Stock Status Question For Ya'll :-)

[panderson01]

As a nicotine addict and Puresmoker fan, I need to figure out how to avoid going into panic mode when I want to place an order and can't due to shortages.

Us, as nic addicts and customers can be very fickle an unforgiving if we don't get our fix. We will look to blame everyone else except ourselves if we need it and can't get it, so please help!

If this has been and will continue to be an issue, I would like advice on how much personal use inventory I should keep on hand, i.e., 2 weeks, 3 or more?

Also, would it make sense to have different models on hand, so I can order the other types while others are out of stock?

Please let me know what you feel is the best way to keep the juice flowing, so as to avoid the analogs.

Thanks,
Paul
Molalla, OR

 

[mace bewley]

congrats on 10k, it was almost me but oh well. lot of good suggestions above.
i agree with the limiting orders and maybe some kind of reserve system.
but either way it go's, your the man and you gut has got you this far.
heres to you and one million orders.

mace

 

[dave1212]

We need a factory in America, plain and simple.

 

[Cuando]

We need a factory in America, plain and simple.

AMEN!

I have a sneaky suspicion someone out there is putting something together as we speak.

 

[Momof3]

I would like it if I could put things together like the wish list, whether they are in stock or not. A shopping list instead of a wish list. Then just get an email when it's all in and just go through checkout. Or be able to just order and pay with shipping options. Like Border's books does for preorder on books not released yet. You can choose whether to hold and ship when everything is in stock or separate deliveries with shipping charges where applicable.

Right now I'm wasting so much time between here and Puresmoker refreshing and hoping the things I want will be available at the same time so I don't have to come back and keep checking.

 

[Figurehead]

I just wish there was a way I could tell you what I am ordering, even pay for it in advance, and have a garuntee that I will get what I want. My last order consisted of just juice, but I also wanted a pen kit, pen atomizers, 901 atomizers, a pink 901 kit for my gf, an extra pink atomizer, and a ton of cores and carts. If stock is depleted in a matter of minutes by hoarders/resellers, I'll never be able to get what I want to order.

 

[JoeVegas]

Two thoughts -
One, without customers being able to back order - how can you know how many to purchase? Should you get 200 Pilots - or 700? Without backorders, hard to say.. Would think that is should be available as an option - at least for people who have ordered before/have an account. (Big notice to agree to backorder or something.) You are also setting up for a constant shortfall/over demand - because you have no way to gage demand without backorders.

Two -
You may be losing business because people can't see or order items not in stock. For example, I have no idea what your "Pure eJuice" flavors/sizes are - because they have never been in stock when I was visiting your site (and I visit often). And the way your site is setup, you can't see the options if it's not available.

 

[CaSHMeRe]

I would like it if I could put things together like the wish list, whether they are in stock or not. A shopping list instead of a wish list. Then just get an email when it's all in and just go through checkout. Or be able to just order and pay with shipping options. Like Border's books does for preorder on books not released yet. You can choose whether to hold and ship when everything is in stock or separate deliveries with shipping charges where applicable.

Right now I'm wasting so much time between here and Puresmoker refreshing and hoping the things I want will be available at the same time so I don't have to come back and keep checking.

Good Idea Mom ... Will look in to something like this. I know lots of people HATE having to order multiple times.

I just wish there was a way I could tell you what I am ordering, even pay for it in advance, and have a garuntee that I will get what I want. My last order consisted of just juice, but I also wanted a pen kit, pen atomizers, 901 atomizers, a pink 901 kit for my gf, an extra pink atomizer, and a ton of cores and carts. If stock is depleted in a matter of minutes by hoarders/resellers, I'll never be able to get what I want to order.

I do see your pain Figure We get shipments from several vendors, therefore, we can never count on everything be added all at the same time. I don't want to continually hold product back especially when the emails never stop from people wanting that product! We do need to figure something like this out though ...

Two thoughts -
One, without customers being able to back order - how can you know how many to purchase? Should you get 200 Pilots - or 700? Without backorders, hard to say.. Would think that is should be available as an option - at least for people who have ordered before/have an account. (Big notice to agree to backorder or something.) You are also setting up for a constant shortfall/over demand - because you have no way to gage demand without backorders.

