lol, finally someone as weird as me! Hail, cousin!

For it seems we now enter a new time, beyond the feelings of shadowy death that accompany ones thoughts about mlm companies. A time where the mlm concept is gaining more acceptance among the mainstream legions of people, some of which are natural associates looking for a company to work for. Among this new generation of more reputable companies is Creative Memories, a company that I don't consider to be a gold mine exactly, but one that proves to offer you a much more stable opportunity than the many other mlm assassins waiting to strike at the heart of your wallet.

Among all of these companies, are the legions of sales warriors, the troopers all scrambling to earn money, and overcome their competition. Juice sellers, shake vendors, cosmetic peddlers and even magical bracelet reps. It doesn't take long before you see enough frauds to lose a bit of faith in mlm companies as a whole. Well, Creative Memories has been added to the list of legitimacy, and while it may not be for everyone, it is one that I believe deserves a look for anyone interested in becoming a consultant.

Of the general multitude of ways for a company to spread its advertising online, through flyers, and the rare television infomercial, Creative Memories uses the most tradition ninjutsu tactic of all; the use of sales associates, that are known in their world, as Creative Memories Consultants. How do they differ from other sales associates from other clans? Well, they don't really. Creative Memories Consultants are individuals that host Creative Memories parties, and as many of you know, any mlm host or hostess is basically a person that distributes catalogues, samples, and recruits new members to join the company.

In order to become a Creative Memories Consultant, you must infiltrate their army of foot soldiers. How you ask? Simple, just contact one and ask them to meet with or talk to you. Once you have managed this, they will answer questions and explain the steps involved in the process of selling Creative Memories merchandise. The company gives new consultants a series of benefits like any other company, which includes bonuses and discounts, and of course, the right to sell its products and recruit while getting a small percentage of the price. You will also receive the starter kit which comes at a cost of $50 and provides information on how to host sales parties.

There is also the $39.95 storybook coupon code that comes via email which is designed to help promote your business. The actual sales percentage amounts to a 30% discount on product collections, which can be utilized by buying your own and reselling at retail prices, although this works well only if you are capable of giving a good demonstration, more than once, and you have access to large crowds, perhaps like a flea market. You can also earn a flat 30-50 percent commission on everything sold, in addition to your discounts along with rewards and incentives. I am not a Creative Memories Consultant, but I can appreciate what they have to offer for those willing to do the work.

So, thanks to Jeroqui I was interested in getting some field information for these guys since they are one of those companies that features a super secret hidden and forbidden VIP section of their network designed exclusively for Creative Memories members only that I call the "Creative Memories Consultant site"... I know it isn't very creative but I really don't know what Creative Memories consultants refer to it as. Its basically like any other mlm company rep log in site where they can order merchandise at a discount, train etc, but I wanted to compare theirs to other companies and I can't find any specific, more detailed information on it anywhere. At the Creative Memories Consultant site, members can basically order products direct at a 30 percent discount. That's all I really know about it, so I was hoping someone either from Creative Memories, (or Jeroqui can ask his sister, if we ask him nicely!) or anyone else with any insider info can give us a brief review, or any kind of detailed stuff about it, and how it compares to others. Layout, quality, etc... any bidders?

Just yesterday I saw my sister off to the airport after a long and wonderful visit home, and as it happens, she surprised me with showing how she has joined Creative Memories, and not only am I shocked by her outgoing stride, but she has been very successful! During her visit, she showed me the many great aspect of her business and even taught herself how to build a web site, and I think it is wonderful. Where we come from it would not have been possible for her to attempt a task such as this for many reasons, but here in the United States it is as if I am to witness a flower blooming. Now in the greatest of her presentations, I was struck by the Creative Memories Catalogue. This is a company that I was already familiar with, and I much enjoy them in general, at least in the way that there is no scam to speak of. The catalogue however, is very vibrant, full of products, and presented in a very nice layout.

As she showed me a few of the products, and a printed version of the catalogue, I compared on my laptop to the online catalogue, and what a site to behold in both. It is these kinds of presentations I feel that lesser companies have much to learn from in regard to appearance. Albums are one thing, and products are another, but when one is faulty it leaves the other in a poor state, and can not function alone. Creative Memories however sells a solid product for the right person, and their catalogue represents a beautiful array of items such as Album Imprinting, Scrap booking Paper, 12x12 Power Palette Systems, 2x12 Paper, Card stock, Photo Mats, Journaling Boxes, Specialty Paper, Correction Paper Kits, Embellishments, Tools, Organizers, Photo Displays, Idea Books, Simply Said Books, Specials and much more.

A link to the site is here http://www.creativememories.com/Content/Shop/Catalog.aspx?path=/Hierarchy/Traditional%20Scrapbooking/Scrapbooking%20Paper and I would recommend checking them out if you are looking for a good company that isn't a scam. I'm not affiliated with the company directly, aside from my sister being a representative, and it is not a company that I feel I would be successful with simply because I am not familiar that kind of product, but Creative Memories is one of those excellent options where you will likely get back what you give in, and for a true salesperson that is the primary equation that they need. My sister is quite happy and has developed for herself, a very efficient down line and is making a decent profit selling items to her friends.

So I had my first experience with the Creative Memories Digital Center, being the entrepreneur of photo shop and picture editing programs that I am, I was able to get some hands on and thought this would be the perfect place to discuss what I think about it. I'm the first to admit that I am a natural born scrap booker, in fact I'm an addict with a portion of my art studio consisting of countless "works" if you will with nothing but scrap books. I really wanted to get into this program, because it was designed for this specific thing. In case anyone reading this has experienced the delights of Costco, you can see where trying something new was of major interest. The cost ended up evening out,but I figured this was going to be much smoother a process, so I went for it. I spent 2 weeks gathering together and uploading my projects which was over two hundred pictures which I intended to order 2500 4x6 prints of. After all of that hard work and patience siting at my PC, I was finally done!

I got out my card and proceeded to put in my massive order but to my surprise, Creative Memories could not process my order..... I figured it was just a glitch and proceeded to try several times, which would simply cause my browser to completely close down. So I then took the time to take my order and cut it in half, which was aggravating but necessary, and allowed me to order them which I knew was going to scroodoodle me on shipping charges of course. Oh I had no idea just how bad....My shipments ended up being sent out in 10 packs, and that took my already hefty bill and tripled it. I tried to cancel the whole thing at that point and was unable to reverse the transaction and was then told that was their policy. I have been receiving one package every two weeks and am still waiting for 6 more. The picture quality is about the same as Costco, and didn't live up to all the hype from Creative Memories. I had spent a great deal of money on their products over the past few years and this experience really disappointed me.

If you look at the Creative Memories web site you can see that it says "Price should only be one reason you pick a photo finisher - quality, convenience, and speed are the reasons that the people who print the most and care about the quality of their prints will prefer the Creative Memories Digital Center." What a slap in the face to read when it was the opposite on all fronts.The quality was mediocre, the shipping cost and speed is atrocious, and I really feel as though the customer service all but told me to *&ck off. I reached the end of my rope when I got an email in error saying that my account would be deleted unless I put in a minimum order by April..what the heck? I didn't send a response,and instead canceled my membership and am in the process of looking for a new company to use for photo services. I am usually never negative, and I try to offer something positive in just about everything I say about a product, but I will never deal with these guys again, and can not express to enough of a degree how bad an experience this was.