An open letter to all the online vendors;

[jgriff63]

Hey all you entrepreneurial minded folks with websites selling ecigs and parts; Learn how to do business before you blow it.

I don't want to flame any particular vendor, but I am so tired of being completely hosed by vendors. It happened again today; placed an order on Sunday, get an email this morning telling me that one item isn't in stock, so the order is still sitting there. I was told it was going out yesterday. Now, if I order something and pay for express shipping, I expect to get my product in a couple, maybe three days, tops (business days). USPS Priority mail takes two days to get to Ohio from pretty much anywhere--one day in a lot of cases. Instead, I get excuses, and all kinds of stories why an item didn't ship, why it takes a week to ten days to receive AFTER PAYING FOR EXPRESS SHIPPING. What the hell did I pay for?

Crazy shipping schedules, items that aren't in stock that they said were in stock, I am SICK of it! If there were local vendors that carried what I needed, I wouldn't order another ml of eliquid from the web. Instead, we are held hostage by these amateur "business" people. Please, folks, for the love of all that is holy; we don't mind paying, just GET US OUR PRODUCT in a TIMELY fashion. I spend 30 bucks a week on eliquid, another 15 on cartos, vivi nova heads, accessories, etc...but my business isn't valuable enough to anyone to offer good service. I honestly am at a loss on what to do.

Here is my suggestion. When you get home from your day job, turn on your computer and assemble the orders. Print the labels, put them in your car. The next morning, drop them off at the post office on your way in to work, or even at lunch. JUST GET THEM TO THE POST OFFICE THE NEXT DAY! I really don't think it's too much to ask. If you are not going to do that, let us know. Then we can make a decision on whether we want to wait for your handling time, or move on to another vendor.

Like I said, I am not going to flame any one vendor, honestly, there are several I won't do business with anymore, due to their lackadaisical attitude about service and shipping, and it isn't just one order, I understand that mistakes happen. These websites have proven to me that they just don't know how to do business.

Fellow vapers, thank you for your attention. I just needed to vent.

In the meantime, if anyone knows of any Cincinnati vendors that carry High Caliber eliquid, I would appreciate a heads up!

 

[Rocketpunk]

Wow. Sorry you've been hosed so many times before.

I know it's quite a drive, but there's a brick & mortar store in Centerville (Dayton), Ohio, Vaporcast (VaporCast Store). They have very, very high quality ejuice and they carry just about everything, atomizers, cartomizers, carto tanks, drip tips, batteries, chargers, basically everything. If the drive is worth it for you, you can go there and test everything in-house. If you're not pleased with what you got, they'd probably replace it for you on-site. I'm pretty sure once you leave the store all sales are final, though. Still, it's a godsend for me.

EDIT: Everyone has their favorite vendors, and most vendors are legit. For example, my favorite juice is butterscotch, which I get from Mount Baker Vapor. They're in Bellingham, Washington. I'm in Dayton, Ohio. I placed my order Wednesday morning before noon, and I got my juice today (Friday) at 11:20 AM.

 

[jgriff63]

I work in Middletown, so a drive up to Dayton is no problem. I will look them up, thanks!

 

[Rocketpunk]

If you do go, be sure to tell them "Billy the Moustache Guy" referred you!!

I work in Middletown, so a drive up to Dayton is no problem. I will look them up, thanks!

 

[freeall]

I hear ya jgriff. It's very frustrating to say the least. I echo everything you said. I can't tell you how many times I've been hosed by the "express shipping" option. You pay more for faster shipping and it ends up taking longer than it would regularly. It's a joke.

 

[Butters78]

If you do go, be sure to tell them "Billy the Moustache Guy" referred you!!

 

[Skinny Pete]

I haven't had any experience like this yet. Hope it doesnt happen to me though.which store is it?

 

[Rocketpunk]

Naw, I'm Irish/Italian so my 'stache is epic and a dark copper colored hue.

 

[jgriff63]

I haven't had any experience like this yet. Hope it doesn't happen to me though.which store is it?

Like I said, I am not out to flame any particular vendor, just get across to ALL the vendors that they are losing business with their less-than-professional practices and customer service. There is truly no excuse for us to wait a week or more for any shipment. Other than inability to process an order. Hey, they get paid, why rush? So I have just decided to vote with my wallet. The sites that are professional and prompt will continue to get my money.

