Discontinued The Grasshopper

[virtualpurple]

This is a good question. A lot of the users I see that speak of their negative experiences seem to be on older devices that have been RMA’d multiple times. My new hopper arrives tomorrow and I’m really hoping I don’t get any issues after the third bowl. Hell...maybe even the first one

Hope it stays nice and true! Please keep us posted on its performance and your thoughts, it’ll be good track the progress on a unit that’s fresh off the presses!

 

[Cheesequake]

An old Ti body I've had for about a year or so now that hasn't really worked right since I got it in a bundle a while back has started working better and better the more I use it it seems like as weird as that is. It started out taking 15-20 seconds to heat up and last time I used it it was taking about 8 and putting out pretty good clouds. Happy to have one mostly working hopper for now.

 

[Hopper Labs]

@Hopper Labs
My improvements I would love to have:

- here was a guy LOTS OF PAGES AGO who built an external 18650 battery pack with an threaded adapter to screw it between body and backend. Please copy this solution so people wanting a desktop dock or 18650 batteries are both satisfied. And you, dear Hopper Labs, can keep your original formfactor. Everybody would be happy with little effort. Please think about it.

With more efforts you could integrate a pcb with USB-C and power delivery (PD) so people could charge their batteries of their expansion pack or could use a strong wall adapter to use it as pass through solution (full monster desktop mode combined with a bubbler!). If you would integrate 3 or 4 different LEDs as well (red, yellow, green, blue) people could check the battery level of their expansion pack or they could see if the battery charging finished. Dear hopper labs, please consider to send me such a unit if you really build this in near future, that's all I want as payment for my glorious idea ;-) you'll see, people will love this. And please send a unit to the guy who originally build that said adapter lots of pages ago ;-)

USB PD is in the works for future products. The external charger uses it. There was a lot of software and hardware development needed to get this to work well, and be compliant. Part of the reason the external charger took so long + it was pushed by fixing the core device. PD is a cool tech, and you can expect to see more of it in the future with our products.

A battery pack that sits in the center of the existing Hopper design has also been considered. Another good accessory idea.

Yeah, it's for their proprietary battery. I want to charge the 18650 batteries inside the external battery pack I dreamed of :-)
If they add a mechanism as in the nite core chargers, we could charge both!!

We could in the future sell a version that can charge 18650, but it would be bigger. Tech is the same.

I want a darker cook. Raise the top end heat to 430-440.

Okay, this is something that we are looking into. We can have the upper end be hotter. Maybe 1 or 2 users on here can be "elected" to be sent some temp modified devices, and we can see where the top end is. Again this is tricky as power user V general public comes into play. Happy to experiment and see.

 

[Baron23]

An old Ti body I've had for about a year or so now that hasn't really worked right since I got it in a bundle a while back has started working better and better the more I use it it seems like as weird as that is. It started out taking 15-20 seconds to heat up and last time I used it it was taking about 8 and putting out pretty good clouds. Happy to have one mostly working hopper for now.

See, this is an example if what user as idiosyncratic behavior.

 

[vapviking]

I truly want to love my hopper, but if I’m more likely to have a better experience with a new production model rather than my current pre-order that has been sent back a few times already, I’d much rather rip the band aid.

I think you deserve a replacement back end and a repair to your hopper. I believe this could get you up to current specs. so no need to buy another on that score. But, the repair might take so long that you'd prefer to buy one, then sell this one when it comes back.. all it takes is money!

[QUOTE="Cheesequake, post: 1417284, member: 33819"]An old Ti body I've had for about a year or so now that hasn't really worked right since I got it in a bundle a while back has started working better and better the more I use it it seems like as weird as that is. It started out taking 15-20 seconds to heat up and last time I used it it was taking about 8 and putting out pretty good clouds. Happy to have one mostly working hopper for now.[/QUOTE]See my 2 cents below about batts, connections and dial connection.

This is not directly to either point, but here's my recent experience with a warrantied Ti hopper.
The background. Original purchase was a pre-order I received in August of 2016. The body itself was flat-out replaced 4 times, all in the second half of 2016.
There was a repair (to the body) in Feb. '17, then after a few months it was put aside and unused for about a year. In July 2018 I sent it in yet again, and it lived at HL for about a year. This is the one recently that recently came back to me. (All of this, btw, parallels the time line given to us recently by @Hopper Labs ) From my records (and HL's) the back end has not ever needed repair. This is a great record, especially when compared to a Green Ti I have that has been through 5 (iirc) back ends.

