Monday, July 28, 2008

Survey says...

Earlier I put up a giveaway opportunity for a bracelet and earrings set on Bloggy Giveaways. But I forgot one pivotal part! I forgot to put a description of the giveaway in the link! So it just lists my giveaway as "Chic Made" instead of "Chic Made - jewelry". I think I'm loosing a lot of traffic that way. Because if people are at all like me they are drawn to that word like my baby is to the open dishwasher. So I thought I needed a second giveaway, to draw more people in.

In addition to that, in my first giveaway I asked for feedback on my Etsy shop. It was suggested that it would be nice to see the jewelry on human models. But here is my question... isn't that kinda yucky? Do you really want to buy a pair of earrings that you just saw IN SOMEONE ELSE'S EAR??? The thought totally grosses me out - but maybe I'm just weird. So you tell me. For your opinion I offer you this pair of earrings (which have never been in anyone's ears!). They are made from Amethyst chips. I love them so much that I have a pair just like them.

Would you buy earrings that you saw in someone else's ear?

Only comments where the above question is answered will be entered in the drawing. I'll choose a winner Friday at 1:30pm. International entrants welcome. Be sure to leave me some way to contact you if you win.

And go back and check out my other giveaway too. And my Etsy shop, Chic Made. And my blog. Man - you're busy! Get crackin'!

Comments now closed for this giveaway. See post The Winners!

124 comments:

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

They're lovely, and while I would rather have earrings that no one else has worn, I'm sure that alcohol would take care of any issues!

Terrific giveaway. Thanks!

Jessica said...

I think you just need a size reference. Maybe hold them next to someone's ear. Or just put a ruler next to it. It's hard to imagine how big they are without a reference

Kelly Jo said...

It doesn't gross me out too much, alcohol cleans it right up. Or you can just have an inventory one and then make a duplicate one to send. That's what I always wondered, what if more than one person wants the same thing? Do you just make one and then sell it? You could make itso that you make one that happens to be yours then you make another one that you send off.

Re said...

for sanitary purposes, no i wouldnt buy something i saw in someone's ear. You could hang the earrings from the edge of a tea cup and put a ruler next to it to indicate dimensions.

Great giveaway! I hope I'm the lucky winner :)

I'm having so much fun blog hopping!!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

in a heart beat. but I would use alcohol. read my blog and see I am a thrifter..

Anonymous said...

If I love it, yes. ^^ But I'll make sure to use some alcohol before hand.

faked_sugartone@hotmail.com

Michelle Olsen Sasak said...

I wouldn't have a problem with that, as I could disinfect them with alcohol.

What if you got a mannequin head with pierced ears? You could close-up on the earrings and the mannequin's ear would help those who are looking for size reference.

Clyde said...

I support Jessica and Mo's ideas.

Your Etsy shop is growing up as fast as your kids. And also it's as beautiful as they are!

sphinx63 said...

I don't think I would buy earrings that someone else had worn. I think your pics of your earrings look fine. You can tell how big they are by looking at the part that goes in your ears. That is usually the same size on all earrings. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

i would never buy any if i saw them in someone elses ear. obviously im shure lots of earings have been in others ears but i would rather not know. Thank goodness for alcohal cause u never now what type of infection someone might have.
audra mcfadden

Anonymous said...

i couldnt leave a comment unless i did annonymous u can reach me if u need to on facebook or at davidaudramcfadden.blogspot.com

Dee said...

i would wear earrings from someone elses ears.....WHY NOT! And...you have some beautiful jewelry!

tweety0166 (at) aol (dot) com

Truth said...

Would I buy earrings that I saw in someone else's ear?
Absolutely, what better way to see how nice they look?

Anonymous said...

i can always clean them so sure i would!

torinem said...

If they had been cleaned...yes...maybe...

Christie said...

I think I probably would... I'm the oldest of 8 kids though, and have 3 of my own, 4 & under, so I might not be the most "germophobic" person out there... :)

The earrings are beatiful!

Julie said...

Hmm. I'd rather not think about that post being inserted in a hole in someone else's body. Ish. I like just looking at them sitting on a stand or laying on something :)

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

pretty

Anonymous said...

Pretty earrings! As advertising, earrings in someone else's ears is okay...but I would want my own pair of never worn before earrings.

dbstout[at]juno[dot]com

Unknown said...

