Totally turned off Five Pawns - absurd story from an absurd company

[minigoat]

So the limited edition carries a sense of immediacy and exclusivity as the products would only be available for a short time and/or in limited numbers. This sounds like be a ploy to raise brand recognition and customer interest. We had a thread here so it worked I guess.

The barrel is definitely a gimmick, one could simply steep the juice for 3 weeks with some oak chips. I do not get it…

The barrels do look cool though.

 

[RPadTV]

I understand the argument about not getting a FREE sample, but the OP wanted to BUY a sample. That is a total different story. I also understand that castle reserve is a "special" juice, but to say you have to buy 2 bottle before you can "maybe" buy a sample is crazy.

Thats like saying, you have to buy 2 big macs before you can buy the fries!

I understand what you're saying, but disagree with your analogy. Castle Long Reserve is not available as a sample at all. You can't "buy" the sample-size bottle anywhere.

 

[Racehorse]

They responded to tell me that if I purchased two 30ml bottles at $27.50 a piece, they'd consider selling me a small sample of Long Castle.

My relationship would be immediately over if a vendor said that to me.

There was one a while back, I asked for a little more VG and they said they could do it but i'd have to buy 80ml or something. 'cuse me but there are about 50 other vendors I can buy "peppermint" e-juice from. So I moved on. What was funny about this vendor, they claim to be "custom mixers" but only have e-juice in ONE pg/vg ratio. Left me wondering where the "customization" came in.

 

[retrox]

You're making several assumptions about the company's business model and practices. The comparisons to AVE and Mad Murdock don't apply. Those guys are primarily online vendors. Five Pawns is a small company that's focused on retail. With that in mind, it's not surprising that the company doesn't give out samples, especially given that the requested sample isn't something it sells online (as of this writing). It can be sampled -- for free -- at the retailers that carry it.

Out of curiosity, have you tried any Five Pawns e-liquids?

Regardless of how concerned 5P might be about undercutting their retail vendors, as soon as they stepped onto the internet with a shopping cart they made my comparison apply just fine. Besides, there are plenty of other juice makers out there that are also "focused on retail" that don't feel the need to overly inflate their prices in an effort to insinuate that their juices somehow taste better, or are manufactured with higher-grade ingredients, or better lab equipment, or cleaner people, or more love, or whatever. All those assumptions aside, I honestly have no idea why their juice is more expensive than anyone else's. I've searched for the answer, and have found nothing but sensationalism and general ballyhoo from the occasional shill.

And in regards to the sample requested by the OP: Fine, if the juice is not to be sold online, then don't sell it online. Full stop. If whatever goofy thing you can drum up to provoke interest in your product works, then I guess it works, and more power to you. Clearly that isn't the case, as the OP was offered a sample, but with terms. To me, that's lame no matter how you slice it. Send a nice response to the customer explaining that the juice is limited-run, ask them where they're located, and perhaps point them to a nearby retailer who stocks it. Not "Yes, I can send you some, but you'll need to spend more money to cover the additional expenses incurred by pouring it into a tiny container and stuffing it into your package for you." It would've been less offensive if the guy had said "Yeah, we can send you a small sample, but it's $27.50. It does come with a free 30ml bottle of Gambit, though!"

I haven't tried them, and it's not likely I ever will. I've already got a few solid vendors I buy (reasonably priced) juice from and I mix my own ADV's, so it would be counter-productive of me to sample something that costs so much more than anything else that I might actually like enough to order again.

 

[danny4x4]

I understand what you're saying, but disagree with your analogy. Castle Long Reserve is not available as a sample at all. You can't "buy" the sample-size bottle anywhere.

If you can't buy the sample bottle anywhere, then why did they reply in this manner, and I quote from OP:
"They responded to tell me that if I purchased two 30ml bottles at $27.50 a piece, they'd consider selling me a small sample of Long Castle."
Note : " they'd CONSIDER selling "

A better response would have been to reply that the juice is only available at certain retail outlets for sample due to limited quantity, and provide the addresses of the outlets.

