The Grasshopper

[Shit Snacks]

Yeah every couple weeks someone freaks out about the update, even though every single time its sent super late the night of. Patience grasshopper really is too perfect for this situation...

That being said, I will gladly offer anyone a refund if it means i can take their place/log-in as a backer and finally order some hoppers for myself. I understand crowdfunding a startup and would have been thrilled to support this one had i known about it at the time

 

[Shrike]

Just got the update...

Looks like they went out of business...

Just kidding....everything is still on schedule...

Can't wait for two weeks from now, when the whining starts in late afternoon that they haven't gotten their update yet...

 

[caliwisp]

Today's email:

Hey Everyone,

We’re back with another update on the Grasshopper Project! Things are moving along nicely and we’re still on schedule. Over the last 15 days, we’ve focused on solving a few spring force balancing issues, placing more bulk orders, checking parts received, and preparing the assembly space.

The Hopper uses four springs to make electrical contact and provide the mechanical “pen button” functionality. These springs must be balanced and optimized to work in conjunction with one another. Due to the size constraints of the design, it was difficult to design springs that would work together, and also remain reliable for many thousands of cycles. We built a spring force balancing software program to optimise cycle life, button force and balance for the best possible experience. We’ve completed and verified the design, and the springs are on-order.

In the last 30 days, we’ve placed orders for production versions of many parts which will be arriving very soon. These include all the backend metal parts, the magnetic charger components and charging cable, and the heater. We’re expecting some of these to arrive in the next 15 days, and we’ll update you on their status when they arrive.

Dustin, the newest Grasshopper employee, has been hard at work setting up the assembly space. He’s built and installed a large number of tables and outlets to prepare the workspace. Next, he’ll be working to set up each assembly station, and start nailing down the exact assembly workflow.

It’s exciting to see everything starting to come together!
Next update will be on July 15th.

The Grasshopper Team.

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Just got the update...

Looks like they went out of business...

Just kidding....everything is still on schedule...

Can't wait for two weeks from now, when the whining starts in late afternoon

As someone who's already been on the receiving end of this kind of joke, I don't find them funny. At all. I encourage you to not make a joke of this nature again.

Today's email:

Hey Everyone,

We’re back with another update on the Grasshopper Project! Things are moving along nicely and we’re still on schedule. Over the last 15 days, we’ve focused on solving a few spring force balancing issues, placing more bulk orders, checking parts received, and preparing the assembly space.

The Hopper uses four springs to make electrical contact and provide the mechanical “pen button” functionality. These springs must be balanced and optimized to work in conjunction with one another. Due to the size constraints of the design, it was difficult to design springs that would work together, and also remain reliable for many thousands of cycles. We built a spring force balancing software program to optimise cycle life, button force and balance for the best possible experience. We’ve completed and verified the design, and the springs are on-order.

In the last 30 days, we’ve placed orders for production versions of many parts which will be arriving very soon. These include all the backend metal parts, the magnetic charger components and charging cable, and the heater. We’re expecting some of these to arrive in the next 15 days, and we’ll update you on their status when they arrive.

Dustin, the newest Grasshopper employee, has been hard at work setting up the assembly space. He’s built and installed a large number of tables and outlets to prepare the workspace. Next, he’ll be working to set up each assembly station, and start nailing down the exact assembly workflow.

IMO, this is the lamest update yet.

I guess that's what one should expect, when people demand constant updates...

 

[Shrike]

Sorry you didn't find it funny, EDA. It was more in response to the persistent whining about EVERYTHING related to this Vape.

And it's not like I left everyone hanging after the second sentence...that would have been cruel.

Sorry you've had a bad experience...I'm sure most of us that have lived a few decades have had similar ones...

And you're right about the update...not much new at this time...

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Sorry you didn't find it funny, EDA. It was more in response to the persistent whining about EVERYTHING related to this Vape.

And it's not like I left everyone hanging after the second sentence...that would have been cruel.

Sorry you've had a bad experience...I'm sure most of us that have lived a few decades have had similar ones...

And you're right about the update...not much new at this time...

Understood, @Shrike. Your post was funny and harmless, certainly.

Just, with so much information and misinformation on this forum, I like to see jokes about stuff unrelated to release dates and out-of-business businesses. My apologies if I came across as harsh.

You're right, it was an obvious joke, and you're a good poster.

I was just really humiliated after a similar experience in the Firefly thread.

 

[Shrike]

No problem!

Sorry you had a real bad experience. Our favorite hobby/lifestyle is fraught with charlatan's as well as many good people. Hard some time to judge the wheat from the chaff. We all get burned from time to time if we participate in life. Sometimes I find the shit in life funnier than the good events. What can I say...I'm twisted at times!

 

[°k]

IMO, this is the lamest update yet.

