Yesterdays TeaFrog Select Promotion

That clear bag issue is HUGE for me. Any plans on changing it?

It is something that I am looking at. I used to go with clear because I sold at craft shows, and customers seeing the tea is a huge deal. Now that I don’t do samples at shows, I can re-evaluate that decision. I understand the merits in going with opaque packaging, as long as the costs can remain low. I am actually in the process of re-examining ALL my packaging – tho I am pretty happy with the black bags with fold ties – they keep the tea snug, dry and away from sunlight.

Any change is not likely to happen until fall of this year – but perhaps then…

Something resealable (which I also require as I love generous sized samples, but that means I won’t finish them in one serving) would allow your customers to still see the product. A notebook w/ pictures (that way they can see what it looks like steeped as well), would also be great.

mmm – all good ideas – but all can be costly – unfortunately we are no Adagio or Teavana at this point where we can afford costly packaging and marketing materials – we try to keep our prices low by keeping our “extras” low as well – all of those things cost money to print and design – not to mention minimum quantities. I would love to drop a tonne of money into packaging and marketing materials – but frankly good tea speaks better than fancy packaging ;) But rest assured I DO take everything into account – and once I find that perfect mix of form, function and cost for packaging in particular – I will jump right to it! I really enjoy hearing the customers perspective on these things – sometimes it is tough to take a 50,000 foot view as a vendor and see what customers are demanding vs. what I WANT to give them ;)

Good tea can only be (or remain) as good as the packaging. Now that you don’t do craft shows, the pictures are not necessary so you can ax that idea for now- but, for me, I absolutely do not consider packaging that keeps tea away from air and light (whether opened already or not) an “extra”. For me it is a necessity. I want to order my tea from a company that cares as much about it as I do, and for me packaging is a sign of how well a company cares about their tea. Why should I order my tea from a company who’s practices (packaging or otherwise) give me the impression they don’t care about what they sell? You wouldn’t take an infant out in shorts an a t shirt in the middle of a cold winter our take them out in the hot summer sun w/o sunscreen and protective clothing, would you? Tea is just as delicate. I will point out that I do not require fancy or visually appealing packaging- just something that keeps my tea safe.

I have read the arguments before, and they certainly have merit, and everyone also certainly has their own requirements for what they are looking for. As a vendor, as I mentioned I have to balance cost, form and function. I don’t think it is fair to judge how much a vendor cares about their product by their sample packaging, without knowing the process. For instance, I just spent the better part of 5 hours labeling, filling and sealing my resealable, clear sample bags with tea in each for 3-5 cups. That tea came from previously stored packaging that was not open to sun, air or damp. So that tea goes from storage to sample bag to shipping packaging to you.

From there – it is simple enough to place in a cupboard where it is away from sunlight, or in a drawer, or wherever you like. As the packaging is already resealable, you can protect it from dampness, and unless you are keeping it on a shelf in front of a window, the cupboard will more than suffice for storage…

So you see, we take care of the tea, in every reasonable way. You will expose the tea to the air and sun for more time when you open the package to make a cup than it gets exposed before it gets to you. Again, everything is a balance, and we do our best to make the tea accessible and affordable for the average tea drinker. It is VERY commendable that you do notice a difference in tea exposed to sunlight vs. one not, but with so many different levels of tea customers out there, most vendors cannot afford to cater to the supertasters that represent 1% of their market – as much as we would like to!

I would ask you in return, don’t judge a “tea” by it’s cover, but by its results. ;)

I definitely understand cost. Then offer a smaller variety possibly? Ax the accessories part of your business? Your second paragraph is where I start to have problems. Resealable- YAY!:) But my cupboard where I keep my tea (pretty much my only option in my house) is constantly being opened so my tea is definitely not kept from light just based on the cupboard- it needs packaging help. I definitely agree that I shouldn’t judge (with my eyes) a tea by it’s cover (or packaging)- but I don’t have to. I can tell by my tongue. Maybe not immediately, but especially over time.

TeaFrog, some folks have absolutely no problem with your packaging. IMO, as long as the tea arrives in my hands safely, it’s my responsibility to make sure that it’s stored properly in my house.

You mention cost- which is valid. But I also consider cost, whether it’s a fancy canister I don’t need or a tea that would require me to purchase additional packaging and/or take the time to repackage, I take that into consideration into the final cost of the tea just as I would the amount of infusions and shipping. Although I will say that resealable clear packaging like yours does not get as many strikes in my book as an opaque non resealable packaging because no matter what your storage location there’s no getting around it w/o repackaging.

