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Discontinued The Grasshopper

biohacker

Well-Known Member
@biohacker, HL said that the fire department "initially determined the fire to be an electrical issue". I think this may simply be HL's way of saying that on the day they all stood around in disbelief asking, "wtf happened?" this is what was discussed as a likely culprit and certainly not the FD's final or even stated opinion. Allow one lawyer to catch wind of potential battery venting liability and the only outcome can be to shut the whole battery thing down (in lawyer-speak) and tell people to recycle them safely. The instructions are all very lawyer-ly, "so, go ahead and call the bomb squad right after carefully putting the batteries in your cat's litter box..."

You're right, but it still doesn't explain all the contradictions of the event in their letter that I already wrote about. Perhaps I just question everything too much, but from my experience working in the fire service for nearly 20 years, their statement just doesn't add up to me.

I think we could all pause and consider the sobering possible reality that this actually happened to some fellow humans and will have ripple effect on a lot of folks.

Absolutely, and some people believe that Epstein killed himself too. :rip::shit:
 

duff

Well worn
Hey FC!

I just heard the HL news and am relieved to hear that nobody was injured.

Love them or hate them, it does seem befitting that the end (if this is) would be as tumultuous as the journey.

Hope all of us with a horse in this race find a suitable resolution and fuck speculation!
:)
 

Vaporific

All who wander are not lost...
I forgot to add to my last two posts above: does anyone think HL will send out replacement batteries on their own dime to those of us who’ve received the new ones recently? Again, another thing that will incur negative cash flow and further drag them down financially - like they needed another item in the loss column on top of all the physical damage and their fiscal history.

Just not feeling good about the prospect of HL being in business much longer, regardless the circumstances of the fire.

They key thing for me in getting a Hopper in the first place was portability (I like portables!) and any backend mod to tether it to an outlet on a perm basis doesn’t sit well with me, despite the well-intended attempts by some herein.

Dang, dang, dang!! :peace:
 

vapviking

Old & In the Way
I forgot to add to my last two posts above: does anyone think HL will send out replacement batteries on their own dime to those of us who’ve received the new ones recently? Again, another thing that will incur negative cash flow and further drag them down financially - like they needed another item in the loss column on top of all the physical damage and their fiscal history.

Just not feeling good about the prospect of HL being in business much longer, regardless the circumstances of the fire.

They key thing for me in getting a Hopper in the first place was portability (I like portables!) and any backend mod to tether it to an outlet on a perm basis doesn’t sit well with me, despite the well-intended attempts by some herein.

Dang, dang, dang!! :peace:
From their email about urgent battery safety measures,

"Once the battery is remade or the safety has been fully re-certified to our satisfaction, we will replace these batteries free of charge."

I do hope to find a work-around to power up my hopper investment, at least as long as they function. At the same time and given my recent venting episode (a battery, not me!) I'm starting to re-consider the world of enclosed battery vapes. I do need stealth and low-odor and well, all the other good things the hopper can do...
 

pxl_jockey

Just a dude
Yeah, so I may be a heartless bastard but I started the process with HL through PayPal. But here's the deal, I ordered the 22nd of October and picked it up the 30th, so two weeks of use (wonderful use). Once I did the maths, I kinda felt justified in filing for the refund and if HL doesn't reply, I'm fairly certain PayPal will sort it out satisfactorily. Some folks may well think that I am pulling a real dick move given HL's recent tragedy, I can respect that viewpoint but the thing I keep coming back to is this:

Without the batteries I purchased a few weeks ago or the ability to buy replacement batteries anywhere on the planet, I'm now left with a device that’s completely useless*. A device that's just two weeks old and was purchased less than a month ago from a company that is now unable to support the product or even supply the proprietary battery that their product design requires to operate. And isn't shit like this one reason I use PayPal to begin with? They may ask me to return everything to HL, which I'm happy to. Except their apparently dangerously explosive batteries of course. So I'll still need to ask a neighbour for some kitty litter to dispose of those properly. :D what a shitty situation! :lol: This is my first & last impulsive vape purchase, lesson learned.

:myday: I have a deep aversion to proprietary components that lock you into one supplier but I put it on the shelf for the grasshopper. Never again! :myday:

@Vaporific HL did say something about replacing them in the email but it's easy to type something in an email. I ask myself, how likely is it that HL's next action in the aftermath of yesterday's fire is to order & pay for yet another batch of GHB2s to quickly replace the faulty batch they just lost money on? You know, the batch that took over six months to deliver? I agree with you, my first thought last night reading the damages was the losses from this event are likely too much for HL to overcome. Just the fact that all their physical assets are gone is devastating for a small manufacturing company.