I would rather not. It's kind of gross to me. I would be okay with cleaning them and wearing them if they were worn by family.

Toiling Ant said...

I wouldn't care... if I had earrings I thought were suspect, I'd just wipe them with alcohol until the paranoia went away. ;-)

EB said...

I wouldn't want to wear earrings that someone else has.

Nice earrings!

Thanks!
emmarleed[at]hotmail[dot]com

Mrs. Sara said...

I don't think I'd be comfortable wearing earrings that someone else had worn, but maybe if you put them next to a ruler or a quarter so we could tell how long they are, that would help!

Thanks for the giveaway, so pretty!

saharagreen at gmail dot com

PS said...

No, I think if they are being sold on a site like Etsy they should be on a stand or draped nicely!

Melissa~ said...

It might put me off a little, but I would probably just assume it was a sample pair and buy them anyway. Especially those! They are so cute!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! :)

♥ Melissa~
Pink Paper Peppermints

Joy said...

I wouldn't really mind---just use rubbing alcohol!

As for the earrings, they're gorgeous---my fave color AND my birthstone!

Betsy said...

If I really like them then yes. They can be cleaned.

Amanda Moore said...

I definetaly see your point here, it is like taking earring out of someone else's ear and passing germs to someone else. I find this pretty disgusting.

Anonymous said...

nooooooooo don't put it in an ear! Groosssssss. Plus people can see the earring better with out it on someone, slap down a quarter for size instead.
mitanari@yahoo.com

Killlashandra said...

Yes, on the stipulation that I clean them in alcohol before wearing. I have to says this as I inherited all my grandmother's jewelry when she passed away and there were many nice earring sets included.

Normally I would say no, and try to replicate what I saw at home for myself, if possible. :)

Korie said...

Um...ew! Ew, ew eeewww! No, I wouldn't buy earring that were in someone else's ear. Other jewelry modeled on other people is fine, but not earrings. You could photo them next to a ruler or something to help give the idea of scale.
korieATlilacspecsDOTcom

Katy said...

Those earrings are GREAT! How pretty! :)
It depends on whose ears the earrings you talked about were in. LOL. If my sister or daughter wore them...then yes, i would still wear them..if it was from a stranger...no. LOL

Sam said...

what a lovely pair of earrings! Hmmmm - tricky - I would buy second hand earrings and thoroughly detoxify them, but would not buy earrings meant to be new yet displayed on someone's ears!

Carrie said...

Sure why not! I'd wear them. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

I would rather have earings no one else has worn. Very pretty earings!
=) melanie
www.melaniescrafts.etsy.com
www.melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Cristina said...

Yes. I wipe off all earrings I buy before I put them on for the first time anyway. It's nice to see the length of the earrings on a human, it adds something to the image. It's as if you can see yourself wearing the earrings.

emerzim said...

yeah, i would.

Jenny said...

Yes. Haven't you ever bought a vintage pair from an antique store, or gotten some from your mom/grandma? I have gotten lots of earrings like that, and I just alcohol them down! That's also what we have to do at work if someone returns a pair.

the_other_alice_ (at) yahoo.com

Montserrat said...

Well I buy earrings from pawn shops, antique stores, etc. and just clean them before wearing them so yes, I would wear earrings that someone else has worn.

Vic said...

I would. I usually soak my own earrings in alcohol if they have not been worn in a while, so no worries.

Qtpies7 said...

I'm good without seeing them in someone's ear. However, I don't have an issue with sterilizing them before wearing them. But I would expect a discount for "used" earrings, lol. New is NEW, not worn.
I would say have a show pair and sell pairs. But that probably isn't very easy with something like this because you make them each different instead of mass producing one style.

Unknown said...

Yeah, I'm gonna go with new; not shown in someone's ear.

They are beautiful, though.

Unknown said...

I wouldn't buy earring that someone else had worn, but I would buy some JUST like the ones they were wearing! ppreacherswife at gmail dot com

anne said...

I wouldn't wear them *directly* out of someone's ears, but I would wear ones that someone else had... :)

Scatteredmom said...

Hmm. I'm not sure.

If I'm buying them from a store, it would probably gross me out a little. If they were from my Mom or sister, that's different.

notesfromthecookiejar(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Katrina said...

