Calendars, Merrill..... Urgh!!!!

[pamperedlinda]

Someone just called me & told me the girl yesterday gave me the wrong information & that they were not given any instructions on what to do. She told me they would not be sending out replacements b/c that would be wasting to many trees. She said I would get special stickers. I told her the girl said if you got the stickers there would be a discount on the amount we paid for the calendars & she said no that was not correct. She said the calendars were very nice & didn't see the problem with putting a sticker on the wrong number. I told her that diminished the quality of the calendar & of PC. She said she didn't agree with me. I told her that I wanted to return them & she didn't say I couldn't but she did want me to wait & see the stickers. I told her that was embarrasing to ask my customer to put a sticker on the mistake. She said there are always errors in printing & that it is only 1 day. WHATEVER! I also told her that those were to expensive for me to be fixing them with a sticker & she said there only $1.09 each. Plus they have great pictures & wonderful recipes. OK, WHATEVER! Sorry but mine were $1.49 each b/c I got the 25pk. I'm amazed!

Sounds to me like the person you talked to could care less about us or her company.

 

[pamperedlinda]

Yes because they look at the sticker fix as a way to contact the people you have already sent them to as customer care calls. That's what I was told!

LMAO! I feel sorry for the people at Merrill who have to explain this to us. They weren't the ones who made the mistake, but they get the dirty work of dealing with us.

I know we are all upset about this, but please remember when you talk to the service reps at Merrill that they are only the messenger and not the decision maker.

 

[MissChef]

Right about now, I'm really happy they sold out before I could get them at conference! ughhh!!!! I had really wanted these, dang, what a dissappointment!:grumpy:

 

[chefsteph07]

IS ANYONE CALLING PC ON THIS??

They (Merrill) know they have our balls (excuse the language) because they are the only ones PC deals with!!!!
Do they (Merrill) really believe that if we had ANOTHER option that we wouldn't take it???
I will NOT buy from Merrill again...and I didn't even get the opportunity to order the catalogs at conference...oh yeah, cuz the were SOLD OUT!
What a piss poor company, I really expect something better from a co. dealing w/ PC.

EVERYONE WHO HAS CALLED MERRILL ON THIS NEEDS TO GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL PAMPERED CHEF IMMEDIATELY

 

[kam]

IS ANYONE CALLING PC ON THIS??

They (Merrill) know they have our balls (excuse the language) because they are the only ones PC deals with!!!!
Do they (Merrill) really believe that if we had ANOTHER option that we wouldn't take it???
I will NOT buy from Merrill again...and I didn't even get the opportunity to order the catalogs at conference...oh yeah, cuz the were SOLD OUT!
What a piss poor company, I really expect something better from a co. dealing w/ PC.

EVERYONE WHO HAS CALLED MERRILL ON THIS NEEDS TO GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL PAMPERED CHEF IMMEDIATELY

Yes, I was wondering if PC knows how upset everyone is about this and if they know how Merrill is handling the situation.

I wonder if the orders that are placed between now and Oct 15th will be fixed?

I am amazed that a company as great & responsive to our needs as PC is, continues to only give us the ONE option of MERRILL.

I am also amazed of the stories of Merrill selling out of things at Conference - were they SURPRISED to see PC Consultants at a PC Conference????

 

[chefsteph07]

I am also amazed of the stories of Merrill selling out of things at Conference - were they SURPRISED to see PC Consultants at a PC Conference????[/QUOTE]

That made me totally laugh! No kidding, they were so shocked by all the consultants coming they weren't prepared!
Ya know, I didn't get anything from them this year, but I"m still hot over what happened last year with the whole debit card debacle. And now this year they didnt even take them because of it, well, if they would be able to process their cards before 2 months after conference maybe they wouldn't have the problem they have. It is true that someone else posted that Merrill does other DS companies, I know for a fact they do Tastefully Simples logo stuff, if Merrill is so bogged down with these other companies, maybe they shouldn't be accepting more!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I think we should step back and breathe a little here. Merrill has it's issues, I am quick to admit, but at least in my experience they have resolved all issues with my orders in a timely manner to my satisfaction (except the fact that they are too pricey). I also agree that we definitely need to have more than one vendor and have never understood the logic of just using one.

As far as the calendars are concerned They are beautiful. Each month has great pictures and a recipe. Our customers (or our team - my team won't buy them so I'm thinking of giving them as Christmas gifts) will love them.

