Discontinued The Grasshopper

eideal852

Well-Known Member
Guess I didn't read the original complaint carefully enough. Sorry.

Seems like they should have offered you a refund or pay to upgrade option, in that case. Kind of sounds like they're saying that they will upgrade for you and just take whatever you're willing to throw at them (or did they set a price?) so that still seems kind of not so bad.

Edit: ..actually yeah I guess I read the 'not mine replacement' as an offer of a functional unit. The fact that it isn't the original unit isnt the same as being non functional. That's completely f***** up if your best friend had the clip engraved for you and now he's dead and they lost/melted that unit, but otherwise just take the one that works and isnt yours :tup:
oooof! my...my...dad gave it to me before he left for 'nam...

but really, just pissing and moaning. I'm happy to have a replacement, if it works, I wont be upgrding to the IO, at least I dont think so, but would like it in sooner-than-90-days. fingers crossed, it said it was shipping out to me oooohhhhh, nov7. any day now!
 

Raf

Well-Known Member
oooof! my...my...dad gave it to me before he left for 'nam...

but really, just pissing and moaning. I'm happy to have a replacement, if it works, I wont be upgrding to the IO, at least I dont think so, but would like it in sooner-than-90-days. fingers crossed, it said it was shipping out to me oooohhhhh, nov7. any day now!

That's cool man! I agree having the working unit is way better than waiting for China to contain its virus and produce batteries and/or needful parts for GH2. So just to be clear, did they charge you to get the 'non original' replacement unit?

I feel like maybe this is a story about how good Hopper Labs is... not how much they suck LOL
 

eideal852

Well-Known Member
That's cool man! I agree having the working unit is way better than waiting for China to contain its virus and produce batteries and/or needful parts for GH2. So just to be clear, did they charge you to get the 'non original' replacement unit?

I feel like maybe this is a story about how good Hopper Labs is... not how much they suck LOL
Wait, what? I am waiting on my definitely(?) repaired but maybe burned/maybe lost Hopper, with a lifetime warranty, that they are now nudge-nudge asking me to throw in some cash to "help out". After convincing me to buy parts that I didn't need to "help out" at the time of repair, and also now extending eta to ~90 days (haha!)? Not exactly the piece of mind you think when you see "lifetime warranty"

True, they didn't send me a photo of them flipping me off while kissing my mom and chucking my hopper in a dumpster, but not an exemplary showing either...
 

rnartian

Earthling flora is... fascinating.
oooof! my...my...dad gave it to me before he left for 'nam...

but really, just pissing and moaning. I'm happy to have a replacement, if it works, I wont be upgrding to the IO, at least I dont think so, but would like it in sooner-than-90-days. fingers crossed, it said it was shipping out to me oooohhhhh, nov7. any day now!
It's not pissing and moaning. Questioning their reasoning (as you were) is 100% understandable. Trust me, your replies are not the ones I'm reading and rolling my eyes over. Your issues with the way they handled it isn't whining, and it's far from a "good" customer service story. I hope your replacement hopper works well, though! When you get it... eventually!

This is why engineer and customer service rep are different departments :rofl:
 

Vaporific

All who wander are not lost...
This is why engineer and customer service rep are different departments :rofl:
So true. Does anyone remember Caroline? She probably quit if they didn’t let her go. HL did have a one-person CS department ages ago but that went out the window when the torrent of RMAs rose to levels they couldn’t keep up with - and cash flow was likely negative. I’d like to think the number of staff hasn’t increase at all and remains very low.

My Hopper continues to work very well and had a brief but potent sesh with it last night - barely two chambers and it hit hard as usual. Happy Humpday. :peace:
 

Raf

Well-Known Member
Wait, what? I am waiting on my definitely(?) repaired but maybe burned/maybe lost Hopper, with a lifetime warranty, that they are now nudge-nudge asking me to throw in some cash to "help out". After convincing me to buy parts that I didn't need to "help out" at the time of repair, and also now extending eta to ~90 days (haha!)? Not exactly the piece of mind you think when you see "lifetime warranty"

True, they didn't send me a photo of them flipping me off while kissing my mom and chucking my hopper in a dumpster, but not an exemplary showing either...

You said they offered to up charge for upgrade and wait for new model OR send you a replacement OG version. I asked you if they were charging you more for the replacement OG version and you just glossed right past that. now you're mixing up different parts of the two offers to where it makes it sound like you, the victim, were being asked to pay to receive the replacement original unit. If that happened then that would suck, but it sounds to me like you were offered a free replacement OR an up charge for new hopper version. Since you never answered I guess I don't really know for sure. It must be hard doing customer service when customers are not really sure what they are even reading?
 
