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Questionable Rules. (Read 1220 times)
Amy_137576
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Questionable Rules.
Nov 6th, 2009, 3:59pm
 
In the past I got cards back telling me if it was an invitation it could not also be in another category.  OK - I'll work with that.  But now -  
This one seems unreasonable to me.  Just got a card back saying invitations can only be in one invitation category.  WHY??  I am trying hard to get on board with picking categories and making cards that fit specifically, but this rule just seems like you are not thinking like shoppers really think
 
Here's my cards: 518823
 
I wanted it in costume party and pumpkin carving party invitation. Frankly I doubt you sell very many of either one and those categories are not over-flowing with too many designs.  My verse specifically fits both.  
 
I have several others that fit neatly into more than one invitation category.  Sometimes I don't think the rule makers have thought this through the way regular people shop ... or maybe I'm irregular  undecided.
As a shopper in either of these categories I would be happy to find my card.
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Amy_137576
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Re: Questionable Rules.
Reply #1 - Nov 6th, 2009, 4:16pm
 
While I'm on this subject - I would like to file a protest  Smiley.  I am fine with the rule that any given design can only be used 3 times, even if you change the color.  However, I make dog design - Labrador Retrievers are my specialty.  Lab people tend to be VERY particular about their color preferences and Labs come in 3 recognized colors. - black, yellow and chocolate.  I have been told that the 3 different color dogs represent the same design, so each can only be used once.  I assure you, the Lab design buying public doesn't see it that way.
 
Here are examples of what I mean:
449731 - 444553 - 449724
or
474156 - 474154 - 474149
 
Very often the person that would buy the black Lab version will absolutely not consider the chocolate Lab version or visa versa.  My customers do not see these as the same card with an unimportant color change.
 
Thanks for your consideration.
Amy
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Doreen_137017
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Re: Questionable Rules.
Reply #2 - Nov 6th, 2009, 4:28pm
 
Hi Amy,
 
I agree with you about your Labrador cards.  Those three colors of labs are very distinct and should not be considered the same as changing the hue on a flower and calling it a different card.  You should indeed be able to use each of those designs 3 times in different categories with different words on the inside.
 
I hope the support folks agree with you and make your customers happy.
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Linda_132742
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Re: Questionable Rules.
Reply #3 - Nov 6th, 2009, 4:41pm
 
First, must say I adore your cards, black lab lover here, not to be confused with a chocolate or yellow lab lover,  though all of the lab breed are special...
 
I support you with the category thing.  Just think that perhaps the reviewer needs more info/incite?  Just my take on the issue.  For me, in the past, when I have a card that is rejected for whatever....many times, no sometimes, I just go with the flow...just put it wherever and then hope to reap the rewards.  I know this doesn't help a lot in your situation, but might in the future.
Linda
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Amy_137576
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Re: Questionable Rules.
Reply #4 - Nov 6th, 2009, 5:27pm
 
Thanks Doreen and Linda (Black Lab lover proving my point  Grin - personally I love all 3).
 
I have been going with the flow on this topic so far, but decided to bring it up while I was asking about rules since I know it will come up for me again.
 
Funny story to make my point - I use to make felt Labrador ornaments and at one time I couldn't get the gold-ish color I used for my yellow dogs, so I bought a tan-ish felt instead.  WELL - that got people all worked up so that they started requesting the "dark yellow Lab' vs the 'light yellow Lab" and if I ran out of one some people wouldn't buy the other. - LOL.  They were silly felt ornaments for goodness sakes  Smiley.  I did my best to please everyone of course.
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Mary__137064
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Re: Questionable Rules.
Reply #5 - Nov 6th, 2009, 5:56pm
 
I feel your pain as I have had several cards returned based on being too two for the price of one.
It may be confusing to a customer who just wants one thing and not the other and wonders which
card it really is.  As artists, we often see both sides of a story, which can be complicated.
Greeting cards need to take us away from complications into the world of simple fantasy and stuff like that.
That's only my opinion, but it works for me! lol
 
Bright
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Bright's Greeting Card Boutique:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Bright
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David_134612
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Re: Questionable Rules.
Reply #6 - Nov 6th, 2009, 6:34pm
 
Amy
Thanks for posting an interesting question
Rules , while well  intended, do not always work  
While i understand  GCU needs to be highly specific so cards stand out in searches and draw traffic
 
In the end GCU & artist want to draw buyers who found what they wanted  and bought a card.
         and not just searchers who got what they asked for in a search,  
                but not what they needed to motivate them to buy.
 
Through experience you learned  and  
your problem is a perfect example  of a rule thats need to be broken and adjusted at times
You learned where real sales interest is and what buyers needed and wanted to buy and not just what they asked for  in a search.
 
I accept that GCU MUST be highly specific to get searchers in,  
        
  But once visitors came in from a  simple hightly specific search buyers need to see other variations of cards designs to motivate them to act.    
 
Once buyers get here and see the qualified highly specific cards
there needs to be a way to see a broader wider range of cards with  similiar natures
 even if an exception to the rules
 
I have previously been in your place several times  and cursed GCU in anger  
until i finally realized their need to be specific for searches and realized it was a good rule
but there are many valid exceptions and many times GCU & artist are not even aware of them.
 
Hopefully GCU will make an exeption in your case and other valid cases  
Because in the end buyers buy what they want and not always what they asked for.
 
If GCU shows visitors only what they asked for  and not what they wanted, it may fail to motivate them to buy and we all lose
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Amy_137576
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Re: Questionable Rules.
Reply #7 - Nov 7th, 2009, 8:13am
 
Thanks David - you have said what I was trying to say.
 
I realize others can't see it, but my "double" invitation card that was rejected says: Dress up in your favorite costume and join the party! Pumpkin carving starts at: _____ - etc.  (The picture is of a Lab "carving" a pumpkin - aka a half eaten pumpkin between his legs.) That seems to fit both the costume party and pumpkin carving invitations to me and I don't see how a shopper for either category would be sorry my card was included in the list of suggestions.  I guess I will tweak the text and resubmit it as 2 cards.  That means they will both appear in my shop and come up on a search and look like the same card from the front .  Personally I find it annoying to get a search page with lots of what looks like identical items.  Apparently that is what GCU perfers though, so that's what I will do.
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