Mug Gate is THE WEIRDEST Tik Tok drama! ($125 MUG)

[@amigdalies]

the way she’s being nice about not saying the mug wasn’t worth the money, but like.. that mug really isn’t worth $125😭

[@Ashbrash1998]

Adjusted for US dollars its about 60-70$ which apparently in a lot of craft sales and what not it's not too surprising

[@mochi19971]

In my opinion, some "small business owners" weaponise the fact that they are small business owners to make themselves seem like the victim. Like the second someone has a social media platform, they OWE the small business a glowing review. I also find it disturbing that the mugs meant for people with disabilities cost so much-- and I feel the second lady tried to weaponise the fact that she makes products for people with disabilities.

[@amandamandamands]

I am with you, I found her website and under that mug she doesn't mention anything about being useful for people with disabilities and it is a very small mug (200ml). She has one range of mugs that is $65 and the others are the same price or more than this mug. The $65 mug looks like it is dip painted rather than the intricate painting on the other mugs. She sells other things too with one being a keyring. If I had one of those I would break it so quickly, it would need to be a display piece

[@BreakofDawn]

Yeah, to me “I’m just a small business,” is beginning to sound more and more like, “but I’m an influencer!” It’s like the pink sauce lady, and another one recently about a mom n’ pop food truck in Dallas. They use, “but I’m a small business” as a reason to excuse their shady business practices. It gets thrown around so often as a crutch, that it makes me feel like I can’t take any small business seriously anymore.

[@MultiDivine123]

£60 for a mug out of a mould with the tagline of "it's for disabled people" makes me feel some kind of way

[@mollyblower3868]

you mean a small businessowner that has to pay rent or mortgage on her studio and an electricity bill for a kiln which is expensive btw that has to buy supplies which are expensive btw and that she cant mass produce hence the moulds and that she hand paints and that she has to pay herself idk i saw a mug that i could make that was £400 not from her so £60 for a hand painted mug seems reasonable

[@nojasam4434]

​@@mollyblower3868girlie, you must be fucked in the head if you think charging a disabled person that much for a mug that is supposed to be ACCESSIBLE is right in any way

[@daddy4967]

Small business owners are still capable of overcharging. Idk why we’re using that as justification for TikTok influencers with a massive following charging whatever exorbitant amount they want.

[@denezebootle]

​@mollyblower3868 $82USD is not a reasonable price for a ceramic cup targeted for disabled people or people with hand stability issues. The first time it drops, it's shattered. It's definitely not an acceptable price considering the material and target audience. If it was hand molded (maybeee I could see why; factoring the time for each piece of work) but she literally does videos pouring out the molds and setting them to cure.

[@Cherry_Sorbet]

Using a mold takes just as much skill and knowledge. On top of that it is hand painted. This price is on par for these products

[@basicbleh98720]

it’s weird that she brings up the fact it’s for disabled people in the end to make Soph look even worse, but why is she charging disabled people $125 for mug?! also, Soph still brought the product and never said anything bad about it, so it just seems like a bad business move on Shelby’s part to make a video slamming Soph. She brought the product, she can technically say whatever she wants about it as a consumer? idk the whole thing is weird lol

[@katieggg100]

I feel like she just made that up 😂 It's a small two handled ceramic mug that wouldn't be practical or accessible for disabled people to use

[@Floridameerkat93]

It's $125 aud. That's about $85 usd.

[@basicbleh98720]

@@Floridameerkat93 yeah, $133 nzd for people who may be on a disability allowance? it’s a low blow

[@basicbleh98720]

@@katieggg100 it was definitely to gain sympathy and make her look worse, but that backfired 🤣

[@missstargazer9174]

Wouldn’t a ceramic mug be a terrible idea for a mug for someone disabled, my older sister is disabled and the mug could have 20 handles and she’d still accidentally drop it

[@mageofdoomsie1598]

If it’s supposed to be a mug for those with disabilities, why is it so damn expensive??? Is it the disability tax or somethin? Especially when you use molds…

[@connyaaaa5555]

As someone who is considered mentally disabled (autistic), I’ve noticed so many things made for mental and physical disabilities are SO expensive… despite us statistically making lower wages

[@kelseyling987]

As if being disabled isn’t expensive enough already

[@kelseyling987]

@@connyaaaa5555yeah and then if you want a disability check you’re basically not allowed to have a job

[@XOChristianaNicole]

@@kelseyling987- Now that is the real struggle. Along with the struggle to balance getting off disability with work, while not screwing oneself over. They incentivize staying on disability. I live in the US, and it’s the same for my friend who lives in the UK.

[@hadley827]

@@connyaaaa5555exactly. In the US it’s legal (I think in most places) to pay disabled people below minimum wage

[@LifeOfTheAngels]

Stories like these are so unserious bc person A. will make the TikTok just casually talking about the things they bought and whatever experience happened that day, not even mentioning anyone specific, and then person B. will just make themselves known for no reason, like sweetie no one told you to step to the carpet, no one gave you the mic, nobody asked, literally all the girl did was talk about how she spent $125 on a mug, now you’re self sabotaging your business bc *YOU* 🫵🏾decided to not mind your business 😭

[@kiwi-se4ld]

I'm in the art community where I live, I know a lot of people who have small businesses and I go to A LOT of markets, so I can confidently say that she overprices her mugs. I have multiple large, unique, beautifully hand-moulded and painted mugs and none of them have been over $50 USD. The mug is cute, don't get me wrong, but unless she's trying to become a luxury or exclusive brand that markets towards the upper class, the pricing doesn't fit. ESPECIALLY since she's trying to gain sympathy points by saying her mugs are for the disabled. Her attitude really rubbed me the wrong way and, while I'm all for artists getting paid and not undercharging their work, I certainly would not pay that price or shop from her in the future.

