View Full Version : Just broken my grand caliber!
Glingle
13-02-2013, 01:59 PM
Not strictly C&C related but I did buy it from them. Just been using the grand caliber with normal sandwich to emboss a label die and the handle has sheared off just on the purple plastic bit above the white handle! Anyone know who I can contact? I'm hoping that as it's just the handle I can get a replacement for that rather than having to buy a new machine which is about 18 months old.
Jilly
13-02-2013, 03:08 PM
Poor you. I don't know but I would have thought you could contact Spellbinders? Maybe through Creative Expressions. I'm not sure but someone on here will be able to help you. Just feel for you not being able to use it.
irislili
13-02-2013, 04:38 PM
just read on the JS forum that if you contact spellbinders, they give you a contact for England to send it to for them to repair, you have to pay postage but the repair should be free - i dont know if i'm allowed to post links to another forum but if you google grand calibur broken handle, there is lots of information x
jenty
13-02-2013, 04:38 PM
I had a problem with mine just after the warranty was out so contacted both C&C and Spellbinders. Spellbinders replied quickest (to be fair to C&C they weren't far behind) and arranged for the UK repairer to contact me. It was collected, repaired and returned all free of charge. Would you like me to PM you the contact details?
Glingle
13-02-2013, 04:59 PM
Jenty that would be great if you wouldn't mind doing so. It's just typical that I have a bit of time off work and settled down to crafting yesterday evening and this happens today! On the bright side I supposed it's given me a bit of an enforced rest as my neck and shoulders are aching from bending over making cards for too long in one go (I have a very dodgy neck).
jenty
13-02-2013, 05:26 PM
Have sent the details. I know I was absolutely lost without mine. Luckily I had finished what I needed for orders.
RozMinis
13-02-2013, 08:16 PM
Thank goodness if it happens to me I also have my Cuttlebug. I only use my GC with the large dies that won't fit though my 'bug. The machine is so large I have to keep it in its box on the floor, whereas my wee 'bug is happy to sit on my craft table. ;)
Roz
kittyuk
16-02-2013, 01:55 PM
I had a problem with mine just after the warranty was out so contacted both C&C and Spellbinders. Spellbinders replied quickest (to be fair to C&C they weren't far behind) and arranged for the UK repairer to contact me. It was collected, repaired and returned all free of charge. Would you like me to PM you the contact details?
That's wonderful, well done to them :up:
Jenty could you pm me details please xxxx
jenty
17-02-2013, 12:03 AM
Jenty could you pm me details please xxxx
I've sent you the details, lee.
kittyuk
13-03-2013, 10:25 AM
Jenty, could I have the details please, just broke the handle on mine :doh:
jenty
13-03-2013, 10:49 AM
Jenty, could I have the details please, just broke the handle on mine :doh:
Have just sent you a PM with the details
kittyuk
13-03-2013, 11:20 AM
Thank you x
It's interesting reading the once upon a stamp web site that Gordon can't launch his new machines on C&C because of spellbinders
RozMinis
13-03-2013, 07:02 PM
It's interesting reading the once upon a stamp web site that Gordon can't launch his new machines on C&C because of spellbinders
Yet we are inundated with umpteen sewing machines from an assortment of different manufacturers. Though I guess Silver, Toyota and Brother, plus that one I can't spell that I remember from the days of watching motor cycling scrambling, could all be one and the same company. It is amazing how many publishers have different names, yet all end up under five or six different banners. Sewing machines could be the same I guess.
Has The Blond Witch had her machine, can't remember what it is called, on C & C recently? I never seem to catch her programs. I'm either out, or watching something else. Well go on then, a quarter watching something else! ;)
Wonder what would happen if Sir Tim decided he wanted to be on C & C, and if they would let him on with his machine. I've always liked the Once Upon A Stamp lot, well liked the look of what they used to sell anyway. Sadly I didn't have the folding stuff to pay for it at the time.
Roz
morgana123
13-03-2013, 07:37 PM
That seems a little strange when crafters can have the ebosser on and carly can sell the joy - surely spellbinders can cope with a little competition from a small british company and really in these hard economic climates shouldnt create and craft be supporting smaller british companies as well as large multi national ones. But then again maybe they are helping Gordon because if the stories that they take a very high percentage of sales are true then perhaps they are doing him a favour. I for one want to see what Gordon's machine can do because if it is going to cut all dies and be reliable then I may well trade my grand and big shot in for one machine that does it all unless of course ROC's review of the ebosser blows me away lol.
LoobyLou
13-03-2013, 08:42 PM
Gordon can put vids up on Youtube at no cost, and if he has plenty of links from his website I am sure he will generate sales. To my mind this will be CC's loss, not Gordon's
Glingle
20-04-2013, 02:52 PM
Just thought I'd update you all. For various reasons I didn't get round to contacting spellbinders for a while, however eventually I used the email address that Jenty gave me and had this reply within 48 hrs
Thank you for contacting Spellbinders Customer Support. I am so sorry that your handle has broken. There are many causes of a broken handle, different angles and pressure placed on the handle can sometimes cause a break so we will replace it for you at no charge. Simply reply with your address and phone number and our UK repairman will send you a replacement. Please contact me if you have any questions.
