Why do people think it's acceptable for online vendors to shut down their ordering systems?

[the_vape_nerd]

It's acceptable because of supply and demand laws.

Ahlusion does this. They open in the mornings unti they have enough orders and they close. I was a bit aggravated with this until I tried the juice. Not only was every single juice I tried above and beyond anything else I'd ever had, the owner had a 12 email exchange with me on what i could taste and what I couldn't taste, the kind of hardware I was using, asked if I had any suggestions and even offered to make and send me a discontinued juice based on our conversation.

I know how Ahlusion works now, I know when they are open and how long it takes to ship. To me, it's a guy out there who's willing to listen to each customer on a personal level. Kind of like doing business with a local vendor who you know personally. He has a life outside of making your juice but when you do business with him you know he's not going to jerk you around.

There's a bakery here in New Orleans that runs out of king cakes for every mardi gras but people still buy them because they know everyone wants one and are willing to put up with shortages from time to time because the product is just that good.

 

[Uncle Willie]

The thread makes me chuckle .. on ECF, the concept of Life Liberty and the Freedom to Enjoy the PV is one of the most common themes .. bashing any hint of anyone stepping in and disrupting that right ..

Yet, a Vendor does not have the right to run their business as they see fit .. ??

I own a B&M .. I make, modify and repair guitars .. the sign on my front door says "Hours: Catch as Catch Can" .. I have no lack of business and those that don't like my ways can move on .. I could care less as I am not interested in being Bill Gates ..

 

[Nacon]

I don't mind it. Some of these companies are so small.. Running right from their own kitchens. A hundred orders to one of these guys is a lot of work, and some even get way more than that. If what they make is what you seek you inevitably have to be patient or look in the ecf classifieds in order to get your hands on em.

If you really don't like that mode of business take it elsewhere and buy from companies that can handle a high demand. It is what it is. Same thing happens in many other industries.. Look at demand of a new smartphone or video game, sometimes these companies can't handle the demand for months on end.

 

[stevegmu]

I love Alice In Vapeland juices. To me, only being able to order once a week for a couple hours and a 2 week wait for delivery is worth it. I have enough to last me at least 6 months, so if I miss an opportunity to order or it takes 2 weeks to get, it is no big deal.

The next car I buy will probably take 6 months from the time I order to delivery. I want it how I want it, so won't just settle for what is on the lot. Same with e-juice. I like what I like, so won't settle for inferior juices, just because I can get them quick.

 

[PhreakOne]

I feel like possibly it's just the nature of where the industry is at right now and I have no problems with vendors shutting down to meet demand. Let's not forget that the smaller vendors are people with lives and perhaps other responsibilities other than being available to customers 24/7. Maybe they have another job or a family I have two small business owners in my family and I can tell you that running a business can demand a very large time commitment that some may not be willing to make. It seems to me that we are in a time of high growth with people starting up these businesses out of their kitchens or garages and a limited online presence is the only viable option for sustainability right now.

 

[landman2k1]

I have to agree with the OP. I've attempted to look at AVE site just to browse. I'm not on some mad quest for BB. But I did want to see what kinds of juices and/or other stuff they had. It's highly annoying to me to not even be able to browse. "Out of stock" designations don't bother me at all- that happens all the time with both retail and B&M establishments of all kinds. I think shutting down the whole website randomly is stupid, and I will not support that particular business model.

This is the problem I have as well. I went to cloud9 because I was looking into the Kayfun RBAs only to be met with a "closed" page. Really?! Ok, I get it, you aren't selling anything, but I can't even look at what you have for sale?

 

[Eileithia]

This is the problem I have as well. I went to cloud9 because I was looking into the Kayfun RBAs only to be met with a "closed" page. Really?! Ok, I get it, you aren't selling anything, but I can't even look at what you have for sale?

I think that's more a software problem than anything. Depending on what they're using for their shopping cart, they may not even have the ability to keep their product catalog online without taking orders. Not all juice makers are web designers, or even remotely web savvy. They've had someone set the site up for them and given them an "ON/OFF" switch if they need to shut down for whatever reason.

I replied in the other thread on this issue, but as many have pointed out in this thread, it's their business and they can run it however they like. If they didn't have product worth waiting for, they wouldn't still be in business.

 

[TS12000]

It comes down to buying from mass retailers versus buying from a craftsman, you want mass produced items or do you want handcrafted products? In a way it is similar to the "buy originals or clones" argument. The clones are mass produced at the cost of quality and the originals are handmade with a high degree of attention to quality but in much lower quantity.

Personally I find it commendable that people understand their limitations and refuse to oversell their production capabilities. I prefer fresh baked bread and shop at a small bakery that only produces "X" number of products a day, when they sell out that morning's production that is it for the day, with some products that take longer to make they only offer them a few days a week. To me the quality is worth the hassle...I don't eat Wonder bread...



not a problem...lol



Brings up another point. Why not make your own juice/device/topper/etc?

