Decoterie is offering to exchange the coasters. Please read further for details.
Here are links that may help you better understand this email. Decoterie Email – Truth about Decoterie Box is the email that the Curator sent out explaining misconceptions about the box. Decoterie Summer 2015 Full Spoilers and News explains how the items are made in the USA etc. Decoterie – Summer Box 2015 Review is my review on the box.
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“I am devastated…” Those were the first words that popped up in one of my email notifications. I felt huge a lump in my throat and have never been so scared to open an email from a fellow maker or designer. I knew the time had come – it meant the artist of the coasters had seen all the comments about her work. Comments like this one which I will leave nameless, “The coasters are even more hideous in person. I advise against spending even a penny on them or swapping even one foil packet for them. They are horrible looking and of horrendous quality. I wouldn’t pay a cent for them…” which is infact actually not even one of the worst. I share this to say I think we all can learn a simple lesson in sharing opinions, albeit negative or positive, in a respectful manner keeping in mind we are all humans with feelings and passion and pride about what we do or don’t do. And that comment by the way was in response to someone simply stating that they loved the coasters. I find one person commenting the same thing almost 20 times all over the Internet to persuade someone not to like something is hard to comprehend. That’s just me! Stay tuned to the end for a link to one fan who did a beautiful video review of Decoterie. But enough about what I think is right! This box is about you, our lovely fans. With all that has been said I took some time to gather courage and respond to the artist and see what is the best way to handle the situation so that it doesn’t continue to unfold so unfortunately and her reputation tarnished. I still really enjoy the coasters personally and while I can understand some would have preferred they got the same of both colors or gotten them without the gold at all I want to take the opportunity and offer every single person that is unhappy with their coasters to return them without any questions asked to the address on your shipment label. However, since we absolutely do not do this and most boxes don’t offer returns or refunds or exchanges simply because you do not like something, we want to say that we cannot offer return shipping. Before this leads to yet another uproar please do keep in mind that this is not something to be upset about we simply have to be somewhat strict as much as that breaks my heart so that we don’t manifest an expectation that we will be a revolving refund door for customers who complain loud and long enough; these very well fit in a small manila envelope and can be shipped first class as slow as humanly possible for less than two dollars based on weight. We will then make a notation on the accounts of all the customers that have returned both coasters as they received them, and for the next box send a marble slab coaster from the Letitia Elizabeth collection as a replacement. If you’re not an annual subscriber or do not expect to receive another box we will still be sending you these items to express our gratitude for your support of the premier box. Some of you have mentioned that you were completely happy with the coasters as is and appreciate their art form and will be keeping them regardless, we are very happy to hear that and feel free to do so if you wish! Why are we doing this? Well after reading comments that people are going as far as throwing them in the trash, we cannot stand by and let the artist read such words. We rather collect these items and recycle or donate them and make our customers as happy as we can. But do not expect this to be the norm, going forward we firmly stand by our return and refund policy and will not be offering exchanges based on personal taste. This is the fun of subscription boxes and I take a gamble each month on my own boxes as well! We want to drive home again that we did not lie about our comments not being approved on MSA nor did we post any visual spoilers regarding pillows or coasters whatsoever and just because commenters say something enough times doesn’t then make it true. It is a simple as this, if we posted a pillow spoiler, where is it? How come no one can track that down? So apologies again for those who felt misled, but we can’t control what people post or guess about for future boxes. We also find it a little hurtful to be accused that we ran out of money or taste and that is why we sent these coasters. That is simply not the case and it was the plan all along. Same goes for the pillow which was designed months ahead. Unbranded items are custom designed items made in house by the same LE factory but we never intended to send LE signature pillows as it simply is cost prohibitive to do so. We are a big brand and we know how to scale so it is not a question of whether we have too many subscribers and could not produce, this again is our industry and trade for over a decade and we certainly can handle any amount of box subscribers needing product when we produce for big retailers just the same! But as we mentioned before we will work on custom tags and custom packaging going forward and better info card descriptions. Our deepest thanks and gratitude goes out to the dozens of customers and fans who emailed us long and thoughtful messages in response to the email we sent yesterday. It really touched us and we are very happy to have you as part of the Decoterie family. Especially our new subscribers who felt compelled to purchase the box after reading our very passionate words!! We will definitely sit and let those who do not quite like what we offer widdle out of our list and focus on those who appreciate what we have in store! I will save all future words of passion for Instagram and move our newsletter back to regularly scheduled programming. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m having a mental midlife crisis and having me checked into an institution if you catch my drift! I tease, I tease. Thank you so much! PS- Who wants to meet for coffee and crumpets? We will be in your neighborhood soon. Come follow us on Instagram! In the meantime, take a peek at this lovely video review here! Don’t forget we are offering one last 24 hour sale for 25% off any subscription. Enter code 25TODAY at checkout. This expires at 11:59pm Tuesday July 28. From your fellow box addict in crime,
Come join us now, before autumn boxes sell out! |
Good move or bad move? What do you think? Share below and whatever else is on your mind.
That comment about the coasters was in fact, quite cruel. Artisans spend their time, money, and energy making something, and I’m sure the artist felt honored to be featured in a Decoterie box. If I was her, I would be devastated as well. There is a huge difference between constructive criticism and rudeness.
I disagree – the comment about the coaster was someone’s opinion. It was made as a response to someone saying that they were thinking about trading for the coasters – sure she could have been nicer but at the same time she has the right to express her opinion on a public blog without getting called out. I think that Letitia Elizabeth needs to toughen up and stop reading what everyone is commenting on and focus on the quality and customer services issues that plagued her launch.