I probably would... a little swipe with alcohol would take care of any issues. =) very lovely earrings!

Kristofer said...

i heart those earrings! so cute! my husband is a germ-a-phob and it's slowly rubbing off on me . . . wearing earrings that have been in someone else's ear sounds so yucky!

kristen

ryankristenwilson(at)msn(dot)com

Angie(quillysilly) said...

I probably wouldn't, but I see that someone suggested the tea cup idea which is what I was going to suggest if you don't want to purchase a jewelry stand.
Please do enter me
Thanks!
Angie
quillysilly at yahoo dot com

christene said...

Absolutely if they were what I wanted or needed. Just wipe em down with some alcohol and all is good..
cjinhb at msn dot com

Anonymous said...

They're beautiful.

As others have said, a little bit of alcohol and nobody is the wiser!

mariettaseller(at)yahoo(dot)com

mommiof4 said...

Beautiful earrings! I personally would feel a little weird about wearing earrings that I just saw in someone's ears. I'm sure they would be fine once sterilized though.

judybrittle said...

Of course I would. I just clean them very good in alcohol. I buy a lot of my earrings at garage sales.

angela michelle said...

Sounds like you might lose some potential buyers if they thought their earrings had been in someone else's ears. But I know you don't want to make duplicates of everythng--you don't need THAT much jewelry. Does the place where you bought your neck have something for earrings? I liked the teacup idea--that could be cute.

kamewh said...

I would rather not have earrings that were in someone else's ears already- that grosses me out too! Thank you for the giveaway!

The Dales said...

Ok, that is disgusting. If you really wanted them on a human in your pics you could always model your pair, not the pair for sale.

moores1456(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kimberly said...

I share my earrings with my daughter and vice versa.

I would rather have brand new earrings but if there were a pair I MUST have I could clean! clean! clean them and then some just to be on the safe side.

Thank you for the great giveaway.

HunnyV "at" Optonline "dot" net

CanCan said...

I would say NO to the earring model. I bet if you look on etsy at earrings there are some good ideas for how to photograph them in a cool way.

onlycancan at hotmail dot com

Wehaf said...

I wouldn't mind, but a lot of people would. I think you could easily have just one photo of a pair of earrings in someone's ears, and then use that for size reference.

Thank you.

urchiken at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I guess I wouldn't mind if they were in someone else's ear--but they have to be really cute (and i would use plenty of alcohol to clean them!)
hnnhflowers "at" gmail "dot" com

bren j. said...

Buying earrings that had been worn before? Hm....I kind of doubt it. Ever since my husband started working in healthcare I've become this horribly neurotic germophobe! You just never know what germs other people are carrying.

Anonymous said...

I personally would not want to wear earrings someone else wore. I have espeically if I am purchasing as new.

Please enter me.
Nikki
homeschooling mom of 6
Angelheart135@aol.com

come enter my contest win my lesson plans on apples, 2008 election, or math game ideas good for everyone.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

Someone Being Me said...

Yes, I would like to see them in someone elses ears because it gives me an idea of how big they are. Some earrings look shorter or longer based on the picture vs seeing them on a person. Same with necklaces. I have bought jewelry online in the past and have been surprised at the size because it looked different online.

Ginny said...

No I don't need to see them in ears. If anything, I'd do a 2nd picture with a sample set that aren't for sale.

I like Jessica's idea of the ruler or next to an ear for the size reference.

Kathie B. said...

I like the idea that another poster had about using a teacup.

Anonymous said...

I would prefer earrings that hadn't already been worn by somebody else, but I guess you could always sterilize them with rubbing alcohol.

Cute earrings!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with you...I'd like brand new earrings, please! Although you can easily sterilize them...I'd rather not! The way you display your jewelry works for me! :) m_huston(at)hotmail(dot)com

phoward336 said...

Brand new please!!!!

Anonymous said...

I would not want to buy new earrings that were worn by someone else first. (I'd accept free earrings from someone else's ears though and clean them up first!).

I think your pics are perfect -- especially since you have ruler pics too so you can tell how long they are! You could always get a dummy...

mybabyappleseed(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Anonymous said...

I think sharing earrings is just gross too. My 15-year-old daughter's birthstone is amethyst and she would love these earrings!

bigfamily8(at)yahoo(dot)com

shaunjoy said...

