Comments on: New England Crafters, aka Magical Gift Company Feedback http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/2009/01/08/new-england-crafters-aka-magical-gift-company-feedback/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:06:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: NMart http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/2009/01/08/new-england-crafters-aka-magical-gift-company-feedback/comment-page-4/#comment-77176 NMart Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:15:30 +0000 http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/?p=912#comment-77176 I tried NEC a few years ago and sent in a few samples before I got frustrated and then quit. I sent for one of their new jewelry kits a few weeks ago and tried making their samples. Here's what I DON'T like about the company: The kits are ridiculously expensive ($49.95 for about $5 - $10 worth of materials plus shipping. Add to that any tools you need to complete the project and DVD cost if you want a video of how to do it.) The work is very tedious (The cupcake project took me forever to bake and paint) They use materials that don't make sense for the jewelry (Why do they have you paint the clay when you can buy colored clay for the exact same price? Takes WAY longer to paint.) The cost to mail samples back an forth for approval (You have to send your sample with a 9X12 self addressed stamped envelope with 5 stamps on it EVERY time you have to send a sample to them) They don't give you very good instructions (I would think a company wanting people to make quality crafts would give you better directions. "No experience necessary?") For me personally the hourly wage by the time you can complete the crafts is not worth the work you have to put into it. I think for the cost you'd be better to go online and find similar FREE craft patterns that you can make yourself and set up a $20 booth at a craft fair to see if you can make money. Seems like that might be a better option for some people. I only made one sample, but after finding something similar online (and way nicer and easier to make in my opinion) I'm not even going to waste any more time or money on them. I'll set up a booth locally and take my chances. I tried NEC a few years ago and sent in a few samples before I got frustrated and then quit. I sent for one of their new jewelry kits a few weeks ago and tried making their samples. Here’s what I DON’T like about the company:

The kits are ridiculously expensive ($49.95 for about $5 – $10 worth of materials plus shipping. Add to that any tools you need to complete the project and DVD cost if you want a video of how to do it.)
The work is very tedious (The cupcake project took me forever to bake and paint)
They use materials that don’t make sense for the jewelry (Why do they have you paint the clay when you can buy colored clay for the exact same price? Takes WAY longer to paint.)
The cost to mail samples back an forth for approval (You have to send your sample with a 9X12 self addressed stamped envelope with 5 stamps on it EVERY time you have to send a sample to them)
They don’t give you very good instructions (I would think a company wanting people to make quality crafts would give you better directions. “No experience necessary?”)
For me personally the hourly wage by the time you can complete the crafts is not worth the work you have to put into it.

I think for the cost you’d be better to go online and find similar FREE craft patterns that you can make yourself and set up a $20 booth at a craft fair to see if you can make money. Seems like that might be a better option for some people. I only made one sample, but after finding something similar online (and way nicer and easier to make in my opinion) I’m not even going to waste any more time or money on them. I’ll set up a booth locally and take my chances.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/2009/01/08/new-england-crafters-aka-magical-gift-company-feedback/comment-page-4/#comment-77132 Anonymous Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:03:03 +0000 http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/?p=912#comment-77132 i really wanted to try this job but im scared if this is a scam...can somebody help me here please???????????????????i already spent a lot of hours reading comments about NEC.. i really wanted to try this job but im scared if this is a scam…can somebody help me here please???????????????????i already spent a lot of hours reading comments about NEC..

]]> By: donna http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/2009/01/08/new-england-crafters-aka-magical-gift-company-feedback/comment-page-4/#comment-72257 donna Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:56:14 +0000 http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/?p=912#comment-72257 I agree with you on the whole book thing. We have resources here but we keep buying from where? hmmm. I am thinking on trying the cupcake n ice cream bracelet. What people fail to see is what these people are having to do to get their projects out. use of vehcile, their time,money to carry this stuff place to place. and costs to keep the building going...are they renting it or do they own it? We have to take everything in for concideration. And is this really the first time we have ever tryied and failed or suceeded at? Surely not. What about as seen on t.v or etc? work at home.... time consumming. Come on lets think people. I agree with you on the whole book thing. We have resources here but we keep buying from where? hmmm. I am thinking on trying the cupcake n ice cream bracelet. What people fail to see is what these people are having to do to get their projects out. use of vehcile, their time,money to carry this stuff place to place. and costs to keep the building going…are they renting it or do they own it? We have to take everything in for concideration. And is this really the first time we have ever tryied and failed or suceeded at? Surely not. What about as seen on t.v or etc? work at home…. time consumming. Come on lets think people.

