Discontinued The RBT Milaana (unregulated single 18650)

[TeeJay1952]

https://www.youtube.com/user/CustomGrow420

One look and I remembered the crew.

 

[invertedisdead]

With little commercial appeal ? for Milaana outside of the FC (elite vaporist) crowd @RBTCustomerService is working on a plan to target more the 35 to 45 year old lover of fine and unique things demographic.

So, how do we get upscale artisan in order to be sustainable on low volumes? What are your pie in the sky dreams for the RBT brand and it's offerings? Thanks for the continued support as we try to get this thing off the ground.

Just thinking here, never used any of your products, pretty damn curious/interested in the Milaana, but considering the success of the MFLB I'm wondering why you think the Milaana has little commercial appeal? The bigger problem seems to be I can't even buy one on your store? Hope I don't sound like an ass and we're all level headed because having product in stock would be a step in the right direction. Retailers, reviews, etc.

On the flip side, you could go factory direct; that's cool but you will want to focus your efforts heavily on organic marketing and social media going that route. Busy retailers sell products just by carrying them. For example, if your product was on puffitup, your getting free marketing from everyone just checking the site to see whats new.

Peace!

 

[AJS]

On the flip side, you could go factory direct; that's cool but you will want to focus your efforts heavily on organic marketing and social media going that route. Busy retailers sell products just by carrying them. For example, if your product was on puffitup, your getting free marketing from everyone just checking the site to see whats new.

Peace!

He builds stock for other stores so they can handle sales as he works on projects for the most part.
Try 420edc and planetvape

 

[Shit Snacks]

As the wood was going across the saw some interesting knots, grains and work holes were evident. I was thinking of having a "select" grade that are hand picked for their natural beauty and listed with actual pictures on the units unique nature.

With little commercial appeal ? for Milaana outside of the FC (elite vaporist) crowd @RBTCustomerService is working on a plan to target more the 35 to 45 year old lover of fine and unique things demographic. This will allow us to sell art (small volume of hand made works) rather than lithographs (mass commercial marketing). @Dan Morrison is our poster child... That image of him thoughtfully working in his shop is epic.

So, yes, we will eventually do more woods... But what about mixing woods - walnut body/maple cap, different radius selections, getting the wood blank square and you carve, router, sand, stain, and wood burn to your liking and then send it back for me to build... I have a Cherry block that I cut such that a knot hole will be the air inlet and I will leave the inlet out for a one of a kind vape. What about a less expensive 2x4 square offering? Unlike plastic parts I can change routing and radius options at will (see Twitter)

So, how do we get upscale artisan in order to be sustainable on low volumes? What are your pie in the sky dreams for the RBT brand and it's offerings? Thanks for the continued support as we try to get this thing off the ground.

@RastaBuddhaTao said it right. We want to bring this brand to artisan level. To expand on Ryan's questions: What is the least you would pay for a mixed wood? What's the most you would pay?

What about for the 2x4 square offering, what is the least you'd pay? Most you'd pay?

How would you reach out to future potential customers? We love the FC crowd and all you have done to help bring the company to our current level. Now we need to keep the company sustainable.

I'm going to help Ryan draft a scalable marketing plan to make this happen.

Thanks again for all your support!

Best,
Steve
RBT Team

Yeah the fancy woods and custom options helps it get back to the individual handcrafted roots. Photos of individual fancy units is great to show the potential, I'm thinking like @underdog here more than Dan, maybe a little @Alan too but UD is a bigger operation like you're trying to be. Could do custom wood blanks thay people send in too, all great marketing, but still the cheaper standard units will likely sell much better (maple cherry walnut, I think doing the bottom caps in a contrasting wood could be really cool too) @StickyBricks mix things up woodwise and are a small operation too, another good analogue

That demo seems spot on, getting in with the bigger brands like High Times makes sense for them (HT could use some proper vapor education themselves too) and ofcourse Buzz needs one, I guess Bud too though personally I don't respect him as much but he has reach.

Also totally at the photos on twitter, can't get enough of that spalted, but is that also a walnut body with both sides rounded?! Dreaming of all the combination possibilities along with the natural unique elements of each piece of wood... Can't wait to see new Milaanas

 

[alltoreup]

Personally, and I might be biased here, but before I see custom wood bodies or anything else for milaana, I'd like to see my Zion that I pre-ordered 14 months ago. Or at least some idea when those preorders will be made and shipped. Hell I'd even take an announcement saying it was being postponed until later or even cancelled. I get that you are trying to sell these to get more money to do this, but come on guys. If you aren't selling them now, do you really think more expensive ones with custom wood will solve the problem? Sorry guys, I'm under the weather today and just not feeling well so maybe I'm being a bit crabby. Carry on

 

[natural farmer]

I think one of the reasons that MFLB is (was?) such a big hit is that impossibly sweet warranty they have. You break it, they change it with a brand new one!!! It is pretty durable as well if you don't count the teared screens from cleaning every now and then... If RBT could offer something like that...... I, as well, don't think that that going more expensive and exotic is the way to go. Just take a look at what Arizer has done, MF as well.

