Discontinued Hopper io

Vaporific

All who wander are not lost...
Yeah that's quite ridiculous, don't have patience for that so I commend him on that.

I wish I even got one cloud out of the hopper I got not even a week ago, haven't had one response since I recieved it. I was gonna buy more accessories for it asap to counteract the lagging mail services but until they message back I suppose.. still waiting.
Even more ridiculous is that he’s been waiting for the steel case for 5+ years which hasn’t materialized. And he told them to deduct the shipping charge from what they owed him for the steel case. HL has been inconsistent with how they’ve dealt with CS issues but I won’t go down the rabbit hole and knock HL. They partly restored my faith a bit with a perfectly working new IO after having a pre-order OG bought in ‘16 with a year-long RMA stint. I was lucky to get it back a few months before the HL fire and it was repaired and works well. The IO however runs better, much better. I still have a big place in my heart for a Hopper - when it works well it works well! :peace:
 

mulciber

Member
Even more ridiculous is that he’s been waiting for the steel case for 5+ years which hasn’t materialized. And he told them to deduct the shipping charge from what they owed him for the steel case. HL has been inconsistent with how they’ve dealt with CS issues
Inconsistent isn't the appropriate word. In addition to other "war stories" I had an OG Hopper there for the past nearly THREE years. I've asked them about it a bunch of times and they told me it would be sent back soon. Recently I sent them a message saying I want the broken one back. I'd paid for it, I'd paid to send it to them, and even if it was only good for spare parts, it was my property. They responded by agreeing to send me back something they have lying around, and asked me for the shipping charge. In the past they've told me "we'll fix your warranty return unit, but if you'd like to give us "a donation" for it, that would be nice — I didn't, and I didn't get the unit. I told them at the time that I gave them money for a charger 2.5 years ago, and I didn't ever expect to see it, so that was about as much of a donation as they'd ever get from me. They're not fundamentally good people, and I'm being very polite. I don't see why that's rarely said out loud. Their whole gig is kind of abysmal. The GH is awesome when it works, but the chances of having that positive experience are sporadic at best in the grand scheme of things. It's kind of a tragic story, and as soon as I receive my "frankenhopper" I'm sure I'll be done with GL for good. There are massively better devices and people making stuff out there.
 

MonkeyTime

Well-Known Member
Inconsistent isn't the appropriate word. In addition to other "war stories" I had an OG Hopper there for the past nearly THREE years. I've asked them about it a bunch of times and they told me it would be sent back soon. Recently I sent them a message saying I want the broken one back. I'd paid for it, I'd paid to send it to them, and even if it was only good for spare parts, it was my property. They responded by agreeing to send me back something they have lying around, and asked me for the shipping charge. In the past they've told me "we'll fix your warranty return unit, but if you'd like to give us "a donation" for it, that would be nice — I didn't, and I didn't get the unit. I told them at the time that I gave them money for a charger 2.5 years ago, and I didn't ever expect to see it, so that was about as much of a donation as they'd ever get from me. They're not fundamentally good people, and I'm being very polite. I don't see why that's rarely said out loud. Their whole gig is kind of abysmal. The GH is awesome when it works, but the chances of having that positive experience are sporadic at best in the grand scheme of things. It's kind of a tragic story, and as soon as I receive my "frankenhopper" I'm sure I'll be done with GL for good. There are massively better devices and people making stuff out there.

I won't argue your view on the company, my experiences have been different, but left me feeling the same.

However, I will say that that was my experience with them with the OG GH, like you, which is the other thread.

My experience with my IO has been stellar, which gets much hard use and has yet to need repair. This seems to be fairly common vs the stigma the OG earned and you're holding against it?

While I hold the company in low regard, I'll also not bash a product that is unique, does things few can and has performed as expected.

Besides airing unpleasant laundry, was there a point behind this?
 

ominosity

Well-Known Member
I’m coming up to two years waiting for the return of my 2 stainless OG hoppers. worst customer service ever. The lifetime guarantee is worthless. 2 weeks ago they said they had some sort of repaired unit to send me but my account wouldnt let me send them shipping payment so promised to send email invoice.... nothing! its been a continuous run of frustration of disappointment since I bought these units. Two years of having them constantly break down (15 returns) and several periods where they both broke down at the same time and I had no vape. This followed by a nearly two year wait for a return of my devices to be told they might be able to send 1, if they were a UK a company I would take them to small claims court but they’re not so I’m stuck on this frustrating ride. with so many similar stories to mine I don’t understand why anyone would buy into such an experience when there are now vapes that match or exceed the hoppers performance.
 

mulciber

Member
I won't argue your view on the company, my experiences have been different, but left me feeling the same.