This Ti came back, but had issues or rather batteries had issues but then the unit itself went to weird lights so I did return the body. HL repaired and turned it around quickly.

I have been enjoying this one a lot, but not to it's full potential and I think it very likely is my old batteries.
Other hopper is running on same batts with fewer issues, but I think I'm experiencing the new, more powerful heater (heat-up is about 4 to 6 seconds!). It challenges the batts just enough more to want to go to red blinker, low battery lights.
However, I've also taken to heart he things @Hopper Labs has said about resistance and connection. I use the best of my batteries in this Ti and it really wants/tries to tell me the battery need charging (flashing red half way through the first hit, stuff like that). I find one of two things allows me to proceed. I twist the dial a couple of times and try hopper. Or, I unscrew backend, let battery come out of touch with both contacts, then reinstall the battery. Between these two procedures I am able to finish a full chamber, maybe even two, but I'll usually be happy with one and set it back to charge.

I suppose @Baron23 will just love my idiosynchratic behavior!

I am soooo looking forward to the fresh battery shipment, and I wonder if it's cleared customs yet?

 

[Vaporific]

It challenges the batts just enough more to want to go to red blinker, low battery lights.

That was my experience with my recently RMA’d pre-order (originally received in July ‘16) - the older batts just don’t keep up with the enhanced heating assembly (or heater). I had to toss them out since they went to red right away.

I am soooo looking forward to the fresh battery shipment, and I wonder if it's cleared customs yet?

Join the club! Me too! I may order a few additional ones too to add to my original batt order...

I was reunited with my Hopper last night (left it at a friemd’s house last weekend) and it’s still working well, even with three older batts that are my newest. Its like a new lease on (vaping) life it works so much better than it has in a long time. It produces some nice vapor at 2.7 using it natively (sans silicone tip and any filtration). And the effect and length thereof is VERY good still. Magnetic charger is kept in my car just in case, and I use Nitecores at home.

I’m back on the Hopper bandwagon. And it’s nice to see HL posting & contributing herein. It needn’t be often but a presence is certainly welcome!

 

[Hopper Labs]

Thanks for the detailed messages!

I am not at all interested in a 'connected' vape. The only one that interests me is the new Sublimator controllers with wifi and Bluetooth connectivity - simply to power it remotely as there's a 20 min wait for the heat up. The GH doesn't have this problem, nor do working units have any screaming shortfalls that would benefit from a more complex and combersome circuitry. Vapes with apps for the interface are stupid and are born out of UX constraints.

If it was simple to have a battery level indicator it could be implemented in-device.

Otherwise the temp selection is accurate enough, the heat up is clear and simple, as is the operation with every use. I don't want RF added to the device. I like having dumb devices. Perhaps it could be used for troubleshooting or something though.

I do think a higher max temp would be a good move, topping out at 235°C would be ideal for any vape.

It's probably a good sign that ideas are being asked for, as the GH itself is showing good signs as being a stable iteration and it's time to focus R&D elsewhere, but the goal posts for the oils front end, the SS case, the HBC are still waiting. And that is where all the focus should be applied, for now, as these things will add good advantages to the device.

A USB-C PD charger, AC adapter, 510 mod attachment, charger dock, cooling mouthpiece, capsule system, are all good things to be looking at next.

I'd also like to see a pen cap for the PFE and the FE, so it can be pocketed without lint getting stuck to it. I also like the idea of a magnetic connection instead of the threads. This would make battery swapping that much easier.

Even a chamber spacer (like the pax was popular with) could be interesting, to boost extraction efficiency of smaller loads.

Ultimately I'm really happy with this device, it fills a space that no other can, so I'm really happy HL stuck with the sleek design.

I also agree that going to larger devices opens the door to actual competitive products, and in the case of a desktop system - I can't think of a reason I'd use the GH over the Sublimator. A clunky battery pack add-on or wall adapter isn't going to be as useful to me as the rapid new HBC with 45W PD USB battery packs. It's a portable vape first and foremost, and other dynamics are better suited for herb extraction once all the size constraints are removed.