 

[nondarb]

What about a less expensive 2x4 square offering?

I think this should be on the front line over exotic woods and customs. The custom market, like the FC market (because they are one in the same, and most of us already have a Mi or two!) would be exhausted fairly quickly.

Getting the Mi closer to the $100 price point mentioned at the start of the thread should be prioritized over exotics. I understand $100 is probably too cheap but $130 seems very feasible and would be downright disruptive in the market. Two by models for the masses and then introduce the exotics and custom glass options once everyones gotten a taste.

Have you considered hitting the counter culture trade shows like Champs? Lots of exposure.

Send one to joe rogan

Thats a great idea, I only casually listen to Joe's podcasts and have heard him talk about vaporizing several times! Sometimes you can hear the bag from his volcano crinkling, awful noise. A mi would be quieter eh

 

[Copacetic]

Yeah the fancy woods and custom options helps it get back to the individual handcrafted roots. Photos of individual fancy units is great to show the potential...........
..........Also totally at the photos on twitter, can't get enough of that spalted, but is that also a walnut body with both sides rounded?!

Do you have to be signed up to Twitter to see the pic's you mention?
I had a look but could only find the pic's I've already seen on this thread

.......
..... I, as well, don't think that that going more expensive and exotic is the way to go. Just take a look at what Arizer has done, MF as well.

I've gotta say that I for one have no interest in purchasing either an Ariser, or a MF , but I'm VERY excited about exotic Milaanas.

 

[Shit Snacks]

Do you have to be signed up to Twitter to see the pic's you mention?

Nope, just googled there

 

[RastaBuddhaTao]

I'm under the weather today and just not feeling well so maybe I'm being a bit crabby. Carry on

Anyone who has a Zion pre-order in has a right to be crabby even if they are under the weather... Feel better.

A quick update here with a mental note to update Zion... We are moving several hundred Milaana bodies across the drill presses in the coming weeks so that we can switch the production line over to build Zion. This will allow us to get Milaana into assembly to feed demand as Zion enters manufacturing.

@Cl4ud3 welcome to the party! Everyone thanks for the candid and honest feedback... We are listening

Had an opportunity to Skype with @pakalolo tonight. Dude is a vapor God! Thanks for the words of wisdom. Good to see that the turtle is treating you well. Thanks for the education on micro dosing as a controlled means of delivery. So much to ponder as I am drilling holes.

https://twitter.com/rastabuddhatao/status/700301306586599424

 

[natural farmer]

I've gotta say that I for one have no interest in purchasing either an Ariser, or a MF , but I'm VERY excited about exotic Milaanas.

Just mentioning those two companies as examples of how they got successful...

 

[Copacetic]

Nope, just googled there

Strange, I found RBT's feed easily, but couldn't find the pic's of walnut or spalted wood at all

Luckily:

https://twitter.com/rastabuddhatao/status/700301306586599424

This link took me to where I could see them (Thanks RBT), ......dat.....spalted.....tho......

Just mentioning those two companies as examples of how they got successful...

Ah, I see now, apologies.

 

[RastaBuddhaTao]

To give some additional detail to help answer some questions...

The lack of commercial appeal meaning that Milaana currently doesn't sell in stores next to other more well known and mainstream vaporizers. Despite the affinity here on FC, even at prominent online shops like PV the volumes are small and appears to be nearly exclusively driven from FC. Milaana have patiently sat in 6 shops in the greater Atlanta area for months with zero interest.

This doesn't mean it can't grow to followings similar to Magic Flight, in fact the CEO and I chat on the regular and his mentoring is helpful but Magic Flight was an early mover and boast simplicity that gives it a huge cost advantage over Milaana. Pak and I talked last night about the cost struggle that power hungry convection vaporizers create. We also discussed the need for smaller, more energy efficient models in the future... A RBT PAX/MF of sorts. Yes, the $100 vaporizer is possible if you build in in a low cost region, meet the price points required in the retail world where they need Keystone, and you have a big marketing budget to generate volumes in the 10k-100k units per year mark. If you move 100k vaporizers and make a buck a piece for orchestrating the manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer formula (@stickstones suggest 6X the cost) you will make $100k in profit. If you build 250 units and you make $100 profit on each unit you will make $25k in profit. If your expenses are $20k for the year you will net $5k. This is economy of scale from the top to the bottom. @pakalolo calls this gap the difference between mass commercial and hand crafted. One is a hobby and one is a business. I currently have an expensive hobby that in 3 years I hope to turn into a business. It is those that understand these economics and have a desire to help that cause that are my next wave of customers.

That starts with a small, dedicated following here on FC that as @RBTCustomerService alluded to, we are crafting a marketing plan to leverage the passion here to be ambassadors for RBT movement and together we will push Milaana over the hump, finish what we started with Zion with all of our lessons learned and then launch the 510 where we hope to find a sustainable market to finally be financially sustainable.

No question it has been a bit of a long and winding road but it's the twist and turns that make community funded developments fun and exciting.

Come help build a movement that makes Milaana the most loved wooden vape and who knows, we might eventually get it to commercial viability, but that will require your support and voice... Or it's just one man crying out in the forest.

