Creative memories session not what I expected-long

Jan '05

Post that bra-strap layout! LOL I'd love to see it!! roflmao

Jan '05

It is not done, I am just saving it for "later" use! LOL All started with the panty thread! Where is the panty thread, anyway??? Hmmmm....

Jan '05

HMMM Must run in the CM family. I have a friend who has done SB from them and her rep in the next town from me is really rude. She is willing to set up a scrap at her work (insurance Office) and invite her friends in for me. They all use Cm and they are ready to try something else. Which I just joined TLC as a consultant and so I guess that will be my first party!!!!

Jan '05

I also have a friend who is a CM demastartor and she knows that I am not a fan at all and is wonderful about it. I have very few things that are CM and those few that I do have I have to admit I love and use alot. I do have a problem with the crops though I have found that I can never really get anything done at them because I never can find anything that I need and the talking is a distraction for me. I work better in my own work space here at home, and with the price that I would have to pay to go and for a sitter I can go out and pay more stuff, can never have too much sb stuff LOL
I would cancel if you aren't comfortable with the person.

Jan '05

I must be really furtunate. I have never had a bad experience with my CMC or any other croppers at a CM crop. Everyone has been really nice. I crop on a regular basis at my CMC's house and she also does huge weekend long crops that up to 100+ people attend. Although they are sponsored by CMC's these huge crops have a wide range of styles. Everywhere from the simpliest of CM pages to very elaborate highly embellished pages. I have NEVER had anyone make any negative about anyone else's cropping style. I have never cropped at a LSS because in my area there aren't any. I have Michaels and AC Moore only.

I totally agree with the poster above and if I have said once I have said it 100 times on this board that EVERYONE has their OWN STYLE and as long as their style makes them happy than wonderful. But when someone says that CM scrappers are beginner scrappers, I do take offense to that. I chose to do the CM way because I like the look, not because I am not creative, don't know better, or just want to slap pictures on a page just to finish an album. I crop that way because personally I LIKE the simplicity.

Jan '05

I like Cm and have always had good experiences with them and my consultant. I think it just depends on the consultant a lot. And if a consultant has a bad attitude toward different styles, tehn some of the people she shows scrapbooking to will develop that attitude too. I advise to try to find a different CM consultant. Some of their stuff is very nice!
Annie

Jan '05

I personally shop based on customer service, whether it is direct sales or in a store. There are several places I can spend my hard-earned money, so I want to be served and treated well. As a part-time direct sales consultant (Longaberger...yeah THOSE expensive baskets! I love them. I swear there's something in the stain! lol), I would never push, degrade, or treat anyone rudely because someone chooses to buy a less expensive basket from somewhere. As far as CM is concerned, as a beginning scrapbooker (since the fall), I like some of their products, but I'm already on my second consultant, because of poor customer service. I certainly don't have a lot of experience to make any kind of comments on somebody's layout, but, I think, the idea of scrapbooking is to do what you like and to record your personal stories and histories. JMHO

Jan '05

I started with CM and I buy 95% of my stuff from them. The CM consultant I have is super! I email her what I need and she practically drops what she's doing and runs stuff over to me.
I like their style. I could do more embelishments, but that's just not my style. To each his own.

Jan '05

You just got a very rude group of people. Consultant included. And that is a shame because with her making money off this product you would think she would want to be as nice and as helpful as possible. Now I have only been to one creative memories party but I had a wonderful experience. The consultant brought out anything you wanted to try to use and showed you how to use it if you needed help. And she didn't distinguish between new scrappers and experienced ones at all. And as far as you having a party with that consultant, I wouldn't do it. She would make others at your party feel the way you felt. And she doesn't deserve your money.

Dec '04

Me and my sis went to a creative memories crop I guess you would call it on Sat, from 9-3, and I am still a little frazzeled by this. First I thought they would actually show you things and that wasent the case. They had all of thier products there some for you to use LOTS for you to BUY but I have never used any of thier products before. Their was only 6 other people thier, ALL of which had like every creative memories product known to man, and we were the only ones who did not. When I asked one of the reps to show me a couple of things, she would but was very unhappy about it. And everytime I asked her a questions she would just look at me like "I cant believe you dont know this". Me and my sis have only been doing this for a few months and still "learning" all the fun things out there to play with.

