It is just a website that sells a calendar featuring serial killers.
Written: May 29 '06 (Updated Jun 02 '06)
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It is serial killer week on the Hapless farm, and I have the perfect thing to help you all remember this week for next year (because I probably wont). I know you toss and turn at night with the overwhelming stress that 2007 is only several months away and you haven’t yet decided on a calendar. Fortunately, for those of us who are tired of looking at twelve months of puppies or Thomas Kincaid houses, we can get a jump on all of those awful calendars we will receive as gifts during the holidays and spend our money on something that is sure to generate some interesting conversation the whole year ‘round: A Serial Killer Calendar.
Why a serial killer calendar? I don’t know. What I do know is that people (myself included) enjoy studying about these monsters among men, and a few of us wouldn’t mind seeing Charles Manson on the wall a few days out of the year. On the calendar, anyhow. I don’t know if I would really want him in my house for even a minute.
I found this site because of my love for Nico Claux. Yeah, so he killed and ate a person or two, and he served some prison time. He can paint a great portrait, though, and he also signed over his soul to Satan, so that has to count for something! Currently he has worked to put his past crimes behind him and concentrate on his art…. Which revolves mostly around other serial killers. He does these great paintings with bold acrylics and they are somehow wicked and whimsical at the same time.
Directly from the website:
Nico Claux has become a world renowned painter of serial killer mug shots. His human predators collection is a classic among collectors of dark art. The paintings are a reflection on crime as a product of a society that is based on consumerism, where the killer has achieved the same media status as the movie star.
This means that you get a calendar about killers inked by a killer. I realize this is not everyone’s cup of tea, but all of us know at least one person who would think this is not too bad an idea. Each month you get to look at a new serial killer as rendered by Nico Claux. This year the calendar features the faces of high profile killers like Manson and Ramirez, and also some lesser knowns such as Richard Chase. Nico makes his appearance in December.
SerialKillerCalendar.com only sells the calendar, but with a name like that I hope you weren’t expecting soup or a croquet set. For a website that only sells one thing, however, there is a lot going on here. They make up for lack of product variety with content, packing the pages with news updates, information about buying the calendar to distribute it wholesale, games, and other information. The downside is that in their race to make this website that is only selling one thing into a website you feel like visiting once in a while, they have forgotten to use the spell check in a few places. I’m willing to look past this, though, for Nico.
The site is set up in a simple two-column burgundy-lined format with various Nico creations adorning the top and accenting the scrolling content panes that give you information about the calendar, news, and bulk buying information. Most of the type is white on a black background. The navigation area directs you to a variety of things such as an about the calendar area, and even a games & quizzes area where you can take a lengthy “What serial killer would you be?” quiz. When you are finished checking out the Myspace page and the slightly odd testimonial area, you can view the entire calendar to see if you like what you are buying, and also read bios on Mr. Claux and all of the serial killers featured in the calendar. The calendar has been featured in quite a few news articles recently, and there is also a running copy of all of them for your reading convenience. There will also be a monthly contest, but it is currently under construction.
I had no problem clicking around with any of the browsers I use on both of my systems. Nico’s portraits are on all of the pages, but that doesn’t slow loading time or make a mess of things. All of the links are obviously titled, and the navigation sidebar on the left stays with you no matter what page you click on, so if you find more under construction areas (like the message boards?!) you can easily get yourself to a page that is up and running.
If you like what you are seeing, you can purchase the calendar in the Prices and Buy Now area. Not only can you buy one calendar for $25.00 (with free shipping inside of the US), but you can also purchase up to 999 calendars for a discounted price! You can get all of your Christmas shopping done in one place!
Here is what you get for your $25.00:
The 28 page work, features some 50 plus original renditions of the killers themselves plus a two page pin up poster of Mr. Claux's most impressive paintings. Each month portrays a different killer and includes a selection of their quotes. This calendar is printed on quality high gloss paper and each comes individually shrink wrapped.
I saw one in a store last year, and knew the 2006 edition was all of those things. The 2007 edition is exactly as they described. It is also a limited run of 3,000, and apparently there are 100 signed copies running around out there for $75.00 each. I wish I could have one of those signed ones, but I compromised and just bought the basic calendar. When you decide to buy you are taken directly to a secure PayPal area, so those of you who are frequent E-Bayers will have an even easier time purchasing the calendar. If you have never used Pay-Pal before, there are a series of forms you fill out to specify shipping and billing information, and a review of your order before you confirm the purchase. Immediately upon payment I received confirmation e-mail that my order had been processed. I received my calendar exactly seven days after purchase in a plain big padded envelope that arrived by normal US Postal Service.
What there isn’t anywhere that I could find were the return policies. There is a big contact area, however, with various phone numbers and emails, so I am sure you could get someone to listen to your grievances if needs be. I can’t see a lot of people returning a calendar; this isn’t something you buy for someone unless you are 100% sure they would like it. I did take off one star for lack of customer service, however, and lack of detailed shipping information. I know this is a small business, but they are wanting this to blow up and be a big deal, so I think they need to have those things in place because one or two people answering emails isn't going to help them if they start getting a slew of orders in.
In the end, SerialKillerCalendar.com is a website that sells a calendar with serial killers on it. You can give or take all of the other things they put on the site, but they show you exactly what you are buying, and give store owners all of the information they need for bulk orders. It does what it needs to do. I bought one and I am happy to have done so directly from the artist, even if that means waiting for shipping and possibly paying a higher price then retail stores might sell if for. No more kittens and farms for me next year- I will have the Zodiac and Gein to remind me of important dates!
∞ Serial Killer Week. ∞ The Serial Killer Calendar. ∞ The Serial Killer Encyclopedia. ∞ The Mind Of a Serial Killer. ∞ The music of a serial killer. ∞
The Serial Killer Miniseries. ∞
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Member: Natalie
Location: Portland, OR
Reviews written: 87
Trusted by: 67 members
About Me: Sleep well, weep well, go to the deep well.
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