The long bits on the end of the fluke are gorgeous :jawdrop:
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The long bits on the end of the fluke are gorgeous :jawdrop:
Saborigakusei - Your tail has to be one of my new favorites! My boyfriend normally doesn't say much when I show him photos of silicone tails, but he was amazed at yours and said he really loves the color scheme.
Did you ask Raven to do that electric blue paint or was that her idea? I just love that bright blue she uses. It really glows!
Thanks!!! I loooove the look of long, trailing fins<3Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Chloe-Marie
I can't wait to see how it looks in the water! ^^
aaaahhh, you are so sweet!!! I asked Raven for copper and light blue, but she chose the actual shades. I didn't give very much direction during the design process.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Alea
My mersona's a bit of a hoarder... she loves shiny things, but her treasure tarnishes constantly from exposure to the sea. I picked a color scheme resembling oxidized copper to reflect that. :)
That's an awesome mersona/ design backstory
Thanks so much!Quote:
Originally Posted by cletusk20
Also: first beach trip!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M...2018-05-05.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U...2018-05-05.jpg
Fun fact: someone on that beach called the cops on me about my octonipples :(
those colors go great with your skin.
That tail is so gorgeous on you! Btw nice octonippples lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by saborigakusei
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Hi folks,
normally I would join you now for the waiting game, or rather: the end of three years waiting time and the happy, exciting and curious time before finally getting my tail. Well, I never got it.
Okay, I am one of the very first Merbella customers and a returning client who already ordered two tails from them (at early 2012 and 2013). I was always very happy with Raven´s work. Since these tails are old and heavily used by now and have lots of tear and wear, Raven and I agreed that she makes me a new one. I was more than happy with that because I love both Raven´s artistic talents and the quality of her tails, so I ordered and paid in full at July 2015 for a tail and a top.
Henceforward I was waiting, planning, measuring, thinking about design, changes, new inspirations, etc. You know, all that jazz. Finally, the design was made, and I was left to just wait. I know the game, I didn´t care much to wait year after year, because I already knew the long waiting time for Raven´s tails from before. I was told it will be worth it, I believed it and continued waiting. I was patient, loyal and always in best and friendly agreement with Raven and Tyler.
At March of this year, 2018, and slowly reaching the 3-year mark, I asked them for some updates. I didn´t get any, instead I was asked to pay extra money because of my special design. I was confused about this unexpected demand because this was never addressed before. In fact, I was a little pissed about that because they just cannot raise prices arbitrary, and if they do, they must tell the clients promptly. But we came to an agreement and everything was okay again. They promised to send me a new sketch. It never came.
At June 2018 I was asking for the sketch and updates in general. Not getting that new sketch means that they probably did not even start my tail. I got nervous. Their assistant emailed me back that Raven and Tyler had to suffer the loss of their friend and were not available at that time. I didn´t know that, I apologized and asked the assistant instead if perhaps she knows something about my tail order. Next thing she told me was that my order was CANCELED by Raven and Tyler and my money was transferred back. After almost THREE YEARS WAITING. I was deeply shocked and didn´t understand anything anymore. Nobody except us mermaids can empathize what it means to wait, hope, looking forward and long for a tail for THREE YEARS. How hard it can be, to count the months down and get closer, count weeks, count days…. And finally, when in the range of getting the tail, the whole order canceled??!! All dreams, hopes, anticipations destroyed. Heartbreaking. But it got worse: When I begged for explanation, I was told (by the assistant) that Raven and Tyler don´t want to deal with the “increased pressure of this order”. WHATTT????
First, I thought that they have mistaken me for another person. In this year, 2018, I was asking them twice for updates, this cannot be the “increased pressure”. They never personally apologized, explained or justified their action to me. Neither Raven nor Tyler!!! Since there was nothing wrong between us, no conflict, I didn´t understand the world anymore. When they started to post again at FB and Insta, selling things and stuff, I once again asked them to get in contact with me. But guess what they did? They BLOCKED me and de-friended me. Unbelievable, I have no words for this behavior!! I mean, it´s okay for some moody teens but not for a professional company which should be able to deal with their oldest and most loyal returning clients in an honest, authoritative, adult and reliable way. Not punch them into the face and then sneak away from responsibility. I never thought that a well-known company like Merbella would be able to show such a disrespect for their clients. What they did to me is not just a broken promise, which is bad enough, it´s also a broken contract. However, since I consider myself a very fair person, after all that, I silently waited 1.5 months (until today) to give them the opportunity to get in touch with me and to discuss things privately and peacefully. They should have been able to explain things to me by now. But nothing.
