Bernadette

Please don't bite me for mentioning this...Do any of you use IPhones, Droids, or Blackberries? I just saw a tech segment on TV concernning malicious apps. Google alone identified 64 last week, and are trying to get them removed or fixed, and accessing if there are more. The tech segment said that if you have one of these on your device(and it may not be a malicious app thru Google)they can gain access to all your info eventually, off your computer. I know nothing about wireless devices...just mentioning verbatim what they said.:tiptoe:

Looks like a good sized order. Beautiful colors...well done!:highfive:

Oh, I totally agree. I was just saying that after reading this thread, there doesn't seem to be that much commonality in the suppliers used. Maybe the posters just haven't listed all the ones they use. Just throwing something else out there for you all to consider. Knock on wood...I shop/buy online all the time and haven't had any problem at all, and I use some of the suppliers mentioned. I know it's been alot of "candle people" that have gotten hit. I was just throwing out another possibility. Let me ask then, did any of the people that posted problems here click on any of the links in the spam that was posted on this forum before it was removed? That could be the problem. :tiptoe:

You know, there could be another possiblility for all this...it may not be a hacked site. It may be ...and I don't know the exact terminology here...but you could have clicked on something on the computer that allowed someone to get into it and into your accounts. How many have clicked on the links in some of the spam posted on this forum before it was removed? How many times do we hear about things on the internet that we shouldn't click on because then someone will have access to everything on your computer? Some of these links aren't to destroy your computer files, but rather to gain access to your personal information. I've been getting daily, sometimes twice daily, updates from my security program for website authenticity, anti phishing, etc. And for the first time since I've owned a computer, I've been getting moderate to high risk attacks blocked within the past few weeks. My bank even has a security program that you can download for free to use as added protection with your own security program to protect your accounts. Just saying...:tiptoe:

LynnS, when I first opened my website, all I had was Paypal, check and MO. Quit the check/MO because it took too long to get here, and for checks, took to long to clear the bank. When I added direct CC payments, my sales skyrocketed. Seriously, my sales went up 159%! There's alot of people that don't like PayPal, especially since they are owned by eBay. And believe it or not, there's a whole bunch of people that believe, rightly or wrongly, that if you only offer paypal, you are small, and not a "real" business. (Don't jump on me...that's what they tell me.:tiptoe:). In the past four years, 85% of my orders pay with direct CC. Most of the Paypal business now is reserved for international orders. If you're thinking of growing your business, I would definately consider getting an account. Try ProPay.com. Their fees aren't that bad, and like PayPal, once you hook up a bank account, you can transfer funds to your account rather quickly.

Steve, when a customer places an order with me over the phone, I place it in my webstore under their name. Then I have the confirmation of placement. I mention that because if there's ever a dispute over a charge(I've had less than 5 in 9 years), the processor sends an email that references the order #. All I have to do is fax the processor a copy of the order, and the shipping receipt that has del. conf. # and their name and address on it. I also go to the shipper's site and print the package history, which shows the delivery. The processor takes it from there. Never had a chargeback, and have gotten apology emails from the customers saying they were sorry they forgot!

LynnS, to take CCs directly, you have to have an account thru a bank or an online processor, like Propay or Authorize.net. It will cost you a yearly fee, and a fee for each transaction - at the least. Some places charge monthly fees. I think most have a transaction amount limit(like, the largest order you can take is $250.00, 500.00, etc.), and you pay different yearly fees based on the largest transaction per month you want to have the ability to take. They've started cracking down on people who have lower transaction limits(to avoid higher fees), and then process several orders for the same person. For instance, say you have a customer that wants to place a $500.00 order, but you signed up for a limit of $250.00, and then process their card twice for $250.00 to take the order. I've heard of processors that have closed accounts for doing that, so choose the order limit you want carefully. It will take a few days to a few weeks to get an account up and active. Hopefully someone else will chime in if I've left anything out.:tiptoe:

I got a similiar email about 6 months ago...claimed the cat knocked it off the shelf. Sent me a picture and wanted to know if I could replace it because she couldn't find the vendor that made it for her. It was a specialty candle...a kind I specialize in, of course. Oh...please,please could I make it for her? The way she asked, she was trying to find out how I would make it. I didn't give her the specifics. She never did buy one. She was just fishing for directions.:tiptoe:

Yeah, I know...I would of thought so to. They have about 34 different kinds, but none of them are long reach. I even called their 800 number...no luck. I have to swing by Michael's tomorrow for something else. I'll look again. No hobby lobby here. Closest one is over 200 miles away.

I've already tried Staples...no luck. Michaels and Joanns only have shaped hole punchers for scrapbooking. At least I know there is such a thing now(thanks, ladies!). Guess I'll have to purchase online. Was hoping I could just pop out this afternoon and find something somewhere. Oh well...:tiptoe:

I use for waxes, basically. I keep 360 lbs. each for 2 of them, and 150 lbs. each for the other 2. I go thru them rather quickly, but I don't have that much room to store more at present.:tiptoe:

I'm looking to find a kind of specialized hole punch with no luck. I have these 5 1/2" square plastic boxes that have a 2" side. I want to put a hole in the center of the 5 1/2" piece. A hand held just isn't long enough to get there and I've tried several. Does anyone know of a punch that's more like a stamp, and where you could get one? Any other suggestions? I need a finished look. Thanks for any help you can give.

You know...this is a little off topic...but ABC World New Tonite is doing a series that started Monday, where they wanted to find out how many things in your home are "made in America". So they went to this family in Texas, sent the mom, dad, and two kids out for awhile, went thru the house, and removed everything that wasn't made in America. Last night they showed the family coming home to a virtually empty house! The only thing left in the kitchen was the kitchen sink. That was made in America. The oven, fridge, microwave, coffee maker, all appliances, dishes, silverware - gone! All furniture, rugs, lamps, clothes, toys, etc. were gone. Even their dog's bed! Then they brought in a smart shopper and between her and the mom, it took them 2 hours on the phone just to find a made in America couch! Tonite's sequence will be interesting because they ended by showing the trucks coming to unload American made products. They are trying to replace everything with made in America. They went to The Container Store, where they spoke with a clerk that couldn't remember the last time anyone asked if something was made in America, and only 1/3 of what they stock is. Anyway, they repeated several times that if everyone in America spent $64.00 on American made, that right now that would create 200,000 American jobs immediately! It could be a good marketing point for us too...

You know, every year, there's a convention in Las Vegas called the Internet Hackers Convention. It lasts for a week!!! Supposedly, they discuss all forms of scams and ways of hacking. When I first heard about this, I thought how can law enforcement allow a convention like this? Hackers and scammers participate in all forms of FRAUD...isn't this illegal? I had a friend that was near the place they have it one year...somewhere on or near the Strip. They said all these people were walking around with laptops. Scary...now it's probably smart phones and Ipads! Anyway, I would not be surprised if these wise guys have a secret website where they post all kinds of scams that you could use. That may be why you got an email instead of the hard copy letter everyone else got, Lumina. Or it could be the guy in Willmar got caught by the Post Office... Who knows? I think it's all disgusting.:tiptoe:

A short time after this thread started, I noticed on my hidden counters that someone from Willmar, MN started visiting my site. Continues to at least once a week. First time in 9 years anyone from Willmar, MN ever visited my site, and since this jamoc is from there, I'm betting I'll be getting a letter soon too. I think he's perusing for something expensive!

I hope I'm not stepping into something here, but I have ALOT of customers that buy my tarts just to set out around the house - in dishes, pretty plates, etc. - for scent. They don't light them until they get "candle nose" or the scent weakens(not sure which). Then they put them in burners. They'd be pretty upset if there was a big difference between CT and HT. Never knew there were so many people that do this. Having a wax for CT and a different wax for HT would get me into a lot of trouble, and more importantly, alot of lost sales!:tiptoe:

I also forgot to mention this morning...(see, I forgot again and posted before having that first cup of coffee:laugh2:)...besides being older and slower(3G or less), most of those phones have small screen that cannot handle everything on the website, thereby requiring the "skin" to be able to handle all the info. Not worth it, in my opinion.:tiptoe:

Darbla, are you saying it works on glass too?

