Discontinued The Grasshopper

[JoeMama]

I am very...well, not excited but maybe hopeful...that the in-house process, assembly, test changes that Hopper makes will result finally in a reliable, testable, and hence repairable GH.

I love the function of my GH but cannot agree with the view that Hopper's quality and repairability has been at all acceptable since initial orders. Its the only thing that stops me from recommending it. Otherwise, I adore it.

I'm hoping that redesign of some parts coupled with control over QA and testing will result in GH's with less failures and RMA returns that are actually fixed rock solid. If they achieve this, I will buy another.

My thoughts, too. I really love the hopper, but I stop myself from recommending it without a strong disclaimer about the inevitable RMA's.

Brand new units have all new electronics, but old devices will only be upgraded as required still, it seems

So this makes me curious about what you'd call "new electronics", Molten...

Aside from the metalwork, I imagine that there are only three "replaceable" items: The backend, heater element, and the PCB.

Perhaps the PCB and the Heater are modular mates within the chamber area.
Perhaps the backend can be broken down and some internal parts can be replaced within it...

IMO, troubleshooting to the component level of the PCB's seems inefficient for a repair process... and I feel it's a better idea to just replace the PCB outright and repair and requalify the 'old' one for its re-use down-range.

This is all to say, from a manufacturing production point of view, it's hard to imagine a design in which the body electronics requires many sub-board-level items, and elaborate labor.

So this is why I say I'm curious about what "new electronics" is. Everything I've stated is, to be sure, complete conjecture on my part!

 

[btka]

did someone try to vape cbd crystals with the gh... how would you use cbd crystals with gh? putting cotton or hemp fibre in the chamber and then crystals , so there is no melt cb dropping in the oven... would this work? which temp.? would I get big clouds? any experience?

 

[Hjalmark]

did someone try to vape cbd crystals with the gh... how would you use cbd crystals with gh? putting cotton or hemp fibre in the chamber and then crystals , so there is no melt cb dropping in the oven... would this work? which temp.? would I get big clouds? any experience?

yes yes and yes

Just fluff up some cotton and then gently wrap some in middle, start on like 2-3 temp setting and just draw slowly to meld the crystal into cotton and then turn off and turn your hopper to "more heat"

MAX HEAT !!!!!!

 

[TheWhisper]

Sent out a check-in email — looks like GHL hired a new customer service person!

Thank you for your patience with us while we work to improve all the Hoppers! I know that it is frustrating. The most recent estimate for when we'll resume shipping is in the next few weeks. I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you again for your continued patience, your improved Hopper will be worth it.

Best,

Olivia

 

[Cheesequake]

Thank you for your patience with us while we work to improve all the Hoppers! I know that it is frustrating. The most recent estimate for when we'll resume shipping is in the next few weeks. I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you again for your continued patience, your improved Hopper will be worth it.

Best,

Olivia

 

[kbrown5523]

Latest from Hopper labs on my RMAs:

"Your Hopper has arrived at The Lab!

Your unit is in the service department queue. We are implementing new testing protocols and bringing more processes in-house for increased quality control. We expect service to be slower than normal during this period if you have a heater or temp sensor issue. However, your Hopper will be returned with new and improved parts.

We are executing this upgrade now in an effort to provide better service and ensure the reliability of all devices. We will send you another update message soon!"

 

[Cheesequake]

Latest from Hopper labs on my RMAs:

"Your Hopper has arrived at The Lab!

Your unit is in the service department queue. We are implementing new testing protocols and bringing more processes in-house for increased quality control. We expect service to be slower than normal during this period if you have a heater or temp sensor issue. However, your Hopper will be returned with new and improved parts.

We are executing this upgrade now in an effort to provide better service and ensure the reliability of all devices. We will send you another update message soon!"

You're a couple weeks late on that

The actual latest is that after weeks and weeks of "Just two more weeks guys!" Hopper Labs has said it will be "a few more weeks" before things get moving again.

edit: It blows my mind they're still pulling this shit like 2 years later.

 

[Mr. Whitewall]

Sooo, I guess I'll have to hold on to mine for a few more weeks then it gave me "straight to blue" error last week. At least you guys have saved me (and Olivia ) another pointless email exchange!

Haven't used it very heavily either and has been functioning like a champ for about a year and a half (although I dread it may be the reason of its longevity...) it started decreasing the sessions I got out of it, then just gave up on me.

 

[MoltenTiger]

Sooo, I guess I'll have to hold on to mine for a few more weeks then it gave me "straight to blue" error last week. At least you guys have saved me (and Olivia ) another pointless email exchange!

Haven't used it very heavily either and has been functioning like a champ for about a year and a half (although I dread it may be the reason of its longevity...) it started decreasing the sessions I got out of it, then just gave up on me.

You might be able to clean out under the metal screen in the herb chamber, making sure the sensor is exposed could get it back in working order

So this makes me curious about what you'd call "new electronics", Molten...

I would consider the actuator an electrical component, or I would class it as such at least.

It seems new units have a different chipset that controls this. Or something along those lines, some kind of digital detection as opposed to the older solid state switch.

My question to HL was mainly asking if all devices from this point would be the same iteration, and it seems that's not necessarily the case.

