Pre-Orders are a Joke!

[KY_Rob]

Pre-orders are a sham! This isn't the first time I've been screwed like this, but I can assure you it will be the last!


Found out this morning, that I've been part of a bait-n-switch scheme. If it's not made right in very short order I will be posting the whole story about this offender and his business on every Internet site and board I can find.


Best advice I can give to the vape community is to not participate in these. By doing so, you the consumer are taking on the risk for the seller, who can simply walk away with your hard earned money with little more than a slap on the wrist.


It's time that people who want to sell their products to man-up and take the risk of making profits like real businesses.

 

[twgbonehead]

I totally agree. If someone wants to "crowd-fund" a product development, they should say that explicitly.

However, you are protected (assuming the seller is located in the US). If the seller accepts your money and can't ship within 4 weeks they are REQUIRED to respond, and let you cancel your order (and get a refund) and tell you when the item will actually become available.

In any case, why would anyone pre-order something? If it's for real, it will come on the market, and then you can buy it.

Selling on the Internet: Prompt Delivery Rules | BCP Business Center

 

[Javamon]

I never participate in pre-orders for anything.

*Pre-order* is code for: "we don't have the stock, we don't know when we'll get it, but we'll gladly take your money now so that our initial expense is less. Thank you for your money. Here is your lottery ticket - I mean, receipt. Good luck."

 

[KY_Rob]

I totally agree. If someone wants to "crowd-fund" a product development, they should say that explicitly.

However, you are protected (assuming the seller is located in the US). If the seller accepts your money and can't ship within 4 weeks they are REQUIRED to respond, and let you cancel your order (and get a refund) and tell you when the item will actually become available.

In any case, why would anyone pre-order something? If it's for real, it will come on the market, and then you can buy it.

Selling on the Internet: Prompt Delivery Rules | BCP Business Center

I never participate in pre-orders for anything.

*Pre-order* is code for: "we don't have the stock, we don't know when we'll get it, but we'll gladly take your money now so that our initial expense is less. Thank you for your money. Here is your lottery ticket - I mean, receipt. Good luck."

I know, right? Eggs on my face. I knew better, but I trusted as historically the vaping community has been trustworthy. As it's grown, that obviously not true any longer. Shame on me and never again.

 

[GinnyTx]

oh you mean "fund my purchase so I can make a profit with no expense to myself on a new product" and you may or may not get yours?

no I generally won't do them, I have once only because I emailed them (iStick) and he said the shipment was due in the day after I bought it.

 

[WillyZee]

Sorry things look so grim OP, I hope you get it sorted out ... however, I wouldn't even pre-order from Apple.

 

[93gc40]

I would not consider PER-ordering anything, from a RESELLER. The only pre-order, I might consider is for a product from a MAJOR Supplier/Manufacturer.. IE a Car or Truck or something along those lines, maybe for something like the Next Apple. (i doubt that, though, have further issues with buying the 1st of anything). But pre=ordering something like a Vaping product, thats just stupid. I mean after all in most cases the difference between Clone and Original is the day of the week it was produced.. As BOTH the clone and Original are made in the sane factories by the same people, sometimes with the same materials and parts, sometimes using the rejects from the previous days production.

 

[93gc40]

I totally agree. If someone wants to "crowd-fund" a product development, they should say that explicitly.

However, you are protected (assuming the seller is located in the US). If the seller accepts your money and can't ship within 4 weeks they are REQUIRED to respond, and let you cancel your order (and get a refund) and tell you when the item will actually become available.

In any case, why would anyone pre-order something? If it's for real, it will come on the market, and then you can buy it.

Selling on the Internet: Prompt Delivery Rules | BCP Business Center

I have NO money and assets.. Say i were to post a Pre-Order Items on EBAY, You buy from me, I don't deliver..... You sue me and get a judgement...... See, the first sentence. I WIN.

 

[KY_Rob]

Sorry things look so grim OP, I hope you get it sorted out ... however, I wouldn't even pre-order from Apple.

Fortunately for this particular fleecing, I won't be out a huge sum. It's just the principle of the thing. I see it all over the place. Things get hyped up, and please please please take my money.

I just hope I can actually get it resolved.

