Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

[smoking2long]

Just want to compliment DaVinci on their warranty service. I had to send my Ascent in about a year after purchase and again 9 months after that. Both times it came back as almost new. When they come out with the next model they already have my business.

 

[KeroZen]

The Ascent is a fine vape and a very advanced one in many aspects. It has many positive points like a rather precise temperature control (well it undershoots under load, or rather it can't cope with the loss, but at least it doesn't overshoot by much, meaning it's always at or below the set-point and that's exactly what we want when doing temperature levels) The mostly glass vapor path and its lenght are to me definitely setting it apart as for some reason, and I can't deny it, it produces a very fine vapor quality that reveals the taste of your product more than other portable vapes.

But it's clear it has two major drawbacks:

1) it's not user-friendly as either you adapt your technic to match what it requires or you get only a fart of vapor. You need to sip it so slowly it's impossible for someone not knowing it to get it right. Everytime I passed it to a friend, no matter how long I tried to explain, it was a failure and the person complained he/she got nothing. And even for me after all this time using it and other vapes, I have to keep in mind when hitting it "hey, slow down boy". The slower the better. It's an exercise in slow drawing in fact.

2) it requires a lot of maintainance. All vapes do to some extent, but these small glass parts are fragile and can be a pain to clean at times (well, until you read this thread and find the relevant info of course!)

If you don't get 1) right, then using some accessory is mandatory: spacers or glass flowers will help counteract the temperature drop and they will also help keep the load in place. If you get 1) right, you can definitely use the device without accessories by doing the "puck technic" as I do, and you'll get good vapor too and the load will stay in place. Of course you may also get 1) right and use some glass accessory and it will be even better.

 

[Davinci_vaporizer]

I'm also concerned with the build quality of my stealth Ascent, so I wonder if it is a counterfeit...Are there fake Ascents?

There are no fake Ascent's around that we know of yet!

Chargers are covered on the warranty and I'm pretty sure you can send them to an EU service center for replacement instead of back to the US. Please email customerservice@davincivaporizer.com to start a claim.

I was set to send my ascent in for warranty back in September but was worried y'all might not cover it, i just want a fixed up ascent to keep me happy while i wait for the next fabulous Da Vinci product, what are my options?

Hey, you can purchase the service plan from our website for your Ascent for $60 http://www.davincivaporizer.com/service-plans/

As far as not being able to clean the bowl, the more often you clean it the easier it will be to clean and the cleaner it will stay. Some people here have found luck with magic erasers and there is also the steam clean method using a moist cotton ball.

I set [redacted] up to step-up every 5 minutes from 365 to 380 to 400 and it wouldn't go above 390. Good work, team.

There is a glitch that won't let the OLED display between 398-402 but trust us, the bowl is at the temperature you set it at.

It produces basically nothing and you need to draw way too hard compared to things like a joint or cigarette, which should OBVIOUSLY be the strength that you would want to mimic. I set [redacted] up to step-up every 5 minutes from 365 to 380 to 400 and it wouldn't go above 390. Good work, team.

It sounds like you are drawing much too hard. With any conduction vaporizer (the Pax 2 you want to buy included) if you draw any more than you would say on a cigarette you will cause the bowl temperature to drop drastically making it difficult to get vapor.

In the Ascent the more packed the bowl is the more vapor you will get. The denser your load the more material you have making contact with the hot surface area which will in turn give you the vapor production results you are looking for. Combine this with a nice slow draw (at least 30 seconds) and you should enjoy the results. Sorry for all the troubles the vape has caused you. Feel free to PM us to discuss further!

 

[sickmanfraud]

There are no fake Ascent's around that we know of yet!

Chargers are covered on the warranty and I'm pretty sure you can send them to an EU service center for replacement instead of back to the US. Please email customerservice@davincivaporizer.com to start a claim.


Hey, you can purchase the service plan from our website for your Ascent for $60 http://www.davincivaporizer.com/service-plans/

As far as not being able to clean the bowl, the more often you clean it the easier it will be to clean and the cleaner it will stay. Some people here have found luck with magic erasers and there is also the steam clean method using a moist cotton ball.


There is a glitch that won't let the OLED display between 398-402 but trust us, the bowl is at the temperature you set it at.


It sounds like you are drawing much too hard. With any conduction vaporizer (the Pax 2 you want to buy included) if you draw any more than you would say onn a cigarette you will cause the bowl temperature to drop drastically making it difficult to get vapor.

