CrystalClaires ordeal a bad omen?

[SWMBO]

Hi ECF. Newish Vaper, newerish lurker, brand spankin new member/poster here. Wow. Love, love, love this forum! Bought my first disposable ecig and two extra cartos on a whim at the drug store while I was paying for my new first time High Blood Pressure meds back in October. I've began smoking as a teen in the mid 70's. Became a OTR Driver and started burning thru 2-3 PAD in 1979 and ever since. Didn't think I'd ever quit. Don't even think I especially wanted to. That crappy little disposable changed my life! Got hooked up with the Green Smokes. (I know. I know.) Live and learn.

Finally stumbled across ECF-and now my life has changed even more. Thank you all SO much! Ordered a 14650 E power from CCV last week. (Still waiting for notification of shipment. Hmmm??? Seems kinda glacial in the Amazon age. Especially since my orders made the same day from One Stop DIY and LeCig arrive on Saturday.) Really was needing something with better battery life and settled on the E Power after reading boat loads of info here about mods. Now I see CrystalClaires post and I'm gettin' nervous. Could really use a pep talk from the E power fans out there.

 

[madjack]

I havva couple of E-Powers and they have been flawless...they do have the hard, blue button...I did the spring stretch trick on them early on and did get a couple of the gold plated springs for them...gave them a very slight stretch before installing...if you just ordered from CCV, they either have the new gold plated springs or have them included...the batts should extend a couple of mm past the end of the batt tube...I have had good response from Andrew at CCV both emails and especially phone calls...if you have any problems with your E-Power, contact Andrew, I expect he will/would take care of ya..........
madjack

p.s. CCV is very much a one man shop and his business has EXPLODED over the last couple of months and shipping/processing can be a little long for those of us used to/spoiled by next day shipping.............mj

 

[hairball]

Don't panic about CCV. He was out of the office for 36 hours until late last night. He's back now and getting everything caught up. I talked to him via PM so I know he's busy getting orders out. As for the 14650, I had one of the first runs and wasn't happy with it. Nothing wrong with the mod itself, just my preference for higher voltage vaping. Once you go to 5 and 6V, 3.7V just doesn't cut it.

 

[SWMBO]

Thanks madjack. I was hoping you would respond. I feel better now. You're one of my favs. I still have lots of Green Smoke cartos left that I actually like (see'uns how I don't have anything to compare them to yet LOL) and intend to use up. I got two 510 batt to D-2 carto adaptors from LeCig to use with the Epower. Now I'm wondering how that will work out since I don't have a clue about the resistance of the Green Smokes. I'll still use the D-2 batts for when I'm not at work too.

 

[araczynski]

CCV (crystalclearvaping?) has a good reputation here from what i gather, i wouldn't be worried.

 

[SWMBO]

My mind is at ease.

 

[boneshark187]

I wouldn't worry....i've always had good experience ordering w/CCV. I was really surprised too the first time I ordered I actually got a phone call from Andrew to see what I thought about my e-power and the black n mild juice.

Stand up vendor - nothing but good things to say. I just placed a new order myself yesterday & know there is delays with holidays

 

[Homedude]

CCV (crystalclearvaping?) has a good reputation here from what i gather, i wouldn't be worried.

To be fair, that good reputation was earned, at least in part, due to fast shipping. I understand that he's overwhelmed right now but there have been cases where good businesses have run themselves out of business based on their overwhelming initial success and their subsequent inability to keep up with demand. His good rep can only be carried so far on the backs of his previous customers.

 

[VapingRulz]

I love Crystal Clear Vaping - excellent customer service. My E-Power, however, is a lemon. I've tried every fix possible - new switch (3x) and even two different types of springs - but mine just won't turn off. That makes it a pain in the neck and potentially dangerous if I forget to unscrew it, as I did once or twice.

Some people have no problems with the E-Power but others, like me, get bad ones. It's a bit of a crap shoot.

 

[subliminalurge]

Avoid Crystal Clear, at least until he gets his act together.