 

[invertedisdead]

IMO, No reason to die fighting in the low end unless you can absolutely nail it. $100, great price point for the average consumer but so much competition, hard to make an impact. I'm convinced this market is big enough to stay afloat without going after the average consumer. I mean, Storz & Bickel has been selling $500 vaporizers for 20 years! Make the right product and nobody will question the price. Mothership glass has no problem asking what they want. A high volume /low margin business is just so much work, personally the the last type of business I would want to start going into 2017. Now is the time to take advantage of people regaining interest in quality heirloom items, and the mmj / vaporizer market certainly isn't shrinking. At this point you guys just need to invest time and research into marketing, because marketing will either get you into more retailers, or more factory direct sales. Up to you which one you prefer, but the only way to do 100k units is to be available in that many locations via demand set from your marketing approach.

 

[Tommy10]

Finally got my long stem back after leaving at a mates second day I got it. Much better in my mind, I'm not one normally to worry about hot Vapor but th short stem I can't seem to extract as well, get a tickle and cut it too early. Long stem is so cool and so smooth.

 

[killick]

How the flock did I wind up 15 pages behind in this thread? Anyhoo, it's still my fave vape. Both of them

 

[ragnorokk]

I too have been neglecting the RBT threads. I had to pop in and thank @RastaBuddhaTao again for making these vapes. The Zion got me to finally fuck combustion within days of receiving it, and the Milaana has replaced my travel pipe. Thanks for helping me make the switch, brosef.

 

[duckTape]

I just picked up my Milaana from the post office!!! She made it from Canada to Norway in just 7 days thanks to @PlanetVape

I'm supposedly in the middle of my t-break We'll see how that goes, got the battery charging

I'll admit I was a little anxious about the cosmetic looks (the button and wooden finish), but she's just perfect! She's also a lot smaller than I had anticipated and melts perfectly into my palm

I also received a green and a blue short stem (+ a bag of potato chips and a S&B grinder, PV rocks)

Can't wait to take her for a spin (or for her to take me on a spin)

I'm sorry about the excessive use of smileys, but it feels like I'm 14 years old again and madly in love

I'll come back with a report from our first date

 

[duckTape]

Short update from a couple of test-rounds;

She blew my head off , even though I kept on the lower end of temps (rather be a bit too careful at the beginning so I don't combust). Flavor is outstanding

I must say I love the ritual of using it; loading, hitting, checking the ABV. Everything that gets cooked gets inhaled, no waste I can stop when "I've had it", instead of feeling that I have to finish it since it will be cooked anyways like in a conduction vape.

I still have so much to learn, and I love it The glass, wood and analog tech gives it a really special feeling, "ancient but high-tech" sort of

Anyways I have a battery question. I found a battery on a Norwegian website, the description on the page doesn't say anything about the discharge rate (it's in Norwegian btw). But on the battery it's written;
ICR18650-A28, doesn't this mean that the discharge rate is 28A? And isn't that within required specs?

Here's a link to the battery;
http://www.clasohlson.com/no/Batteri-18650-3,7-V-2800-mAh/51-2298?#undefined

 

[BadDog No]

@duckTape :

Had to get out a battery to be sure, but no, that battery isn't suitable. You need a flat top 18650 and the battery you showed is not. Compare the positive terminal to the battery you already have and you'll see what I mean. Please be very careful and only buy recommended batteries capable of a rapid discharge rate. Glad to hear your first sessions went so well though. Welcome to the fraternity!

 

[Bravesst]

Sorry for my absence as of late, but I've been enjoying my MI's nonetheless.

 

[Copacetic]

Short update from a couple of test-rounds;

She blew my head off , even though I kept on the lower end of temps (rather be a bit too careful at the beginning so I don't combust). Flavor is outstanding

I must say I love the ritual of using it; loading, hitting, checking the ABV. Everything that gets cooked gets inhaled, no waste I can stop when "I've had it", instead of feeling that I have to finish it since it will be cooked anyways like in a conduction vape.

I still have so much to learn, and I love it The glass, wood and analog tech gives it a really special feeling, "ancient but high-tech" sort of

Anyways I have a battery question. I found a battery on a Norwegian website, the description on the page doesn't say anything about the discharge rate (it's in Norwegian btw). But on the battery it's written;
ICR18650-A28, doesn't this mean that the discharge rate is 28A? And isn't that within required specs?

Here's a link to the battery;
http://www.clasohlson.com/no/Batteri-18650-3,7-V-2800-mAh/51-2298?#undefined

Welcome aboard!

 

[duckTape]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome @BadDog No and @Copacetic

Maybe you or anyone else could point me in the right direction to find suitable batteries?

Thanks again my friends

 

[Copacetic]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome @BadDog No and @Copacetic

Maybe you or anyone else could point me in the right direction to find suitable batteries?

Thanks again my friends

I just got all mine direct from RBT to eliminate all doubts.
There are vendors mentioned further back in the thread somewhere, but I've never tried them.

Maybe go back 10-15 pages and read forward till you find a battery discussion, dunno where exactly, sorry

 

[OyVape]

Battery info thread on page 50