Discontinued The Grasshopper

[slcbdco]

Wonder if the auto shut-off is only active when the unit is NOT being used? Buzz and room mate when testing forgot about turning it off and on again (IIRC) - as they planned to - but they passed it back and forth without power switching for more than the auto shut off time... So there's a sensor?

Yes, it's auto shutoff is 18 seconds from the last draw, a new draw resets the 18 seconds

 

[lookhigh]

This thread is giving me stress.

 

[inuhuion]

speaking of threads... i'm wondering if the issue of the back ends not being able to be unscrewed is due to that change in the threading they made late in the game. Perhaps some of the old batch of back ends with the previous threading got mixed with a newer body with new threading and the college dropout stoner guy GH hired to assemble just torqued them down and didn't care.

 

[syrupy]

and the college dropout stoner guy GH hired to assemble just torqued them down and didn't care.

Well, his job application looked good!

The question remains... would Conrad have let this happen?

 

[MikeG7265]

Just my opinion, but there's a person on reddit that had the same issue as @HillaryClinton, the non removeable back end and the blemishes. Sounds to me like someone doesn't understand the assembly process. Personally I can't see these ends going on smoothly and not coming off smoothly. So it sounds like someone is using a vice or tool to hold the hopper and cranking the back end down because they can't get it to go on by hand, possibly cross threading or having something on the threads. Just doesn't make sense that they would go on correctly and not come off at all.

I know it's only been two so far, so I hope it's just an assembler that can get better or be replaced if needed.

 

[grokit]

I don't think it's bad employees yet, they are only trickling out 1-2 units at a time so I believe they are still struggling to come up with proper assembly protocols. And has been observed, they may have out-of-tolerance parts mixed up with proper ones at this point. My hypothesis is they envisioned white-glove assembly where the units just clipped/screwed together easily, and for whatever reason(s) that hasn't worked out in the real world. Look at the units they are sending out; they are almost all either defective or cosmetically deficient, and many are both from what I can tell. If that's not struggling I don't know what is, and I sincerely hope that tonight's update provides some real transparency regarding these struggles.

edit: I am totally rooting for these guys, I just wouldn't want to be in their shoes atm !

 

[olivianewtonjohn]

Regarding the mouthpiece getting too hot. Couldnt GHL down the road make a silicone tipped mouthpiece (built in) so it all kind of flows visually?

 

[MikeG7265]

I don't think it's bad employees yet, they are only trickling out 1-2 units at a time so I believe they are still struggling to come up with proper assembly protocols. And has been observed, they may have out-of-tolerance parts mixed up with proper ones at this point. My hypothesis is they envisioned white-glove assembly where the units just clipped/screwed together easily, and for whatever reason that hasn't worked out in the real world. Look at the units they are sending out; they are almost all either defective or cosmetically deficient, and many are both from what I can tell. If that's not struggling I don't know what is, and I sincerely hope that tonight's update provides some real transparency regarding these struggles.

I understand what you're saying. The part that I still don't get is how whomever assembled the ones where the back end won't come off didn't notice. I may be totally wrong, but if they aren't coming off, then they shouldn't be going on very easy either, and that should be noticed in comparison to the ones that do go on and come off as they should.

I hope they do a more in depth update also, I have a feeling that if it's another vague one, there's gonna be a shitstorm of backlash and negativity.

As usual just MHO

 

[Shrike]

...if they are truly only trickling out a few each day, then I would have made damn sure that those units were functioning properly, screwed and unscrewed properly and had ZERO scratches or blemishes on them...

...but that's just me...tmmv...not a great first impression they're presenting to us, but they still have plenty of time to right the ship.................however, the clock is ticking...

 

[Just Justin]

Sorry @Just Justin I gotta call you out because you've been straight Treatin yo' self! a GH and a MiVape! Awesome man, gotta give us this scoop! My guess is the MiVape is the evil love child of a GH and a pax2, which if so I wants to has it!

I can't help it. I like vaporizers and I've been watching both for so long. They all bring something different to the table and I may want to use one or another depending on what I'm doing or my mood.

 

[slcbdco]

Regarding the mouthpiece getting too hot. Couldnt GHL down the road make a silicone tipped mouthpiece (built in) so it all kind of flows visually?

Not to but the heat issue is really subjective and in my experience it bothered me a little during the new toy phase, nothing the mouthpiece that's included couldn't handle and now I don't even use that except to put it in glass.

I've actually been experimenting with temp 5 big rip old school one hitter style vaping and it's definitely a good way to use it So I just throw in a pinch and take 2 big rips on 5 and I'm usually good and can come back 30 minutes later or so and get two more before its done.

With this method the strain really does start to taste like if you're dabbing it. I think I'm that video when the guy says "it tastes just like a vaporizer" that's what he meant. Here locally in the industry "vaporizer" is a vernacular for carriage oil pens (o-pen and similar styles dispensaries sell of their own oil). Poor choice of words for a broad audience but I know what he means.

