Morrighana

Quoting WG from a few posts above yours:

Just a reminder that for several days orders went out without Click N Ships, as stated in this announcement here.

 

The USPS site has been crapping out for the past several days, and, consequentially, there has been a hiccup in outgoing packages. At this time, we’re utilizing other methods of processing postage. Your orders will still be going out via USPS, but you may not receive a Click n’Ship notification.

Your order probably went out without a CnS. There's no tracking info for international orders anyway, so I wouldn't panic, I'd just wait for it to show up.

I replied to you in the other thread where you asked this question: http://www.bpal.org/index.php?s=&showt...t&p=1333699

If you look in the CnS thread in BPAL Chatter, you'll see that a few international orders received CnS notifications on Monday and late last week for orders in the last half of November. You could either wait and see if your order comes, since as far as I know the USPS system is still a little glitchy and some people just aren't getting their notifications, or you could email the lab and inquire.

You've only just surpassed the 14-21 business day window yesterday, so if it were me, I wouldn't be worried yet.

Here's the thing about email confirmation: The Lab used to have an automated email that went out when their inbox received your order. It worked fine for awhile, but then there were problems.

First, when deluged with orders at update time, sometimes the auto email didn't go out immediately and sometimes it didn't go out at all to some individuals. Based on the panic and worry we heard about here, I'm willing to bet this caused a huge spike in CS emails (and thus, labour hours spent on emails and not on packing and bottling!) compared to before they set it up (and after they took it down) because people were relying on that instead of their CCNow and Paypal confirmations (which they were generally still receiving) and panicking when the Lab's confirmation didn't arrive.

Second, the Lab's domain name got marked as spam by a number of large providers, such as AOL, because some spammers were sending nasty stuff out from fake email addresses. There is still a problem, as far as I know, with people's CS emails going straight to the spam box, and this, too, would surely increase CS issues when the auto-email hits the spam folder.

And then there's the fact that it takes time and tweaking to set something like this up, especially if one wants to bypass the above mentioned problems.

I'm not trying to say that the Lab isn't listening or doesn't want to do something like this. I know the Lab has a million projects on their lists at any given moment, and this is probably one of them. I just doubt that it will happen any time in the immediate future.

I answered your question in the other thread where you asked it: http://www.bpal.org/index.php?s=&showt...t&p=1329157

I notice that you are an International customer, too, and since it has only been two weeks since you got your shipping notice, I honestly wouldn't worry yet. Customs, as well as the post service in general, tends to get backed up with holiday post through December, so I would just plain expect an extra few days or a week tacked on to normal shipping times.

Additionally, there have been issues with outgoing packages: http://www.bpal.org/index.php?showtopic=51950

Since you got a CnS, this probably didn't affect your order, but it does affect the speed with which BPAL's customer service team responds to emails, as they have undoubtedly been flooded.

I need some advice.

 

I placed an order with the Trading Post on Oct. 16. It's been over a month, and nothing yet.

 

I have a CnS that -may- be for my package sent on Nov. 19, but the tracking info I got back worries me, as I'm not sure what it means. It reads as follows:

 

The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on November 19, 2008 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

 

Am I panicking too soon? Should I email the Trading Post and ask about my order? I don't want to bug them without good cause to do so.

I'd give it at least until Monday before worrying, myself. Customs and other delays (such as bordercrossing rerouting, if you live somewhere other than Vancouver or Toronto) can easily affect Canadian orders. Regarding the tracking info:

I got my CnS on the 7th of November, and until the package arrived today the tracking status on the site did not change. I wasn't worried, but I was starting to wonder when my package would actually get shipped out. Is this common for international CnS?

 

Because other countries' postal systems don't have access to the USPS system (unlike, say, when you send something via courier and so it is the same company handling the package all the way through), international Click'n'Ships don't update beyond the notification stage. It's annoying that they leave the track&confirm link in the email for internationals, but there's not much to do about that.

I got my CnS on the 7th of November, and until the package arrived today the tracking status on the site did not change. I wasn't worried, but I was starting to wonder when my package would actually get shipped out. Is this common for international CnS?