For those of you who want to know the real reason they canceled my order: I have no idea. They never answered. I have some guesses, I think the most likely thought is that because of mainly selling premade tails now they have taken on more custom orders in the past than they can chew now.
Sorry for this long post, my story is NOT meant to be a warning to not order or buy from Merbella, on the contrary, I have made very good experiences with them some years ago. But the possibility that an order can be canceled after 3++ years waiting time for literally no reason is something every new Merbella client should consider. I don´t want another person to get their heart broken and I still have no words to describe how desperately disappointed I am by this company that I once loved and admired so much.
I've read this a few times and I really don't know what to say except I totally appreciate why you're so hurt. I haven't seen a lot from Merbellas aside from premade stuff. It seems they have a lot on the go. I am like you, yes I have tails, but 3 are so totally worn out that I either need them remade or to get new ones. I was hoping to have my she creature tail refurbished but they were too busy. I ended up having to go with another tail maker just so I can keep my team swimming which is too bad, I would have preferred to keep it all merbellas, but such is life I guess.
Your whole thing just sounds so crazy and confusing. I am glad you at least got your money back but I couldn't imagine waiting that long to have it cancelled. I am so sorry.
it sounds like they hadn't started your tail at all
Honestly, this sounds like Merbellas is about to go under. Mermaids tend to be far more sympathetic and patient with this sort of thing than any other consumer towards a business, but I've never seen a creator of any kind behave like that to their clients and their company come out of it unscathed. I don't have the same attachment to Raven that a lot of you guys have, so from my unbiased outside opinion, it seems like Raven and her husband are struggling to run their company. Other tailmakers have been growing and hiring on new people to take the burden, but most potential clients have to cross their fingers for even a chance to order a Merbella tail. In the commercial world, this is not a good thing.
Sad to see that happen to crafters of Raven's calibre. If she needs a long break from tailmaking itself, it wouldn't surprise me in the least :(
decided to check out the faq, and holy cow. money up front in paypal, wait time over two years. but only offering payment plans to returning customers? how are you gonna get returning customers if it takes three years to fill an order?Quote:
. How much are your tails?
- Our tails start at $3,400. Shipping not included.
2. Do you accept ____ for payment?
- We only accept Paypal for payment.
3. How do I order a tail?
- All orders are placed via email.Please read this ENTIRE FAQ
- When you are ready email Tyler at MerbellaStudios@gmail.com
4. Do you Accept Payment Plans?
- We do not offer payment plans for first time costumers.
- We now offer Half and Half Payments for returning tail customers.
5. Whats the production time?
- Current production time is over 2 years. Please email for the most accurate and up to date production time. We do work very hard to get orders completed as quickly as possible, but this is Art and we are more concerned with making sure you receive the BEST possible product even if it takes a little longer.
That and you don't really get a say in the design of your tail.Quote:
Originally Posted by inanna
As one of Raven's customers I feel like that may not be a very fair statement. I had a great deal of say in my design.
I know her recent commission she opened a spot but she put as a disclosure that she had complete artist freedom for the tail.
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Raven gives her clients a very decent amount of creative control over their tails. The reason it doesn't seem so much like that lately is because she's been opening slots for commissions that specifically give her artistic control. I had a lot of creative control with my tail, both in the initial phase and in the repaint/revamp phase.
Quote:
Originally Posted by inanna
Haha you'd be surprised. We just really love Raven's tails. I ordered a new one a couple of years ago now (I'm hoping I come up in the queue soon!). For me, it's worth the wait.
