I just want to say....have you all never bought anything from a company before that didn't work right and was later discontinued? I'll bet bigger companies than PC have come out with a lemon of a product that cost more than the I that they later discontinued.
Personally I like my Imagine, my Expression, and think someday I will even like my Gypsy (once I have time to figure out how to use it better!). Thanks PC and Nathan for letting us know the status of the I and the cake machine!

Yes I have bought lemon items before. Differences: 1. They admit it rather than continuing to sell a faulty product. 2. They correct it by replacing the items with a working product 3. They refund your money entirely!!!

NONE of which has been done. Customers have been duped into buying a CRAPPY machine.

And since when is FALSE ADVERTISING an OK practice? What you are missing is that they advertised something it could never do.

The discontinued is not the problem. The never working as promised is the problem.

Of course I've purchased lemons before. I'm sure everyone has at one time or another. It is not the lemon that is the problem as it is how the company responds to selling that lemon.


When I first bought my Expression, I loved it (and I still do). Once again, Provo Craft rose above all others and produced a machine that could cut almost anything (as long as you used the tools they told you to). I must admit that I love their cartridges. I have about 35. But I also wanted the freedom to cut other images ... not just those manufactured by PC.


Fast forward a couple of years, and I read that PC has developed more gadgets to enhance my Expression ... Design Studio and then the Gypsy. I was out of the loop at the time and never jumped on the bandwagon due to being distracted by other issues happening in my life. I was also saving my money to purchase a new computer, so that I could use one of those amazing new softwares out there and cut anything I wanted with my Expression. I couldn't wait!

When I did return to crafting (all ready to go with my new computer), I learned (to my dismay and disappointment) that PC had sued the manufacturers of third-party softwares that was simply designed to give my Expression even more potential in the crafting world. I would have continued to purchase their cartridges ... there are so many that are hard to resist ... but, at the same time, I would have added a new level to my Expression that PC could not give me.

I realized then that PC turned greedy (or had always been greedy and hid it better than they do now), and they were more interested in lining their pockets than satisfying their customers. Thank goodness I realized this prior to plunking any more money down on PC products. I could be one of you now with a fried gypsy, or an expensive machine discontinued after only two years, because PC would rather walk away and cut there losses than trying to fix a situation to make their customers happy? Why? Because they still have loyal customers, and they know it, who will buy the next product they produce. Many of you will be stuck with a machine that you cannot find parts for (like ink), because Provo Crafts' history is to promise you the world but never deliver.

Today, I read with horror that the products many of you have bought from PC have never worked correctly and (to my utter amazement) have been DESTROYED BY UPGRADES PC ENCOURAGED THEM TO MAKE. And their response when their customers call them devestated that they can no longer use their machines? Oh, so sorry. Buy a new one (but we aren't going to tell you NOW that that new one is being discontinued in the very near future).

So, yes, I've purchased lemons. Usually, these are one-time deals. Here is a company that has customers who want to be loyal, and they screw them every time. We are not talking about one lemon here, but several. And all of them are costly.

For now, I will use my Expression and limit myself to the cartridges I have on hand. But, when I can afford it, you better believe I will leave PC behind as quickly as I can. I cannot wait until the day I can put my Expression on a shelf and purchase the Cameo whose company really values the customer.

I think the expression is they are laughing all the way to the bank...PC had their chance...but with this and the problems with the Gypsy and E2...Pc has managed shoot themselves in the foot. It's too bad they just haven't gotten it...Fix the mess, make things work properly, take care of the linking issues, and provide reliable consistent updates. That was and is all we have ever wanted. PC and it representitives have repeatedly misled (lied) us and forgot the true core values of good customer service. At this point there is no turning around...the damage has been done.

You are absolutely right!! I am just one customer, but I am sure there are (or will be) numerous others who share my feelings. If Provo Craft had allowed us to continue to use a third-party software with our Expressions, I would still be on their bandwagon and one of their biggest supporters. I would have continued to use their cartridges while using the third-party software to cut other images their cartridges didn't contain. If my Expression wore out, I would have immediately bought another without a second thought. Why not? I love their cartridges, and I would have continued to have the flexibility to cut almost anything I chose. I would have never even considered shopping around until PC got greedy and their customer service went to heck. They shot themselves in the foot by focusing on quantity rather than quality. They have produced several machines, which their unsuspecting consumers have purchased thinking they could still depend on PCs products. Instead they should have worked harder on the ones they had to make them stand out from the competition. Well, they got part of their wish. They stand out all right. Pretty soon,though, no one is going to be standing with them.