Because other countries' postal systems don't have access to the USPS system (unlike, say, when you send something via courier and so it is the same company handling the package all the way through), international Click'n'Ships don't update beyond the notification stage. It's annoying that they leave the track&confirm link in the email for internationals, but there's not much to do about that.

I recently moved to Europe and while I'm moving back in 8 months I'm not about to change everything. Paypal, however, doesn't allow you to change a US address to an international one. What should I do? Do you think I could type it in a note or something? It makes it a bit difficult to send oversea gifts, I can imagine.

answers (at) blackphoenixalchemylab (dot) com may have a better idea for you, but it could be an option to send the payment as "other" (rather than "goods), which then does not include your US shipping address with the payment. Can you fit your order and current address in the notes field of the payment?

paypal (at) blackphoenixalchemylab (dot) com

Canada Customs has slowed down my orders here in the past. I think Amazon may have some sort of agreement with them (?), because I've never had a single Amazon order get held up at Customs.

I think it was removed when Beth started experimenting with aldehydes (the synth note in some unreleased blends like...Toxin, I believe?). Since those blends never made it to the catalogue, the response you got from CS makes sense. I seem to recall Beth saying something about the FAQ needing to be updated.

 

To the best of my knowledge, the full list of prototypes in circulation that may contain aldehydes are Toxin, Nihil, and Zero. They were involved in the forum fundraiser auction raffle last year. Nothing currently on offer from BPAL contains synthetics, or the Lab would be very clear about saying so.

 

 

 

And, like others have said above, I wouldn't be expecting that FAQ update until well after the little one arrives.

 

There was a forum fundraiser auction last year? I knew there was a raffle in 2006 before I made it to the forum, but I had no idea about a forum auction!

Er, no. I mistyped, sorry! It was just a raffle, not an auction.

I think it was removed when Beth started experimenting with aldehydes (the synth note in some unreleased blends like...Toxin, I believe?). Since those blends never made it to the catalogue, the response you got from CS makes sense. I seem to recall Beth saying something about the FAQ needing to be updated.

To the best of my knowledge, the full list of prototypes in circulation that may contain aldehydes are Toxin, Nihil, and Zero. They were involved in the forum fundraiser raffle last year. Nothing currently on offer from BPAL contains synthetics, or the Lab would be very clear about saying so.

And, like others have said above, I wouldn't be expecting that FAQ update until well after the little one arrives.

From the artist:

And, yes, I'm feeling the urge to have my favorite tattooed as well...do you think if we band together the artists will give their ok for it? How perfect would a black phoenix be on the lower back to match the black dragon I want to get later on my upper/middle back?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm so glad you mentioned actually asking the artist's okay. There is of course absolutely nothing that any artist can really do, honestly, to keep someone from grabbing their artwork and having a tattoo made from it (and of course we do understand what a complement it is!) but it's my understanding that this is considered in somewhat poor taste.

 

I know that, just personally, I would really rather that someone asked first. I'd like to know what's being done with my work, that's all.

 

And good heavens, that dragon and phoenix idea does sound so pretty!

And from an IP lawyer:

Technically, any unauthorized use of a piece of artwork or other copyrighted work (i.e., anything fixed in a tangible medium of expression in the U.S. and most of the world) is a copyright violation - it doesn't matter if there is a business purpose or a profit made from the use. Whether a use is commercial is a factor in the fair use determination that a U.S. court will go through in a copyright case, but it is not strictly determinative. Taking a piece of art and slapping it on your computer, having it permenantly inked on your body, or making any other sort of use of it without the owner's permission is technically a violation of the owner's rights in the work.

 

More IP law geekery can be found here.

If you want to discuss/ask questions about IP law, head to the thread Emzebel linked above. For tattoo stuff, head to the Tattoo thread in Randomness, linked to by the lovely Electra.

Just wanted to add a quote from the Lab's website to this thread:

Our products are not for animal consumption (that includes humans) and are not for internal use. Please use common sense when using our perfume oils.