Raf,

rnartian

Earthling flora is... fascinating.
You said they offered to up charge for upgrade and wait for new model OR send you a replacement OG version. I asked you if they were charging you more for the replacement OG version and you just glossed right past that.
No, he didn't. He definitely answered that.

not really, they've offered new (IO) version w a discount, or a not-mine replacement, and (paraphrasing) 'it'd be cool of me to send them some money towards that'

There's not a "fully functional unit available" and a better one at a cost. There's the replacement unit. That I can't afford to pay more for.

Even if they just ~suggested~ it, putting the buyer they already inconvenienced in a situation where they're asking for more money to do what WOULD have been good customer service no longer feels like good customer service. It feels like a bribe. And they since they have hopper and decide when he gets it, there is the implicit pressure to bend to that "suggestion", even if he doesn't have the money, or didn't intend or having to pay more to get back his item that he bought under a lifetime warranty.

now you're mixing up different parts of the two offers to where it makes it sound like you, the victim, were being asked to pay to receive the replacement original unit. If that happened then that would suck, but it sounds to me like you were offered a free replacement OR an up charge for new hopper version. Since you never answered I guess I don't really know for sure. It must be hard doing customer service when customers are not really sure what they are even reading?


No offense, but I don't know what you're smoking to where any part of, "Hey, your non-functional item under warranty was destroyed and you're without a vape that you paid for, but we can offer you an upgraded one... money wouldn't hurt ;)" would be good customer service at any point. The situation is pretty clear. You keep trying to read it in any which way so your cape gets a work out, but no matter how many questions you ask or how you phrase your interrogations, the OP still got asked to pay extra money for expedited shipping (unless I read that part wrong) and an upgrade on an item THEY were inconvenienced for (AFTER they bothered buying accessories that they didn't need in an effort to help out anyway). That's a bad look, full stop.

I get it, you like Hopper Labs, but repeatedly trying to discredit @eideal852 through relentless questioning isn't going to change the situation. Could you at least take it to PM or something?
 

eideal852

Well-Known Member
You said they offered to up charge for upgrade and wait for new model OR send you a replacement OG version. I asked you if they were charging you more for the replacement OG version and you just glossed right past that. now you're mixing up different parts of the two offers to where it makes it sound like you, the victim, were being asked to pay to receive the replacement original unit. If that happened then that would suck, but it sounds to me like you were offered a free replacement OR an up charge for new hopper version. Since you never answered I guess I don't really know for sure. It must be hard doing customer service when customers are not really sure what they are even reading?
jesus. ok, since you're pretty invested for some reason: (if you ACTUALLY have anything to do with GHL, help me out with some more hurry up)

I'm not really all that upset- despite how it may look this many posts in- but in any case:

After radio silence upon radio silence, mostly preceded by messages that run the gamut in terms of status: "all good man! fixed! shipping! fire! lost! we actually DO have it! wait do we? hmm. lets check..."

They finally responded with TWO options. two. only two. that bit's critical here, follow along:
EITHER:
1) I can tale them up on an offer for a discounted IO (new hopper, own potential snags, not yet available, release tbd, ---think kickstarter v2)
OR
2) They'll send me a replacement, repaired, UPDATED internals (to be fair, if the "repaired/refurbished/resold units DIDN'T utilize the most current iteration of their kit, that'd be asinine- if not all that surprising) that, while not MY EXACT UNIT, would be working, current, etc. (who knows if it will even be the same model- i have a Ti Blue on purpose- did you just say "whatever you have" when you bought?)

--however, tacked onto THAT option, is the acknowledgement that while "This is our responsibility to you as a customer, but if you can contribute anything towards the cost of this new device, we would greatly appreciate it."

I only initially came to kvetch at the $$ ask as part of the warranty update; though not required, it still smells bad. Have you ever gotten a hookup, whether a friend, or an employee somewhere, for which you then felt obligated to over-tip or otherwise compensate them for their charity? where you've now paid the same or more in total than you would have initially?

At this point, my ONLY experience with GHL is a lackluster unit that NEVER performed at a level I read about here, that worked JUST well enough that I waited over a year to send it in because everyone reported YEAR PLUS warranty wait times, and it was the vape I used daily. When I got in bed with an on demand unit that WORKED, and anecdotal evidence pointed to reduced wait times, i finally bit the bullet and sent it in. It WAS quick! or would have been, if it had shipped when repair was completed, and not waiting for me to bite on a battery/condom/whatever upsell line that they cast out.