The people who printed them made a mistake. They're human. Give them a break. I agree that a sticker doesn't sound like a professional solution but these calendars will bring us business - make sure you put your name on them - their friends will see them and want to know where they got them and that will start the PC conversation. (and they did cost us less than $2 each)

I plan to put the sticker and the "cute" stickers with the calendar and add a note saying to put it over the first 3rd of November and a comment like: "I guess our printers aren't perfect either. Thanks for letting me pamper you."

 

[straitfan]

I

ALSO: If you purchased your calendars at National Conference you need to CALL THEM and tell them your invoice number so that you can at least get the stickers.

Was wondering what to do if I purchased them at conf. Not sure they would follow up those sales by automatically sending the stickers" : (

 

[alatour]

I know that I have bought a lot less logo items and supplies from Merrill because it is not in my budget. I like the more professional looking business cards, but right now I am still using my Nancy's Artworks ones until I completely run out! A lot of their items are not in my budget and even their sales aren't that great to me. Just my opinion. I love my PC business but it is part time with a part time income!

 

[chefann]

Was wondering what to do if I purchased them at conf. Not sure they would follow up those sales by automatically sending the stickers" : (

I got off the phone a few minutes ago, and the rep said that they needed the consultant numbers/addresses of consultants who purchased them at Conference so they could check order history for them. She also didn't mention stickers. She (obviously) read a prepared statement that, "We are working with the company to come up with a solution."

 

[PampMomof3]

When I called yesterday, I had to get my receipt from conference and give them my invoice #. When I called PC today to do an adjustment, I told them and the girl at the Solution center hadn't heard of the complaint yet.

 

[BethCooks4U]

When I called yesterday, I had to get my receipt from conference and give them my invoice #. When I called PC today to do an adjustment, I told them and the girl at the Solution center hadn't heard of the complaint yet.

They would have been talking at people at a higher level than the operators who answer the phones.

 

[PampMomof3]

They would have been talking at people at a higher level than the operators who answer the phones.

yes that's true but I wanted to make sure I told PC about it as well.

 

[vwpamperedchef]

I rec'd a message from Merrill today stating they were issuing stickers and cute ones for events etc. I called back to say that is unacceptable and unprofessional and would there be anything else Merrill is willing to do to compensate for this issue. She said they are working with PC Home Office to determine a better resolution and I should wait for a call back.

**IF YOU HAVE the same issue with the calendars I urge you to call Merrill. 1-800-876-5004. THEY NEED TO KNOW WHO IS HAVING THIS ISSUE.***

 

[kaseydee]

Beth thanks for your post. It always helps for different ones to post & remind us of things that we forget in the heat of the moment. I do LOVE the calendars & everyone that I have given one to ohh's & ahh's over it. I hope they find some better way to say sorry than the stickers.

 

[doughmama]

Thank you Beth for this note. Yes, it stinks that Merrill made a mistake and yes, they are not handling it as well as they should. But, c'mon, they are calendars. We need to put it in perspective and move on. I'll sticker mine, possibly put in a silly note about the error and leave it at that. Yes, we paid for these and should be given some sort of credit, but I am giving them to my customers as a gift and don't think they will seriously put out because of the error. This should be the worst thing to happen to me this month.

 

[PampMomof3]

Thank you Beth for this note. Yes, it stinks that Merrill made a mistake and yes, they are not handling it as well as they should. But, c'mon, they are calendars. We need to put it in perspective and move on. I'll sticker mine, possibly put in a silly note about the error and leave it at that. Yes, we paid for these and should be given some sort of credit, but I am giving them to my customers as a gift and don't think they will seriously put out because of the error. This should be the worst thing to happen to me this month.

I agree.

 

[pamperedlinda]

They still haven't gotten in touch with me. Did they call ya'll or email you?

 

[Nanisu]

Yes, BUT.....the pat answer that she gave me just now was "we are working with The Pampered Chef Corporate Office about this". I pointed out that I didn't purchase them from Pampered Chef, I purchased them from Merrill, and I don't understand why they have to get permission from PC to fix this.....no, it's not the biggest deal in the world, but I DID purchase them....and I don't understand why they can't just suck it up and reprint them--yes, it's a big mistake on their part, but it's THEIR mistake, not mine, and not PC's. I grew up in the 4 color printing business, and it happens. I can't believe someone didn't catch it till now...isn't that what proofreaders are for? I kind of feel the same way about last season's catalogs with the knife prices that were mis-printed--they never did fix it. I ordered catalogs in July just to get me through August and they still had the old knife prices in them that were switched. Kind of tacky, I think.

 

[raebates]

Just called Merrill. I told her who I was and said, "I bet you can guess where I'm headed with this call."

She left and gave me the standard "working on a solution" answer. I told her that I found it interesting that they doubled my birthday. She suggested that I keep one copy for myself and force everyone I know to celebrate my birthday twice. Kinda liked her.

