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Kim--you are not doing anything wrong. I haven't managed to sell a bear for weeks, after quite a good run. I think it's just a matter of luck who sees them!
Helen
Congratulations, Eileen---and to Eleanor too.
I have visited Boston, and had a walk around the MIT area. It was one of the places I most wanted to see, as I love the film "Good Will Hunting"!!
Helen
Thanks for your replies.
I charged this woman £60 for the bear. £40 of this was materials, so I actually made very little profit. I agree that I should have taken a non-refundable deposit, and certainly will next time. Mind you, I doubt whether that particular customer would have paid me one, as she wanted everything her own way.
I am aware of the legal position----that I dont have to refund her money merely because she has changed her mind, but that had she bought via e-bay or my website, she would have been entitled to a cooling off period.
I am waiting to see what will happen next. I suspect that she will stop the cheque she gave me . My hubby, who is a solicitor, tells me that if she does that, I should sue her, because I will definitely win.
Either that, or she will deliberately do something to the bear, so that she can say it turned out to be faulty. I would not put that past her.
She knew that I was not the most experienced bear maker locally--I was quite clear about that, but she chose to proceed. Why? I guess, because others would have charged her more. I consider that I gave her good customer service all the way through. She continually "nit-picked", and I acted on everything I could, believing that she had the right to stipulate what she wanted, and that I had a duty to fulfil her wishes. She tells me now that she felt "pressurised" into buying the bear-------nonsense, I am not even capable of pressurising someone like her---------, but she had ample time to inspect him before she paid me. , and she told me she was pleased with him. To ask for her money back two days later, seems to me, to be downright cheek!! I felt, all along, that she had the potential to be a troublemaker.
I would not dream of asking somebody to make me something to my own specification, buying it, then asking for my money back.
The interesting thing is, when I sell on e-bay, I have--naturally-- a returns policy. Nobody has yet used it. Nor have I had any other problems with commissions, although I do agree that they are probably more trouble than they're worth.
Helen
Hi everyone
What do you do when
someone asks you to make them a bear-----
they specify exactly what they want, and you do your very best to fulfil their wishes----
you keep in touch with them while you are making the bear, sending them progress pics, etc------
you alter the things they want altered-------
eventually, you finish the bear, the customer collects it and pays-------
two days later, they phone to say their husband and friends do not like the bear, so therefore, they have changed her mind, and could they havetheir money back?
I said no!! The customer then told me that was "very cruel " of me!!!
Was it????????
Helen
Hi Sheila
I am fairly new to bear making, and selling on e-bay, but I have sold a few. I dont think there are really any hard and fast rules as to who will sell on e-bay, other than the fact that a few popular bear makers always sell, because they have a strong following and are well-known.
I have found, more than once, that it is well worth re-listing bears that dont sell, as they have sold second (or third) time around. I think the key to it all is patience. I havent sold a bear for a month or so, but before that, I sold two very close together.
Good luck--and dont get disheartened--it isnt worth it!
Helen
Claire--I listed a bear at a higher price than usual too, and I had no interest--not even a watcher! This was last week!! I guess I'll try again---I think you just have to keep trying.
Helen
Can anyone tell me where I can buy synthetic fur fabric/plush that is cheaper than mohair, yet good quality? I would like to offer customers an alternative to a mohair bear, which is too expensive for some people who are buying a bear as a gift, for example. However, the fur fabric I can buy locally is of dreadful quality-----stretchy, mats easily, etc.
Some of the manufactured bears I own, that are made from synthetic fabric, are lovely------so where do I get this type of fabric?
Helen
I try to make one bear a week, but dont always succeed. I have a part-time job too, and I like reading!!
Helen
It's great--I'm using the teddy bear option right now, but intend to try them all out!
Helen
I'm trying to lose weight too--I'm about 2 stones overweight, and I used to be very slim--------------. So, if there's a challenge, I'll gladly join in.
Happy New Year to you all
Helen
A very happy Christmas and New Year to you all, and thank you for all your encouragement.
I have cooked the Christmas dinner, eaten too much, drunk too much wine, lost at Trivial Pursuit, and fallen asleep in front of the TV!!! In other words, a very typical Christmas Day! The bears haven't had a look in, I'm afraid!
Love Helen
All those bears are adorable!!
Helen
Donna------Sassy is just what I am looking for, although I'll use a different fur. I have just managed to order a pattern!! Many thanks for the advice.
Helen
I'm gonna read it now Penny. I'm very afraid too!!! I understand teddy bears-----but cats??
Helen
This is my first from a new design. Although he reminds me a bit of Winnie the Pooh, this wasnt what I intended. My "inspiration" was Chiltern's hugmee bears of the 1950's to 1960's (my favourites).
A friend has now asked me to make her a cat--a life size one, if you please!!! I know nothing about designing cats--does anyone know where I can get a suitable pattern?
Helen
Hi Jenny
A couple of years ago, I won an e-bay auction for an antique brooch. I paid, but never received the goods. I communicated with the seller too. In the end, I left him negative feedback. Guess what he did---he left ME negative feedback, saying that I had never paid!! I replied, saying that my bank could prove that I had. Shortly afterwards, I discovered that he was no longer allowed to sell on e-bay------other people had received the same sort of treatment as me, despite his "power seller" status!! It always seemed to be buyers who hadnt been using e-bay long, and who didnt have much of a feedback score, who were short-changed by this guy. But e-bay caught up with him in the end.
Helen
Hi everyone
Could anyone tell me the approximate cost of sending a bear to the US from England? Also, is there anything special I have to do at the post office, such as filling in customs forms?
Thanks!
Helen
I would say a little more than a fat quarter for a 17 inch bear, and for my bears that are just over 16 inches, I use 50mm and 45 mm discs.
Helen