Just before I begin, I want to say thank you to Beth and Brian for inviting me to be a small part of this amazing collection, and thank you Jenn for creating such an amazing painting of "me" to go along with it! It is such an honour, I am perpetually bowled over when I think about it.

Okay, now let's get down to it: Eisheth Zenunim is one of four Qabalist angels of prostitution, sister to Lilith and fellow Grindhouse temptress Agrat Bat Mahlat. Conceptually, it tickles me that she and Agrat have hitched their wagons to the Carnaval train. They are often referred to as succubi, so working the Grindhouse is an absolutely appropriate way for these two oft-forgotten angels to continue getting their groove on with humanity!

Eisheth in perfume form is complex and beautiful. Opening the bottle, I can immediately pick out the peach and the cocoa dancing softly together. I often find that these two notes individually can be too sweet and overpowering, but here they are in perfect balance with their darker counterparts, the ambergris and patchouli. The latter pair prevent the peach and cocoa from leaping out and taking over, and they in turn pull the dark notes up and temper their edges. To my nose, no one note is permitted to dominate this blend.

As it develops on my skin, the honey, patchouli, and ambergris come more to the fore, folding the cocoa into their ranks and slowly mingling to become a sweet, spicy, sensual base so cohesive that is difficult to pull individual notes back out of. That mix stays really close to the skin. The peach and neroli begin to flit past the senses and become prominent as I move my wrist away from my nose, and are enthusiastically reported to be the first notes to greet those who enter my personal space.

Overall, I have to say that I am completely and totally in love with this scent, and I hope that everyone who is afraid of one note or another gives it a try anyway, because I think it will surprise a lot of people! It seems to be very different on different people, as you'll see in the reviews below.

Thank you, again, to the Lab!!!

What about us poor San Diegans...driving to LA is no fun!!

Try driving there from Canada.

I'm in Canada, and I just yesterday got an package from the Lab that was shipped on the 16th of May, so I think USPS may be dragging its collective ass this month.

Bumping again as a general reminder!

In addition to batch differences and aging effects, another thing to keep in mind is that decants (and bottles which have been decanted from) can be compromised in a number of ways, so they may not always be the same as a Lab-fresh bottle.

If the decanter does not roll the bottle between her hands (or otherwise stir or mix it up) before decanting from it, the component oils which can seperate a bit in transit may be sitting one on top of the other. When decants are created this way, they can end up having more or less of certain components depending on what level the decanter piped off.

There are also contamination effects, as not all decanters do things like using new pipettes for each scent (and, mistakes happen).

BPAL does not contain alcohol. I mark all of my shipments as "essential oils" or "aromatherapy supplies" if I'm sending other stuff too, and it always goes through ok.

Kind old topic, but I thought I'd put in my two cents! My mom is a massage therapist and essential oil enthusiast, so I've learned a lot about them from her, for the most part, and a little on my own.Essential oils (high grade, usually marked as therapeutic grade essential oils) are gathered by steam distillation or cold-pressing. There are two "schools of thought" concerning essential oils, the French and the English (lol). While the English school says you should always dilute your oils, the French says that essential oils should always be used directly on the skin unless a negative reaction occurs. In that case, oil (NOT WATER) should be used on the afflicted area to reduce the irritation.Because Beth uses steam distilled and cold-pressed oils, her materials are considered essential oils. Essential oils have an approximately infinite shelf life, but because BPAL oils are blends, the oil may not last as long. This isn't to say that the oils will "spoil", but the blend will be compromised after a certain amount of time.So - Beth uses essential oils, but the product she produces is considered a perfume oil. Synthetics seem to be out of the question, but scents from plants where the oil can't be extracted through these means are created through a bouquet or blend (a combination of scents that approximate what it would really smell like). The site says that perfume oils are 85-100%, but consider what I said before about the difference between perfume oil/essential oil.Hope that clears things up!

Really? That must be specific to bank transactions, then, because it splits automatically for credit card transactions. Weird.

It should be fine. Log into your Paypal account, it should show where the money came from for your order.

You should also know that the CnS system doesn't provide tracking information internationally, so even if it does get scanned in as being picked up, it won't actually be updated with any progress reports or delivery confirmation.