* Barring some Superman shit from @maxvapor710 and crew, which would be amazingly cool for so many otherwise completely screwed individuals.
 

VaPeD&CoNfUsEd

JoDa Glassworks
Glass Blower
Yeah, so I may be a heartless bastard but I started the process with HL through PayPal. But here's the deal, I ordered the 22nd of October and picked it up the 30th, so two weeks of use (wonderful use). Once I did the maths, I kinda felt justified in filing for the refund and if HL doesn't reply, I'm fairly certain PayPal will sort it out satisfactorily. Some folks may well think that I am pulling a real dick move given HL's recent tragedy, I can respect that viewpoint but the thing I keep coming back to is this:

Without the batteries I purchased a few weeks ago or the ability to buy replacement batteries anywhere on the planet, I'm now left with a device that’s completely useless*. A device that's just two weeks old and was purchased less than a month ago from a company that is now unable to support the product or even supply the proprietary battery that their product design requires to operate. And isn't shit like this one reason I use PayPal to begin with? They may ask me to return everything to HL, which I'm happy to. Except their apparently dangerously explosive batteries of course. So I'll still need to ask a neighbour for some kitty litter to dispose of those properly. :D what a shitty situation! :lol: This is my first & last impulsive vape purchase, lesson learned.

:myday: I have a deep aversion to proprietary components that lock you into one supplier but I put it on the shelf for the grasshopper. Never again! :myday:

@Vaporific HL did say something about replacing them in the email but it's easy to type something in an email. I ask myself, how likely is it that HL's next action in the aftermath of yesterday's fire is to order & pay for yet another batch of GHB2s to quickly replace the faulty batch they just lost money on? You know, the batch that took over six months to deliver? I agree with you, my first thought last night reading the damages was the losses from this event are likely too much for HL to overcome. Just the fact that all their physical assets are gone is devastating for a small manufacturing company.



* Barring some Superman shit from @maxvapor710 and crew, which would be amazingly cool for so many otherwise completely screwed individuals.
Gotta do what ya gotta do man. I’ve already called my bank this morning and requested a chargeback to my card for the hopper I ordered 6 hours after the fire they had and were still accepting payment after. If it makes them look fraudulent then that’s on them. They should have answered one of my messages or emails and rectified the situation properly. Or better yet, not accepted any payments after a company ending fire.
 

slozukimc

Well-Known Member
Yeah, so I may be a heartless bastard but I started the process with HL through PayPal. But here's the deal, I ordered the 22nd of October and picked it up the 30th, so two weeks of use (wonderful use). Once I did the maths, I kinda felt justified in filing for the refund and if HL doesn't reply, I'm fairly certain PayPal will sort it out satisfactorily. Some folks may well think that I am pulling a real dick move given HL's recent tragedy, I can respect that viewpoint but the thing I keep coming back to is this:

Without the batteries I purchased a few weeks ago or the ability to buy replacement batteries anywhere on the planet, I'm now left with a device that’s completely useless*. A device that's just two weeks old and was purchased less than a month ago from a company that is now unable to support the product or even supply the proprietary battery that their product design requires to operate. And isn't shit like this one reason I use PayPal to begin with? They may ask me to return everything to HL, which I'm happy to. Except their apparently dangerously explosive batteries of course. So I'll still need to ask a neighbour for some kitty litter to dispose of those properly. :D what a shitty situation! :lol: This is my first & last impulsive vape purchase, lesson learned.

:myday: I have a deep aversion to proprietary components that lock you into one supplier but I put it on the shelf for the grasshopper. Never again! :myday:

@Vaporific HL did say something about replacing them in the email but it's easy to type something in an email. I ask myself, how likely is it that HL's next action in the aftermath of yesterday's fire is to order & pay for yet another batch of GHB2s to quickly replace the faulty batch they just lost money on? You know, the batch that took over six months to deliver? I agree with you, my first thought last night reading the damages was the losses from this event are likely too much for HL to overcome. Just the fact that all their physical assets are gone is devastating for a small manufacturing company.



