Disgusted, WTH is wrong with some suppliers?

[Jethead]

So I see Todd do a mod review on a nice little 18350 hybrid, he really likes it, I really like it. I need another mod like I need another hole in my head. But I know this is a small upstart and they have a cool idea, it's half stolen idea and the other half all been done before, but it's a nice combo, I LOVE hybrid mods and I LOVE 18350's, so I decide I'll spend the $200 or whatever it is and get one.

I do some research, CRAP, they only have a Facebook page and some Google list they sell them through. The old Google list from the first batch is now closed and no new list available. When you sold it your first 100 or 1000 or whatever run, wouldn't it make sense to put up another list and take deposits so you could at least gauge the demand for your second production run? Or maybe you could use some of the money you made to get a small one page website... What do I know?

So I Facebook Message them to please let me know when they have them ready for sale I want one, AND post right in the thread on THEIR Facebook page announcing they will soon have a new batch ready for shipment, that I want one. Please let me know when you are ready to sell. In both places someone answers and says they will let me know.

Fast forward 35 days, I've heard nothing from them.

So I message them again and ask any of the new Hybryds available? Someone answers me back yeah we have them, sorry I wasn't able to message you back. NO LINK FOR THE LIST. NO PRICE. NO LINK TO A WEBSITE. NOTHING ELSE. End of message.

I don't know what economy these idiots live in but here in Virginia where I live and ran my own business for 13 years, when someone is slapping me in the face with their hard earned cash I promise you, if I have to work 20 hours a day I'm going to answer every e mail, every Facebook post, every Facebook messenger post, every phone call and every thread here as kindly and as politely as possible and take ALL the money I can get my hands on, till every grubby little mod is sold.

But that's just me.

And before some of you start defending them with this and that excuse....I know EXACTLY what it takes to design, source materials, production cost's, percentage of scrap, pay electric bills, taxes and employee payroll, insurance, shipping costs and get business loans. There is no good excuse except they just dropped the ball.

If you're going to submit your mod to Todd for review AND he raves about it shouldn't you be ramping your production up so you can meet the demand.

Blah, blah, blah......

 

[Cullin Kin]

Sorry that happened, but I agree. Maybe it's some secret covenant thing like GVC...

 

[B2L]

Being a good craftsman does not make someone a good businessman. Unfortunately, more often than not, the 2 don't go hand in hand.

 

[Jethead]

Being a good craftsman does not make someone a good businessman. Unfortunately, more often than not, the 2 don't go hand in hand.

Chinese people from what is basically a third world country had decent clones of the Svoemesto V4 manufactured and ready for worldwide shipment what 17 DAYS after the authentic was released in a very limited market to scattered and unreliable availability.

Please stop making excuses for stupidity and laziness.

If you want to do something it can ALWAYS be done, it just takes work and dedication.

Pyramids of Egypt.

Great Wall of China.

Roman Empire.

America. Greatest nation on the face of the earth in less than 200 years, from 3 boats full of ...... off Englishmen....

Don't tell me it can't be done.

 

[B2L]

Wasn't even remotely trying to make any excuses for them, what I should have said was just because someone makes a great product doesn't mean the aren't stupid or lazy, or both.

 

[Rizzyking]

There is no real excuse it's negligence pure and simple and sorry the whole "craftsman doesn't make a businessman" argument\defence doesn't really stand up as they were businessman like enough to sell the first run and send one off to review so they know what they are doing. This is crappy customer service and no doubt on the back of a positive review know they'll sell out a second production run and probably a third so why bother replying when orders will just flow in requiring no extra effort on their part. Best way to show it's not acceptable is for people not to order their goods but that won't happen either in the majority of cases.

 

[Mooch]

While I agree with @B2L about craftsmen vs. businessmen (have seen it so many times) I agree with @Jethead that if you submit your product for review, because you want people to call, that you should be ready to actually handle those calls (texts, emails, whatever) so you can sell more product...which is why you sent it in for review in the first place!!

Verrry frustrating!

