Aggrovated

[Symmetric]

I need to get this off my chest because I'm afraid it's gone on too long. Steve, Val, Mark, feel free to delete this if I am speaking out of line.

ECF is not a storefront for Vapor 4 Life or any other vendor; it is a place to talk about e-cigarettes and the counterculture/community that go along with them. Steve has a tendency to refer to us as family, and I feel that it's what we are.

The Supplier/Client relationship is blurred every time I call Steve and he answers the phone knowing it's me (god bless Caller ID). It's blurred every time Mark comes in the chat room and says "Where's Da juice". It's blurred when people try to figure out how they can get Mike to China so that Leaford doesn't have to talk to his beloved bird via webcam. It's blurred every time someone sends Val an email with a ridiculous reason why their battery dies AND SHE REPLACES IT ANYWAY.

If you're looking for nothing but Supplier/Client interaction, go to Vapor4Life-Because it's your life - E-Cigarettes/Smoking Alternatives or email (mark, steve or) valerie@vapor4life.com, and they'll be glad to be as customer facing as you like.

I prefer to talk to them here where they feel like we're all part of a team with the same goal; to not smoke. They can let their hair down and talk to us like real people... err, like Family. And it's a Family I'm proud to be a part of. Ryan, Val, Mark, Steve, Jodie, Andy, Marykay, Dunlap, CatMommy, Impcat, KC0mp, and all the others that I know I've forgotten, You've helped me drop cigarettes for nine months, and I have no doubt that I won't pick them up again.

I know that there are those who will call me a shill for this post, and I honestly couldn't care less. Who doesn't want to promote their family's business?

 

[VapingRulz]

I need to get this off my chest because I'm afraid it's gone on too long. Steve, Val, Mark, feel free to delete this if I am speaking out of line.

If you're looking for nothing but Supplier/Client interaction, go to Vapor4Life-Because it's your life - E-Cigarettes/Smoking Alternatives or email (mark, steve or) valerie@vapor4life.com, and they'll be glad to be as customer facing as you like.

I know that there are those who will call me a shill for this post, and I honestly couldn't care less. Who doesn't want to promote their family's business?

Wow. Just wow.

Yes, you ARE out of line. This is a public forum. Please try to remember that.

 

[Nilius]

Which part of the post do you feel was out of line? I'm just curious, I find your reply interesting

Wow. Just wow.

Yes, you ARE out of line. This is a public forum. Please try to remember that.

 

[Symmetric]

I'm not quite sure how the public or private nature of the forum makes me out of line, but I suppose you're entitled to your opinion.

 

[msroulette]

I think many here share the sentiments that symm has put so well into words. I also think that since we are treated so much LIKE a family, we behave as a family would when someone insults our siblings....we defend them. I'd be pretty proud to be a company with such a dedicated customer base.

 

[Sherrick]

Couldn't agree with you more, Symmetric. Well said.

And maybe VapingRulz was just being sarcastic because he thought it was well said, too. And then again, maybe not.....

 

[LudaCura]

I read the Symm's post, thought, hell yeah, I agree, then saw VapingRulz's post, and read the OP again, trying to figure out what it was that so offended him, sure I had missed something. I still don't get it.
All I can say, V4L is just amazing, I have made some really annoying requests to Val that made more work for them, beyond what is already incredible customer service, and she/they have always, ALWAYS, gone above and beyond to make me happier than I already am with them.
The original post was meant to say that we should separate our customer relations and our friendly interactions on this forum, as each has its place- this forum is also for the V4L team as much of a fun forum as it is for the rest of us, and using the forum to make customer service requests kind of takes the joy of the forum away for them - they have a company email/phone to deal with business matters. They are not only customers, but vapors as well who enjoy interacting with other vapors on the forum. If they come on here just to find themselves bombarded with CS requests, they lose this forum as what it is for the rest of us - a place to exchange ideas, joke around, talk about general vaping issues, etc. I myself am guilty of messaging them about customer service issues, as it was just easiest as I was already on the forum and was too lazy to open my email account. I don't think that's wrong... but people should realize that this should be a fun place for all, and be thankful to the V4L team for being so responsive and passionate about making sure their customers are happy, that even on their non-working, free time, they're responding to customer requests. Only doctors are as on-call as they are.