[@hadley827]

I was going to say, I’m not an artist but I’ve been to a lot of art markets and I’ve never seen a functional mug priced at 80usd. Good for her if people are buying them at that price, but I’d be surprised at the price as well.

[@merp3373]

there’s a man at my local farmers market who makes hand crafted beautifully glazed mugs that hold 20 oz of liquid and sells them each for $20 usd… i just cannot get around how TINY the mug is for the price, guess disabled people are only allowed 3 sips of tea 😔

[@amandamandamands]

I found her website and she has one range that is $65 (it doesn't have intricate painting on it) and her other mugs cost the same or more than this double handled mug (it is only one range that she sells that is double handled). The other thing is the other TikToker wasn't kidding when she said the mug is small. It is listed that it holds approx 200ml (a measuring cup is 240ml)

[@tomfondly5266]

If you have to charge $100+ for a mug you don't have a sustainable business model. It's one thing to sell ceramic art for that amount, but a functional mug it's beyond ridiculous.

[@TheDolphace]

I mean... it clearly is though as she is still in business and doing well. Like fair that you wouldn't pay for it, but a lot of other people do.

[@iamteo749]

Also for a ceramic mug... for disabled people... that can be dropped and broken (especially by someone disabled). Something from a relatively fragile material that is used everyday but can break if dropped is not worth 125 aus dollars.

[@danieltodd6703]

@@iamteo749 There are different levels of many different disabilities. Not every disabled person that needs two handles (strength, stability from ms etc.) is running around dropping and breaking things.

[@iamteo749]

@@danieltodd6703 yeah, I know, I was gonna include that, but still. Personally, I am VERY CLUMSY, as in I drop things and trip on my own legs clumsy, I just find it ridiculous to pay so much for a cup that I could break, but to each their own I guess. And also, the nerve to ask this much money for a cup and then say 'ohhh but it's for disabled people' like how??

[@Fernanda-jx6ep]

i don't have much to say, except that to me is really icky that something for disabled people is priced so high, specially when it was made with a mold

[@bridieeleanor]

bit of a slap in the face to make it out of easily breakable ceramics as well, can bet my grandfather with parkinsons who needs specially made items for his mobility would not risk something that could shatter and hurt him

[@piperjaycie]

Something like silicone with a straw would be more appropriate than ceramic. I have nerve damage and I drop A LOT of things.

[@xxUkiyo]

This is what I was thinking as well, acting like disabled people get this kind of money. It’s barely enough to survive most of the time

[@TheDolphace]

​@@piperjayciehow does a Potter make things out of silicone?

[@kelseyling987]

@@TheDolphace I see your point. In my opinion though if she doesn’t have the setup to create a worthwhile product she shouldn’t try to market her product as such. Just say its a regular cup!

[@caseyhogan5549]

Maybe I’m alone in this, but Shelby said the mug was for people with dexterity issues and the fact she charges $125 feels like she’s taking advantage. I’m probably reading to much into it though 🤷‍♀️

[@Julescasper]

I agree.

[@TheseVioletDelites]

Could be but it's still priced pretty in line with her other stuff from what I've seen.

[@chief_mourner]

she def brought up disabilities to make soph look bad. however her lack of critical thinking skills couldnt see that charging so much money for a product for disabled people would make _herself_ look bad

[@DominosAndHearts]

Agreed

[@DominosAndHearts]

​@@chief_mournerthis exactly

[@anniemal8030]

Emma in the moment also made a video on this and looked at the other venders at that market and most of the hand made mugs were around 40-60 ausd, the most expensive one was 110 and was an outlier. Shelby was heavily over pricing compared to the rest. I get why soph didn’t think it was gonna be that expensive if all the others were reasonably priced

[@lizek3515]

As a ceramicist who does slipcasting (pouring molds), I want a solid breakdown of the clay she uses. Personally, I use stoneware which ranges anywhere from $25-35 per gallon. If she’s using porcelain, for example, it’s more expensive. Pouring molds, in my opinion, is more tedious and time-consuming than throwing on a wheel. You gotta time how long you leave the slip (liquid clay) in the mold to determine thickness then once you pour out the excess, you wait hours for it to set enough to be able to pull the mold apart. You clean the seam lines to make it pretty then glaze it. I have thousands of molds and that exact double-handled one too. Handles can crack so easily, so having two makes it annoying. I hand glaze everything and sometimes add decals or mother of pearl luster to make it prettier. Now, do I charge $80USD for it? Nah, at most I would do maybe $40 because I want my items to be accessible to as many people as possible. I think Shelby is a sweet kid that hasn’t gotten in online scandals and didn’t know how to handle this. She didn’t HAVE to make a reaction video, and it brought a lot of negative attention to not only herself but the ceramics community as a whole. Handmade items are going to be more expensive than factory-made Walmart or Target dinnerware

[@owl.feathers]

Thanks for your insight, that's pretty interesting

[@mementomori9320]

Shelby's pouty, big eyed, oh woe is me response when she wasn't even named or dragged in ANY way will forever give me the ick

[@jessicastraw6593]

Tik tok followers don’t equal revenue or number of employees which are usually the two defining characteristics of a business size

[@nocause5395]

I agree with this.

[@wrtheringheights]

Exactly, and tiktokers don’t really “earn” much just from getting views, unless they’re as big as Mikayla or smth

[@mollyblower3868]

and you think Shelby a woman running her own business making and painting and shipping is making much as if you look at everything she has to buy for her business resin, slip cast, pottery supplies, tools and the paint which aren't acrylic so not cheap and she also has to pay herself and editing software cameras lights she has to pay her bills and buy food and travel for her business to go to conventions and selling stalls

[@michellemcknight8479]

I dont believe it's revenue, just employee size. so technically tiktok followers could be an indication of customer base and therefore revenue. imo, small business doesn't mean a poor business.