In the Ascent the more packed the bowl is the more vapor you will get. The denser your load the more material you have making contact with the hot surface area which will in turn give you the vapor production results you are looking for. Combine this with a nice slow draw (at least 30 seconds) and you should enjoy the results. Sorry for all the troubles the vape has caused you. Feel free to PM us to discuss further!

@DV,
I have several issues with your post:

1. I set my Ascent for 185 C, 195C, and 205c and the display does not go there. I get 185,195 and 203.

2. The conclusion that more packed equals more contact with the oven and more vapor is problematic. Logically, if you insert a large spacer in the middle and just put your medicine around it a higher percentage of herb would be touching the walls, but my experience has been to fill, tamp down to get good vapor.

Has the software glitch been corrected in the current Ascent batches?

@CarolKing , if you decide that you want longer battery life on your Ascent the warranty may be for you.

Has anyone sent an Ascent to DV under this extended warranty?

 

[KidFated.]

@sickmanfraud 205C is 401F, which falls into the glitch zone.

 

[OF]

Logically, if you insert a large spacer in the middle and just put your medicine around it a higher percentage of herb would be touching the walls, but my experience has been to fill, tamp down to get good vapor.

Actually not. Since the bowl is basically a cylinder the ratio of volume to wall contact doesn't change no matter how tall it is. With the spacer there is less mass of load but less wall area 'in step' with it. No net change. If the top and bottom heated it would be different, but we only have heat in the walls.

However, it's not only wall contact in play since the spacer (or glass flowers) absorbs heat over time and acts as a reservoir during the hit. This is why the flowers produce more vapor with less bud.

It's a conduction game, the more contact the better for the heat flow. finer grind and tighter pack helps there. As does the large surface area of a gram of flowers over a gram of spacer. The flowers can transfer more of their retained heat because they have better contact to do it with?

OF

 

[vapedtoblaze]

tighter pack

Is the bowl originally meant to be packed down firmly?
I packed mine using the oil jar and now there is a 3mm gap between the top of the bowl and the silicone sealing...
The bowl can be pushed in place again but if packed to firmly, it will move down again...

Just as warning for the new users...

 

[OF]

Is the bowl originally meant to be packed down firmly?
I packed mine using the oil jar and now there is a 3mm gap between the top of the bowl and the silicone sealing...
The bowl can be pushed in palce again but if packed to firmly, it will move down again...

Just as warning for the new users...

For sure I never go that tight. I usually use a fingertip to be sure it's below flush, but otherwise the goal is to remove dead spaces, not jam it in. For sure I'd never use the jar as a ramrod. After confirming they don't work for oils I'm not sure where mine went......

Good tip, don't push down too hard.

OF

 

[Lutin malin]

OK, I just found out that purchasing an Ascent from an "unauthorized dealer" means I have no warranty from the manufacturer. I'm still looking for the logic in that. AFAIK, the seller is not responsible for issues related to production or quality control.

Anyway, instead of sending a useless and displeasing rant to the customer service, here is a list of all the problems I have with my (brand new) unit:
Wall charger is DOA, black panels are undersized, buttons half-protruding, LED display misaligned and ceramic bowl misaligned. The Ascent logo at the back is also poorly glued and poorly printed.
And while writing this message, I took the Ascent out of its box to have a closer look and the black panel at the back of the heat bowl compartment came off!
I'm also still looking for any motion-sensing capability, and the "turn heat bowl off and on" feature doesn't work.
Not really the top-of-the-line product I was expecting. But from what I gather, the fault is all mine because I didn't go to the right shop...
There is a "QC PASSED" sticker on the box. My personal opinion is that if the vaporizer does not catch fire when exposed to air, the QC is considered OK.

So, if you plan on purchasing this vaporizer, prepare to pay extra shipping fees because you will end up sending it for service. How else could it be with such a poor quality control?
I have unbranded Chinese vapes built better than this.

TL;DR: Potential buyers BEWARE.

 

[mixchu69]

OK, I just found out that purchasing an Ascent from an "unauthorized dealer" means I have no warranty from the manufacturer. I'm still looking for the logic in that. AFAIK, the seller is not responsible for issues related to production or quality control.

Anyway, instead of sending a useless and displeasing rant to the customer service, here is a list of all the problems I have with my (brand new) unit:
Wall charger is DOA, black panels are undersized, buttons half-protruding, LED display misaligned and ceramic bowl misaligned. The Ascent logo at the back is also poorly glued and poorly printed.
And while writing this message, I took the Ascent out of its box to have a closer look and the black panel at the back of the heat bowl compartment came off!
I'm also still looking for any motion-sensing capability, and the "turn heat bowl off and on" feature doesn't work.
Not really the top-of-the-line product I was expecting. But from what I gather, the fault is all mine because I didn't go to the right shop...
There is a "QC PASSED" sticker on the box. My personal opinion is that if the vaporizer does not catch fire when exposed to air, the QC is considered OK.

