Mitbak Salt and Pepper Shakers

We had porcelain salt and pepper shakers that were small, but they looked good. The problem was - they were refilled from the bottom and the tiny plastic plug was impossible to remove. It couldn’t be done by hand - you needed a clamp to pull it out. So after a few years the plug simply wore out and it became useless. So we were on the hunt for new salt and paper shakers. My husband has a very particular taste and it sometimes can be difficult to find replacement items. We didn’t want to deal with the tiny plastic plug again - and that seems to be all that the porcelain shakers have. Finally I found some nice looking glass shakers from Mitbak on Amazon. They are black and white, you can see the contents on the lower plain glass half, they match the stainless steel and white combination, and most importantly- the top screws off which makes filling them very easy. In fact they go along with the Beeliciois air fryer we got last week which is also white, stainless and has a black window. And they all look nice on the quartz penninsula. I’m hoping that they last for a while. We have been in a kitchen mode lately. It’s the little things that make such a big difference. 

UPS Drop Off for Return Packages

We always knew there was a UPS store in the neighborhood. We could easily walk to it but never had the need, but it’s nice to know there is also a notary option. We have been there now twice in one week! The first time was my mistake. I ordered a pair of readers from Eyebobs on Amazon. When they arrived they were much too big and too heavy to wear. So I wanted to return them. The process was very straightforward. You just request a return/refund, print out the shipping label, put it on the package, bring it to UPS, it gets scanned and an email is sent that the package was returned. The refund was issued as soon as the package was shipped. The second time wasn’t so easy. I ordered a microwave popcorn maker from Amazon and another item that was supposed to be shipped together. When I opened the package, the address was correct, but the contents contained an herb garden - something I didn’t order. This had never happened to me before in the twenty years of using Amazon. Since there were two items in the package the process to get it resolved was time consuming. I first went to the item on the Amazon app that was supposed to be shipped and followed the prompts. I got shipping instructions and a QR code that I needed to take to UPS. But when it came to the other item it said I couldn’t refund/exchange or do anything else. So I called Amazon support and explained the situation. In the end it was resolved but it always takes time out of your day - a big problem when it wasn’t my mistake. Both of the original items I ordered are set to be delivered separately today and tomorrow. When we went to return the package that I never ordered at the UPS store today, the place was so busy with customers! The guy directed me to the drop off machine and told me to follow the prompts. I scanned the QR code and a label was printed. He told me to use the label to seal the package. I did - but I forgot to/didn’t remove my mailing address. Then I placed the sealed package in to the drop off slot. I have an uneasy feeling about this. I have a notion this isn’t the end of it. But at least now I am familiar with the return process and have formally used the UPS store. I hope it doesn’t become a habit. I’ve been hearing there are more and more issues with Amazon lately. Maybe they are true. 

A New Amazon Coffee Pot

We got a new five cup Mr Coffee coffee pot when we first moved to our northern Virginia condo four plus years ago. My husband loved it because it had just the simple features, although you could time it to start in the morning - which was a feature we never used. The other day it just stopped working. The light would go on but it wouldn’t brew. So we thought we could find a simple replacement at the CVS - but they didn’t have any. Rather than drive all over we just decided to get one on Amazon. They didn’t have the same item, so I searched for something that was similar - five cups and a simple on and off switch. Wouldn’t you know that Amazon has its own product. So we thought we would give it a try. It arrived the next day and it was easy enough to figure out - although I always like to read the instructions. It does work just fine and in fact the coffee is a lot hotter and it has a reusable filter basket. The old pot had an automatic off switch - which is probably a good idea. So this little pot will do for now. Let’s hope it lasts for a while. 

Amazon Refund

It all started in December 2021. We ordered a water filter for the refrigerator on Amazon from a company called Depth Falo. We have ordered many filters on Amazon over the last three years. One of them did not fit and we were given a refund immediately. We always keep a back up filter on hand so we have it when we need it. So we don’t use it right away. Sometimes it takes several months until it needs changing. So when it was time to change it this time, the new filter simply did not fit in to the slot. Upon closer inspection, the new filter was slightly larger and slightly different. So we contacted the third party seller. They said we missed the three month window and would not refund the product. I told them it was defective. They didn’t care. So I contacted Amazon to report the vendor and the defective product. They guaranteed the vendor would address it because they would be contacting them instead of me. Well, I got the same stupid message that it didn’t meet the timeline. So I contacted Amazon again. They said they would contact the vendor again - and I told them I had already gone through this step already. But they insisted the vendor would respond. The vendor did respond - with the same stupid answer. So I contacted Amazon again and they said they couldn’t do anything about a third party vendor. I then asked to talk to a supervisor. I was not happy with the vendor, the product, and now Amazon because I was told twice that I would get a refund. She then offered a “goodwill” refund and charged it against another item that I just purchased that had nothing to do with the third party vendor or the filter. At that time I didn’t care. But the refund didn’t show up on the bank account credit card. So I called again to make sure the transaction occurred because it had been two weeks. I was given the transaction number so I could follow up with the bank. They said that the refund did hit and I should see it on the next statement because it was in between months. Finally I could see the transaction on line after all the time spent tracking it down. Lesson learned: Do NOT use the vendor Depth Falo and only order from the vendor who actually makes the refrigerator filters. I won’t use Amazon again for this purchase. 