[@michellemcknight8479]

@@mollyblower3868 realistically you can charge however much you want for a product, doesn't mean people won't complain. as a business, you should be clear about your pricing and what goes into that. in certain industries (like this one) you'll have a client base willing to pay a higher figure for an item because they know what goes into it, but it isn't up to every potential customer to know. also, at the end of the day if you can't find a customer base for a product, then it's not a good business plan.

[@jessicamyers7228]

I used to love Shelby but I truly have never understood why she prices mugs and cups made to be accessible for people with disabilities so high. The prices aren’t accessible. I understand she needs to pay workers, pay for products, etc but I feel if she truly wants to help people then she could price them more fairly and have her other products be more expensive like she wants.

[@CreativeC13]

Ceramics are REALLY pricey to make

[@Neo-Queenserenityt2l]

​@@CreativeC13 okay but ask yourself what disabled person has that amount of money to pay for a fucking cup eith 2 handles

[@petthequeenofmaddness8592]

@@CreativeC13 not really they sell its commonly sold for kids to paint the most expensive thing would be the glaze but even then the stuffs bought in balk

[@highbloods]

same. I love Shelby and her mystery mould videos but there is no reason you should charge that much. after moulding, all she does is paint and fire them. if she thinks her mugs are worth the price she is selling then she has lost touch with reality, genuinely

[@mollyblower3868]

she has to pay herself and employees and the electricity on a kiln and the lets for forget all the stuff and she makes and casts her own moulds and hand made stuff i saw someone say if they hand make they charge 300+ for hand made and the same as Shelby for moulds its reasonable

[@HobieInTheBox]

I can't believe she genuinely opened her mouth and claimed that the 125 dollar mug is for disabled people even though it's NOT accessible for disabled people at all at that price. And she didn't hear how ridiculous she sounded

[@TheDolphace]

Not all disabled people are poor, some have money to burn and should have access to luxuries like everyone else. It's not like this is the only option. A birkin isn't accessible to me, but I'm not thinking it should be.

[@amandamandamands]

I think that Shelby threw that in for shade. On her website disability isn't mentioned in the blurb for that mug. She also seems to think that her mugs are affordable as she has one range that is $65, the others are the same price or more than this mug

[@rhys3542]

imo, if a mug is going to be over ~60usd, it should def be handmade and not just with a mould

[@Gyouseii]

Hand-made versus hand-crafted is such a big argument within people in the crafting industry.. I agree with you though, but I wish there was more clearer guidelines on these. Its like people using the circular knitting machines to make hats with the use of a drill and then get angry that people don't want to charge them for the time it would take to do it manually..

[@CreativeC13]

If it's hand glazed that is still a lot of work though

[@Neo-Queenserenityt2l]

​@@CreativeC13 yeah but even others who hand make them sell them for less than 120

[@jordanfoster5013]

Skip casting is still considered handmade and requires a lot of skill to do, it’s just a different skill set compared to throwing on the wheel

[@rhys3542]

@@jordanfoster5013 that’s cool and I’m glad people enjoy making them like that. I just don’t think (for the most part) that it should be more than 60usd. I won’t pay that much for something made like that. But if other people will buy it at that price then that’s great for them

[@lana-azalea]

aside from the fact that Soph is a costumer and therefore allowed to not be satisfied with her purchase and complain about it, i think Shelby is low key overreacting because at the end of the day Soph's video wasn't damaging her business in the slightest (since she only responded 2 months later) it just feels like she made this to get some simpathy points and maybe attention

[@LifeOfTheAngels]

also there’s this thing with freelance artists and small businesses that think they can circumvent criticism just bc they’re a small business and freelance, at the end of the day the girl was a paying customer, if she thought $125 for a mug was bit egregious she’s allowed to say that, no one’s ruining your business bc they thought your prices where a bit steep, that’s just regular consumerism, and she still PAYED for it anyway like omg😭

[@tiamiesha]

I’m still stuck on the business owner saying that the collection was for disabled people because for what reason are you charging $80USD+ for a mug when someone belongs to the disabled community??? The math literally isn’t mathing for me. Like I respect the craft, but $80 for a mug that isn’t even regular sized???

[@CreativeC13]

There are a lot of people who may need a two handled mug but who also are not wealthy such as old folks with arthritis for example

[@Neo-Queenserenityt2l]

​@@CreativeC13 okay so how will they pay for it then, stop defending her & this atrocious price point

[@TheDolphace]

​@@Neo-Queenserenityt2lyou don't need a hand painted mug though. That is a luxury item, even if it's been adapted. There are alternatives if you just want a mug...

[@CreativeC13]

@riddlerosehearts8277 lol I meant not unwealthy, it automatically corrected

[@kstar881]

@@CreativeC13 I'm pretty sure the commenter is saying that the business owner is charging the highest price towards people with disabilities, which is counter intuitive.

[@morganspourskoller63]

OH MY GOD WAIT FINALLY A DRAMA I KNOW ABOUT! Guys- the mug buiz owner Shelby is awful!!! She has snubbed other artists at the market she has deemed lesser than her due to social media. Wait for this next artist to speak out…

[@CarmCoffey_11]

Why is this even a thing? If the business wasn't named, it shouldn't matter. People are going to have different opinions. Someone might think that $125 for a mug is fine. It's something that they want to splash out on and support a small business. For me, it wouldn't be ok, and I would be totally shocked. Shock is ok and we are allowed to have different opinions. Soph didn't drag the business. She was talking about her experience. If the owner wanted to have some real conversation with her about it, they could have done that in private.

