Merbellas Thread

[Rogue Siren]

Well, good luck guys!

My mother has pretty much banned me from ever spending that much on a tail.....And I was so close too! Ugh. I still live with her, so I can't just do it anyway. Looks like I'll be going behind her back and making my own....

Anyone know how much Raven would charge for a paint job? (If I did make my own.) If she would even take such a job.

[MerEmma]

I don't think she'd paint a tail you made, but I don't know that for sure. I doubt anyone even has a ballpark figure for you but someone may...probably best to ask Raven I suppose.

[BlueMermaid]

I cannot even imagine what she must have to deal with regarding email. LOL
I assumed she did repairs in-between, or during "drying" times. Like, if she has downtime while a tail is drying, she may work on repairs or her other crafts. I certainly would not expect her to put me ahead of anyone. Last time I needed a repair, she emailed me back right away and did the repair and quickly got it back to me. Most of it was repaired under warranty because it was not from wear and tear, but the problems she fixed have quickly re-appeared. I have no problem paying or even waiting if she's busy, but I would like to get the stuff covered under the warranty fixed before it expires. But anyway, I didn't mean to get into all that, lol.... just wanted to know if she was able to get email when she got her internet back on, or if my emails were lost in cyber space and needed to be re-sent.

I just know that Raven gives all current orders priority. From what I remember talking to her, and what I've seen with others, you have to wait until she has time. Which, depending on her work load, can be quite a while. She may not even take any repair requests until after she's done with her current work load. Also keep in mind that her email is a clusterfuck of nonsense and stupid questions, so she can have a hard time finding legit emails in all the piles of BS mail.

Also for anyone else wondering, Raven told me that she charges $150 to alter tails. Unless you've paid for an extended warranty with them, anyhow. I believe she was just talking about taking in a tail though (like if you lose weight). I know that seems like a lot, but from how she explained to me how it's done, I can see how it would be that much. She basically has to make another seam in the area where it's taken in, blend the seams really well, repaint that area, all that. You'd have to pay differently to do paint touch ups, complete repaint, repairs, and pay for any additional fins you want, if you want that as well, on top of that.

[Winged Mermaid]

Ah, I see I've talked to Raven here and there, and she tends to have 15 tails going at one time O_O so when one is drying she's working on another and so forth, so she's not just waiting around for a pile of tails to dry at once, she's constantly working. As far as I can tell, it's efficient for her work load of current orders, but not so much for fitting other stuff in. :/

When you get your tail in, you can ask for reinforcing in trouble spots! I've seen her do it with others, like when she fixed up Raina's tail. I know with as many gigs as you do and how many other people wear your tails, the waist area from putting them on so many times may be an issue for example, so she can reenforce that area.

I know a few things she said about making it easier to find emails was to 1) Always use the same email address. 2) When you reply always reply to the same email as before, instead of sending a new one. 3) Don't send emails too frequently (I think this may be a potential spam filter thing, where if you send too many it may mark you as spam). Since you haven't had luck so far, I would recommend replying to the same specific email you used to originally order the tail. The email I originally sent to Raven to order we've always replied to each other through that same email string or ("conversation" as gmail can call it)-which is 42 emails long!- and that let her keep track of it a lot easier than if I would have sent another different email. I hope that helps! Either way, good luck with getting in touch ^_^

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Eep... I've been trying to get a hold of them since October. I heard back once from Tyler, but that was to tell me he'd get back to me shortly. And I haven't heard anything since. I've resent my e-mails a couple times since, but still nothing. :/

[BlueMermaid]

wow! I wouldn't of even think that was possible!

I've talked to Raven here and there, and she tends to have 15 tails going at one time.

I will defiantly take your advice on the re-enforcing, and thank you for the tips!

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Awwww Raven's birthday is this Saturday! I hope she takes the day off!

[mermaid Syrean]

Just saw this on their Facebook
"Hey guys! Just a quick update: We have been working all week on a music video shoot in Miami/crystal river as well as a convention in Orlando (we have been driving in between the cities every day) We have not had a chance to sleep or go to FedEx this week. I know a few people are waiting on tails to ship and I am truly sorry for the delay. We were only scheduled for one day a filming but it has evolved into much more (but at least there will be a lot more mermaid parts of the video to share!) My birthday is this Saturday which should be my first day off in a while and I can take all packages to FedEx then I promise. Thank you for all the love, you really are THE BEST! -Raven"

[Merley]

Anyone know what happened to Raven's etsy shop? I keep getting this:

[Merman Arion]

That's weird.
If i remember right, the last item was a seaweed top. My guess is that she may have deactivated her shop while waiting to make new accessories.

But that's just my theory.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

She mentioned she was going to be restocking it once she had finished up the tail rush she was working on currently. So most likely she closed the store to show people it's on break at the moment. That, and they may be reorganizing and reformatting the appearance of it.

[Mer-Crazy]

Wait. Wait wait wait hold on a second. Raven's birthday is this Saturday yes? That makes it the 23rd of November correct? Holy crap please tell me I'm right because that means we share the same birthday!

