General Questions About VSN
1. Is Vamp Stamp News still publishing?
Yes and No. The last print issue of VSN magazine was the Jun '12 issue. But VSN now publishes monthly eArticles here on the website. All sponsored eArticles are free to read. If you still need to add some VSN issues to complete your collection, most of VSN's 226 print issues are still available for sale on VSN's Online Shopping cart.
2. How do I make sure that I know when a new eArticle is available?
Each time a new eArticle is posted on VSN's main website or the Online Shopping Cart, I post an announcement two places: VSN's page on Facebook and VSN's Announcement-Only Yahoo List. The best way to stay in the loop is either to "Like" VSN's page on Facebook or join VSN's Yahoo List. Please note however that Facebook does not show every Page post to every person who has 'Liked' a business Page there. If you don't get on Facebook regularly, you might miss the monthly post; the VSN Yahoo Announcement list is a more reliable way to know when the new eArticle is posted. I also post on a few stamping related email lists but only on the "COMM" days permitted by the lists.
3. Who makes the stamp image on page 10 of the current issue?
If you are looking at a older issue, look for the stamp credit list near the end of every issue – usually on the inside back cover. In more recent issues, the stamp credits will either be found next to the image/artwork or in the art's description (on the back of each color page.) Occasionally a contributor sent artwork without stamp credits and they were listed as *Unknown. If the credit is obtained, it was printed as an update in a later issue.
4. Can I email you my credit card number or use Paypal to place an order?
No. If you want to use a credit card, please either use VSN's secure Online Shopping Cart (link found on the Order page). If you don't want to use the shopping cart, you can alternatively, print one of the print-and-mail order forms, fill it out and and mail it to VSN.
5. I’m looking for stamp company xyz. Can you provide an address?
Check VSN’s web site list to see if the company is listed. Then you can get the current contact information straight from the company.
6. Can you add my web site to your list?
Sure! If it is stamp related, I’d love to know about your site. That means sites that focus on: stamps, scrapbooking, altered books, deco books, polymer clay, ATCs, art products, craft supplies, etc. Please send the URL (web site address) and I’ll check it out for inclusion in the next update. (Note: the web site list is updated once a month.)
7. I remember an article in VSN on Shaving Cream Backgrounds but can’t remember which issue . . .
Easy! Go to the Issue Index page and use your web browser’s FIND function to do a search on that page for “Shaving”. You can do this for many subjects. It makes a quick and dirty index to all of VSN’s issues going back to 1993!
In many browsers, pressing Ctrl-F/Cmd-F opens up a search box where you can enter the word you are looking for on that page. If you are unsure of how to do this using your browser software, try checking the browser’s HELP and look for information on how to find text on a page.
Alternatively, if you don't want to go online every time you want to look something up, you might want to consider purchasing VSN's Master Table of Contents. This pdf file contains a table of contents page for each of VSN's 226 issues and is searchable.
8. I live outside the US. Does VSN ship overseas?
Yes. See the Order page. VSN's Online Shopping Cart accepts credit card orders from overseas customers.
9. Can I email you a list of issues that I want and then stick a check in an envelope to you?
Please don’t do this. The payment and the order need to come together to avoid errors in your order. Please send the list with your check. Some people use the abbreviated VSN issue list near the beginning of each issue as a check-off list. Others write or type out a list of month/year for the issues. Issue pricing is on the Order page of this web site. Please note that there are price savings for ordering larger quantities of issues.
10. Can I order online?
Yes, VSN now offers a secure Online Shopping Cart. The link to it can be found on the Order page.
11. Can I email you a picture of my artwork?
Yes. Keep in mind that if you mail the actual artwork, it is easier for me to see the details and to be sure the color is correct. (Colors often shift when they are scanned or photographed in electronic form.) But if you are unable or unwilling to part with the original art, I will accept it electronically via emailed attached file.
Please see the Get Published page BEFORE YOU EMAIL ANYTHING for more details on submitting artwork, articles or stamp rooms.
12. Where can I find products mentioned in VSN issues or eArticles?
Check your local stamp store first. If they do not have it, check the VSN's Links list.
13. Why doesn't VSN have a phone number so I can order by phone or call to chat?
VSN is an unusual publication in that it is put together by a single person. It is also a monthly publication in an industry where most stamping magazines are bi-monthly. My time only stretches so far. I can either talk on the phone for many hours each day OR I can get your issue to you on time each month. I unfortunately can't do both. I think that most readers are happy that their issue (and now their eArticle) arrives on time each month - "like clockwork" as many readers have observed.)
14. How can I find fellow stampers in my area?
If you have a local stamp store, it is a great place to meet fellow stampers.
15. I'm looking for a stamp of a pig . . . or a gypsy . . . or whatever. Can you help me track down companies that selling this?
I see so many stamp images from so many companies that I couldn't possibly inventory them all in my head. I really am not the best source for this type of search. If you are online, your best bet is to post an ISO (In Search Of) message on one or more stamp email lists. These lists pool the knowledge of many stampers and stamp sellers who may be able to direct you to a company selling the image you want.
16. Why do overseas orders cost so much more than US orders?
Most of the cost of an overseas order covers the postage to your country. I figure the price by taking the US price and adding the extra postage cost.
17. What is my Userid (User Name) and Password to get into the extra Readers' Galleries? Why do I have to use it?
The userid/password for this special extra set of galleries can be found in the most recent eArticle. The sign-in is used for all readers of the current eArticle, so do NOT try to use your real name or the information you use to sign into VSN's Online Shopping Cart. (It won't work here!) These galleries are meant to be something extra for current readers of VSN's eArticles.
18. Can you email me the userid/password to get into the Readers' Galleries?
No, I'm sorry but I will not email this information to anyone for any reason. You will however find the information inside the most recent eArticle.
VSN Online Shopping Cart Questions
Most people seem to breeze through the Online Shopping Cart without problems, but occasionally a problem will pop-up. Here are the questions I’ve heard come up:
1. I am trying to use an eGift Certificate on the Online Shopping Cart, but it is not being accepted!
This might be the result of mistyping the eGift Certificate code, but is more likely the result of entering the code in the wrong place! On the first screen of the cart there is a spot for a coupon code, but an eGift Certificate is NOT a coupon, so do not enter it there. Instead, enter the code in the eGift Certificate box when you get to the "Shipping & Gift Certificates" page during checkout.
2. I’ve been a VSN subscriber for years, but when I try to place an order using the Online Shopping Cart, it doesn’t recognize me!
This sometimes trips people up because they try to sign in as a “Returning Customer” when they have been a VSN customer for a while but have never registered to use the Online Shopping Cart. If this is your first time using the Shopping Cart, choose “New Customer” to register. It will go to a new screen and then ask for your shipping and billing information and your email address.
The Online Shopping Cart is not connected directly to VSN’s customer database, so it won’t know when your subscription ended or what you’ve ordered outside of the Cart. I connect the dots manually behind the scenes.
3. I don't remember my password for the Online Shopping Cart and I'm not sure I ever had one!
See previous question. In most cases, this just means that you need to register on the Shopping Cart for the first time.
If you are sure that you have used the Online Shopping Cart before but can't remember your password, click on the "Forgot Password" link in the Login box. A window will come up where you can enter your email address. Enter the email address you used to register previously. Once you have done that, a password reset email will be sent to your registered email address.
4. When I try to enter my address on the Online Shopping Cart, I can’t enter the State.
The State field is a drop-down field. Most people are fine with these, but every now and then, someone can’t seem to use them successfully. Here’s how it should work:
There should be a blue box over to the far right end of the yellow State field with a V arrow. If you click on the yellow field or the arrow, it should open up a larger box with a list of different states. Then you can use the blue scroll bar on the right of the field to scroll down to your state and click on the state to choose it.
If for some reason, you simply can't do drop-down fields on your computer, you can alternately print out one of the print-and-mail order forms found on the Shop page of VSN’s main website, fill it out with your address and credit card information, sign it and mail it to VSN.