I was misremembering her FAQ, sorry. I recalled this part;
And completely forgot the bit before it.Quote:
We can design a tail from scratch, just for you. All you need to do is send us some images of yourself, along with a description of yourself, your likes and favorites, and some hobbies or activities you enjoy etc. We can design a tail that will fit your personality.
I'm still incredibly unimpressed with how difficult it is to even place an order like this and how she's apparently been treating her customers lately.Quote:
Make sure you have the funds available. Collect or make any images that will help us create your tail, like color palletes,images, or reference photos. Decide if you want any fins and where.
I used to want a merbella tail (i still do because i think her laint jobs are the best on the market right now) but some of the things that turned me off was that you had to provide all money upfront for something you won't see for 3+ years. And i knew it was really really REALLY hard to even get a hold of them to place an order. (It's also my personal belief that returm customers are possibly treated with priority over new customers when it comes to contact and the queue)
When i heard she was limiting the orders she took i thought that mesnt a quicker turn around time and better communication but i think turn around got even longer?
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I'm not sure how accurate the FAQ is these days, since she's not taking orders and hasnt been for a year (except when someone cancels etc). I am not sure she's actually ever taken a payment plan though. She did offer it to me back when she wasn't as swamped but I decided to pay my tail in full. I thought I was likely a special case cuz I've always been timely with payments and offered up front to pay for extra things etc
I was talking to Tyler and I think it's Ok for me to say this here, they are moving so they have a bigger workshop space with better ventilation to help improve curing as well. She was so busy we didn't get to see each other when I visited last year which was a first for us, so I know it's not for lack of work. Tyler did mention to me too when I wished him luck on the back orders that they were almost caught up. So... hopefully!
Someone with this much work should have the revenue to expand and recruit a team by now. No sense tying this much output to just one person's craftsmanship, however talented they might be.
Hopefully they can still turn things around. Tails wear out and lose their colours, but what customers remember is how we made them feel.
They tried hiring people before, it greatly lowered the quality. It's just one of those things, can't outsource talent
Okay, but Mertailor and Finfolk both have a warehouse and a full staff, and their quality hasn't been reduced by this. In fact Mertailor has been improving significantly.Quote:
Originally Posted by AniaR
Finfolk has been dialing back on silicone tails though (Did Mermaid Hunter ever get his???) and their wait times are right up there with Merbellas at this point, or close to it. They have also had some quality control and customer service issues.
Mertailor was lucky in that he had good exposure and was able to ride that wave and set up his facility while perfecting his craft. He's also much better at mass producing tails; I love his stuff lately but his silicones can't touch Raven's for creativity imo. They each have different strengths.
Mertailor only sells one type of silicone tail and it’s most likely easy to master. Mernation sells 3 different types of silicone tails, that are relatively inexpensive, they are very high quality and the tails are always done in less than a few months, sometimes it just takes 3 days to make! But you do have to send a duct tape dummy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Theta
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annnd Mertailor DID hire people to help make his silicone tails, but then let them go due to quality and wanting to have more artistic control, and now does them all himself again. His turn around times are faster yes, but he only has to focus on making the tails, but for a while there he was selling premade tails so they weren't customized in size or color unless you paid extra. Only recently did he switch everything back to mostly customization or fully customization.
having staff do your fabric lines/other things is one thing. But all the tail makers still do their own silicone tails. No one has had success outsourcing that.
It took mertailor a decade plus to get where he is now, and Finfolk are able to do their stuff BECAUSE of all their premade items. Merbellas is still just a two person operation with an occasional customer service helper working out of a home. You can't expect a leap to the same level as the others with a warehouse and huge staff overnight without any of the things that helped lead to those for others.
^ This.
This business model seems to be working for them, and has for a long time now. They don't bite off more than they can chew. Many tailmaking companies have come and gone, not knowing their own limitations, and when they tank they do it hard and fast and ugly. Everyone knows that the wait times are long and communication is sparse with Merbellas; you know that going in, after you've decided that they payoff is worth it.
