I am wondering just how many embroidery site owners will read this forum and realise a lot of us don't like alpha hunts. So much to do and so little time to do it in. Marg

Marg, I am site owner but I have never used a hunt, all of my freebies are right there on the freebie page. I don't think I would even consider the hunt strategy. I think if people like the freebies then they might come back and buy other designs (maybe).
Celticlady1031 makes a very good point.

It's always nice to have something for everyone. Myself, I really appreciate good customer service. That, coupled with great designs, is what will bring me back. I've made a few purchases lately at fromtheneedleofanne.com, bfc-creations, astitchahalf, and britt and have had the BEST EXPERIENCES with each site. This is where I plan to do business when I have some extra money!!

I agree with you. I did it a couple of times but it is a waste of my time and don't even try any more

I think the whole hunt issue is a personal choice. If you don't like to hunt then don't. And if you do then go for it. Don't forget, these people have a business and free designs DO cost them money. The clipart, time digitizing, testing etc. A little time and effort put into hunting and looking at what they have to offer really isn't much for something free. I can't think of any other business that offers so much for free. I sure don't get that from the fabric store. This is just my take on the whole thing.

2 comments

by fannyfurkin 02 Nov 2010

Good point

by turtleowl 03 Nov 2010

Most of the sites where you have to look at many sets to find a design I never really see any of the designs as I just focus on what I am searching for. Katie-Do in particular is one like that although I have not seriously tried one of those hunts in a long time. A puzzle hunt with clues can be a fun game and more than mindless scanning and I can take the time to look at the designs.

I do the DFH every month. This month has been the best, 3 of the group put up designs and graphics instead of alphabets. I like this one because it is a month long.
Once you get the pattern of how they put the designs on then its easy and only takes a few minutes to find them. If they don;t have a pattern or hints i don't do them.
I like them while I'm sewing.

thank you-not into game playing

Maybe not to many as they are busy hiding more alpha letters. If I can't find a hidden design in a couple attempts then I'm done with that hunt.

I REALLY hope these folks read this post and get the point we are trying to make.

I reward those vendors that make their hunts easy by buying designs from them, like Gorgeous Stitches and Cassandra's. I bought a subscription from Cute and Amazing because I missed a few letters in the daily alpha (due to a USB memory stick that died...) and from Yoriko. I just think if they had a reasonable hunt and give clues, folks would look on the vendor favorably and get more sales. I think it's a really poor sales strategy.

I am with you!!!!!!

In the begining I used to hunt all the time
spent hours on the PC.
I dont have the luxery of time to hunt any more
But I did learn which designers I really like
and got the opportunity to try their designs,
which was a fab introduction for me :-)
I dont look for freebie designs any more either
I have spend a small fortune on designs over the last 4 years and have 280gb full on my external hard drive
Dont think I will ever get the opportunity to do them all..
I now look for specific designs for the job that I am doing..
and I am very happy to pay for the designs.
Big hugs - Maria xx

I think I have only done one hunt and then decided to use my time in other ways. The site owners must gain sales from them which is why they keep happening and there must be enough people who do the alpha hunts. Do do them?

1 comment

by mranderson 02 Nov 2010

I have only done Cassandra's hunt, it is easy. Some sites have sooooooooo many designs I get bored searching. Marg

Katie Do hunts were fine before but know there are too many designs to look through. maybe if you only had 1/4 of the designs for half the alpha to look through it would cut down on time, & more people would be looking through her sets. *4u all

I like the way they have done on cutealphabets. It's not a hunt but I get one free letter every day. When looking at that letter I can also see that letter in their other alphabets.

On designs by sick, they have a free hunt every hour. There is a chat where you can help others who haven't been able to find the design. They also have one page where you can get all designs for a dollar during that hour.

If I am here but don't have time to search, I wait a for while, usually someone has found the hunt by then. They also have one free design every hour + one daily free design. This gives you 49 free designs in 24 hours..

There are usually 10 different pictures in each design set so if I get one for free and really like it it's more likely that I will buy the set.

I understand why they do hunts. To get us to look at their designs and hopefully buy something. Another reason why they don't like us posting the link straight to the free design.

But if I like the free design and do stitch them out I will start to buy the designs.
If I have to spend hours looking for the designs I stop going to the site.

1 comment

by joann13100 02 Nov 2010

I'm with you. Frustration searching does NOT generate good will toward the site owner.

I personally have never cared for the Hunts! But there were a few that were fun to do. But I am getting back to not doing any. The one that I have done weekly used to take 1 to 1 1/2 hrs, now it takes almost all day! I have more to do than hunt. Although I will miss them. Hugs, Judy

I normally do not do the hunts either because of the time. There were a couple of site that made it easy so I would do those if it were really something I wanted. They do that so you will see their products and hopefully buy some of them. I don't really blame them for that since they are giving you something free.

I am chasing after 3 under 5, I don't have time to hunt for anything but missing socks. I agree with you Marg, I don't like the hunts, just to much other things I have to do.

I like easy hunts

Even though I personally don't like the hunts there are many that do. I'm glad that we have the choice.
Bev