Self-Inking Stamp Disappointment: Has Anyone Else Experienced This?

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around participants sharing their experiences with self-inking stamps from the Merrill Corporation, expressing various levels of satisfaction and disappointment regarding the quality and readability of the products.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal, Opinion-based, Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expressed disappointment with the readability of their Merrill self-inking stamp, noting that the letters were too close together and hard to read.
  • Another participant shared a positive experience with a self-inking stamp purchased from Staples, indicating no issues with readability.
  • Several users mentioned their dissatisfaction with the size of the print on Merrill stamps, with one participant stating that the print was too small to read effectively.
  • One participant noted that they had problems with the templates for business cards from Merrill, which did not align correctly, leading to frustration.
  • Another participant shared their experience of contacting Merrill's customer service regarding issues with their stamp, but felt limited in options due to product quality concerns.
  • Several participants discussed alternative sources for stamps, with some recommending other companies that provided better quality products.
  • One participant mentioned that they print labels as a solution to ensure readability, indicating a preference for this method over using stamps.
  • Another participant expressed disappointment in the variety of products available through Merrill, suggesting they would seek alternatives.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ significantly among participants regarding the quality of Merrill products, with some expressing dissatisfaction and others sharing positive experiences with different brands.

Contextual Notes

Participants shared personal experiences with self-inking stamps and related products, focusing on readability and quality issues. The discussion reflects a range of opinions within the consultant community regarding the reliability of Merrill's offerings.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants considering self-inking stamps or related products may find this discussion relevant as it highlights various experiences and alternatives shared by peers.

mandak
Messages
50
I was wondering if anyone has ordered a self inking stamp from the Merrill Corporation? I just got mine a few days ago and am very disappointed. All of the letter for my website and email are so close together that it is hard to read what it says. It is very unprofessional looking. I am not referring to that the ink smears on the catalogs if you don't let them dry. It looks horrible even on a regular piece of paper. The e is the most difficult to read. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I know my recuriters stamp doesn't look like this.
Thanks for letting me vent!
 
I went to Staples and purchased a stamp with just my name address and phone number. I have had no problems with the self inking stamp.
 
rebuyI will be buying a new self-inking stamp. The Merrill one has a nice large Pampered Chef stamp and then small letters for my name. Since most of the stuff I stamp is PC material, I don't really need such a big logo but would be able to read my website address. I, too, was very disappointed and recommend you go somewhere else for your stamp.

I also let it default to the PC info and since I use a nickname, the name is wrong. Oh well, I guess I'll be visiting Office Max...BEE
 
Did y'all let the home office know about the problems with Merrill? We have two consultants here in my cluster who both bought business cards and they were wrong and hard to read. There was another thread on here about somebody saying that the template did not line up correctly for the cards you print yourself. Thats ashame - I was looking forward to purchasing from them but reckon I'll be making a trip to Staples!
 
I know I have read a lot about problems with Merrill and I was so anxious to purchase those fliers with the biz cards they could tear off but with all the problems everyone is having with them I think I will try something on my own.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #6
I sent an email to Merrill's' customer service. I wanted to give them a chance to correct the problem before I tell the home office. It is frustrating that we are limited to who we can deal with when their products are of poor quality.
 
I print labels...that is the only way that I can get all my information on my catalogs and paperwork and you can still read them...AND labels don't smear if you wipe them when they are wet. :-)
 
nicolespcshows said:
I print labels...that is the only way that I can get all my information on my catalogs and paperwork and you can still read them...AND labels don't smear if you wipe them when they are wet. :-)

Hi How do you wipe them when they are wet? Won't they smear that way? Do you mean dab them? Thanks!
 
What ever happened toTown & Country? :confused: I'm disappointed in the variety of things we can purchase through Merrill. :(
I, too will be going to an office store for my PC items. Diane
 
here's a site that i'm contemplating getting my stamps/return address forms from. http://store.yahoo.com/keepsakemagic/index.html they're really cheap.. so i'm not sure, but it;s worth a try i think.
 
I have been having terrible problems with Merrill, especially with their business cards that tear off. The template that they had does not work for me. I did email them and they offered to send me out some other ones (I did do as they suggested and printed out on regular paper to see if it matched up) and it looked like it did. Partly my error.

I did contact them again, they promised that they would send printing directions, but I never received them. They also said that they were unsure about why the template was not working for me with my printer. They did say it has to be a problem on my end with my printer. I uninstalled the drivers, uninstalled the printer, reinstalled everything, had the latest version of Adobe, the previous version, and it just would not work for me at all.
 
I want a stamp with big print. When I first became a consultant I ordered one for my catalogs with my name, address & phone number. I have learned since that you really do not need your address. Just name, consultant #, phone #, email and website. The print on the stamp I ordered before is so tiny you can hardly read it! I can't imagine getting my whole website on one.
 
I just bought two and I like them!
pchefinski said:
here's a site that i'm contemplating getting my stamps/return address forms from. http://store.yahoo.com/keepsakemagic/index.html they're really cheap.. so i'm not sure, but it;s worth a try i think.

I just bought two self-inking stamps from www.imakestamps.com and they were just fine! The brand is Trodat, which is the same ones that are shown in the link Amanda posted. Pretty inexpensive.. and free shipping with orders over $10. They actually did charge me shipping by accident, but when I emailed them, they credited my credit card with no problem.

I bought one stamp that has just my website and one stamp that has my name, consultant number, phone number, email address and website.

Oh, actually, I DO have to let the ink dry a little on glossy paper...
 
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...my merrill stamp is screwed up too...my last name is elliott and b/c there are two l's in a row then an i it all runs together and you can't tell what it says...my director told me to send it back but I didn't i've continued to use it but i'm not satisfied....oh well i will be ordering from somewhere else and i refuse to order from merrill again.
 
