We have received such overwhelming support from our readers and fellow bloggers and are so grateful to all of you! One of our earliest supporters, the great Manolo the Shoeblogger, has posted his thoughts on this matter.
“This is outrageous behavior, and as counter-productive as anything the Manolo has ever heard of. The P.R. person who sent these emails and her firm should be named and denounced publicly.
No blogger, no person, should ever have to tolerate this sort of abuse for giving his or her honest opinion about the shoddy product.
In fact, once this person and her firm are named, you may be certain that the Manolo will never, ever respond to any press release or email from this firm, and he would suggest that other fashion bloggers likewise boycott them, at least until the most public and groveling sort of apology is issued.”
By the way, the abuse continues. We asked them to stop emailing us when we sent them the Fed Ex tracking number with insurance for their bags but they responded with half a dozen more emails with comments like “You guys are total losers anyway, soccer moms who wish you are European”. Does she mean we wish we are white, not Asian? We can not help our Anglo last names from our husbands. They then said their attorney will contact us for libel, for telling the truth of what happened? We sent the girl the original email from her, asking to join our giveaway and wanting to give us bags to keep for ourselves. She said she was confused by the 180 degree change of Kelly’s attitude towards the bags (Kelly was actually really excited about them at first and responded to the PR firm as such but that was without seeing the bags up close) because in person the bags were not what we expected! Look, we have our taste. You have yours. Everyone is allowed to return things they do not like.
WE CAN NOT BE BOUGHT AND WILL NOT PRETEND TO LOVE A BAG JUST BECAUSE IT IS FREE OR TELL OUR READERS TO BUY IT.
Bravo! I love the Manolo and so pleased to see him on board with you. This is unacceptable! You have returned the bags because you don’t like them. End of story!
As a fellow Asian…you go girls!
Unbelievable. Good for you Tina and Kelly for sticking to your guns and not giving away a bag that doesn’t meet with the website’s standards.
And, I am completely in shock that she is being so abusive and bigotry.
The bags are ugly period. I read bag snob for authentic opinions and I’m glad that you stood your ground, and didn’t promote such heinous bags. As for the racist remarks…as an ethnic women..all the more reason to NEVER buy from that line…keep up the fabulous work!!!
The lawyer will laugh in her face. She has nothing. If she was so concerned about her image, why send you crappy prodcuts and then those horrid emails?
Please do not concern yourselves with this jerk of a PR company.
A jerk is a jerk in any place time or space.
I guess if Zina Eva and its PR firm looks down on Asians so much, then they won’t have to worry about tapping into China and Japan, the two biggest fashion markets in the world? That PR girl just committed career suicide, for herself and for that company.
Wow, this is crazy ridiculous, I cant believe how a PR firm can response in such a way! Absolutely rude & unprofessional!
Im Asian myself and damn proud of it.
Im so glad you bagsnob ladies are keeping your poise and handle this matter with grace, not to mention bravo to what Mr. Manolo has wrote on.
Girls,
I’m shocked. Clearly this woman isn’t a professional or quality PR person. A real PR person would remain professional regardless of your comments on her clients’ product.
A strong PR person’s job is to develop quality relationships. She could have talked to her client, Zina Eva and provided her some industry feedback. At this time, the bags are not at a quality level to be featured on Bag Snob.
Someday if Zina Eva decides to elevate the line, a positive relationship with you could be clearly be an asset. Being of Asian descent myself I’m saddened by the ignorance of this PR person, but I think someone from Zina Eva should contact you immediately and apologize for what has transpired.
So ignorant, thoughtless, and reckless.
Tina and Kelly
Dont let that nasty girl and those idiotic emails get to you!!
I know your upset over the whole drama, but remeber this…they needed your business!!
That quote about soccer moms and European last names, another lame blow in my opinion!!
Obviously they are still bitter and blue in the face because they can’t get what they wanted, but dont worry about them. You guys are doing a fantastic job, and you CLEARLY know your business!!
one of the comments on that article in the link you provided stated that the PR company probably just tried to experiment in blogging and assigned an intern to get in touch with the bloggers. LMAO I thought that was funny
I am shocked. This is unbelievable, who do these people think they are? It is not acceptable to treat anyone in this manner. I can not believe the stupidity of this Zina Eva and the PR company.