We ended up secluding ourselfs to one table and barely talking to anyone else, everyone else was alot "older" than us (we are 22 and 23), and no one made us feel welcomed. And I know it was supposed to be fun but they had bingo games going where if you used a tool/product on you lo you go a ticket for a drawing for the door prize. I was so worried about doing this and getting mine filled, I hardly got any work done the first couple of hours. Finally I just quite doing that, when everyone else filled thier entire sheet up. And the reps kept coming over to see if we had them filled up, and hovering over my shoulders (which I hate).

Then they had a snowman (scrappy) doll that when you finished a page, you get him and if the timer goes off (every 20 mins) and you have him you get a prize. And that was just frustrating because I would get him and RIGHT before the timer would go off I would loose him, one lady was their basically just glueing pics down and adding journaling and a couple simple things and was done, so every time I turned around she would have the doll she won at least 10 times. And the one time , I JUST finished a page, was walking over to get him, the rep stopped us to tell us something and the timer went off, and she said "oh Im so embarrased that I keep getting him" and when I told her what I was doing she shrugged and said "well you didnt have him, so I guess I still get the prize"! How rude!!

Sorry this is so long, I just needed to vent, everyone on this board has been so open and friendly I was just completely taken aback to go somewhere for the 1st time and be treated like this. And EVERYONE else was buying thier products (stickers or paper) that they needed and I had everything I needed (I looked at thier stuff and didnt see anything that I needed) and at the end the rep came over and said did you get anything? And both me and my sis did not, and she looked mad! I said, I'm sorry I have 3 kids, its Christmas and I have a very limited budget!

I did end up scheduleing a CLASS with her (2hrs), and I made sure it was just a class where they would be HAPPY to SHOW you things. Now I just want to cancle it.

Has anyone had any of these things happen to them? Or really enjoy thier products and think I should go through with the class, they did have a couple things I wanted (titletopia, multipurpose tool) and I would like to get it after the holidays.

Thanks for letting me vent!!!

I'm sorry it was such an unpleasant experience for you! Next time maybe you should try cropping at your LSS-- I've had really good experiences w/ that!

If she was rude to you then you should cancel it. She is making money selling that stuff so I cant understand why she wasnt more helpful. Being rude is no way to do business and by supporting her business you are telling her it is ok to be rude to you.

Personally I dont like their stickers and paper - I dont use them at all. They have some great tools, and I only use their albums. I have a friend who sells it and I get it at cost, otherwise I would probably seek out other options more often. It is totally a personal preference and money being tight or not you should never feel pressured to buy stuff.

Ive been to many creative memories crops, and one of my best friends is a CM consultant. Did a consultant invite you to the crop? I've always seen the consultant that invited a customer "taking care" of them. Classes are definitely a better place to learn about the products....some are great...some I have no use for. It's been my experience that the crops are more for hanging out and getting work done, with the occassional game thrown in there.

I think you would probably be able to buy tools w/o going to a class, KWIM?

There is no excuse for rudeness. Like hankymama said do not reward her behavior and like Erin said, try finding classes at your LSS. Mine has a calendar online each month so we can see what is being offered.

Sorry you had this experience:/

A friend of ours was invited to the crop by the consultant, and told her to bring friends she told her about us and said that we defintely should come! The friend had to cancel at the last minute due to a death in the family, but still I felt as though because we did not have any of thier products and others did we werent welcomed!

That is such a shame. Everyone can learn from others and I don't feel it is dependant on your having their products. A sticker is a sticker you know?

I would cancel the class...I stopped going to my CM crops, etc. because I have my own room for scrapbooking and don't need to pack everything up to go! Last time I went, my friend and I were so annoyed with the woman next to us AND HER CHILDREN that she brought to the crop that we decided to not attend any more. My CM consultant has a website and I can order what few tools and albums I use from her over the internet and then she sends them to me or I pick them up.

But when it comes right down to it, there is no reason you should of been treated so rudely or that the CM consulant was not helpful or welcoming!! And you should be able to find another CM consultant in your area that you could order things from!

