Friday, February 22, 2008

Shop Talk

Let's talk about the digi shops out there. By now there are so many that you can't even count them even if you had a calculator. I mean, c'mon now, it has become a bit ridiculous, don't you think?

Did you know that a new digi store has a grand opening somewhere on the world wide web every 7.9 seconds? Uh huh.

So, with so many out there, how do you choose? Do you even try to keep up with the Joneses or do you just stick to your favorites? What are your favorites?

For me, I still like the old tried and true. Gina Cabrera at digitaldesignessentials.com, scrapbook-bytes.com, and designerdigitals. That is pretty much it. Every now and then something will catch my eye in the new products section at DST or someone will start a rave post and I'll venture out of my little cave and into the unknown territory of a new store to grab something new. But mostly, I stick to my old favorites. I must hate change or something. Or maybe it's becaused I get confused easily, with so many designers jumping from store to store like jumping beans on a hot tin roof. It gets hard to keep up.

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://whatsthedigigoss.blogspot.com/2008/02/digiscrap-smack.html

gossipgirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

http://whatsthedigigoss.blogspot.com/2008/02/digiscrap-smack.html

Anonymous said...

http://whatsthedigigoss.blogspot.com/2008/02/digiscrap-smack.html

Anonymous said...

http://whatsthedigigoss.blogspot.com/2008/02/digiscrap-smack.html

Anonymous said...

http://whatsthedigigoss.blogspot.com/2008/02/digiscrap-smack.html

Anonymous said...

http://whatsthedigigoss.blogspot.com/2008/02/digiscrap-smack.html

Anonymous said...

http://whatsthedigigoss.blogspot.com/2008/02/digiscrap-smack.html

Anonymous said...

Go play in your own backyard and leave ours alone.

If you need to spam someone go spam the dish.

Anonymous said...

Go play in your own backyard and leave ours alone.

If you need to spam someone go spam the dish.

Anonymous said...

Go play in your own backyard and leave ours alone.

If you need to spam someone go spam the dish.

Anonymous said...

Go play in your own backyard and leave ours alone.

If you need to spam someone go spam the dish.

Anonymous said...

I hear you! Ugh, I am so sick of all the hype about grand openings. The WAS grand opening was a complete let down. One of my favorite stores is the lilypad but I wish they had better sales.

Anonymous said...

oh joy. that gg blog turned on moderating comments.

Anonymous said...

oh joy. that gg blog turned on moderating comments.

February 22, 2008 7:03 PM

Anonymous said...

oh joy. that gg blog turned on moderating comments.

February 22, 2008 7:03 PM

Yeah, that's what happens when spammers won't quit posting over and over and over again....

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that's what happens when spammers won't quit posting over and over and over again....


That is so junior high! Isn't that what DST is for?

Anonymous said...

I heart the lilypad! I also adore FPD and TDC!

Anonymous said...

I don't think it matters how many digi stores are out there. If someone wants to open one that's their business. Why is everyone so worried about what everyone else is doing?

Anonymous said...

I don't think it matters how many digi stores are out there. If someone wants to open one that's their business. Why is everyone so worried about what everyone else is doing?

I don't think anyone is worried about it/

Anonymous said...

It's just dumb. Why not just go sell at an already established store? Why open yet another one? Or did they try to get into a store and get turned down. IF that is the case then they probably shouldnt be designing anyway!

Anonymous said...

Who else is sick of seeing that CRD blinking banner at DST?

Anonymous said...

Sweet Shoppe designs hands down! You cannot get a better store then that.

Anonymous said...

I love SSD too!

Anonymous said...

People open their own stores for a variety of reasons. One is that they don't want to pay commission to another person for their work. Another is that they don't want to be told what they have to design. There are many great designers that are "unknown" and very talented.

Anonymous said...

SSD blows. Most of the product looks the same and it's got some nasty, vicious wanna-be designers and their equally nasty and vicious CT toadies. It could have been a great place, but they need to weed out the trash first.

Anonymous said...

SSD blows. Most of the product looks the same and it's got some nasty, vicious wanna-be designers and their equally nasty and vicious CT toadies. It could have been a great place, but they need to weed out the trash first
------------------
I agree. The irony is that SSD has this whole facade of being 'sweet' and 'sugary', when really they are mean and nasty. Anyone who reads the smack blogs can see that it's been infiltrated with the BITTER SSD gals. They are the ones smacking all the other designers. Didn't they learn in High School that putting other people down doesn't make you any better?

