Bernadette

I'm not trying to pick on Square. My skepticism is for any reader that is not encrypted. Any of us, as consumers, want the most security as possible for our sensitive information. We all know that hackers are out there looking to steal anything that isn't nailed down. We should feel the same as merchants. Perhaps I'm being overly cautious...perhaps not. On the manufacturing side, who would think of selling these days without having insurance? Foolhardy not to have it. There are precautions on the selling side. After reading your response, I found this in seconds: http://www.banktech.com/blogs/229300696 Especially look at the last paragraph. You can bet that as this topic becomes more popular and seen, hackers are going to be looking to these unencrypted devices much more closely. :tiptoe:

It's a warning for consumers and merchants. It's the merchant's duty to protect the consumers information. If the info isn't encrypted at time of swipe, then should malware strike the smartphone or computer the unencrypted device was plugged into, there will be a problem. Look at the thread about members that had their cards compromised. Some hadn't used their cards since early 2010, yet their cards were just compromised now. Somewhere along the line, some device(computer or phone) that contained their info in unencrypted form was compromised. I could be wrong, but it's my understanding that Smartphones and Droids retain info in them(somewhere), just like a computer. On computers, even after you delete info, it's still in there somewhere and can be retrieved. Hackers sit there 24 hours a day looking for vulnerabilities. If data is encrypted at swipe, if it's ever stolen, all the hacker gets is "garblygoop", not the actual card info, and it's useless. I mean, think about it...if you as a consumer were shopping on the internet from your computer, would you purchase from any site that when you checked out and got to the enter cc info page, it didn't have an "https" at the top of the page...would you enter your cc info? These mobile devices are relatively new, consumers are not that familiar with them, and count on the merchant to be protecting their info. We, as consumers and merchants need to be aware of some of the pitfalls. I love the idea of the mobile device. I don't have a phone that can accomodate any, mainly because I've heard and read so much about the barrage of malicious apps that are out there for these devices. From another article received: "This past week, there was a lot of buzz around the security of “free” mobile card readers, given the number of malicious applications popping up for Smartphones. In an open letter to the payments industry, VeriFone’s CEO exposed a perceived security weakness in one such free reader. His primary contention surrounds the lack of encryption of sensitive payment data. Readers that don’t encrypt cardholder data at swipe and pass it in clear text to a Smartphone are vulnerable to malware that can make its way onto the phone. Malware on Smartphones is becoming a large and growing problem. Just earlier this month, Google announced that it had to pull over 50 apps from its Android Market after discovering the apps were infected with malware (click here for more information). Securing your customers’ data is critical to keeping their trust and your good reputation." I use Propay(no I don't work for them) and have been receiving weekly emails from them about their equivalent to Square that is coming out in April. They kept saying the delay, if you will, was due to prefecting the encryption, which I passed off as an excuse for the delay behind others, since I can't use it right now anyway. But I went to the Square website after thinking about this, and looked at their security page. They store their received info encrypted, but it says nothing about how they receive it. I take my customers' security as seriously as I do my own. If you feel secure in using the device you have, that's your option, and I hope all will go well and there won't be any problems. There are just too many red flags popping up right now, and thought some of you may want to know.:tiptoe:

PLEASE READ!!! Just received this today: http://www.sq-skim.com/ It's about the Square device.

I've received several security notices this week concerning these portable devices that hook up to your phone and laptop. Apparently not all of the devices you use to swipe the customers card(or YOUR card if you purchase something from a merchant that has one)encrypt the card information AT the device. Make sure when you get one of these you know for sure that the device encrypts the card info, before you use it. If it doesn't encrypt, that card's info will be stolen the minute it's connected, whether phone or computer. I had no idea...wouldn't you think if these were selling so well that security was properly built in?:tiptoe:

Well...here's the thing with glass beads...you can't adjust the hole size to fit your wick, and you want a tight fit or they're useless. So after you've done your wick testing, what I do is take sample pieces of the different size wicks I use for the different containers to the craft stores. They have glass beads(make sure they're not plastic!), so I test the fit. You can also try bead stores for jewelry making. I bought from a couple of candle suppliers way back when, but they didn't fit the wicks I used. I either couldn't get them on the wick(too small a hole) or they were so loose(hole too big) that they were useless. It's a pain to find them, but I like that you can't even tell they are there in the candle. It's much easier to find the crimps. Just go to the jewelry making section and buy the metal crimps. You'll have to clip off the "ring" part of it, put around your wick, and crimp it tightly. It will show. It will look like a long wick tab top. Some people don't mind it, and it is easier. :tiptoe:

Sorry...had to cut my original post short as my grandkids stopped in, asking tons of questions like little kids do while I'm trying to type. Anyway, I went to the jamieclaire.com website and they have 2 and 4 oz. melt clams advertised. I mean, shouldn't anyone selling these be giving the weight of the product, not the product with packaging. It seems deceptive to me to add in packaging...but then what do I know?:tiptoe:

Ever since I started getting call from potential melt customers, I'm getting totally confused... I've never done clams, and of course, Scentsy and Jamie Clair use clams. One person dropped off an empty Jamie Claire clam that they purchased at a True Value Hardware store. I've never seen a clam like this before. It has 24 little compartments. I poured some scrap wax in and each weighs .15 oz., but their packaging says 4 oz. I can't make the math work out*faint*! They also have a Scentsy clam that says 3.something fl. oz/2.something oz. net weight. What does all this mean. I've never done clams. Thanks for any clarification.:tiptoe:

Not only have I read alot of articles about these lately, but today's "Special Value" on QVC is a set of these. People appear to be crazy over these, and many have said they will never use a real candle again because there's no fear of forgetting to blow it out, where they place it, other safety issues, and they love the timers. Once they're set, you can come home from work and find your candles already lit. I bought a set 2 years ago now to try, and have to admit, they look like real candles, and I love the timers! Most of them don't have any scent so it's just the ambience people are going for. Do you think they pose a trend that may cut into our sales? BTW: I remember a post some time ago that I can't find now...someone here referred to a QVC flameless leaf pillar candle they bought to have a mold maker make a mold of. It's a Candle Impressions item, and it's back in stock. I watched the video on it tonight. Beautiful...but they did say it was a patented item, so if you read this, be careful if/where you sell it...the Candle Impressions "police" may come after you!

Dana, you've got me really curious now...what embed designs are you using that they need to be painted? For instance, fruits and veggies are usually dyed the natural color. I don't think I've ever seen painted embeds...

Sand soaks up gel like crazy, and when the flame gets down there...:tiptoe:...well, you know the answer. Therefore, you must either crimp the wick with metal, or you can use clear glass beads. Glass beads must fit the wick super tight(really hard to thread on the wick too, I might add) and I always use more than one. You can't even notice that they're there if they are clear. HTH:tiptoe:

I read this this morning: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/112364/biggest-facebook-security-threats?mod=family-kids_parents This could explain why some of the people here haven't used their cards in over a year, and still had their info hacked.:tiptoe:

I was just reporting what is says online. You guys have been lucky that your post office would take them...but be prepared if you go there someday and they won't. They're not supposed to...that's the reason they're giving the reduced rate...so they won't need as many employees at the post office(per the 800 #).:tiptoe:

Regional USPS boxes cannot be picked up OR dropped off at the post office. They must be ordered online, and your postman must pick them up.

I saw a piece on the news about this boy this morning. Can't help but think he must have had some help from someone who knows about candles...the scents he used, like fresh mowed grass...how else would he have known where to go to get it? I mean, he's only thirteen...:tiptoe:

soy327, log into your paypal account and when the page comes up, go to the very bottom, click on the contact us, and on the page that comes up, click on the call us. There's the phone number...