Less than stellar IME. Again, LIFETIME WARRANTIES ARE AMAZING. except when they're not.

As I said before, I'm not that mad. I am irked. In the grand scheme of things, I'm okay. Its not my water purification system, it's my first-world instant-high machine, but it's the principal- sure, they agree that it's their obligation to repair or replace units as promised, but how much good guy credit should a company get for MEETING THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY?

Somehow, to some of you, it comes off as less egregious the longer it takes: as if it is somehow proof of the amount that they care. In ANY other situation, on a condensed time line, this would be a RIDICULOUS method of handling warranty/guarantees. Imagine going to best buy trying to exchange a warrantied item, and geek squad disappearing into the back over and over again, only to and they keep trying to sell anti virus, or upsell you to the next model, or siiiigh, i guess i can swap for the same item, but itd sure be nice if you could throw in some more dough..."

Personally, id MUCH prefer a nice, responsive, sensitive warranty process, peppered with apologies and or acknowledgement of the whole clusterfuck, followed by a "thanks for all you dealt with, but be aware we are still struggling. If you have any interest in supporting the cause, here is: donation information"

in any case, my main frustration at this point is in THIS back and forth. I came to vent, and here I am exhausted.

TL:DR 2 choices:
discounted upgrade to IO Hopper
replaced by working current gen model (but help if you can)

@rnartian: didnt see your response before i started my first-in-a-trilogy novel:

There wasn't anything regarding upgraded/expedited/whatever shipping. But the 90 day time frame is given in the next sentence, so it's not crazy to think that a "donation" could be helpful in making sure they do what they can to help.

On THAT note, it really IS a nice little restaraunt we've got here, and it WOULD be a shame if something...happened to it.
 
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mephisto

Well-Known Member
Hey @eideal852 how about I give you one of my fully functioning units until you get straight with GH?
I cannot use either of mine due to the lack of functional batteries. If you are in the conus, I am more than happy to send you a hopper. I am waiting for the @maxvapor710 battery solution, and I have ponied up for the IO. So, basically you would be doing me a favor by helping me clear some room. Let me know, and it is
great to see a hopper customer with a cool head, and reasonable demeanor. Both rare qualities in a human, let alone a GH supporter.
 

eideal852

Well-Known Member
Hey @eideal852 how about I give you one of my fully functioning units until you get straight with GH?
I cannot use either of mine due to the lack of functional batteries. If you are in the conus, I am more than happy to send you a hopper. I am waiting for the @maxvapor710 battery solution, and I have ponied up for the IO. So, basically you would be doing me a favor by helping me clear some room. Let me know, and it is
great to see a hopper customer with a cool head, and reasonable demeanor. Both rare qualities in a human, let alone a GH supporter.
:bowdown:Holy shit, I've PMed you before (grade AYYYYYY) about how you're really, truly, amazing- and here you are proving it yet again!

What an offer! If i'd really be "helping you out" :brow: then I'm especially down, but honestly it's almost enough to know god exists, even if he only hears someone else's prayers!
 

Vaporific

All who wander are not lost...
:bowdown:Holy shit, I've PMed you before (grade AYYYYYY) about how you're really, truly, amazing- and here you are proving it yet again!

What an offer! If i'd really be "helping you out" :brow: then I'm especially down, but honestly it's almost enough to know god exists, even if he only hears someone else's prayers!
Like you said, we’re in a good restaurant with good patrons and lots of green on the menu :lol:.

I’ve had a few folks over the years extend similar offers but I never accepted. All good. Looking forward to Hoppertime soon! :peace:
 

MoltenTiger

Well-Known Member
the amount of quotation marks being thrown around without an actual quote between them leads to some interesting discourse.

I don't think HL would be demanding payment for their warranty, however I'd like to see what was actually written by them before jumping to any conclusions. I think it's fair enough to mention that extra purchases and donations are sought after and appreciated, they've done so here many times. It's a bit different when you're stuck waiting on RMA and reading those types of things though. It's probably best to just ignore it and demand your stuff back, which you've already bought along with the warranty.

FWIW I think an 85USD trade in is quite poor value for the hopper, this will affect the resale I would imagine. It seems undervalued, perhaps a portion of the existing assembly would be reused.