Cofftea – why not just buy a cute little box to put in your cupboard; that’s what I do with my clear bags. I’m certainly not going to ask my swapping/giveaway partners to find “proper” storage! Here are a few boxes that I found in a quick web search:

http://www.target.com/Liberty-of-London-Storage-Box/dp/B002WRWS9K/

http://www.target.com/Photo-Box-Brown/dp/B001441460/

My 2nd sentence in the post you’re replying to (which, as I read it again, is quite a run-on… oops! lol), is exactly the reason. An additional reason (for the 1st link) is, as I’ve said, I don’t want to pay for cute. While small, opaque, resealable bags would be awesome I don’t expect them in a swap situation mainly cuz I can’t find them myself. In those situations I’m happy enough not having, or expecting others, to pay for heavy containers. Do you know where I could find such bags? That’d make my day:)

I guess I consider a “cupboard box” a one-time expense, since I only need to buy one and I can throw all of my clear bags in it (well, until I get too many – then I need to drink them!). I have seen opaque resealable bags, but (as an ongoing expense) they’d quickly outpace the one time cost of a box. The box is more efficient.

http://sites.google.com/a/lifeinteacup.com/www/accessories (at the bottom)
http://www.uline.com/BL_234/Amber-UVI-Bags
http://www.sorbentsystems.com/standupbags_order.html
http://www.jkteashop.com/others-accessories-aluminium-bags-c-63_75_100.html

They’re out there, but they aren’t cheap (or they require minimum orders of 1000, so they’re inexpensive per bag, but that’s a lot of bags!). Much cheaper to just get a box.

Teafrog- NO need to apologize- Teavana has junky packaging- as they force you to buy those high priced ins! Thanks for re-printing the code…

Denisend and Cofftea- So if someone from Steepster sends me tea is a standard ziploc bag and I keep the sample in a shoebox, then it should last for 6 months, right?

at least 6 months:) I feel at least a year is more accurate… but that’s not taking into account how old it is when you get it. That’s what I’m gonna do from now on. Ask people how old things are. That way I know which teas I should drink first;)

Ok! Good! I was worrying that I would/should transfer that tea to those silver foiled ziploc bags….

Definitely wouldn’t be a bad idea.

if you take multivitamins, keep your bottles, i am finding they are great new homes for my samples, i love buying the little tins, but am kinda on a spending freeze right now

Lori – should be fine.

Cofftea – Gosh, I certainly don’t keep terribly good records on when I buy each tea. I guess you won’t be getting any of my teas!

denisend, I did not say I will require a date of purchase. But a close or even rough estimation is good to know.

Thanks very much Rabs :) You know that we encourage all the bamming that you can handle ;)

Rabs- Good point! I really loved the way the site is set up…

LOL! I do that all of the time! I never do more than 1 package a week (if that)…

Oh good, I’m glad to find that I’m not the only one who does it! I also try to plan for the packages arrival when he is at work, and if he doesn’t know about it, then he can’t react to it.

I don’t buy shoes, I buy tea. :)

I tend to make all non steepster select or 52teas purchases in a brief span of time at the beginning of the month cuz that’s when the e-newsletters w/ discount codes come.:)

Ohmygosh LiberTEAS I have to do that w/ my mom! Although I’m not good at planning that though since the dang FedEx man comes between 8 and 9 and my mom doesn’t leave sometiemes til 9am. And sometimes she’s only gone as few as 2 days a week during delivery hrs.

I am as guilty as everyone! In fact, I just purchased a sample pack from Golden Moon – and “forgot” to tell my wife, until she noticed it on the credit card. You know – if this was alcohol or drugs we would be considered to have a “problem”… ;)

I hope to one day too! I actually have no issue whatsoever with accepting overseas orders – but the shipping costs are just outrageous!

Haha I’m used to it, so the shipping costs just seem normal really

Heh – that is a great idea ;) I will have to do that!

Already ordered mine… :)

Kinda waiting to see of those awesome things you eluded to are gonna be announced before I placed mine:)

Ahh – the awesome things are going to be in a couple of weeks – it involves free stuff and tasting notes and orders, but one thing is for sure, that you cannot make a tasting note without teas, and without a tasting note – no awesome things for you ;)

I will leave it at that!

Then I will most certainly cave.:)

Order placed today and it has already shipped. Wow!

@_Morgana_ – I had to get it out today – leaving today for an extended weekend of Golf/Poker with my hockey team ;) Err, I mean, ummm, yes, that is just the kind of customer service we provide! :)

malomorgen - if you are interested enough in our products to order and bear the cost of the shipping - email me (miketeafrog.com) what you want to order, and I will get you a quote on shipping. We just don’t offer it online as a standard due to the atrocious cost of getting it out of North America :)

hehe thanks is really good to know that it’s possible after all. at this very moment i wont order anything because im simply overstocked with tea. i’ll remember that you’re here tho ;)

lol I love how you say “final numbers” then give an estimation. I’d never ordered from a company in Canada before!:)

LOL – well – I did the math the other day to get the exact number, but then forgot to post it – I know it was over 250 but under 260 – but not the EXACT number ;)

I am pleased that you ordered, I know you will enjoy the teas!

Cofftea-u are endearingly precise.

Teafrog- congrats and am looking forward to my samples!

Teafrog: My order arrived today – thank you so much. I look forward to trying your teas. AND… fortunately it arrived today when my husband was at work… so no need to worry about him seeing more tea arrive! haha!