I guess that's what one should expect, when people demand constant updates...

What's lame about it? They've built tables in a nice room so that now they can host bingo games!

Icing on the cake if they can't pull the GH out they can send us pieces of furniture. But I'm telling you @Zenpen I'm not paying for extra shipping costs!

 

[zymos]

What's so lame about it? It gives details about several critical parts, information about time frames of receiving them, and includes pictures of the production space (that some people had actually wanted to see). I would have liked to see more pics of parts, though they might well be keeping some things proprietary until release.
I thought it was completely reassuring that things are on track, and that's pretty much the purpose of the updates.

 

[darkrom]

Company that claims to bend the laws of battery technology and do the impossible engineering that none of the other big name companies can pull off....is struggling with spring rates?

 

[FUnhouse]

That being said, I will gladly offer anyone a refund if it means i can take their place/log-in as a backer and finally order some hoppers for myself. I understand crowdfunding a startup and would have been thrilled to support this one had i known about it at the time

I'll take someone's spot as a backer as well !!

mod note: Edite to fix QUOTE tag

yeah, don't know why that happened

 

[zymos]

Company that claims to bend the laws of battery technology and do the impossible engineering that none of the other big name companies can pull off....is struggling with spring rates?

You read that, I read an anecdote about an engineering problem they that they solved.

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

What's so lame about it? It gives details about several critical parts, information about time frames of receiving them, and includes pictures of the production space (that some people had actually wanted to see). I would have liked to see more pics of parts, though they might well be keeping some things proprietary until release.
I thought it was completely reassuring that things are on track, and that's pretty much the purpose of the updates.

Well, @zymos, I'm not as excited as you are about this vaporizer. You like this project. I get it. In fact, we all get it.

What I saw in that update... was pictures of goddamn tables.

Yeah, I'm a dick, so be it.

I want the Grasshopper team to succeed as much as anyone else. But the longer this is taking, and the more updates they give, the more my hopes are sinking.

You feel differently. I get it.

Yes, yes, good stuff takes time. There's no need to point that out.

I'll admit - I no longer believe in this vaporizer.

I won't say anything more until it arrives. I probably shouldn't even post this, but I really don't give a fuck anymore. And I'm not the sort of guy to not respond when my posts are quoted.

 

[zymos]

Well, @zymos, I'm not as excited as you are about this vaporizer. You like this project. I get it. In fact, we all get it.

What I saw in that update... was pictures of goddamn tables.

Yeah, I'm a dick, so be it.

I want the Grasshopper team to succeed as much as anyone else. But the longer this is taking, and the more updates they give, the more my hopes are sinking.

You feel differently. I get it.

Yes, yes, good stuff takes time. There's no need to point that out.

I'll admit - I no longer believe in this vaporizer.

I won't say anything more until it arrives. I probably shouldn't even post this, but I really don't give a fuck anymore. And I'm not the sort of guy to not respond when my posts are quoted.

I don't think you are a dick. You are frustrated you have to wait so long. I get it. In fact we all get it.
But you didn't even explain why you felt the update was so lame, just vented about your frustrations. I really don't understand why each of these last few updates, none of which indicate that the release date is being constantly pushed back, are making people more and more pissed off about the whole thing.
They could post a day-by-day diary of every little thing they were doing, but would that make August/September come any sooner?

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Fuck. Okay, I'll make one more post.

Zymos, I mean absolutely no offense. You've proven yourself to be quite knowledgeable on this forum, and I certainly don't mean to stop on your toes.

I'm not really even frustrated. I didn't put any money down on this.

What I seem disenchanted with is ... maybe their public relations? Hell, it might simply be the style of the writing of their updates.

Their writing makes my head hurt. As a writer who used to be paid for his work, I can honestly say my opinion on writing matters.

And when I'm working on a project, I make huge strides daily. Yes, it's not the same as making a vaporizer, but... I can sure tell you that progress is not moving things around a big room and then taking pics of it, and then posting pics of it.

Their updates SUGGEST a lot. But show little. And then it's all proprietary this, proprietary that...

I've little doubt these guys will eventually come out with this vape, and I'm quite certain it will be at least a pretty good vape. I have even less doubt that when they look back on how they handled the process leading up to it, they will wish they had done things very differently.

I guess my problem is that I think they could use someone with better "updating skills."

No hate, just an opinion. And when the time comes, I'll happily eat my words.

 

[syrupy]

I don't have a personal stake. Not having invested in the funding, I have the luxury of waiting for the final product. But I still do want this project to succeed for my fellow FCers.

That update seemed a little odd to me. Not just that it was mostly photos of a soon-to-be workspace. But there's something odd about the sequencing of the project as I'm reading about it. Maybe someone can help me where I'm getting off track.

There was some talk about spring balancing and the need to create software and new design for those parts. Then there are orders for production parts. And an assembly area being built. I'm confused about where things are in the process. Wouldn't all the design work be completed before production parts are being manufactured? When I think gearing up for production I think fully-functional prototype and beta units have been completed. Are they just gearing up all at once for this as a final push?

 

[luckypucky]

I think it was stated a while back but a friend of mine who also was a backer changed address and has sent a few emails with no response..(I am sure they get a lot of emails) is there a direct way to get in touch with someone to change any backer details such as a shipping address (when they do send them)

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

This thread :
-Are we there yet ?
-NO!
-Are we there yet ?
-No! Wait more !
-Are we there yet ?
-We are moving...
-Are we there yet ?
-No,we won't get there any time soon ...
-Are we there yet?
-No,but we are on schedule
-Are we there yet ?
- No and it going to be a bit more delay cause perfection needs time...
I guess this vape got too much popularity on the indiegogo.. I know we are all vape hungry inhere but it kinds feels like waving food infront Somalian children.. Best approach is the one that Elevape team got IMO...
Silence , silence.... Woah,... - Awesome product...

 

[HillaryClinton]

I don't think you are a dick. You are frustrated you have to wait so long. I get it. In fact we all get it.
But you didn't even explain why you felt the update was so lame, just vented about your frustrations. I really don't understand why each of these last few updates, none of which indicate that the release date is being constantly pushed back, are making people more and more pissed off about the whole thing.
They could post a day-by-day diary of every little thing they were doing, but would that make August/September come any sooner?

This, seriously whats going on here? So now they are on track and people are mad? So let me get this straight. They say everything is going smooth, no delays and people are mad? Color me confused.

I will also point this out, I have known many people, usually when someones good with things like math, engineering, etc....they aren't the best writers, that's just from what I witnessed throughout life.

 

[darkrom]

@zymos

I know that they solved the problem, but my point is someone who can do the "impossible" and make a pen vape with miraculous battery life and thermal control that defies the brightest minds out there...why did they struggle so hard with something incredibly like spring rates? How long did it REALLY take them to decide "we need more/less tension get a different spring"?




Guys it is not hard to see either point of view.

A) Look at all the space they have set up to do serious work.

and

B) Look at all that empty space where work hasn't even been started yet.


My personal opinion, is that this is going to be the biggest long con in this small little industry yet. I think everyone is waiting for a vape that is going to be at best an atmos raw.


I get that some of you tossed money their way, so you don't WANT to believe that, but at the same time what does anyone have to go by that this vaporizer actually works AT ALL? The admittedly sketchy video of the owner who goes by 2 names hitting it from weird ass angles? The promise that its better and different?

IMO if they had the knowhow to pull off something that lives up to their outrageous claims, they would have not chosen kickstarter and they would have shown off this technology defying prototype to ACTUAL investors. Thats how products normally work, lets not forget that. This whole kickstarter thing really added to the mess because so many people don't understand that if they take the money and split, or even release a product that doesn't live up to its claims, then the backers are SOL. No one bought anything, and a LOT of people didn't understand that when they were signing up for this holy grail vape that NO ONE in the world has used besides the staff...

I know thats just my opinion, there are plenty of you who think they managed to do the impossible and get miraculous battery and heat advancements, and that is fine in that everyone can have their opinion. The real tragedy is that people here are getting upset with other members over it. Lets just try to get along with each other regardless of the different opinions.


I can feel bad for everyone who got turned into a sucker if this goes the way I expect, and they can watch me eat my words and pony up cash to buy this vape eventually if they really produced the seemingly impossible vape.

 

[grokit]

I got in touch with them nicely around the last update or so, and they changed my color for me.

Personally I think that moving cross country and setting up a factory is a lot of hard work, and that these guys should make time for a serious vacation before final assembly is to commence!

 

[luckypucky]

I got in touch with them nicely around the last update or so, and they changed my color for me.

Personally I think that moving cross country and setting up a factory is a lot of hard work, and that these guys should make time for a serious vacation before final assembly is to commence!

Is there a Specific email to get ahold of them for a change?

 

[grokit]

I think I just messaged them through the indigogo site.

 

[luckypucky]

I think I just messaged them through the indigogo site.

She has had No luck there. :/

 

[darkrom]

I got in touch with them nicely around the last update or so, and they changed my color for me.

Personally I think that moving cross country and setting up a factory is a lot of hard work, and that these guys should make time for a serious vacation before final assembly is to commence!

Why so it could be pushed back to next January?

I know it sounds incredibly critical, but IMO they shouldn't take a break until they have a single unit in one independent reviewer's hands. Then again IMO, that should have happened before they started soliciting for other peoples cash. I just don't understand how you can make promises about a device that has never existed yet. How can they make battery claims and heat claims on a device that is 100% theoretical?