So, if you plan on purchasing this vaporizer, prepare to pay extra shipping fees because you will end up sending it for service. How else could it be with such a poor quality control?
I have unbranded Chinese vapes built better than this.

TL;DR: Potential buyers BEWARE.

Why buy from unauthorized seller? Buy direct, less headache

 

[sickmanfraud]

OK, I just found out that purchasing an Ascent from an "unauthorized dealer" means I have no warranty from the manufacturer. I'm still looking for the logic in that. AFAIK, the seller is not responsible for issues related to production or quality control.

Anyway, instead of sending a useless and displeasing rant to the customer service, here is a list of all the problems I have with my (brand new) unit:
Wall charger is DOA, black panels are undersized, buttons half-protruding, LED display misaligned and ceramic bowl misaligned. The Ascent logo at the back is also poorly glued and poorly printed.
And while writing this message, I took the Ascent out of its box to have a closer look and the black panel at the back of the heat bowl compartment came off!
I'm also still looking for any motion-sensing capability, and the "turn heat bowl off and on" feature doesn't work.
Not really the top-of-the-line product I was expecting. But from what I gather, the fault is all mine because I didn't go to the right shop...
There is a "QC PASSED" sticker on the box. My personal opinion is that if the vaporizer does not catch fire when exposed to air, the QC is considered OK.

So, if you plan on purchasing this vaporizer, prepare to pay extra shipping fees because you will end up sending it for service. How else could it be with such a poor quality control?
I have unbranded Chinese vapes built better than this.

TL;DR: Potential buyers BEWARE.

If you go up on this page you will see a post from the manufacturer stating that for $60 you can purchase a warranty that will renew your Ascent.

 

[Lutin malin]

Why buy from unauthorized seller? Buy direct, less headache

Why should there be any headache at all? Was I supposed to ask myself: If I buy it from that place, will I have a warranty? There is always a warranty! In the E.U.: 24 months warranty for all products.
Although, I have to say, when I look at my unit, I understand why they restrict the default warranty as much as possible.

sickmanfraud: I've seen a warranty for sale. But again, when I look at the unit I received...I just don't want to buy from this brand again.
I paid the Ascent, the shipping fees and the import duties. And now I have to buy a warranty, and pay more shipping fees to send for service a brand new unit. This is not acceptable by my standards. After all, nothing tells me they won't send me back a faulty unit I'll have to ship back again. Once? Twice?
I bet there are a few stories like that in this very thread.

When my iPhone died, they sent me a new one along with a courier bag to ship back the broken one, free of charge.
If my VAIO dies (within warranty), they send a DHL courier to pick it up, free of charge again.
This is the sort of service one can expect when buying a top-of-the-line product.

I ordered this vape (and two more) for a comparison of handheld vapes for a French forum, I was expecting the Ascent to get the gold medal, but it won't get any medal at all.

 

[OF]

OK, I just found out that purchasing an Ascent from an "unauthorized dealer" means I have no warranty from the manufacturer. I'm still looking for the logic in that. AFAIK, the seller is not responsible for issues related to production or quality control.

You never had 'a warranty from the factory' unless you bought it directly from them. That's how contract law works. Each side must exchange something of value ("Qiud pro quo"), usually the product and money.

Your contract is with the guy that sold it to you. The maker had no part of that bargain, therefore no liability. You have no claim on him (the maker) the dealer who sold it to you does and can 'front' for you if all parties agree.

Again the contract is with the seller, you have no "standing" to make a claim on the maker. Which is IMO the way it should be since the maker had no say in the conditions of sale.

This is all quite normal, no matter what folks might think. Which is why 'they get away with it' (refusing to fix your unit for free). It's the way the law works.

Why should there be any headache at all? Was I supposed to ask myself: If I buy it from that place, will I have a warranty? There is always a warranty! In the E.U.: 24 months warranty for all products.

Yes, it's important to verify the conditions of sale. Buying from authorized dealers has value. Rules that apply in the EU don't count here I think. You claim against the maker would happen in Canadian court under Canadian law?

I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but if you take some time to read this thread you'll find that is definitely the exception. I don't think you can ignore the possibility that you bought a defective unit from a seller who knew as much (sold a reject to you rather than take the loss sending it in.....even if he could, which as a non authorized dealer he probably couldn't....). I think it's possible you got a DOA because you were set up? Authorized dealers generally don't do that for the obvious reasons, non authorized don't have those constraints.