I was fortunate enough to order a pre-designed tail back in 2016 after she stopped taking orders from the public. I had asked if I could have a rush order fee IF it were doable and they agreed with a “completed by” month. This would have made it an 8 month working time which was pretty unheard of but they said they could do it so I trusted that. The tail had to go through a redesign because the fluke on her original drawing wasn’t available to the public. I was told this pretty late in the game but no problem, I was able to send over a redesign within three days of finding out the other fluke wasn’t available. After 10 months I realized that my 8 month rush order wasn’t going to happen as promised, which is understandable because she’s a busy gal and the original order had changed. I decided to cancel my order altogether because I didn't want to play the waiting game and I shouldn’t have ordered if I was going to be an impatient person, plus I needed the money. I hadn't gotten any word of them starting on it and I made sure to ask if it was too late to cancel. I guess they hadn't started? I had gotten my hopes up with the rush fee and promised date, that’s totally MY bad and I understand that. I should have known better but also if it can't be done, a rush order shouldn't be an option and they never communicated about potentially not meeting this deadline. Communication really would have been nice, even to be like “hey, looks like we won’t make it, something came up” but I got nothing. 7/26/16 was the initial date I ordered. 5/26/17 was the date I asked for the refund. It took 10 months to get my tail refund back to me and I still haven’t received the 400.00 rush fee refund to this day (almost 15 months as of now). Not really stoked about that part. I know my experience is so "whatever" but it still sucked to go through. I know we all know the wait times are long and communication is bad but when you're told that something is doable, doesn't a part of you want to believe that?
The first time I ordered through her was in 2012. It was a GREAT experience with good communication and an 8-9 month wait. It was awesome!!
Her artwork is hands down some of the best out there (my personal favorite) but the business and communication side could use improvement. Accepting full payment for orders over two years out just seems like it could lead to a financial disaster if people started backing out (like me). I have no business suggesting how other people should run their companies but I'm still waiting on my complete refund and it’s been over a year. :/
Yeah last I heard they stopped allowing rush fees all together. Sorry you went through that. It seems to be how things are all around right now. If you haven't emailed them about your refund in a while I'd totally do that
True, but no one successfully making high-end silicone tails does it as their sole source of income. Rather, they have lines of fabric and other products to sell regularly as their bread and butter. That's what frees them from taking up more than they can handle -- as long as their relatively easily-made products are selling, they can ramp up or scale back as needed without cutting into their living income.
Mertailor realised this early on, Finfolk much later.
Agree with Katie, Merbella's is amazing but scoring one is like winning the lottery -- only you have a high chance of not being able to collect at all. Companies may tank hard and fast, but the writing would have been on the wall a long time in advance.
I do wonder, how many tails does merbellas take on at a time so that the wait time for an in progress tail is 3+ years? I was under the impression they closed orders from the public to cut down on how many orders they took in at a time. In the case of Finfolk they take in new orders every day so i can understand their wait time being 3+ years as tails are bumped through the queue but i thought merbellas cut their queue down to only a few customers and wouldn't take more orders until tails in the queue were completed, thus keeping the queue at a stable number.
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I'm not sure, honestly. Not that many I don't think. I know that compared to Finfolk and Mertailor they are extremely limited in actual working time due to humidity issues where they live. I remember someone talking about how they basically can't make silicone tails during the rainy season since the humidity is too high for the silicone to cure.
Iirc, I don't think they closed down public orders just to reduce the order load, although that probably factored in. Raven had a couple of bad experiences with people and almost threw in the towel altogether, so they decided to just keep repeat customers that they were comfortable working with. I think she's relaxed on that a little bit now, though, since I've seen a slot or two open up over the past year or whatever (note that these are the ones which grant her full creative license.)
Also Ransom, they've got leggings and shirts and stuff for sale on their site, just like all the other companies. Raven also does clearouts of headdresses and accessories fairly frequently, and that stuff goes like hotcakes.
Actually, industry history speaking, this is all VERY new. For the longest time they DID all only do silicone tails as their sole income. This has only been a past 2 years sort of thing actually. I think the issue is we're trying to hold them all to the same standard but they are ALL only just getting to this point. What seems like it should be standard is actually still brand new. ;)Quote:
True, but no one successfully making high-end silicone tails does it as their sole source of income. Rather, they have lines of fabric and other products to sell regularly as their bread and butter. That's what frees them from taking up more than they can handle -- as long as their relatively easily-made products are selling, they can ramp up or scale back as needed without cutting into their living income.
