hewells

I have found that if your scale weighs grams a US nickle weighs 5 grams...if that helps any.

Maybe your scale is off....or possibly you just don't have enough wax in there. I know I always add a little more to my presto since I have a spigot on it that comes from the bottom so I have about a quarter inch left on the bottom of my pot all the time and I need to compensate for that.

My question to Barbara....was not to ridicule... I wanted to know if all of her FO was priced the same or does it vary by scent...would that in fact change her numbers.

I do not make jj, but have noticed that if I purchase FO that is 13.95lb my FO cost is less than if I purchase FO that is 18.95lb and that I have to adjust my prices accordingly.

So what I did was find out how much it costs me per oz for all my FO that I have and find a medium...I guess I was trying to ask how she came up with her FO numbers??

If someone else has a better idea then I would sure like to know how they figure the costs of their FO.

I honestly don't think anyone is arguing or ridiculing...just trying to figure out how she came up with her numbers to get them that low.

That is something that just irks me to death...when you are out of stock it should say so on the site or not let you order it...you should not have to wait until you receive your order.

They do make a teflon coating spray that you can use, but for as cheap as they are it would just make more sense to replace it.

Why even bother, people have good experiences and bad, but aren't we all adults who have the right to our own decision.

If I choose not to use a company because of what I have read isn't that my given right??

I will never understand why those that post in the defense of the supplier will not just accept that there are people out there that disagree with them. I don't believe anyone who ever complained about a company has said....jump on the bandwagon.

I believe that posts about bad customer service is an alert only. A "look what happened to me" so that people are aware.

I do believe this company has been notified several times by several members and it appears that the company is not very customer friendly. We have a right to our own opinions just as the defense posters do also.

The majority of us do have candle businesses, but we always make time for ourselves, and to learn more. By coming on this message board it does not mean that we are not sucessful...and no one should ever be labeled by how often they have time to post.

I am able to frequent this board alot, because I do my candle pouring after my children are in bed or at school, while I am doing my computer work, I have time to visit this message board...that does not mean that I am not productive....it simply means that I am able to multi task. Which I am sure other candle makers can also.

Top,

I am glad that this is resolved for you, and this does show that with the many of us that have refused to use their company did in fact make a difference.

It may not change things for the future, but at least it brought perspective into the eyes of the owner that word of mouth does prevail.

Okay my question is wouldn't it just be easier to discount the amount of water used?? When I made my soap I used a recipe that AJ posted and the water was discounted and it didn't take very long for the soap to cure.

Mags...you trying to sneek a new batch into the swap??

Ok - I'm lost....if the shipping minimum is $15, aren't I expected to pay $15?

That is what I would assume looking at a site...seems kinda crazy if it is less and you are going to charge less why wouldn't you just leave it alone and not put a minimum.

IMO if you absolutely(sp) have to have that on your site why not reword it so it doesn't say minimum...something like most orders are approx $15.00 for shipping, then a customer would know that there is a possibility that it is lower. Appears to me that stating there is a $15.00 minimum shipping charge would be a turn off for someone who is looking to purchase a small quantity from you.

If it is going to cost me at least $15.00 to ship from say OH to MI and all I want to order is 2 small candles I would pass that site up in a heartbeat....just as I do C&S since I can't justify spending the money on their shipping when I can get the same product from another supplier that is farther away for a cheaper and more reasonable shipping charge.

I think we are all in business to make money, and search for the best prices on everything including shipping and handling in order to keep our costs down. Could you imagine having to charge a customer $23.00 to buy one votive...sheesh I think not! To just accept a high shipping rate is ridiculous, especially when you can get it somewhere else for less.

Holy cow this is getting out of control!

BEFORE ANY OF THESE POSTS EVEN TOOK PLACE - THE RETURN WAS HANDLED AND THE CUSTOMER WAS NOT CHARGED A RESTOCKING OR REPACKING FEE!!!

In my defense here's the situation:

- The melters that the customer ordered was out of stock so we contacted him to see if he would like us to backorder or substitute styles. He authorized us to ship the other style because he needed them quickly.

- The customer contacted us when he received the melters because they were too small and asked to return them. We approved the return and informed him of our restocking fee policy. Every company has a restocking policy - we aren't special.

(I don't know where the $15.00 per box charge came in for repacking - was this made up somewhere along the way?????? This is not something that would happen here.)

- The customer returned the melters was issued a full credit WITHOUT a restocking fee and the full price of the melters was refunded to his card immediately.

To address the shipping issue - yikes - I wish I could control the pricing or even predict what it will be. As I said in a previous email - actual shipping is calculated when your order is manifested and it may be less than $10.00. The amount listed on the site saves people from being shocked that their shipping amount may be higher than they expected.

I encourage anyone with a problem that needs to be addressed to please call me directly at 800-819-6118 x201 or email cindy@candlesandsupplies.com instead of venting on the message boards. I'll agree that I have a lot to learn, but I can't fix it if I don't know what's broke! Constructive advice gets things accomplished!

Cindy Novack

Candles and Supplies.com

I am glad to see that this supplier has come to her companies defense without a huge arguement, but I do believe that this is not the first complaint thread about this company. The company had been told about their practices before.