* Barring some Superman shit from @maxvapor710 and crew, which would be amazingly cool for so many otherwise completely screwed individuals.
How long is it going to take Paypal to figure out they are refunding money for vapes and they start enforcing their no cannabis policy to the point that none of us can use Paypal to pay for anything weed related?
 

Vaporific

All who wander are not lost...
Vaporific HL did say something about replacing them in the email but it's easy to type something in an email. I ask myself, how likely is it that HL's next action in the aftermath of yesterday's fire is to order & pay for yet another batch of GHB2s to quickly replace the faulty batch they just lost money on? You know, the batch that took over six months to deliver? I agree with you, my first thought last night reading the damages was the losses from this event are likely too much for HL to overcome. Just the fact that all their physical assets are gone is devastating for a small manufacturing company.
Exactly my point. I’ll believe it when I see it. I hope they make good on that but I don’t see how. Just like the steel case they’ve promised (which my buddy has been waiting for 4.5 years - but his Hopper was sent into RMAville recently, and now presumably lost/burned, so what’s the point?). It’s an awful mess for HL and us. The question is whether we - or I - can stomach any more even if HL somehow survives. I just don’t see how though. It’s a never-ending waiting game with them. And trust is a factor in which mine has eroded with the latest incident. We’ll see...:peace:
 

slozukimc

Well-Known Member
I really hate to be the one to crack a joke in bad times but I guess someone figured out how to make a Hopper combust. Ugh.

Exactly my point. I’ll believe it when I see it. I hope they make good on that but I don’t see how. Just like the steel case they’ve promised (which my buddy has been waiting for 4.5 years - but his Hopper was sent into RMAville recently, and now presumably lost/burned, so what’s the point?). It’s an awful mess for HL and us. The question is whether we - or I - can stomach any more even if HL somehow survives. I just don’t see how though. It’s a never-ending waiting game with them. And trust is a factor in which mine has eroded with the latest incident. We’ll see...:peace:

I would say that if they rent their space and the safety equipment failed then maybe HL has the right to sue the property owner and get a huge insurance check out of the deal. They have stuck around for this many years when they could have pulled some shit like Uptech and just up and close shop and say fuck everyone that bought their shit. Maybe they will rebuild and be better.

edit: Shit. Sorry for the B2B posts. I got bitten by the Hopper and got excited for a second. Lol
 
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RUDE BOY

Space is the Place
I really hate to be the one to crack a joke in bad times but I guess someone figured out how to make a Hopper combust. Ugh.

My four day old gray Ti chars the load black and crusty on 5. . . sucks to have just jumped back on the hopper boat just to be stymied once again, loving how the new hoppers are performing.

I've only one battery from old stock and five of the new. . . this really sucks the big one.
 

RUDE BOY

Space is the Place
That's too bad... I don't think a properly tuned vape should char at all on max temp, but I know some high temp users like it. Especially not until black.

I prefer it how it is now, seems perfect. As long as it doesn't actually burn and turn to ash the pain relief from pushing it to the edge is what I need a few times a day.

I do know a couple people who still seem to think vaping over 374F is some kind of offence to the vapor gods or something. . . anyone else remember when 374F was touted as the magic vape temp or was that just our imagination?
 

Baron23

Well-Known Member
So, let me start by offering my condolences to Hopper, who indeed do appeared to have worked hard this past year to resolve long standing product and company performance issues. I am very grateful and happy that nobody was hurt. To me, that is first and foremost. Fuck stuff...it can be replaced. People...eh, not so much.

I did get the email as I have just received four batteries, one of which they replaced because it was flaky to recharge...showed as an open but if fiddled about a bit you could get it to charge to a limited extent. I was happy with their response of just sending me out another one.

But there is much to this that doesn't make a great deal of sense to me but I try (emphasis on "try") to be fact based and not buy into conspiracy theories (like its an insurance scam) before any valid evidence. Right now, its all in the wind to me.

But, who the hell would insure a manufacturing facility that does not have fire detection (and I don't just mean a locally audible alarm) and suppression system? Remember, they had their own board stuffing machines which says to me that they also had wave soldering capability. I can't imagine anybody stupid enough to allow this without fire suppression. As a matter of fact, I have a hard time thinking that Boulder code doesn't absolutely require remote alarm detection (to a monitoring center...like ADT, right) and active suppression

I note that someone above referenced them saying it was a "smoldering" fire....but it was hot enough in there to destroy manf equipment, RMA GHs, etc. If it was that hot, then it was hot enough to set off alarms and suppression if such was present at all. @biohacker , any views on this as a fireman?