I started out using CM products, and met a lady in our area
who is a CM rep. We were going to crops 1 Friday every month.
We had all their products and used them but as soon as we
started bringing in non CM things to use,(cs, stamps, cutters,
adhesives, etc.) we were not welcome there anymore. The people
there were very snobby. She lost alot of business by not
inviting us there anymore so it was her loss not ours. It
was actually good for us because after leaving there, we
learned there is an whole new way to scrapbook without
using stickers, diecuts, triangles, and borders on every
lo. If I were you, I would cancel the class. Why give
her your business. She is not deserving of it. Go online
and find another consultant in your area or go to your
LSS. Good luck

Is it just me, or have we heard more than just a few complaints about CM? I feel bad because I know the women who are consultants (and men if there are any:) ) are trying to earn a living and all, but isn't there a class provided that teaches common sales techniques? Which would involve not making a potential customer feel like c*r*a*p?

I do not want to offend those that are consultants and/or use their products, but making people feel bad where creativity and individuality is concerned is just wrong.

You know, honestly, that sounds like scrapbooking in hell to me - lol! I should say I'm NOT a fan of Creative Memories, I think their mission of simply getting photos into a book with hardly any "creative" effort is fine for some but not for everyone and they tend to shove their method down people's throats. I know, I know, not EVERY consultant is like that, etc etc. But that sounds like a truly unpleasant experience, especially for someone who's still learning the ropes, and you certainly shouldn't give her any more of your money. I agree with taking some classes or going to a crop at your local scrapbook store, they are likely to be much more helpful and you can explore all the ways to scrapbook your photos until you start to find some techniques and products that you're comfortable using. Good luck!

Some CM consultants feel that CM products are the only "safe" scrapbooking products to use and look down their noses at everything else.

Fortunately, I have a great CM rep that couldn't care less what other products you use. I use 95% non-CM stuff. She just sells because she likes it and to get her product at cost.

I'm with everyone else - cancel that class with her. What a bag!

I had a very similar experience to that.

I was new in town and someone my dh works with said I could come to their crop. i had no idea it was Creative Memories and I do not use their products. I didn't fill out my bingo card or even try to get the stuffed animal like you!! I sat at my own table, ALONE and scrapped my own style. Women would walk by my table and look at my work like it was strange. No one was friendly and everyone else knew eachother. It was an overnight crop so I was glad I only signed up to stay that one day. I have NEVER been back to CM and won't go again.
]I, too, would suggest checking out classes at a local store - it might be more up you alley!

I say do what you like in terms of technique, but I also agree that there is no excuse for bad behaviour. I would cancel your crop with that hostess, and I would certainly tell her why. I would do it in a cordial manner, explaining that she made me feel unwanted and was not helpful, and that I thought she would want to know this, (being that she is in business to make $ and has to be friendlier to do that, not ugly). When I have to tell someone that I am not happy with their performance as a business person, I usually tell them why I am telling them - "I knew you would want to know that Joe from your company was very rude to me....". Then go somewhere else, especially if she doesn't "fix" it in some way.

I'm also very lucky that I have a cool CM rep - even though I don't scrap CM - I just love going to crops and workshops to scrap with other people! She doesn't push me or give me a hard time about thwacking and fibering and inking and chalking...

If this woman was rude to you in any way - do NOT have the class!

I guess I just don't get why so many cm-style people are so defensive of their style. Why can't they just accept that there are different styles to sb-ing just like there are different styles to dressing, decorating your house, raising your kids, etc? I KNOW not all of them are like this, but it does seem to be a trend.

Debman and I went to a crop at our LSS on Friday night and we sat next to these ladies who are very "simple scrappers"-- mostly just getting stuff on the page although they weren't true CM b/c they did wallpaper their layouts and put a few things in (like award ribbons) that weren't af/lf. But they kept making comments to each other like "I just don't think it's necessary to do all that fancy stuff. I just want to get my pages done" (this as I'm busy inking my pages and stapling ribbon down)-- I just felt like we were back in grade school! And I would like to point out that I wasn't doing anything particularly fancy-- just more embellished or whatever than their pages. I would ALSO like to point out that I got 10 pages done-- at least as many as they did!

I don't know, I would never say something negative about someone else's layout, or make snide comments like that, I respect that not everyone scraps like me, why can't they return the favor???

Okay, sorry, I know you probably didn't exactly want my personal vent on your thread!!!