Anonymous said...

I think it's a mistake that so many designers open their own stores. Do the established stores charge THAT much commission? It seems it would be worth it for designers to have a store already established, with an established customer base, and a team already in place to support you.

And what's more, I think customers don't want to have to remember all these little stores. I know I don't. I continue to check my favorite established larger stores.

Anonymous said...

Exactly, 7:20. You gain alot by signing on with an established store. And you have a better chance of getting a real web site, instead of one that gets hacked...

Anonymous said...

I think it's a mistake that so many designers open their own stores.
------------
Sorry, but I completely disagree. After the Ashley Olson and Tandika incidents, it became very apparent that designers are a lot safer having their own store.

Many larger 'established' stores have proven themselves to be unreliable, or unsecure or both. Weren't SBB, DSS, and ES on the list of stores that have been hacked/infiltrated/whatever?

Seems like there's no one at all that can be trusted in the digital community these days.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who reads the smack blogs can see that it's been infiltrated with the BITTER SSD gals. They are the ones smacking all the other designers.

^^
yes, there are plenty of people who can see right through the games that some SSD peeps are playing.

Anonymous said...

Many larger 'established' stores have proven themselves to be unreliable, or unsecure or both. Weren't SBB, DSS, and ES on the list of stores that have been hacked/infiltrated/whatever?
-------------------------------
Well that could be true, but it doesn't worry me. It seems the pirates were just getting the files on the ftp server - and surely those errors will be fixed pronto. I don't really blame the store owners for not understanding server security. But, now that this has happened, I expect them to learn more about it and fix it. I think having more stores will just make the problem worse.

Anonymous said...

Why be so down on designers starting their own stores? Isn't that the American way? To be self employed and not beholding to anyone? What would happen to this country without entrepreneurs? These people have their own visions. They, perhaps, want their stores to reflect their personalities not those of the established owners. Further, not everyone want to shop at Walmart. Some people like to shop at boutiques. It comes down to choices; but to just say that you won't look at designers products because they are not affiliated with "larger" store is just ignorant. After all, all these "larger" stores where once small. And as we've seen, the larger stores have their share of problems - whether it be designers who are sharing other designers kits or being hacked. An independent small boutique owner only has to worry about herself and not worry if her fellow designers are selling her out.

Anonymous said...

It comes down to choices; but to just say that you won't look at designers products because they are not affiliated with "larger" store is just ignorant.
--------------------
I don't know if you are referring to me, but I never said I wouldn't look at products not affiliated with larger stores. I said I can't even remember all the stores. As a scrapper, there are too many stores already. When a designer leaves a big store to start her own - I'm probably not going to seek her out unless she has really 'wowed' me in the past. The only independant stores I ever check are LDD and CRD and I only go there if I see a product that I love. Otherwise, I stick to the larger stores. I just don't have time to check and register at a hundred different stores.

Besides, it bothers me that there doesn't seem to be any loyalty among designers. The big stores have given a lot of people their foot in the door. Then as soon as they start becoming successful, the leave to start their own stores. I appreciate loyalty and all the store hopping turns me off.

Anonymous said...

11:30 am ITA with you. It's not that I don't like a person to open their own store and I may even like their products. The problem is, I will probably never know or hear about them because I simply don't have the time to check out all the little guys.

And yes, the big stores do so much for the designers, in terms of spending money on advertising, getting the name out in search engines, providing bandwidth and an established customer base.

I guess I don't understand why someone would want to leave all that behind. Yes, you get to be your own boss, but is it really worth it?

Anonymous said...

Big stores don't always afford designers all the advertising, etc. Look at how many advertise on their own! If they were doing so much for them, that wouldn't be necessary. As for bandwidth, many store owners are asking for money from the designers for that. They also, many times, ask for storage fees to keep their products in the store. It's not all peaches and cream. Plus, some stores demand all sorts of freebies and collabs where the designer does not see any money that they generate. In addition, I've seen (yes seen, not hearsay)contracts where the designers are also asked to do admin work; which clearly should be the owners responsibility. Bottom line, with all these requirements to be in an "established" store - it's no wonder many would seek to start their own. Let's face it, it's pretty cheap to start your own store and I'm sure they figure they will reap the rewards of being their own boss and not having to be accountable to others; nor will they have to worry about fellow designers stealing their work.