Also oddly enough I saw that guy at the liquor store a few weeks ago. Don't know him and figured he didn't need a "hey aren't you that one guy" because since I get that a lot I know it's not that cool when you're just trying to get your drank on!

 

[OF]

I think I'm that video when the guy says "it tastes just like a vaporizer" that's what he meant. Here locally in the industry "vaporizer" is a vernacular for carriage oil pens (o-pen and similar styles dispensaries sell of their own oil). Poor choice of words for a broad audience but I know what he means.

Great insight, thanks.

OF

 

[linux3214]

I thought I knew what hot was, coming from the pax, but the titanium and ss gh is a whole other level! Like a precision simmering fire. Serials are in the 50s for ss and 90s for titanium.

Just a question, is the knob heating up to abnormally high temps once you start it normal?

 

[Snappo]

I thought I knew what hot was, coming from the pax, but the titanium and ss gh is a whole other level! Like a precision simmering fire. Serials are in the 50s for ss and 90s for titanium.

Just a question, is the knob heating up to abnormally high temps once you start it normal?

Have you communicated your experience with Grasshopper Labs? Please keep us posted with updates. Thanks!

 

[JiggyJack]

Hi Everyone,

We’re here with the August 1st update. Assembly is progressing nicely and Hoppers are shipping everyday. We’ve brought on two new employees to speed up assembly, and they’re rapidly getting up to speed on the processes. Shipping volume will be improved once they’re fully operational. Additionally, we’ve hired an in-house customer service representative to help with the request workload. This should free up more of our time to develop the assembly line and make the tasks themselves much faster.

We’re still not very accurate in our estimations of shipping dates, as assembly has taken longer than we originally expected. With lots of Hopper parts in stock, we’ve simply been grinding away building units. With just a few of us, this has gone slowly but with more help and better equipment we are starting to make a dent. Please consult the website for updated estimated shipping info later this coming week. We’re adding new data from assembly to our system to better estimate when your unit will arrive.

The feedback from the community has been great so far. We are very pleased that those who have received their Grasshoppers seem to be thoroughly enjoying them. We are taking note of all the user comments we receive in order to improve our processes and see what we need to explain more thoroughly.

Some users have had a question regarding the Auto-Off feature of the Grasshopper. The Grasshopper has an Auto-Off timer which will turn your unit off automatically if you do not draw through it. This feature helps preserve battery life and keeps your unit from getting too hot. To prevent the unit from turning off while you are using it, take a firm draw shortly after the lights turn blue.

Adjustments to the price and estimated delivery for new orders will be made this month as well.

We’ll have another status update on the 15th.

The Grasshopper Team

 

[HillaryClinton]

We are very pleased that those who have received their Grasshoppers seem to be thoroughly enjoying them.

Sorry if I come off jaded but I doubt I am the only one that finds it a tiny bit hard to believe, I got two duds at once, I am reading of others with similar issues, if not performance wise, at least cosmetic issues.

Would have been better to say: "We are pleased many people are having good experiences and are working to sort out the quantity that have issues, this is a work in progress and we hope to have a 100% success rate very soon, thank you".

Maybe I should write for them....

 

[EllenDegeneres]

...grinding away building units. With just a few of us, this has gone slowly but with more help and better equipment we are starting to make a dent.

Literally making a dent. Mine has two dents.

Still in full support, but please be more honest GH Team.

 

[CarolKing]

I don't want to sound critical, I didn't realize what a small company it is. That's a lot of GHs to have to put together with just a few employees. No wonder it's so slow - quality control needs to be priority. Someone mentioned hopefully they fired Homer Simpson on the assembly line. That was funny. It sounds like a pretty small work crew.

I hope for fewer faulty units once they get their crew trained.

 

[syrupy]

Just a question, is the knob heating up to abnormally high temps once you start it normal?

Some have reported the back end getting very hot, sometimes rapidly. If the back section gets hotter than the middle section, it might be something to have looked at. The last few pages have a couple of examples of this issue, that you could compare with what you're experiencing. Best of luck.

Edit: Found one. Read this and the following posts for an example.

Edit, again: the update sounds vaguely familiar, like it was put together from other updates. Working theory: a computer writes the updates.

 

[EllenDegeneres]

back end getting very hot

hehehehe derrière

But seriously heat there is a no-no. Probably a short circuit.

 

[herbalist33]

Remember them saying over a month ago that things were taking longer than expected, but they were testing every hopper after assembly before shipping out?

Considering people are having units shipped with the backend getting hot from the get-go, and unable to screw off the backend, and with dents etc., I think it's safe to say they are not testing to any great degree. Probably clicking it on, see the leds flash on, click off.

 

[blankexpression]

Something I read on Reddit yesterday.CLICK

Before the introduction of robots their failure rate was 25%. This is from an established company, even with the bots the failure rate is 5%. Kind of put it into perspective really.

