[Perle]

Glad this is resolved!

boo, I hope you're feeling better soon!

Wow, seriously nice pictures, raj!

Poor Jeremy. No good deed goes unpunished!

Perle

[Pearl_dreams]

Raj, that second photo is scrumptious! I'm dying to try that. What is a mylar screen? Will an ordinary mylar "space blanket" work?

[raj]

Hi Perle and Pearl_dreams,
thanks for the photo compliments.
Re mylar screen - basically I used a thin clear plastic (mylar) sheet in an opaque/matte finish that I got at the drafting section of an art supply store. For best results, hold the sheet between the light source and the subject matter as close to the subject matter as you can so that you get maximum brightness/light while cutting the glare/reflection.

[Pearl_dreams]

Thanks-- I'll look for that. We have a store nearby that would probably carry it.

[pernula]

Hanaleimom: I have no idea how knot versus bead will work for a Y necklace. I guess I should email Mia.

Raj: Your pearls and pictures are beautiful!

Jerin: Thanks for your kind comments. I shall try to take some pictures. It might be a while as the only time I can possibly take pictures with diffuse sunlight is when my toddlers take their afternoon naps on weekends. During weekdays I am working full time and spending pretty much 100 % of the rest of my day with my kids.

Cheers,
Pernula

[gravityalwayswins]

Originally Posted by Perle

Poor Jeremy. No good deed goes unpunished!

Perle

I disagree! I admit I had a lot of the same initial doubts as Perluna had, until I was actually able to identify the exact strand I got in the pics on the PP web page and realize they really do look TOTALLY different in person (in a house full of compact fluourescent bulbs, go figure) than they look in a pic. But Pernula also goes out of her/his way to express appreciation for Jeremy's and Mia's efforts, respect the private-offer-process and make sure something as special as the exotics are in the hands of someone who really wants them. I'm impressed by that. I felt the same way at first - whether or not my strand was a perfect match for me (and I soon realized they are!), doesn't mean I was any less amazed that Jeremy and Mia would put together something like this and felt very lucky that Jeremy included a noobie like me in his list.

I don't think anyone would argue that Jeremy's private offers (and the efforts Mia put into this one specifically) are pretty incredible. I tried to thank Mia profusely when I spoke with her about mine because I think her efforts were incredible! But that in itself is a separate issue than the question, "Is the strand sitting in front of me really right for ME?", and I'm glad Pernula was able to separate those and still express both.

Being a noob, I don't know Jeremy and Mia personally, but I'd bet they understand having some customers be REALLY appreciative and respectful yet at the same time doubtful of whether a perfect strand-owner match has been achieved is just part of being a highly-regarded online pearl business.

Sorry for the diatribe! Just one person's opinion...

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by gravityalwayswins

I'd bet they understand having some customers be REALLY appreciative and respectful yet at the same time doubtful of whether a perfect strand-owner match has been achieved is just part of being a highly-regarded online pearl business.

Sorry for the diatribe! Just one person's opinion...

Pearls being the mysterious gems that they are, you can't always tell whether they will compliment your skintone until you can place them against your skin. So, I would agree that there's a lot to the "strand-owner match" theory!

The exotics have enough colors that I think they would look good on most women. Today, when I put on my exotics for my friend Heather, she insisted that you could tell immediately, even from across the livingroom, that they were unusually beautiful with an inner glow. That kind of statement certainly removes any buyer's remorse!

[Perle]

gravityalwayswins, I don't mean to pick on pernula, but to respond to your post I think it's things like this:

Originally Posted by pernula

I realize the entire exotics crop/batch was hand-selected by Jeremy or Mia, but I can't stop wondering whether mine is left-over stuff after the cream of the crop was concentrated in a few necklaces.

that just make me wonder? I guess if I were unhappy with something I'd purchased, I would take it up directly with the seller/send it back.

Maybe it's just that there have been a few posts recently that struck me as being a little unfair to Jeremy and his staff, concerning things that (to me at least) could have been handled directly with his office. On the other hand, maybe it doesn't bother them at all. Perhaps I'm just being oversensitive!

Perle

[Caitlin]

I guess if I were unhappy with something I'd purchased, I would take it up directly with the seller/send it back.

Yes, this what people usually do. Then complain to the public only if they don't get satisfaction in private.

Knowing every little dissatisfaction people go through is actually kind of annoying- especially if there was nothing wrong with the service or attitude of the seller. Nevertheless, as Admin, I don't censor unless mean words or ad hominem atacks were used.

Along those lines, I thought someone complaining about repeatedly bad service from an otherwise good company (Not by any of our favorite sellers) was justified. After trying to get his goods for weeks, and obtaining promises which were not met--for instance. That was a legitimate complaint and it was echoed by a couple of other peoples' experience. But actually, after complaining, the people quit posting to that thread. Now we don't know if resolution/satisfaction was ever achieved.

[jshepherd]

If I can weigh in here, I don't necessarily think it is such a bad thing. Sure it stings when it happens, but it has done a lot for us on a customer service and product level. We do make mistakes, it is bound to happen. But the fact that these mistakes can easily be made public forces us to be extra, extra careful. It has dramatically changed the way our operations run: quality control, shipping schedules, refund processing, email response, etc. It has improved our business and every Pearl Paradise teammember is keenly aware of it. Some of you have mentioned in the past seeing a note stuck to an order (someone forgot to remove it) that says "Pearl-Guide customer!!! Choose Carefully!"

It also creates a bit more of a balance here on this forum. There are so many consumers and pearl experts here. One taste or style does not fit all. Opinions are going to differ. A real community tone does not have a single voice.

[Slraep]

You know, I have to say that whatever anyone got, whether darker or lighter metallic fancy colours, you would be hard pressed to put together these strands in this quality of freshwater. Sure, you could buy 20 kilos or more of "stuff" from various eBay vendors and then cherrypick. And would you get comparable strands? What would it cost in terms of time and money and sore fingers? It would be interesting to try. In two years, I have only been lucky twice on Ebay with metallic fancy coloured Chinese freshwaters. One strand was the most metallic orange I have ever seen(found some comparable individual pearls on the PP strands) and the other is a lavender metallic in different dark shades. Both strands are very round. But it took me TWO YEARS to get lucky. So I thank you PP., for saving me time and money and aggravation.

Slraep

[Perle]

Caitlin, yes, that's exactly what I was thinking. But good to know Jeremy's cool with it.

So, Jeremy, where are my pictures?!? (Just kidding!)

Perle

[Pearl_dreams]

Originally Posted by jshepherd

Some of you have mentioned in the past seeing a note stuck to an order (someone forgot to remove it) that says "Pearl-Guide customer!!! Choose Carefully!"

I got a chuckle out of this!


I am currently puzzling about what color thread to buy to string my very metallic oval exotic bracelet (7.5-8.5) It is basically silvery, but gray thread doesn't seem the right choice because the silver is laid over other colors. What color thread have others used?

[jshepherd]

Originally Posted by Perle

So, Jeremy, where are my pictures?!? (Just kidding!)

Perle

LOL Natalie has them on her desk. I told her to hurry it up

[Caitlin]

Gray silk is shiny. Have you got some and it looks dull? I used to have a color named "horizen". It was mauve-y -blue - gray in color. It looked different depending on what was next to it.

If your beading thread color choices are limited, then silk embroidery thread also comes in many colors and is in more stores than beading silk.