Upset to see Austin Hamilton ad in magazine

Let me know, Kalera.

I genuinely think it was a case of them saying they were 'reviewing' their position with regards to advertising and people took that to mean they were ending the adverts.

If you can find it, let me know? We're close to the end of our advertising year here. Fortunately there is a UK magazine in the works, but I'll be writing and phoning them to discuss the issue.

I want to say that it's not an issue of the beads being mass-produced, or even made in China. It's the fact that they have lifted text and images, and do not disclose the location of manufacture that I object to.

The issue of bad workmanship and annealing and not cleaning the beads isn't really as important as the issue of ethics in business. I have bought other beads in the past that weren't cleaned but the seller said they weren't and why. I've bought other beads in the past made in India and China but I knew they were made there. I've bought other beads that were not described as annealed. These were honest sellers, and that's what I expect from any seller.

-Su

They are not being very smart about this. They are knowingly promoting a company that is commiting fraud. The links pointing this out are posted on one of their forums. It may be hard to report AH to the BBB but these magazines are in the US. How can they say there are no outstanding complaints? There are at least a few, ours! I think they must be figuring they'll get away with it because lampwork artists are not big companies.

I'm also unhappy to add that his link is on the sidebar of Lapidary Journal's website too.

Ingrid

Perhaps a concerted letter-writing campaign to Google, LapJournal, Kalmbach and the other magazine publishers might get their attention.

-Su

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 was wondering about that.

Stephanie

THIS is the crux of the matter. The fraudulent behavior. The illegality and the ethics issue.

registered domain owner is a business member of the ISGB. ````````````````````````` They need to kick his ass out!

That really sucks. I honestly thought we were going to get somewhere with this. Damn.

I believe that was Bead Unique

I believe the ISGB board is discussing the issue but oddly there are people whose posts I've seen who think that it's not a big deal. Their stance is there must be other dishonest sellers out there, why single this one out?

I hope Kalera finds out which magazine did cancel the ads.

-Su

Right, then I'll email them and ask what their stance on the advertising issue is.

-Su

I never can sign up for ISGB forum, I try to register but no email ever shows up. I got really worked up reading that thread, it's probably just as well I couldn't rant.

I am not a bead maker but most of the people belonging are, I would think? Why is there even an argument? It really puzzles me. If it's to protect other dishonest sellers that makes no sense to me either.

Well, after a few emails regarding the issue I was told finally and firmly that Kalmbach has discussed the issues raised with Mr Rokosz and he has replied giving them assurances that none of the issues are valid so Kalmbach feels that AH adverts are acceptable in all their publications. I was told "... we emailed a summary of the concerns as we understood them to Dan Rokosz, the President of Minek Inc. As of now, we are satisfied with the answers and evidence we received, and that our research showed."

Colour me disgusted and no longer a subsciber or advertiser.

-Su

I was in a tizzy and confused about something - I don't have to switch mags, because Beadwork doesn't have any AH ads - at least not in the latest issue. I wrote to them and told them I was really happy about it, told them why, and let them know that I'd be uncomfortable having my ads in a publication with AH ads for as long as AH is engaging in unethical and fraudulent business practices.

And > Kalera wrote:

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, can you tell I'm happy about both things?

Thanks for letting us know, Kalera, both about Beadwork and the ISGB issue. Must have happened while I was asleep!

-Su

there was a one-line bit in the latest beadwork that lists AH as a lampwork supplier. It wasn't a color ad, per se, but it was in a callout box with other suppliers.

Barbara

Hrm well. Hopefully my letter at least gave them something to think about.

Also, Sara (the ISGB President) talked to the owner of AH (Daniel Rokosz? Something like that. Su knows) on the phone. She said he sounded contrite and said they'd made a lot of mistakes starting out, and were working toward rectifying them.

Frankly, I d> there was a one-line bit in the latest beadwork that lists AH as a

Kalera, I agree with you entirely about Minek. I think not only the ISGB but Kalmbach have been snowed by this guy. There is NO move to get the beads listed as being made in China, even though Sara referred to him as 'Austin Hamilton INC, of Canada/Beijing, China' there is nothing anywhere on the AH site to show that the beads are not made in Canada but imported instead.

I am disappointed in Kalmbach, they pretty much dismissed me as a complainer, and of course the money AH pays for ads counts a lot for them, doesn't it? What's the price of cancelling one ad from the UK against all that tasty money from Beijing?

Bead Unique, eh? Fingers crossed they don't get ads from AH.

Time for another round of letters. If something isn't done about this, the SRA beadmakers might be having tea with the dodos in short order.

-Su