 

[TheJakeBailey]

I would not consider PER-ordering anything, from a RESELLER. The only pre-order, I might consider is for a product from a MAJOR Supplier/Manufacturer.. IE a Car or Truck or something along those lines, maybe for something like the Next Apple. (i doubt that, though, have further issues with buying the 1st of anything). But pre=ordering something like a Vaping product, thats just stupid. I mean after all in most cases the difference between Clone and Original is the day of the week it was produced.. As BOTH the clone and Original are made in the sane factories by the same people, sometimes with the same materials and parts, sometimes using the rejects from the previous days production.

I've heard this tossed about here recently... Don't know what it has to do with pre orders, but I'm still curious where this is coming from. Do you have an example??? I can assure you that most are NOT made in the same place. Still, give me some examples of some that were. For curiosities sake.

 

[twgbonehead]

I have NO money and assets.. Say i were to post a Pre-Order Items on EBAY, You buy from me, I don't deliver..... You sue me and get a judgement...... See, the first sentence. I WIN.

You don't have to sue them. You report them to the FTC. Often with the threat of federal criminal prosecution some "vendors" seem to have a change of heart. If not, you've only wasted a couple minutes filing a complaint.

 

[twgbonehead]

I've heard this tossed about here recently... Don't know what it has to do with pre orders, but I'm still curious where this is coming from. Do you have an example??? I can assure you that most are NOT made in the same place. Still, give me some examples of some that were. For curiosities sake.

It's very common with "designer" items such as handbags and stuff like that. The day shift makes the originals, the night shift makes the knock-offs. I'm not sure how prevalent it is with mods, but I wouldn't be at all surprised.

 

[sos2001]

I once had a veteran vaper tell me to never (1) never pre order anything...(2) never purchase version1...wait til version 2 so all the things in version1 that were a pain in the buttocks are fixed.

 

[Roccov]

I know, right? Eggs on my face. I knew better, but I trusted as historically the vaping community has been trustworthy. As it's grown, that obviously not true any longer. Shame on me and never again.

Rob sir, I totally agree that as the whole this would have never happened in the past. The rush to jump on something just because it is new has brought out all the scammers. I got burnt on some counterfeit batteries that were pimped by a reviewer. I hope it gets sorted out my friend. Enjoy the day!

 

[TheJakeBailey]

It's very common with "designer" items such as handbags and stuff like that. The day shift makes the originals, the night shift makes the knock-offs. I'm not sure how prevalent it is with mods, but I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Right, I hear ya. Still... i remember when i started here it was mentioned as "i bet this happens." Then somewhere along the line we get

As BOTH the clone and Original are made in the sane factories by the same people, sometimes with the same materials and parts, sometimes using the rejects from the previous days production.

This makes it sound like a definite, as opposed to a possible, or even a probable. Yet I've never heard of one substantiated example of this happening. I guess maybe it depends on what you buy, but anything i have had a clone of, AND an original, I could tell the difference easily. If they were made in the same place, by the same people, why would this be the case??

That being said, I'm still open for some examples. I certainly don't know all of the comings and goings in in the vape world.

 

[twgbonehead]

Right, I hear ya. Still... i remember when i started here it was mentioned as "i bet this happens." Then somewhere along the line we get This makes it sound like a definite, as opposed to a possible, or even a probable. Yet I've never heard of one substantiated example of this happening. I guess maybe it depends on what you buy, but anything i have had a clone of, AND an original, I could tell the difference easily. If they were made in the same place, by the same people, why would this be the case??

That being said, I'm still open for some examples. I certainly don't know all of the comings and goings in in the vape world.

Nowadays, the way these factories are automated, the clones are most likely to be made in a different factory, with different materials, and different-quality tooling. Wouldn't be at all surprised if the CAM files were "borrowed" from the originals, but for many clones you can clearly see that the materials used are different, sometimes the threading is of poorer quality, etc.

Handbags and clothing, however, tend to use more custom materials (particularly clasps and other affixtures) and have been being cloned/counterfeited for a much longer time with less automation, so this might be a completely different animal.

I'd hazard a guess, though that this:

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1986503

is made in the same factory as the isticks!