Nice setup man

 

[EricDykstra]

No its called a nic fit. The thought of not getting your product makes your stomach turn. I know!

 

[Signal30]

Right now there are so many B&M stores, I can find it on their shelves when they are out of stock online.

Its only a matter of time before the FDA bans the sale of online nicotine purchasing for all the DIY juice makers so that could be one of the reasons online demand is so massive. Reminds me of the supply and demand of ammo...lol

 

[HDVaper]

It's THEIR site so I suppose it would be up to them as to what they want to do with it.

 

[itsrayray]

Since when did aiv make it to where you can't even look at the site when they are closed?

I was looking at it a couple days ago, on a closed day. Can't even look to browse? Hell when they are open I'm at work, then by the time I'm off, they are closed. Smh

 

[candimccann]

Since when did aiv make it to where you can't even look at the site when they are closed?

I was looking at it a couple days ago, on a closed day. Can't even look to browse? Hell when they are open I'm at work, then by the time I'm off, they are closed. Smh

From AiV's facebook page:

All 23rd & 24th will be shipped by tomorrow! And we're proud to announce our progress - The Portal is Open! We're upgrading and happy to say that the transition is smooth so far. While we complete the upgrades we will be at AiV Thank you everyone for all the wonderful love and support! ♥
http://www.vapland.org/

 

[Rickajho]

Not really a rant, per se. But it is somewhat humorous to see that some think it's perfectly acceptable for an online business to do something they'd never put up with from any other retailer that has a physical location.

You have disproven your own illogical point. B&M's rely on their actual physical presence and people walking into it - which has nothing to compare to here. If an e-tailer misjudges demand for their product then either they can increase supply accordingly... or not. There is no Code of Selling Stuff that says a supplier must perfectly match demand. If either a B&M or an e-tailer runs out or can't keep up with demand you can be miffed about it all you want, but demanding or insisting that either type of establishment do this that or the other thing to fulfill your every desire is only a stress induced heart attack waiting to happen.

Shop - or not. You decide. Blow a gasket in the process. You decide that too.

 

[klynnn]

Thank heavens I make my own.

 

[vicflo]

You cant really say "its like a b&m shutting down" think of it more as a local b&m that is either renovating or at max capacity. doors arent shut to purposely inconvenience you, its actually to better server you. could possibly be a server side issue, inexperiences web admin issue, or could just be that they are severely backed up. In an online business you can get either literally 5 sales in one day or 5,000. that hurts real bad especially for mom and pop companies that keep a local inventory... local b&m traffic tends to be a lot more predictable but in the different sense ie holidays, weather, new bar opened around the corner.

I currently work in corporate with online sales and we refuse or turn off the flow of some sites for several days yet we still pull the same amount of sales in a given week. we use that time to analyze figures, catch up on returns, deal with customer issues, fix security holes and implement improvements and more automation to make the experience better for customers as well as us who run the show.

or... could be a hacker. which is actually more common than you would think.

 

[Huffelpuff]

I've gotten frustrated with the lack of standardization with retailers from time to time. I think that we all have. What I recognize, though, is that someday the cottage industry may disappear and we will have nothing but the 'walmarts' left. That will be a sad day. I love the small businesses, inventors and part time champions of vaping who surprise us with hand turned creations that we drool over. I hope that this never changes. JMHO though.

 

[Spazmelda]

We have an old Main Street in our town. Lots of little businesses down there. I swear, I don't know how some of them stay in business. There's a yarn shop that's only open two days a week. A violin store that's open like 2 hours a week, or by appointment, and a tattoo shop (appointment only) that I have never once seen open. Somehow they manage to stay in business.

 

[Frankenmizer]

Given that the market is relatively small and prone to trend waves, I can understand why startups and "smalls" in this space would rather ensure the market percentage they have can be served than risk the uncertainties of expansion. In addition, some vendors are very hands-on and want to control quality throughout their processes.

Our market is "Wild West" territory. The metaphor is appropriate. When the consolidation comes, and it will, I guarantee you there will be posts wondering where the "Good 'Ole Days" of the great Boutique Shops went.

I've hovered over the refresh/wish list/checkout for Alien Visions, Alice in Vapeland, and Ahlusion so far. I suspect I'll do it again for them and others before it's all said and done.

 

[vjc0628]

Communism is not the law of the land yet
Where we tell people how to run there businesses

This is America if people run a business that does not work they will go out of business
If a small company keeps a hands on approach and has pride in a top product
that they are unwilling to put into just anybody's hands
and the result of which is a great product but have to deal with wait times
I am happy to wait

If I can wait I can send an order to halo in 3 days with 24 hours steep I got a vape
but for the real good stuff Ill wait

that's my choice and the American way