 

[njay23]

Man, that's too bad. I've never had any problems with any vendors. I even have one that stopped carrying my favorite juice due to slow sales. Now they stock it just for me and always make sure I can get it every month. You should post the name in the review section. and also in the vendor section if they are listed there as well

 

[synthros]

Wow, that's the opposite of my experience. I have ordered from no less than a dozen vendors, probably closer to 15. 90% of the time it ships priority, but even with first class within a couple of days of placing my order, its here! I suppose its possible that you've just picked some vendors who are not quite as on top of it, I don't know. But with the exception of some boutique liquid sites (who are usually pretty up front about the time between ordering and shipment of order), I've found ecig vendors to be on the whole very quick to ship. Frankly if they're not someone else will be. Ill speak for myself and say that this vaper is a complete nic addict Patience isn't really a virtue of mine, especially when it comes to vape stuff! Ah well, at least you got to vent and I hope you find some more reliable vendors, I promise you - they're out there!

 

[samwest]

I'm with ya njay23, I to have been at this a bit and have not had any problems with vendors to speak of. I'm too much of a tightwad to pay extra for anything other than standard shippin' though. If I did have a big enough issue I would have put it in the lousy vendor section of this forum (flame on) if they deserve it. Me? in all honesty I'd probably just suck it up and not deal with them again.

 

[vex13]

Hello fellow Cincinnatian. It's is too bad we don't have a B&M store around here.

 

[Rocketpunk]

Here's the way I see it: If I lived in Cinci and I had all my gear fail on me, cartos, attys, batteries, everything and anything, I would drive to Dayton (Centerville) because it's 30 to 45 min away, and I'd much rather have the convenience of instant gratification, albeit delayed by 30-45 min, than stalking the mailman for vapemail.

 

[Duranu]

This is why I "test" certain vendors out with small purchases. Stuff I definitely need or want, but if I'm only looking for a few cartos and a drip tip, I might give another vendor a shot to see how they are. I have my favorites always on hand and buy the "big" stuff from them.

It's funny, but I made an order from three different vendors on the same day, one in the same state and maybe just a couple hours away, and the other two were more than a couple states away. The farther vendors got my order to me a day before the vendor in the same state did with the out of state vendors even having more "complicated" orders than the one in state (only ordered one simple thing from the one closest). By complicated, I mean a mix order of juices as well as various other items.

 

[jgriff63]

That's what I am talking about! I need a vendor that has a sense of urgency! I am sick of running out of eliquid due to poor handling tlimes.

 

[Vapira]

I pm'ed you

Vapira

 

[recidivus]

Only reason I'd wait longer than 24 hours for tracking info is if a part is being custom made on a per order basis, and it would only be acceptable if it's noted that's the process on the store page. Luckily I've only had a, "Sorry this item isn't in stock even though it said so" once, and they informed me very shortly after I ordered. It was just a flavour concentrate, I was able to change the flavour and they sent out a half bottle of the original from personal stock.

If I ordered and had to wait a week for stock to come in before they ship, they'd lose a customer. I'd probably return if there was some communication and compensation within a business day, but to just sit waiting, nnnnnnope. Communication is key, sending an email doesn't take much effort but can make all the difference.

 

[jgriff63]

Only reason I'd wait longer than 24 hours for tracking info is if a part is being custom made on a per order basis, and it would only be acceptable if it's noted that's the process on the store page. Luckily I've only had a, "Sorry this item isn't in stock even though it said so" once, and they informed me very shortly after I ordered. It was just a flavour concentrate, I was able to change the flavour and they sent out a half bottle of the original from personal stock.

If I ordered and had to wait a week for stock to come in before they ship, they'd lose a customer. I'd probably return if there was some communication and compensation within a business day, but to just sit waiting, nnnnnnope. Communication is key, sending an email doesn't take much effort but can make all the difference.

I agree! That is exactly what I am talking about...don't tell me it is going out today, then send me an email the next day telling me something isn't in stock and , "What do you want to do?" Be professional! If I had been offered free shipping on the remainder of the order to compensate for the delay that THEY caused, I would have gone along with it, and ordered from them again. Instead, they lost a customer, and I spent $125 with a different vendor.

 

[Absintheur]

I recently had an issue as well with a vender I have dealt with a good bit in the past, in fact I became part of their ***** Program and unlike manner left feedback on the products I purchased. My last order with the was for misc stuff but I really needed a couple 18350 batteries. Well they sent 18500s instead. After figuring out their problem ticket format I asked if they would send a call tag and the correct batteries. I have owned my own businesses for many years...for an established customer I would happily have done this. They refused to do so insisting I return the wrong batteries first. When I pointed out I was an established customer and wouldn't rip them off for a couple batteries they reply was we think you might. I sent the batteries back and 13 business days after I shipped them I finally got the correct batteries. When you add in my shipping cost back they ended up being rather expensive batteries to boot.

I hope they understand I will not be spending any more money with them.