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Old 22nd May 2017, 6:05 pm   #1
David G4EBT
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Default Water-Slide Transfers - A cautionary tale

For several years now I've used the Leicester based firm 'Crafty Computer Paper' for both transparent and white ink-jet waterslide transfer paper, and for 'micro-porous film' to print PCB artwork for UV masks (Excellent). Never had a problem with the quality or service - bought ten sheets of clear in April which arrived fine. However, on 12 May I placed an order for ten white sheets (needed for set-makers' logos and the like to fit onto 'woodie' cabinets). Got an email to confirm the order but it only had my name, postcode and village as the delivery address - no street name.

Tried to phone them alert them to the omission - number changed, so I rang the new number - no response, so sent an e-mail right away to confirm that my full delivery address is as stated in my account with them. Didn't get a response - just an automated email a day later to say the paper had been despatched. Predictably, it hasn't arrived. My post-code only serves eight houses, so really, it ought not to be beyond the wit of the Post Office to work out which is mine, but be that as it may - we never seem to get the same postie from one day to the next.

I'm assuming that the parcel will be returned to the sender, now based in Bristol, so I assume that the firm in Leics has been sold. (No accounts have been filed for the 2016/17 financial year as far as I can see). Little information on the website and no tracking number for the parcel. Have so far sent three e-mails since 12 May with no response, and have rung several times at various times of the day, and likewise, had no response. I'll leave it till the end of the week and if I still draw a blank, I'll raise a dispute with paypal.

I don't raise this simply to have a whinge, but to alert other forum users who may have used Crafty Computer Paper in the past, so that they too don't risk coming unstuck. All rather a shame really - they were a great little outfit. It seems I'm not alone in my recent experience: https://www.yell.com/biz/crafty-comp...istol-6989103/

Maybe they're having teething problems and will sort themselves out - I do hope so. May just be a 'one man band' and is poorly or whatever?
I still need some paper so have looked for and found an alternative supplier via Amazon (one of several):

Five A4 Sheets of white for £4.49 post free (so two packs of five = £8.98 = 90p a sheet):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...oop_bw_c_x_6_w

Or a pack of ten for £11.95! ( = £1.19 a sheet. Huh??):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006DHDYT8?psc=1

This supplier and others also sell clear inkjet & laser water slide transfer paper.

I don't suppose many forum members dabble about with transfers, but for those that do, I thought I'd flash the amber light.

Not really for debate - just for information.
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Last edited by David G4EBT; 22nd May 2017 at 6:34 pm.
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Old 24th May 2017, 10:03 am   #2
Craig Sawyers
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Default Re: Water-Slide Transfers - A cautionary tale

Thanks for the heads up David and alternative sources.

I have some sheets I bought about a year ago to letter a large panel.

Craig

Last edited by Craig Sawyers; 24th May 2017 at 10:09 am.
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Old 24th May 2017, 12:37 pm   #3
G4XWDJim
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Default Re: Water-Slide Transfers - A cautionary tale

Thanks for the info David, I've used their paper with great success and still have a few sheets.

Fingers crossed that it's just a temporary issue.

Jim
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Old 2nd Jun 2017, 2:51 pm   #4
David G4EBT
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Default Re: Water-Slide Transfers - A cautionary tale

Just a little update on this:

I had no response to my e-mails, and have made several fruitless attempts to contact the firm by telephone. Using Google Earth Street view, the company (which seems to trades as Cardcraft and appears to have taken over Crafty Computer Paper) operates from a small lock-up unit on a trading estate, so perhaps isn't staffed all the time? Not my problem. Having got nowhere, I sent a recorded delivery letter to them on 24 May stating:

'Could you please now take action to resolve this issue - quite simply, you have my money - I do not have the goods. This complete lack of response to e-mails and inability to get through on the telephone does not accord with your stated aims on your website, which claim: “Our customer service is second to none. Call us with your questions and our friendly team will always be happy to help”. I would much prefer to give you the opportunity to resolve these difficulties but if you fail to do so within the next few days, my only recourse will be to report matters to the Paypal Resolution Centre. I will allow a further five working days for you to bring this issue to an early close, but unless I hear from you by Tuesday 30 May, I'll ask Paypal to taken this up on my behalf.

I sincerely hope that won't be necessary'.

The letter was signed for by them on 25 May. On 27 May I received an email - but no, it wasn't the response I'm hoped for - it was just 'spam' inviting me to take advantage of a 30% off offer, telling me that 'I must hurry - it's the early bird that catches the worm'. (Memo to self: Don't forget to unsubscribe!).

Waited till 30 May for a response as I said I would, but none was forthcoming so at 11.10am on 31 May I contacted Paypal Resolution Centre by phone to say I'd be happy for either the goods as ordered, or a refund. At 11.18am received an e-mail from Paypal saying they'd contacted the seller, then at 12.30pm that they'd escalated it to a claim. On 1st June I received another email from paypal saying a full refund had been made by the seller, and the money was in my account. So it was.

The bottom line is that it took me almost three weeks to get nowhere, but it only took Paypal 24 hours to secure a refund. All a bit sad really - the products are fine and before Crafty Computer Paper closed down in Leicester, the service was always first class, both on the phone and by e-mail. Don't really know what's going on with this outfit or why they squander customer goodwill and trust in this way. Trust is like virginity - when it's gone, it's gone.

The transfer paper from the alternative supplier arrived promptly and I've made a test sheet, which works fine, so I'll stick with them.
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Old 2nd Jun 2017, 5:16 pm   #5
Craig Sawyers
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Default Re: Water-Slide Transfers - A cautionary tale

I swapped to Fox Transfers and they have been very good. They supply to the model transport enthusiasts, so lots of the stuff is specialist for those applications. But they do a wide range of letter styles/font size in both white and black.

Oh - wait a second - the address is in Leicestershire! Isn't that interesting?

0116 319 4950
www.fox-transfers.co.uk

Craig
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Old 3rd Jun 2017, 5:30 pm   #6
David G4EBT
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Default Re: Water-Slide Transfers - A cautionary tale

Thanks for that info Craig.

I've been doing a trawl looking at alternative firms to 'Crafty' and have come across 'Homecraft' which has an interesting pedigree. People of a certain age - me for example, may recall that back in the 40s and 50s, a company known as 'Dryad' were very well known for supplying craft materials and we often used their products in school. Dryad morphed into Homecraft in 1994.

There's a video of the firm's history to the present day at this link - quite a substantial outfit:

http://www.homecrafts.co.uk/about-us

There are really three products that I use which until recently I bought from Crafty Computer Paper: Clear and white inkjet water-slide decal (transfer) paper, which Homecraft stock (along with laser printer decal paper):

http://www.homecrafts.co.uk/home-cra...transfer-paper

And thirdly, 'micro-porous' acetate sheet, which is far superior to normal OHP acetates for making PCB masks for UV, which they also stock:

http://www.homecrafts.co.uk/acetate-film

Guess what - they too are located in Leicester!

Ironically, though I've still not has a response of any kind from 'Crafty' to my letters and e-mails, and don't expect to, I've had yet another 'spam' email from them telling me that 'as a valued customer, they want to add value to my weekend by knocking 30% off everything'. Ho hum...I'll keep on not minding.
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