I also just sent the following email to the HO:

I'm contacting you to let you know that I'm one of the many who has a Pampered Chef 2009 Calendar with two November 3rds. I'm sure mine isn't the first email or call you've received about this issue. However, on the off chance that you haven't been notified, I'm letting you know.

This isn't the first issue I've had with a Merrill product. In the past, those issues have been resolved in a satisfactory (if not always timely) manner. It is my hope that the outcome will be the same with this issue.​

 

[AlowayFamily]

I think we should step back and breathe a little here. Merrill has it's issues, I am quick to admit, but at least in my experience they have resolved all issues with my orders in a timely manner to my satisfaction (except the fact that they are too pricey). I also agree that we definitely need to have more than one vendor and have never understood the logic of just using one.

As far as the calendars are concerned They are beautiful. Each month has great pictures and a recipe. Our customers (or our team - my team won't buy them so I'm thinking of giving them as Christmas gifts) will love them.

The people who printed them made a mistake. They're human. Give them a break. I agree that a sticker doesn't sound like a professional solution but these calendars will bring us business - make sure you put your name on them - their friends will see them and want to know where they got them and that will start the PC conversation. (and they did cost us less than $2 each)

I plan to put the sticker and the "cute" stickers with the calendar and add a note saying to put it over the first 3rd of November and a comment like: "I guess our printers aren't perfect either. Thanks for letting me pamper you."

Beth has a very good point. I just found this thread and I purchased the calendars as well.

I am reminded of the stickers we had to place on our PC catalogs when the knives were switched; or the last season catalog when the pans were not available sticker; or this years catalog where we have to mark holiday spreaders as unavailable.

Is placing a sticker on our business catalog any different than placing a sticker on a gift to our hostess? I certainly stuck a whole lot more stickers on my catalogs than I will on my 25 calendars.

I just don't think the sticker on one day in one month is that big of a deal, especially if you use the opportunity creatively with your hosts.

 

[linojackie]

I can't believe someone didn't catch it till now...isn't that what proofreaders are for? ...

With the way theyre handling the issue, who's to say they didn't notice it before? They probably figured that once it went noticed, it would already be in the customers' hands and there was nothing we could do about it.

Regardless of the price, we paid for calendars we expected to be right. Do you think it would be acceptable for them to continue selling them at this price now that they've discovered the mistake? Probably not. So shouldn't they at least offer a discount to those who have already purchased them as a courtesy? ABSOLUTELY!

 

[chefsteph07]

I think the real issue here is that Merrill has screwed up in the past...if this was the ONLY thing, that would be one thing, but it's kind of the straw that broke the back, ya know?

 

[vwpamperedchef]

with The Way Theyre Handling The Issue, Who's To Say They Didn't Notice It Before? They Probably Figured That Once It Went Noticed, It Would Already Be In The Customers' Hands And There Was Nothing We Could Do About It.

Regardless Of The Price, We Paid For Calendars We Expected To Be Right. Do You Think It Would Be Acceptable For Them To Continue Selling Them At This Price Now That They've Discovered The Mistake? Probably Not. So Shouldn't They At Least Offer A Discount To Those Who Have Already Purchased Them As A Courtesy? Absolutely!

I Totally Agree With You Jackie!!

 

[cwinter474]

They still haven't gotten in touch with me. Did they call ya'll or email you?

I haven't heard a word back, by phone or email.

How nice..... NOT

 

[vwpamperedchef]

They still haven't gotten in touch with me. Did they call ya'll or email you?

Merrill called me. I happened to be out so I came back to this cheery message that the "sticker will solve everything" resolution. HA!

 

[heat123]

All I can say is thank goodness for this site! I would not have known and sent them out before correcting! Yikes! I will have to put a call out tomorrow am! Thanks!

 

[alatour]

I just emailed home office with both of the issues I am currently experiencing and suggested that competition between vendors might be better for customer service and more budget friendly.

 

[pcchefjane]

I just emailed home office with both of the issues I am currently experiencing and suggested that competition between vendors might be better for customer service and more budget friendly.

I think that is a great idea! When they get "one vendor", it seems that we are stuck with whatever! At least using Vistaprints helps!

Glad I didn't order calendars yet. Do you think they will fix the ones not ordered as yet or will they send stickers with the orders?

 

[Grandmarita]

Thanks you so much for this warning. We were just talking at our Cluster meeting, tonight, about placing a group order! Now, I am hesitant to participate, unless they
are selling them at half price. Like someone said, the cost of an envelope and postage
makes it something to think about. The cost of the calendar is only one third of the total mailing.