[Pixie Mermaid]

Question for merbella's tail owners: I am a wee mermaid haha I'm only 5' 1''. Is there anyone who owns a merbellas tail with a competitor in it, around my height? I just don't want to be severely disproportional with a huge fluke and a tiny body haha. I just love the look of the competitor in the basic tails.

[Thalassa]

Question for merbella's tail owners: I am a wee mermaid haha I'm only 5' 1''. Is there anyone who owns a merbellas tail with a competitor in it, around my height? I just don't want to be severely disproportional with a huge fluke and a tiny body haha. I just love the look of the competitor in the basic tails.

I'm 5' 2". I love my competitor fin! It is big but I don't think it looks weird, the kids love how I can touch it to my head and hide behind it! I have a performance tail. Here are a couple of pictures so you can see the scale of the tail vs me (no pun intended).

[Mermaid Tasia]

I am really happy to see this! I am 5'2" and was curious about the same thing. I really want to get an angler fluke and was worried it may look disproportionate. Is it easy to swim in?

Also, I wear a US size 6 shoe and was worried some oe the monofins may be too big on me. I have the Finis youth monofin (I think it's called the Wave) and the holes for water to run out at the toes almost let my whole foot come out. Swim socks have helped but I still have to adjust more than I would like.

I am looking to purchase a tail in the next year and don't want to bother Raven until I have all cash in hand.

Right now I am rocking my fabric tail (over the monofin covered with rubber sheeting to fill out the fluke) but I have put it away for the season. I am also worried about shrinking more since I took in my fabric tail 3 times this year. (Mostly in the thigh and butt!) and I even remeasured myself to make sure it wasn't just the fabric stretching out. How has yours been fitting for you? Also, I am curious, I have a lot of butt. 10 inches difference between waist and butt. How bad will a tail gap when I am sitting? Is there a way to accomodate for these type of curves or will I need to have a big waist and cover it with a belt?

[MerEmma]

The competitor isn't known for being easy to swim in, kind of the opposite but if you have a good, deep dolphin kick it shouldn't be that big of a problem. Just some time to get used to, and the angler is smaller than the Merbella fluke so it'll probably look a bit more proportionate.

[Mer-Crazy]

Also, I am curious, I have a lot of butt. 10 inches difference between waist and butt. How bad will a tail gap when I am sitting? Is there a way to accomodate for these type of curves or will I need to have a big waist and cover it with a belt?

My suggestion, from a mer who also has a large booty, tell Raven before you order so she can advise accordingly. I didn't even think when I ordered mine and now my tail is, what I like to call, a low-rider. I see tones of people who have their tail line up around their belly button and I envy them so. I actually had to custom make a large netting belt because otherwise you see a nice bit of human butt poking out the top. This was all an error on my part mind you, no fault of Ravens. Up side, super huggy, doesn't gap at all. Downside, human butt everywhere. I still defiantly suggest asking though cause it's always so sad when I put my tail on and it feels like those jeans you bought that were a size too small.

[Mermaid Kalliope]

My suggestion, from a mer who also has a large booty, tell Raven before you order so she can advise accordingly. I didn't even think when I ordered mine and now my tail is, what I like to call, a low-rider. I see tones of people who have their tail line up around their belly button and I envy them so. I actually had to custom make a large netting belt because otherwise you see a nice bit of human butt poking out the top. This was all an error on my part mind you, no fault of Ravens. Up side, super huggy, doesn't gap at all. Downside, human butt everywhere. I still defiantly suggest asking though cause it's always so sad when I put my tail on and it feels like those jeans you bought that were a size too small.

Meep! I've got a big booty, too. I'm fairly certain I told Raven that in the beginning. XD I started my waist quite high, so I'm not too worried. It'll be snug! Which is what I want. :3

[Merman Arion]

Hi guys,

I have some awesome news to share to all of you. Some merfolks already know but some do not.

During the morning of last Thursday, i had an interesting phone talk.
I chatted with my bank advisor about my third account which has now 9 thousand euros (= around 12 thousand dollars). It's a lot of money and until now, it has been blocked because it's my savings for the future. In fact, because my parents are actually paying for my rent, it's all the monthly rent allowances from the State that i saved and put in that account since the day i moved in Paris so basically more than 3 years. My purpose was to know if i could use some of this money to invest in something. "Not at problem, you are an adult and it's your money so you are allowed to use some" said my bank advisor. Turns out that the process can be easily within the day !

You all get what this means, right?
It means that i can order my dream tail from Raven ANYTIME from now. I will be waiting, just like merman Marlin, for the next line-up of orders. YAAAY!!!

So this week is gonna be about taking my measurements with a professional tailor and deciding about options (scales, monofins, colors) so i will probably ask soon for some opinions from all of you in order to make the best choices for my merman tail.

I'M SOOO EXCITED !!!

[Mermaid Kalliope]

OH MY GOSH! Mon Dieu! Frenchy, that's so amazing! Congrats! I'm so happy for you! ^_^ Just remember that some options cost extra! Awww can't wait to see what you have in mind!

Eeee! Yay! ^-^ So exciting!

Uhm insert some sort of happy gif here?XD