A week later a new handle arrived and my machine is now back in action. Thanks once again to you all and especially Jenty for the advice and help.
Oops forgot to add that I'm impressed with spellbinders customer service.
Nat9319
20-04-2013, 03:11 PM
Hi Glingle
could you please message me the address which you used to contact spellbinders as a friend of mine has also broken the handle on her grand calibur. I emailed for her but they haven't got back to me.
thanks
mini_haha
20-04-2013, 08:23 PM
Can I also have the details , the handle broke on mine , that was quickly fixed but now the machine isn't working correctly and is leaving oily marks on the card and plates , ive emailed spellbinders who said they would arrange a repair , that was a few days ago and ive heard nothing since
morgana123
21-04-2013, 12:10 PM
Another who would like the address please - not because of a broken handle but because im not impressed with my new gold dies and the magnetic sheet you needed to use them. Only got one set of the gold dies - thankfully - and the magnetic sheet. Tried them out and first - if you use the mafnetic shim which they say to use you cannot cut anything thicker than copy paper as the sandsich will not go through the machine and the sections on the die which are supposed to deboss cut through partly so it lloks terrible. So disappointed in them.
craftycat
21-04-2013, 12:31 PM
I'm also highly impressed with Spellbinder customer service. I emailed them about the lattice die as I wasn't getting a full cut - it is a big die. I had an email back within an hour or two, with advice about best way to get a good result. When I said I had tried their suggestion (placing the die to far left then far right of the plate) but still had a non cutting section, I had a reply within minutes offering a replacement if I sent a photo of the card. By this time I had solved the problem by adding a layer of baking parchment. So, I emailed again, suggesting that more hints should be added to the packaging with Spellbinders ornate and large dies. Again a prompt reply, courteous and thanking for the suggestions I had made.
Also, thanks to Jodie Johnson, I "friend" her on FB, for her help and the suggestion of waxed paper. The paper made a huge difference!!
morgana123
21-04-2013, 06:17 PM
Been to the website and used the contact us page so will wait to see what their response is.
RozMinis
21-04-2013, 08:12 PM
I contacted them yesterday, not in my case the GC, but my Cuttlebug.
The handle is getting very loose, and I can't work out how to tighten it up. It is the green machine before the V2. I have a feeling it came with a metal wotsit, probably an Allen key, but if it did I can no longer find it. I bet I gave it to 'himself' to put in a safe place for me. You know men and safe places.............. :(
Roz
Doesn't the Cuttlebug come from ProvoCraft, it's not a creative expressions product?
Just been reading about the new machine from Once Upon A Stamp. Sounds great, but a very confident move to be taking pre-orders on a machine that was not yet even in production, let alone on a container on the sea. In my real life, I've dealt with importing OED from China, and in my experience it is a fraught experience, and until you've got your order landed in the UK, through customs and done rigorous QC to make sure that what you've received is exactly what you've ordered, then you can't be certain when you are going to have product to sell.
craftycat
22-04-2013, 12:44 PM
I contacted them yesterday, not in my case the GC, but my Cuttlebug.
The handle is getting very loose, and I can't work out how to tighten it up. It is the green machine before the V2. I have a feeling it came with a metal wotsit, probably an Allen key, but if it did I can no longer find it. I bet I gave it to 'himself' to put in a safe place for me. You know men and safe places.............. :(
Roz
Isn't cuttlebug made by Provocraft?
when my bug handle came loose I tightened it with a small Phillips screwdriver.
EDIT: Ha ha, just saw Dips post about bug and Provocraft
pyjama princess
22-04-2013, 07:18 PM
........... a very confident move to be taking pre-orders on a machine that was not yet even in production, ..................
I think they did pre orders so people could pay in instalments after many people requested this.
Just hope things go to plan. It's just my experience that they often don't, especially on first production runs. You really can't be certain until you've got your container landed and through QC, especially as you're classified as the manufacturer within UK law and are responsible for all the product liability issues if you're the first importer into UK.
englishminx
22-04-2013, 09:37 PM
I agree with you Dips sadly, my experience is that although they have been testing a prototype satisfactorily, that they should have had a pre-production run, to ensure that the product coming out of production met their design verification, before taking orders and going into production (also have experience of china changing the materials into poorer quality). They were taking orders at stamperama back in early Feb for this
Not strictly C&C related but I did buy it from them. Just been using the grand caliber with normal sandwich to emboss a label die and the handle has sheared off just on the purple plastic bit above the white handle! Anyone know who I can contact? I'm hoping that as it's just the handle I can get a replacement for that rather than having to buy a new machine which is about 18 months old.
same thing happened to me....i sent them photos etc & as hubby is an engineer told them where he thought the fault lied........they wrote back with a bit snappy email saying what colour is it......i would have thought that due to time span etc they should have known it was a helitrope one........that info passed on a new handle came within days........ive also had one of the new type 3d embossing folder & they said this time to contact C&C....i said it would be cheaper to buy a new one rather than ring CS......they replied with what was my phone No. ??? send them that & viola.......new folder arrived........they have excellent CS.......give them a tinkle [ well email ]....good luck lovely x
morgana123
23-04-2013, 04:43 PM
I have had a reply to my email regarding the gold dies and all I can say is it would appear they have not actually taken in what I said in my original email.