 

[Scottitude]

Personally, I'd consider it a lesson learned, forget about this particular mod, and take my business elsewhere.

As long as people continue to patronize Facebook "sellers" (join the XYZ mod group and get on the waiting list!) they'll continue to treat their customers like just another random faceless internet user that they can hit up for cash when they get off their backsides and "craft" another run.

If you're not a reputable manufacturer/distributor with a real website, an established B&M, or a highly recommended craftsman, you're not getting my money and you're definitely not going to get me join your group or "like" your stupid FB page.

/rant

 

[alicewonderland]

yep, just because you make a product doesnt make you a good businessman/company. There are alot of small company like this out there in vaping, those who just use facebook or word of mouth to sell their stuff. They get too big but dont know how to run it correctly, but it's not really their fault imo. If you don't like their business practices then don't deal with them. No need to split hairs, if you want their product bad enough then go through the hoops to get one, its not like all people who want to make a buck out of the new vaping industry are expert businessmen.

 

[Jethead]

I struggled with just calling them out here by name although I don't believe they are here in a supplier role, but I thought better of it.

I made MANY mistakes and ...... off several people before I figured out what it takes to be a successful businessman, but when I did I owned it and made up for it.

I won't call them out here, but I did send them two scathing messages on Facebook.

 

[Mooch]

Good call.
Perhaps they'll eventually step up to the plate and do right by you.

 

[stevegmu]

Probably just some hobbyist making mods whenever he feels like it. Life is full of choices; move on...

 

[Thrasher]

Chinese people from what is basically a third world country had decent clones of the Svoemesto V4 manufactured and ready for worldwide shipment what 17 DAYS after the authentic was released in a very limited market to scattered and unreliable availability.

Please stop making excuses for stupidity and laziness.

If you want to do something it can ALWAYS be done, it just takes work and dedication.

Pyramids of Egypt.

Great Wall of China.

Roman Empire.

America. Greatest nation on the face of the earth in less than 200 years, from 3 boats full of ...... off Englishmen....

Don't tell me it can't be done.

I'm not defending anything, but yea let's compare a couple people in a small shop to a Chinese conglomerate with 60 CNC machines running 24/7

 

[roxynoodle]

Unfortunately, I've run into a few of these in this business. Wrong items sent, defective items, etc, and refusal on the parts of these businesses to either make it right or issue a refund. Lousy customer service, and I make sure others know. They don't seem to care about whether they have customers or not. Strange business model indeed.

And others have gone above and beyond. Guess which ones get my future business and that I steer others to?

 

[VHRB2014]

Sounds like you ought to make it yourself.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Unfortunately MOST of the modders in the industry operate exact like that.
No contact phone, Facebook or obscure web group, shoddy business practices, non existent customer service, no business lisc, no business address, tons of hype and flashy pics.

The Chinese business relations and customer service alone puts 99% of the modders to shame.
It's sad when a Chinese web store has better CS and warranty on a $14 clone than the original Modder with a $200 authentic.

 

[Rizzyking]

Once you start charging money for something you step out of hobbyist whether some like it or not and when you charge a high amount for something the buying public has a right to expect a certain level of service and it always makes me laugh when people like this are defended. If they have the time to design, make and then market a mod and get a relatively well known reviewer to review it then they should damn well treat potential customer's with a degree of courtesy, thankfully people are moving away from these types of people and as China gets it act together hopefully they will go out of business completely. If it were me I'd also make Todd aware of the issues as I'm sure he'd like to know how people are being treated.

 

[peterforpats]

vaping has some crazy business models anyway- when was the last time you plunked down sixty thousand dollars to get in line for your next automobile purchase?.... and waited and waited and waited?....pre-orders are disasters waiting to happen and still we can't give them our $$$$ fast enough.....i know i will never be in another one...

 

[Mark Todd]

What device was it or is it not allowed to be mentioned on here?

 

[Robino1]

What device was it or is it not allowed to be mentioned on here?

Since it is a unique device, it would be traceable back to the company. So, no, it can't be named.