You know what? Crucify me, but it's true

Yep - I agree.

--
Kandice Seeber
www.lampwork.net


Kandice, it's being discussed publicly because it is a public issue. If
you
open a store or start a company and you can't meet your obligations, there
are retail and corporate authorities which creditors can report to in
Australia, governed by the Trade Practices Act. I imagine there is
similar
legislation in the United States. Accepting payment for goods and failing
to
supply the goods is fraudulent. Accepting goods for repair and failing to
return the goods is a form of theft . If I were to accept a piece of
jewellery for repair and subsequently lose it or it's stolen from my
studio,
then I would either have to pay for the item out of my own pocket or make
a
claim on my business insurance. Peter Rowe has a very good piece about
insurance currently posted on rec.crafts. jewellery. I suggest that
everyone
who has a small studio/ business reads it.
Marisa AU/NZ


This is such a hard thread to respond to. I think Kalera summed it up
really well.
I'm disillusioned because most of the people here and also on other
forums
chose to stick by Starlia, even after she disappeared and came back to
start
fresh, including me, so her recent attitude has felt almost like a slap
in
the face. There is a fine line between being inspired by and outright
copying for profit, and I have seen Starlia cross this line more
frequently
of late. She's insinuated she doesn't care that she's been copying so
blatantly. I haven't said much because I'm still pretty shocked by it.

It's also hard to read about people who she hasn't made reparations to
for
past business dealings gone awry. It kind of makes me feel like I was
idiotic for sticking by her and trying to defend her in the past. I
personally have now heard of at least half a dozen people who have been
trying to contact Starlia for different reasons relating to money or
merchandise. The dishonesty about many things has caused me to rethink
allying (sp?) myself with her.

I'm really surprised we haven't seen Starlia around here the last few
days,
since there are a couple of threads here about her now. She's been on
the
other forums - I do think it would be a good idea for her to come back
here
and clear the air - come clean about what's up.

People may be asking why we are discussing this publicly - well, normally
I
wouldn't get behind this kind of individual finger pointing. However,
there
comes a point when the bead community needs a little heads up so that
they
too don't fall into the trap of trusting someone who seems like she may
no
longer deserve that trust.

--
Kandice Seeber
www.lampwork.net


I wasn't going to say anything about the copying... I've mentioned it in
passing, elsewhere, where it was topically relevant and without
mentioning
any names or specifics. But it's been brought up here and while I've
already said about everything I have to say on the matter, I do want to
add
that I am heartbreakingly disillusioned with Starlia. Not just because
of
the copying; although it's tacky and hurts my feelings because she's
someone I know, it's not a major issue for me.

It's the business practices, and general honesty. There's just one
thing
after another, and I don't think she, like many people, is aware of how
interwoven the bead community is. I know people she failed to come
through
for when she vanished a few months ago, reputable people who paid her
for
their auction wins which they never received, and they say that she
still
ignores their attempts to get in contact with her. Between that and the
problems people on this group have had in their direct dealings with
her,
and the ongoing issues with copying, I am sad and disheartened.

Starlia, if you read this, I hope you will get help, and will do what
you
need to do to make right your dealings with others.

Dr. Sooz wrote:
Then there are the business practices.

There are two people on RCB I know of who have had to come after you,
Starlia -- posting in public because you refused to answer their
emails
and had not made good on something they ordered from you. You are
also
growing in notoriety because of doing this sort of thing to other
people who don't share this newsgroup.

You can't run and hide -- for instance, changing your user name on
eBay
every once in a blue moon to clean up the problems. Or disappearing.
Or changing crafts completely and starting over. Karma doesn't need
your address, or your feedback rating -- it keeps its own score.

Isn't it so much easier to just keep your business practices clean?


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com