Too bad, it's a great vape I think, you'd probably have enjoyed it. As do the happy customers you'll find on this thread.

OF

 

[Lutin malin]

From where I sit, when purchasing a product, I have a sale contract with the shop, and a product contract with the maker. I buy from the maker through the shop.
Your arguments may be lawful but they are illogical and unfair/unreasonable to me so let's just agree to disagree, as the English saying goes I think.


Anyway, I came here to say you probably have a point regarding the seller being dishonest. I haven't heard from him yet.

 

[OF]

From where I sit, when purchasing a product, I have a sale contract with the shop, and a product contract with the maker. I buy from the maker through the shop.
Your arguments may be lawful but they are illogical and unfair/unreasonable to me so let's just agree to disagree, as the English saying goes I think.

I get it, but I'm telling you how I understand it works. There is a solid, legal, reason why you have no real claim on the maker. You have no contract with him you can enforce, he can ignore you. Again, this is not unique to DV. I've 'been there' on both sides in fact. The law is quite clear, try Google on 'quid pro quo' and 'contracts' and see? I'm trying to explain it the way it was explained to me many years back when the company I worked for faced a similar demand for service on gear they'd just bought. The same lawyer gave the same speech a year later when we bought a piece of test equipment that didn't do what the seller said it would and the maker said 'who are you? Would you like to know our in house service rates?'.

The very fact you might be dealing with a shady dealer is proof of why it has to be that way IMO. You can't expect General Motors to back every lie a used car salesman says can you? "Let the buyer beware" really is the law in play many times. If you've been scammed, that's unfortunate but not DV's fault or responsibility to rectify. Your recourse is with the guy not returning your contacts.

You can agree with me or not, no matter. The important part is the other parties also understand the rules (their lawyers no doubt explained it if necessary). The important conflict is there. I'm just trying to explain why it's the way it is and why you're very unlikely to get a free replacement from the maker under these conditions.

My advice, as well as most others, is to buy only from authorized dealers. Especially ones with good reputations for promptly resolving customer problems. The lowest price on the web is not always the best deal in town.

Good luck with it.

OF

 

[Davinci_vaporizer]

1. I set my Ascent for 185 C, 195C, and 205c and the display does not go there. I get 185,195 and 203.

205C is 401F which is right where the glitch is and coincidentally also one of my favorite temperatures. I set it there every time I use the Ascent. Don't worry though as it's just a display glitch.

Also, the more material making contact with a heated surface area, will create more vapor. The bottom of the Ascent bowl does get hot, even though the element itself isn't there. In fact that's where the temperature sensor probe is. By adding a spacer you are creating an environment where there is heat on all four sides of the load, and also an environment where it becomes more difficult for the heat to escape thus creating more vapor. I've found that you get close to the same amount of vapor from a fully, tightly packed Ascent that you do with using an Ascent with a spacer.

OK, I just found out that purchasing an Ascent from an "unauthorized dealer" means I have no warranty from the manufacturer.

Hey there! If I remember correctly, you said you bought your unit from a shop? All shops are considered authorized dealers because they purchase from distributors or wholesalers. I'll help make sure you get a warranty taken care of, it sounds like the shop didn't take such great care of that thing before you got it. I'll send you a PM.

 

[sickmanfraud]

205C is 401F which is right where the glitch is and coincidentally also one of my favorite temperatures. I set it there every time I use the Ascent. Don't worry though as it's just a display glitch.

Also, the more material making contact with a heated surface area, will create more vapor. The bottom of the Ascent bowl does get hot, even though the element itself isn't there. In fact that's where the temperature sensor probe is. By adding a spacer you are creating an environment where there is heat on all four sides of the load, and also an environment where it becomes more difficult for the heat to escape thus creating more vapor. I've found that you get close to the same amount of vapor from a fully, tightly packed Ascent that you do with using an Ascent with a spacer.


Hey there! If I remember correctly, you said you bought your unit from a shop? All shops are considered authorized dealers because they purchase from distributors or wholesalers. I'll help make sure you get a warranty taken care of, it sounds like the shop didn't take such great care of that thing before you got it. I'll send you a PM.

Thanks DV.

A question, is the glitch still there? If I bought another Ascent today, would that unit also have the glitch?

Also, when you refer to "a spacer" how are you packing the Ascent?