]]> By: donna http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/2009/01/08/new-england-crafters-aka-magical-gift-company-feedback/comment-page-4/#comment-72254 donna Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:44:32 +0000 http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/?p=912#comment-72254 hello to every one WOW! I Can Speak from experince. I have always always been told ways to tell if a place is real or not. do they have a real address?,do they have a real phone number? I say yes to both of these. Plus a few pictures of the store. Costing us money sure it does, but what doesnt. and the angel pin let me guess a p.o box, i did that one too a royal pain in the ass, try the tye dyed gift wrap paper lmao it comes out cool my mom n I did them and the lids too. Never got money. we even tried stapling booklets suppose to be delivered by ups huh i guess that truck was stolen or wrecked cuz we never got a damn thing. think about this why ship out out 250 pcs worth of matearil n u so all of of sudden cant make that item? then they are out of all them supplies, how many ppl work for them? they have to keep the store going BILLS, then if they take the stuff to fairs...lets see gas is soooo cheap, and its ware n tare on that vehicle vs ours they are selling the stuff not us. Everything has its pros n cons. I dont wanna lose no money either but if i can make money being at home with my family and maybe take that lil money n get them stuff n put smile on their face then its worth it to me. I have had to stay home many days from jobs to care for my former hubby to be he past in my arms. jobs are hard these days. if your good at doing crafts then why not at least try. Also people fail to see that not every project is the same, is the one u picked out right for u? im very good with beads n jewelry im thinking on doing the cupcake n ice cream bracelet looks easy enough. I agree some places need to be just as professional about making copies of instructions. they need to be clear and leagable. im not good with paper instructions, so yep im gonna do the dvd both its gonna cost me 105.00 but if it dont turn out oh well. its not like i aint spent 200 on a toy for my kid just to let it sit. and im sure ill have some ENJOYMENT out of my kit just as my kid did with his toy. If it works great if not then time to either find something differnt or try something new. Time consuming everything takes its own time and its speeddepends on u as well. so it is 5050. snail mail is a pain but once it gets going its going. hello to every one WOW! I Can Speak from experince. I have always always been told ways to tell if a place is real or not. do they have a real address?,do they have a real phone number? I say yes to both of these. Plus a few pictures of the store. Costing us money sure it does, but what doesnt. and the angel pin let me guess a p.o box, i did that one too a royal pain in the ass, try the tye dyed gift wrap paper lmao it comes out cool my mom n I did them and the lids too. Never got money. we even tried stapling booklets suppose to be delivered by ups huh i guess that truck was stolen or wrecked cuz we never got a damn thing. think about this why ship out out 250 pcs worth of matearil n u so all of of sudden cant make that item? then they are out of all them supplies, how many ppl work for them? they have to keep the store going BILLS, then if they take the stuff to fairs…lets see gas is soooo cheap, and its ware n tare on that vehicle vs ours they are selling the stuff not us. Everything has its pros n cons. I dont wanna lose no money either but if i can make money being at home with my family and maybe take that lil money n get them stuff n put smile on their face then its worth it to me. I have had to stay home many days from jobs to care for my former hubby to be he past in my arms. jobs are hard these days. if your good at doing crafts then why not at least try. Also people fail to see that not every project is the same, is the one u picked out right for u? im very good with beads n jewelry im thinking on doing the cupcake n ice cream bracelet looks easy enough. I agree some places need to be just as professional about making copies of instructions. they need to be clear and leagable. im not good with paper instructions, so yep im gonna do the dvd both its gonna cost me 105.00 but if it dont turn out oh well. its not like i aint spent 200 on a toy for my kid just to let it sit. and im sure ill have some ENJOYMENT out of my kit just as my kid did with his toy. If it works great if not then time to either find something differnt or try something new. Time consuming everything takes its own time and its speeddepends on u as well. so it is 5050. snail mail is a pain but once it gets going its going.

]]> By: Mara Dee http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/2009/01/08/new-england-crafters-aka-magical-gift-company-feedback/comment-page-4/#comment-71846 Mara Dee Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:07:28 +0000 http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/?p=912#comment-71846 I wish I'd read this before! I consider myself very crafty and have a degree in art. I bought in to this program. I understood by mail it would be slow. After 5 tries and having spent more on postage than the kit they sent me a letter offering a portion of the original kit price as refund, or a new project. I opted for the money. I sent in the form, signed. It took no less than 4 phonecalls and 4 months to get $19.95 back. The only magical gifts are to them, in the form of our payments for the kits. I wish I’d read this before! I consider myself very crafty and have a degree in art. I bought in to this program. I understood by mail it would be slow. After 5 tries and having spent more on postage than the kit they sent me a letter offering a portion of the original kit price as refund, or a new project. I opted for the money. I sent in the form, signed. It took no less than 4 phonecalls and 4 months to get $19.95 back. The only magical gifts are to them, in the form of our payments for the kits.

]]>