I think everyone's right. Don't give business or time to someone who was rude to you. There are too many nice people to waste your time with the rude ones.

Erin - Uh, I think that was me! I thought you looked familiar!

just kidding. I havent been there yet but I really want to soon!!

Funny.. I had the complete opposite experience at my last CM crop. I brought most of my contraband (non-CM)scrapbooking stuff. I didn't flaunt it, but if someone asked I was happy to share. I had the BEST time and am planning to go to the next.

I think you should give another consultant a chance. I think the consulant attracks similar type people and if she was grumpy, the clients probably are too.

The idea of going to a crop at your LSS is good. I have always had good luck with them (until Ivan blew them away

) The lady that owned the store would host a class for $10 and it would be limited to 3 people. She did not require that you buy anything and would even provide drinks! I sure miss them

maybe that group of consultants just weren't friendly people. but i would cancel the class if i were you. i think you'd be better off going to your LSS (if you have one) and attend a class they're holding. otherwise... who needs a class? just look at the tips section here and you should find what you're asking for. or just ask. besides... this is free

It so depends on the consultant. I think the less experienced ones are more likely to be spouting CM doctrine without being open to other techniques. The company really should be doing a better job of training them.

Call it off!!
I use to like there items but feel that sometimes I can do better without them BUT that is just my personal people I have used some are very nice so if she was rude why bother because you know at your party she might be fake and that is just as bad

Sorry you had such a bad experience. I'd cancel the class and try to find another consultant in your area if you wanted to buy something. Customer service is customer service - whether it is at a store or in a direct to customer type of business.

I've been to one crop w/a girlfriend. We were the only ones not doing the CM "style" of scrapping. A few ladies gave us a strange look when we were hammering eyelets, but we rec'd many compliments about our LOs. We didn't know the crop hostess, just the consultant. Even so, the hostess introduced herself and thanked us for coming. We felt very welcome & they didn't have as many 'games' as your crop did.

I'm really sorry you had a such a bad experience. I am a CMC but NOT a nazi about it. I think they have great tools and albums, but I am also a Bazzil freak and use it like crazy. I also use Fibers and eyelets and encourage my customers to branch out and try all kinds of products - there are LOTS of great products out there - and there's room for everyone!

I also pay special attention to new people at crops - how else are they expected to learn? I even go with friends/customers to my LSS and give them suggestions and pointers of other great products....When I sponsor crops - its more for just getting together and sharing ideas and tools with each other! Girlfriend and scrap time all rolled into one - that's TRUE multitasking!

I love CM, but they need to know they aren't the only great product out there.

If you don't like the consultant - cancel the class and don't worry about it. and if you are comfortable, tell her how you were made to feel at the crop..she should know so it can be avoided in the future!

Yick ... I agree, try and find a LSS class.

I recently went to 2 CM parties ... I didn't start out scrapping with them, so it's a little strange ... a little like going back to grade school. I was lucky though, both the ladies were really nice and didn't mind talking about other products or stuff. I did feel like cringing when I saw her sister (who had been scrapping for awhile, not a newbie) just sticking two triangles down as embellishments and that was it! Oh well, they did have alot more LO's done than me

... suppose that's the upside of it.

Wow, its seems like others have had the same experiences I have! I think I am going to cancel the class. I had gone to a stampin up party (thats how I got into scrapbooking) that my sis was hosting and the lady was great! I had lots of fun and thier was no pressure to buy anything. There were a couple things for CM that I would like and I am going to try to find another consultant in my area, and maybe talk to that person about setting up a class. But I have also thought about just getting a group of us together and holding our OWN scrapbook day. Were you can get together scrap and share! Me and my sis try to get together once a week and we share everything! And give each other opinions and such. I think this would be alot more fun. So hey if anyone is around my area, come with us!!!lol...

You ladies are great! Thanks for all the input on this and for sharing your stories!(scrappyval,did not mind your vent at all!!)

it had been threatening to come out all weekend! I just couldn't hold it in any longer!

Before I got "artsy" with my pages, I was a CM consultant. (Like a few of their tools but not their style anymore) Like every type of profession there are bad and good salespeople. Sounds like yours was HORRIBLE! I really hope you cancelled your class. Do not give your $ and time to someone so rood.

