Urgent message! Aethertech refunding all customers that preordered plumeveil??

[misterpimp5757]

So I preordered the plume veil 1.5 back in July when the ordering started and I'm sure 1000 of you guys did as well. So the dates have been getting pushed back and I'm sure I'm not the only one checking for updates everyday. So today I emailed the company I bought the plume veil 1.5 from to check the status on it and I get this:

9/29/2014 7:57:39 PM Dear Valued Customers:
We sincerely apologize that the Plume Veil V1.2 and the Plume Veil V1.5 by Aethertech, will not be available for purchase. We have made multiple efforts to deliver on our pre-orders; unfortunately we have not been successful. Due to constant issues with Aethertech the manufacturer of the Plume Veil, it is out of our control. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. As soon as we have been refunded by Aethertech, we will refund all paid pre-orders, which may take up to 2 weeks depending on your financial institution. If you should have any questions or concerns, please call us anytime. Thank you for your patience and continued support.
Sincerely yours,
BreakTime vape

What is going on? The message sounds like btvape cancelled the order with aethertech but at the same time it sounds like aethertech cancelled the plume veil line themselves. I responded to them asking this question,no response yet but I'll update. Did anyone else get a message they were going to be refunded though? I'm just a little upset...I want a authentic plume veil I don't want a clone at all...

 

[FatherTime]

anyone else think acerig had something to do with this?

 

[blackbalt89]

anyone else think acerig had something to do with this?

What, in that they managed to put out a 1.5 clone before even Aethertech could? Sometimes you wonder why companies like Aethertech would release info and or pics of what their new RDAs will look like a long time before they can deliver. Sure you can pre-release some info but don't do it 2+ months before you think you can ship to vendors. Do it like 2 weeks before you release to vendor since China would have to produce new tooling (maybe) and then get it on the slowboat to come over to 'Merica. Then you can have the jump on your OWN product before China does.

I don't think any rda manufacturer has the capacity to produce more than China can in a given time period, so why give them the opportunity to get your shiny new toy to market before you can even produce them yourselves?

 

[xpl0it]

Wow! I'm kind of glad I missed the pre-orders. I had been stalking the web for the past month on any updates and it just seemed like time and time again there were delays. Nonetheless, a bit saddening as I was really looking forward to eventually getting my hands on one after all the great things said about v1.2.

 

[vapero]

looks like they are going under

 

[Rickajho]

Why people in vape land get sucked into this pre-order crap I'll never understand. Charging in full for something that is not in stock and cannot be delivered is called "fraud" - ask your CC company. You don't have to wait on anything - call your CC issuing bank and file for a charge back right now for failure to deliver merchandise. If you think waiting on BreakTime to get an alleged refund is going to improve your odds of getting a refund - good luck with that.

 

[MrPlink]

looks like they are going under

Any solid confirmation

Why people in vape land get sucked into this pre-order crap I'll never understand. Charging in full for something that is not in stock and cannot be delivered is call "fraud" - ask your CC company. You don't have to wait on anything - call your CC issuing bank and file for a charge back right now for failure to deliver merchandise. If you think waiting on BreakTime to get an alleged refund is going to improve your odds of getting a refund - good luck with that.

1st, because the market is very new.
Nothing in the vaping world is even close to being fully developed, so folks are constantly looking for the next big thing that just may be "it."

Plus, you have tons of Bubbas popping up with "boutique mod" companies because there is easy money to be made. Frankly (if you haven't figured it out) most of these guys wouldn't be fit to run a Lemonade stand.

And it isn't Fraud if they tell you up front that you will be waiting

 

[Millah]

Preordering is essentially the same thing as investing. Without the return on investment or interest. You are effectively loaning money to a small company to allow them to get a product out the door, and they need money to do that. But you're not receiving any return on your initial investment, you are only receiving the product at full retail price giving them their full margins. It baffles me how this practice has become so welcome in the market. Its effectively the same as Kickstarter, which I find equally baffling. Hell, even Kickstarter campaigns offer discounts to early backers, with the actual retail price being higher than the pledge price on Kickstarter.

Buy products, don't buy promises. We are consumers not venture capitalists.

Btw, if a cloner in China manages to clone your product and get it to market weeks or months before you could even get your original product to market, then there is something wrong with that company. And I certainly wouldn't be loaning them money. China is offering you the product TODAY, at a very reasonable price.

If mod makers truly want to combat the clones, then they truly need to rethink their entire process of delivering products to market. They're just giving cloners orgasms at how incompetent they are at running a business. They may be incredibly creative and great craftsmen, but some of them are just bonkers when it comes to actually being in business.

 

[MrPlink]

looks like they are going under

Preordering is essentially the same thing as investing. Without the return on investment or interest. You are effectively loaning money to a small company to allow them to get a product out the door, and they need money to do that. But you're not receiving any return on your initial investment, you are only receiving the product at full retail price giving them their full margins. It baffles me how this practice has become so welcome in the market. Its effectively the same as Kickstarter, which I find equally baffling. Hell, even Kickstarter campaigns offer discounts to early backers, with the actual retail price being higher than the pledge price on Kickstarter.

Buy products, don't buy promises. We are consumers not venture capitalists.

I'm not a big pre order guy so I am merely playing devils advocate.

But an investment is made with the explicit possibility of a return (profit). Nowhere in a pre order is a return explicit nor even implicit. You are bargaining for certain benefits which generally at the least include being the first kid on your block to have one. In the case of limited production items it usually at the least implies (if not stated explicitly ) that you will receive a product period, where as those that have reserved a unit will NOT receive one.

If one were to pre order with intent to flip, then that would more closely resemble investment. But intent to flip is not fundamental to taking part in a pre order.