The fact the defective units are making it out the door is another conversation entirely!

 

[MikeG7265]

Remember them saying over a month ago that things were taking longer than expected, but they were testing every hopper after assembly before shipping out?

Considering people are having units shipped with the backend getting hot from the get-go, and unable to screw off the backend, and with dents etc., I think it's safe to say they are not testing to any great degree. Probably clicking it on, see the leds flash on, click off.

Yeah and I remember a recent update saying they were bringing people on something to the effect of being able to produce thousands of units per week by the end of July. And now they say they've hired 3 people. And before someone says we don't know how many people they have working, I'll agree, because they've never said whether they brought anyone on or not.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if all those boxes they showed a while back that were ready to ship, all got shipped even after reports of problems.

Sorry if I seem negative, I want to see HL succeed as much as anyone. But these updates make it sound like everything is rolling along smooth, and I think we all have seen how bumpy the road has been.

 

[OF]

I don't want to sound critical, I didn't realize what a small company it is. That's a lot of GHs to have to put together with just a few employees. No wonder it's so slow - quality control needs to be priority.

It can be a very awkward transition to make. Making 100s is nothing at all like making one, usually, which is why there are traditional steps taken to deal with these very issues (final design, procurement, assembly, test, QC, inventory control and so on), which are sure to 'pop up'. Especially if there is no plan. Murphy is lurking.

I hope for fewer faulty units once they get their crew trained.

Amen to that. But there's a lot of ground to cover yet. Consider right now those few, very overworked guys that are putting in the Hero Time to get units shipped are the exact same resource that is required to TRAIN THAT CREW! They have no time for that even if they do have the skills needed to establish, train, and supervise Production/QC/Inventory Control/Shipping and so on. Issues they are just now confronting. Training workers should have been part of a plan and 'ready to come on line' at the right time. It's part of 'just in time Manufacturing', people are a resource too.

That training should have already been done, the Manufacturing functions defined if not in place. Now they're playing catch up ball with their exhausted first string, already stretched too far who should be doing other things anyway.

But, IMO, that crew (and their support staff) should already have been hired and trained long before now. As is traditional. Trying to 'do it smarter' isn't working out so well?

"The first job you have to delegate is the one you do better than everyone else".

But seriously heat there is a no-no. Probably a short circuit.

Perhaps, but I think it's more likely poor connection? A LOT of power (current wise) goes through that area it seems. Any resistance at all (and there is always some this side of Superconductors) means voltage drops and power developed. This is why you need a thick extension for high power tools, small ones get hot?

I think the dicey connection involved could be internal, but is also likely in the threads. Actual 'atom to atom' contact can be a small fraction of the total cross section. Like loose wires in a car or wall outlet this can cause serious local heating.

I think the solution is in Product Engineering (the way things are designed, the fine points, and how they're built). Some 'DMIs' (Detailed Manufacturing Instructions) might be called for as well as perhaps some dedicated test fixture/routine for 100% testing of the assembly?

Remember them saying over a month ago that things were taking longer than expected, but they were testing every hopper after assembly before shipping out?

Evidently not. Or the PO is opening them and sabotaging them? That can happen if you're not playing by all the rules. It's especially dangerous in Service. While you should never ever have the guys working on it deciding what ships and when (nor as much as possible keeping 'the suits' (sales) out of those decisions) it happens. Without strong structure it can be a very serious danger.

Ideally QC (or more correctly QA) 'should report directly to the Old Man'. Completely separate from Production. And it should include Incoming Inspection as determined. Before production parts are bought, 'they' should be there. A 'cart before the horse' kinda thing?

Hopefully they're continuing to solve these (IMO to be expected) issues. They've come a long way. Their real job is to make a set of instructions for 'anyone' to build GHs from. Only 'paper', with maybe an example or two. A complete package that 'any factory' (with their established trained workers, Inventory Control, Inspectors, Supervisors and so on) could 'bang out' in whatever volume/schedule needed.

No formal "Production Release" of the package yet.......IMO serious mistake. Even if informal, that's a critical function. They should have defined the steps and been 'ticking them off' to identify where work needed to be done. And when the job of Design was over and Production started. Or so I was taught.

They've come a long way, I'm sure the desire to overcome and finish the job is strong. They just need to feel it out.

And we need to wait for that?

OF

 

[MikeG7265]

@OF you make some seriously valid points!! At this point they should have more going on that what they do,MHO, and personally I think that Matt and Trevor should basically be the QC at this point. It's their company and with shipping going on, and the amount of "different issues" we're seeing, it's the two of them that stand to lose the most in the end, well and us too if we don't get to experience this amazing vape.

Sounds like July date which got moved to August is now going to get moved to who knows when

I feel you man, but think about the people that have been waiting close to two years. I can't imagine how this long of a wait has been to them.
But I'm in the same boat as you.