However, I will say that that was my experience with them with the OG GH, like you, which is the other thread.

My experience with my IO has been stellar, which gets much hard use and has yet to need repair. This seems to be fairly common vs the stigma the OG earned and you're holding against it?

While I hold the company in low regard, I'll also not bash a product that is unique, does things few can and has performed as expected.

Besides airing unpleasant laundry, was there a point behind this?

Your point is taken, and you're right. I was airing unpleasant laundry. And you're also correct that my experience is with the OG, and I've not followed this forum very closely. If I'm wrong about the new device I'm willing to stand corrected. I can only say that I was _intensely_ put off by the disdain that this company showed me and many others, and it's difficult for me to believe that the same culture could produce a diametrically different experience.

In any case, I responded to my emotion in the moment, said my piece about it, and I hope I haven't offended anyone too greatly.
 

Trace

Member
I’m coming up to two years waiting for the return of my 2 stainless OG hoppers. worst customer service ever. The lifetime guarantee is worthless. 2 weeks ago they said they had some sort of repaired unit to send me but my account wouldnt let me send them shipping payment so promised to send email invoice.... nothing! its been a continuous run of frustration of disappointment since I bought these units. Two years of having them constantly break down (15 returns) and several periods where they both broke down at the same time and I had no vape. This followed by a nearly two year wait for a return of my devices to be told they might be able to send 1, if they were a UK a company I would take them to small claims court but they’re not so I’m stuck on this frustrating ride. with so many similar stories to mine I don’t understand why anyone would buy into such an experience when there are now vapes that match or exceed the hoppers performance.
That's rather frustrating to say the least. Sorry to hear that.

As for why one would invest, they're likely unaware of better options that matched or exceeded. At least I wasn't aware, at this point I'm all ears if I don't hear anything back.
 
Trace,
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MonkeyTime

Well-Known Member
Your point is taken, and you're right. I was airing unpleasant laundry. And you're also correct that my experience is with the OG, and I've not followed this forum very closely. If I'm wrong about the new device I'm willing to stand corrected. I can only say that I was _intensely_ put off by the disdain that this company showed me and many others, and it's difficult for me to believe that the same culture could produce a diametrically different experience.

In any case, I responded to my emotion in the moment, said my piece about it, and I hope I haven't offended anyone too greatly.
I understand and relate to your feelings about the company, and I'm not defending them, I have 3 OG's that run so cold they're useless. My experience with them was decent with the first.....until RMA, the rest of that ride was futile.

My IO on the other hand has been flawless, but I'd never recommend it to someone unless they had money to burn and felt as I do, it's a throw away unit if it goes bad. When it does, I'll be done with them.

Unfortunately this thread gets filled with negative OG talk, in that thread I would have liked it and moved on lol! I'm also turned off by people defending this company when people air real frustrations, because they are real and frustrating! (Polite version)

Tinymight... flawless daily driver for 1 year.

I had one of the very early ones in NA, I also loved it, until it had issues. Not a single returned email and it's not registered so I can't just rma it thru the website. Another great device from a company with a track record that leaves a lot to be desired in CS IMO.
 

ominosity

Well-Known Member
I had one of the very early ones in NA, I also loved it, until it had issues. Not a single returned email and it's not registered so I can't just rma it thru the website. Another great device from a company with a track record that leaves a lot to be desired in CS IMO.
Yes fair comment. My initial CS from both companies was good. With the hopper the first three failures i was sent a new body before even returning the old one but it gradually deteriorated to the point where they try to squeeze extra money out of you for them to even honour their so called lifetime guarantee and try to shame you for expressing dissatisfaction with the poor service you are receiving. With tinymight, I reached out to the maker when demand was particularly high early on and explained a particular situation I was in and asked what the fastest way for me to get a device was and he said he would send me one immediately and sure enough within 18 hours and crossing several international borders the device was in my hands so I was very impressed. However like yourself I had a recent problem (dropped it from a height and broke battery contact) and I am yet to receive a reply and also like you because I got my device through the ‘back door’ I can not RMA it through the website.
 