As to my "ignorant" comment; it wasn't directed at anyone. Just a general statement that if someone doesn't buy from a small boutique based simply on the fact that they are not a "name brand" then they are ignorant of the fact that the quality there maybe much higher. Or not, of course it all depends!:)

Anonymous said...

Weren't SBB, DSS, and ES on the list of stores that have been hacked/infiltrated/whatever?
-------------------------------
Well that could be true, but it doesn't worry me. It seems the pirates were just getting the files on the ftp server - and surely those errors will be fixed pronto.

^^^
well, leaving your digital products wide open for the taking is pretty much the equivalent of opening a brick and mortar store with no windows or doors and just waltzing out at night and expecting anyone who passes by to be honest. It would be nice, but everyone knows it's not gonna happen. Dishonest, mean people are everywhere.

I'm not very interested in shopping at stores that are really careless about security. If they're careless about protecting their inventory, I doubt they're very interested in protecting my personal information either.

Anonymous said...

I'm not very interested in shopping at stores that are really careless about security. If they're careless about protecting their inventory, I doubt they're very interested in protecting my personal information either.
--------------
Exactly! If the pirates were able to get in, who else was getting in without their knowledge?

Anonymous said...

First of all, I doubt anyone looking to 'hack' a place for personal information is going to go running to a scrapbook store. They would be dumb to do so because they wouldn't gain anything from it. I am not concerned a bit about my personal info. Why? Well, the only information they can gain, if they did hack a digi scrap store for personal info, would be my name and email address. I don't use a real address or telephone number when I register anyway. And I don't care if someone gets my name and email address because anyone can get that information from a plethora of sources.

Plus, every store I've ever been to has a third party process payments (actually most online stores have third party process the payments, even places like GAP online, although you don't realize it's a third processor because the web pages all look the same. A friend works for GAP as a web designer and he has to set all that up and maintain it.)

So, with the third party processing the payments, none of my payment info like my credit card number (or yours or anyone elses for that matter) is stored anywhere on the digi stores server or anywhere else on that store's website. Actually, a bigger concern is using your credit card when you go out to eat. When your server takes your card to go swipe it, he or she can write down your name, credit card number, and go have fun spending online. Beware, it has actually happened to me.

So, what is the big deal? If a store gets hacked, it sucks for them, but it doesn't really do much to me at all (except maybe annoy me when I want to go shop there and it's down for maintenance! LOL!)

Anonymous said...

First of all, I doubt anyone looking to 'hack' a place for personal information is going to go running to a scrapbook store. They would be dumb to do so because they wouldn't gain anything from it. I am not concerned a bit about my personal info. Why? Well, the only information they can gain, if they did hack a digi scrap store for personal info, would be my name and email address. I don't use a real address or telephone number when I register anyway. And I don't care if someone gets my name and email address because anyone can get that information from a plethora of sources
------------------
Well there are people that have put in their real names, addresses and phone numbers and this is a real concern.

Just wait until some pervert discovers that he can get all kinds of information about cute little children from the digiscrapping community. Think about it. There are lots of scrappers posting hundreds of adorable photos of their children online and using real names and addresses. THAT is scary!

Anonymous said...

And I don't care if someone gets my name and email address because anyone can get that information from a plethora of sources
------------
...continuing from the previous post because I forgot to add. They may be able to get your name and email from a number of sources, but the digiscrapping community is the only place they can also see hundreds of photos of your family and children. At least that's true if you post to the galleries.

Anonymous said...

So, with the third party processing the payments, none of my payment info like my credit card number (or yours or anyone elses for that matter) is stored anywhere on the digi stores server or anywhere else on that store's website. Actually, a bigger concern is using your credit card when you go out to eat. When your server takes your card to go swipe it, he or she can write down your name, credit card number, and go have fun spending online. Beware, it has actually happened to me.
-----------------------

Someone with a brain! It's a known fact that most credit card fraud happens when you use your physical card in a physical business. Do you shred your bank statements when you don't need them anymore? Do you shred your credit card receipts? If not, you are a target for credit card fraud.

Anonymous said...

What about Joedee? She said her site got hacked and that's how the money was stolen from her paypal? Is she making that up or was it real? If it was real I think we all should have a reason for concern.

Anonymous said...

So, you really believe Joedee?

Anonymous said...

Well, designerdigitals may have some nice stuff, but I hate the way I get treated by Katie and Randy. And the fact that it's so hard to use paypal. Totally over it, won't shop there at all now. Plus many of the things I like appear to be 'very similar' to products other designers have already released...