[@rhys3542]

lmao this is like the Australian mug version of the Random Man From Atlanta. No one would've known it was her if she didn't stitch the vid to say something

[@snakefacepaint]

this is so crazy! I’ve watched shelby’s content for a little while and she was always so calming and nice to watch. while I get that small businesses are allowed to price their items as high as they please, there needs to be a level of compassion for your customers when your prices are SO high; it’s beyond what most regular people are willing to pay for a something like a clothing item - let alone a MUG?

[@TheDolphace]

Just as a question, do you feel the same about luxury handbag brands? Should they feel compassion? Genuinely wondering, not trying to start a fight.

[@hadley827]

@@TheDolphaceI think they meant that Shelby should have had more compassion for the influencer when making the video in response to her, not that she should lower her prices out of compassion

[@snakefacepaint]

@@TheDolphace i think the real distinction here is that she is not a luxury brand, she is a small business! therefore she’s able to be much more hands-on with the consumer, and should be able to understand why that price might have been shocking :)

[@BreakofDawn]

@TheDolphace the difference is that luxury brands don’t use disabled people to justify the price tag or use disability as a way to garner sympathy

[@sam-ib6lk]

just for people looking at the price conversions and Thinking it's not super expensive, Australia's economy rn is not great $125 barely covers 2 bags of groceries. it's a lot of money for us rn, especially someone who is disabled and may not be able to work

[@thirstaefortae5057]

You could go to an established Australian ceramic artist/brand and compare the prices and quality and see that’s she’s ripping people off… I’m sorry but her work just doesn’t justify the price. For that much, I’d expect spectacular quality.

[@sarahsweetblood]

I went to a convention a year or so ago and saw a stall with some amazing mugs, all thrown or hand-scalped and the price was about $50 AUD and even then I was like "I just can't justify buying myself a $50 mug" but those mugs were a freaking steal compared to the strawberry mug.

[@MELLMAO]

I'm gonna say it: 90% of people who have small businesses have no skills, knowledge or wisdom to run them. Truly, most people are not meant for this

[@Diogotchi]

Thats a lot of responsibility the shop owner is putting on the tiktoker. Just because someone has a platform doesn't mean they should be dictated on how to use it if they don't want to. Very odd over all.

[@christalcavanaugh]

I’m so happy about this comments section! The last video I saw on this half the comments were in the vein of “who cares if she’s marketing towards people with disabilities? She’s perfect and infallible” which was a disappointing take in my opinion

[@ReaverRoyale]

I think it's unfortunate that Shelby responded in the way she did. I think there was a good gap between the original post and her response here? It would have been better to not respond publically, as she wasn't personally named. She could have still reached out to the OP privately to see if she'd like to do a return, but that'd just be a nice thing to do. I think the original video touched on an insecurity she has about her business, and this was a knee-jerk response to it. At least as far as online drama goes, this isn't so bad

[@sarasabotage986]

Shelby whole response should be studied for perfect strawman fallacies lmaoooo. But also- I absolutely HATE when people weaponize the disabled just because they think it'll boost their side/argument... on top of giving a HEAVY disability tax... similar mugs (dignity title or not) are from 30-70$ 80ish for really fancy ones... outrageous that she basically doubles it for herself

[@amandamandamands]

I had a look at her website, the blurb for that mug doesn't mention disability. She has one mug that is cheaper (but is really simple two tone), the others are all the same price or more than this mug.

[@kimberleygolddust]

Also Shelby has a low paid workforce of people who replicate her ceramics for her. She does not pour and paint them all herself.

[@jahoobies]

I think a huge issue is people assuming that one side is outright lying and the other is telling the complete truth. Human memory is SO fallible. To the point that there have been studies for decades about how eyewitness testimony is bogus. People misremember and add in details that suit them, most of the time without even knowing it.

[@richardwright9292]

Shelby seems disingenuous, patronising, and guilt-tripping. I am disabled and for a while I had to use accessible mugs/cups - that is *not* a good accessible mug! It is fragile dainty ceramic, the handles are very very small, and its nonstandard size means it will not fit accessible lids or grips. I gave up on ceramic mugs after breaking too many and got a plastic mug and an aluminium ones. They cost €9 and €15.

[@amandamandamands]

Yes, I hadn't thought about that until I saw your comment. An adults hands aren't going to be able to use a mug that is only 200ml. I had seen other people comment on the breakability and they got replies that just because someone needs to use both hands doesn't mean that they drop things. Personally I haven't needed to use accessible cups, my preference though is to drink out of a drink bottle because I know that I am a dropsy person (my phone has a tradie case)

[@irelandbrecht6176]

What’s crazy is that small businesses where I come from (Canada) largely don’t take “bad reviews” this seriously. Plus she doesn’t hand throw the clay which is fine whatever but I don’t think it should cost 125$ for that tiny mug. It’s for people with disabilities? With a price like that it’s inaccessible for a large majority of people. There’s no world in which the business owner is right here. Like yes the influencer should’ve spoke up but hell I buy something from a large retailer so they don’t think I’m stealing while leaving the store empty handed, I buy from small businesses because I feel bad leaving their stall and not buying anything yes that’s on me but I know so many people that do the same. ALSO I’m pretty sure the business owner was brining this up a month or so later…like? What’s the point? More views on your page? Maybe but why on earth would you want a bad name attached to your business that you earned from petty tik tok drama

[@kaylabarr7432]

I don't trust anyone who truly believes that their actions or decisions should not be questioned. Why should you never be questioned? I don't feel like that's a normal thing to expect of people

[@lolamb343]

my personal take aways: expensive or cheap are both subjective. something i find expensive, the next person might find cheap. soph never said it wasnt worth the price, she was simply shocked by the price. putting the prices on the BOTTOM of fragile items that are all so jam packed and close together is a literal nightmare. I wouldnt feel comfortable picking anything up off of those tables. dignity mugs should never be that much money but thats my personal opinion. shelby outed herself and came off extremely whiney and tried to make herself the victim over literally nothing claiming her 'small' business is being ruined.