 

[zapped]

Sounds as if they believe their customers are the real pawns. I tried some recently at a local vape meet and to be honest they were nothing memorable.

I can get a 100ml bottle from a MUCH better and more established vendor for less than the cost of 2 of their 30 ml bottles.Im not talking abut an el cheapo vendor either but one that has been consistently voted as the number one juice and/or vendor for 5 years running....cough Bobas...cough.

To charge almost twice as much per ml than top vendors like Ave, Ahlusion, HHV AiV etc shows they are either supremely arrogant or think their customers are idiots or both.

 

[Unseen]

After reading the OP I bought 70 ml's from Good life vapors for 25.00. Just thought I'd share.

 

[Schnarph]

While one individual may present themselves as a representative of a company, that's a poor assumption to make on anyone's part.

If I understand the OP correctly, one e-mail has caused a lot of folks to conclude that 5P is of one single mind on this issue. Was a board meeting convened to discuss this policy, or was one employee taking his personal problems out on the OP? Who could possibly know, other than the individual that sent the snooty e-mail to the OP?

So 5P juice is expensive, that is not a hidden factor. Rude, condescending, and/or poorly worded communication should never be tolerated by a customer. The customer is always right, but only when an unsatisfactory issue hits a unresolved dead end.

If you want a product and are treated poorly by a company's staff, complain to management. If the management does not satisfy you, complain to the owners if possible. If these methods fail, then tell the world about your experience. I've spent my time in customer service management positions: customer complaints happened, free products and services were offered, and staff was either warned or fired. People can behave poorly for a variety of inexcusable reasons, don't let them get away with it! This "story" is the result of one staff member's actions. Human's often make mistakes even at work, maybe this 5P employee needs to think about another job. Whoever this clown was that e-mailed the OP needs a spankin'.

That said, I still won't buy 5P e-liquid because it's waaaaaay too expensive for me. That's x500 I would never spend on a 30ml bottle of e-liquid. BTW, I hope 5P does read this thread.

 

[Cartomizer]

Sorry to hear it man. I work for a B&M shop that also has a website and we conduct business in an entirely different manner. I had high hopes for them honestly. That price tag should come with some top tier customer service and communication skills

 

[JColt]

While one individual may present themselves as a representative of a company, that's a poor assumption to make on anyone's part.

I think it's like 3 guys and a warehouse.

 

[Schnarph]

I think it's like 3 guys and a warehouse.

Even if the email to the OP came from the owner of 5P, the issue was left unresolved. More communication should have followed. There is a system for this right here on ECF involving tickets, if 5P doesn't take care of that themselves. That is where this type of thread should be if the issue was left unresolved. There is also a section of ECF for e-liquid reviews, price and quality should both fit there.

 

[Discord]

Yes, it's aged in a treated oak barrel. I totally understand if some people believe that it does nothing for e-liquid. It does impart some flavor though.

I say nonsense. aging in oak barrels is something that wine and whisky makers do, over YEARS, and alcohol is a volatile liquid, where it rapidly (compared to the non-volatile nature of PGand VG) intermingle with things it comes in contact with. Along with all the other things behind 5P, like the simple fact that the main proprietor is a branding specialist, leads me to think there's a lot of puffed up nonsense going on here. Look at the mileage good customer relations goes with the MANY other ejuice companies out there? Decent customer relations = good word of mouth. Word of mouth is important when it comes to people making decisions on what they want to buy. I've tried 5P at a local B&M, and it's decent, but not something I'd call flavorful or amazing. I've had MUCH better "boutique" flavors from places like HHV and a few others, at a fraction of the price. I buy my own glass bottles for about $1 each (that are tinted, so they actually protect the fluid).

Every time someone has a question, or especially a complaint, you rush to their defense. Are you working for them? I've never seen any of them come and post a comment to try to justify their prices, methods, claims or complaints.

As for the sample request... I think almost every ejuice vendor has samples. You can either buy them in very small quantities, or in some cases they are included for free. To suggest that it's a perfectly reasonable business practice to deny the sale of or require a $60 purchase in order to get a small sample is crazy. There are a lot of options for ejuice out there, competition does exist, in price, quality, and exclusivity.

