The FastTech Thread For All FastTech Posts

[pcrdude]

Hi

I'll occasionally drop in here and report my story...

Ordered a VTR and two Panny 18650 3400mAh flat tops on 01Nov13. At that time, the delay for the the VTR was that it was scheduled to ship on 22Nov13, but the batts were available now. The scheduled ship date is still 22Nov13.

I'm thinking the whole thing is probably not going to ship until December, and then it will get rejected for the 18650s, but it's kind of like an experiment.

I totally did not know about the VTR deal posted earlier in this thread (I don't remember where it was from), or I would have ordered from there. Not quite as good a deal, but a very good deal nonetheless.

I could cancel the FT order, and get the domestic deal, but the FT is less expensive from FT, I'm in no hurry*, and it is sort of like a game at this point.

*I have an eVic, and an MPVv1, so the VTR is just fulfilling the "hobby" part of my psyche.

Carry on, and vape away

I hope I don't run into money problems if things go south.... That would be no fun at all.

I chickened out......

Long delay plus lithium battery shipping concerns got the better of me.

 

[Pinggolfer]

For those USA citizens who may be interested in the Innokin MVP-2 in all colors you can order them from Vape 101 for only $39.99 and have yourself a 2600 mAh VV/VW mod with 2-3 days shipping. Even FT can't beat the price. Innokin iTaste MVP V2.0 - 101 Vape

 

[FringeChief68]

I ordered on 10/25/13 and it finally showed up as Shipped Thursday, October 31, 2013 1:34:41 PM.
So now I wait in see how long it takes.

November 2, 2013 , 4:41 pm Acceptance HONG KONG

November 6, 2013 , 1:55 pm, Processed Through Sort Facility HONG KONG AIR MAIL CENTRE, HONG KONG

 

[bigbells]

I wouldn't have to. If I had a large volume of product set for a large region I'd consolidate the shipment and set distribution closer to the recipients. I'd still be covering the cost of shipping either way so I'd make it as efficient as possible to maintain business relations.

You appear to be answering the question by saying that no, you have no experience with shipping huge numbers of small orders internationally without charging any shipping cost to the individual buyers.

Your solution(?) is for Fasttech to pay for shipping twice, once from China to a distribution center in the US, then again when much higher cost US Postage would be applied by workers making US wages.

 

[bigbells]

For those USA citizens who may be interested in the Innokin MVP-2 in all colors you can order them from Vape 101 for only $39.99 and have yourself a 2600 mAh VV/VW mod with 2-3 days shipping. Even FT can't beat the price. Innokin iTaste MVP V2.0 - 101 Vape

Wish I was happy with the MVP V2, because that's an incredibly great price. The MVP power button's location and small size make it too much work for my big fingers to activate the power. On the other hand, the power button placement and size of the Innokin Anvil, I mean the Innokin VTR, are about as ideal as they can be for me.

 

[e-pipeman]

The power button placement and size on the Innokin Anvil, I mean the Innokin VTR, are about as ideal as they can be for me.

Anvil, eh? It does look rather big - and it's PWM as well, isn't it? I'm used to that on the Vamo, but if I was shelling out much more for the VTR I'd be hoping for something different, I think.

It still looks like a very intriguing device, though.

 

[RayN]

People buying from FastTech crack me up...
Just go look at the Negative Review Thread for suppliers.
So many people trying to save a buck or two to keep the "middlemen" (Meaning US vendors) from making a buck.
Maybe getting jerked around from a Hong Kong company will give you some idea of what your local vendors go through.

 

[Maggiemw]

People buying from FastTech crack me up...
Just go look at the Negative Review Thread for suppliers.
So many people trying to save a buck or two to keep the "middlemen" (Meaning US vendors) from making a buck.
Maybe getting jerked around from a Hong Kong company will give you some idea of what your local vendors go through.

Many of us are not American and have no particular loyalty to US vendors, nice people though they may be.

Moreover, the most likely vast majority of FT customers are not having more than waiting time issues. I'm glad we crack you up. I don't exactly laugh out loud as I enjoy my stuff. I just chortle quietly to myself.

 

[bigbells]

Anvil, eh? It does look rather big - and it's PWM as well, isn't it? I'm used to that on the Vamo, but if I was shelling out much more for the VTR I'd be hoping for something different, I think.

It still looks like a very intriguing device, though.

PWM: Pretty Well Made?
At any rate, my VTR makes everything else an emergency backup, even though my Vamo now feels like a toothpick. Problem is, it's a round toothpick and I'm a box mod person.

 

[Jayvaps]

People buying from FastTech crack me up...
Just go look at the Negative Review Thread for suppliers.
So many people trying to save a buck or two to keep the "middlemen" (Meaning US vendors) from making a buck.
Maybe getting jerked around from a Hong Kong company will give you some idea of what your local vendors go through.

Lol. It has nothing to do with keeping vendors from making a buck.

It has to do with me not spending money wastefully.

It is MY money, not a vendors money.

I buy from US vendors just as often as foreign vendors. If I need something in a hurry, or the price difference is reasonable for the convenience, I purchase it from a US vendor. If it is something that I dont need now and can wait weeks for it, or can save a substanial amount of money on, I buy from the cheapest place.