Vitolo

Vaporist
From the very start there were questions and small issues (that grew into larger ones.)
I really lucked out with my OG Hopper.. it's still great. I am super impressed with the IO for it's speed.
I research comments that I read about here sometimes to find similar issues earlier on, and with other users.
Doing that today, I stumbled upon this thread (actually a piece of this thread that was moved) that was started by
@Baron23 :
I count my blessings.
I love this vaporizer, but don't know what I would do if I experienced some of the things I have read about.
My 3 month Front End was nightmare enough!
 

ominosity

Well-Known Member
I had one of the very early ones in NA, I also loved it, until it had issues. Not a single returned email and it's not registered so I can't just rma it thru the website. Another great device from a company with a track record that leaves a lot to be desired in CS IMO.
Just a final update. I took the TM apart to check the battery contact on the bottom and found that it had only bent out of shape and not broken as I first thought. Bent it back and all working perfectly again. This thing is a tank.
 

vapviking

Old & In the Way
I have possibly made a big step in being able to clear the inevitable restricted draw that develops with these devices.
I thought that maybe removing the chamber screen might let me clean it better, maybe that was the trouble spot. I pulled it out easily with fine tweezer, but it appeared quite clean already, from the light iso swab I had done prior to removal (and the screen removes more easily if the chamber walls are clean).
Then I remembered to look at the next part down in there, the one several folks have posted ugly photos of recently. It is the base plate for the heater (below it), but it is also a screen -- one that never gets cleaned.

I swabbed that inner screen very, very lightly with iso, didn't want any dripping further inside. Then, I blew into the air intake holes before it was dry. I covered several holes with mouth and lips, and the remaining one or two with a finger, and blew. Repeated the swab and blow a couple of times, and wow, this is back to the open draw of a new unit. (I had been really envious of wife's newer-than-mine io.)

Note that I've only done this once now, and don't know if there's any long term side effect of this procedure.
To the io, that is :rolleyes:

* * * * * * * * *

@ominosity, this is the io thread and you've been talking about your og Grasshoppers and your TM, so you may be in the wrong thread.
Comparing the 2020 TM experience to the 2016 Grasshopper experience doesn't seem particularly valid. HL makes a different product now, one that seems to be much more reliable than before.
Please understand, I'm not defending company practices here, and I know it is much more difficult to deal with them from overseas, etc, etc.

I have also had my share of warranty experiences with the og (about 20), but having stayed on for the whole ride to date, having converted the og fleet to io's (at a very fair trade-in rate), I am very pleased to be an io owner, and a HL 'supporter', as far as that goes.
My feeling is that any original backer or pre-orderer (me) had to go into the deal willing to lose their investment to a risky proposition. Five years later, it's "water under the fridge" as Ricky would say.
 

Trace

Member
I have possibly made a big step in being able to clear the inevitable restricted draw that develops with these devices.
I thought that maybe removing the chamber screen might let me clean it better, maybe that was the trouble spot. I pulled it out easily with fine tweezer, but it appeared quite clean already, from the light iso swab I had done prior to removal (and the screen removes more easily if the chamber walls are clean).
Then I remembered to look at the next part down in there, the one several folks have posted ugly photos of recently. It is the base plate for the heater (below it), but it is also a screen -- one that never gets cleaned.

I swabbed that inner screen very, very lightly with iso, didn't want any dripping further inside. Then, I blew into the air intake holes before it was dry. I covered several holes with mouth and lips, and the remaining one or two with a finger, and blew. Repeated the swab and blow a couple of times, and wow, this is back to the open draw of a new unit. (I had been really envious of wife's newer-than-mine io.)

Note that I've only done this once now, and don't know if there's any long term side effect of this procedure.
To the io, that is :rolleyes:

* * * * * * * * *

@ominosity, this is the io thread and you've been talking about your og Grasshoppers and your TM, so you may be in the wrong thread.
Comparing the 2020 TM experience to the 2016 Grasshopper experience doesn't seem particularly valid. HL makes a different product now, one that seems to be much more reliable than before.
Please understand, I'm not defending company practices here, and I know it is much more difficult to deal with them from overseas, etc, etc.

I have also had my share of warranty experiences with the og (about 20), but having stayed on for the whole ride to date, having converted the og fleet to io's (at a very fair trade-in rate), I am very pleased to be an io owner, and a HL 'supporter', as far as that goes.
My feeling is that any original backer or pre-orderer (me) had to go into the deal willing to lose their investment to a risky proposition. Five years later, it's "water under the fridge" as Ricky would say.
That's really cool and interesting. I wish I had the courage to try but knowing my luck it won't go well haha.