The comment about the coasters was not cruel. The letters she sent out were totally uncalled for. They sound very unprofessional. How dare she try to stop people from saying how they feel. How dare she attack Liz .
Well the fun thing about the internet is that we all have varying opinions. Personally I just don’t think it was fair or called for to say that the coasters weren’t worth trading a foil packet for. If you don’t like an item that’s fine, after all you’re entitled to, but I just think there’s better ways to go about saying it, but again, that’s me and my opinion.
Yay internet.
Without seeing the coasters in person but getting great pics from sub Bella I agree! The gold foil on the coaster were peeling but going so far as to say they aren’t worth a fool packet is wayyyy overkill. Like come on.
I will say that I’m a shade or two more in the asshole side, and I don’t believe in the idea of “well they tried that’s worth something” because I pay with money that I work for. At the same time it feels like people have unrealistic expectations!
Before this thing we were all talking about the MSA beachbox… Funny how I use every item that I didn’t give to Sub Bella… (Only the pillow for her kitty wait I mean son lol)
That’s the sub box world for ya, always a drama somewhere lol
I had no idea at all about all this drama. It is interesting. I think what we are really seeing is actual schools of thought. Are you glass half full? Is it half empty? Is it wrong to think one way or another?
Beeju you bring the humor and fun to boxes that I wanted to capture and have me and Sub Bella put our own spin on. It means a lot to us to have you come over here to comment and give your opinion.
On another note, has drama always popped up?!? I haven’t been in it that long and I am surprised to see it! I actually don’t mind the drama because my life is the creative mix of sad and boring peppered with glee.
PS I wish I got this box to be able to actually weigh in!
Yes, always drama. This will blow over soon, and something new will take its place. I see two coming up. One will be the Burke Decor box with subscribers thinking they are receiving the grinders and instead receiving this month’s box. I think I am the only one that posted on their subscription box changes. Another one will be Linen Crate especially if people post about their August bathroom box which sounds like it will be nicer than the July bathroom box. I don’t think either will produce as much drama as this box.
<3 I like reading your blog, you guys are always fun to interactive with and easily some of the friendliest bloggers I've ever met. 😀 Plus I'm glad someone likes my humor lol
As Sub Bella said, there's always drama with a box – somewhere – though the large scale ones seem reserved more for MSA, which is understandable given her total views. It comes with the territory of being a blogger, drama will follow, though that drama is typically more centered toward the box itself with its curation or customer service. There are instances where the blogger is attacked and blamed, especially for advertising/promoting and/or giving a favorable review to a box that is viewed by the majority to be disappointing or doesn't live up to its obligations (shipping, double charging, etc).
I totally admit that the drama can be somewhat entertaining but there are instances where its completely out of hand, such as the case with Blue Velveteen, when former subscribers actually filed a police report on the owner in her hometown saying that she scammed them out of money. It became truly awful.
Anywho running off topic here, love the blog! 😀
I am going to have to find out about THAT stuff. That is straight crazy!!!!!!!
I have only felt a little drama from people. Like when I posted some review links on Facebook and some felt my box was good because I was a “blogger.” I was somewhat embarrassed because I knew I was a nobody and that they box had no idea they were sending to someone who would review it… I also felt weird because people thought bloggers got some extra treatment.
Yeah, this blog has made $1.76 in referral fees… lol (very big time!)
I’m heading to bed because it almost 1 am. I have to be up in less than 5 hours 🙁 I found the Blue Velveteen story to be very sad. It’s a dark scary story of what can happen to a curator. That was my takeaway as being an outsider reading the threads. It’s on MUT. I read it while waiting for my sister at her appointments.
No one has said I received a better box since I started blogging.
We need to start full-fledge social media!
Wow, take a few days off sub box land, and Coaster gate erupts. Crazy!
Oui, Please has its own coaster gate. I wonder if Subscriptionista will write about it. It’s the month of of Coaster Gate!
my husband picked up said coasters last night. i told him that they tried to pass them off as $20 coasters and he was like… they’re just card stock. even my man knows that’s ridiculous.
The Coasters don’t want to be left out of the Goat syndicate and that is their bid to join the goat syndicate….
I think your right. Obviously the coaster conglomerate can’t make big moves in the sub box world and are hoping to catch the eye of the goat syndicate… I will have to brush off my tin foil hat again and really think about it.
Everyone ask your pets since they seem to know more than we do about these matters. I use a system of communication with my cat whereby I write a question in a piece of paper, then place it under her kibble bowl. If she leaves an even amount of kibbles in the bowl after eating it means “yes” if it is an odd number it is “no” oh, and if she doesn’t eat it means that we are being watched and so I have to crumple up the question and eat it.
Yes the coasters will be in the review for sure! My what a month for coasters!!!
I received coasters today in a different box. I will laugh if Burke Decor has coasters too. The coaster conglomerate is working overtime.
New readers – we are a silly group. This is normal talk for us. Look at a few cat pictures and be silly. Wine is optional.
Oui please is now Non, si vous plait.
Lol!!!
Wait a minute … What if the kitty eats ALL the kibble?
Oh that! It just means “ask again later… and bring more kibble”
I can only speak for myself but I like drama. And drama about something that is so utterly frivolous as subscription boxes is the best kind. It’s pretty much like doll playing for adults. You get to go through all the motions of conflict, but there are no steaks to speak of. Pretty much like sports, come to think of it.
This box is providing plenty of drama.
I really find it amazing how worked up people get over boxes. It sure is a nice change from real life serious issues. Get lost in th drama over little things.
It is a fine diversion.
The Oui Please coaster comment reminds me, what happened to French box aka 99 cent box?
I think they are still waiting for their box… I thought the last one they sent out was still crap. I was shocked people liked it. I am soooooo biased though