A new device will have all the upgraded parts, a repaired unit seems likely to only have parts required to be updated replaced, which does make sense.

Pretty keen to hear some more from the labs.

So far it seems there's still a few weeks, at least, of a wait. There's also a new customer service rep.
Looking forward to getting my devices back, that's for sure

 

[JCat]

The only thing is that a "few" is defined as 3 or more ... and I'm not sure what the limit is on "more" before it goes from a "few" to "many" ...!

 

[vapviking]

Sent out a check-in email — looks like GHL hired a new customer service person!

My guess (and that's all it is) is that Caroline may be on a sorely needed vacation, with Olivia holding the fort and sending out email replies from a selection of well-worn responses.

When the new equipment gets up and running, I have 2 OG Hoppers that went south, each in their first month of use back in '16. Soon it will be time to get them registered and in for updates. These are the Time Capsule units that simply got set aside until HL got it together, and they may yet see their day!

I do have two others, both in working order, even though they haven't been used now in 8 months while I'm STILL on forced break. Shame.

 

[Cheesequake]

Soon

Soon to Hopper Labs could be a year from now lol. They apparently run on Valve Time.

 

[TheWhisper]

It's too bad that they aren't more transparent (even to the minimal level that they were during their crowdfunding). Regular updates detailing even the barest outline of what they're doing, where they're at, and the roughest timeline would win them a lot of goodwill.

 

[JCat]

It's too bad that they aren't more transparent (even to the minimal level that they were during their crowdfunding). Regular updates detailing even the barest outline of what they're doing, where they're at, and the roughest timeline would win them a lot of goodwill.

100% agree. Transparency goes a long way towards gaining faith; as things stand, one has to have "blind faith," which is somewhat difficult. With full transparency it is a lot easier to empathize with them and delays; without it you wonder what is being covered up ...

 

[Hjalmark]

Soon to Hopper Labs could be a year from now lol. They apparently run on Valve Time.

DONT YOU BRING GABE INTO THIS !!

HE IS A SAINT AND MY LORD !!!

 

[Polarbearboy]

I've had my eye on buying a GH for more than a year. Are all the problems that appear here in hundreds and thousands of comments straightened out? Can I buy one now with confidence that it will work without driving me crazy? Thanks.

 

[seaofgreens]

They have withdrawn back into redevelopment stage, so you can't just grab a new one at the moment.

That being said, I think the product has a very unique ability to just rip the hell out of herb. Especially through a waterpiece. Never seen a portable able to do it as well as the gh so far.

Theoretically, the redevelopment will address reliability. We are all hopeful, but also aware of GH history.

So if that is of interest, and you don't mind an undetermined wait, then I say go for it! Or just wait and see what happens in February, if any movement comes out of hopper labs before deciding.

 

[Hjalmark]

I've had my eye on buying a GH for more than a year. Are all the problems that appear here in hundreds and thousands of comments straightened out? Can I buy one now with confidence that it will work without driving me crazy? Thanks.

Not the vape for you then

 

[Sonicboom1991]

I've had my eye on buying a GH for more than a year. Are all the problems that appear here in hundreds and thousands of comments straightened out? Can I buy one now with confidence that it will work without driving me crazy? Thanks.

I got mine may of last year and it has been broken over 90% of the time. Coupled with hopper labs inability to send me a working unit back from rma every single time now, I feel like I wasted my money.

 

[Mr. Whitewall]

You might be able to clean out under the metal screen in the herb chamber, making sure the sensor is exposed could get it back in working order

Hey! Thanks for "pointing it out" hehe. Although I'm afraid to do more damage than good; my precision tweezers need to be pointier still, it's kinda hard to operate with ease.
I tried a longtime ago with the top one but wasn't too successful, managed to deform it upwards a little and only could turn so much, it never came out or even close...
Also thought about the whole blowing/ISO thing, but don't really think it may help.
I forgot to mention a very weird bug too: before the light was much brighter, it shone from all the holes. Now there's only 2 that shine... I found it was quite discreet so I didn't pay much attention but I realise there may be a problem now...

I'm also afraid of sending mine in, depends if they deliver with a proper and timely repair. I might decide getting the charger and (maybe) the metal case too. Otherwise I won't keep supporting that model until they get it together (at looong last).

To be fair, I received my leather case last week. I preodered and waited until now so, it may be a sign from "Almighty Gabe" (I'm down with Steam btw! ) that things are (slowly, veeery slowly) finally coming together?

 

[AJS]

16 months and Ti still running strong

 

[Zow237]

So does the ti version seem to be having less failure rates?

 

[Cheesequake]

So does the ti version seem to be having less failure rates?

No.

 

[Hammahead]

Can I buy one now with confidence that it will work without driving me crazy? Thanks.

I would like to elaborate what @seaofgreens and @Hjalmark said: I don't think it's the right vape for you right now. Problem is you better expect it not to be super reliable and you better expect it to totally rock your expectations of a small, portable device. It's unrivaled fast action (faster even than a butane vape in my experience), the totally even vaporizing without stirring, the top tier efficacy, great taste and overall brilliance might get you seriously hooked and leave you quite disappointed when it fails. Only if you're willing to face that at one point or another, go ahead and buy one.

 

[Zow237]

No.

Do they get significantly hotter than the ti?