My e-Cigarette Experiences…

Posts Tagged ‘delay’

I got my dreaded letter from Canada Customs on Friday letting me know that my latest order from my supplier has been rejected for import.  You read about it from time to time, and you place each order in the hopes that your small quantity will pass through un-noticed, but still there looms the ever present big-brother watching out for ‘your best interests’ with regards to health and happiness.  But the reality of the fact is that I would be MUCH happier if they let me make my own choices with regard to my health.  I know that there are needs for some items to be controlled and regulated, and as another blogger had noted a while ago my shipment has guaranteed the need for the agent that processed the shipment – at least for a while – so there is another positive in all of this, but it’s frustrating still that my shipment is not going to arrive.  Of course I saw it coming when my latest shipment was handed over to Customs on the 7th and just stayed there.

So now I get to test the suppliers delivery guarantee and see just how well that works.  And hopefully, I will find another option and be able to stock up again before I run out of supplies.  If you’re in Canada, you too will one day feel the same as I do today, but don’t lose hope.  Maybe one day – not too far in the future – we’ll see the e-cig being available right at the corner store.  Could happen!?

Vape-On!

It seems that a battery issue is now the latest thing to hit Blu as their manufacturer found a problem that initiated a ‘voluntary recall’ on the batteries from the blucig packs.  The Lithium Polymer batteries in the packs also require special handling and processing with regard to disposal, and Blu have sent out detailed instructions on safe disposal for those wanting to DIY, but I would recommend that you find a proper recycling center that are able to handle these batteries.

This will cause yet another 4 to 6 week delay in delivery of packs and products to consumers, but I have to commend Blu for the actions they are taking and for the very detailed information they are sending out on the matter to those customers affected.  While I’m not a Blu user (living in Canada), and not using my Blu affiliate account actively either, I still wanted to share this with my readers in case they haven’t heard through normal channels.

Once again – I wish Blu good fortune in the future – I still like their concepts and marketing - and now I like their customer service even more.

Cheers!

njw

As the three week mark approaches, I feel that the time is now for me to conduct a more complete review of the E8 model electronic cigarette starter kit that I ordered from e-cig.com.  After a lot of consideration of various models, and a number of false starts, I was finally able to get a product that sounded good in principle, and could actually deliver to my Canadian address.  I’m even happier to report that it looks like my second order will make it through Customs as well, having released this morning, and I expect it to arrive tomorrow (August 13).

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Yes, I got the confirmation and tracking number today via email, telling me that the order I placed on Thursday night (Friday Morning actually) is already processed, packed and on its way from China.  Another great performance from my vendor.  And while I’m bragging about them, I’d like to point out a couple of VERY important things that seem to have been lost in translation in the short history of my e-cig blog.

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that I’m more than a little disappointed in Blu.  If you’ve seen their website today you know that they have opened their system to taking orders once again.  The downside is that they are actually warning clients that they are looking at 4 to 6 weeks to SHIP the order.  The upside is that will only reserve a one dollar pre-authorization on your credit card until they are able to ship your order.  Now… I appreciate the honesty here folks – really I do – but it just seems pointless at this stage to proceed.  I might be wrong – and hope I am – but I don’t see a bright future here. 

Further – by the time things are all smoothed out at Blu, and perhaps a few other sellers of e-cigs online in the US, the rest of the world will already be using the 3rd or 4th generation of e-cigs.  I’m finding that I really like the disposable cartridges.  But I do need to find something better than the E8.  I’m watching my short battery die already (yes I’ll be testing their Customer Service!) and I’m also finding that there is a slight taste of burning plastic when I hit the end of a cartridge.   So I’ll be trying something else for the next round.  More reading to do this week!  Stay tuned for what I buy and from where as we go further down the road to find the perfect solution for my needs.

Cheers!

Well, the month of July 2009 is nearly over, and so is my first week of being tobacco free!  It’s been a very easy week, and I’ve had my E8 close at hand and ready for use at a moments notice.  The first week has taught me a few things that I will share with you in this post, so be sure to read the whole thing to ensure that you get the most benefit from my findings so far.  Also, I have an update from our friend Glenn.  You may recall he is the one that was waiting for his Blu order – and actually received it 10 days ago.  Well…  I received an email from Glenn this morning, and I’ll share some of his thoughts with you as well.  So…

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I just re-read my July 15th post entitled ‘The Deadline Approaches’ and realized that I included some information that is not entirely consistent with the end result.  I had spoke of a product that contains NO Propylene-Glycol, when in fact the product I did order DOES contain PG.  So I wanted to let you all in on what happened there if you were curious…

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I just got off the phone with Blu Customer Service, and I’ve elected to cancel that order.  It’s been 26 days and the order is still pending, so I’ve gone to another source to get started on this journey.  The story is no good if there’s no action, and I just can’t wait any longer to move on.   Now…  I do want you all to know that I STILL like the offering that Blu have come up with, and the price point as well, so there is still a chance that I may try again later when I’m not as anxious to get started vaping instead of smoking.  But that day will be a month or two down the road when I’ve tried it for a while and am convinced that it’s worth the time to try more than one product.  It’s just a shame that I’m not holding my Blu right now (which is about the length of time it SHOULD have taken based on ordering day information). 

Now I know you’re all wondering WHAT I’ve ordered and from WHERE!?

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For Blu, that great sounding little company that I have supported with positive comments and blog posts for the better part of the past month, I have to say that I’m running out of time and patience.  First it was a two week delay… then three, and now we’re coming up on four weeks and still no order, even after the company has been basically shutdown for ten days trying to catch up on their backlog.  Here’s my position as of this post…  I’ve selected another brand of product.  Sure I don’t get the cool Blu pack, and perhaps the cartridges are not as convenient as the Blu ones.  But from what I’m reading, this product contains no propylene glycol, and offers a pretty attractive packaging and kit prices.  Not QUITE as cheap as Blu either, but as I’ve said in the past, even the BEST product is useless if it’s not able to get to the consumer.  So stay tuned – if I don’t see my order flipped to shipped by Friday, I’m pulling my order and placing the new one.  If that happens, I’ll be letting you all know more about the product I’ve selected.

And who knows… I may get a basic kit from this other vendor either way to see if they are reliable, and meet the expectations.  After all…  I have a feeling I’ll need to test at least a few of the many varieties of e-cig that are out there.

More coming soon – so stay tuned!

I just received an email from Blu President, Jason Healy, addressed to their affiliate network, advising that orders for Blu products will not be taken between the 7th of July and the 21st of July.  It is their hope that slowing down the incoming orders from their rapidly expanding affiliate network will ease some of the pressures around supplying their customers, and get things back on track for their shipping department.  So I will be taking down the banners on my sites for now, and putting them back online on the 21st to support this action, and stand by for word that my order has been shipped.  As I’ve said before, I do have some faith in this little company and now see that they are taking a solid action which will most certainly lower their incoming orders, meaning lower revenue.  This is, to me anyway, a VERY interesting move as it proves that they are seriously making efforts to fulfill the orders, and they ARE aware of what I’ve been saying all along…  even the best products will fail if you can’t ship the product.  If you too are waiting, this is a positive move and one that I hope will have the desired impact and get them all caught up.

More to come I’m sure… and Bravo Jason!

njw

PS:  I just hit the website to check my order status and I’m SHOCKED!  They’ve stopped taking orders COMPLETELY until the 21st so that they will be able to catch up!  You can read the message from Jason on the Blu Site.