A word about RAKS

[OrianaVianey]

before said anything I'm sorry if my words don't feel very sweet, as is not my intention, but I feel a little bitter for personal reasons and I know those feeling sometimes can slip through lines.

Anyway... I love all the RAKS threads I see here and other sites (some of them of my own CTs) but today as my shopping allowance is froze (obvious reason of my bitterness... LOL) I was wondering that if we do a fair job with the RAKS.

Of course lots of designers RAK ppl, specially if are new scrappers, to gain more costumers, but I start thinking... what about the old loyal costumers.

I can only talk for me of course (but I know there are more out there), but I've expend HUNDREDS of dollars on some stores and designers and never got a freebie or a RAK of them. Usually I don't care but maybe the fact that I can't buy anything NOW, made me think about it...

My point is not sound whiny (even when I know I sound like that), but to open the eyes to some designers. Sometimes loyal costumers need some attention, maybe just a thank you note or here you have a $1 discount coupon for your next purchase. Anything that let us know "hey I know you like my designs (A LOT) and I appreciate it".

I know big real life stores don't do that, but some do and believe it or not, some costumer really appreciate the fact that a store (cyber or real) acknowledge that loyalty.

Maybe I'm rambling too much but I had this thoughts for long time and I though it would be a nice idea to let them out.

[Dielle]

I love when I get a thank you from a designer. But it's not an option for lots of designers (me included), because it depends on the store to get that info. My shops have zencart, and I believe it's just xcart that gives the designers (not just shop owners) access to their individual customer's info.

The one way I could see to do some RAKs like you said, is to randomly send something to some of the artists who regularly post LOs with the designer's items in them.

Hope things get better for you!

[missys_bits]

This is true, I am not privy to my customer's info. But I am so new that no one has spent any large sums on my products either LOL.

I love it when I get a RAK from a designer that I shop with. Heather Manning, Ashalee and Sweet and Pillowgirl are the ones that come to mind. I pretty much always spend more than the coupon, because I always find something I love.

[phenomshel]

Ashalee and Sweet have to be the queens of RAK's. RAK's are great, and they make you feel wonderful. I don't know how the designers keep up with who buys what though, I never thought about the differences in shopping cart software archiving. I just figured the stores provided each designer with their invoices or some such thing, LOL. Shows how much I know.

[drgnldy]

I know that a few of the designers I purchase from regularly have noticed---> and give me a fabulous surprise occasionally.
We are a little spoiled here in "digi-land" If I'm a regular shopper in a large retail store, I feel special & know I'm appreciated if I get an extra smile or personal greeting. It'd blow me away if they RAK'd me

[anneofalamo]

okay school me
I get that RAK is random act of kindness...but isn't just what it is? Random?
I didn't realize (I am so naive really I am...not dumb, but naive and trusting), that the designers gave the kits for advertising...duh here, cause wouldn't that be more like
Random Acts of Adverising?
school me, because I don't understand the whole deal of the RAK, and my heart goes out to the original poster "Oriana". It's hard to have and then not have...hold on...CT for some of these awesome designers...lol I am having a blast writting "Hi, my name is Anne and I saw your call...." emails...getting the response back is fun(sometimes)

[mrgiedrnkr]

I feel this way about cell phone providers and cable companies - the ads are always for the new folks but never for the existing customers who are loyal to the company. However, for my digital stuff, I feel like the designers are generous with freebies and special sales so I don't feel neglected!
Stacy

[OrianaVianey]

I have to clarify that I said SOME. I have 2 designer who spoiled me big time. One is The Flergs and the other is Jofia Davoe. I own almost the whole store of both and they have sent me more than one giftie . That is totally appreciate it by me, to the point that if I don't have money and I have to choose one designer I choose them (sometimes I can't because I already have everything... LOL). Melissa Bennett sent me once a 50% off discount coupon because I bought a lot from her store. And so on.

There are several designers who really acknowledge their costumers. I know the differences between carts, but trust me.. that simple thank you note makes a whole difference.

And for cell phones providers and cable companies, I'm a legend among them... LOL I always demand the offers, even when are for new costumers, because I find is not fair for us who paid full service. And if I don't get it, just change of company... are plenty fish in the sea...

Maybe I feel neglected sometimes because I don't pick freebies. I put my days of freebie hunter in the past and I just bough what I really like, because at some point I found that 99% the stuff I love ARE NOT freebies... LOL
And again is not about the kit per se (I have more than plenty)... is about the fact about that personalized cyber smile that make your day and how some costumers like me like the designer/owner/sales person who notice that you are at the store every week.

[flergs]

Thanks sweetie.

I must also add that everyone make sure they always have a current email addy at the store, I have had so many thank you emails returned as undeliverable or go to spam. And sometimes I've emailed out coupons only to have a few used which makes me think the people haven't received them.

[mgl Scraps]

Plus there are some people who don't like the personalized thank yous (for whatever reason, shared email accounts with husbands who didn't know they'd been shopping, etc), so it's a fine line to walk no matter what we do, kwim? There should be a field in store registration asking if the customer would like to receive emails and special offers from designers, then everything would be much easier... hmmm, actually, there's a thought, I think XCart at least allows for custom fields!