Just a quick one about my beloved Cougar. I bought it last February and since then there have been legal wrangling within the company and a new (Phoenix) cutter has been brought out to replace the Cougar. I was devastated in that I thought I would be left high and dry with a machine I couldn't buy consumables for. But NO - there was an immediate response to previous Cougar owners from the Company owner to say Yes, they had updated to the Phoenix, but all consumables, accessories etc would be transferrable between the two machines and they would still be at the end of a phone line to support owners of the Cougar. And that was a personal message to my email box!

NOW THAT'S SERVICE FOR YOU

Pauline

I can only speak from personal experience re the Cameo. I bought it at launch last November and have had no problems at all with it.

Whereas I have had FIVE Imagines - 3 didn't work at all (simply made a grinding sound and did nothing else), the 4th was killed off by last November's update, and the 5th was returned as faulty a couple of weeks ago - simply stopped printing correctly. I'm sure anyone would agree that 5 machines is enough to test anybody's patience.

I certainly won't be investing in an Imagine 2 (if ever they bring one out) The theory is excellent, but the practise simply hasn't worked for a lot of us.

Pauline

I have read the CS for the cameo isn't all that it's cracked up to be either.
People that have had to return the machine. Have to pay for the return shipping.
In return they don't get their money back for shipping charges. They get online store credit.
Thats unacceptable.
It's hit or miss just like any other business. The Silhouette Cameo was sold under false pretenses. I've been going to around the net reading the reviews. The Cameo hasn't worked out of the box like it was said to be either. The cameo doesn't print/cut like it is promised to do. The blades easily dull etc. The cameo settings have to be re-adjusted all the time to get it to print/cut right every time it is used. Thats what I'm finding out.
Set up takes more time then actually getting to use it. I'm reading it time and time again.
How can a person ignore those reviews on the cameo? I can't ignore that this is happening with the cameo.

The SC hasn't earned the hype it's getting. Don't forget all those customers its not working right for. What about all those people sitting with the Orginal Silhouette.
It's been discontinued. What about those customers? How can you ignore what happened to them?


I do however appreciate the honest reviews that I have read. Where they honestly state the pros and the cons of any machine. But the cons for the cameo outweigh the pros.

I have read how people went along with the hype for the SC over the Cricut. How disappointed they were when they found out that it wasn't what everyone was saying it was.
Then they ended up with a cameo paper weight and went with a Cricut machine.

Ironic isn't it.

Not to mention you have to pay an extra $50 to have the option to use those SVG files.

See there are a lot of things not being said about the SC. Consumers misleading consumers. It's all about Hype. I'm all about researcing to get to the truth.

Edited by user Saturday, October 27, 2012 6:40:54 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

You can try to find all the fault you want. For others do your own research. I did before I bought mine and found great reviews from customers. Good place to start is amazon under customer reviews. You can find bad reviews for every product.

PC made promised they never made good on to sell product. If you want to compare something compare apples to apples. Silhouette has produced a product that does what it says it will.

I am on my 7th replacement Imagine. My faith in PC is lost. If you want to keep handing them money go ahead. I will no longer do so.

I have a beautiful cutter that works perfectly. I spent less on it. My creations are not limited. I will stick with that machine from now on.

Even JoAnn's knew this was a disaster and quit selling the machines company wide almost at the beginning of the year because of too many returns.

Well I've read all of these posts, and I'm hoping that Nathan or PC is reading them as well, and not just us here posting our comments to get things off our chests, but I feel even though it makes us feel better and that we're not alone in this.

