Merbellas Thread

**Talia** · 08-22-2013, 05:59 PM

Raina,

Thank you so much! I sent her the "ideal" message suggested in the FAQ of her Facebook page, since I didn't know if she would remember me. I'll just wait for a response, I guess. I am in no hurry anyway.

I did not know she was moving, so I get that she will be busy - I do not come here as often as I should, I have to remedy that...

**AniaR** · 08-22-2013, 06:21 PM

it's always weird how people pin Raven against everyone too. Like I don't see anyone else going "finfolk vs mertailor!" or something you know?

The thing about right now is Raven is busy but so am I >.> lol. I usually get through all the messages and I am just too worn out to stay on top at the moment =( sorry folks!

**Anahita** · 08-22-2013, 06:40 PM

For a tailmaker that seems to be pretty consistent in making her clients happy, it is REALLY strange that she gets dragged into stuff. I mean, it seems like because she DOES do so well, and on so large a scale, that other tailmakers need to create fake drama to detract from the fact she makes a good product and tries to the best of her ability to provide good customer service.

I mean, all the other tailmakers that get drama over their product actually created the drama by themselves (neoprin and Alex Plus from the Mertailor, continually taking orders and never producing products or refunds from FishButts and Adam Martyn are the first three things that come to mind)... But it doesn't seem like Raven's done anything like that at all.

**AniaR** · 08-22-2013, 07:05 PM

I find it hard not to get defensive for her, just because I see how hard she works. She does things other tail makers that are at her level dont. If a customer doesnt like something about a tail she changes it, if something happens that's the customer's fault she STILL fixes it, she even gives free presents, gives full refunds even after the tail has been created. It gets under my skin, because I feel like people are just waiting for her to drop the ball and it puts too much pressure on a person to be perfect all the time. But then they'll complain she's not fast enough

Raven gets complaints like every other tail maker does (if they tell you they don't, they're lying, I've read and been told bad reviews for every major tail maker) I think the difference is she does everything humanly possible to make the customer happy in the end. Personally, I think she needs to put some boundaries down with people. Too many people wreck their tails out of their own ignorance or sometimes even laziness, and expect her to fix it. They have the wrong expectations of what you can do in a tail and how long it should last and wear and tear (that's why I made that thread a while back for what to expect with your first tail purchase). I also get upset when people message her constantly and get rude and demanding, when it says right on her page she's in the process of moving and changing the tails and lowering the price so she's not taking any orders. if people can't be bothered to follow the very bare rules she's set out for ordering, I don't think she should respond to them at all. But she's awesome, and tries to do it all for everyone all the time.

Ugh I could rant forever. I try not to get too defensive of her, and let her work speak for itself because it really does. But man, the demands of the mercommunity in general are kind of crazy lol

**Anahita** · 08-22-2013, 10:43 PM

I don't think it sounds defensive... I mean, defensive (at least how I learned the word) always had a negative connotation to it.. Like, you politely point out a valid flaw with someone and then they can't handle it, so they get defensive... You know? All the flaws people point out with Raven seem minuscule compared to some of the other problems people have had with other tailmakers.

I mean, wait times... Seriously,.... THAT'S people's problem? They should try working with silicone. I live in Southern California, where the weather SHOULD be ideal for it (not too humid, not too arid, not too hot, not too cold, etc.) and I STILL have problems with it.... There's STILL days I can't work with stuff like I want to. I mean, honestly, silicone takes forever to cure, and depending on how many molds she has to work with, plus the weather, plus REPLACING molds (which has to unfortunately be done too) plus rush orders.... (I don't even think there should be a "rush order" option, honestly, because I feel like that's just entitlement from people with unrealistic expectations as it is, but look, she's nice enough to offer it! Sheesh.)

You know something too that bothered me... I watched her get to 10,000 likes, and when she thanked everyone, the most frequent theme of comment underneath it was "So how about that free tail you were mentioning?"

Like, seriously? **sigh** I dunno, maybe I'M getting defensive over her too, lol. But I see all the work she puts into her things, and as a craftsperson myself who works with the same materials, I really empathize with her.... And to see people kind of behave with no civility towards someone who works VERY hard to give them their dream piece... Just not cool I guess.

