New Vaper (5 mos) - Disillusioned with Industry

[Therese410]

The last thing I want is the government regulating the e-cig industry - or so I thought. I purchased a tank (Nautilus mini), went home, opened the box, and found the base in pieces. I returned to the store immediately with my receipt and the tank only to be told "Sorry about that - all sales final." I went to another shop and purchased the larger Nautilus tank, opened it in the store prior to purchasing so I could check it out, then purchased it. I went home and filled it and it worked fine - for three days. The bottom of the base fell off. Final sale - no returns. $70.00 gone. I bought a Hana Modz V3 for $250.00. It worked great for 2.5 months. I expected it to last longer. I contacted Hana and they emailed me a video to watch. I did and tightened the screws as per the video instructions. It worked again for another week. I have left seven messages and sent five emails to Hana and cannot get a response. $250.00 gone.

These are only a few examples of the problems I have encountered since I started vaping. Companies do not have to stand behind their products. They do not have to worry about selling substandard products. Why? All sales are final and there is nothing anybody can do about being ripped off. That does not happen in other industries because in other industries there are government regulations and consumers have rights to not be taken advantage of. Too bad people cannot resist taking advantage of people so their businesses can continue to go unregulated. I know I am not alone with these problems. I am tired of being ripped off. Business owners should go ahead and enjoy taking advantage of customers as they laugh all the way to the bank - while they can. They are bringing what is coming to them all by themselves.

 

[Train2]

That sucks, but quality control and support of a product are not the result of regulation...they're the result of good long-term business practice. There certainly are a lot of dummies opening vape shops, but there are vendors with a reputation for standing behind their product. A minority, but please look for them!!

Regulation is just going to make it difficult to obtain nicotine and lack of regulation doesn't at all seem related to the trouble you've had. Unless you think the government will just make it illegal to import atomizers from China - again, that will rule out availability of a lot of reasonably priced quality gear right along with crappy clones. The folks who want regulation don't want you to get a quality device - they want to prevent you from vaping.

 

[aki917]

I feel you in that... and also sorry to hear that. It's seems like they don't have pride on what there making also the vanders doesn't back it up ( I'm guessing they don't have a good return policy ) I've got a stingray x authentic mod and 510 was way to tight so I contacted seller and told me to contact jd tech ( manufacturer ) when I did they ask me the serial number and where I got it from and told me that sense I didn't get it from there Vander there was no warranty on the product and told me to pay $40 for the top cap with 510 connector. Also there will be no tracking number for me to track the shipment. How shady is that? why do they even put in a serial number if there not going to back it up? Anyways I was able to fix it my self and I'll never buy from them. Now that I've got in to vaping I love the flavor and help me quit cigarette. But yes does vanders need to improve there service and also manufacturers as well.

 

[klynnn]

Welcome Therese. Sorry for all the troubles you've had, most of us have been ripped off on equip at least once or twice on this journey. It has gotten better in the last year or so, but not too long ago many sites were selling cigalike kits for $200.00. Hopefully the good people here can help you avoid some of the con artists in the future and get better/cheaper equipment. Stick around you will learn a lot.

 

[Therese410]

Thank you for your response. I thought consumer laws were the result of regulation. I don't understand how it all works. I cannot think of another industry that would get by with this. I have been to seven local shops and they all have a sign by the register stating that all sales are final. I can understand this when it comes to ejuice because - well, just because of a lot of reasons. However, not when it comes to newly purchased products malfunctioning in the first couple of months. I have actually had a couple of good results with online vendors (The Plume Room and Ahlusions) standing behind their products. The local shops - shady, very shady. Sometimes you want to be able to walk into a store and buy something - even if it costs more - rather than waiting for it to come in the mail. Unfortunately, it is risky to do that with the shops in my area. BTW, I thought I was safe buying a pack of bvc coils the other day without opening the package before purchasing. Wrong. I got home and there were three in a pack of five. Two were punched out and missing. I called anyway even though I knew it would not do any good. The guy who answered the phone said "Sorry about that happening but there is nothing I can do about it." Arrrrgh.

