Random Thoughts for Friday, July 29

Posted on Friday, at bought • 239 views

This has been a hectic week! I configured the new computer, spent time chasing down a lost package, and today is my final day of my current contract. Lucky me I have been saving for this eventuality, so I've got money in the bank. And I've got a network that I'm keeping in touch with, and there's a chance that within a year I may be back at this company that I like working for very very much, so all's…well, -=significantly=- less rocky than it could be. Let's just say I'm not overly worried right now and leave it at that.)

I'm really looking forward to my trip to Atlanta!! I'm going to meet up with Sirvinya and Numindan, and we're going to spend a week at Dragon*Con. And of course there will be a day of shopping for beauty stuff!!

Random Thoughts for Friday, July 29

Maybe you've noticed how I say, for certain items, that I'll buy them again…but only through e-tailers because the containers aren't sealed? Okay - so here's another horror story of sorts. I went to a nearby drugstore and was eyeballing their L'Oreal Infallible colors because I wanted to get a few more. And the salesperson comes up to me and mentions how I want cool colors, not warm. Then she pulls a tube down off the display, takes off the cap, and swatches it on the back of her hand. Then, when I said “I'll think about it, thanks…” she puts the cap back on and puts the tube right back up on the display. WHAT?!??!?? You've just swatched that on your skin (not the mouth, but still…) and you put it back up on the display as if someone else is going to buy that tube? Ugh. Gah. No.

Some time in the last month, Morgana Cryptoria launched a new product, lip balms. I'm really loving these!! They apply smoothly, they've got a wide range of colors, they range from ‘quite pigmented' to ‘sheer', they're $5 each (as opposed to $12, which - for some folks - is a bit steep for a lipstick that they can't see in person before buying.) Amazing!! I like these better than her lipsticks. I currently have…er…a classified amount. Let's just say that it's “over ten” and leave it at that, shall we? (Reviews coming RSN. You know me…)

It's difficult sometimes when your experience with a product that everyone else really loves…isn't a good one. It's probably even harder when that product is something like nail polish - because most folks seem to think, it's your *nails*, it isn't your skin, there shouldn't be any problems! Er…no, folks. Nails are techincally non-living tissue, but that doesn't mean that there's no chemical reaction when you put a chemical (or series of chemicals) on your nails. Just like each person's hair reacts differently to this or that chemical combination, nails are the same way. What causes mine to split, peel, or just look gross won't bother most folks at all. If you have tried using Zoya (whose products I love, but whose business practices kind of irritate me a wee bit) and your nails split, or flake, or are softer…don't be afraid to either call customer service and ask what might have happened (so that you might know what chemicals to avoid in the future.) Even if a given product's chemicals don't react badly with a whole lot of people, don't let a company (or even other consumers) convince you that “it's all in your head.” While you may not be entitled to a refund, you're certainly not supposed to act like the problem isn't there.

And while I'm speaking about Zoya, I'd like to address one of their less endearing business practices. They have recently started sending out promo emails to everyone who has an account on their site - announcing contests, new products, what have you. They have an “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the emails. But…that “unsubscribe” link doesn't actually work. And there's no place in your account profile to opt out of those emails. To get off of Zoya's list, you have to call customer service. And then, as if that wasn't fun enough, every time you place a new order with them…THEY PUT YOUR EMAIL BACK ON THE DAMN LIST!!! (Filtering rules are a bit tricky, too, since these emails come from the same emails as the order confirmations.) Legally (at least in the US, and I think in Europe as well), a company has to give you a way to remove yourself from any mailing lists. And it actually has to work. I've also forgotten if opt-in is the legal SOP in the US (it wasn't in 2001, but lots of people were asking for that to be the case); but regardless it's considered good customer relations to have people sign themselves up for email lists rather than simply putting them on a list because they've bought something. I do love Zoya's nail polish, but I don't love the constant barrage of emails. I'm already following their FB page, and I've got them on a list on Twitter. I see their announcements a gracious plenty. I don't need more promo messages in my inbox.

And now, touching on rampant greed. (See? This is how my brain works. There are all kinds of twists and turns in here.) Zoya has lots and lots of really great promos: the Earth Day Polish Exchange, sporadic “freebies” of two or three specific polishes, buy-X-get-Y specials (“buy the Color Lock system, get either the Sunshine or Summertime collection for free”), you name it. Recently Zoya hit 50K fans on their Facebook page, and their giveaway was a free bottle of Remove+ nail polish remover with any purchase. Some folks got upset. They had enough Remove, they wanted to get the fall collections free, this was a puny prize for such a milestone, you name it. PEOPLE!! Companies do not have to do giveaways. Yes, they serve a purpose (generate buzz, get more of their product into circulation, build customer goodwill) and while they're excellent marketing tools, they're not required. If you don't like a particular giveaway or contest, try to think before you slag off said company on your blog. Have you liked other giveaways they've had? Are their products good enough that you'd pay for them anyway, even if the contests didn't exist? Then, before you post something that can be rendered as “U LAME WHY U NO GIVE AWAY WHAT I WANT”...stop. Just stop. Don't do it.

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