Upset to see Austin Hamilton ad in magazine

Yeah I've seen the ads in several mags - there's one in the current Bead & Button. I'm hoping the mags don't know.

Bleh.

There are several threads on the B&B forum and many people have written to the mags to voice complaints.

Barbara

He has an ad in the June Bead & Button with a live bunny in it. He wants to seem like such a nice guy, with a cute bunny (what does a rabbit have to do with beads?). I almost barfed.

````````````````````````````` In this case, yes. Bead & Button's publications are now done by a publishing conglomerate, and they don't care as long as they get advertising revenue -- I assume. It's not a small, personal magazine anymore.

Oh yes, yes. This is sad but true. SMP

I've read about the pitfalls of Austin Hamilton, too. Sadly, it's the magazine's bread and butter. Perhaps the best defense is to alert others to the pitfalls of buying beads from that company.

Peace, Lilyflower lilyflower @ theworld.com

I am glad to hear people have complained, I think I will too.

I let people know when it comes up but I think it calls for more. If it were a US company you could report to the BBB but as it is... It mainly irks me that he's competing with lampwork artists unfairly. I know a lot of that goes on on Ebay but most is small time, not ongoing for years.

Ingrid

Ingrid,

The other issue is that he's in Canada, so unless there is a BBB branch up there, there's not much to do.

He had an ad in Belle Armoire this month, too.

Barbara

A bunch of people wrote to Kalmbach Publishing about this issue and they responded with EXTREME grace and style, and will not be accepting further ads from AH. I believe they still have one more completed issue (June?) that the ad is already in, but after that they say we won't be seeing any more AH ads in Bead Style or Bead & Button.

I believe there are also smaller AH ads > Isn't Austin Hamilton the guy that fraudulently sells Chinese lampwork

I am really glad to hear that!

Ingrid

Sadly, this is not true although this was the impression we were given when the giveaway was cancelled.

Before planning the budget for the next year's advertising, I wrote to Kalmbach.

In effect I was told that there were no outstanding complaints about AH so they were acceptable as advertisers.

Cancelling the giveaway was merely a one-off.

We won't be renewing our contract with Kalmbach next year.

-Su

That's great to know, Kalera. Perhaps they will notice if people point out how they feel. I'm writing my reasoned response tonight. I already deleted the emotional one.

-Su

responded with EXTREME grace and style, and will not be accepting further ads from AH. ````````````````````` HUZZAH!!!!!!!!

responded with EXTREME grace and style, and will not be accepting further ads from AH. ````````````````````` HUZZAH!!!!!!!!

No, Sooz,

Kalmbach told me today in an email they have not cancelled their advertising with AH. They cancelled a giveaway under pressure from beaders who wrote in but the adverts will keep being published as they have no complaints unresolved from anyone regarding AH.

-Su

Su,

I just filled out an online survey for Beadwork Magazine and left this gem in the optional comments section:

"I know advertising dollars 'run' a magazine, but I wish the publisher would take time to research the reliability and ethics of its advertisers. Case in point - in your current issue there is an article about ethics and copying, yet Austin Hamilton beads has an advertisement. They are a well known importer of poor quality Chinese lampwork and have been caught on more than one occasion using pictures and/or text stolen from the websites of lampwork artists. They also frequently use these materials to reproduce poor quality copies overseas and flood the market."

Great comment, Barbara.

I'm waiting to hear from Kalmbach about this issue. The ISGB is also busy discussing the issue as now AH is using the ISGB logo as the registered domain owner is a business member of the ISGB.

I think that people are slowly waking up to the point that it's not just about flooding the market but also about hurting the honest Chinese beadmakers who clearly state where their beads are made and are honest about their wares.

It's the misdirection and infringements that concern me, it hurts everyone, not just SRAs but honest businesses that are up front about their companies.

-Su