 

[retired1]

I've never seen any of them come and post a comment to try to justify their prices, methods, claims or complaints.

Vendors have to abide by a strict set of rules on ECF. This is why you don't see them posting outside the vendor forums.

 

[Discord]

Vendors have to abide by a strict set of rules on ECF. This is why you don't see them posting outside the vendor forums.

what about having a shill constantly representing them?

 

[retired1]

what about having a shill constantly representing them?

I think that's rather unfair, considering there are many who will sing the praises of their favorite vendor. One only needs to look at the Provari fan base to see that.

 

[Discord]

fair enough

 

[shatner]

So much hating in this thread. What's funny is most (if not all) of the ones saying that it's absolutely not worth the price haven't tried it. He was doing NO favors by trying to sell 2 bottles of 'reg' juice for a sample of LCR. Obviously that was a move to try to dissuade selling a sample. If you cant' see that you have NO clue how business works. List your credentials all day, IDGAF! I have credentials that say I'm a I'm a better 1911 builder than Baer, Wilson, Alchemy Weapons and better AR-15 builder than Bill Springfield. I don't in the slightest think it's true, but I have pieces of paper that make me far more qualified than the names I just listed.

My point is that until you try it, you really should lay off. You look silly, misinformed and quite judgmental. Which, if you arent' aware, are negative qualities that get you nowhere.

If you try it and don't like it, fair enough. And comparing a Big Mac to quality juice?

Now shooo. .We know what the plebs think of 5P.

 

[RPadTV]

Regardless of how concerned 5P might be about undercutting their retail vendors, as soon as they stepped onto the internet with a shopping cart they made my comparison apply just fine. Besides, there are plenty of other juice makers out there that are also "focused on retail" that don't feel the need to overly inflate their prices in an effort to insinuate that their juices somehow taste better, or are manufactured with higher-grade ingredients, or better lab equipment, or cleaner people, or more love, or whatever. All those assumptions aside, I honestly have no idea why their juice is more expensive than anyone else's. I've searched for the answer, and have found nothing but sensationalism and general ballyhoo from the occasional shill.

Just trying to give you information to work with, but it seems like you've made up your mind about the company already. No worries.

And in regards to the sample requested by the OP: Fine, if the juice is not to be sold online, then don't sell it online. Full stop.

Again, the particular juice the OP asked for is not currently sold online by Five Pawns. I've only seen one online vendor offer it.

I haven't tried them, and it's not likely I ever will.

This is the part that's strange to me. You don't like how the company operates and will likely not try its juices, but you care enough to write about it? I'm genuinely curious as to why you're even interested.

what about having a shill constantly representing them?

I'm hardly a shill -- just trying to put some information out there. You can do what you like with it. There's a lot of misinformation about Five Pawns, as well as a weird fascination from its detractors.

 

[retired1]

Again, the particular juice the OP asked for is not currently sold online by Five Pawns. I've only seen one online vendor offer it.

Regardless of who sells it, if it's sold online and Five Pawns makes it the request for a sample is a reasonable one.

$38 for 30 ml is ridiculous IMO. But, if people get off on paying that kind of money for juice, more power to 'em.

 

[Miarose]

"I haven't tried them, and it's not likely I ever will. "

This is the part that's strange to me. You don't like how the company operates and will likely not try its juices, but you care enough to write about it? I'm genuinely curious as to why you're even interested.

That wasn't my post, but in response to it...

As an online seller of handmade goods myself, I feel that customer service and providing the best product you can is extremely important. It's the internet. All the customer gets IS customer service and the product. Regardless of what the OP asked for( ie it not being available for sale, ect) has nothing to do with it, at least from my stand point. I read reviews on the company before I purchase the product, as I'm sure many others do, hence why a lot of these forums exist.

It's like, aren't you more inclined to purchase a product after reading "their customer service and products are Great!!" as compared to, "their customer service sucks, they are rude (not saying specifically this case, just an example), but the product was great". I know I'd opt for better overall. Just my .02.