[@laheladickens1644]

5:25 she told every single person that walked through the door of her store this? It’s literally a whole spiel.

[@lacelolita]

business owner in the wrong because the girl didn’t even bring up any names… like bffr

[@piperjaycie]

It doesn’t take her hours and hours to make 1 mug. 95 % of that time is literally just waiting for things to dry and then she can be getting on with other stuff.

[@amandamandamands]

The only mug she has that is an almost decent price is one that is a simple 2 tone and is $65, in comparison to it the others having a design hand painted would take longer. I don't know how long she is spending on each one, by the price too long

[@StarkJerk]

Who is happily paying that price for a mug? I’m all for small business supporting and paying well for hand made items but… over $100 for a MUG. One that’s simple af and not anything special design-wise at all. AND THEN adding the disability thing… like disabled people aren’t already charged a bunch more money for simple items that cost little to make. Slap a disabled label on it and the price quadruples. Sick.

[@amandamandamands]

Only thing I will give her is that her other ranges of mugs around the same price too. She only has the one range that is double handled and on her website doesn't mention disability at all

[@faithjordan8153]

i really think shelby over exaggerated, nothing rude was said on sophs part so idk what the issue is. also, of course the mug is adorable, but it wasn’t hand made, it’s a mould used AND she isn’t a small business… she has millions of followers. shelby is complaining that soph bashing a small business but with that many followers…how…?

[@haz.fellie]

The number of followers someone has on TikTok is not relevant. She has a small business. Independently owned businesses in NYC are small businesses even though millions of people pass their storefronts and know they exist.

[@bloodirose]

I don’t condone her actions. I liked watching her videos when they popped up on my feed. This drama has put me off her 100% That being said. A small business is measured by how many employees they have. followers mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Most of her followers will never buy a thing from her… And even if that were not the case. A small business is still defined by employees. 🤷‍♀️In Australia it’s a business with 15 or less employees.

[@ReaverRoyale]

I agree she exaggerated this whole thing. I'm sure she's still considered a small business, though. It differs from country to country, but I think in Australia it's something like having less than 15-20 employees.

[@faithjordan8153]

@@haz.fellie thank you for informing me of the rules around small businesses, i wasn’t aware and i take back my comment

[@faithjordan8153]

@@bloodirose thank you for informing me of the rules around small businesses, i wasn’t aware and i take back my comment

[@cailinanne]

My small business makes $12 million a year. Small business is tax classification. She’s a small business. The “small business” colloquial term is inaccurate to the reality.

[@bonjourista]

Omg congrats, what do you do?

[@sadlystuckinreality]

Shelby's shop and name weren't mentioned in the video at all. Nobody would've known it was her shop if she hadn't made a video. Which makes me think she only responded to get more attention to her shop and that's pretty shitty.

[@nocause5395]

I've been getting into pottery and ceramics and have seen Shelby's shorts on youtube. She genuinely seemed so sweet until this. Also, I never knew they were $125. That's insane. She uses molds which are expensive but still $125 is insane. Edit: Ok $125 au is $81 american so yeah not as expensive but still a lot. Molds can be expensive but that's still a lot.

[@margaridaserra7105]

I did molds for a ceramics project at university (therefore I didn't have to pay for them) but unless it's very different in Australia (I'm from Portugal) they are not that expensive - it's pretty much just plaster and water and you just need to make 1 model by hand and they last for quite a few pours... If it was thrown by hand I would understand the price, but for a mold, it's too much money 👀

[@nocause5395]

@@margaridaserra7105 oh i meant buying them. I dont think she makes all of hers. I also saw that she got a bunch free in one of her youtube shorts. I was just saying if she bought it then she would have that extra expense.

[@margaridaserra7105]

@@nocause5395 I didn't knew people sold molds 😅 I thought they would make their pieces and then create molds out of them to replicate them 🤓

[@nocause5395]

@@margaridaserra7105 etsy sells everything. Someone said she buys some of them on gumtree though which is like australian etsy

[@id3389]

She gets a lot of vintage moulds, I doubt they're very expensive

[@mijmij8]

why am i always so excited for the petty drama gates

[@katt7577]

She (cup maker) seems like she was trying to make a narrative that Sophie is a bad person. Esp with throwing in the end of “ if you reach out we can refund u… give the mug to someone who really wants it” then throws in that it’s for disabled people. Also Sophie never even said she wanted a refund or disliked it. She just said one quick comment abt the price…

[@drnot442]

Waiting for Shelby and Chef Pii to do a pink-sauce-and-bonus-mug collab worth $250 at least!

[@BC-bt7hu]

🤣

[@xoxorosequartz]

i don’t understand why shelby even responded like i’ve said that K18 is way too expensive many times online and so have influencers but i don’t see the K18 ceo making a callout video

[@harleywithacane8674]

the thing that gets me is that shelby calls it a "dignity mug" even tho its made of ceramic??? Like, if you need a cup with two handles, you probably shouldnt be using ceramic at all! I know I avoid using non-plastic plates for that exact reason

[@Meeka.88]

I think it's dignifying that a person with a disability have access to everything everyone else does in all the same materials. People are all different and have personal preference but people with disabilities are and should be allowed access to the same things, they have a disability but they are allowed choice and choice should be available to them.

[@amandamandamands]

The part that gets me is that she says that in her reply TikTok but doesn't say it on her website in the blurb for that mug

[@MissNaomiJean]

This was poorly handled by Shelby. She could have reached out privately to organise a refund or exchange, rather than jump right onto tiktok. I have followed her for a long time, and I get the pricing. Her pieces are desirable because of her following. And by Aus business standards she probably is registered as a small, independent business. But in terms of customer service, this was poor.