These are really great earrings -- not sure that I'd want them in anyone else's ears though! :)

shaunjoy(at)juno(dot)com

taysmommy said...

no way! lol!

I like the idea of holding them up to someones ear for a size reference tho.

ryann

ry13_2000@yahoo.com

Kimberly B. said...

I guess I've always assumed that, if I saw earrings on a model's earrings, they weren't the exact pair being sold. I suppose that, with dangle earrings, one way to get around the "ick" factor would be to switch to a fresh pair of backings when the pair sold, but that seems like a lot of work. I think rubbing alcohol would probably take care of any germs.

Anonymous said...

Love the earrings! No, I would not want to wear earrings after them being in someone else ears. monk5@charter.net

Doreen said...

I really wouldn't want to wear earrings that have been in someone else's ear! Isn't that a sanitary issue?! :) purposedrivenlife4you(at)gmail(dot)com

Just A Mom said...

That is a good question. I think I would perfer them pictured just as they are and not on a human. Would a mannequin head work for those needing them to be seen on someone? Thanks for the chance to win!

Katie said...

Good question..but I would prefer NOT to have them in someone else's ear, but a reference would be nice! kbug428(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

i would have no problem with it. just clean them and there like new. i personally have never owned a pair of new earings in my life. except when i got them peirced lol

Sarah
Sxechc013@aol.com

Alaina said...

Okay, it would kind of gross me out. :)

alainamj (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

Melissa said...

If I knew the person it would be ok but not a stranger!!

Those are beautiful earrings!

Anonymous said...

I would rather have earrings that no one else has worn because they just wouldn't seem 'new' to me. I would feel like they were used and I wouldn't want to pay full price for them.

Jennifer Beaver said...

I'm just not sure I could do that unless it was my mom or daughter! :)

tigerjennv(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I would definitely prefer earrings that no one has worn before, but if they have been worn I wouldn't mind too much because they can be easily cleaned, I especially wouldn't be too grossed out if a family member or a friend wore them.

lc_intocable at yahoo.com

AudreyO said...

I don't like germs so I would prefer unworn earrings. But I always clean my new earrings in alcohol because you never know if someone tried them on.

Unknown said...

i'm not sure, it does seem somewhat unsanitary, but on the other hand stuff looks different on and "on the hanger" so to speak. maybe just have someone hold it up next to their ear?

Unknown said...

eww gross i would not want to try on used earrings!

Charlotte said...

I think I'd rather have earrings that have never been worn before. Maybe you could find an ear-shaped display to hang the earrings from in your pictures. That way you could get an idea on a fake ear. :) The amythest chip earrings are beautiful, thanks for the giveaway!

charlotte(dot)evard(at)comcast(dot)net

sunnymum said...

No, not if I saw someone wearing the earrings. But, if I didn't see the original owner, such as buying vintage earrings at a thrift store, I think I could handle it. Thoughtful question. Hope you have a good week.

Lori said...

no I dont think I would buy earrings that someone else had worn already.

Susan said...

Hmmm...depends on how cute they are! But, generally, I think I prefer to buy un-used earrings!

Courtney said...

I have never thought about that. The earrings would have to be REALLY cute for me to buy after seeing them in someone else's ear. Your earrings are so pretty!!

Sarah Z said...

NOO!! Don't use real people - that is gross and I am not a germaphob!

Thank you!

Cherie J said...

No. I would not. I think holding it next to someone's ear would be sufficient without being gross. Thanks for the contest!

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jeanette J said...

If they are one of a kind earrings you could use a manniquin/fake ears. If there are a lot of the same earrings you could do the same or use a person but add a message that the earrings the customer receives will be new/not worn

JenniferSaake.blogspot.com said...

I have extreamly sensitive skin and lots of allergy issues. I CANNOT wear earrings that someone else has worn first, even worn by a close family member and well cleaned/sterilized afterwards, or my earlobes swell and turn beat red and painful. So yes, I would be totally turned off seeing earrings in someone else's ears if that were the exact pair I were to buy/win.

InnerBeauty AT AffordableMineralMakeup DOT com

http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com
http://www.HannahsHopeBook.com

Unknown said...

