about but he said they were on offer for £5 for the 2
The ideal situation would have been to have my money back ( I was hoping that he didn't have another one in Black and white but he did) and as I was there on my own I didn't want to get into an awkward situation so didn't ask for a refund.
At the end of the day i now have a machine that works but I can honestly say that because of their lack of Customer Service I will never deal with this company again
I have un friended myself from their FB page before they can do it
I saw the machine demo-ed at Doncaster and spoke to the man on the stand who said email in and open an account to sell the machines. I did and never received a reply. I am rather relieved that I didn't after seeing this thread.
Hi all you kind people have heard nothing from the gentleman I did reply by registered post to his last letter that was last Friday so wonder what is coming next? Pippa. X