[@haileelopez1938]

The way shelby outed herself and went to thank you for supporting my buisness to a kinda shame on you for talking about me when she didnt😂

[@laheladickens1644]

The defense “why would I buy that mug if I knew it had two handles?? It just doesn’t make sense” 😂😂😂 my favorite part

[@DominosAndHearts]

The fact there are so many people defending the mug being that price for being "accessible" also the misinformation about ndis is disheartening. As someone with a disability theres too many companies out there who slap the "accessible" label on something and jack up the price also not everyone with a disability is on ndis in Australia, the small business owner did not need to bring up accessibility (yes i get this mug may work for some) but honestly it feels like shes just used the disabled community as a scapegoat for her prices & this mug especially

[@amandamandamands]

Not sure if it is better or worse that most of her mugs are that price. There is one range that is less but it is just a simple 2 tone. Also the blurb for that mug doesn't mention disability at all. From my experience with NDIS I can't see them funding a cup at this price especially now that they have gotten much more restrictive as to what they will pay for as a consumable

[@DominosAndHearts]

​@amandamandamands most definitely and exactly they wouldn't fund a mug that price! Nor could most disabled people afford it out right especially when there's other cheaper and safer options out there 😅 the fact that she tried to cover her butt by using disabled people irks me and I've seen so many defendig her pricing based on the fact she's claimed this mug is for disabled people 😅😢

[@amandamandamands]

@@DominosAndHearts Yes and something else that I hadn't though of is that it is a 200ml mug, Soph brought up sippy cup for a reason, how many adults have hands small enough to get an adequate grip on a handle that small. Shelby def said that to try and guilt Soph because she hadn't though of that as a reason why it could have 2 handles.

[@laheladickens1644]

I think a mug is technically a cup, but a cup isn’t always a mug. I think cup is the broad category and mug is an adjective to describe what type of cup. A mug is going to be made out of a material that can stand high heat usually has a handle.

[@M8_667]

I saw the creator's reels when she was posting the results from the like 100 free casts she got from Gumtree and when I saw she was Victorian based I figured I'd buy one of her molds. I saw her prices and could not justify when a lot of people at markets sell actual thrown ceramics for a fraction of her prices

[@tanK7528]

I literally discovered this drama today and thought about tweeting you to ask you to cover it but second guessed if that was rude ??? But my girl always delivers xx ❤

[@tanK7528]

Now I’m second guessing if “my girl” is rude 😂😂😂 anxiety is peaking today x

[@michellerhodes5477]

​@@tanK7528 For what it's worth, I don't think either of those things is rude and pretty sure Angelika wouldn't think so either. I'm sure she gets a lot of requests on platforms. ❤

[@michellecgb]

Shelby is giving Karen tbh 😂

[@elefent4642]

I am pretty sure that the mug (75€) would not cost that much to make, as it looks like she used a mold for the form and stuck the handles on to it, glaced it, painted the fruit in cause the form for it was already there, and then glaced it again and dried it. I can understand everything up to 40€, but above that is just crazy. You surely do multiple glacings and drying at once and if she does it herself, she'll will pay herself minimum wage. If she did 50 a week and sold them for 20-40€, that is like 1000 to 2000€ for that one mug with that one mold. Just really weird pricing.

[@wendy_lynn]

Sounds like the girl is just looking for pity sales.

[@hypertwink]

Soph didn’t name the business and Shelby outed herself by responding to the video months after. She wanted the clout that the drama of her being the victim of a big bad influencer brings 😂

[@desireeking4549]

I saw this unfold on TikTok awhile ago and it just felt really weird. I’m an occupational therapy assistant so assistive devices and tools for patients with disabilities are my specialty. She’s right about the cup, but if she really had disabled people in mind she wouldn’t charge 125$ as that makes it unaccessible to alot of people who may need it which defeats the purpose. I also feel like that bit was brought up just to make the other girl look awful. I’m also a HUGE craft and handmade girly and attend many conventions and fairs, I understand the time and resources that go into handmade items and support as many creators as I can local to me! But 125$ seems like a lot for just a cup. I’d pay that for maybe a vase or decorative plate, but not a cup. Something just feels a little odd about this in my opinion.

[@JadedGen]

Absolutely the mug maker is lying. I think 125.00 for a mug is ridiculous unless it make the tea itself for me. Further, she didn’t name the brand. The mug maker is butt hurt and is passive aggressive. Based off that, I’d not buy a bug. But ultimately I wouldn’t because 125.00 for a miniature mug is ridiculous.

[@LoofyLu]

Mug lady probably tried to milk some sympathy there.

[@MissTrevelyan]

There's another video showing her using molds, which for me just says "Yes 100% overpriced for just a hand painted mug." Also the video shows a picture of that day, showing there was a brunette person at the stand! So she's not lying and the owner is just a greedy impolite person.

[@christalcavanaugh]

“Um actually it’s for disabled people… so there!”

[@Pinkpenguin0803]

I honestly think that she lied and started the drama because it was the best publicity her shop could’ve gotten. She is a smart marketing girl but a terrible person for using disabled people argument to get sympathy. I didn’t know anything about her business until today, she’s smart.

[@BettyColclough]

As a disabled person who uses those cups, It's actually okay imo that an item specifically made for us could be priced that high. Disabled people can be rich and want high end items too.

[@jamiejones957]

But with the current cost of living crisis in Australia, pricing like that while cleaning accessibility is just wrong. $125 is less than half a week's groceries in Australia right now

[@amandamandamands]

Thing is that she has those mugs on her website and disability isn't mentioned at all. It is also a very small mug (200ml). It feels like she said that to guilt/shame the other TikToker.