Too funny! I can't even tell you how many times I've looked at earrings on etsy or ebay and thought, "Eww, hope they're not going to send that exact pair of earrings!" So yup, I'm a little grossed out by the thought of putting "used" earrings into my ears.

pierce said...

Those are some cute and unique earrings. I don't mind wearing someone else's earrings as long as I am allowed to clean them!

groovyteach said...

Wow, pretty earrings! It wouldn't bother me a bit. I have a 3 year old, you kind of get over thinking things are "icky" when you deal with some of the things you deal with lol

Anonymous said...

Umm at first I would say no..but maybe.;)

Megan97364(at)hotmail(dot)com

Lona said...

No, I don't think I would. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

Katie said...

I would rather not and I think with them hanging that you can get a good idea on what they will look like. Very cute. Thanks
katie_mmartin at yahoo dot com.

Karen said...

No, I think that is a hygiene issue. Your earrings are beautiful though!

kpuleski at gmail dot com

Maude Lynn said...

I'd rather not see them in someone else's ears!

kelli at pfrog dot net

Beth @ TheAngelForever said...

If the earrings are in someone I do not know it would not make me thrilled. Still I do know that they could be cleaned, but not a great selling strategy.

Gorgeous earrings and Etsy Shop.

Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!

Tara said...

I had never thought about that before ... but no ... I think I would rather the earrings had not been worn before!

Anonymous said...

I always clean my earrings with alcohol anyway. (Even when I buy them in a store.)

Lovely pieces!

donna
paytonsgramma@msn.com

Lynn said...

The only way I would be able to wear a pair of earring that were in someone elses ears, is if I was getting paid a huge amount of money to do it, or they were the most beautiful spectacular earrings and by wearing them I would lose 50 pounds! I guess my answer is no! Love you earring!

buttercuplynn@yahoo.com

mommamia said...

Alcohol would take care of the germs. But I can visulize them just as well the way they are shown.

mommamia said...

Alcohol would take care of the germs. But I can visulize them just as well the way they are shown.

Molly C. said...

Yeah, I would. I always am picking up jewelry at the thrift store, earrings included.

Manda said...

Yeah, I guess I'm weird...like you. (:
I'd rather they were virgin earrings!

Thanks for offering your beautiful beads!

joeperin9[at]aol[dot]com

Gardening Mommy said...

The answer to your question: No, I would not BUY a pair, but I would certainly take a FREE pair! :) Rubbing alcohol would get rid of all the creepies for me! Thanks for the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

It wouldn't bother me at all to buy a pair of earrings that I saw being modeled by a real person, hanging in their ear, as long as the pair I was buying wasn't that specific pair! I'm always asking people where they bought their cute earrings!

table4five at gmail dot com

Lissete said...

Although, I wouldn't really want to, how do I know that no one tried it on at the store. That's why I ALWAYS rub them down with alcohol. I also was my bathing suits before I wore them.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry but because of allergies I can not wear earrings worn by anyone else.

Teri said...

I love seeing how earrings look on someone else, but because I have super-sensitive ears, I probably couldn't wear previously worn earrings.

Storm, The Psychotic Housewife said...

I would never wear a pair that was in someone else's ears. I just can't do it!

stormraven at gmail dot com

Lesley said...

I would, provided:
1) they were thoroughly cleaned first
2) I absolutely loved them. I wouldn't want to wear any used ones that I didn't have a strong attachment to.
(ps. I think your stuff is lovely, so I would clean and wear them!)

Jenny W said...

yes, i'd clean it first! skyhan@verizon.net

Blessings Abound said...

It wouldn't bother me because I always sanitize my earrings before I wear them the first time! Thanks!

Tarasview said...

Actually, I agree with you. Icky.
But your earrings are lovely!

Jinxy and Me said...

EWwwwwwwwwwwww. That is gross to even think about. I think you should be able to see the size, but in an ear is NOT the way to do it!

Anonymous said...

I always clean them before wearing them for the first time. You never know who tried them on before you bought them.

luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

janetfaye said...

I worked in a jewelry store and customers were allowed to try earrings on and then we cleaned them with alcohol.

So yes I would.

Thank you!

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I would buy earring someone else wore, then you can see how they hang and how big they are. These are beautiful.
sweetanlo92292(at)yahoo(dot)com