Big problems in little China
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This was a small order under $100. I don't know if that has anything to do with getting through customs or not but see how fast I got it. Maybe try them for bulk order.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...usually-hate-ups-shipper-but-outstanding.html
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...usually-hate-ups-shipper-but-outstanding.html
My latest shipment has hit US customs.. No problems yet. *fingers crossed*
On a side note, I wouldn't do business with CT.. In my personal experience, they are rude, egotistical, and unprofessional. I wanted to order a bunch of units to do some testing on, and they had the units that I wanted to test (M401, KR units, etc). I wrote back and forth with one of their reps for 2 weeks asking for an invoice and kept getting the run-around, so I finally wrote back letting them know that I was going to go look for my product elsewhere if I could not get an invoice within 24 hours. I ended up not getting an answer and calling them direct thinking that their rep might have been out of the office. Apparently they don't like urgent emails, and mistook my statement (getting my product elsewhere) as rude.. I guess they were having problems then, because it didn't seem like they wanted the business.
This email was sent after calling them and getting yelled at by Martinez himself for being "rude" via email.
as you wish, we do not business with this caliber of costumers, we are to good for this.
Many greets,
Martinez
Go figure
That is just terrible attitude. Kudos to you for highlighting this. I bet you will face more problems if you do get your supplies from them anyway. Good and prompt customer service is always a good indication of whether you can have a fruitful long term relationship with a supplier.
I completely agree. The Customer Service Reps for the manufacturers that I do business with are extremely courteous, and helpful. A couple have actually taken the time to write just to see how things are going, and talk about things outside of business. I really respect that they are trying to build a relationship and it makes me feel as if my business is wanted. CT on the other hand, feels as if they deserve my business and if I don't like the way that they conduct theirs, then I can go f*** myself.
That really sucks about Central Trade. I was actually looking in to their Disposable Cigs and Cigars. They have really good prices, but I have no desire to deal with A-Holes half way around the world either.
Would I be correct in assuming that you do not want to identify your supplier?I completely agree. The Customer Service Reps for the manufacturers that I do business with are extremely courteous, and helpful. A couple have actually taken the time to write just to see how things are going, and talk about things outside of business. I really respect that they are trying to build a relationship and it makes me feel as if my business is wanted. CT on the other hand, feels as if they deserve my business and if I don't like the way that they conduct theirs, then I can go f*** myself.
CT has removed all e-liquid from their site, so this isn't just a problem with US customs
And (liberate_yourself); I had the same problem, it's just the way CT works, they wouldn't give me a total, I needed to pay the subtotal and wait for a seperate email for S&H
But as far as bad mouthing them, they gave me a full refund, if they were real jerks they would have kept the money and let customs seize the package, they do put the customer first even if the method is a bit ......ed
And (liberate_yourself); I had the same problem, it's just the way CT works, they wouldn't give me a total, I needed to pay the subtotal and wait for a seperate email for S&H
But as far as bad mouthing them, they gave me a full refund, if they were real jerks they would have kept the money and let customs seize the package, they do put the customer first even if the method is a bit ......ed
There are culture differences at play here. In the West, a strong, demanding person gets his/her way. If you make confrontational demands to a Chinese, someone will lose face and that's a very bad thing. It's considered rude to be abrupt or make a demand. You work with them, they are gracious people. You demand of them, and they'll kiss you off, money or no money. You are not worthy of their businesss. Be nice.
How true TB
When I went to Asia I had to check my East coast attitude at the door
I know Boston and NYC personalities are misunderstood in the US never mind Asia, it's a different set of rules
i've just emailed CT regarding the juice being taken off the site. I'll post the response as soon as it arrives.
You know, TB, I agree with the idea of respecting other's cultures and social mannerisms. When it comes to business, though, any company that thinks it is above their customers deserves to be put out of business. Culture or no culture, the customer is ALWAYS RIGHT!!! If the Chinese, or this mysterious Martinez running Central Trade cannot get with that, than I can never get with them. I would just as soon Flame them as even think about them if that is the attitude they are going to run their business with. Get over yourself, Central Trade, and take care of your customers (Or Else)!
