IMPORTANT UPDATE: THE CLUTCHES ARE FINALLY DONE!!!
over 1 year ago – Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 07:03:47 PM

They are shipping to me now, although as we know from experience, this can take several months. I keep checking my tracking number multiple times a day, as if that will speed things up. 😅

For full clarity moving forward, let me answer a few FAQ:

Q: Can I get my other stuff shipped separately from my clutch if I pay more shipping?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: I’ve already packed and prepared everyone’s orders. All are being stored in the Mei Bee Art business space. To find your specific package within those dozens would be impossibly difficult. Furthermore, it adds a level of complication to the shipping process that would add the potential of too many errors. Unfortunately, I will have to ask you all to remain patient.

Q: I need to update my address; how can I do that?

A: Once I receive the clutches, I will send out an update asking for everyone to check if their address is correct and to notify me if it is not.

Q: My bag broke, what can you do about it?

A: Unfortunately, I do not have the money right now to replace the broken part. The delay in the clutch shipping and the move across states has put Mei Bee Art and my own funds low. If you can email me a picture of what is broken and you are willing to pay the shipping cost, I will be happy to help you in any way I can.

Q: You said Mei Bee Art funds are low, will this affect me getting my bags?

A: In the spirit of full disclosure, I will share the bad news first, then the good news. Because the remakes cost additional money, I now don't have enough Mei Bee Art funds to pay the shipping on your orders. GOOD NEWS THOUGH! I will be running booths at Ohayoucon and GalaxyCon Richmond, the (very realistic) goal is to earn enough profit at these conventions to ship all of your pledges to you

Q: You said January in a previous update, but now you are saying it will be several months until they arrive?

A: I know in my last update, I said the earliest the clutches would arrive would be in January. However there were delays, such as the factory shutting down and all of the bees being placed in the wrong direction. It’s my job as the creator to ensure you receive the correct item, so I am making sure every item is correct and quality checked before sending them to you.

More than once I have received hurtful DMs, emails, and comments on my social media about these Kickstarter orders. I understand your frustrations with the delays. I almost closed Mei Bee Art's doors for good due to the onslaught of hateful words. It especially hurt because there was nothing I could do to speed up the process. I am asking you to please have patience and understand that I am doing everything I can to get you your bags. For the many of you that have remained patient and understanding, thank you so much. You have no idea the amount of relief I have at your kindness. I will be hopefully reopening my Mei Bee Art shop shortly. In the meantime, should I receive additional updates about the Kickstarter, I will inform you as I receive more information.

Happy holidays!

I am moving!
over 1 year ago – Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 05:25:46 AM

Hello everyone in 7 days I will be moving states. Let's just say my housing situation got complicated and there was no legal representation for tenants in my area, so I was forced to move. Also I spoke with my manufacturer about the clutches and they are delayed a few weeks due to the factory manager needing surgery. It is looking like the earliest the clutches will arrive to me is January. AT THAT TIME I will send annupdatr out asking for everyone to let me know if there any address changes. Please keep an eye out for any updates at that time!

Finally some news!
over 1 year ago – Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 10:44:12 AM

My manufacture has told me the clutches will be done in Mid September! Then they start shipping to me. We have all the orders packed except the clutches so once they arrive to me the shipping process SHOULD be easy.

Clutches are being remade now
almost 2 years ago – Thu, Jul 14, 2022 at 05:38:29 AM

Hello everyone, after a lot stress, and back and forth with my manufacturer and their shipping supplier, the clutches are finally being remade! Unfortunately the last clutches were lost in transit!! This time I am going to try and afford to ship the clutches with insurance, and speed next time. I do not know how long they will take yet, but I will let you all know once there is news from my manufacturer. 

Breaking News: There Is Nothing to Report
almost 2 years ago – Mon, May 02, 2022 at 10:02:54 PM

First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone who has either waited patiently or used the Kickstarter Update Request Feature. 

I have been really stressed with the state of the clutches, and I have been receiving Comments, Instagram DMs, Kickstarter Messages, and Emails asking for an update (some of which were downright rude). I am going to be honest, these methods of trying to pressure me into giving updates is stressful, and irritating.  I normally update when I have something substantial to let you all know.  This does not mean I am not working hard in the background. I just don't want to say I have found a solution, or that I know what the next step is until I know that is a for sure thing. I am ultimately and trying to avoid taking everyone here on the rollercoaster of stress I am going on when I think I have found a solution and then it doesn't pan out. If you want an update in the future, I beg you not to use these methods (Comments, Instagram DMs, Kickstarter Message and Emails), and I ask you to use the Update Request feature built into to Kickstarter.  If you have a specific question that you are not sure will be covered in the next update, feel free to ask it in the comments, in a Kickstarter Message, or on an email, but please be prepared to wait for the next update for an answer.

Nothing New Has Happened

As of Now there is no real concrete news. My team and I have packed all of the remaining Kickstarter orders so that all they need are the clutches themselves. While we have SOME of the clutches, I operate on Waves of shipping on Kickstarters. On this Kickstarter it is broken into two waves: First Wave, Backpack and/or Crossbody Pledges. Second Wave, Anything with Clutches.  Because I cannot fulfill ALL clutch orders, I will fulfill NONE until this is resolved. (You will get your clutch pledges, it might just take time)

As of right now there is a 85% chance we will need to have the clutches remade. While the Shipping claim should help cover SOME of the cost of the clutches I am expecting to pay a significant amount out of my own pocket. Depending on if I can afford it, I will upgrade the shipping method to be faster.

Will/When will I get my Clutches?

I don't know yet.... All I have been saying to myself is "I hope I can have the stress from this Kickstarter out of my life this year" OFCOURSE I want it to be resolved sooner, I want you to get your pledges, but I will not make promises, if I can't guarantee anything. The only thing I will guarantee is I will keep working on this until you have your clutches.

What if I need to change my address before the clutches get here?

I will be asking everyone to update/check their addresses when we are closer to shipping out. 

I received my Pledge but it broke!!

If this has happened to you PLEASE EMAIL me RIGHT AWAY. [email protected] . I need a count to send to my manufacturer of broken bags. There seems to be a fault in one part of some of the bags that we could not have known about in quality checking, but after being used it breaks! I did not have this problem on the sample, so I did not know it would be a problem! I will be reinforcing this location in future makes of the bags.  

Conversation between me and my Manufacturer 

Here is a conversation snippet between me and my manufacturer from the end of April: