Reviews assess the reputability of a store, and can encourage or discourage future purchases. They prepare people for what to expect, since photographs are never going to be as enlightening as holding a piece in your own hands. They also indicate how trustworthy the shop owners themselves are, and point out any inconsistencies in the store, which is important for both the owner (to correct and learn from) and future customers (to receive full disclosure). Reviews have an enormous impact on who will give the store their business; for Angel Teeth, a small business run by two disabled people of color, reviews can make or break our livelihood. That being said, reviews are not the lifeblood of a store; our artwork has a life of its own, and can speak for itself.
I’m always honored to see reviews of our store, especially to see that people are excited enough about receiving our work that they want to say something that everyone, including us, can read. Today, we received our first review that was not a full 5 stars, out of 14 reviews total. I want to take that seriously. It seems that the person who left the review was under the impression that we claimed the charms are made of “mixed resin,” which we have never tried to insinuate at all.
If you have visited the store before, then you know each listing has the exact materials used for each component of the piece listed. I am as transparent as possible because I myself have metal allergies, and I know sensitivities to other materials are common.
Each listing also describes the charms used in our jewelry as acrylic charms, which is the most concise way of describing our work. We paint each charm on shrinking plastic, and design the jewelry around them once we have shrunken the charms. If you’re interested in seeing how we make them, one of the first things we did was make a highlights reel on Instagram (@shopangelteeth) about how we make our jewelry. We are very clear about our process, and we welcome others to see how we make our art (and potentially give it a try themselves).
The materials we use are extremely accessible, and we have not tried to upsell our work as anything other than what it is. We do not have the resources to use expensive materials, nor do we have the space to accommodate a more involved work processes. We do, however, make our living on our store, and rely on your continued interest in our work. I am extremely grateful for each and every one of you who purchases our artwork, and it is extremely motivating to see your excitement about our art.
If you are ever unhappy about your purchase, please let us know. I’m sure we can work something out!
