Discontinued Zion vaporizer

[KeroZen]

@mephisto : before you send your unit back could you please try to bend the upper battery tabs a bit by hand (gently that is) then try nudging the batteries slightly while checking if you get heat by blowing in your stem with the trigger on (heat can be felt clearly escaping by the intake hole at the base of the device)

Might be something else but when Ashton failed to heat one morning for no apparent reason out of the blue (it worked the previous evening) it was due to a bad contact on the tabs. I also have a pair of Samsung 25R that doesn't make good contact for some reason.

 

[mephisto]

Thanks for the tip @KeroZen , I will most definitely try this.

 

[Andreaerdna]

Hey hey


Agreed, but RBT is the one with the ideas & the ability to create what is imo a game changing vaporizer. Not me, and not you.

Mhmm, what does it means your statement?

Do you are on the "hey, he invented a new way to heat air through electricity and this make him some kind of Authority/Superhuman that deserves respect no matter how he behaves"?

If yes, I think we are on opposite sides regarding trust and respect.

And btw there are some others one man business on this lovely forum, with ten times rbt customers (and happy ones) and yet they answers questions without making jokes of customers. I am thinking at George and its wonderfull @VapCap for example.
No matter how he is charged with orders and customers he always answer, and he is asking for more feedback, even the negatives ones!
my last order with him is a "complex one" with custom parts and the prototype of the allTItanium VC (can't wait), he had some slow down in machining spare parts and he write me to warn me about it before I even ask him! It doesn't takes forever and it keeps peaple happy!

Peace and respect :-)

 

[Bizkat]

And btw there are some others one man business on this lovely forum, with ten times rbt customers (and happy ones) and yet they answers questions without making jokes of customers. I am thinking at George and its wonderfull @VapCap for example.

A couple of more who answer questions:
René and the @vapman
Tommy (@TriiKLe) from Triihouse

All this is unfortunate and I know RBT means well. But the damage has snowballed and it seems any defense of RBT makes it worse. Only he can change this.

I'm still not jumping ship...yet.

 

[DieHard]

It seems things are taken too literally sometimes. Maybe lost in translation. In any case...with regard to individual anecdotal personal experience,
Please take one...

 

[Shit Snacks]

It seems things are taken too literally sometimes. Maybe lost in translation. In any case...with regard to individual anecdotal personal experience,
Please take one...

Everyone has a different perspective and a different expectation, well put. If you want constant contact with the manufacturer before receiving the product, this is not the place to be anymore. The goal is for this to move away from the small log style boutique one man operation (let's not forget Triihouse is no more... I hope other small operations with great manufacturer presence don't follow the same path but it's not always sustainable) into the more Arizer and MFLB style of just churning out products for retailers en masse.

It seems there is a lot in place to make that a reality very soon, and when it is upscaled im sure there will be room for a dedicated customer service team just like those companies, vs say Underdog where Dave and Underdogette manage to do everything so personally. Do we even know who created the MFLB? Tough to be objective given this product's colaborative history here, but let's all try to keep it in perspective, be patient, and see how this evolves before we judge a company that is still being established...

 

[ragnorokk]

I'm hearing very little about the actual ZION in the Zion thread! The GH spinoff thread looks lonely, maybe we need a Zion spinoff thread for "How I think RBT should run his company".

#12 continues to see heavy daily use, with no changes in reliability. The only fit/finish issues it had were a knob that rubbed slightly (so minor that it stopped rubbing on the 3rd tim I turned it, permanently, so this was off by microns at most), and slightly off-center heater bowl (I believe this has already been addressed in the later units). My only slowdown during use was a bent tab that I'm fairly certain I bent with an oversized battery, which was a 2 second fix.

It's been a long time since I took wood shop, and I'd forgotten how long it takes me to properly wax something. I have not done enough applications, though I'm starting to get some good results. As such, no sexy pics from me quite yet, so I'll just glance in VnV's direction and hope for some ZIpOrN.

 

[MrPeanut]

Since I received my RBT Milaana I did not pick up my Zion until yesterday. I keep matched pairs of batteries for the Zion and have a bunch of singles rolling around for Milaana. Well I was out on the ice enjoying some Adirondack weather all weekend camping and ran down all of my singles. When I arrived home Evangeline (my Zion for new cult members) was eager with a bunch of batteries ready to go. If you have followed the Milaana thread at all I called Milanna the Zion killer. I have to rescind that after extending use of both. They compliment each other. The Zion heater signature is in Milaana but there is something about the speed and stealth of the unregulated that makes it so super special.

The point being I am in love with Milaana but Evangeline is still sexy as hell and I feel bad I neglected her. Both will be getting even time now.

Evangeline is a Frankenstein Zion with different electronic, heater and wood from various revisions. Milaana is a alpha/beta kind of unit. I just cannot wait until I get production quality units. Drooling just thinking about it.

 

[killick]

#12 continues to see heavy daily use, with no changes in reliability. The only fit/finish issues it had were a knob that rubbed slightly (so minor that it stopped rubbing on the 3rd tim I turned it, permanently, so this was off by microns at most), and slightly off-center heater bowl (I believe this has already been addressed in the later units). My only slowdown during use was a bent tab that I'm fairly certain I bent with an oversized battery, which was a 2 second fix.

It's been a long time since I took wood shop, and I'd forgotten how long it takes me to properly wax something. I have not done enough applications, though I'm starting to get some good results. As such, no sexy pics from me quite yet, so I'll just glance in VnV's direction and hope for some ZIpOrN.