 

[CarolKing]

OK, I just found out that purchasing an Ascent from an "unauthorized dealer" means I have no warranty from the manufacturer. I'm still looking for the logic in that. AFAIK, the seller is not responsible for issues related to production or quality control.

Anyway, instead of sending a useless and displeasing rant to the customer service, here is a list of all the problems I have with my (brand new) unit:
Wall charger is DOA, black panels are undersized, buttons half-protruding, LED display misaligned and ceramic bowl misaligned. The Ascent logo at the back is also poorly glued and poorly printed.
And while writing this message, I took the Ascent out of its box to have a closer look and the black panel at the back of the heat bowl compartment came off!
I'm also still looking for any motion-sensing capability, and the "turn heat bowl off and on" feature doesn't work.
Not really the top-of-the-line product I was expecting. But from what I gather, the fault is all mine because I didn't go to the right shop...
There is a "QC PASSED" sticker on the box. My personal opinion is that if the vaporizer does not catch fire when exposed to air, the QC is considered OK.

So, if you plan on purchasing this vaporizer, prepare to pay extra shipping fees because you will end up sending it for service. How else could it be with such a poor quality control?
I have unbranded Chinese vapes built better than this.

TL;DR: Potential buyers BEWARE.

Curious where you bought your Ascent from? I saw that DHgate is selling Ascents, I would assume they are knock offs, too cheap to be real. I'll buy knock off glass but not a vaporizer. It's buyer beware. You wouldn't know that you have an authentic unit. They were selling several other vaporizers that looked to be knock offs. Don't buy a vaporizer off DHgate.

 

[OF]

There are no fake Ascent's around that we know of yet!

Curious where you bought your Ascent from? I saw that DHgate is selling Ascents, I would assume they are knock offs, too cheap to be real.

Something can't be right here, you can't both be right....... And yet, there it is, on the same page of the Forum no less???

OF

 

[Ricardo]

A couple of bad experiences with the Ascent on here recently, which is a pity as it's a great vape when it's working. It's a gut wrenching feeling when you shell out big bucks for a top of the range product and things go wrong right from the start. The Da Vinci guy on this forum seems to be fair dinkum so, if I were in that position I'd definitely take him up on his offer to help. I love my Ascent, I do

 

[Davinci_vaporizer]

Something can't be right here, you can't both be right....... And yet, there it is, on the same page of the Forum no less???

OF

In my investigation experiences down here in Factoryville, Shenzhen where I hang my hat, I've never been to a factory that says they're selling Ascents and actually seen them. Usually just pictures on cell phones of tooling that they are trying to prepare. Often times, these factories will post any vaporizer regardless if they have it or not for the SEO value. If they get enough pre-orders to justify the cost of the molds and tooling then they will make the clone. We still haven't seen any fake Ascents.

 

[OF]

In my investigation experiences down here in Factoryville, Shenzhen where I hang my hat, I've never been to a factory that says they're selling Ascents and actually seen them. Usually just pictures on cell phones of tooling that they are trying to prepare. Often times, these factories will post any vaporizer regardless if they have it or not for the SEO value. If they get enough pre-orders to justify the cost of the molds and tooling then they will make the clone. We still haven't seen any fake Ascents.

Interesting. And it makes sense since there's not a 'gray market' out the side door from the vendor making them for you.

OTOH, several of the 'sellers' claim to have sold modest numbers, perhaps that's false or represents the orders they've taken and not delivered? One thing sure, this is not a good way to get 'a genuine DV Ascent on the cheap.

Thanks.

OF

 

[Davinci_vaporizer]

Interesting. And it makes sense since there's not a 'gray market' out the side door from the vendor making them for you.

OTOH, several of the 'sellers' claim to have sold modest numbers, perhaps that's false or represents the orders they've taken and not delivered? One thing sure, this is not a good way to get 'a genuine DV Ascent on the cheap.

Thanks.

OF

If we are to come across any fake units FC would be the first place we released the information to. We would have to let the market know where to look for signs of a fake. If anyone has any suspect units please let us know!

 

[OF]

If we are to come across any fake units FC would be the first place we released the information to. We would have to let the market know where to look for signs of a fake. If anyone has any suspect units please let us know!

Lookin' out for us......I like that in a vape maker......

OF

 

[Davinci_vaporizer]

Lookin' out for us......I like that in a vape maker......

OF

We do what we can!
I really enjoy visiting all the clone factories. It's always a learning experience and it's good to see so we know how to make our factory that much better. The biggest advantage we have is complete control of our manufacturing and factory culture. The vibes here in China mimic that of our Las Vegas office and seeing other factories struggling with that is really humbling and motivating for us.