Good suggestions all around. A lot of that is in line with the thinking currently. Mainly to focus on the core product and finish up the already promised accessories before getting into any new ones.

 

[Hopper Labs]

I posted this as a separate message due to the 10k character limit. Feel free to fix how you see fit mods. Thanks

@Hopper Labs - I have given your question some thought as its an important one. I often see folks lamenting about the lag in advancement in vape technology but often these same people are a bit stumped when it comes to what real, solid, new approaches that they would like to see. And stealth and apps are not, IMO, a real advance.


With that, these are my views ONLY and I don't really expect people to necessarily agree with them, but here goes:

1. Base point for me is that I do not want to grow a GH into the size/feature set of other already available and much larger vapes. I like that the GH is, to my mind, the stripped down engine of a vape and its works wonderfully at the limited base functions of a vape. It turns on, temp can be adjusted, it heats the load, it turns off. I often use my GH with a J hook or FC-188 dewar joint type rig. Its just the little heater that could, in my view, and that's what I would like to see it stay at. But, there is def room for improvement, as with all products.

1. Whatever you do, please do NOT require a fucking mobile phone app to run your device. Please, please, please. I don't hate apps...as long as EVERY function of the app can be actuated from the device itself, which most do not.

2. Battery - I'm not going to second guess Hopper too much about the custom battery. They say that they needed to go in this direction, during the design phase which was years ago, to get a battery that would meet their performance requirements. But, its not well down the road and the custom battery, and its cost, are to my mind an inhibitor of sales. I hear you about 18650s and I don't believe I want my GH to grow into a 60 ring size robusto, but perhaps something more in the 14500 range? A widely commercially available battery would be, IMO, desirable.

3. Stealth - naw....I mean, if its that important to you, just cover up the ring of small lights with your hand. The lights are important, provide essential info like its time to hit it, it over heated, its time to change the battery and does so in very little physical infrastructure. Not at all worth it to my mind.

4. Get rid of all of the idiosyncratic behavior - I'm sorry but if you go to the Resources area of this forum, you will see a whole list of attempts to draw insight into what the hell your GH is saying and how to maybe keep it running better. Its almost to the level of reading tea leaves and making sacrifices to the gods. Get rid of blue flickering lights would be one example of this. Hot back ends...some back ends not hot, some hot but if you turn the dial they aren't hot until they are again...what's up with this? Just look at your Trouble Shooting decision diagram, right? Back ends should never get hot. And temp variability between different units, on a given temp setting, seems to be very quite variable.

5. Reliability, availability, maintainability, testability - I hear that you are saying that this is much improved. Ok, I will accept that. But to my mind the criticality of your design works to undermine rock solid reliability and maintainability. In particular, using the body of the unit as part of the power path to the heater. Again, look at Resources and figure out how many people now own Blue Tack and a host of other products to try to keep this thing working. I think corrosion and metal dust in threads has contributed to a lot of issues, you may have better data on this but...
Then there is the back end with its mechanical contacts for temp and the mechanical on/off button. Having to turn your temp dial back and forth to try to get it clean enough to not end up with a scorching back end is not good enough. My on/off switch on my again RMA'd OG GH is flaky (see above about idiosyncratic behavior). Sometimes clicking it will turn it off, sometime it results in red lights until clicked a second time. That kind of stuff is just annoying to me.
Again on maintainability, which really seems to be an issue, if there is a heat sensor that needs to be accessed and cleaned, then make it accessible. If I have to blow into the air intake holes in the hope that it will clear out some gunk in the heater, then this area just needs to be made accessible as in a removable heater section, perhaps?
I know Hopper has claimed much improved testability, but I don't see it, frankly. In my last three RMA actions, both Ti GHs were returned to me unusabley cold. I returned on under the third RMA pleading for a GH that runs...well, not cool, and finally got one of two working. And, the stores are legion (and many are from not very long ago at all) of returned GHs that still had issues. This is unacceptable to your customers and eats up your time and money. This needs to be fixed, IMO.

