I get it. It’s not any fun to read the legalese on websites like this one. My eyes cross too, when I attempt to read all that gobbledygook on other sites. Alas, ecommerce sites like this one are required to provide it. Because it puts into writing what’s expected of all entities who use a website, including the business owner. Trust me, keeping a site like this one safe is an onerous chore, even with extra security. One wrong setting can result in unpleasant consequences, thanks to those nasty bots. The savvy administrator should never reveal too much about how their site operates. However, I’m going to address leaving comments and contacting me with this blog post.
I’m being courteous by providing the following information here. The basics are already on the appropriate page labeled “Privacy, Terms and Conditions”, found on the drop-down of Shop. Which is located on the right side of the menu bar at the top of the home page.
This is how comments work on The Purple Prose Room. You must be a legitimate registered user in order to leave comments. I don’t issue site participation invitations to any users whose registration information appears suspicious, nor can I provide them to anyone who isn’t registered.
The invitation feature was a security update made by my site host. I can’t change it, and to be honest I don’t mind this addition. It’s not about discriminating against anyone for the usual reasons. Instead, it gives me more control over keeping bad actors out of my pretty garden. One which is not only approaching its fifth anniversary. Most AI assistance isn’t welcome in the projects I sell. These days, I finally have the time to pursue my own creative endeavors. I would be nuts to disregard a hard-won lifetime of artistic and technical experience.
Please remember the following if you decide to register. Weird-looking email addresses and info mismatches are a big red flag for me. So are business related email addresses, since I keep my own personal and business activities separate. Other businesses aren’t allowed to solicit here, including to me, the site administrator. Make a purchase instead, and I might reciprocate if you’re selling something I’m seeking. I can, and do, delete any users who aren’t following my terms. I don’t feel obligated to issue warnings for the following reason. If you registered here and can’t log in, it’s because your information appeared unsafe. Why should I play nice with anyone who appears untrustworthy? I have too much at stake here to risk it.
A purchase isn’t required to leave comments for the general blog posts. I’m sorry, I know there aren’t very many of those. This is how I monetize my creative content, so I can’t spend much time on the free stuff. It took me 10 months of writing, recording and creating the artwork for “Pet of the Week”, until I was satisfied with the final product.
Blog posts which promote specific store products are an exception. Especially if they are for a corresponding podcast. I’m not leaving any podcast episodes in the store for long periods of time. When I make a product page inactive, the comments go with it. That’s why I advise customers to leave their comments and reviews on the podcast blog posts. Store pages are also for verified purchases only. It’s not possible to leave an informed opinion when you have no experience with the product.
I can post once for those who make a purchase through the guest payment options. Send your comments through the site email. You can find it on the “Terms” and “Return” pages. Please make certain to include your invoice # in the subject line. That way I can match it to the correct location. Those posts will be flagged as sent by email. Your first name and verbatim comment/review (no editing on my part) will be the only information I provide, and I can’t guarantee you will receive feedback from other users.
Your opinions do matter to me, even if they aren’t favorable. If you have a technical or product issue, you must resolve it privately with me first, before leaving any public remarks. I only ask for the following for comments and reviews. Please be courteous others, post only about the content on the page, and don’t leave spoilers for books or podcasts. Do not include outside links to other websites. If they don’t get flagged as spam by site security, I will remove them from the post. Nor will they be included from emailed comments. This is an ecommerce store, with paid hosting, which sells my intellectual property. It’s not a free blog you can treat like social media.
Now, about site communication. The product inquiry feature will get flagged when not used for its intended purpose. I have bad stranger danger when it comes to the availability of my cellphone number. I don’t like making it public, but some of the payment services used by my site require me to provide a contact number. Please text me first. Include your name, and your reason for contact. If it concerns an existing order, then add the invoice number too. Specify a time when you want me to call you. Otherwise, I’ll reply by text. To be honest, I prefer to do most communication through email or text. Having all conversations in writing eliminates most issues which can occur in the future. It provides a record; in case one is needed for future reference. It’s especially helpful for the fair and quick settlement of disputes.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation concerning these guidelines. While it’s nice to assume everyone who visits has good intentions, sometimes relationships are easier to maintain when the boundaries are made clear.
Kristal