Not one of the restaurants, country/golf clubs, or event/wedding planners I work with want fragranced candles on the table. Besides allergies, studies have shown that in certain people, candle scent interferes with their sense of taste. They want the food to taste good to everyone. Consequently, I market unfragranced to all new customers as much as possible. 99.99% go that way.:tiptoe:

I don't want to give too much detail about this person because I seriously believe they are a member of this forum. Their email addy starts with the exact user name of one of the board members(which could be coincidence, I know). They are located in Texas. No, I don't know them. No, they didn't give an actual name. They had visited my site on numerous occasions though - always looking at my aroma bead fresheners. And no, I don't need the business. I do this full time, seven days a week. I keep a laptop in the work room that's always on the internet, plus a bluetooth stuck in my ear so I don't miss any calls. I do this totally by myself, and I guess it just irks the bejeebers out of me that someone wants something asap - and then zilch! I took time away from my orders to response within 15 minutes of receiving the email. Most people that send questions write back and say that my response was the fastest they have ever had when shopping the internet. This just got under my skin...it was a waste of my time and ignorance on their part. Sorry...time to catch a couple hours of much needed sleep...:tiptoe:

Yeah...I hear ya, but why waste her time and mine without providing all the information? That's like saying "I'd like 150-200 candles - period. Pls give me a quote asap." If you asked someone something, and that someone needed more info from you and took the time to write you and explain, wouldn't you at least tell them you no longer needed a quote? People on this board get ticked at suppliers all the time for not answering emails. It's sorta the same thing. I would think that as hand crafters, we would extend each other some measure of courtesy. I guess I expect too much from people. (I've since deep sixed her request):tiptoe:

When I ship larger orders, I usually use FedEx. Alot of people on here don't like them, but they are wonderful where I live, handle packages much better than UPS, come with insurance, and are cheaper than UPS. If I ship on a Monday, it will be anywhere in the continental US by Friday, and I can track it every step of the way. My candles are big, and I can't fit that much into the flat rate/regional USPS boxes. I still find FedEx to be less expensive, even when considering multi flat rate boxes. HTP:tiptoe:

That's it! I'm telling ya...these are the golden years?!

I got an email in my webstore from another candle/air freshener maker saying she had an order for air fresheners that she didn't have time to make. She needed 150-200 of them. She wanted to know if she sent me the custom logo cookie cutter(1!), what would I charge her? Okay... no mention of fragrances needed, so I have no idea if I have them or not. No mention of the size of the cookie cutter. Anyone who makes these knows that cutters come in all sizes up to 8". I've made them in all sizes, and some take alot of beads. No mention if she wanted them multi colored or one color. So I ask her all these questions and told her that I would get her a quote within 1/2 hour. BTW, I answered her email within 15 minutes of receiving it in my inbox. Never heard from her again. Why did she even bother to ask?:tiptoe:

I am having a senior moment this morning and can't think of what you call it(and I have a ton), but the way to do tapers is to use those small plastic cutouts...you know, the things you use for other crafts to put an image on something...that you take a brush, dab in paint, get the excess off, and then dab on the plastic, and when done, just lift the plastic off and the image is on the candle or other object. What is this crafting technique called? Can you tell I haven't had any coffee yet?:laugh2:I do it all the time with melted wax, but you have to work fast. You can also fill in with the wax pens. :tiptoe:

I have not done one of these shows, but I thought I would let you know that the "store" customers I have always use a business credit card. Most prefer to use American Express. This provides them with the paper trail that their business model demands. You will always get more sales if you can accept credit cards, even in this economy.:tiptoe:

I do the soap dipped petals, but have never just fragranced them. I can tell you that with white petals, make sure the fragrance you use is as clear and light as possible, or you will definately have staining on the white. Ask me how I know...:tiptoe:

Steve, I love both techniques. They are really, really pretty. However, there's no way I think of these as prim. As a candle customer, I'd gravitate towards these in about 2 seconds, but they're not "messy" enough to be prim to my way of thinking.:tiptoe: Great job, though!