[@_sicy_]

I saw the og soph video before the business response. And it just reminds of how certain book authors act when ppl give their book a 1 star review. Like alot of these small business esp on tiktok do not understand that not all pr is good pr for them

[@georgia9736]

I don't know if it's an actual term, I've never heard it before myself, but calling it a "dignity mug" yet selling something resembling a baby cup seems kind of demeaning.

[@TheSlipperyNUwUdle]

Thank you!!! I thought I was the only one that thought that phrasing seems a bit condescending and infantilizing. Granted, I am not disabled (unless you count mild scoliosis lol) so it’s not my opinion that really matters.

[@qwmx]

Calling anything "dignity" sounds patronising. It's like you lose your dignity if you lose the item.

[@binarytrash]

I bought a beautiful porcelain ombré mug from a Christmas market during my trip to Berlin, it was 45€ which I thought was ridiculous but it was worth it because of the craftsmanship and the circumstances. I’d never spend THAT amount of money on a ceramic painted anything no matter what dude

[@ReaverRoyale]

It's important to remember that if the total amount at the register is too much, you can still change your mind. I'm not blaming Sophadopha for buying it anyway. We all want to be polite. I've been anxious backing out at the last second, but it is totally allowed. A craft fair is also harder since you're likely talking to the person who made it, but it's okay to be awkward sometimes! Just be apologetic and kind.

[@christalcavanaugh]

Sure but also you shouldn’t coerce someone into buying something or hide prices that are outrageously high until they are actively paying. She COULD have pulled away and said nevermind after it was wrapped and her card was out but she probably didn’t think about that after being blindsided

[@Sarah-nk4zh]

I believe Sophie just because i could see myself doing that. I LOVE farmers market and places with small businesses but i am also an incredibly silly people pleaser to my own detriment. I wouldve done the exact same thing and get the exact same conversation with my partner at home, except she posted a video that reached a larger audience

[@theresistance0012]

What if it's not even Shelby's store Soph shopped at lmao. She said that the lady looked very different so maybe it was and Shelby saw the vid and said fuck it do it for the views. I think it's all ridiculous but tiktok drama usually is

[@amandamandamands]

Possible but unlikely, Shelby has a mug that matches that on her website. It is possible that it wasn't Shelby that served Soph seeing as it was at Markets (Shelby doesn't have a shopfront), unless Shelby was the only one that travelled (I looked up the markets and they are at a couple of different locations and go for 3 days, only one of them is kind of near her)

[@Mila-Rosa]

Shelby has a youtube channel that shows how much effort goes into making her ceramics. I, personally, do not think that mug is worth the equivalent of $80 or £65. Maybe $40 if it wasn't made with a mold. Especially since it is so small that it barely functions as a mug.

[@happylittleacident]

For me it feels like shelby is trying to be a victim, the respinse video she looks like shes forcing herself to look sad and just a wee small business :(

[@shareeclifton2265]

I love shelby but $120 for a mug is insane. That's all the money I have to buy food for 2 weeks in aus.

[@nalciel6577]

I have seen some really beautiful hand-made mugs with mother-of-pearl glazing and 3D designs on Instagram - I personally would pay £60 for those. The mug in the video has a cute strawberry design but does not have a unique shape or any 3D aspects or even fancy glazing so it would not be worth this much to me. Especially if it was mass-produced with a mold. It might have been Soph's oversight for not checking the price before buying, but it was Shelby who made a "mug gate" out of it. Shelby should have contacted Soph privately and offered to have the mug returned, which Soph could then make a tiktok explaining that vendor was gracious enough to resolve the problem. Then whether named or not Shelby's business would have looked in a very favourable light for their customer service.

[@angiesquangieflangie]

$125 is a lot of money to me rn in australia working a full time job at 23 and if i was out $125 bc i was checking smth out and didnt have a clear indication of the price and then the process of payment was rushed or anything like that id be so pissed idc idc im with the og tik tok gal

[@imanbell]

I don't think anyone is in the wrong here. One girl bought a mug without checking the price first, and the seller took it personally that the buyer implied that it was overpriced, and felt the need to respond, with possible unintentional confusion about what exactly happened at the store. At the end of the day she can price her products however she likes. Not sure why this is drama but it's tiktok we're talking about lol

[@matthewchristmas1364]

just in terms of small business status at least in uk it’s based of stuff like revenue number of employees and value of assets, the idea that people are saying because she has 2 million followers it’s not a small business it’s wild and just plain wrong

[@CWazBroadwayBandGeek]

Cup - a small bowl shaped container. Mug - a large cup, usually cylindrical and used without saucer. And small business pertains to the amount of workers, not following it has.

[@amandamandamands]

The shape of this matches a mug, the size being 200ml doesn't meet a definition of large

[@Aleborovan]

My mind exploded when I made the currency conversion and saw how ridiculously expensive the mug is wtf

[@itsukori609]

A mug has a handle and is typically ceramic, a cup is anything else

[@paigeegiap]

i’ve paid for a handmade mug for around $75 USD before, i did think it was worth it especially bc it’s hand thrown. with molds i wouldn’t pay that (for a mug anyways) it’s just like i could go to color me mine and paint a mug myself ya know ? also charging that much for a mug you’ve made meant for disabled people ??? interesting choice…

[@amandamandamands]

That is what gets me, if you go onto her website disability isn't mentioned in the blurb for that mug

[@a.r.mproductions5616]

I get it for ceramics to be expensive especially for the painstakingly time it takes to make that. But if it’s a mold and a spray on stencil paint job then why should it be that much when it’s basically manufactured?

[@piperjaycie]

It is hand painted but not be be a dick, I could paint that. I think most people could paint very basic strawberries and flowers onto a mug. It’s not like her designs are intricate or complicated or unique which is another reason why the price is ridiculous.