I did some research on this over the weekend and thought I'd share what I found out. Newer phone versions, such as IPhones and Droids are compatible with your site, just as if they were viewing it on their computer. The buttons on the phone - mobile or full - are for: 1)mobile, doesn't show full website content but makes for faster surfing 2)full, gives you all the info you'd see if on your computer. A study's already been done that says people looking to buy usually go for the full site view to make sure they aren't missing something they should see, while mobile is used more for "window shopping" or a quick lookup on a site. The problem comes for older,slower phones. Then you need what is called a "mobile skin" on your website for shoppers to shop properly. Thing is, most shoppers know that their phone is slower, their having problems viewing, and will go to their computer to place orders. When I stop and think of all the phones I've been thru since mobiles came out, I think I'll wait on any mobile app. People trying to push these mobile apps know how quickly technology changes, and are trying to make hay while the sun shines....:tiptoe:

Never type a response before you've finished your first cup of coffee! When will I learn...anyway, I forgot to mention that the store sold them for more than my website candles. There was no conflict because customers could only get those scents in the store, and they continued to buy them because they liked those scents so much...but they came to the website too because it was less expensive, and found more fragrances that they loved.

Yes, like when I did wholesale, for one place that asked for similiar conditions to this situation, I offered them fragrances that I only sold to them. They were terrific scents that the customers really liked, and I made sure they were compatible in candles and soap. 9 out of 10 customers got both! The customers came to my website to try other scents, since they were thrilled with those in the stores that they could have a "hands on" experience with. The store was happy, the customers were happy, and I was definitely happy.

They sell for $5.95 here plus shipping, tax, handling.:tiptoe:

I just read on the USPS site that parcel post shipping is going up 4/17/11. I don't use parcel post, but thought I'd give a heads up for those that do.:tiptoe:

Makes no difference whether I'm burning a pillar or a votive, or a container with a totally opened top(like a fruit cup shaped container), I'm having the same result on my familyroom coffee table. Let me set this up for you. Hope you're patient! My kitchen is in the front of the house, then there's a half wall, two steps down into the familyroom(which is on the back of the house. Cathedral ceilings. If you're standing at the top of the two steps looking out the back window, the couch is on the right, with the coffee table out in front of it. I'll explain with what I have going right now. I have a big, solid glass snowball, which holds a straight sided votive holder that when inserted is even with the top of the snowball, so nothing sticks out. When I started burning the votive a couple days ago, the side of the votive toward the back window burns down first, the step side is untouched. On future burns, the step side catches up, so the whole thing burns, but I hate the way that looks. This happens with all the type candles mentioned above, but so you know, the votive is level, the wick centered, and in this case, is not scented. The flame does not flicker or "sway" at all. Almost looks artificial. For all the type candles I mentioned, I've used a variety of paraffin and/or gel waxes. The paraffin waxes range from132 - 142 meltpoints. I've used htp, lx, flat braid, and zinc wicks, so I don't think it has anything to do with the small curl you get from self trimming wicks. To simplify matters, I don't use fragrance. Any opinions on what could be causing this? The wax eventually all burns, but I hate the way this looks for the first few burns. Hope I've explained myself properly. I don't have this problem when I burn the candles elsewhere, which would make me think it's a draft, but the flame is always perfectly straight, no flickering. Thanks for any thoughts...

I took chiptooth's comment differently. I think she was trying to say that if they are having such a hard time writing their English, they probably would have just as hard a time reading it, thus, interpreting it properly, which would be very unsafe when working with hot and flammable items. I don't think she was referring to their intelligence level at all.:tiptoe: