Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Stampin' Up! Punch Caddies Not Available

Stampin' Up! just notified us that, due to quality issues, the Punch Caddies on page 200 will not be for sale.  Here's a Q&A that Stampin' Up! put together regarding the issue:

"We, like you, are disappointed that we cannot offer the Punch Caddies for sale. But because of our ongoing commitment to providing you with the highest quality products, we simply cannot allow this product to go live. If you have additional questions about this matter, we’ve prepared a brief Q&A for your use.

Q: What were the quality issues with the Punch Caddy?
A: Through usability testing we discovered problems with the functionality of the Punch Caddy, as well as issues with materials and aesthetics that did not meet our standards.

Q: Will you offer a Punch Caddy in the future?
A: We have no immediate plans to manufacture the Punch Caddy as it is currently designed. We will possibly look into an equivalent product in the future, but we do not have any firm plans to do so at this time.

Q: Why don’t we get a different vendor to produce the Punch Caddy?
A: The problems with the punch caddy are in the design, molds and materials. Even if we selected another vendor, it would not be possible for them to manufacture a product that would meet our quality standards.

Q: How do you suggest I explain to my customers that the Punch Caddy will not be available?
A: The issue is straightforward. Tell them that we discovered serious quality issues with the product that could not be resolved. Rather than deliver a defective product to demonstrators and customers, we chose to halt production.

Q: Why are items that are not yet for sale included in the Idea Book & Catalog?
A: The timelines of the Idea Book & Catalog and product development sometimes overlap, and some products are still in development when the catalog goes to press. At the time of printing, we have assurances from our vendors that the products will be ready at or shortly after catalog launch. As the Idea Book & Catalog is the Stampin’ Up! storefront, including them in the catalog provides them with the broadest exposure—much more than they would receive if we were to launch those products independent of the Idea Book & Catalog. Unfortunately, in the case of the Punch Caddy, difficulties arose that will prevent it from being offered at all. Future print runs of the 2010–2011 Idea Book & Catalog will not feature the Punch Caddy at all.

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