The Last I'll Say On The Matter of Orglamix

Good Sunday to everyone... I hope your weekend has been a bit better than mine.

This is the last post I will write in regards to Orglamix.

No further words need be spoken, as I believe enough has been said already. This is both through my words here, from other bloggers, and most importantly the loudest voice of all- the selective and absolute silence from Cheri herself. It deeply saddens me, as I had hoped things wouldn't have turned out this way at all. As some could say, "ignorance is bliss". Indeed.

According to some others in the blogosphere universe around here, those who write what is perceived to be "negative reviews" or "critical critiques" of Orglamix's products are served with Cease and Desist orders. I don't know if this will be the road taken in this instance, but I'm sure time will tell. Perhaps it will make people think twice about supporting some businesses, and making sure you're well read and informed before you  make a purchase. Also, at this time I still have not received any contact or response from Cheri.

Let me be clear and state it again- Orglamix products are safe- that much is known. I haven't indicated or said otherwise that I think this product is unsafe, or would cause harm to anyone who has or will use them. I truly don't believe  in my heart Cheri would knowingly distribute anything which would be dangerous to any one of us. The cosmetics line in question, Candy Glam, has already been addressed, apologized for, and resolved. Finished.

It's unfortunate as well to have noticed (and it's not just me observing this) over the past few days, time has been spent deleting comments and legitimate questions from concerned customers on her FB page who just want an answer to their inquiry/inquiries. Only an Administrator on the page has the ability to remove  those comments, unless the user decides to go back and remove their post. People are noticing  and following this. Taking screen shots. They're ending up on Flikr, and shared with friends... Who share with friends... And so goes the circle, getting bigger and bigger. The more you ignore, the more oxygen gets fed to the flames, the hotter the fire is going to get. It's strange that replies are being given to those who are still praising the cosmetics (which I still think are fabulous and personally will continue to use) and who will still support this business. That's entirely your own choice should you want to purchase from Orglamix.

It's not  what I'm upset about. It's not what many others are upset about. Personally, for me, money is not the issue. Whether I spent ten bucks or a thousand on her products, I would still be asking the questions I am. I would still have the same opinion I do now- read above, in purple text. I would still have done the research and posted the public information I have found. The issue at hand is the lack of disclosure and transparency, contradicting statements, as well as half answers given to dodge the real issue(s) at hand. Legitimate questions have been raised in a non-confrontational, curious, yet firm way by customers. Multiple times. Each time, the  ones perceived as negative are being deleted. None of the users are deleting their posts. What's going on? Those who dare ask, or inquire a second time, have been banned from the page.  Is that fair? Is that good business practice? A status update indicated Cheri was away in LA, returning Monday, and that's why there haven't been posts. Yet... There has been activity away from the page. Items re-stocked on Etsy. What's going on with the missing posts, questions, people, and pictures? 

What's that old saying.... You'll gather more bees using honey instead of vinegar. Yeah, that kind of thing.

A problem isn't going to just "go away" because it's being deleted or ignored. It's guaranteed at that point those same people are going to get upset or mad, and they're going to rant as they're allowed to. People are going to see it. And it's the guaranteed way to raise red flags with other folks who then go "What the hell is going on?!". They do research. They'll find the bad, right along with the good. Is that a risk that's worth gambling on, especially when it comes to your business? Your livelihood?

I'm interested to see what Cheri shares about Orglamix. I honestly, truly am. No BS, no lies, I'm not being snarky (as my name lends most to believe), I'm genuinely interested. I want to see the lab where she creates her products, with her ingredients and supplies at hand. I'll even say I'm eager for her to prove me, and the others who now share my doubts, wrong. I want to see stickerfests and labeling the jars. I want to see smiling employees, and I sure as heck hope someone takes her up on her offer to swing by the lab tomorrow. I'd like to see pictures from someone other than Cheri (or one of her employees, or close family/friends) to corroborate. Pictures from "just another customer" like I was. Like some still are, and will continue to be. Show me the business in action!

Last but not least, I'd like to implore you to not give up on purchasing makeup from other small businesses. There are many other hard working owners crafting, creating, testing, literally living and breathing life into their ventures who end up suffering the backlash when something like this happens. Yes, it does make us think twice, or even more, before making a purchase from a small indie business.

My suggestion is simply: Do your research.

Look at the companies who share with absolute transparency what they're doing. Are their photographs stock images? Or are they professionally taken and well presented? Do they use pictures of their customers to advertise too? Do the photos represent the product you're purchasing in true form? How many people do they show, either on their blogs/shops/social networking sites or elsewhere, wearing their cosmetics?

How many customers are posting pictures of themselves wearing the product? And what's the diversity of people posting? Is it the same 5 or 10 people? Sure, maybe at first! But if the business is successful, that number should start to mushroom pretty quickly. Word of mouth referral holds a lot of power- if we find a product we like, we recommend it. It's no secret we rave about products we love... As I've certainly done so!

Do we see their stock room or workspace/lab? Is it clean? Are things well organized and displayed nicely? This will influence your decision, won't it? If an area is well kept and organized- then the way the material is packaged and presented has a high possibility it's also going to arrive at your doorstep in the same nice way. It's reassuring. And it's a near guarantee there will be repeat business and new customers to boot.

What you see, or more importantly don't see, in a company will ultimately steer you as to whether or not you'll purchase their products. Trust your guts. If you have an off feeling- don't be afraid to ask questions. If they're not answered to your satisfaction, it's totally up to you at that point where you go from there. Whether or not you purchase, or move on and try to find another company to suit what you're looking for.

I think at this point, things just need to pan out and come to fruition.

Most importantly- thank you my readers. You have offered support in such an immense way since this "scandal" has spread like wildfire. I'm overwhelmed and so thankful for what you have been able to do by way of attempting to keep those people who misquote or only take snippets of what I've said and shown and use it in a way that I did not intend. I'm not perpetuating lies, I'm not writing crap, and I'm not doing this out of malice. I took cold, hard, public internet web pages and copied them. I shared them. You've read what I've presented. You'll make up your own mind. Eventually, the entire story will be revealed.

Thank you my online friends. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the enormous amount of support I've had from all of you so far, and in such a short amount of time. I'm sure the others, my good friends I've met through our mutual addiction love of playing with cosmetics, who are in the same boat as me right now, also appreciate the outpouring of support as well.

~*Snarky P