Are you able to make a Youtube demonstration at all? :)
 

MoltenTiger

Well-Known Member
If you go to click your IO on, do the lights come on as you press the button in and the internal switch makes contact even though you haven't actually clicked it in yet?
try leaving it switched on to time out, that should swap the switch mechanism around, so that when it's turned on and showing lights, pushing the button into a momentary contact will temporarily power the device off, and once it is off a partial press won't make contact with the switch and it won't turn on unless pushed to click.

I guess it's better to keep it in a certain way for pocket-ability
 
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vapviking

Old & In the Way
If you go to click your IO on, do the lights come on as you press the button in and the internal switch makes contact even though you haven't actually clicked it in yet?

try leaving it switched on to time out, that should swap the switch mechanism around, so that when it's turned on and showing lights, pushing the button into a momentary contact will power the device off, and once it is off a partial press won't make contact with the switch and it won't turn on unless pushed to click.

I guess it's better to keep it in a certain way for pocket-ability
This simple procedure has either eluded me or I've forgotten about it, but it is io pro tip GOLD.
Thank you once again, MT.

:clap::clap::clap: and a huge :bowdown:

I have an extension to add to it;
Rather than power-on and wait for a time out, try (while powered off) unscrewing the back end about 1 turn (enough to break connection to battery), then click it once and screw it back in. This also "swaps the switch mechanism around" just like the time-out method. (at least it did for me, fuckin' around at 5:30 this morning...)
Note that both methods can also do the reverse -- if your switch is not making power come on when pushed but not clicked, the "swap" will make it do so until it re-sets the other way.

Understanding this clicker function might go a long way towards folks being a little less superstitious with their hopper behaviors!
 

MoltenTiger

Well-Known Member
This simple procedure has either eluded me or I've forgotten about it, but it is io pro tip GOLD.
Thank you once again, MT.

:clap::clap::clap: and a huge :bowdown:

I have an extension to add to it;
Rather than power-on and wait for a time out, try (while powered off) unscrewing the back end about 1 turn (enough to break connection to battery), then click it once and screw it back in. This also "swaps the switch mechanism around" just like the time-out method. (at least it did for me, fuckin' around at 5:30 this morning...)
Note that both methods can also do the reverse -- if your switch is not making power come on when pushed but not clicked, the "swap" will make it do so until it re-sets the other way.

Understanding this clicker function might go a long way towards folks being a little less superstitious with their hopper behaviors!
I think I largely figured it out whilst posting earlier and super high on delta 8 THC. Not sure if I really knew about it before. But it makes sense I guess - sometimes I've found I've bumped the device off when trying to use it and it's worth switching it around so that accidental bumps don't turn it off.

On that note, something I like about the io, if you miss the time-out or if you are hitting it too slowly to trigger the detector, or for whatever reason it turns off on you, switching it back on instantly has it working again. I've also noticed there is massive thermal retention in the heater and you can get many hits out of the pen once it is switched off. If it's heated up and say about half the bowl is processed, you can click it and finish the chamber off without running the power - I guess this could lead to double the chambers if trying to conserve battery
 

MoltenTiger

Well-Known Member
Sorry for ot diversion,
Crazy, I was just reading about this and the first I heard of it was yesterday. My quick googling didn't tell me whether the stuff has much psychotropic effect.
Big news, as I understand it is currently legal in a lot of places in US.
Oil distillate, right?
well several hours ago and the first time I tried it, I put some in the Hopper io and blasted it on mains through my torus. MASSIVE clouds, and a pretty good hit when mixed with CBD flower.
I even refrained from using my car hopper on my way home despite the favourable views, just to go sans delta 9 before sampling.

I couldn't wait for the Sub to heat up, as usual, but the Hopper io is always ready.

Mainly I used the Dabmaster which I guess is the best way to do the sauce product I received today.

I had a fairly large dab second from last, and it was pretty powerful. It's a fairly remarkable thing.

After recovering from the big dab, I used the hopper with pure CBD flower, and it hit different. So I think I have really found a much cheaper and very effective usage pattern for my vaping from here on out. I still prefer ordinary THC flower but I'm getting fed up trying to upkeep a quality stash, it's just not as easy when it's not from a store.

My quick googling didn't tell me whether the stuff has much psychotropic effect.
Big news, as I understand it is currently legal in a lot of places in US.