 

[Millah]

I'm not a big pre order guy so I am merely playing devils advocate.

But an investment is made with the explicit possibility of a return (profit). Nowhere in a pre order is a return explicit nor even implicit. You are bargaining for certain benefits which generally at the least include being the first kid on your block to have one. In the case of limited production items it usually at the least implies (if not stated explicitly ) that you will receive a product period, where as those that have reserved a unit will NOT receive one.

If one were to pre order with intent to flip, then that would more closely resemble investment. But intent to flip is not fundamental to taking part in a pre order.

I never said a preorder has EVER inferred a potential investment/return. I'm saying that's the entire part that's maddening. Regardless of what the details of the transaction are, YOU are playing the part of an investor. Of course the mod maker isn't going to say that, because why would they when they could get free loans? The point is, the entire reason for a preorder is to give a mod maker the capital necessary to produce 1000 products. They don't have the money, so they make "preorders" and take the entire payment up-front, which gives them the finances to be able to produce the products. Then they say "see ya, don't bother us about your preorder, when its done its done."

That's an investment. Sugar coat it however you want, but at the end of the day you are loaning money to somebody and receiving no interest. If they DIDN'T need to money just to produce the products, they could instead offer 1/4 price down payment to ensure your spot in line, and then pay for the rest when the product is ready for shipping. Or don't require any down payment, and just get put on a waiting list. But the fact that they take your money and run shows they need the money to get the product out the door.

A nice little bonus of this practice is that they never have to worry about inventory or supply/demand management. Mod makers are certainly making out in the arrangement. And then they complain about China cloning their products, when their business practices are equally disgusting in my opinion.

Sorry, just my two cents. I am a firm believer in being treated fairly as a consumer. Everything from being sold actual tangible products, to customer service and warranty. Much of the "high end" ecig industry falls far short in these areas. And thats the "high end" portion of our industry? I understand this is a young industry, but it doesn't have to be the norm. Look at a company like Provape. They invest in themselves, and offer generous warranties and customer service. Thats how every high end manufacturer should be operating.

 

[Pedrobear]

Damn it! So no authentic 1.5 now is what this has boiled into?

I wanted to support the creator and pay w/e the cost was, but if it's scrapped..... What clone put them under?

 

[vapero]

what I said about them going under was just an assumption and I wouldn't think a clone put them under I would venture in guessing that they have production issues and that is their doom (again I have no idea about them just a guess based solely on the information gathered on this thread only)

 

[misterpimp5757]

Damn it! So no authentic 1.5 now is what this has boiled into?

I wanted to support the creator and pay w/e the cost was, but if it's scrapped..... What clone put them under?

Update on everything. I emailed btvape back and they just replied to me. They stated they were the ones that cancelled their order with aethertech because they were tired of waiting and it wasn't good for their business. So the authentic plume veils will be released,we just don't know how long it's gonna be. I preordered through a different vendor advanced vapors 808 and they emailed me and told me aethertech told them that shipment was going to be sometime this week.

 

[Joshleeman]

I've had the authentic original plume veil since the first day they were available through b+m and havnt used any other dripper since, absolutely wonderful atty and would certainly grab another updated version if I needed or wanted another atty. I think as long as companies like aether tech can't produce anywhere near enough units to fill the demand, the clones will never put them under so to speak. IMO the only time that clones hurt companies financially is when there's authentics sitting un-bought in cases and websites, certainly not the case here. They know every single plume veil and orchid they produce will be sold out in seconds. I just wish for everyone's sake that companies that make quality, highly sought after devices and attys would make about 10 times what seems to be the normal batch size. Good luck on your preorders guys, peace!!!

 

[Pedrobear]

Any updates on the 1.5?

 

[badvox]

Last week they said October 3rd, have heard nothing since. Risky bizness and lesson learned for me at least.

 

[unlvjeffro]

I never said a preorder has EVER inferred a potential investment/return. I'm saying that's the entire part that's maddening. Regardless of what the details of the transaction are, YOU are playing the part of an investor. Of course the mod maker isn't going to say that, because why would they when they could get free loans? The point is, the entire reason for a preorder is to give a mod maker the capital necessary to produce 1000 products. They don't have the money, so they make "preorders" and take the entire payment up-front, which gives them the finances to be able to produce the products. Then they say "see ya, don't bother us about your preorder, when its done its done."

That's an investment. Sugar coat it however you want, but at the end of the day you are loaning money to somebody and receiving no interest. If they DIDN'T need to money just to produce the products, they could instead offer 1/4 price down payment to ensure your spot in line, and then pay for the rest when the product is ready for shipping. Or don't require any down payment, and just get put on a waiting list. But the fact that they take your money and run shows they need the money to get the product out the door.

A nice little bonus of this practice is that they never have to worry about inventory or supply/demand management. Mod makers are certainly making out in the arrangement. And then they complain about China cloning their products, when their business practices are equally disgusting in my opinion.

Sorry, just my two cents. I am a firm believer in being treated fairly as a consumer. Everything from being sold actual tangible products, to customer service and warranty. Much of the "high end" ecig industry falls far short in these areas. And thats the "high end" portion of our industry? I understand this is a young industry, but it doesn't have to be the norm. Look at a company like Provape. They invest in themselves, and offer generous warranties and customer service. Thats how every high end manufacturer should be operating.

That is exactly correct. A preorder is basically using customers for cashflow. A business who does not have the capital needed for a project usually offer bonds to acquire the funds needed for the project. those bonds have a Yield to maturity, and a coupon yield. The coupon is a payment at a set interest rate, that with the return of capital at maturity, will give you a return on your investment. With a preorder, you are basically loaning the company money for free, taking on risk, and lowering your discretionary income for no return on your investment.