This is why I hate having to depend on human beings.

[darqstar]

Okay, back on August 5th, I posted an entry asking for volunteers to help me test this cat toy I've designed. Many people volunteered. Some were even nice enough to volunteer to pay for postage. Two people were nice enough to actually pay for postage, and it is appreciated. I allowed folks to volunteer if they wanted to pay postage, because

Comments

[maladaptive]

I find it really sad that you think people would call you a bitch over this-- and even sadder that people probably would.

[darqstar]

I've delt with mail order before (way back in the days of zines instead of the internet) and I have delt with people who would get upset at me over my inquiring if they got stuff (If they paid, I didn't worry. If they didn't get their stuff in a few weeks, they were always quick to write and let me know, but I did give away zines to certain people and I wanted to know if they got them. And sometimes, they would gripe about it. "Yes, I got it SIX WEEKS AGO, but I'm BUSY, what do you WANT from me?"

So, whenever I get upset about anything like this, I assume most folks will react by thinking I'm a big old meanie for having the nerve to expect people who I send stuff to, to just let me know if they got it.

I'm probably crazy.

[thornedillusion]

That's why I didn't volunteer. I know I'm extra flaky these days and wouldn't want to leave you hanging.

[darqstar]

*blinks* Do you really think you'd flake that much?

I didn't want to put too much onto anyone, but I didn't feel letting me know when people got the thing and then filling out the questionaires was a big deal. Especially when it was a volunteer basis. Maybe I need to rethink my position.

[thornedillusion]

I know you're putting a lot of time and effort into this, and I'm brainless enough these days that letting you know it arrived and what the cats think could easily sit on my "to do" list for months without me realizing the time had passed. I didn't want to do that to you.

I'm not saying that's what's going on with your volunteers, just why I didn't.

[wolfling]

I just got it today. (the vagaries of US-Canada mail) Was just coming online to tell you. :) My cat is always a little leery of new toys right away but she does seem interested in it so far.

And I love the design of the handle -- every other dangling toy like that I have the handle is bent all to hell because of how hard Spook is on them -- this one she's not going to be able to do that to.

More response after she's had a chance to acclimatate to it and really go to town with it.

[darqstar]

You're kidding! Well, thus explains why priority mail would have been 12 dollars.

I've mailed stuff to Canada before and haven't had it take that long. The last stuff I sent to Canada were books and they went out at book rate (the cheapest and thus slowest thing there is) and it still was faster.

Thanks for letting me know you got it. I'm really glad you like the basic look of the toy, I was trying for a handle that would look and feel good to the owner. The attachments are for the cat, but the handle is for the owner!

[wolven_remorse]

I agree!! As soon as I opened it I was like, " oooh! The handle is neat!! " Its so professional and like... it had the... " Toy " feeling to it with the nice wood and the little ball holding the chain on, I can't explain it! Its not half-assed-machine-made! And it REALLY feels just so home made and full of character. =) My kitties love it!

-- Kiyoshi

[darqstar]

Aw, thank you. The handle took a fair bit of thought, but I wanted something that would be pleasing for the owner. The attachments were supposed to please the cats, but the handle is supposed to appeal to the owner.

I'm working on the chain issue too. I'm surprised because my cat adores chains.

[persephone_kore]

This has nothing to do with your post, but I had the most bizarre dream last night in which I accidentally stole and sold your car. I'm not sure what was going on -- I had borrowed it for some reason which I think was actually in the dream and now escapes me -- but I was afraid that I had come to the attention of somebody unpleasant (possibly aliens) who were observing from above, and I traded it in as part of buying a different car. Then I remembered it didn't belong to me, panicked, and chased after it in the parking lot knocking on the windows until the dealer stopped, listened to the explanation of how incredibly stupid I had been, and reversed the deal.

Then I somehow ended up substituting for you in a game of indoor baseball.

I'm trying to figure out whether it would have been more sensible to just give you the keys to the new car and an explanation so that you wouldn't be dealing with the aliens, or if I'd originally borrowed your car so they would keep watching mine while I did something else, and only panicked and traded

[darqstar]

*Bursts out laughing* That's about the funniest thing I've heard all day.

Seriously? I do know how you feel. Many years ago, I had a dream where Todd said some mean things to me (we weren't married then) I ended up reading him the riot act and breaking off with him. For a few days, I felt guilty every time I saw him, even though I did tell him about the dream and his reaction was to laugh like crazy about it.

Don't worry, I'm not upset, you are welcome to steal/borrow/sell my car in your dreams any time you wish. I understand. And I'm glad you were protecting me from the aliens.

[nisie]

I'm sorry- I left Saturday to go to GA and came back yesterday. I found it in my box today.

[darqstar]

I mentioned above that I understood, because you had a death in the family. Now I feel bad, because I thought you'd come back home already. Don't feel sorry, it's understandable why you'd need time. I was just starting to wonder if the mail had made this huge boofa and lost everything on me.

[nisie]

Sadly enough, I came home on Thursday from WV to go to GA for work...

I'm doing a lot of traveling at the moment.

So far, Priss loves it. The one thing I'd like to see is more padding in the hand.

[darqstar]

The one thing I'd like to see is more padding in the hand.

Hm... I did think of this, but I'd have to buy foam or something to put over it, and that could end up driving up the cost to the point where people wouldn't be willing. I found the cloth to be a pretty good compromise.

However, maybe I can get some foam for the handles and offer it as an option if people are willing to spend a little more.

Thanks! I'm glad Pris is enjoying it.