Mertailor realised this early on, Finfolk much later.
I think it's unfair to compare them all they're apples and oranges when you look at how they all got started. Finfolk are hard working ladies, but I remember reading that they were lucky enough their grandmother invested in their company with an early inheritance so they could actually AFFORD to take that leap of faith. Then they were smart enough to have that genius idea to sell bricks for their factory and their podsquad etc.
Other companies "look" successful on the surface, but are actually DESPERATE for clients. They have fast turnaround, and great customer service, because they have no customers. And I know of 1 company that directly got their company by very brutally taking advantage of Raven. I've always wanted her to tell the story publicly because I think it would floor people, but she had decided to let that go. (but it burns me up a lot) Finfolk had a similar experience.
Mertailor is doing amazing now, but he had some hiccups along the way and things got tight like many others have experienced. With big innovation comes big risk with potential for big fallout. And while he's enjoying success now and found his balance, he def had the same issues Raven is.
Merbella's launched clothing last year too. And also, her husband is a full time performer. Raven used to perform as well but had to stop in order to finish tails. and as Theta mentioned she sells off premade stuff.
Both merbellas and finfolk closed silicone tail order. Merbellas have been closed for a year, I think Finfolk for 6 months +?Quote:
I do wonder, how many tails does merbellas take on at a time so that the wait time for an in progress tail is 3+ years? I was under the impression they closed orders from the public to cut down on how many orders they took in at a time. In the case of Finfolk they take in new orders every day so i can understand their wait time being 3+ years as tails are bumped through the queue but i thought merbellas cut their queue down to only a few customers and wouldn't take more orders until tails in the queue were completed, thus keeping the queue at a stable number.
I can't make excuses for Raven, I have had to wait like everyone else and had some things fall out too. But here's why I think her wait times are longer:
When she first got really started there were two things that put her behind and to an extent they happened to other tail makers as well.
1) there was a great monofin shortage from finis where things got back ordered. All tail makers experienced this, and it actually put some of them under. It set everyone else back 6months-9months on their wait times.
2) Raven was the first to offer an affordable hybrid tail and it nearly bankrupt her and set the whole company back. It was a risk she took before anyone else took it. The tails sold for 1k or less, and ended up taking more work than her full silicone tails. She had a bunch of those orders she had to get through and people had really high expectations (too high for something budget friendly IMO) Similar companies like Fishbutts and Mermaid creations went under for this exact thing. Raven was able to recover but it set her back.
A few other factors:
I have personally seen some awful clients who have ruined it for everyone else. People who would get their entire tail finished, look at it and say "oh I've decided I don't want yellow, please make it pink or I'll threaten you with bad reviews everywhere". I used to help Raven with emails and I can't tell you how much people tried to blackmail her, threaten her etc. These crazy clients made it take extra long for everyone else.
Raven has standing contracts with weeki which can throw a wrench into things each year as she makes all the tails they use for their calendar, and then sells them off as premade when they're done.
And as Theta mentioned after dealing with clients who would outright lie about their experience she decided to stop working with the general public.
Like everyone else, Raven had people in her inner circle that betrayed her and it always takes a little time to bounce back from that.
People come to Raven for extremely custom work, custom molds, custom everything. The more customized you get, the longer it's going to take. Some people have decided to buy out customization too so it's not available to the public and that's something she's had to work around.
As people have noted, you can't just live off silicone tails so they obviously supplement other ways. As mentioned, Tyler is a full time performer with Universal I believe, and his own company. And when he's on tour Raven is back to working on her own. Raven took on that little mermaid movie that is coming out to help make ends meet too and that took time. making the costumes, renting the tank, and training their actress and stunt actress.
So these aren't meant to be excuses just CONTEXT. because I think we can ALL agree there are ways to make their business better. but it's ALWAYS easier to point that stuff out. It's a whole other ballgame to actually LIVE it.
