Melting Pot
Sick & Twisted
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Discontinued Zion vaporizer
- Thread starter lwien
- Start date
vapen00b
Many vapes & accessories. Always happy to help
Completely agree with your position and view. Experienced and feel the same.
FWIW, I can back up what @Other Side reported about the ongoing Zi production. He IS currently working on them and been busy making all the piece parts.
Truly hoping despite all the hiccups that every FC fam member can and will wait this out. You will be rewarded. I share everyone's pain!
AJS
Calm Consistency
I think the biggest thing for me right now is ... when I preordered this vape over a year ago ... it was the only of its kind. Now the market is catching up and we no longer have to pray to the Gods above that someone will invent a hard hitting convection on demand portable. Mi and MVT are phenomenal, but unregulated. Then you throw in the Tubo and GH and you suddenly have options. Add the Splinter in there with the Zion and suddenly the choice isn't so obviously simple.
Regulation is more or less a convenience instead of a necessity for me ... I've had plenty of butane vapes, and the mflb, Mi, etc. ... I can work an unregulated vape. Only convenience mostly is when you don't have feedback like super long stems, whips, or water. Medical patience looking for very specific temps or consistency may find the regulation beneficial, but I'm not in that group, and I can keep the temp low on my Mi if I want to.
OBVIOUSLY ... this vape is going to be fantastic. We know enough about or fellow vaporists to trust their judgment, and it's easy to know where this vape stands when compared to others, or just describing the signature, flavor, and of course the clouds can give us a good idea. Problem is ... it's not the only one.
As we stand together waiting for the only train we knew to Valhalla ... we notice another moving in our peripheral. Do we wait and take the scenic route of the train we grew up loving, or do we cut what we worked so hard for and take the unfamiliar train which is now passing us by.
Both trains lead to the same place.
The choice is yours.
Regulation is more or less a convenience instead of a necessity for me ... I've had plenty of butane vapes, and the mflb, Mi, etc. ... I can work an unregulated vape. Only convenience mostly is when you don't have feedback like super long stems, whips, or water. Medical patience looking for very specific temps or consistency may find the regulation beneficial, but I'm not in that group, and I can keep the temp low on my Mi if I want to.
OBVIOUSLY ... this vape is going to be fantastic. We know enough about or fellow vaporists to trust their judgment, and it's easy to know where this vape stands when compared to others, or just describing the signature, flavor, and of course the clouds can give us a good idea. Problem is ... it's not the only one.
As we stand together waiting for the only train we knew to Valhalla ... we notice another moving in our peripheral. Do we wait and take the scenic route of the train we grew up loving, or do we cut what we worked so hard for and take the unfamiliar train which is now passing us by.
Both trains lead to the same place.
The choice is yours.
Fat Freddy
FUCK CANCER TOO !
Wait...what?
The Vikings had trains? To Valhalla?
I'm thinking that maybe those described as headed to Valhalla might rather be transported on a steaming raft of reefer?
And don't worry, I'll stay behind and comfort all of their beautiful blonde wives...I know...no need to thank me...just the kind of guy I am!
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flotntoke
thoroughly vaped
Think I'm gonna hang on the platform for a little longer at least, and let those other trains pass by for now. Time to stretch out on the bench here for another long nap I guess. Hopefully I won't be Rip Van Winkle by the time the Zion Train arrives. Feel like I'm better than halfway there already!
Melting Pot
Sick & Twisted
I've been hovering over the refund button. Having mixed emotions. Lol
TeeJay1952
Well-Known Member
In the Seinfeld episodes about the Soup Nazi there was never a consideration of not getting that soup.
MonkeyTime
Well-Known Member
I'm feeling the same way. I have almost $400 sitting, that I could be playing with elsewhere. There are so many vapes I'd love to try and only so much money I'm willing to put into it......
vapen00b
Many vapes & accessories. Always happy to help
Here's RBT's detailed weekly / strategic monthly plan:
Please also check his blog for updates:
http://www.rastabuddhatao.net/apps/blog/
It's moving
(http://www.rastabuddhatao.net/2017-plan)June Week 3
Replace incorrect resistor on Zion chips
Drill Zion door and cap magnet holes (Final Set)
Fabricate Zion heaters and turbulators
Build exotic Milaanas and DOPE give-away unit
June Week 4
Cut and flame polish Zion mouthpieces
Assemble magnets and tape on Zion doors / cap
Sand and Rout Zion (Last Set)
July Week 1
Final Zion machine sand 180 and 220 grit
Sand Zion rounds 150 and 180 grit
Hand sand unit 180 and 320 grit
Bees wax polish
July Week 2
Drill Zion caps and wood burn battery +
Start Assembly of an estimated 5 - 10 Zion units per week.
3 - 6 Months
Manufacture Initial production run of the Splinter.
Zion, Zion and finally completing Zion
Maintain Milaana sales and service.
Refine Business systems to optimize and sustain a direct sales model.
Commercialize Splinter and Milaana.
Please also check his blog for updates:
http://www.rastabuddhatao.net/apps/blog/
It's moving
flotntoke
thoroughly vaped
.... It's moving
It's been moving all along though, right? At the pace of a snail crossing sandpaper on a cross-country journey, but we've been told all along "it's moving". From all the instagram pics we've seen it looked as though much of this was already done on more units than have already shipped. So, I gotta ask (not that anyone here would know - so probably just rhetorical) - why is "Start assembly of an estimated 5 - 10 Zion units per week." not scheduled to start until July Week 2 - a month from now? And, should we take this to mean that those units will ship as completed? Maybe in groups? Maybe none go until all completed? Would that include those who ordered recently (while units were being sold in spite of some of waiting for so long with no Zion)? Are those of us who are two years in (sorry for exaggerating - I'm actually only at 23 months!) going to be waiting as long as those who just purchased in April?