I, too, am very disappointed with the Merrill stamp. I do love their labels though and will probably reorder them.

I have gotten stamps from other places that are much better. We can't put "The Pampered Chef" on them but everything that I stamp already IS a PC doc so people KNOW it's PC and I just need to add my name and contact information. Find one you like at the best price you can.

One I liked best was free (except shipping so it really was around $7). There was room for 5 lines. You can put what you want but here's what I chose:

1. name (same size type as the rest of the lines)
2. title & consultant #
3. phone #
4. email
5. website

I got it from www.AmericasStampDepot.com
 
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I too am unhappy with my stamp. I've had it a month and the in is running out. We have self-inking stmps that I use at work and the ink has lasted over a year. I do have the business cards they look nice but the type is small. I don't know if I will order from Merrill again.

Happy cooking Diane
 
CarlyK said:
I have been having terrible problems with Merrill, especially with their business cards that tear off. The template that they had does not work for me. I did email them and they offered to send me out some other ones (I did do as they suggested and printed out on regular paper to see if it matched up) and it looked like it did. Partly my error.

I did contact them again, they promised that they would send printing directions, but I never received them. They also said that they were unsure about why the template was not working for me with my printer. They did say it has to be a problem on my end with my printer. I uninstalled the drivers, uninstalled the printer, reinstalled everything, had the latest version of Adobe, the previous version, and it just would not work for me at all.


Carly, I know I had seen mentioned somewhere that you should flip your screen and your poster to print upside down for it to print right, maybe that would help?
 
I don't have a Merrill stampI was thinking about ordering one, I am glad that I didn't though! I did order biz cards and registry cards though. I like the biz cards, but they smear if you rub them, which kinds stinks. The registry cards are also very thin paper, which I was disappointed in. I thought they would be like the ones we got in our wedding packet, the tear off pages of 10 cards. Those at least were a little thicker. These just seem flimsy. I guess they don't need to be thick for what they are being used for, they just seem kinda cheapy to me....
 
darn, I just ordered mine a week ago! Since I loved my biz cards from them I thought they would have a good stamp! Too bad, soo sad!
 
And the tear off registry cards from Merrill rip a little unless you are very careful with tearing them apart.
 
I love my business cards from them they look great. The stamp has been ok for me although its my first self inking stamp so I dont have anything to compare it to.:)
 
I am so glad I am not the only one!
The print is so small you can barely read it!

I did find that in order for it to print nicely, you have to push it down slowly. Otherwise, it will smear no matter what.

I guess I will email them too.
 
i'm glad i didnt buy anything from them. I bought mine from a company here in town and he just put my name address, phone, PC Consultant on it. cost me around 12.00!! no shipping!!
 
I had my husband make me a stamp (he owns a print shop) and it is much larger than the Merrill one. It is perfect for the back of catalogs because the type is bigger and much easier to read. The ink you do still need to let dry but I just spread them out on my table for a few minutes and they look great. If anyone is interested in how to get one of them just send me off a quick line.
 
All of the things I have bought from Merrill so far have been good, except the stamp...I too was very dissappointed. It works okay on regular paper or card stock except for being very small print, but if you use it on shiny paper (catalog) it smears. I do love my business cards!! They did mine right. I bought some of the labels with my info. on them and the print is very small on them also but they don't smear so you can read them. That is what I have been using on my catalogs since the stamp smears:(
 
bank deposit stampCan you get a stamp to put on the back of your checks so you don't have to sign everyone? What should it say? My fingers thank you in advance...BEE
 
For depoist only, but you can get one with your signature on it.. I know that they can make one just an idea.
 
so has anyone had Merrill actually contact them back?? I emailed them and no response.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #29
I never did recieve an email back. I have sent an email to the home office and encourage everyone else who has had problems to do the same. They need to know that we are not happy, since we are limited to what company we can use!
 
I sure do miss Town and Country!!! Everything I ordered from them had been wonderful!! (stamps, lapboards, pens, etc.) I haven't tried Merrill yet, but after hearing everyone's disappointment, I think I will go someplace else. HO should definitely know of these problems, and seek another company. I will put my 2 cents in to HO.

Tracy Graham
Kitchen Consultant
[email protected]

WAVE 1
Pamler House Hilton
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a self-inking stamp and how does it work?

A self-inking stamp is a type of stamp that has a built-in ink pad, allowing it to automatically ink itself after each impression. When the stamp is pressed down, it leaves an impression on the paper, and then returns to its original position, re-inking itself for the next use. This design makes it convenient for repetitive stamping tasks.

What are common issues people face with self-inking stamps?

Common issues with self-inking stamps include inconsistent ink distribution, smudging, drying out of the ink pad, and misalignment of the stamp design. Users may also experience problems if the stamp is not properly maintained or if it is used on unsuitable surfaces.

How can I troubleshoot a self-inking stamp that is not working properly?

To troubleshoot a self-inking stamp, first check the ink pad to see if it needs to be re-inked or replaced. Ensure that the stamp is clean and free of debris. If the impression is faint, try pressing down harder or using a different type of paper. If the stamp is misaligned, adjust it carefully according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Are there any tips for maintaining a self-inking stamp?

To maintain a self-inking stamp, store it in a cool, dry place and avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Regularly clean the stamp surface to prevent ink buildup, and re-ink the pad as needed. If the stamp is not used frequently, consider covering it to prevent the ink from drying out.

What should I do if my self-inking stamp is still disappointing after troubleshooting?

If your self-inking stamp continues to disappoint despite troubleshooting, consider contacting the manufacturer for support or a replacement. Additionally, reading reviews or seeking recommendations for different brands may help you find a more reliable option that meets your needs.

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