I'll share something personal because I don't want you to think I am just biased because I care for Raven. Last year as many of you know my life was pretty awful. My mom and friend died on the same day - both young and unexpected and there was a lot of fallout after a con I ran. In November I went to Florida. Raven and I usually see each other, because our birthdays are days apart. Even if we can't mermaid, we are friends and have dinner etc. But she was so swamped with trying to get tails out, she didn't feel she could take off any time to see me. Even though I only get to Florida once every few years.
I've known Raven to get hospitalized from exhaustion. So I don't want people to theorize that she's wasting time etc.
I think what I am trying to get at is all great tail makers get to this make or break point where your stuff is in such high demand that you sink or swim. And she's having that moment right now where she is carefully balancing that ball trying not to drop it. And yes, other tail makers got past that- but only recently, and Raven paved the way for most of them honestly.
I have no excuses for the people here who have posted complaints. I hear you. My heart hurts for you. I am disappointed for you. I don't agree with choices made and I am not defending them either. I reached out to Tyler after reading some of these posts and we had a good discussion and I even said, that's not how I would of handled this maybe would of done ___ instead.
I just wanted to give a little context and remind people who maybe haven't been around the community as long, that everything you're seeing in the industry is quite new. And it wasn't that long ago that they were all in raven's shoes.
I personally hope for the best, I want to see Raven do well, I want to see people get their tails and be happy. I hope everything works out and they're bale to grow in the way they need to. Or maybe scale back if that's what needed. I just hope people get their tails.
Thanks for the info, Theta! I really hope they're able to restore good communications and timely delivery though, and pick up again.
and as a sidebar since I also sell clothing lemme tell you, you do NOT make much on it unless you're able to make it in house which Mertailor only recently was able to do with a huge investment in actual machines for fabric printing and a team of seamstresses. I make so little on my clothing and I looked into the factories that all the others use and it's the same amount. It's like a cool side thing, but nothing you could live off of at all
I really hope they don’t go under and eventually start accepting orders from the public again. Raven’s aesthetic matches mine so perfectly and my goal for years has been to save up for one of her tails because I know nobody could bring my dream tail to life like she could.
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I’m not a (commercial) tailmaker, but as an artist, I’ve noticed this trend recently where a lot of the most talented people are having the hardest time supporting themselves via art. It’s sad. Although, I am only 19, so maybe I don’t know what I am talking about. [emoji39]
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I just have to say that I would have probably given up and gone under if I had to go through what she’s gone through. That magnitude of work is overwhelming to even think about, including dealing with that many people on a regular basis. Clients wanting custom orders scare the crap out of me just because of the situations like the ones she’s had to deal with. I absolutely would have given up.
I agree that she’s helped pave the way and let me tell you, I’ve also seen SO many “Inspirations” of her work, it’s pretty crazy (I’ve called out more than one person for literal replicas of her flukes). It’s like she comes up with a good idea and then it’s a fad. For instance Raven was the first mermaid to make those filigree shapes on bras and now that style has been replicated many times. Obviously everyone has their own take on things and they’re all a bit different because art.. But if I were her, I’d secretly be like “Umm.. excuse me??”.
I love her work so much. She swims like an actual fish and it makes me want to cry. Her new and innovative designs are so incredible and unique. I don’t think I will ever order from her again (I mean, AS IF they would even want me to at this point, honestly. I’d blacklist me lol.) But it’s not because of the lack of incredible work. It’s because of the awkward positions I feel put in, the lack of communication and the “carrot on the stick” waiting times. It’s just a bit depressing (maybe for both parties). I hope she is able to find a way to flourish because gahd dang, she is so full of talent.
Things Raven did before anyone else:
-headdresses with the shells on each side
-the tops as Katie mentioned
-extra fins on tops and bracers
-bracers
-genuine blended waists (not just painted on)
-hidden seams
-unique flukes that as we've seen have been copied to death
-sculpted seaweed and sculpted octopus bra
-individual silicone scales you could glue on your skin
^like all these things just didn't exist until she started them but people don't KNOW that or realize it because they just haven't been around long enough, or because others try to take the credit. I remember about 5 or 6 years ago we literally had a post with proof of dates etc. You can probably still find them all listed in this thread.
All these things people take for granted no one realizes Raven invented.