Ridiculously slow shipping and the new customer service guy is about as rude as they come. Flat out lied to me at least once, and our conversation came with several thinly veiled insults.

Their prices are good, but not good enough to put up with all that crap. There are plenty of other vendors who sell the same items at similar prices.

 

[VapingRulz]

It's unfortunate that you had a bad experience with CCV but my experience has been terrific. I guess that all vendors have their bad days.

 

[subliminalurge]

It's unfortunate that you had a bad experience with CCV but my experience has been terrific. I guess that all vendors have their bad days.

Yeah, I found them after reading several glowing reviews of them right here on this forum. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to keep up and the experience is nowhere near what it apparently was back when those reviews were written.

Hopefully he'll find a way to cope with the growth of his business and return to offering a positive experience, but at this particular moment, my advice would have to be to steer clear.

 

[Uncle Willie]

Trashing an excellent vendor here based on one persons experience is sad, really .. let's keep in mind that during the Holiday season shipping is naturally slower .. and I would order from CCV without hesitation .. they are one of the absolute best vendors out there ..

 

[swedishfish]

People are allowed to share their experiences, good or bad.

If I buy something at Macy's and had crap service, it's still valid even if 1,000 people didn't. It's my experience.

I've never had bad experience with CCV either but if this person did, they did. I'm sure (or hope) that Andrew will make it right.

I think sometimes we could be to blame as well (people in the New Members section). Every time someone asks for a suggestion we send them to the same 2-3 vendors for pvs or cartos. It might bog them down and it's sort of unfair to all the other great vendors out there.

I don't think we should trash people, but we can't just be fan boys/girls and just because we got a good kit we get all huffy because someone didn't have the same experience.

 

[Anoob2]

It's unfortunate that you had a bad experience with CCV but my experience has been terrific. I guess that all vendors have their bad days.

Agree I ordered my epower from ccv mid december yes shipping was a bit slow, but its free and it wasn't horrible. And I was supprised when I asked about my package on a Sunday and I was suprised how fast I was answered. Plus when ordering the epower all the extras he tosses in is a nice plus and really makes it a great starter kit.

 

[subliminalurge]

Trashing an excellent vendor here based on one persons experience is sad, really

I'm honestly not trying to "trash" anybody. That was simply an accurate recap of my recent experience ordering from them. Aside from the new guy who was a bit more rude than was necessary, I really have no particular problem with them.

I ordered from them based on glowing reviews found right here. The experience was nothing like what I read in those reviews.

Why shouldn't people who are considering an order be able to know that ordering from CCV today is not the same experience as it was in, say, July? When I read a review that includes the words "Super fast shipping! Wow!", and then my order is still sitting untouched 2 days after placing it, well, let's just say that it's a bit of a WTF? moment.

I've been shopping online long enough to have become painfully aware that small online vendors tend to come and go quickly. Many just disappear without filling the orders in their system or issuing refunds. Been burned by it enough to start getting skittish when 2 days go by with no processing activity whatsoever on an order. It's also why my first orders from small vendors tend to be for just a few dollars using a "throwaway" greendot card. "Test orders" if you will.

And those who don't mind waiting might find some peace of mind in knowing that the slow processing is "normal" at the moment.

Not trying to trash anybody, just let people have an accurate picture of what they can expect at this moment.

 

[swedishfish]

That's fair. I order most of my cartos from him but I'm going to hold off until he's not so busy.

But not too long- want to order before Chinese New Year.

 

[GERGOZ]

yep andrew is one of the good guys

never had an issue with ccv

since i was pretty stocked up,
i decided to wait til after the rush was over, lol

he will be getting "another" order from me soon, though

gervis

 

[SWMBO]

Alrighty then. I'll cut CCV some slack due to being a one man operation during the holidays. Will report back as things progress.
Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[subliminalurge]

I'll cut CCV some slack due to being a one man operation during the holidays.

Well, two man operation, but now I'm just picking nits...

To be fair, I've had no interaction with Andrew, and from what I've heard my opinion wouldn't be nearly so tarnished if I had. It was the other guy that was the main source of my frustration.