I had this highdea before of a what if, CBD gets this big thumbs up and easy pass because it's not psychedelic - which is basically true, but it's also not all that effective because of that. It's a fairly subjective subject. Luckily I don't have chronic pain, CBD probably helps with that and other serious ailments quite legitimately, but another aspect of ECS stimulation is utilising it as a stress relief and inducing contentedness, which is healthy and important, a fulcrum of experience pivots from some kind of stability. It helps to be grounded and it is useful having compounds that assist with this, which I think THC does a better job. We need air to breath, nutrition for energy, sleep for brain function, plenty of things, amongst which healthy release is paramount.

Maybe everyone should lie and say that delta 8 doesn't do shit like CBD because then it might also get an easier pass into circulation. A lot of people are already saying it, I don't know if I have a different product, or if it effects people differently, or there already is a secret lying agenda.

It seems extremely similar to ordinary delta 9 THC, but with a different signature. I don't think it made me hungry, and it felt slightly different with feint similarities to some research chemicals I've sampled like JWH-018 for eg. (yet still closer to organic THC), and similarly it ticked the box for a full fledged multi-hour experience that will be repeated.
 
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Jah75

Well-Known Member
This simple procedure has either eluded me or I've forgotten about it, but it is io pro tip GOLD.
Thank you once again, MT.

:clap::clap::clap: and a huge :bowdown:

I have an extension to add to it;
Rather than power-on and wait for a time out, try (while powered off) unscrewing the back end about 1 turn (enough to break connection to battery), then click it once and screw it back in. This also "swaps the switch mechanism around" just like the time-out method. (at least it did for me, fuckin' around at 5:30 this morning...)
Note that both methods can also do the reverse -- if your switch is not making power come on when pushed but not clicked, the "swap" will make it do so until it re-sets the other way.

Understanding this clicker function might go a long way towards folks being a little less superstitious with their hopper behaviors!
I am always very anxious when putting my hopper back in the pouch and unscrew the cap about 1-1.5 turns to avoid the partial push-in and heater activation when its in my pocket/pouch/bag. I have also been a bit worried that there might be a arc between the unscrewed backend contacts and the battery when doing this (no clue if this is an actual danger or not) or that the threads might get jacked if there is any shear force on them and they aren't fully tightened so I might try this "leave on till times out" thing.
Is there any damage in leaving it on until it times out? Im guessing I should do this with an empty chamber? and possible with the PFE off?
Thanks!
 

vapviking

Old & In the Way
I am always very anxious when putting my hopper back in the pouch and unscrew the cap about 1-1.5 turns to avoid the partial push-in and heater activation when its in my pocket/pouch/bag. I have also been a bit worried that there might be a arc between the unscrewed backend contacts and the battery when doing this (no clue if this is an actual danger or not) or that the threads might get jacked if there is any shear force on them and they aren't fully tightened so I might try this "leave on till times out" thing.
Is there any damage in leaving it on until it times out? Im guessing I should do this with an empty chamber? and possible with the PFE off?
Thanks!
I had also started to make the 'unscrew one turn' a regular habit, so it would not accidentally turn on in pocket, etc. These solutions may solve that, we'll see.
The time out is not long, it's like 16 to 18 seconds or so. No problem leaving it on until auto-off, not problem with or without front end in place.

I just ordered a couple of delta8 thc carts. We'll see about that, too!
 

Mndeadhead

Well-Known Member
I’ve given up. Three packages later and I still don’t have a working hopper. I’ve spent almost an extra $100 just sending broken hopper parts back to HL. The last one had me sending everything back and a month and a half later I got it back and it still does not work properly. I can now get a little bit of heat, but I can only get the weed to a very very golden brown, unlike the chocolate brown during the first week...

So I think I’m done, hopper is great when it works, but mine never does and paying for shipping to never get a working product for more then a day if at all, is draining. Back to my EVO for at home and oil on the go....

Biggest waste of money in a while for me. One expensive pen shaped paper weight.
I had similar issues with them. Ive been waiting 3 months for a working unit. I finally reached out to AMEX today and disputed the charge. For those of you who are having continual issues, its an avenue to explore. The Hopper people would actually have to respond to AMEX to refute it, and we know how often they actually respond. My SS works like a champ. Titanium never has, and it was supposed to be a gift. Well, the wife got a Bowle instead. At least it works. And the customer service is outstanding
 
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