I don't know, but smoldering often means a lack of oxygen which is resolved sometimes explosively by opening a door. I'm glad nobody got hurt during this incident.

Also, the battery thing makes little sense to me. They say that the fire dept's initial finding was "an electrical issue in the building" was the source of the fire. That does not sound like batteries spontaneously catching fire or blowing up.

If it was the Li batteries, of which I would presume that they had a ton of after receipt of their long delayed shipment, I should think this would be very apparent. But that seems to not be the case.

But they are nonethless telling us, after a VERY long back order wait for batteries, to toss them. Hence, we may as well toss our GHs into the sock draw as they are useless without a good battery.

But then they say "Once the battery is remade or the safety has been fully re-certified to our satisfaction, we will replace these batteries free of charge."

This implies that they still have the bulk of their recent battery order in hand. Perhaps stored in a different location?

And how do you re-certify a shipment of batteries. Sample testing? Not all that reassuring to the blokes whose battery wasn't sample tested. I really dunno what they mean and suspect they don't either.

My suspicion is that they are shell shocked, needed to react quickly, and that the history, current situation, and future plans will become more apparent with a little bit of time. To me, the "throw the batteries away" is mostly CYA as I see nothing in what they have conveyed that would indicate this as being necessary.

And what of the poor sods who had a GH in with them for warranty repair and is now slag? If I'm right, they still had months of backlogged repairs. I don't know their throughput so I can't put a number on it, but I suspect its not an inconsequential number of devices and wonder how they will ever resolve this. I had recently gotten one of my two GH's back from yet another RMA but this time it was actually fixed and works like a champ. My other one, also after multiple RMAs, still ran cold and I was going to send it back again and look to buy a second one on black friday with all of the new parts, processes, etc. Well, that's not going to happen now.

Unless they have some gold plated insurance, I'm not all that confident that there will be a Hopper Labs going forward. But, we have to wait and see.

I am not inclined to throw my new batteries away. As someone mentioned, I do have a mil type ammo can and will put my stuff in there. But I have been using these batteries since the day that they went on sale and never has one been even warm to the touch. Even the one I believe was faulty and was replaced never displayed any heat at all.

I am not suggesting that anyone do what I plan, but I do not see them having made a sufficient case (or really any case) that the batteries in this latest shipment are bad.
 

fogbank

Well-Known Member
Am I the only one who placed an order for new batteries but have not received them yet?

I ordered on 1/23/2019. Anyone order after that date and already received theirs?
 

MonkeyTime

Well-Known Member
Am I the only one who placed an order for new batteries but have not received them yet?

I ordered on 1/23/2019. Anyone order after that date and already received theirs?

Unfortunately, yes, I think a lot of us did get our orders. I don't know if others didn't? I ordered a SS and two spares, got them all in 4 days.

These are the batteries we're all discussing disposing of.
 

biohacker

Well-Known Member
@biohacker , any views on this as a fireman?

Yes sir, i've already stated them and my opinions, and I appreciate your inquisition and questioning. I think i've already repeated myself and the forum knows how I feel about this entire situation, so i'll just continue to watch it all unfold as the best drama I think i've ever seen in a vape company/product. :D

:popcorn:
 

Vaporific

All who wander are not lost...
Am I the only one who placed an order for new batteries but have not received them yet?

I ordered on 1/23/2019. Anyone order after that date and already received theirs?
Wow! Do you mean BEFORE that date? I ordered mine in April and got them a couple of weeks ago; a local buddy ordered in March and got his too.

My old batteries don’t get the Hopper as hot as the new ones. They’re starting to die and my Hopper, which was RMA’d, works a lot better with the new ones - which now are vacationing in kitty litter. I can’t catch a break. I’m however not tossing the new ones out altogether and likely will use them again but not immediately. I didn’t experience any issues with the 5 recent ones after a couple of weeks using them, albeit I thought one wouldn’t hold a charge like the others, but it seemed to work well after re-charging it (I’ve had a few bona fide duds in two prior batches).

But my old batts just don’t keep up with the new heating assembly so my Hopper experience is like deja vu all over again pre RMA. I get hardly any vapor with the old batteries now. Just friggin ridiculous brought on by the fire and pulling the battery rug out from under my feet. Simply friggin ridiculous! :peace:
 
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