I sometimes use this site as a platform to talk about things other than handbags.  This is one of those times.

I’m not just crazy about handbags.  I’m also crazy about art.  And, after today, I’m crazy about Blick Art Materials.  I’ve ordered from them several times before, and I have always been very satisfied with their selection and prices.

Long story short, I voiced a complaint via their web interface about a problem I was having with their checkout system.  Turns out, the problem was ME.  I was the one at fault, for not grasping the concept of price changes between the day I placed something in the cart and the day I actually tried to purchase the item. 

The thing is, Lisa, the Order Department Lead, bent over backwards to make me happy, even though it was entirely my fault.  Not only did she explain what had happened in language that didn’t make me feel like an ignoramus, she offered to allow me to complete the order using the (now expired) coupon discount and pricing.  Their webmaster was able to pull the information about which items had been in my (ever-changing) cart at the time.  Lisa even phoned me this morning so that I could complete the order over the phone with a minimum of hassle, and even expedited it so it would go out today.  I was nonplussed! 

I’ve rarely experienced this level of customer service with a retailer, and it’s important that I let other people know, even though this isn’t the best forum.  I know some of you who read my blog are “crafty,” so I thought you might be able to find some goodies on their site.  I swear, they have the largest selection of art and craft supplies I’ve ever seen.  And, their prices are extremely competitive–no need to clip that weekly coupon for “one single item at 40% off” (you know which coupon I mean).  I decided to become an affiliate (which, like all the retail links on this site, merely means that if you shop by clicking through the links here, it supports the site by kicking back a small percentage of the sale) but did not receive any compensation from Blick for reviewing my experience.  Blick was just well worthy of a mention, and I’m happy to do it. 

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