 

[rocks82]

I myself am guilty of messaging them about customer service issues, as it was just easiest as I was already on the forum and was too lazy to open my email account.

It is ALWAYS ok to pm me if you need something!

 

[Blooper]

this entire thread confuses me. I understand adrenalynn's babble more then this. lol <3 adren

 

[Ruchamah]

this entire thread confuses me. I understand adrenalynn's babble more then this. lol <3 adren

me too lol

 

[jeffree]

this entire thread confuses me.

Me, too. Like a Rorschach inkblot. I'll try again after my morning coffee.

 

[msroulette]

Me, too. Like a Rorschach inkblot. I'll try again after my morning coffee.

I see....swirling cream in coffee
Clouds
VAPOR!! that's it..VAPOR

 

[Symmetric]

To make a long story short, (for those who are confused) there are some people on the forum that take everything that is said as official company policy and that if it comes from a V4L employee, it directly relates to the company business. I was just stating that V4L is as much an individual inclusive community as it is a business, and msroulette's sibling comment carries a lot of weight with me.

We are not a fanclub, we are a family.

I hope I clarified and did not further complicate things.

 

[sawlight]

This is more a group of family and friends, close friends, more than a business relationship. We take care of each other in ways a client/business wouldn't normally do! We see one in need and we all group together and take care of that person. We see a complaint and we all group together to try and help resolve that problem.
As such the lines are blurred, are we taking care of friends and family, or clients and business associates? I prefer to take care of friends and wish to keep it that way, but with some of the recent drama it makes it hard.

 

[wisteelersfan]

I for one saw Val's post with her customer service email to herself before she deleted it and immediately saw it for what I assume it was. Someone that deals with our issues everyday trying to have some fun. I laughed about it because it was, IMO, funny. I read Symmetric's post here and agreed totally. How it is "out of line" I have no idea. I personally think it sums things up great. If you have a problem with some V4L hardware, service, etc, go thru the proper channels. Come here to have fun and gain/share knowledge.

 

[Gribeau]

There are issues where it totally makes sense to post here rather than emailing V4L directly. When you've got a problem that may be remedied without having to replace something why wouldn't you start a thread about it?

Posting here provides the greatest chance for other users of the product to help you if they can.
If you get a solution somebody else might benefit from it in the future.

If we just emailed every little problem Val would get overwhelmed, they'd have to hire more staff to deal with our incessant whining, and the prices would have to go up. Heck with that.

Besides, the proof of good customer service publicly viewable on this forum is great advertising. Hearing stories about how wonderful somebody's experience was doesn't have the same impact as seeing the exchange with your own, personal eyeballs.

 

[flying low]

Props to Symmetric & Msroulette .. could not agree more or put it any better than your combined posts have. It's why half the time I don't even log in anymore ...

 

[LudaCura]

It is ALWAYS ok to pm me if you need something!

Val,
That's what makes you amazing. I just think sometimes people take it for granted, and I think that's what the original post was about. I am incredibly grateful to you for all the times you've helped me, and I always feel like a bit of a shill bugging you - I know how I would feel if one of my company's clients (architecture office) started calling me at home to ask what voltage the industrial dishwasher that was spec'd for their project was - I'd be a little annoyed, but that's me. Just knowing that you're there, listening to customers, even when you're on your free time, blows my mind. I, and I know just about everyone else here on this forum, are incredibly grateful and love you for it.

 

[Guanu]

so that would make dracis the family pet? (when val remembers to put water in his bowl so I dont have to leave the toilet seat up for him)

i agree to what yer tryin to say sym, the majority of regulars are friendly helpful and treat new people like new members of the family.. (except sawlight is the creepy uncle we try to not talk about)...

val, mark, steve and the entire v4l gang are totally top notch for what they have to contend with and how few people they have.

G

 

[beebopnjazz]

I agree - friends and family, first and foremost. As for being out of line- this IS the V4L forum~and we'll bang the drum anytime we so choose.