With that said, I own the E, which I NEVER updated so the 3rd party software still works, and another E which is still in the box, (just in case I guess )and I own the E2, which I use for my 180 or more cartridges, I also own (2) cricut minis, the create, original baby, gypsy, imagine, and the cake. I HATE the digital designs from the craft room and will NEVER purchase one. I use the craft room only occassionally but prefer not to be on line all the time, would rather have something like the design studio..only one that works..

As for the Circle, I did enjoy getting the new exclusive cartridges, but NOW.. why would I spend 80 bucks on a cartridge from "the circle" when I can buy the same one at M's for 30 bucks? Just don't get it. I have tons of rewards points that really.. there is NOTHING that interests me there. We all complain but do they listen and get things we want? NOPE. So my points just sit there hoping..

I also own the Boss Kut Gazelle... which is a wonderful machine, for those of you who are looking, check into this before you purchase anything else. It's not as advertised as ones like the Cameo, probably because it's more expensive, but let me tell you it's great!! Here is a link for the top 10 reviews for cutting machines.. http://die-cutting-machi...-kut-gazelle-review.html

I'll be honest, I haven't tried a Cameo but would love to try one. Maybe i'll sell my imagine and try that.. seeing how I've only used the imagine once. (but yet have all the carts)

Anyway, got off topic a bit. I have not had any real major problems with PC, however I don't do the updates all the time so that could be part of it. It just saddens me that this company no longer supports us, the users as well as the small scrapbook shops which helped get this company going. I will never buy another PC machine no matter how great it seems. Shame on PC for all their lies, and poor practices. You have lost yet another customer. The sad thing is, not only have you lost a good customer, but you've lost all the potential customers because when they ask me about my Cricuts.. I tell the truth.

WOW - 7 replacement Imagines - and I thought I'd had bad luck. Can you not get a refund as I did from TV station in the UK? I think I'd be going down that road myself.

P x

And here is something else for PC to consider;

Word of mouth public relations grows exponentially. All of us here have Cricut products.... we're mad....... we tell a friend, who tells a friend....who tells a friend of a friend..... and on it goes. So come Black Friday when everybody sees those really "good deals" on a Cricut they might decide - nah - heard too many bad things about them. Another lost sale.

And if PC doesn't recoup their good name, somehow by the Grace of God, they will be done. Period.

I live in a major city in Ohio. I have several Walmarts around me. I don't see ANY Cricuts or cartridges. JoAnns has the mini and the E2. Michaels has next to nothing. Cricuts are no longer promenintly displayed like in past years. So it does seem like their presence in brick and mortar stores is evaporating.

And for an online presence? Well, if ladies are inclined to shop online, they sure as heck will research a product online. And what they find out is not going to entice them to buy a Cricut.

So, what I'm hoping is that PC somehow can turn this whole thing around, and learn a valuable lesson the HARD way. Those kind of lessons are pretty difficult to forget.

I'm also guessing that PC has not been able to either recruit or retain top notch engineers.(although unfortunately most top notch engineers would not be excited about working for a Craft company in Utah). In all likelyhood PC is still fuddling around with the engineering staff that either got them into this mess - or is incapable of getting them out of this mess. Your product is only as good as the engineering that goes into it!!! Hire the best you can get!! Treat them like GOLD!!

Because if PC doesn't come up with some solutions for their older machines....they will never be successful with any new machines.

FIX THE ENGINEERING.

My feelings exactly Ann

Pauline

Great job to gain experience sourcing products but working there is extremely unpleasant.”
Former Employee in Spanish Fork, UT – Reviewed Oct 3, 2008
Pros – Working in the craft industry is fun and exciting. Provo Craft has money to research and develop products. The experience working and sourcing products in China can't be beat. The company is dedicated to developing new products. Provo Craft has great sales channels and great retail partners.
Cons – The Senior Management team is incredibly out of touch with the employees. They don't respect, trust or empower employees. The turnover rate is extremely high. The pressure and stress is very high. The Senior management has a closed door policy. They are difficult to work with. They are more concerned about placing blame than finding solutions.
Advice to Senior Management – Trust the employees. Empower employees to make decisions

Senior management doesn't come off looking too good. Maybe that's why engineers left. Maybe those old croakers on Mahogany Row should roll up their shirt sleeves and get down in the trenches with the employees that are trying to help make the company a success.