Merbellas Thread

[Mermaid Kalliope]

I picked competitor for a lot of reasons:

1. I watched Raina's videos and any other mermaids who had a competitor (Like the German/Belgium mer, I can't remember her name, she was in a Christmas video. ><) like a madmer to see how it flows/flops.
- I love big stiff flukes, but I didn't want it to look unnaturally stiff. Even dolphin/whale flukes have flow!

2. I like the FLOP! it makes when it hits the water. (Haha, Raina, the video where you, Ama and Mimi are all slapping the water, I can totally tell when it's your tail. It's so much louder. )

3. I live by the ocean and plan on swimming in that glorious body of water... A LOT. I need to make sure I won't be over powered by the current.

4. It is so much bigger than other fins that she offers. I'd rather have my monofin fill my fluke than have a bunch of extra silicone flipping about. :-D

5. Speed! I love swimming fast! I'm a little speedster, so I feel the competitor will deliver that the best.

Yay! ^_^ Mmkay, I'm done. haha

[Marlin]

I picked competitor for a lot of reasons:

1. I watched Raina's videos and any other mermaids who had a competitor (Like the German/Belgium mer, I can't remember her name, she was in a Christmas video. ><) like a madmer to see how it flows/flops.
- I love big stiff flukes, but I didn't want it to look unnaturally stiff. Even dolphin/whale flukes have flow!

2. I like the FLOP! it makes when it hits the water. (Haha, Raina, the video where you, Ama and Mimi are all slapping the water, I can totally tell when it's your tail. It's so much louder. )

3. I live by the ocean and plan on swimming in that glorious body of water... A LOT. I need to make sure I won't be over powered by the current.

4. It is so much bigger than other fins that she offers. I'd rather have my monofin fill my fluke than have a bunch of extra silicone flipping about. :-D

5. Speed! I love swimming fast! I'm a little speedster, so I feel the competitor with deliver that the best.

Yay! ^_^ Mmkay, I'm done. haha

I whole-heartedly second everything said

[SeaNymph]

Hey guys, to bring some light into the mystery: I´m the mermaid of the Christmas video and I´m from Germany not Belgium. My monofin is a competitor, it is quite stiff but I wanted it this way because I needed a tail with great propulsion. The competitor is great in the ocean but only if you have enough training and muscles to handle it. For swimming in pools/tanks or for freediving beginners I would recommend floppier monofins because it´s easier to swim figures, saltos etc. and you won´t get cramps.
Here´s my Christmas video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJlt4QVg1s

[Mermaid Allie]

Wow SeaNymph Daniela you look awesome in that video and so does your tail

[Little_Orca]

Well, due to the wedding plans (and how shy Mr Orca tends to be), he has opted out of getting himself a tail for now. He really wants a tail (and plans to get one later,) but is not as thrilled about getting married in one as I am. HOWEVER! ... He said he would dress in a fancy pirate captain's outfit and carry me off the beach over his shoulder once we were married. That takes care of how I will get off the beach... and means I have 1/3 of the money for my tail versus the 1/6 I had when I was saving for two.




... Now... I just have to work out overtime...

[AniaR]

Yaaaay! <3

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Hey guys, to bring some light into the mystery: I´m the mermaid of the Christmas video and I´m from Germany not Belgium. My monofin is a competitor, it is quite stiff but I wanted it this way because I needed a tail with great propulsion. The competitor is great in the ocean but only if you have enough training and muscles to handle it. For swimming in pools/tanks or for freediving beginners I would recommend floppier monofins because it´s easier to swim figures, saltos etc. and you won´t get cramps.
Here´s my Christmas video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJlt4QVg1s

Thank you! I am thought that you werw German, but I wasn't sure because I could have sworn that I read Belgium from someone in regards to that video. Danke! (Hope I got that right.)

[AniaR]

Hey everyone!

Raven's going to be updating the FAQ soon hopefully I pointed out the inconsistencies!

[AniaR]

Here's a recently posted FAQ addition:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/merbe...42703012452450

Product Wait Times and Email Response Times FAQ



At Merbellas Studios Inc, we pride ourselves in creating unique and amazing mermaid products. From tails to tops, accessories and more,our creations are inspired by the sea. We get frequent emails and messages with questions, which is why we have a FAQ (you can read it here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/merbe...55537217835697). This note will take it a step further; to give you insight into our wait times and email response times.


In regards to tails, our current wait time is between 90-120days. Depending on a variety of reasons, your tail may be created sooner orlater than this. Here are some of the common factors that may influence your wait time:


· Curing times and weather. Silicone takes a certain amount of time and the right environmental conditions to cure, so does each layer of paint. Silicone won’t cure in cold or humid weather, or during rainy weather. It also can’t cure around certain substances (like latex). If Florida is hit with hurricane type weather, prolonged rain, or unseasonably cold temperatures, these things will affect how long you’ll have to wait for your tail.


· Materials. Very rarely, suppliers for the products will run short and back order, often without notice. This has happened to many tail makers in the past, especially when it comes to monofins. Merbellas Studios will strive to make this information available to clients-but often it is not made available to us. We stock up to avoid it happening, but sometimes it can’t be helped.


· Basic tails take a longer time than performance tails do to make.


· Because of how frequently we use our molds, we often need to make brand new ones and test them to replace the old ones. This is to insure that all tails are held to our high standard.


· Complicated painting schemes may take longer than basic painting schemes, especially if we need to email back and forth with you to get you to approve the design a number of times. You can help this by making sure you know your design ahead of time.


· Similarly, if you change your mind about your design during the construction process, this will delay your tail.


· Occasionally people lose weight, gain weight, or realize they have done their measurements wrong. Sometimes this is an easy fix,other times we need to make a whole new tail. This can delay your wait time.