 

[Therese410]

Thank you for your response. It feels better to know I am not just sounding like a whiney person complaining about everything. I will be posting about my good experiences too. Just needed to vent about the frustrations I have been experiencing since I quit smoking. I am so happy that I no longer smoke cigarettes. I was never able to quit before. Just wish it was smoother sailing with the vendors.

I feel you in that... and also sorry to hear that. It's seems like they don't have pride on what there making also the vanders doesn't back it up ( I'm guessing they don't have a good return policy ) I've got a stingray x authentic mod and 510 was way to tight so I contacted seller and told me to contact jd tech ( manufacturer ) when I did they ask me the serial number and where I got it from and told me that sense I didn't get it from there Vander there was no warranty on the product and told me to pay $40 for the top cap with 510 connector. Also there will be no tracking number for me to track the shipment. How shady is that? why do they even put in a serial number if there not going to back it up? Anyways I was able to fix it my self and I'll never buy from them. Now that I've got in to vaping I love the flavor and help me quit cigarette. But yes does vanders need to improve there service and also manufacturers as well.

 

[Therese410]

Thank you klynn. I will stick around. I love this forum. I consult it quite often now.

 

[NancyR]

Therese, while it won't help help with the B&M's you can post in the neg review about the hana and maybe get some help.

As to the regulation, if it would help these types of issues I would be all for it, but it won't, what regulation will do however is make things like this worse as the good vendors and modders out there won't be able to afford to stay in business, and depending on what regulation they are trying where you live, it might make it hard to vape at all.

 

[Train2]

Yikes - that is ridiculous...
There are a lot of people who opened shops that don't know how to run a business.
There are a LOT of stories of poor customer service.
I've been lucky - only visited a couple, as I mostly buy online, but both places surprised me in a good way.
I guess all you can do is research the online vendors and get ECF input on who to trust.
I HOPE you find a local place that treats people right - but it's hit and miss for sure...!

Thank you for your response. It feels better to know I am not just sounding like a whiney person complaining about everything. I will be posting about my good experiences too. Just needed to vent about the frustrations I have been experiencing since I quit smoking. I am so happy that I no longer smoke cigarettes. I was never able to quit before. Just wish it was smoother sailing with the vendors.

 

[stevegmu]

There are quality companies with stellar customer service- ProVape, IBTanked. I wouldn't buy from a B&M in my area; the ones I have seen seem to be a hangout for wanna be grunge types. They don't seem to make enough to stay in business long...
This forum and Youtube seem to push high powered, junky, cloud chasing devices, which will frustrate new vapers until they smoke agin.

Being in Maryland, I would suggest you visit the Vaper's Knoll-

https://www.vapersknoll.com

Looks to be about 20 minutes from Gambrills....

 

[Sally Nevermind]

I really feel you on what you said about the b.s. that gets sold and how frustrating it is. I am in for around $300 in one month just trying to get something that works and that doesn't count all the packs of analogs I went through trying to manage with the garbage I paid good money for. 90% of that money went on cartos that ended up being leaky or dryed out. I ended up so mad I almost gave up if it wasn't for this forum! Hang in there and yep vent when you need to lol. I hope for you to get to a point where vaping is all enjoyable with no more frustration soon and wish you the best of luck!!!

 

[GrandMoff]

Regulation certainly helps consumers buy reliable products. Stricter policies result in better overall quality for the consumer. E-cig regulation, as it stands now, is half dismantling a big tobacco rival and assuring cigarette money keeps flowing into the hands of politicians and half actually stopping preventable injuries and deaths resulting from improper handling of potentially dangerous chemicals or batteries and dissolving consumer ignorance. The best thing you can do when you receive a product that CLEARLY shouldn't have been sold is to be as vocal about it as possible in as many outlets available to you. Telling everyone here, for instance, is a great start. Avoiding assured scams like Fasttech is a good second step.

I'm stationed in NC and there are a lot of B&Ms out here that are absolutely thriving now. But that wasn't the case three or four years ago. There was one shop and he sold in-house juice that all tasted like plastic. Now that vaping has caught on more in the area, he has access to a wider variety of products and even more of an attitude of helpfulness than before. But his mods are still overpriced.

