Posted by Fumi Bull at 2:56 PM, November 9, 2008
Today is November 9th. Chi Chi manufacturer in Vietnam received my sample package on the October 23rd, 17 days ago. The last email I received from them was on October 26th, 14 days ago. I have since written 4 emails to two addresses and have tried calling a couple of times. The phone never connects and the emails sit still ....longing for a reply...........
After the sample package was sent, I have since sent two boxes of fabrics, one bye airmail and one by seamail. Three packages of frames have been sent from two suppliers, one in Japan and the other in Thailand. Pretty much everything that I have worked for and all the money that I have invested in this project is sitting here at this manufacturer.
Will I ever hear from Chi Chi again? Or am I going to see my purses sold on eBay Vietnam in 2 months? I guess there is nothing I can do at this end but to patiently sit and wait.
But I have to say, I am lying in the hole that I dug myself. Every decision that got me here was made by me, and maybe they weren't the best ones that I have made in my life, but what is done is done and I'll just have to see what happens!
Good thing is, if I keep trying, coming up with a new plan of attack, then I never fail! Maybe I will never succeed, but I still will never fail!
SO, here is my plan B. While I sit and wait to hear back from Chi Chi, I am going to look for a new manufacturer! And this time around, I am going way back into my roots and going Canadian all the way. I'm going to look for a Canadian manufacturer. Why not support my own country if I can?
I decided to make a profile on mfg.com. This a website designed to match designers with manufactures. I ran into this website by a fluke the other day and took it as a sign and went right ahead and signed up. Literally about 5 min after I signed up, this lady called me and she walked me through step by step on how to make an online profile! I couldn't believe it! Amazing customer service! I am so used to dealing with Rogers crappy service on the phone, being on hold and getting transferred to a different representative and repeating my story a million times that I was completely blown away by this service.
Keep tuned to see what kind of speed bump is waiting for me next!