[@thirstaefortae5057]

@@piperjaycieI also don’t want to be rude, but the quality just gives me first pottery class vibes 😅

[@bridieeleanor]

hearing u talk about australian drama is so wild to me as an australian

[@Cherry_Sorbet]

Ive said this before for all the people talking about the mold, that still takes skill and knowledge the average person doesnt have. The mug is still hand painted, still took time and effort and is on par price wise for other mugs. Now i dont like the shop owners response but the price shouldnt be what everyone is focused on.

[@spyduhgirl]

As a fellow small biz owner, people can charge whatever price they want. There are people who will see the value in the offer and those who won't. It's an invitation, no one has a gun to her head making her pay for it.

[@CharChar53]

As an Australian I've been waiting for this video 😂

[@savv190]

Can people just stop posting every little thing that happens in their lives online…like this mug incident is a story you go home and tell your family then move on. Not everything needs to be recorded😮‍💨

[@tinajo1816]

She's an influencer and she was doing a haul. The mug thing was just one part of a longer video showing everything she bought at the market. It was not a big deal to her, which is why she was so surprised when there was a response video.

[@susanjeffries5108]

Agreed! Also I think it's interesting that people are taking about accessibility largely from a monetary basis here. Like it being accessible means it should be affordable? That's a real conversation to have about many things but I'm this case Shelby wasn't claiming that the mug was supposed to be accessible to people in a financial sense. Specialty things are always more expensive which is definitely annoying but it's a trend that you see with just about everything that's specialized. I wouldn't have personally paid that much but I think everyone involved might have just blown it out of proportion a bit. I feel like I probably would have responded like Shelby did which would have been a knee-jerk reaction and would have regretted it later because it made everything blow up and not helped.

[@archerrsk]

I’m pretty sure that a small business has to do with number of employees and amount of sales. I don’t think it has to do with followers. Also Shelby came across as a little condescending and I think they could of reached out privately in the first place

[@madi.syring]

I buy and know a lot of small, local ceramic artists in my town. I have no issue paying $40-$60 for a beautiful handmade mug. $125 is for some people, but it definitely isn’t for me! I understand the work and labor that goes into handmade pieces is unique and time consuming, so I think it’s fair for her to price pieces that high but it’s also fair for people to decide that it isn’t worth it for them.

[@grlwnder7343]

my mom is an artisan, i go to fairs with her to sell her products.bshe works with wood objects, cute handbags and those things you put underneath a plate (english is not my first language and I'm too tired to search the right translation, the literal one would be table clothes). it's so hard to be an artisan, to work on the pieces, it takes days sometimes especially since my mom is still working as a teacher, so i understand why the mug cost so much. i think shelby shouldn't had done the video, but she maybe saw it as a way to eventually promote her business. not a cool move, but i hope more people start buying from her because her pieces are amazing

[@amandamandamands]

If it is like a small tablecloth that is just under a plate that is a placemat

[@grlwnder7343]

@@amandamandamands thank you! she does others too

[@Lewisiaisoutofcontext]

I'm disabled and I think I speak for the vast majority of us when I say our income is limited at best. I can't afford that mug. None of my disabled friends can afford that mug. A mug with that price tag is a novelty item that the majority of target audience can't even afford, and if those who need them can't buy them, then who are they for? For the few rich disabled? For other people to buy for us? Gifts from abled people to the poor, poor disabled? It really sucks to say that as I am an artist myself and I know how much work goes into a piece and how easy it is to undercharge, but that doesn't outweigh making something specifically to be inclusive and accessible in design only to then immediately make it inaccessible with the price tag. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable the longer I think about it. Maybe I'm overthinking the whole thing, I don't know.

[@amandamandamands]

Honestly I think that Shelby said that to guilt/shame Soph. The blurb for that mug on her website doesn't mention disability/dignity at all. On the plus side the majority of her mugs are that price or more and it is only the one range that has 2 handles, so all are expensive. It is a really small mug at 200ml (measuring cup is 240ml) so don't think that it is aimed at adults anyway

[@ThoughtsandGlares]

$80USD+ for handcrafted mug : outrageous $80USD+ for a stanley...... people camp out wtf

[@user-ur8wq7gp9u]

It’s a good day when Angelika posts and I can watch Drama to fall asleep to

[@matthewoke8504]

Okay 125 (like 80 us) is a lot butttttttt it really isn’t that much, when you all spend 50 on a mass produced yeti, Starbucks, or Stanley.

[@amandamandamands]

This mug is 200ml (a measuring cup is 240ml), I can't see people that are getting the other cups you mentioned wanting this because of its small size. I looked up a Stanley cup and the 1.2l is $80. Starbucks isn't popular here

[@charlieannepope]

soph is also one of the most influential influencers in australia at the moment too. if shelby never replied, i am certain people would have supported her business. everything soph wears, touches, talks about sells out.

[@OhItsNekoAgain]

I don't like saying things are not worth an amount and I don't judge indie brand's pricing since I don't have to buy it, no one forces me to, right? If I don't want to spend the money, it's not my call to tell the owner their work isn't worth the amount they chose, esp. when the workers are fairly paid. Talking about workers, my speculation is that the owner, Shelby, did lie to cover for her employee or was told a different story by the employee and put herself in front to shield the employee, since Soph says the person she talked to looked different. Totally don't think the mug maker was trying to get views or profit of this drama, this feels like more of a misunderstanding blown out of proportion in a totally not malicious way. [Edit] But I do believe she tried to sway the public opinion around and that's of course not okay to do.

[@intothemystic5223]

99% of drama is avoidable if people would just shut up. The lady has a right to price her stuff as high as she wants and the other lady has a right to her opinion on the prices. She never even said the business name. People are so damn sensitive lol