I've found hanging around in a B&M for a while will give you a good sense of the level of care they have for their consumer and help to establish a good relationship if you are to return. If it's one dude with a 300W device and a Dark Horse RDA just talking about his clouds, probably try and find somewhere else.

 

[drunkenbatman]

Hey Therese,

I really feel for you in this situation, as you most definitely aren't the only one. It's a market that's expanding almost exponentially with good/decent/bad shops and surprisingly little competition except online -- and even there it's still a serious issue (check out Mrs Ts Bakery reviews). A shop will often seem great in terms of service and shipping, until you realize you've been sold a counterfeit (Hi Sun-Vapers) and then...

The worst part of this is that right now, they don't really care if they lose a customer because 10 new people will walk in the next day. One of the best things you can do is toss up an accurate negative review on Yelp, Google, etc. so people searching for a place around them havea heads up... and then following through on the recourses available to you.

Regulation isn't the answer in your case (it might be when it comes to people washing their hands before making eliquid or not having roaches crawling around their flavorings), application of existing consumer protections is. e.g.: Return Policies and Refunds - FindLaw

Legally, it is a matter of contract law: If the merchant's policy (or sales contract) clearly states "all sales final" in a way that is not confusing to customers, then it is not required to accept returns on otherwise salable goods.

Federal law governing refunds is fairly simple and straigtforward, applying to online as well as in-store sales. Merchants do not have to provide a full refund on returned goods unless one of the following conditions is true:

+ The goods were defective (or, more generally, the merchant broke its sales contract)

+ Refunds are part of the merchant's stated return policy

How those things shake out in your case/state/etc. I don't know -- googling what to do and contacting the local gov offices might point you in the right direction.

 

[stevegmu]

Return rights are an other aspect of CR which I love. One has 15 days to take any item purchased back and receive a refund, no questions asked...

 

[SirEvelynTremble]

Class action lawsuits : build a directory of "bad stores" and any customers who bought defective goods can all file together. Also a law suit gives them bad media coverage. But I don't know how civil laws work in the USA just my two pence worth

 

[stevegmu]

Class action lawsuits : build a directory of "bad stores" and any customers who bought defective goods can all file together. Also a law suit gives them bad media coverage. But I don't know how civil laws work in the USA just my two pence worth

Small claims court would be the correct venue, but hiring a process server, paying filing costs and taking days off of work would cost more than one would ever receive...

 

[SirEvelynTremble]

The other thing that would be helpful would be a database of reviews & ratings for all the vape stores in the western world - RateMyVape.com where customers can give accurate reviews and stores get rankings/ratings.

 

[Bunnykiller]

and this is why I buy from Fasttech..... 6 months time available to return....

 

[stevegmu]

and this is why I buy from Fasttech..... 6 months time available to return....

Yeah, but getting an order can take 6 months...

 

[edyle]

The last thing I want is the government regulating the e-cig industry - or so I thought. I purchased a tank (Nautilus mini), went home, opened the box, and found the base in pieces. I returned to the store immediately with my receipt and the tank only to be told "Sorry about that - all sales final." I went to another shop and purchased the larger Nautilus tank, opened it in the store prior to purchasing so I could check it out, then purchased it. I went home and filled it and it worked fine - for three days. The bottom of the base fell off. Final sale - no returns. $70.00 gone. I bought a Hana Modz V3 for $250.00. It worked great for 2.5 months. I expected it to last longer. I contacted Hana and they emailed me a video to watch. I did and tightened the screws as per the video instructions. It worked again for another week. I have left seven messages and sent five emails to Hana and cannot get a response. $250.00 gone.

These are only a few examples of the problems I have encountered since I started vaping. Companies do not have to stand behind their products. They do not have to worry about selling substandard products. Why? All sales are final and there is nothing anybody can do about being ripped off. That does not happen in other industries because in other industries there are government regulations and consumers have rights to not be taken advantage of. Too bad people cannot resist taking advantage of people so their businesses can continue to go unregulated. I know I am not alone with these problems. I am tired of being ripped off. Business owners should go ahead and enjoy taking advantage of customers as they laugh all the way to the bank - while they can. They are bringing what is coming to them all by themselves.

$250 for a Hana! You might as well have gone for a Provari.