· We get sick from time to time like everyone else. We tend to trudge through anyway, but occasionally it’ll mean a day ortwo off from working on tails.


· Merbellas Mermaids perform several times a year in a variety of locations. During performance prep time, performing time, and tear down/travel time, we are unable to work on tails or communicate with clients on a routine basis. We will alert you if we’re travelling via our Facebook Page.


· Your tail may be delayed if you fail to pay the full amount. If you send us an email saying “ready to pay” and give us all your info, but then do not pay or respond to our invoice, we will not start your tail until you have paid.


· Likewise, the same thing can happen if you do not pay us for your shipping. We are working on better methods for shipping, at the time it can be difficult to give you an accurate estimate before construction of your tail, as each tail is individual and tails are travelling all over the world. If your shipping costs more than was expected, we appreciate your understanding and quick reimbursement to ensure your tail arrives on time.


· If you are an international client, please take into consideration customs wait times. Customs are legally allowed to retain your tail for up to 6 weeks. They very rarely do this, but Merbellas is in noway responsible for US customs or the customs of your country. You may be charged associated customs fees as well for importing of a product.


· Finally, wait times for EVERYONE become longer when you send us emails too frequently. If we spend all our time answering questions that are already answered in the FAQ, fielding people who don’t have a genuine commitment to buying, and handling junk mail, we have less time for working on tails. Similarly if you are a client it does not help us if you email us every day. Unless we notify you personally or make a statement about delays on our Facebook, you can assume your tail is moving along on time. We will contact you to approve the paint job before we put on the final touches,and contact you when your tail ships. Obviously, if there is a pressing matter(like a shipping address change) please contact us. It makes communications error happen less frequently if you ONLY contact us in one way (preferably email, not messaging us on all of our websites) from the same email. It can be extra helpful to us if you reply to the same emails instead of starting new ones.



In terms of accessories, tops, and other mermaid items:


· For all silicone tops- the same information above applies.


· For shell tops, occasionally we may be waiting for a new shipment of materials. Shell tops are VERY time consuming and intricate work. Especially if they are custom.


· If you commission a custom top through Etsy,your wait time will be delayed if you do not pay when your top is ready.


· It affects EVERYONE’S wait time, If you commission something, and then do not follow through on payment upon completion. We end up spending time on tops that never get paid for, and it takes us longer to get to the tops and accessories that clients ARE paying for.

At Merbellas Studios Inc, we know you're excited to begin life as a professional mermaid. However, as you've seen a variety of things may delay your tail. It's our strong recommendation that if you do plan on taking mermaid bookings, that you don't start until you receive your tail. We cannot accept responsibilities for missed booking opportunities.


At Merbellas Studios Inc, we appreciate your understanding when it comes to wait times. We work very hard to make tails that live up to our client’s dreams and expectations. Our first priority is to ensure that you can bring out your inner mer with a tail customized to your vision. Thanks for your considerations and business! We look forward to working with you.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Very neat, concise, and specific FAQs. Here's hoping people will actually read them. O.O

[Mermaid Isabela]

GUYS MY TOP!!! * U * < The blue!! >

[Felicia]

So quick question about how much stretch the performance tails have, I'm a bit worried that if I measure at my waist, which is 25.5 inches, that I won't be able to get the waist of the tail around my hips, which are 39 inches. Anyone know just how stretchy the tails are?

[Mermaid Isabela]

To give you an idea... The neoprene in basic tails, makes the silicone lose stretch. My waist is 30in and my hips are 45... and I can get it up just fine. o.O; So I'm guessing that the performance tails are even stretchier.

[Marlin]

@Isabela- Mind if I PM you a ton of questions about your tail? I am trying to decide between the basic and the performance and would love to know what yours is like.

[MermaidHyli]

My performance stretches surprisingly pretty well. Sure it takes some wiggling but I've found getting the tail a bit wet as well as myself makes the process easier.

Also Belize rocks, got the tail on and off the plane easily and it flows like a dream in the ocean. Some pictures on fb with turtles, rays, and sharks. Two more dive trips (one of which is the great blue hole) so I'm hoping for some awesome shots. Raven is a maker of dreams come true <3

[AniaR]

so long as you put it on wet you can get it to stretch really well. I just had mine taken in 2 inches, but In some parts of my body the inches came back. If anything, it fits even better being that tight and stretching instead.

[Mermaid Isabela]

@Marlin Sure thing! PM me any questions you might have. I'll do my best to answer them!

[AniaR]

So you guys know I've been helping out with some of the messages from time to time.

I gotta say. I have a whole new appreciation for why Eric came across rude frequently in his emails to people. Some of the requests Raven gets, the messages, the people who refuse to stop messaging 50 times a day... it blows my mind. Some people are so rude and demanding, some people refuse to read what you answer them. It's like they don't like the answer so they just keep asking it over and over. I really don't understand people who refuse to read the FAQ when we GIVE them the link. Having other questions it doesn't cover is one thing, but like man, seriously. Some people take actual tantrums and act like divas if you arent willing to give them a free tail or a huge discount.

I think I've had the bad end through my own business, of people who think I should tell them everything to be a mermaid in an email, but man... I seriously underestimated what tail makers go through. No wonder so many people get so stressed and snap at others. I have a whole new appreciation. They want customer service but don't even start with the basics of respect -_-

So yeah. I just had to say that. LOL. Remember how I said I underestimated how many emails she had to get through? Well I underestimated how long it takes too... wowza. haha

[Mermaid Isabela]

Geez. Good Luck Raina... I hope you guys get through them fast. I usually try to answer the things people post on the Merbellas FB but it gets too much... I can only imagine the emails.

[Arella]

I'm pretty sure my top is the one on the table in the pic, blue and gold