Hey Joe, appreciate the post bud. This is a tricky thing to judge, especially keeping our website live. The back end of our ecart can do SOOOO much, we just haven't had the time to implement alot of things. Orders/Packing/emails take up SO much time. I'm hoping, with the move, the added help and space, we will be able to calculate and track much better.

Two -
You may be losing business because people can't see or order items not in stock. For example, I have no idea what your "Pure eJuice" flavors/sizes are - because they have never been in stock when I was visiting your site (and I visit often). And the way your site is setup, you can't see the options if it's not available.

It is indeed a fact we are losing business Its an issue with our ecart software. We need to set things up differently which we will indeed do (listing Pure Juice like Cash, etc...)

Thanks Joe

 

[The Wiz]

Steve.......Not to be beating a dead horse here, but any idea what day this week you'll have your pure juice back in stock? There seems to be some sort of "Juice Panic" happening here in the forum. I'm ok myself for awhile...but a few friends are concerned. Thanks! The Wiz!

 

[snf]

steve hates me, hes not answering my PM's or emails

 

[]v[icr0-kn0x]

snf, I pmed him also and haven't heard back. He must be really busy with the move and all, but it would be nice to have a REAL update in these threads to know when he will have some type of temp stock going before he will entirely move over to TN.

 

[Faethe]

Why don't you make subscription orders like Amazon does for food? People are not going to stop buying liquid. Just have them sign up for a monthly plan. That way you know how much to stock for the subscription people and how much to have on hand.

Same thing works for comic books.

Actually, I am kinda wondering why none of the e cig people have not done this before? You may need parts occassionally, but you will always need liquid, or carts for people who prefer that.

 

[]v[icr0-kn0x]

Faethe, I think you got something going on there. Not only will PS know how much they should stock up, but it also ensures that they must have a certain amount of juice/liquid on hand to sustain those who are on this 'subscription'.

 

[Faethe]

Faethe, I think you got something going on there. Not only will PS know how much they should stock up, but it also ensures that they must have a certain amount of juice/liquid on hand to sustain those who are on this 'subscription'.

Sure. And it's not like people are going to stop buying the stuff, ever. They might switch flavors or content, but they will never stop buying juice - especially Puresmoker and Cash juice. I can only imagine what kind of really bad nightmare this has been - trying to fill all these orders one at a time.

You give a discount for subscriptions and have them pay one month in advance. You use that money to buy da stuff. That's what comics shops do if they are on a cash first account.

You can do the same thing with atomizers and other things that break. If someone sucks at atomizer, they can budget for it.

If something screws up you will know well in advance of when the subscription orders get filled (omg da FDA!!!!!!!!!!!). That way you have everyone on a nice little email list so you can contact them (oh noes!).

This way you can also keep the stock fresh because you know when it will rotate down.

You can also keep track of who wants what in what size, what's popular, and use that information to give to someone to keep track of so they can pander new products to that customer base. (buy THREE get one FREE!!! OMG!).

Juice is constant - everyone needs it. I am watching people freak in the FDA threads. They want a constant supply of stuff - atomizers, juice, carts.

So do a subscription program where they get immediate delivery, and then also pay one month in advance. Pretty simple. Takes all the brain work out of it.

Put it in some sort of a dynamic form that the supplier in whatever country this stuff is made in can see it, so they can anticipate orders and adjust their manufacturing capability.

Ta daa!

Now. I would like A BIG BOTTLE OF RISKEE YUICE IF YOU USE THIS!

 

[Faethe]

Oh and by the way, if you share dynamic data with the wholesaler, in case of FDA weirdness, you can work out what your shipping schedule is and have the manufacturer ship direct in case of emergency. As long as you have at least 30 days notice of OMG oh NOES happening, you can stick the stuff on a snail from China.

Besides, the manufacturer would LOVE system like this because they can pimp it to other suppliers.

 

[CaSHMeRe]

Interesting Idea Faethe, and I have thought about subscription services in the past (like njoy does for cartridges) HOWEVER ....

1. Importing Eliquid is not like importing baby clothes. There are huge risks each and every time ....
2. The chinese lab I work with will NOT ship individually and only work with suppliers.

so ... therefore ... we are left with whatever I can get as often as I can get it ... Its sucks, but its as good as its gonna get until

A: Regulation/Tax
B: Complete Ban

I pray for #A

 

[Faethe]

Interesting Idea Faethe, and I have thought about subscription services in the past (like njoy does for cartridges) HOWEVER ....

