I really don’t know where to start guys. Please hear me out. This will be long, but 5 minutes is all I need.First and foremost, I’ll say that I really am so sorry for the lack of communication and for leaving so many of you in the dark with your orders, and general inquiries. In no way is the following announcement an excuse, or some other type of grab for sympathy. I take full responsibility, and all of your criticism is warranted. All of it. I signed up for this. I got hundreds of you to trust Domo Beads and I, and I took it for granted by not allowing myself the required resources to give you guys the support you needed in things as simple as responding to emails, or serious as processing refunds. And before I continue, I need to follow that last statement up with the fact that, for what it’s worth, I PROMISE with everything I can offer, that I did not have any intention to scam anyone. And when I say this, I mean scamming you guys and/or taking your money unfairly was not a part of my plan. I know my ethics are rightfully under a lot of scrutiny right now, but I would never do that to you guys. You all played a big part in bringing Domo Beads to the heights is reached. This company is my life, and you guys went side and side with that. However, I did take that for granted when I let my business savvy slip at your guys’ expense. So, at that point, I understand why I have been grouped with the scammers in your books. I take full responsibility for that, I just need you guys to know that it is a result of negligence, not greed or bad intentions.With that all being said, I’m going to get really really real with you guys. At this point, I think it is the most I can do for you guys. I’m not going to give you guys any fake or empty promises; I’m just going to be 100% with you guys, and fill you in on everything. A transparency that literally no one knows, but you all deserve to know. Some of this stuff involves things that I really don’t want my loved ones knowing, and some stuff that I don’t want my mom to worry about, so screenshot or save this if you want to keep it, as I might need to delete it or edit it all out later on so it doesn’t pop up when family googles my name.Many of you probably remember the post I made 6 months ago that explained the situation I was in. For those of you who don’t remember, or didn’t read it, I had finally felt like I was escaping from the really dark place I was at, so I posted that announcement as a way to keep you all informed, and to honestly just talk to you guys and get some support, because I knew you guys were good for it. It was the shittiest part of my life, and you guys really helped me out of it. All of my motivation to continue was a result of your support. And I thank you guys for that.After the catastrophe of the Polo Reaper chains, my business losing almost everything, my health issues, and a slew of other bad stuff, I felt like I was ready to give you guys the level of support and product that you guys deserved. I even posted a follow-up shortly thereafter showing a sneak peek of something I was working on through all those struggles. /r/streetwear was pivotal in getting Domo Beads and I out of the slump we were in, and we almost got out. (and to clarify on the Polo Reaper chain situation for those of you who weren’t a witness: Basically, it was my 1st creation that I made entirely out of metal. It was an engineering nightmare, but I was utterly proud of it, so I released it to /r/streetwear, knowing many people wanted it. Then, soon thereafter, I and many redditors found out the batch of chains I sourced were faulty and began randomly snapping. I replaced dozens and dozens of chains, and issued so many refunds, but the storm hitting my warehouse and putting me out of business rendered me unable to control everything in a timely manner.)This is where everything got so much worse. And please don’t take this as me searching for sympathy; I just feel that I need to be as transparent as possible for you guys.Shortly after everything was beginning to look up, and I was going to be able to make rent if I kept the momentum going, a couple family members got really sick, and I got an eviction notice. This was all in the span of a couple weeks. This took everything that was about to come to fruition, and turned it on its head and put me into a state of panic and anger and sadness that I felt like I could never come out of. I felt so helpless that I, for some reason, thought the best route to take, would be to fix all current refunds/replacements, and shut everything down other than having my amazing friend/coworker fulfill the small amount of orders that were dripping in. I greatly underestimated the amount of concerns that would pop up after I shut everything down. I foolishly felt that this was my only option, as ALL of my money has been drained, and I had to find a place to sleep all while doing my best to be near my sick family. (I’m talking stage 4 sick for one of them).I ended up doing one of the hardest things I had ever done, and got another job. This was no longer about making dope chains, it was about me eating. I moved any machinery I had left to my parent’s garage, where I started 5 years ago, and started inputting spreadsheets into rows for someone else so I didn’t have to leave my employees out to dry. This is when I really decided that I couldn’t come back until I knew for a fact that I wouldn’t disappoint you guys. I couldn’t do any marketing until I knew I could back up the hype and give you all the support and product you deserved. I really wasn’t thinking clearly at the time and thought this was the only way to promise a successful future.Fast forward through almost a year at a new job, dozens of hospital visits, and me getting 45 pounds lighter, I get to my [parent’s] home from work, and decide to stomach going on Reddit for the 1st time in months. Something I had been trying to avoid because I knew I couldn’t fulfill the expectations, and because I was just scared of seeing what people had to say about the brand they used to trust. Needless to say, I saw the post claiming I scammed them, and it was accompanied by so many people calling me a scammer and a scumbag, and a whole slew of other words. I deserved all of it. And I deserve all the hate Domo Beads probably got while I went into my hole of depression. This post is not meant to make you all love me, or to somehow make up for the lack of communication in the past year, it’s simply meant to serve as transparency, and to let you all know I’m sorry. I barely remember what happened the last year because of my bouts with all types of depression and anger and most every other type of emotion someone can have, but what I do remember is that /r/streetwear was in the back of my mind the whole time.The same /r/streetwear that helped Domo raise thousands for charities. The same /r/streetwear that came together and helped send $500 to people in Nepal after their earthquake. I know it sounds stupid, but I considered you guys more of my family than close to anyone who’s related to me. I still do consider you guys my family. It hurts like hell to see all of the love I used to get turn into hate, but in a way, I’m proud that if there’s something you guys can do so well, it’s come together in unity for a cause. Whether it’s to help earthquake survivors, or call out an alleged scammer, you guys do it best, and I love that. And I’ll hate on me with you, because I deserve it. Never change.No empty promises. What is going to happen next?I just put in my notice at my job, got a credit card so I could afford any necessary replacements/refunds, and I’m going to fix this with all of you. Now.So, I know what really matters is making sure everyone gets the answers they need, and more importantly, gets what they paid for or a replacement/their money back. This morning, I was able to wrangle up 3 friends to help with going through every email and message to locate everyone who needs help. There are hundreds, and hundreds, but we will comb through them all. I will personally go through my Reddit messages, or which there are hundreds of. If you need a refund or a replacement, I will make it happen. And it will not happen later, it will happen in the next couple days. As quickly as we can go through all these messages, and I assume there will be another couple hundred that will drain in after this post. Feel free to message me or email us if you need anything, but please take into account I could only get 3 people to help, and each replacement process is not a quick one, but we will push through.As much as many of you may just want me to leave, I’m not going to leave until I can fix this with all of you. At least on a level of giving you the replacements, refunds, or answers you deserve. Hopefully I can get back in the game soon and release the jewelry I was scheming up every night after work till 3am the last year, since I really don’t want all those sleepless nights and fainting spells to go to waste, but that won’t happen till I know everything is cleaned up.In the past few months, after I was able to save up a little money, I made the move to completely reorganize the company, bring on a couple amazing people, and build a process that would actually work. It has been something I’ve been tirelessly developing with money I really didn’t have, so I could give you all what you deserve. I don’t want you to take my word for it though; hopefully Domo Beads can show you. But, not until every last person who needs resolution is happy. I won’t be happy until you all are. I hope Domo can come back and we can all be a family like we once were. If/when the time comes, I promise I will not let you down. Feel free to hit my PM; I’ve got no job now, so I’m going to make it work. You’ve got my word. via /r/streetwear http://ift.tt/2dxBJxF
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