Shapeways value added for earrings

Hey there,

Just an idea I wanted to float. I have been asked why I don't do any earrings to go with my pendants, the simple answer is it's too expensive to print them.
My thoughts are you need to model the earwires with the earrings (who wants to buy earrings they need to go buy something else for), but modeling that adds to the cost of the product.
Is it worth discussing that Shapeways when they are packaging up earrings, that they put in with the pack some earwires? Through one of my wholesalers I can get a pair of silver plated earwires for .16c USD a pair. With Shapeways buying power and the fact they can offer this I am sure they would get them really cheap. They do not need to connect them to the earrings, just include them in a small plastic bag or something like that.
The responsibility would be on the shop owner to ensure their pieces are crafted in a way that would suite the standard earwires, the only part SW play in this is including them in the packaging.
Is this something that could be looked at as a value added for anyone creating earrings, I sure know that I would revisit making some if I knew I could reduce the print cost by not having to model that aspect of them.

Cheers

Steven

Also, no one, except maybe people who want to work with piercing hole expanders, wants to plug an earwire through that pierced hole if it's .8mm thick. Not to speak of 1mm, which is even thicker. Seriously, it's painful.
So I'm all for adding earwires to orders!

This topic has come up before - they did a trial once a few years ago where they included complimentary earring hooks, but apparently it was not economical for them.

Maybe something to revisit considering the price these can be purchased through wholesale.

It's likely the manual touch time that's the killer, probably a multiple of the actual additional parts costs due to extra tracking, handling, customer support, etc.

Once you start this kind of thing you end up with a lot of skus -- people want gold, silver, hypoallergenic, different styles, certain brands. Then do you want the models hung on the wires or can they be shipped loose...it becomes both a logistics hassle and a user community sore point.

I too think we would all sell more if there were ear wires and necklace cords...but having done this kind of business myself, I can sure see why they don't want to start.

That it is the main problem with jewelry , they must come with the chain and the earrings with backs / hooks.

It is not impossible , it is like having a little bag with the backs or chain or hooks and the product. User can mount the earrings are not that stupid , but buying around the internet will land with a 5$ back + 10$ shipping ...they end not buying.

So we literally don't mind having added price of the hooks + the product rather the buyer landing not buying.

I doubt anyone want Shapeways to mount the earrings and etc that will be a disaster and land wasted time.

But landing to the buyer a little extra bag with that along the pendants , earrings. It is doable.

Just needed to explain to the designers : "HEY DESIGNER X THE CHAIN HAS 3 MM END WE ONLY HAVE 2 LENGTHS DEAL WITH IT" and etc

When people buy silver or gold stuff they expect to come with ... the chain and x.

No hard feelings!

I noticed you bumped this old thread. This would be great! Anything to get things more sparkly around here.

If you try to do it in house I think Shapeways would first need to solve the ring sizing issue. I don't know if you are aware, but when multiple orders come in for a similar looking ring design Shapeways often times gets the different sizes get mixed up. The shipping staff need a way to measure every ring that will be shipped out to prevent this from happening. That or have the casting house mark the rings with a size tag. There are more details about this in my previous correspondence with customer service management.

Seems that if the hooks or posts are not handled at the casting house Shapeways will stumble when it comes to sorting everything out as a last step before shipping. If it could be made to work in house though then that would open up all kinds of avenues where ancillary components could be added to an order, including getting into assembly options.

Future question by Shapeways to a Shapeways customer. "Would you like an engine with that car?"

Looking foreword to the eventual outcome.

I agree that product variants must be done first. Rings / Bracelets are the main products affected by this. And even some scale models that are same product in different scales , and even some sculptures would benefit from "version X big" -> "version X small -> "version X smaller" drop down menu on product page like other online shops have in general.

Have a nice day!