6. Pass Through Charging or Plug-in back end - Given the very small amount of space available, its kind of hard to see how you could implement pass through charging so that owners can use their device with a depleted battery by plugging it into the wall. But, perhaps a completely different back end...no battery needed, that plugs in and connects to the forward electrical contact would be keen. Somebody (JCAT maybe??) did something like this as a one off experiment. But it seems doable, it doesn't have to match the entire units diameter...IMO, it can be a bit wider to accommodate circuitry and cord outlet...and would be very useful and desirable...well, by me at least.

7. Cooler MP - yep, I know this has been mentioned. For me, personally, its not a big deal. I can use the OG MP with the sleeve protector and its fine by me. But its one of the big hits against the GH. Perhaps a double walled MP???

8. Not interested in a battery level indicator as IMO, and perhaps due to the non-linearity of LI battery discharge, are almost always wrong or misleading.

9. I personally have no interest in capsules. This is a high performance vape and capsules, IME, always degrade performance. Others view it differently.

In general, I don't really want to advocate turning the GH into something else entirely. I love it for what it is.....I just mostly want true rock solid, predictable performance and RMA (rel/main/avail and I will throw in testability).

I don't know that any of this is helpful at all and its mostly just wanting a better GH and not try to turn it into a Terra, Mighty, or something else.

Cheers

1. This was/is the design philosophy behind the unit. It leaves a lot of the extra frills behind.

1 (2). I will say that it is extremely unlikely that we build an app into the device any time in the future. See above.

2. I know the custom battery has caused some headaches, like the one we are currently in. We hope as we get more devices out there we can make larger battery orders, bring the price back down and never run into this shortage again.

3. You are in line with your thinking mostly. We want to keep it simple and adding these features while possible needs to be very well thought out and often does not add enough to be worth it.

4. This is the main area of focus on the main device. Smoothing out these little things that can add up to confusing/undesirable experiences for the user. You'll be pleased in the near future.

5. I see what you are saying here and some it is differences between working like it did on day one out of the box compared to some degradation but still "working". This is part of the same push we are talking about in #4. The idea in our minds is not to make it "more maintainable" but for it to require less user maintenance to keep out of the box performance. Testing has gotten better but obviously still needs to improve.

6. To confirm your belief, yes with the design as is, it is impossible to deliver the power needed to keep the unit running with the battery fully depleted. A batteryless backend could be made to solve this as you suggest. Another accessory for the future.

7. Yup

8. Yup as we were saying as well a few posts up. Hard to do well.

9. Exactly the reason it has not been done already. Building capsules that have low enough thermal mass to not affect performance is difficult. They need to be cheap, durable and not create a performance hit.

Thanks for the input.

 

[pxl_jockey]

I was leaning towards a Ti for a lighter overall load but now I wonder if it’s actually noticeably lighter? Also, for those who have/had both, is there any consensus that Ti hoppers are better/worse than SS models? I’m still concerned enough about the past RMA situation that I think @OldNewbie is really onto something with his “wait and collect more data on current hopper reliability, hopefully happy customer documentation and continued FC presence before pulling the trigger on this particular vaporiser, given the past” plan. But he really needs to come up with a more concise name for his plan, there’s gotta be something better to catch on with the masses.

I’m not nearly as patient and wise as @OldNewbie so I’ll probably pull the trigger much sooner than he will.

Soooo hopper owners, how many batteries should one have per hopper? What is the perfect quantity to have on hand, within reason as they’re $14 each. I’d want enough to enjoy the hopper to the fullest but no more tbh.

You'll be pleased in the near future.

If you guys think you can really make @Baron23 pleased in the near future, I’m definitely going to be getting a hopper in the future just beyond that moment. That’s exactly the kind of Grasshopper I would love to have. Again, the HL presence and the communication has been excellent in content and ridiculously speedy imo.

 

[fachada]

If I'm allowed my own random thoughts...

Why not a version with a FIXED backend? no exchangeable batteries at all?
Wouldn't it be the end of back-end issues?
I know battery life would be an issue, but I'm currently using mine like @vapviking describes his experience above: 1 bowl and charge (old gbh1 batteries, hoping to get to 3 with new batts when they arrive).

for heavy users it would be a sturdier GH backup...
for casual users AND for Hopper Labs it would be a much safer deal.



probably not making any sense
Congrats on being here, Hopper Labs!

 

[Baron23]

If you guys think you can really make @Baron23 pleased in the near future, I’m definitely going to be getting a hopper in the future just beyond that moment.

Ah, man...I ain't that rough on 'em! haha

As for batteries, I have found four works for me. One in the GH and three in the little pen case I keep my GH in. I cap both ends of all of the three standby batteries with Delta 3D caps. Works for me.

As to Hopper...I think this level of communications and openness is essential and a HUGE move forward.

I'm willing....no, I'm really hoping...that Hopper can pull off the improvement goals that they seem to be committed to as this could be an all time great device with some improvements.

As it is, I have one working pretty good and I'm happy that is so.

Cheers

 

[Tranquility]

@OldNewbie is really onto something with his “wait and collect more data on current hopper reliability, hopefully happy customer documentation and continued FC presence before pulling the trigger on this particular vaporiser, given the past” plan. But he really needs to come up with a more concise name for his plan, there’s gotta be something better to catch on with the masses.

 

[invertedisdead]

IMO the strange battery size just forces people to carry spare cells, never understood why this vaporizer wasn't built around a commonly sourced 18650. A slightly thicker device is still smaller than carrying 4 backup batteries.

I would probably still have my Ti hoppers if they could vape more than 1 bowl per charge.

 

[Vaporific]

Soooo hopper owners, how many batteries should one have per hopper? What is the perfect quantity to have on hand, within reason as they’re $14 each.

3-6 depending on your usage and budget. Certainly a lot more palatable at the previous $7 price than the current price. At one time I had 6 on hand, half GBH1 (which I recently tossed) and the others GBH2.

Before my RMA they all had steady blue lights after being fully charged. Since my unit has come back from RMAville with a new heating assembly, the remaining batts (approx. 2 years old) go to flickering blue quickly and good for 3 loads on average. When the unit was new 3 years ago I was getting 4-5 loads per battery. Hoping the new shipment of cells will approach that again. We’ll see...

EDIT: my concerns about batteries however are real in that some didn’t hold a charge like the others. I’m hoping the new shipment is consistent and optimal.

 

[snaffle]

It's great to come on here and see Hopper Labs are about and interacting! As others have said, things are looking up!

A couple of small ideas for future improvements:
- Subtle vibration when it gets up to temperature, so you can feel when it's ready, like the Pax. That could be combined with a "stealth" mode. Though I agree with the comments above that simplicity and not many functions are a good thing. And I've used it out and about in stealth situations plenty, covering the lights with my hands, which is quite manageable.
- Some way to unload easier. I saw HL mention somewhere using the pen clip, like how the vapcap digger outer is used, but because of the threading that's a lot more hassle than the same move with a vapcap. The earlier mention of some magnetic way to secure the backend, or maybe just less threads or something, could solve that. Or some other way I haven't thought of.
- It's also not that easy to load. I use the Delta3D funnel, which makes it a breeze, but I would find it a real pain in the ass without it, given that it's important to try to keep the frontend threads clean. So maybe partner with him to sell that as an accessory.
- If it ever had an app or any remote connect stuff I'd completely stop using it. For both complexity and security reasons.

Generally I am very happy with Hopper Labs' priorities to focus on making the GH more reliable and bulletproof.

@pxl_jockey there's no discernable difference in people's experience of SS versus Ti as far as reliability goes. They all have the same internals. I have the Ti and personally wouldn't want anything even a bit heavier; like you I'm used to the tiny size and weight of the vapcap, so the GH is definitely my "big vape". As to number of batteries, I have 8, which is way too many, but I got carried away. It depends on how much you're using it, but I'd say 3 or 4 is plenty, one in the vape, one ready to go, while 2 are in the charger (presuming you have an external charger). You'd struggle to run out of batteries even with very high usage that way.

 

[vapviking]

I was leaning towards a Ti for a lighter overall load but now I wonder if it’s actually noticeably lighter? Also, for those who have/had both, is there any consensus that Ti hoppers are better/worse than SS models? I’m still concerned enough about the past RMA situation that I think @OldNewbie is really onto something with his “wait and collect more data on current hopper reliability, hopefully happy customer documentation and continued FC presence before pulling the trigger on this particular vaporiser, given the past” plan. But he really needs to come up with a more concise name for his plan, there’s gotta be something better to catch on with the masses.

I’m not nearly as patient and wise as @OldNewbie so I’ll probably pull the trigger much sooner than he will.

Soooo hopper owners, how many batteries should one have per hopper? What is the perfect quantity to have on hand, within reason as they’re $14 each. I’d want enough to enjoy the hopper to the fullest but no more tbh.

If you hold them side by side you can tell easily which is heavier, but I wouldn't call either 'heavy'.
I also own both kinds, plus a green Ti and here's my opinion.
Any color Ti will eventually show some wear and it'll leave plain Ti areas exposed. This can especially happen from unscrewing/screwing the back end (battery cover) and the pocket clip rubs against the body creating a worn ring around the body. There are ways to be careful and try to prevent this, but I don't want to have to care specially for something I bought because it's more rugged metal.
Even SS hoppers can get this wear ring, but the colored ones will show it more over time. Other scratches, ditto.
So I just would not go for a colored Ti.
The fact that all hoppers have that SS pen clip and retainer have always seemed to me indications that HL realized, for one reason or another, they had to sacrifice the aesthetic and accept the color contrast on the Ti units.
I honestly can't tell any qualitative difference in performance, i.e., vapor delivered.

The threads on SS hopper are always smoother, feel smoother when turning. Ti sometimes feels slightly gritty. On SS I can still 'spin' the mouthpiece on with one flick, Ti has to be turned. If only the SS were in working order, but that's another matter.

For a first hopper I would recommend a SS, you can save $ and not stress quite so much if it goes down!
But if you're the type that would always go for the Ti watch over ss, do what you're gonna do!

Number of batts will depend on use pattern, etc. I think even two is enough to get you going nicely unless you're really vaping like, every twenty minutes or something; if traveling, hiking, etc you might consider more.

 

[Vaporific]

Shit, my remaining batteries are dropping like flies. One of three can barely get through one load, which means I have just two decent ones left though no telling when they’ll start giving out. It will be an interesting few weeks and waiting for the new ones...

 

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

Does anyone else out there have an active RMA that was sent to HL as early as August 2018?

HL received my first and only RMA on Aug 16, 2018 from a pre-order bronze TI I received and used since July 2016. I reached out to @Hopper Labs customer support for the first time on Sep 19, 2019, to politely ask for an update and was told within a day that "it should not be too much longer".

I have avoided nagging HL as I understand they have issues to sort out and I don't want to be shipped a device just to shut me up. But I dearly miss that portable little beast and I wonder if I will ever see it again...

 

[ChooChooCharlie]

Ease & Speed

Love the Hopper at home

Know that sounds odd for a portable vape

(MC Escher would have put his pipe down)

 

[vapviking]

Does anyone else out there have an active RMA that was sent to HL as early as August 2018?

HL received my first and only RMA on Aug 16, 2018 from a pre-order bronze TI I received and used since July 2016. I reached out to @Hopper Labs customer support for the first time on Sep 19, 2019, to politely ask for an update and was told within a day that "it should not be too much longer".

I have avoided nagging HL as I understand they have issues to sort out and I don't want to be shipped a device just to shut me up. But I dearly miss that portable little beast and I wonder if I will ever see it again...

I had one whose rma was initiated in July '18, hopper received at the Lab mid August, and it came back to in Sept. '19. So I think you may be just a little overdue, compared to me at least.

I'm still finding a sporadic nature to the warranty timing estimates. I assume scheduling is still quite a juggling act for HL.

I had a back end go bad recently (not long after a body internals rebuild). The replacement back end - I'm accepting one made from "not new" parts - will be the fifth in 15 month's time.
HL told me the turnaround would be about 7-12 days. That was 32 days ago.
This is not some old anecdote (though it sounds familiar) it is a quite-current rma with a very fresh estimate. Why the estimate was off by over 100% puzzles me.

For the moment, wife and I are doing okay with 2 almost-great (batteries will hopefully solve the 'almost' part) working units, so it's not something I want to bust balls over. Just laying out some feedback fo HL.
As always, I'm mostly looking for straight answers, not sugar-coated unrealistic guesses.