I do not know Top personally, but I see he has no reason to make up anything...true he did not post the email...just its contents, but I am sure that the company was trying to salvage something from this return.

I know shipping charges are a problem, but when I can get my supplies from another company that is many states away and it is cheaper then one that is close to me there is a problem. Don't these suppliers realized that we also ship product too and know what is up with shipping?

Hopefully now that she is a member she will use the search feature and see what her customers were trying to tell her, that she neglected to understand.

I will also agree what works for me and my customers most likely will not work for you and your customers. If you search through this board and look in the sections there are stickys....FO for soy is one of them and also search the fragrance section. You can find out what people like, it may not work for you, but you can get an idea.

I find this to be ridiculous....no where on their site does it state that there is a repackaging fee. It just states that the items must be in orginal condition...nothing there that states you have to send it in the orginial packaging, but they do make a comment that they are sure your order will be dropkicked from them to you....Sheesh...

This came from their website:

Returns

Damaged Goods: Each shipment is packed carefully keeping in mind that the order will probably be drop kicked from PA to your location. In the rare event that your order does not endure the extreme shipping, please either refuse the shipment or sign for it as "damaged" and call us immediately to start a claim. Please retain all boxes and packing material at least 15 days for inspection by the carrier.

We are so confident that you will like our products as much as we do that we will accept returns within 30 days of your original purchase without a restocking fee. Items must be returned in original condition for resale. In-store credit will be issued (not cash or credit card refunds) for all returns unless you were shipped something in our error.

I would certainly contact your credit card company and do a chargeback. You have enough information from their site and their emails to back up any claim they may have. It is possible to also file a complaint with the BBB of their area and that many times will get their attention. I would also check with your state and theirs regarding their consumer protection act. Sometimes, all it takes is knowing the laws, and offering to use it to not get treated like a moron. I'm sure there are hundreds of people that will still continue to use this company...even if most of us don't, but if you file a claim it is on record and they can't hide that.

Have you checked out the Pryme dyes or EVO?

Do a search on these...there is alot of information.

I don't make jelly jars, but I would have to think wouldn't the cost depend on what type of FO you are using?? Not all FO costs the same price pp.

When I figure my cost I also figure how many labels I can print with my ink cartridge and divide the cost...are you including the cost of the ink or just the label?

I use HTP wicks...they are my wick of choice. I also use hot glue to secure my wicks to the jars. I want people to be able to recycle their jars and with have found with the silicone there is no getting it off the jar.

For something like online sales..you do not have to file for sales tax in every state...that is where the use tax comes in. On the other hand for going to other states to do craft shows I would contact the state in questions treasury department and they will let you know what proper forms you need or you can check that states treasury website.

I use 415 also, no beeswax though. I got some information from a seminar that Golden Foods did that said you can add 1 TBS pp of crisco to your wax. I have been doing that and getting great results.

check out candle chauldren(sp?) i am not sure of their site right now...but they have some useful info

Here is the link:

http://www.candlecauldron.com/fundraisers.html

HTH

Do we really need to hear about their wonky shipping calculator? Not our problem. Our problem is that they're either not managed well enough to provide a good customer experience or it's not a priority for them. An East Coast friend of mine hates dealing with them too.

They just don't seem to be on the ball even if you're communicating with a human. They were once waiting on a shipment of material I urgently needed. I told them the situation and was pleasantly surprised when I got an e-mail one Wednesday saying it had arrived and did I want to use my usual credit card. So I placed the order and jokingly inquired if "ballistic missile" was an available shipping option. They said the rockets were ready to go. Then they didn't ship the stuff until the following Tuesday.

I'm in a pickle with the melters because the reason I'm returning them isn't cut and dried in my favor. First I couldn't get the ones I ordered. I did agree on alternatives, but they weren't as good a value and that was strike one. Then one of the melters they sent was the wrong model and that was strike two. I could have exchanged it but the product seemed kinda crappy, which was strike three. I just wasn't feeling good about the whole thing by then and wanted to bail.

From their point of view I'm returning the melters because I don't like them and that means I eat the shipping. I don't feel totally responsible because I got poor service plus how was I to know they're carrying a mediocre product.

My best hope now is only having to eat the shipping for one of the melters and hopefully not have it become an endless hassle to sort everything out.

IMO that is ridiculous, first not having what you wanted, then offering you an inferior alternative. They should certainly be issuing you a call tag for whomever delivered it to return and pick it up. To me that is just poor customer service, since this is not what you had originally requested.

I was going to go with DIY then decided to try out wahmshoppes first, they link to mal's also and its like $7.00 a month for hosting. I think you can pay for the year for 84.00

I was going to tell you the same thing about using cc's with mal's, but Robin explained it really well.

Sheesh makes ya think....with all these wicking issues...why bother...I am kidding.

Dang and I thought I was having problems

I don't order from them either anymore I can't afford their shipping.

Unless you have to order those mason jars, couldn't you get them at the store that would save shipping. I would consider doing this only because it is a repeat customer. For centerpieces they probably don't need any fragrance so it may be an easy thing to do.

Thank you all so much for looking and liking it!!!!

Very nice I love the colors and the label looks wonderful. Do you think he would design one for me? lol

That was made with Avery Design Pro we downloaded a ton of free fonts and that one is called Alfredo's dance.