They have directed me to their instructional video's on the website - been there done that - told me that thin paper will tear not cut and deboss - well yes I know that too but as I said in my email if I use anything other than copy paper I cannot use the magnetic shim as the sandwich will not go through the machine - and why would it because you are adding an extra thickness to the sandwich.
They also pointed out these are intricate delicate dies that need care - well yes so are my venetian accents and motifs, vintage lace accent and motifs and numerous other dies I own which I dont have a problem with. The only difference to these dies is the deboss feature which is not debossing so to me that indicates a fault.
The other option they came up with is to spritz my paper and card with water before I try to cut to make it more pliable. Sorry but no where on the instructions does it say you need to do this so I dont find that an acceptable solution.
So yet another email sent saying in effect been there done all of that before I contacted you, that I have heard from other crafters on this and other forums who have had the same problems and returned the dies but as I have sat on my gold dies for several weeks while I waited for the magnetic shim to come into stock at Icon UK (which I did preorder at the same time as the dies) I think that I will have trouble sending them back as faulty after all this time.
First time I havent been impressed with a spellbinder set of dies and I certainly wont be investing in any more of the gold range.
RozMinis
23-04-2013, 08:06 PM
Isn't cuttlebug made by Provocraft?
when my bug handle came loose I tightened it with a small Phillips screwdriver.
EDIT: Ha ha, just saw Dips post about bug and Provocraft
Yup, soz it is Provo. Anyway may as well give them a thumbs up too 'cos bless them they tried to be helpful. Turned out what was missing was a teeny screw, bit like its owner, though in my case, several screws! Anyway 'himself' has now sorted it out for me. :)
Roz
craftycat
24-04-2013, 12:50 PM
Yup, soz it is Provo. Anyway may as well give them a thumbs up too 'cos bless them they tried to be helpful. Turned out what was missing was a teeny screw, bit like its owner, though in my case, several screws! Anyway 'himself' has now sorted it out for me. :)
Roz
erm.. what is a "soz"?
erm.. what is a "soz"?
It's the northern vernacular for 'sorry'
budgie
24-04-2013, 01:46 PM
It's the northern vernacular for 'sorry'
Really? I am from oop North, and I have never heard it before!
craftycat
24-04-2013, 03:10 PM
Neither have I and all my late husband's family were from the North of England. I thought maybe it was text speak of some sort, totally fail to work any of that out.
morgana123
24-04-2013, 04:24 PM
As a northerner from East (formerly West) Yorkshire I can say that at least in my neck of the woods soz is local speak for sorry so maybe its a specific regional thing lol.
On the spellbinder gold dies front I emailed IconUK to see if they had had any more reported problems with the gold dies and got a reply today saying they had been trying to ring me - I have been on nights so in bed asleep lol. However, I rang them and spoke to a very nice lady called Tracey who on receipt of my email got a set of the dies and magnetic shims off the shelves to try. She too said getting the dies and shim through was a squeeze and she had had resistance and could I tell her which bits were the problem as she didnt really know having not used the dies. So I described the bits which were supposed to deboss and guess what the set she used cut through as well in places on some weights of card and totally on thinnner mediums. Icon have told me to return the dies and sheets and I can have a full refund but I have asked them if it is ok to hold off returning them until I get another reply from Spellbinders to see what their response to the problem is. Icon did say they have had one set of dies returned as faulty but they didnt know until I contacted them what the fault actually was. So at least I will be able to get my money back - well of course I will just ask them to credit my account so I can order something else lol - I do want several other dies so will just choose something that will be a good deal less hassle and give the gold dies a very wide berth from now on.
im yorkshire through & through & we all use it BUT in fairness its us thats 'caught' it from our kids [ now in their 30+ ] as they use it & also text speak BUT saying soz down in deep shropshire they know what it is yet dont know what i know as ''gud inglish'' AKA broad yorks lol.. so yes i knew what soz was poking my snoz in [ nose ]
craftycat
24-04-2013, 05:11 PM
Does sound as though "soz" is "Yoof" or textspeak. My big dictionary of slang only shows "sozzle" - one meaning is drunk (knew that one) but also "human excrement". Never came across that one before. You learn something new every day. Two new things in my case - meaning of "soz" and a new meaning for "sozzle"
Nearly as interesting as talking about Nesties. Or were we talking about Spellies?
pyjama princess
24-04-2013, 10:10 PM
I would have guessed that soz was sorry. Not that I know anyone who uses it - and I'm in South Wales LOL!
RozMinis
25-04-2013, 07:46 PM
Well I'm originally from way up north, as in Northumberland. No idea if they use the word up there or not, but then I usually need subtitles to understand 'em anyway, at least I did in Seahouses! ;)
Don't do text speak, never have done. I know it was a term we used to use in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Not sure I've heard anybody say it in the Republic of South Yorkshire though.
Roz