Anonymous said...

While I may start following a designer at a bigger store (eg Tracy Ann at SBB) I will definitely make a point to follow them wherever they go if they're worth my time. Doesn't matter if it's to another store or to their own store, I'll make the effort.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
So, you really believe Joedee?

February 23, 2008 7:02 PM
------------
No, I don't but everyone else apparently does.

Anonymous said...

Ironically the big stores were the ones who had most of the things pirated, and are also the ones who have been accused of skimming the paypal and making late payments to their designers....

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't call CRD, TLP, FPD, LDD big stores and they were all hacked. Not all the files were got though being hacked, some were just being shared after being purchased. The big stores with more than 10 designers were not hacked. That is just crap.

Anonymous said...

yes, there are plenty of people who can see right through the games that some SSD peeps are playing.

DETAILS PLEASE, enlighten me......

Anonymous said...

Yes, IMO Joedee's story is a an outright lie and attempt to cover up the truth. Also IMO someone close to Joedee gained access to her paypal account - not a stranger or hacker. Again, this is only my opinion as an distant onlooker - but it is an opinion backed by years in the financial community. Numbers just don't lie - and digital theft leaves a very clear trail.

Paypal is an extremely secure site. All purchases made through online stores using paypal to process payments are secure. The store owners, the designers - no one sees your personal financial information - no cc numbers, no passwords, no bank account numbers are ever revealed outside of Paypal.

Further, no funds are stored within a shopping cart system. They are stored in the store owner's paypal account. Accessible only to them and those who they allow access.

So, all of this worry about the safety of shopping with digi stores running paypal is bunk.

If you are still concerned, you should go to the paypal site and read up on the security and security policies.

Anonymous said...

So, you really believe Joedee?
-----------------------
I don't think anyone does, so it surprises me that she is still around. Oh wait...aparently she is only around in the DCR...there havent been any current posts from her cuz.....oh my gosh she has computer problems!

Anonymous said...

of course digital theft leads a trail. the only problem with that is when the trail leads to a proxy and the proxy leads to a foreign country there is nothing paypal can do about it. call them and they will tell you the same. you can choose to believe whatever you want. the fact remains that she has proof she didn't do it and someone came to dst and told everyone exactly how it was done. i doubt some security analyst is going to risk his job and family to cover up an inside job. not to mention who else would have jodees password to paypal anyway? i chose to believe her after i asked for proof and she gave it to me. you just refuse to believe it because you obviously have personal issues with her.

Anonymous said...

Well, all I know is that I am through with digital. Everyone is lying one way or another. Digital stores are not safe. My information is not safe. After the recent developments I don't know who's worse; the pirates or the designers?
I will quit buying digital products until they show up on a CD in my Walmart's craft section. Then I am going to pay cash for them. This will be the only way I can protect myself from pirates, identity thiefs or vicious designers turned witch hunters.

Anonymous said...

Well, all I know is that I am through with digital. Everyone is lying one way or another. Digital stores are not safe. My information is not safe. After the recent developments I don't know who's worse; the pirates or the designers?
I will quit buying digital products until they show up on a CD in my Walmart's craft section. Then I am going to pay cash for them. This will be the only way I can protect myself from pirates, identity thiefs or vicious designers turned witch hunters.

DID YOU NOT READ ANYTHING ABOVE BEFORE POSTING THIS IGNORANCE? LOL!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I can read and I did read. I am reading that nobody can be trusted and nobody is saying the truth. I am not ignorant, I am fed up.

Anonymous said...

DID YOU NOT READ ANYTHING ABOVE BEFORE POSTING THIS IGNORANCE? LOL!
---
it's pretty ignorant of YOU to think that people are going to believe any.thing that anyone in the digital community says/posts at this point.

I can understand where that scrapper was coming from. Far more than the actual threat of personal or even paypal information being vulnerable, it's the unscrupulous behavior of everyone in digital that's driving people away. Many, many designers, store, and forum owners have started acting just as underhanded and/or nasty as the pirates and thieves. It's not surprising at all that many have had enough.

Anonymous said...

the unscrupulous behavior of everyone in digital that's driving people away.
______________________

Everyone? Well, that includes you, doesn't it? Everyone is very harsh. There are lot of honest designers, scrappers and store owners out there.

Saying everyone because of a few is like saying all Americans are idiots because of Bush and his administration. I don't want to be considered an idiot, do you?