ASK Cosmetics - 3rd Strike

As most of you who read my blog know I had some..... unfortunate experiences with ASK Cosmetics lately.

Posted Here

& Updated Here

Well, it seems the story isn't over yet. In the blog entries I think I fairly explained MY personal experiences with the company and discussed my worries opinions over the interactions I had with them. I was not malicious (in my opinion) and was willing to give them a second chance.

Well........ NO MORE!!

I will clearly admit that I took a picture off their website in BOTH blog entries. I credited the image both times and indicated that I took it off their website. And they were fine with the same image being used when they asked me to blog about their giveaway. So it was clearly not the image that was the issue.

It seems that the company was not very happy with my entries and filed a complaint with blogger that I had used THEIR copyrighted material. Blogger thus took down my posts and put them into draft mode.

REALLY?????????????


Aside from the fact that I had credited them as the source of the image, they wanted the posts taken down and reported me. I am not sure WHAT on earth that accomplished since I just re-posted them minus the image, but they have now gone from being a company I had reservations about to a company I will not go near with a ten foot pole. If the intention was to all together alienate me and lose me as a customer for good, then they succeeded.

ASK Cosmetics - An Update!

So the last post I did about ASK Cosmetics was not as cathartic as I would have hoped.  So I phoned the company in hopes of speaking to someone higher up about the email I had received. My call was taken very seriously, I was asked to forward the emails to them, and was assured it would be dealt with. I later received the following email:

Dear Shayna,


I am very sorry to have offended you with my request in my emails. While we have tested our new polishes within our company, I may have worded my email very awkwardly. Moreover, it was wrong of me to ask for your comments in the form of a review before you made them public. As bloggers that is what you do and that is why you receive products. I completely understand that and I am terribly sorry for implying that I wanted to in some way censor your findings.


I kindly ask you to accept my apologies. As the social media world is new to me/us I realize I have a lot to learn.


Kind regards,


I responded with the following:

I appreciate the fast reponse. To further respond to you, I've had the opportunity to talk with some other bloggers. It seems quite a few have received correspondence from you as well.

I can only gather you are new to social media, but there are a few things to be careful of. You sent the same letter to all of us. You told us how much you enjoy our blogs and avidly read our facebook pages. At least 2 others not including myself don't have facebook pages. Instead of saying you enjoy reading reviews from bloggers you chose to actively state you follow OUR non existent facebook pages...

Also, as the media representative and thus mouth of the company I would avoid stating you don't wear nail polish. It makes us question some things. As far as WE read; you have no loyalty, love or passion for your company. If YOU'RE not excited, why would WE be?

I'm really not trying to stir the pot, or be rude, but I felt it important to address these two concerns.

I will never guarantee a review, good, bad or otherwise for ANY company. I will always be willing to test drive a product and treat it fairly and with no bias. That is all I will ever commit too.

I wish you luck with the new product

Shayna 

Within moments, this came back:

Dear Shayna,

Thanks for writing back. You’re totally right and my only defense is that I am completely new at this and have had no formal training in marketing. I was hired to present the products on TSC.

Unfortunately, by stating that I don’t wear nail polish I might have given some the wrong impression. After using our products now for over a year, I think my nails look best natural. The most I ever do is apply a basecoat with our “Sheer French Pink” polish, as I have posted and stated on my blog site.

Again, I am sorry for deeply offending you. It was not my intention at all.

Kind regards,

Now, does this make me forget everything that was said before? No. But it seems that this was someone thrown in to a position that she was not all together ready for. I appreciate that:

• there was a clear and concise apology
• that there was no blame thrown on anyone else
• that she actually DOES have a passion for nails and that she just had bad wording! (phew!!)

Are there still a few things that put me off? Yes!

• She still doesn't seem to place that much faith in these new nail polishes
• I wonder if everyone got a follow up email or just me?
• Whether it was censorship or not, the fact that I was actually asked to not share my results with my bloggers and only with them and let THEM decide what to do with and whom to share that info with worries me.
• Are they still hoping some will abide by that? I dont know!

All in all I am still uneasy with things, but no where near as much as before. I hold no ill will towards anyone, but am in no rush to run out to try the product. But mistakes do happen, learning curves are there, and I will not hold anything against anyone. That being said, I do not regret posting about the situation. If it is truly a one off and a learning curve of a new person in a new position this post will fade away and be forgotten. But if it the start of a pattern, or if the request lands on other bloggers in the same way...... Lets just hope that is not the case!

ASK Cosmetics - A Company I Would Be Careful Of

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ASK Cosmetics GIANT giveaway!!!

ASK Cosmetics is getting into the spirit of the season with a Giveaway

(just so you all know, I cut and copied this post directly from Lisa over at http://nailcareasklisa.blogspot.com/

Gigantic Festive Giveaway

ASK Cosmetics is in the spirit of giving, so we are offering our entire line of nail, skin and hair care products in our biggest ever contest giveaway worth $250.00 CAD.

From Dec. 1st to Dec. 22rd you can participate for your chance to win 1 of 3 giveaways consisting of 19 ASK Cosmetics products. The draw will take place on the day of our shows at The Shopping Channel Dec. 23rd, 2011.

This fantastic prize package includes: 2 bottles of T.I.P.S. Nail Conditioner, 1 bottle of T.I.P.S. for Toes, 1 x Contour Nail File, 1 x Revival Nail Polish Remover, 1 x Revival Hand & Nail Cleanser, 1 x Revival Skin Conditioning Milk, 1 x Revival Daily Use Shampoo, 1 x Revival Conditioner, 1 x Revival Styling Creme, and 1 bottle of each of 9 ASK Cosmetics’ Nailwear polishes = total retail value of $250.00 CAD.

How to Enter:

· Entry # 1 = Go to our Facebook Page and “Like” the page: www.facebook.com/askcosmetics. Then send your name and email address in the event that you win to: lmueller@askcosmetics.com

· Entry # 2 = Answer any or all of the 6 easy questions on the ASK Cosmetics Facebook Page, which will be posted at regular intervals between Dec. 1st and Dec. 22nd. You have the possibility of entering 6 times by answering all 6 questions.

· Entry # 3 = Share this giveaway with family and friends whichever way you prefer, but don’t forget to provide a link. You can blog about it, add it on your blog’s sidebar or dedicated page. You could also share it on Twitter or Facebook. 

· Entry # 4 = Follow me on Twitter @nailcareasklisa

· Entry # 5 = Join my blog site with Google Friend Connect. Make sure you provide me with the way you follow me and your username in order for me to verify your entry. My blog page is: http://nailcareasklisa.blogspot.com

Note: As you can see there are multiple ways of entering, but please keep in mind – one entry per person per day! Follow the rules of entering and inform me, Lisa Mueller, of all you blogging, tweeting and sharing activities each day. Should you have any questions, I can be contacted via email: lmueller@askcosmetics.com. 

Good Luck to All!

Contest Guidelines:

1. The contest runs from Dec. 1st to Dec. 22nd midnight EST, 2011 and the lucky winners will be drawn at the The Shopping Channel studio on the day of ASK Cosmetics’ live on-air shows Dec. 23rd, 2011.

2. All winners will be notified by email and will have 72 hours to claim their prize, otherwise other winner(s) will be drawn.

3. This contest giveaway is open to North Americans as well as international participants as well.

4. Multiple entries are possible (see How to Enter), but remember one entry per day per person!

5. No purchase necessary.