I'm
sad to let you know that Stampin' Up! has made the difficult decision
to discontinue the line of Blendabilites alcohol markers. In
short, the welding process of attaching the marker tip to the barrel of
the marker can result in microscopic holes in the tip of the marker.
This can lead to accelerated evaporation of the alcohol in the ink,
resulting in a dried up, unusable marker.
I've included a brief Q&A about this problem posted below.
Please
note that this defect does NOT affect all the markers that are out
there. It's estimated that approximately 30-40% of the markers were
affected by the defect. Thankfully my markers are fine, and I will
continue to use them to color images on occasion. If you have purchased any
Blendabilites, or earned some as a free Sale-A-Bration item, I encourage
you to test your markers and make sure they are in working order. If they are
unusable, or you find anything questionable about them, please
contact me by
June 15, 2015, so we can determine whether to get you a refund or exchange for a different product.
The
success of the Blendabilites line has certainly opened a door. Stampin' Up! is very aware that
alcohol based markers, and all the crafting possibilities that they
allow, are a high demand product. They are continuing to work on
finding a new manufacturer or method of producing these markers that
will result in a high quality, stable product line that meets SU!'s high standards while remaining affordable.
Don't
hesitate to contact me with any questions. I know this is disappointing
and frustrating news, but I am very glad that Stampin' Up! has
acknowledged this issue, and I must applaud SU! for their ethics in business practices.
Q&A
Q: Are all Blendabilities markers defective?
A: No. Most Blendabilities markers work as intended. We ask that you use your best judgment to determine whether your product is in good condition or if you need a refund.
Q: What are the quality problems with this product?
A: When the tip is welded to the barrel, the welding process can leave microscopic (invisible) holes in the marker tip. This leads to accelerated evaporation of the alcohol in the ink.
Q: Will the Tuxedo Black Memento Pad (item #132708) and the Tuxedo Black Memento Pad Refill (item#133456) still be available for purchase?
A: Yes. These items will also be featured in this year’s 2015 – 2016 annual catalog.
Q: Can I replace my Blendabilities for non-defective Blendabilities?
A: No. We’re returning our entire inventory of Blendabilities to the manufacturer.
Q: If I selected Blendabilities as my Sale-A-Bration item and it is on backorder,do I have to choose another Sale-A-Bration item?
A: Yes. We have fourteen other Sale-A-Bration items from which to choose.
Hope this was helpful, and again, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.
Hugs,
Sally