5. How do I enter an address for another country?
The default address forms are for the US. If your address is outside the US, first change the "Country" field to your country and then the address fields will shift to what you need for your country.
6. Why do I have to give you my email address to use the Online Shopping Cart?
The Online Shopping Cart is set up to use email to keep you informed. When you place your order successfully, you’ll get an automatic confirmation email. When I actually charge your credit card, you’ll get another email to confirm that step. You’ll get another email when your order ships or your renewal order is completely processed. I also might use the email address if there is a problem or a question about your order.
I do not sell, loan or otherwise share email addresses. I won’t use your email address to harass you with spam.
7. My credit card was declined but I know that it is a perfectly good card! What’s up?
I’ve noticed that most declines are almost immediately followed by a successfully authorized order being placed. This tells me that most declines are just simple typing errors. The easiest mistake to make (and the easiest to overlook) is choosing the credit card type. For example, if you leave it set to Mastercard, and you have a Visa, then no matter how carefully your type in the account number, it’s not going to go through! (I’ve done this myself; it’s a very easy mistake to make.)
If your card is declined and you know it is good, check that you’ve entered the correct card type. Check that every digit of that l-o-n-g account number is typed correctly. (Some people find checking the digits in reverse order is helpful in seeing errors that are otherwise missed.) Check that you’ve entered the correct expiration date and the three-digit number from the back of the card. If it still won’t work, call your credit card company to see if they have put some type of security block on your account that is keeping the order from going through.
8. Why can’t I just email you my credit card information to place an order?
Please NEVER email credit card information (to VSN or to anyone else). This is a very insecure way of handling credit card information. For your own protection, I will not accept any credit card orders via email. If you wish to place an order by credit card, please either use the secure Online Shopping Cart or print one of the print-and-order forms, fill it out, sign it and mail it to VSN. VSN also accepts US checks or money orders by mail.
9. Can I just write my credit card info on a piece of paper (make my own form) and mail you that?
No, the print-and-mail order form is specifically designed to conform to the credit card company’s requirements for credit card mail orders. To place a credit card order, please either use the secure Online Shopping Cart or print one of the print-and-order forms, fill it out, sign it and mail it to VSN.
10. I want to order a number of individual issues but I don’t understand how to do it on the Online Shopping Cart.
To order issues using the Online Shopping Cart, first use the Issue Index page on the main VSN website to decide on the specific issues you want. Make a note of the issues and count them up to get the total number of issues you plan to order.
Keep in mind that for issue orders that will be shipped within the US, there are three pricing tiers: 1-4 issues, 5-39 issues or 40 or more issues. (Ordering more at one time results in a lower per-issue price because the shipping savings is built into the price tiers.)
There are four ways to order issues on the Online Shopping Cart: A'la Carte, By Year, by Theme Pack and as pdf Files. The following directions are for ordering A'la Carte:
Go back to the Shopping cart and pick Order A'la Carte and then US Back Issues, Canada Back Issues or Overseas Back Issues, depending on where they are to be shipped. (Click on “More Information” under the option that fits you.)
Then select the Recipient (for self or for a gift). Once you do this, the quantity box will appear. The default number in the quantity box is 1. Change the quantity to the number of issues you would like. Then add it to your cart.
When you are finished shopping, check that the items in your shopping cart are correct and the number of issues you have entered is what you want. (Orders are final as of shipping and non-returnable, so you want to be sure you order correctly!)
Then check out. List the specific issues that you want in the issues text box at check out. Please be sure that the number of issues you list here matches the number of issues you actually ordered!
Once I receive your order, I will process your credit card. Orders placed on the Online Shopping cart and paid by credit card typically ship within 24 to 48 hours (not counting Saturday, Sunday and holidays.) You will receive email confirmations of your order receipt, credit card processing and order shipping so you will know exactly where your order stands. For larger orders, you may also receive an email from the US Postal System confirming that your package was shipped using their system.