Amazon Third Party Vendor Depth Falo Poor Customer Service

We have gotten eight very expensive Thermador refrigerator filters on Amazon. The first five worked without a hitch. The sixth filter didn’t even fit in to the slot. I contacted the vendor and received a refund. The seventh filter was fine. Then there was the last one. We always keep a filter on hand for when we need it. And, it is always more than a month later - usually five to six months. So when we tried to change the filter last week from the vendor Depth Falo, it didn’t fit. You could see the circumference was too big and the font was different - even though the product information was the same. I contacted the vendor. They refused to refund it because it was over the thirty day period. I contacted them again and they gave me the same response. So after finally fumbling around the Amazon app I found the section to report the vendor.  I had a chat with Amazon about the issue and they assured me that the vendor would give us a refund because Amazon now sent them an email with instructions to do so. I asked them how I could be sure - and they said it would be treated as an “urgency” and not to worry. I hope that does the trick. All I know is that my artwork has been used by vendors on Amazon without my permission and I have reported it whenever that happens. From now on we will be ordering filters directly through the Thermador website. It’s just not worth the hassle. 

Amazon Merch Doesn’t Work After All

I was so thrilled to learn that Amazon Merch had updated their system for uploading images - but the thrill didn’t last very long. Most of my digital art can easily be uploaded to all of the sites that I showcase my LITDigitalart images - Pixels/Fine Art America, Redbubble, Zazzle, Etsy. Before I would have to resize the digital art to specific dimensions and formats, and I had to use my laptop. Since my laptop bit the dust several months ago I didn’t replace it. That meant I could no longer create new products on Amazon. So I successfully uploaded two of my newest images using the updated portal last week without any problems at all. In fact it was seamless. So yesterday I tried to upload another image and it not only wouldn’t upload, it wouldn’t even capture the file. I tried several times and tried several images. None of them worked. I rebooted the iPad. Nothing. Then I wrote a note to Merch support explaining the situation. The response was not what I wanted to hear - you need to use a computer. That just didn’t make sense since I had two successful uploads. I really liked the Amazon website because it now automatically translates the information to several markets - Denmark, UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan. So we are back to square one. Why am I not surprised? 

Amazon Merch Update for my Digitalart

I have several websites that showcase my digitalart. I also have a my personal website LoisTavaf.com that pulls them all together in one place. Fine Art America, Pixels, Zazzle, Redbubble and Etsy are easy to navigate using my iPad. But Amazon Merch was always a different animal. I had to reconfigure the images to a specified size and do a lot of manipulation to support all of the requirements. I needed my laptop because it was not an iPad friendly approach. When my laptop gave out last year I could no longer add new images to the inventory - until this month! I check the site on a daily basis and noticed that there was an update from February that said a new design editor was introduced and would be made available on a rolling basis. I was excited to see what that meant. So I easily uploaded an image in the create option and went to work. Not only did the image upload, but it could be used on all of the products including not only T-shirts, but sweatshirts and hoodies, and also phone cases, totes, pillows, and pop sockets grips. And I could do it all using my iPad!! It also includes automatic translations for UK, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Denmark. Not that I have a lot of sales on Amazon, but it’s really nice that this option exists again. The limit for new products is 50 per day, but I have a product potential for 33,000 items!! It truly is a worldwide marketplace. It’s just another way to continue expanding my artwork on line. All of those pooches, kitties and other sweet faces will have a broader audience. It’s such a thrill when someone notices and purchases something I’ve painted. Now I need to start uploading! 

AboutSS Vendor Scam and Amazon Response

When we moved to northern Virginia over two years ago the condo had Thermador appliances in the kitchen. That means we needed to order filters for the refrigerator. Amazon is our go to for things like this. We have been ordering filters several times and never thought twice about it. About every six months it gets changed without incident - until last month. Our back up filter was ordered through Amazon from a vendor called aboutss. The filter we received looked the same as all the others, but when we tried to insert it in to the very odd place the filter resides, it just wouldn’t go in. We even asked the resident mechanic to try and he failed. So we put the old one back in - without a hitch. I contacted the vendor on Amazon to ask if there was a reason this happened but did not get a response. I asked a second time and still didn’t get a response. So I contacted Amazon support to complain about the vendor not responding. The reason we didn’t contact them sooner was because I didn’t need to use the filter right away. The Amazon response was what I expected - they would be filing a complaint against the vendor and would provide a full refund. This is the first time I have had to lodge a complaint against a third party vendor on Amazon. It’s nice to know someone continues to believe in customer service. And it was all done via chat. Thanks Amazon. Follow up emails regarding the filed complaint and the refund were sent immediately. As for aboutss - I hope you go out of business.