I respectfully disagree. Sometimes the customer is wrong. Case in point - had a customer bring back a sterling ring saying that "it just fell apart". Well, it looked like it had been through a garbage disposal, the metal was even torn! Yeah, it just "fell apart". Sure it did *rolls eyes*. She wanted to trade it in for a replacement. No way. Gave her a refund and politely suggested she shop with someone else who has more durable jewelry. Shouldnt have even done that (given refund) considering that she had it for a year and like I said, it looked like it had been run through a garbage disposal. But, we were busy and needed to get rid of her so could spend time with other customers and didnt want too much of a scene in front of other customers.
There are some customers you simply dont need. Amazon banned several not too long ago for abusing their return policy (google banned by amazon returns). That being said, I do agree that, based upon what I've read from others, CT's customer service skills are in need of improvement.
The fact that you did give the refund means, IMO, that you still get it, though. I would imagine that you were probably courteous about it, as well. Every other customer in your establishment probably remembered it, and thinks highly of you now because of it. I believe that every bad customer that you are courteous to will create 5 good ones behind them. Granted, there are people out there that are always trying to get over on the system. The way I see it, if I have a choice between bad customers & no customers, I will choose the bad customers. Money talks, and everything else walks.
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there are good customers and bad customers.. mind you there are also "American" customers.. "i am doing you a favour by buying your product".. "kiss my ..."... "else i will buy elsewhere" does seem an "American" thing..
its probably connected with too many sellers trying to sell too much to not enough people and having to try too hard..
in the UK its what the boss said to his underpaid badly treated sales floor staff many years ago... take whatever sh-t the customer gives you..never answer back.. they are the master you are the servant..
mind you at the risk of offending some... to many Americans there is no other culture except their own.. the world isnt exactly flat but it does end at their shores...
trog
its probably connected with too many sellers trying to sell too much to not enough people and having to try too hard..
in the UK its what the boss said to his underpaid badly treated sales floor staff many years ago... take whatever sh-t the customer gives you..never answer back.. they are the master you are the servant..
mind you at the risk of offending some... to many Americans there is no other culture except their own.. the world isnt exactly flat but it does end at their shores...
trog
I, personally, try to live by the Golden Rule. I try to treat everyone I interact with in the same manner in which I wish to be treated. I know us US Americans can be rather large A-Holes. The fact that I can't get by, though, is that fact that without the customer for the Screwdriver (Good or Bad) - there is no Screwdriver (or insert any product or service). They are, in fact, doing you a favor by buying your product and keeping you in business. If bad (US) customers are too much for you to handle courteously, then maybe you are in the wrong business. I will put up with the crappiest customer if it means that I have my business and it is making money, Period.
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I understand that there are good and bad customers, but I think if the Chinese want to continue flooding the market with their products they have to step up. The are producing cheap stuff for the most part, I know I'm done ordering from China, I would rather deal with a US supplier even if it costs twice as much, in the long run you will save money. I have ordered from a number of Chinese suppliers and have been burnt for the last time. I would rather let someone else deal with them - a middle man - then I would go from there.
It's interesting hearing this debate. Buying a shirt, a ring or a pair of shoes is one thing. But we are addicts. We run the risk of relapsing to deadly analogs, and ruining months of hard work trying to modify (but not conquer) our addiction. If our dealer doesn't show up, we are f*cked.
I think most suppliers realize that they are dealing with addicts, who will get cranky when the stash runs low, desperate when it runs out. Where there is addiction, there is $$ to be made. The tobacco industry was founded on this principle. Where the customer is an addict, the dealer always has the upper hand.
Not even sure if that's on topic, just a thought.
I think most suppliers realize that they are dealing with addicts, who will get cranky when the stash runs low, desperate when it runs out. Where there is addiction, there is $$ to be made. The tobacco industry was founded on this principle. Where the customer is an addict, the dealer always has the upper hand.
Not even sure if that's on topic, just a thought.
just to let you know not all americans are nearly that narrow minded some of us can be real .......s but some of us can also be your best customers you should be very carefull grouping such a large catagory of potential customers together into your narrow minded point of view.
just because you have had a bad experience with someone doesnt give you the right to try and group them all together into one group of bad people. How would you feel if someone came on a board saying bad stuff about white people or black people or spanish people ...its not a polite thing to do and its certainly not a good thing to be doing as a supplier
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