Aw........You can come to my house for my next crop!! I promise I won't hover, or make you jump through hoops, play stupid games, or ask you to buy anything (I don't sell anything! lol)!!

Only requirement: bring a snack, and yourself! (a bottle of wine doesn't hurt, either!) Me and my sb friends basically quit going to things like that. We have WAY more fun at our own crops!! If someone has learned a new technique, they share with everyone else--Or if someone has "extras", they bring it to put in the "extras" basket for all to share.

You and your sis might try just getting together some more friends and having your own sb parties!! (no sb friends handy?--do what I did: convert some of your non-sb'ing friends!!) It's tons of fun!!

And hey, you can always do what one of my friends did: she signed up to be a cm consultant JUST to get good deals for herself and US!! lol

Our motto: Art has no rules!!

Timewrinkler that would be great!! But unfortunately I think you live to far!! I think I am going to do our own crop!!! Bottle of wine sounds like a good idea!!!

I would cancel. How she treated you is how she will treat your guests.

wow, great precautions to know about in case I'm ever invited to a CM class!

I just have to say CM is what turned me so off to the whole scrapbooking phenomenon. I am a photographic artist and have been showing my work for a long time. I saw the CM stuff and was pretty much horrified by it. It just seemed so gradeschool -- somewhere recently I was looking for something, and came across some Making Memories embellishments, next thing I knew I couldn't stop looking for stuff, now I'm in love with 7gypsies look, and am hoping to do something fabulous with some of their products and my own handpainted photographs...I also pressed a lot of flowers while I was in France. I'd pick'em, and them clip them up in my room and store them in my travel guide. Now to find the time...

I can tell you the reason that "CM style" scrappers get so defensive are the comments made by scrappyval and cattieness. The Cm sytle is constantly looked down upon as "beginner" "grade school" and so on. I have been cropping for about 3 years. I started by going to a cm party. I was hooked immediately. I am still scrapping using CM products (95% and 5% other stuff) and I LIKE the simpliciety of the pages. I can't stand anything bumpy or lumpy on my pages. I certainly don't consider myself a beginner. If I wanted to add a million embellishments to my pages I certainly could, I consider myself a very creative person. But it is my PERSONAL STYLE to keep MY pages on the simplier side.

Like some else said, not everyone has the same taste. I would never ever say anything negative about someone's layout that was covered with embellishments, so many that you barely noticed a picture was on the page. To each his own.

As for the consultant that you had at the crop, she just sounded plain rude. I wouldn't feel obligated to keep your scheduled class if she isn't nice. I have an absolutely awesome CMC. She doesn't mind "contraband" as long as you don't keep telling everyone to go to AC Moore or Michaels to buy things that she sells. She is exrtemely helpful with use of tools and layouts.

So if you like CM shop around for another consultant. The one I have now is my second. The first didn't work out.

Good luck!

My consultant is cool about my not scrapping CM. I tell the other folks at her crops that Margo tolerates me as a bad example. I buy from her and that is what she is in business for.

I just found this thread and was reading through it. I'm so sorry that you had such a nasty experience with that consultant!! I would definitely cancel the class!!!! Why should you give her business and recommendations when you were treated so horribly!!

If you would like to purchase CM products, feel free to drop me a pm. There's lots and lots of consultants that are excellent out there!!

Quote:

kelly66 said:
I can tell you the reason that "CM style" scrappers get so defensive are the comments made by scrappyval and cattieness. The Cm sytle is constantly looked down upon as "beginner" "grade school" and so on.

I don't think that people were trying to "put down" anybody... I have been to several CM things and it is ALWAYS the CM people that look down on ME!!! They always make snide comments like "THAT is NOT Safe!" and sighing when they see my books and stuff.

And, those comments are what I think was referred to as "first grade" not the actual scrapping style.

I think everybody has their own style and I would NEVER say to somebody "Humphf! Could you be more simple???" although I HAVE had a CM person say "Humphf! Could it be more busy??? I don't think it could!" and walk off.

First, it is rude to down other people's style. Second, everybody is different. If I want to use a bra strap in my LO, so be it! And if you want to use a bag of stickers, so be it. Can't we all just agree to let everybody be their self???