 

[Vaporific]

Does anyone else out there have an active RMA that was sent to HL as early as August 2018?

HL received my first and only RMA on Aug 16, 2018 from a pre-order bronze TI I received and used since July 2016. I reached out to @Hopper Labs customer support for the first time on Sep 19, 2019, to politely ask for an update and was told within a day that "it should not be too much longer".

I have avoided nagging HL as I understand they have issues to sort out and I don't want to be shipped a device just to shut me up. But I dearly miss that portable little beast and I wonder if I will ever see it again...

It shouldn’t be too much longer. My story line is nearly identical to yours: purchased about the same time in ‘16, sent it for first overall RMA in September ‘18, and got it back a few weeks ago - an entire 12 months of being in RMA. It’s still working well, and I too missed the little sucker.

I would firmly nag HL as I had done toward the end amidst the seemingly strange RMA queue and the fact some were getting their units back in weeks sent in after ours.

What ameliorates the wait is that my pre-order Ti works like new now and HL has been contributing herein lately.

Now where are those batts? I’m ordering more!

 

[david8613]

Man you guys are some very dedicated grasshoppers!!! God bless you all! Grasshopper labs should be doing something extra special for you guys dealing with all these super long rma return times. Please throw in a free mouth piece, a free battery, a nice case, do something nice for your loyal customers! Its only right....

 

[Zuhdj]

Y'all ever notice that this and the vapcap are the most discussed vapes on the forum?

 

[Hopper Labs]

@Hopper Labs
additionally, I am wondering, though perhaps it’s been addressed before - but are you capable of making the older hoppers as reliable as what you are saying the newer hoppers are? I ask because I have RMA’d 3 times now but they keep inevitably running cool and do not extract as they should. Additionally my power button sticks and must be dislodged manually to spring back.

Would you, @Hopper Labs, be comfortable stating that you are able to make a several-time RMA’d hopper such as mine perform as well (and reliably) as these new units - or would you recommend that someone purchase a new unit if they are seeking the stability in performance?

I’m not trying to put you on the spot or in a difficult position, but I have just had very little success with my pre-order ti hopper and kind of wish I had just gotten a stainless instead at a lesser price.

I truly want to love my hopper, but if I’m more likely to have a better experience with a new production model rather than my current pre-order that has been sent back a few times already, I’d much rather rip the band aid.

Thanks for this question. The short answer is that it depends on the situation; typically it would not be quite as good as a new Grasshopper on a whole. I will quickly go through a few examples/reasons.

For a replaced heater in an RMA, we absolutely would say that it will perform as well as a new unit. The same is true for the PCBs and other parts but the system as a whole might not be as good.

For other working parts, they are not replaced simply because they are older versions of the part. Due to efforts over time to improve the device almost every part has had tweaks. Without diving too much into specifics let's use the backend as a general example. If you send it in with your device and we test it to be in working order then we won't be tearing it down and replacing all the parts. In this instance, it is not going to be the same as the brand new backends. If you get that backend back and it really is not performing for you then, of course, we will take a second look and if needed replace/rebuild it with newer versions.

Remember the performance/reliability of the device must be viewed as a whole system. A lot goes into it and even with replaced parts the interfaces might be more warn or oxidized. These smaller issues which affect performance more than reliability are items we have worked to address in newer units but can't always be applied retroactively.

You are likely to have a better experience with a brand new unit but you also should not have to need that. We are trying to have the units that go through RMA be close to as good as they were performance-wise when they were purchased and have much better reliability.

 

[NOLOGO]

For other working parts, they are not replaced simply because they are older versions of the part.

I distinctly remember an email many months ago (a year perhaps?) stating that ALL RMA'd units would be receiving v5 internals. What you're saying now appears to conflict with that.
Or am I misunderstanding you? (highly possible)

I guess my main question now is: if you are confident in both the fortitude of the newest parts AND your ability to diagnose and fix RMA's, then for the sake of positive user experience, why don't you simply swap units for RMA customers? They would get a working unit back MUCH quicker than waiting for a repair, and you can use the functioning returned internal parts in another unit. It would seem to me that this is a way you could avoid customers feeling like they got a lemon with multiple RMAs on the same exact unit.

edited for spelling