I won't detail it but I was just offered a better deal with a different vape trade-in, due to warranty issues, from a different OEM vendor. I was also offered a very reasonable price to upgrade it.
I would value my GHs well above this other device (hoppers retail at 2x), and I don't know if I'll trade-in my existing hoppers for a meagre 85USD, however it is worth acknowledging the cost difference for upgrade components would actually be quite huge between these devices, so the upgrade being 8x the price is acceptable but the ROI is questionable. I think I would be better to sell the OGs as is and just acquire new units, or simply continue to enjoy them as is... it will all depend on how I take to the Hopper io.

One way or another, I'll be downsizing from 4 devices once I get to that craziness, keeping an io and HT OG might be the go. Or perhaps I'll upgrade a unit and get 2 ios. Probably that.

I wonder when it'll happen. Still hanging out for an email from MaxVapor too.
 

eideal852

Well-Known Member
True.
the amount of quotation marks being thrown around without an actual quote between them leads to some interesting discourse.

I don't think HL would be demanding payment for their warranty, however I'd like to see what was actually written by them before jumping to any conclusions. I think it's fair enough to mention that extra purchases and donations are sought after and appreciated, they've done so here many times. It's a bit different when you're stuck waiting on RMA and reading those types of things though. It's probably best to just ignore it and demand your stuff back, which you've already bought along with the warranty.
Fair enough. For the most part, if I posted something they said, I indicated so or stated that I was paraphrasing. I specifically didn’t want to post direct from their response, who know whether what’s offered here is what’s offered there: it’s not for me to know if everyone gets the same treatment.

I have indeed used quotation marks when what I wrote was conversational, or dialoguey.

the only pertinent bit that I did include (quoted) was:
"This is our responsibility to you as a customer, but if you can contribute anything towards the cost of this new device, we would greatly appreciate it."

again. No demand for money. No shakedown.

Just a clunky ask at an odd point in the conversation. Im not that surprised, or offended, but I also don’t see how I should interpret it as some indicator of how generous or accommodating they’re being.
 

rnartian

Earthling flora is... fascinating.
@eideal852 the hopper you lost and were getting credit for was a Ti, right? Heat treated, or just Ti?
For what it's worth, if you bought it at market price of $265 new, I wouldn't take that IO trade in deal, either. Especially when it's still a good few months away and we're not even sure how the IO will work yet.

FWIW I think an 85USD trade in is quite poor value for the hopper, this will affect the resale I would imagine. It seems undervalued, perhaps a portion of the existing assembly would be reused.

I won't detail it but I was just offered a better deal with a different vape trade-in, due to warranty issues, from a different OEM vendor. I was also offered a very reasonable price to upgrade it.
I would value my GHs well above this other device (hoppers retail at 2x), and I don't know if I'll trade-in my existing hoppers for a meagre 85USD, however it is worth acknowledging the cost difference for upgrade components would actually be quite huge between these devices, so the upgrade being 8x the price is acceptable but the ROI is questionable.
I dunno who does the math at Hopper Labs :ugh:
To be honest, I was expecting at least 110 (which is what, 40% value? Versus 32% at $85), but half (130ish) would have made more sense to me, when the IO is going to be almost 3x that. Was originally looking forward to the trade in option. But I'll just keep my iffy hopper for now.
 

LesPlenty

Well-Known Member
Company Rep
To be honest, I was expecting at least 110 (which is what, 40% value? Versus 32% at $85), but half (130ish) would have made more sense to me, when the IO is going to be almost 3x that. Was originally looking forward to the trade in option. But I'll just keep my iffy hopper for now.
HL should be ashamed of the $85 credit offer, they should replace your like item or give you the full price you paid for your original price off an IO if it ever eventuates.:2c:
 

rnartian

Earthling flora is... fascinating.
HL should be ashamed of the $85 credit offer, they should replace your like item or give you the full price you paid for your original price off an IO if it ever eventuates.:2c:
Yeah, given that the fire is why you don't have a hopper right now, they really should have given you near full price (or AT LEAST $200) of credit for the IO. $85 is legitimately insulting.
That should be the upgrade value for ALL of our first gen Hoppers tbh, we'd still have to pay $150-170 more, and it just seems like a good gesture for people who supported the company in the first place and already spent $250 on an unreliable machine.
Every time I start to think better of Hopper Labs, they do something that makes me shake my head. :lol:
 

Vaporific

All who wander are not lost...
Thank heavens for fine point tweezers and tightening the screen in my native Ti frontend! It’s coming loose lately and I don’t brush it as much as a should. Not sure why this is and I like it when the frontend screws on all the way instead of a little gap. Just my minor OCD with the aesthetic of the Hopper.