1. Importing Eliquid is not like importing baby clothes. There are huge risks each and every time ....
2. The chinese lab I work with will NOT ship individually and only work with suppliers.

so ... therefore ... we are left with whatever I can get as often as I can get it ... Its sucks, but its as good as its gonna get until

A: Regulation/Tax
B: Complete Ban

I pray for #A

Oh nuts

Well, then if everything goes strange, you'd need a drop shipper like some suppliers do in Australia. I'm sorry this is complicated It shouldn't be. All the other arguments people make about how cigarettes are awful and readily available versus this stuff I find valid.

 

[cloud9]

As someone who over the past two months has experienced a lot of frustration at finding everything I want to order out of stock, I think your excuses are pretty inane. I finally received mini cig last month, and like it, but attempts to order ecigar and/or new 4 hole penstyle are constantly met with 'out of stock' banner. Same for replacement batteries, cores and cartridges for minicig.As to your question: Add everything at once. Better to wait 4 or 5 days for delivery than 4 or five weeks until you get it in stock again. As to 'hoarders', there is no law compelling you to sell out your stock to one or two individuals. If you see orders coming in from same buyer name/address/credit card over and over, simply don't fill those orders. Institute a 'maximum order' limit, and enforce it. Not too complicated, is it?As to claim you can't keep up with stocking and filling orders all this time because of lack of employees, well, there's a lot of people looking for work right now, and I never heard of a company choosing to lose business rather than make a new hire. That's known as 'penny-wise, pound foolish.' Or maybe 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'Youre home page as of tonight says everything's in stock. Your post say's everything in stock, so why does everything I try to order say 'out of stock'?Maybe you should institute a policy of pre, or backordering. Let people put in their order even if product out of stock, then send to these individuals first when new stock comes in. You people didn't go to business school did you?impatiently waiting,Cloud 9

 

[CaSHMeRe]

As someone who over the past two months has experienced a lot of frustration at finding everything I want to order out of stock, I think your excuses are pretty inane. I finally received mini cig last month, and like it, but attempts to order ecigar and/or new 4 hole penstyle are constantly met with 'out of stock' banner. Same for replacement batteries, cores and cartridges for minicig.As to your question: Add everything at once. Better to wait 4 or 5 days for delivery than 4 or five weeks until you get it in stock again. As to 'hoarders', there is no law compelling you to sell out your stock to one or two individuals. If you see orders coming in from same buyer name/address/credit card over and over, simply don't fill those orders. Institute a 'maximum order' limit, and enforce it. Not too complicated, is it?As to claim you can't keep up with stocking and filling orders all this time because of lack of employees, well, there's a lot of people looking for work right now, and I never heard of a company choosing to lose business rather than make a new hire. That's known as 'penny-wise, pound foolish.' Or maybe 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'Youre home page as of tonight says everything's in stock. Your post say's everything in stock, so why does everything I try to order say 'out of stock'?Maybe you should institute a policy of pre, or backordering. Let people put in their order even if product out of stock, then send to these individuals first when new stock comes in. You people didn't go to business school did you?impatiently waiting,Cloud 9

Wow ... Talk about a loaded post ... I reference you, to ...

Exhibit A:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...moker-moving-small-biography-within-well.html

Hopefully you will understand a little more about where we are coming from ...

I would also like to add ... We *REALLY* try our best to stay stocked and loaded at all times. The first 3 months of PS being alive, we were able to do just that. It grew slowly allowing us to work out the growing pains easily and counter with what needed to be done to get the job done. Since around mid December and on, we have had real issues. The demand literally skyrocketed ... Now, throw in the Holiday season (which never seemed to end) plus CNY (and as a new importer, I had no idea of the impact) and you are talking down time of up to 3-4 weeks. We did plan, and because we did, we were the rare company that had tons of stock at the beginning of CNY. We thought we had our bases covered to carry us through, what we didn't realize, is many other suppliers didn't plan, therefore, we got the brunt of everything full force. What normally would have allowed us to survive for 3-4 weeks before, now barely lasts 48-72 hours. Throw in some legal stuff here, a seized shipment there, and lack of storage and manpower, and you can see our dilemma. We are taking the necessary steps to expand, and in doing so, we are hoping to keep stock level's high, manpower to handle customer service high, and enough juice to feed the entire USA