I do the same thing with B&M's. I will buy something from a B&M if I need it NOW, or the price is reasonable for convenience compared to an online US vendor where I may have to wait a few days to a week to get my order.

But you crack me up by being cracked up. I guess you look for the most expensive price of an item??

 

[jimbothigpen]

Many of us are not American and have no particular loyalty to US vendors, nice people though they may be.

And some of us are American and have no particular loyalty to US vendors. Chinese vendors have their market (the patient and poor), US vendors have theirs (those willing to pay for quicker service) -- everyone's happy!

Including me, I just got 3 shipments delivered today, including one that was placed on 10/27! New toys!

 

[Pinggolfer]

Many of us are not American and have no particular loyalty to US vendors, nice people though they may be.

Moreover, the most likely vast majority of FT customers are not having more than waiting time issues. I'm glad we crack you up. I don't exactly laugh out loud as I enjoy my stuff. I just chortle quietly to myself.

Most ordering batteries and having them shipped to the USA are having big delays. It may not be a issue going to the middle east or the UK but certainly for Americans. Others items seem to go through without a problem.

 

[ArcherB]

People buying from FastTech crack me up...
Just go look at the Negative Review Thread for suppliers.
So many people trying to save a buck or two to keep the "middlemen" (Meaning US vendors) from making a buck.
Maybe getting jerked around from a Hong Kong company will give you some idea of what your local vendors go through.

Sorry, but when I see "middlemen" charging $60-$100 for a basic ego battery, charger, and atomizer, it's them that's trying to jerk us around. I don't have a problem with them making a buck. I do have a problem with them ripping us off.

The problem is that they base their prices not on what it costs them to get their product, but what it costs to smoke cigarettes. Frankly, if smoking and vaping costs are the same, many will simply keep smoking because it's just easier. I would rather keep smoking than spend $100 for a battery that costs the retailer $5.00 because I would rather pay taxes than get ripped off.

 

[Ref Minor]

What cracks me up is how much time people who will not order from China on principle spend haunting a dedicated FastTech thread.

 

[e-pipeman]

PWM: Pretty Well Made?
At any rate, my VTR makes everything else an emergency backup, even though my Vamo now feels like a toothpick. Problem is, it's a round toothpick and I'm a box mod person.

PWM - Pulse Width Modulation.

 

[JRudey]

Sorry, but when I see "middlemen" charging $60-$100 for a basic ego battery, charger, and atomizer, it's them that's trying to jerk us around. I don't have a problem with them making a buck. I do have a problem with them ripping us off.

The problem is that they base their prices not on what it costs them to get their product, but what it costs to smoke cigarettes. Frankly, if smoking and vaping costs are the same, many will simply keep smoking because it's just easier. I would rather keep smoking than spend $100 for a battery that costs the retailer $5.00 because I would rather pay taxes than get ripped off.

You nailed it. I hate seeing a business jacking-up the price just because they can. This Businessweek article brings the the subject into focus:
Healthy Markups on E-Cigarettes Turn Vacant Storefronts Into 'Vape Shops' - Businessweek

I complain about FastTech all the time. I'm not the poor and patient customer jimbothigpen referenced, but I'm thrifty. Paying a premium for something never sits well with me.

 

[Muggs]

I just returned my eGo 1300mah. It came with a hack repair job, crooked top and aftermarket crap button. Obviously refurbished. They are replacing it. At least the returns go to Miami instead of having to wait for it to get back to China. All set with Fasttech after this anyway.

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

People buying from FastTech crack me up...
Just go look at the Negative Review Thread for suppliers.
So many people trying to save a buck or two to keep the "middlemen" (Meaning US vendors) from making a buck.
Maybe getting jerked around from a Hong Kong company will give you some idea of what your local vendors go through.

Is this thread titled "Come troll fasttech and its customers?", oh it's not? THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE????

Back on topic FT was trying to get me my order in 6 days, I REPEAT, 6 days, but as usual my awesome post office has yet again lost my package in the 2 miles between the main sort and my branch. Also my USPS screw-up fixer 'James' is off today and the other guy refuses to do anything...

 

[Jerms]

What cracks me up is how much time people who will not order from China on principle spend haunting a dedicated FastTech thread.

I don't get that either, what's the point, unless someone just enjoys being a contrarian.

It's like when I've seen hardcore DIYers pop into vendor specific threads and mention how foolish everyone is to buy mixed juices when it's so much better and cheaper to DIY. It's like people are so bored they want to poo-poo on someones good time because they do things different than them.

I've never considered going into the DIY section and telling people how much better vendor juices are, or go into a high-end mech mod thread to tell people I'm smarter for buying clones. It just seems like nothing but trolling to me.

Anyways, back to FT. I try not to rant about things but that practice is a pet-peeve of mine.

 

[RayN]

I guess I should clarify my comment.
I'm not advocating buying from a vendor just because they're in the US.
However, there are many that don't jack up the price to ridiculous profit margins. I would rather spend a couple of extra dollars (not 300-400% more) to support a small business owner though.
FastTech, from all appearances has very shoddy customer service. The reasonable vendors get the same products and sell them for a slight markup and will provide much better customer service, not just speed of delivery.