Also lately, since I’m using my Hopper like 99% of the time and my Furies which are my only other vapes - well except a new Dynavap as a battery-less backup - aren’t getting much use, I’ve been using it in the mid 2’s natively. Just taking slightly longer draws at lower temps and consuming a bit less flower too. And life is still good and my Hopper continues to work well almost 6 months post RMA. Wake and bake never felt so good :D:peace:
 
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Chezgreendream

First the flavor, then the buZzz settles in....
Is the grasshopper really one of the best protable vapoeizers out there? I have owned a Mighty and enano years back. I know the Mighty packs a punch, but I never liked the idea of the electronics being near the compartment where the bud is heated at.

I have been out of the loop for sometime.
 
Chezgreendream,

YetAnotherUsername

Youngster vaporist
Yeah, given that the fire is why you don't have a hopper right now, they really should have given you near full price (or AT LEAST $200) of credit for the IO. $85 is legitimately insulting.
That should be the upgrade value for ALL of our first gen Hoppers tbh, we'd still have to pay $150-170 more, and it just seems like a good gesture for people who supported the company in the first place and already spent $250 on an unreliable machine.
Every time I start to think better of Hopper Labs, they do something that makes me shake my head. :lol:

I'm in the same boat, but I'm also a small business owner. I also created a niche product and took a lot of money and risk to get to "normal". Vaporizer, especially as new and original as hopper is a luxury item. Spending is like gambling. If you can't afford a broken TV, don't buy another TV.

I asked GH why only 85$ and they replied "we need to offer everyone the same deal". Which I understand. We don't live in a vacuum, people. GH is trying hard to make good on all promises, but what do you expect them to do if there are issues? Magic? Print more money? They need time and sales for investment depreciation. There is literally no other way around it, except shutting down.

If you can't deal with the company on their own terms, then don't, but don't act like if Matt and Trevor were sleeping on piles of money and hoppers. Many of you folks seem to really have no idea how hard it is to run a start up. Be thankfull they offer you anything, Storz&Bickel told me that after 2 years of use warranty is over, I can fuck off and just buy a new Crafty, after my 6th or 7th broke from normal use.


Is the grasshopper really one of the best protable vapoeizers out there? I have owned a Mighty and enano years back. I know the Mighty packs a punch, but I never liked the idea of the electronics being near the compartment where the bud is heated at.

I have been out of the loop for sometime.

Well, can you imagine finishing a 0.2g bowl in 5 big draws with 2-3 seconds heat up time? It is that good =)
 
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vapviking

Old & In the Way
Is the grasshopper really one of the best protable vapoeizers out there? I have owned a Mighty and enano years back. I know the Mighty packs a punch, but I never liked the idea of the electronics being near the compartment where the bud is heated at.

I have been out of the loop for sometime.
Best for vaping with, or best for owning? Big distinction there. Great, great for vaping; mixed reviews on reliability and service as they are a very small company trying to thread a very tight needle and juggle loads of problems.
Electronics are very close to everything else in this one...it's so small.

The next generation is to roll out in April (Hopper io, has its own thread now) and we all hope it is the Grasshopper perfected, but a lot us us OG owners are wondering what is to be the fate of our 'unperfected' old ones, the ones with the lifetime warranty...

There were issues with a battery batch that was months late. You could not buy a battery for many months, and still can't, since the FIRE last fall at Hopper Labs triggered a huge setback of, well, everything...

Gotta ask yourself, "Is this a loop I am looking to get back into?" If that means getting back into vaping, absolutely do that, but I wouldn't recommend Grasshopper as the route back, at least not as an 'only' vape.

Even after saying all this I come back to saying yes, the Grasshopper is one of the, "best protable vapoeizers out there."
 

SpaceManWalking

Well-Known Member
Below are the exact options I was given for my unit that has been with Hopper Labs since the beginning of November 2019:

"1. Many warranty units were damaged or destroyed in the fire. We can offer a replacement unit with good condition parts and a new generation heater free of charge. This is our responsibility to you as a customer, but if you can contribute anything towards the cost of this new device, we would greatly appreciate it. It will take about 90 days to get these new units to everyone waiting.

2. We can offer you $80 off the Hopper io, our new vaporizer that will replace the Grasshopper. It will be released in April of this year and cost $265."


The provided no updates prior to me contacting them since they've had the unit. Based on my prior experience with them, I don't really expect to have my unit back in the next 90 days or even close.
 
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