An update from No13 Baby - we almost lost a stir stick, but recovered! And the set screw fell out, but was found again! It's now sitting on the base of a monitor, and if I ever find a driver small enough I'll put it back in. It works great without it tho. If I find something I can move with thumb alone I might just perform a wee bit of plastic, or maybe copper, surgery anyways.

I introduced a friend to one, who is a long time combuster. He counted to 5, turned the dial to about 70%, and took a nice long draw. And when he let off the switch and stopped drawing there was vape coming from Baby as well as most every facial hole on friends head. Kinda like a multi-holed balloon. Myself, and the bar manager who was out chatting with us about marijuana, got a great giggle out of it. Anyways, my friend now wants one, but needs to get his scrip sorted out before he can purchase a vape, but as soon as he's got that paper in hand he'll be a happy puppy

I'm onboard with a separate RBT bashing thread. I have nothing to contribute to it tho.

 

[little maggie]

I'm not good at math but it seems like the few returns indicate that overall this is a great product. Now if I just had one back.

 

[Fission]

Just received my refund. Only took a little over a day, so that's not too bad in my book. As RBT mentioned in a quick note, I'm definitely still planning on coming back when full-scale production is swinging along. Hopefully the failed units make it back to their owners' arms soon enough. I'm sure they're anxiously awaiting their returns.

 

[little maggie]

I heard from RBT- the problem with my Zion was the glue

 

[Lahey]

Just noticed that if you sort the Portables forum by views, the Zion just makes it onto the bottom of the 1st page, having recently edged out the Vapir no 2. (At least I assume recently since it is only by a few thousand views.)

Just thought that was fun, being a nerd over here. The weird things I do on here late at night while I vape and dream about my pre-orders...

 

[Fission]

Just noticed that if you sort the Portables forum by views, the Zion just makes it onto the bottom of the 1st page, having recently edged out the Vapir no 2. (At least I assume recently since it is only by a few thousand views.)

Just thought that was fun, being a nerd over here. The weird things I do on here late at night while I vape and dream about my pre-orders...

Being a nerd is pretty great sometimes honestly. I was geeking out earlier today over the grade distribution of a homework assignment I got back. Out of 30 possible points, mean was 28, and median was 26. After a few seconds it hit me how weird it was that the mean wouldn't be pushed lower due to tail effects. Don't you just love data sometimes?

 

[little maggie]

Just received my refund. Only took a little over a day, so that's not too bad in my book. As RBT mentioned in a quick note, I'm definitely still planning on coming back when full-scale production is swinging along. Hopefully the failed units make it back to their owners' arms soon enough. I'm sure they're anxiously awaiting their returns.

Not questioning your wanting a refund and waiting for a while to get the Zion. But isn't the Apollo also a new vape with the possibility of unknown initial flaws?

 

[TeeJay1952]

I have decided to name my Zion......Godot!

 

[jim-bob]

Nothing to be done, indeed.

 

[Madcap79]

I heard from RBT- the problem with my Zion was the glue

Still haven't heard on mine.

 

[cybrguy]

I have decided to name my Zion......Godot!

“There’s man all over for you, blaming on his boots the faults of his feet.”

 

[TeeJay1952]

“There’s man all over for you, blaming on his boots the faults of his feet.”

“Have you not done tormenting me with your accursed time! It's abominable! When! When! One day, is that not enough for you, one day he went dumb, one day I went blind, one day we'll go deaf, one day we were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the same second, is that not enough for you? They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.”
― Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot

 

[ragnorokk]

I have decided to name my Zion......Godot!

You'll never get yours, with THAT name! You'll be waiting forever
ah, theatre jokes... God help me.

 

[KeroZen]

Still haven't heard on mine.

If it was one of the two recently returned units then it's the same problem: RBT tested a new adhesive but apparently it's too fluid and it leaked into the potentiometer rendering it useless and making your unit stuck into low gear. The rest of the device is working fine and it is an easy fix, you should get it back soon.

 

[Madcap79]

If it was one of the two recently returned units then it's the same problem: RBT tested a new adhesive but apparently it's too fluid and it leaked into the potentiometer rendering it useless and making your unit stuck into low gear. The rest of the device is working fine and it is an easy fix, you should get it back soon.

Oh, I know the problem but only because I heard through the grapevine. Would've been nice to hear directly. Oh well, maybe I'm just too sensitive. Just seems funny that I haven't received an update is all. In past experiences, I have been contacted directly about the issues with malfunctioning vapes.

 

[Shit Snacks]

Oh, I know the problem but only because I heard through the grapevine. Would've been nice to hear directly. Oh well, maybe I'm just too sensitive. Just seems funny that I haven't received an update is all. In past experiences, I have been contacted directly about the issues with malfunctioning vapes.

I let him know about it, so he is definitely aware. I'd expect the reason Maggie heard before you is that since you had mentioned a couple other (much more minor) issues he may be checking if more thoroughly to be certain before getting in touch with you. for what it's worth, he does know you're waiting at least.

 

[Fission]

Not questioning your wanting a refund and waiting for a while to get the Zion. But isn't the Apollo also a new vape with the possibility of unknown initial flaws?

Yeah, the Apollo is also new, so there's definitely a bit of an element of risk, but it was a big plus to me that it's shipping almost immediately. Zion production has been going in spurts so far, where several units go out at once, and then it takes a few weeks for another batch, and with an unspecified time frame, the wait has been wearing on me because I'll get excited, and then realize that I'm getting overoptimistic about the timeframe. A lot of it is just that I'm not great at tempering expectations. I wasn't going to cancel my preorder though unless I had found another vape to get instead, and the Apollo just kinda seduced me, and is shipping on a timeframe that will work well with me. Basically, I asked for a refund not because of anything about the Zion, but mostly just a combination of a lot of circumstances.