Hello!

We urgently need backer feedback on an important change to materials for the collar pins. I usually ask for people to email me with requests, but in this instance I am asking for comments so backer sentiment is easier to see in one big picture (including up and down votes).

I (Midnight Springs) was forewarned early on before I even paid for my sample to be made that stainless steel would be too complex for my design, it wouldn't come out well. That's what I was told. However, despite us having the same manufacturer and our representative knowing all this time that we are friends, they did not afford the same courtesy to Chocolat Chaud. We were operating under the assumption that the stainless steel would be fine, and that there would be no issues with polishing. After all, the designs are fundamentally different from my guillotine, which has many tiny recessed details and a little channel for the blade to pass through. Rather, CC's designs have many broad surface areas that you would think would be easy to polish. Unfortunately, we were seemingly deliberately misled; they're very aware of the standards each of us hold for visible appearance of each of our pieces and these absolutely do not meet them. 

 

The biggest issue is that the stainless steel is very gritty on these pieces, and apparently they can't polish them further. The only options provided were to switch to sterling silver, which is more than 2x the price per piece of every design, or to switch Chocolat Chaud's designs to plated brass like mine are at the same price as quoted for steel.

We have come to the conclusion that it makes the most sense for the collar pins to be converted to brass, but we aren't sure how people will feel about the rest of what they've ordered or planned to order, which is why we need your feedback. Currently, the plan we have is to bring an altered quantity list back to the rep and firmly ascertain that they absolutely need to work with us on a lower quantity per design for these items in order to help us afford them. That's the absolute least they could do, because they refuse to offer any other kind of compensation despite repeatedly saying they could deliver beautiful polished pieces resembling the 3D models and past works made by Chocolat Chaud.

That being said, we will go to the rep with our proposal after we have received feedback in the comments, they have not yet agreed to this.

Our idea is this:
 • The Vitrail necklaces will be changed to sterling silver. Because of the massive price hike, quantity will need to be severely reduced and leftovers will also need to be much higher priced. As a result, they will not be possible to offer on the survey if we go this route.
• The rings will be changed to silver. Same as with the necklaces, quantity will be severely reduced, will not be available in survey, and price will unfortunately need to be much higher when in stock.
• The Cœur de Chat will be changed to silver. Same as with the necklaces and rings, quantity will be severely reduced, will not be available in survey, and price will need to be very, very high in stock.
 • The spikes & ribbons earrings should still be fine in stainless steel, but we're waiting on confirmation. We would reduce quantity of these in order to afford the silver cost for the designs above.
 
The black cat earrings also have to be dropped because of this mess. My guillotines and spoons already went into production before the CC design samples were finished, so there is no way to alter those quantities. Backers for just those are unaffected.

No one is going to be asked to pay any extra for silver pieces!! You'll be able to just think of it as a bargain. This post, and our humble request for your feedback, is mostly directed to those who backed for collar pins as they will have to have brass with platinum plating as the material instead of the previously-promised steel. All findings (chains, etc) would still remain stainless steel. The plating is thick and not easy to wear down.

There are a couple of options available to anyone who is understandably unhappy with this:
 • We can discuss with you privately swapping your (now-brass) collar pins to designs that are being made in silver in their limited stock. You would still be charged campaign pricing but have to pay the difference assuming there is one. This can be done on the back-end and does not require much.
• We can switch your pledge to add-ons that still have stock available if you would prefer to then drop the pledge tier and swap it for our miscellaneous premade merch.
• We can offer a refund for the item(s) that were originally promised to be stainless steel only.


Please also keep in mind again that the guillotines and all my previous designs are this hypoallergenic brass, and even the septum rings (which are in a very...moist environment when worn) have received really good feedback over the years, with no reports of allergic reactions. I've sold hundreds of the septum rings alone over the last 5 or so years, closer to 1k if I count my necklaces (which do have stainless steel chains). If not for allergen reasons, I really ask you to understand that this was completely unanticipated and a seriously devastating blow, and to not look too unfavorably at the brass... We both did everything right on our ends to try to make sure they understood what was needed for CC's designs to turn out as envisioned. In fact, I can very confidently say they understood perfectly and just didn't think we'd complain, as I've been in this spot so many times with pin manufacturers in the last several years. Just really sad the apathy reached this resource as well.

Thank you for your time and please do think this over and let us know your thoughts. More specifically, we absolutely want to hear from backers of the collar pins, those who are allergic to s925 silver, those allergic to platinum (both the brass and s925 will have platinum plating), and those who were planning on getting other designs via the survey and would be unable to with these changes.