**AniaR** · 08-22-2013, 10:45 PM

she still wants to do the free tail too, but she has paying customers and rush orders that take priority. :/

**Arella** · 08-22-2013, 10:50 PM

My experience with Raven's tails has been great! I love my tail

I'm going to do a review soon as I get my tail back from her! It was a bit short and she said she could add to the top which I am extremely grateful for! I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience

**Anahita** · 08-22-2013, 10:50 PM

Sounds reasonable to me.... That free tail has to be paid for somehow!

**Mermaid Lorelei** · 08-22-2013, 11:06 PM

You know something too that bothered me... I watched her get to 10,000 likes, and when she thanked everyone, the most frequent theme of comment underneath it was "So how about that free tail you were mentioning?"

Yeah, I noticed that trend, too, Anahita. I made sure to post something sweet for her.

**Mermaid Evolet** · 08-23-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Anahita

You know something too that bothered me... I watched her get to 10,000 likes, and when she thanked everyone, the most frequent theme of comment underneath it was "So how about that free tail you were mentioning?"

Like, seriously? **sigh** I dunno, maybe I'M getting defensive over her too, lol. But I see all the work she puts into her things, and as a craftsperson myself who works with the same materials, I really empathize with her.... And to see people kind of behave with no civility towards someone who works VERY hard to give them their dream piece... Just not cool I guess.

Now I'm feeling bad for even asking, (even if I congratulated her too)

You know the problem is , that she said it and people (myself included) are now expecting her to really do what she said. (hope that makes sense, ohh my bad english...)

I totally get your point too, and i agree with you, you know?
If I were the lucky one with the "free tail" I still would pay her everything I saved for my tail (about 2 000 $), because her art is just to wonderful to just being made for free...

**MermaidHyli** · 08-23-2013, 11:17 AM

I'm just going to add my little voice here.
Raven has been very kind to me personally. Maybe some of you know my dorsal tore and was coming off and we discussed fixing it when I thought I was going down to merpalooza but that didn't happen. I ended up taking the dorsal off because I was doing a birthday party and I didn't want the kiddies to rip it off and do more damage. I just recently went to a meet up and we did a video where you could see that I no longer have a dorsal. Raven messaged me from her personal facebook to discuss details of how it happen, making sure the whole tail wouldn't do that, and ensuring me that this is not the norm. I was a little ticked when the dorsal started coming off but I've learned to just deal with things until they can be taken care of. If any one asked me what happened, such as kids, I tell them I was swimming too close to a boat and got hit by the prop (like a manatee). But even with that story Raven wants to fix it so in October when I get surgery I'm sending it down to get fixed up. She was very insistent that she fix it whether adding the dorsal back on or fixing the scales and repainting it. Every one is entitled to their own opinion which seems to be the trend topic these days so I for one have really enjoyed my experience with Raven and support her as my tail maker and will continue to support her.

**Merrow Erie** · 08-23-2013, 11:35 AM

It all comes down to this 'me first' attitude and people's expectations for instant gratification. One of my cousins learned about mernaiding not long ago, and she's been one of those asking for silicone tails for free. Not anymore after I found out.

Thanks to technology, people can be like 'oh, I want that thing', and three clicks later it's on its way. They don't realize, let alone appreciate, the time and effort that goes into making these tails. Silicone is expensive and tricky, not to mention how hard Raven works to create the painted designs her customers want. Tails don't come off an assembly line, that's REAL craftsmanship. It takes time and effort.

I've got a jar of spare change, and that's the sum of my tail fund. But I'm willing to wait as long as it takes to save up for one of Raven's tails, because I know she will make it worth every cent.

**Merman Arion** · 08-23-2013, 12:11 PM

HAIL TO RAVEN

**Moongazer** · 08-23-2013, 04:01 PM

I love Raven's work but I doubt I'll buy from her again anytime soon. I just felt so... Ignored buying a set of the bracers that, even with the PM's I sent regarding the messages and the colors they still turned out huge on me and the wrong colors.

Not trying to be a wet blanket, her work is amazing. But I ended up selling the bracers to my friend because Raven wanted me to ship them back to her (I'm in Canada, shipping would have been 20+) and it wasn't worth it when that's almost half the price of the bracers to begin with.

I'll admire her work from afar. ^^