Status Update

Hello Friends & Customers,

As many of you are aware, I have had several personal challenges over the past couple years that have led to some difficulty in my business transactions. Divorce, Illness, home foreclosure, and moving out of state to name a few. All of which have contributed to a slow progression to financial stability for my family. Things have gotten pretty rough financially for my family and to compound the difficulties, we live in a very small rural town which does not afford us the conveniences of public transportation or free computer access anywhere nearby. We've basically hit rock bottom and are working our way back to some stability.

I have read some disparaging remarks about myself and my business practices online. I am very sorry that my personal life has interfered with my ability to run things in a professional manner. I suppose I have to live with those remarks and negative word of mouth about me. However, I have no intentions of changing my business name to hide behind some other persona. I am working to get my family back on stable ground and I will make no pretence of the fact that it will take some time. I will continue to do business under the name Puppet Planet for as long as the desire to build puppets remains within me. I will build my reputation back to respectable status via means of facing the issues at hand and taking responsibility for them. Over time, positive word of mouth will replace the bad things that people have chosen to say and spread about me. I feel that’s the right thing to do rather than filing bankruptcy or other methods that some people choose to "start fresh". I certainly hope that those who took the time to label me as a "fraud", "thief", etc. will also take the time to update the status of their remarks when I have worked to make things right between us.

In an effort to start with a clean plate and resolve problems, I would like to offer refunds to everyone that currently has open transactions with me. I must admit up front that the refund process will be slow, and done in small partial payments due to my current financial situation. But I intend to make this right and this is probably the best way to proceed. I don't have a phone or easy access to email/computer. If you have an open transaction with me, please send details in writing with any available copies of payments you have made to the address provided below. In return, I will provide you with a signed letter in writing indicating my agreement that a refund is due and begin to send partial payments as soon as I can. A refund probably wont please everyone, but since I currently have very few options available to communicate and very few resources available to complete custom orders…. this is the resolution that I feel would suit everyone involved. I do have some completed puppets/figures belonging to people but with no computer I have not had any means to obtain contact information, send photos for your review, or contact you. The owners of these completed works may opt to receive the items or to receive the refund via payments as described above. I have no intention of forcing someone to choose one option over the other despite any completed orders that I have in my possession.

Due to my lack of supplies in stock and lack of resources to obtain special supplies, I will not be able to accept custom orders on a regular basis until things have improved financially enough to do so. When I can find a means, I will be attempting to use donated and remaining supplies to build and sell my work online. This will help me obtain funds to start making refund payments to everyone since I currently do not have any other means of income.

My website has been updated and should be back up and running, many supplies are temporarily unavailable and please keep in mind that my ability to complete custom orders is VERY limited. Some of the puppets on my catalog page are available in stock or supplies can easily be obtained to complete them.

I have completed puppets and figures available, however, I don't yet have means to post pictures but look for updates here on my blog or possibly listings on eBay once I can get that account back in good standing.

Regards,
Michele Acquin
Puppet Planet
PO Box 175
Creston, NC 28615