Sorry to keep whining here, but all I see is more BS and no solid dates. Not that dates would really be more reassuring, as we've had many from the initial promise of Oct '15 (when I purchased), to the last set of updates that recently claimed June '17 / Q2 '17. I really don't doubt Ryan's skills at producing a solid vape based on my Mi's and reports of Zions from many who's opinion I trust. But, for those of us who have experience working in the corporate world (and surely others), we've seen enough corporate bullshit over the years to recognize it for what it is. Hell, Ryan's isn't even as good as most of what I've seen from different companies I've worked for - nor do I expect it to be. He's one guy, and larger financial firms (where my experience has been) have whole teams of people with MBA's in bullshitting writing them. Well written or not doesn't matter either way - it's still all bullshit!
I can't help but think if he were actually doing the work he lists, instead of putting together bullshit updates that don't really say anything, that he would be MUCH further along with production and many more of us would have Zions in our hands now. I just keep getting a visual of some poor guy, sitting there with his head in his hands, freaking out and putting together these updates, strategic plans, blogs, etc, while all the wood and parts are sitting 5 feet away - but for whatever reason he can't get it together to do the work. Hope I'm way off here, but I've witnessed others do this with both production of products and just completing paperwork, and from the distance we are here - this is exactly what those situations look like.
At the top of this latest 2017 Plan - "Detailed weekly / strategic Monthly Plan", "The important thing is to enjoy this crazy RastaBuddhaTao ride!" What the FUCK? Yeah, this is real enjoyable! Forget about the fact that the title at the top isn't even properly capitalized while he's trying to put together something corporate/official looking to stave people off. If it weren't so god damned frustrating, it could be fucking hilarious.
Maybe I'm lying to myself in thinking I'm mellowing in my old age, and in reality am just becoming a saltier old prick. But, this bullshit had already reached a level where I felt like it was insulting my intelligence (and the same for others). I find myself feeling like I need to to scream, "Do you really think we're that fucking stupid?", with every new bullshit update. Or, maybe Ryan just thinks he's that fucking smart and that these updates will pacify people. Or, maybe he's just lying to himself and bringing us along for the ride. Who knows? I just said above, I'm in and still waiting - and I am for now. But, this bullshit brings even more doubts and makes me feel like I'm making the wrong move in doing so. If any of these updates gave something tangible, and backup to explain why whatever he posts is real this time instead of as empty as almost all that has come before, I'd sure feel a lot better about the whole mess.
I dunno..... I feel like many share my sentiments here though they're not griping as I am here. Maybe so, maybe not. But fuck, I can't sit here and feel like I'm being treated like a piece of shit - as opposed to a customer that paid for a product wayyyy too long ago - and keep my mouth shut. Guess I'll gauge whether or not to keep being a whiny bitch by likes on this post. I'd probably get nearly the same results of my venting if I just write it in a word doc and not post here. But for at least this time, I needed to share. Thanks to all for indulging me in that if you've made it this far through my rant.
These updates are kind of heartbreaking. I'm still on the Zion train, and probably will remain along for the ride, but I now have pretty strong doubts I'll ever receive the thing. I really want RBT to succeed, the Milaana is my favorite vape in my arsenal, and will definitely order a Splinter when they're ready to ship (not doing another preorder). I get the impression that he's deeply burdened by these Zion preorders, it seems like it's really difficult to make working units, maybe he'd be better off if a bunch of people cancelled, I dunno.
Madcap79
Jack of all trades, master of none.
Still not shipping units? I got mine a while back different S/N than the original. Magnet has already come loose after 10ish uses. Build quality is a little better. Same knob....not sure why that took so long to figure out. Springs seem more rigid. I don't get great results with it. Hot spots bad in the middle regardless of knob position or draw rate. So far, I don't get the hype? Maybe I'll get it right some day.
AJS
Calm Consistency
Yep ... I think he wants nothing more than for people to drop off or finish the units and put this all behind him.
AJS
Calm Consistency
The knob. The chip. Milaana has neither.
delloy
Well-Known Member
@flotntoke I agree entirely on every point, I don't want the refund but this is becoming more of a circus ride than a Zion train ride! Its a joke to be honest!
we'll see how that goes.
muunch
hotboxing the cockpit
Damn. While it is "nice" that my spot keeps moving up (or is it...) I worry about all these people who have been waiting a year or more and are now dropping out.
Regulated 18650-powered convection is here in other (arguably better???) ways so it almost feel like this ships already left the harbor, but I'm holding out in hopes I'll be pleasantly surprised...
At least that's how I feel this very moment.
Sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off just asking for my money back and enjoying my tubo and milaana without all this weird energy
Regulated 18650-powered convection is here in other (arguably better???) ways so it almost feel like this ships already left the harbor, but I'm holding out in hopes I'll be pleasantly surprised...
At least that's how I feel this very moment.
Sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off just asking for my money back and enjoying my tubo and milaana without all this weird energy
flotntoke
thoroughly vaped
Totally agree... a cruel joke with us waiting customers the butt of it. Like I said above, if it weren't so fucked up it could be hilarious. I don't think SNL could come up with a funnier bit about putting production (and paying customers) off while feeding them bullshit. I know other vapes - most notably the GH - have had issues meeting delivery promises. But AFIK not even close to this shitshow, so there aren't any other instances as heinous as this, are there? Maybe there are, and I've just been fortunate in not being a part of them.
Even funnier, I guess... We're encouraged to push The Vape Critic to do a video review of the Mi. I probably will - and not exactly under duress as I have a couple and have enjoyed them. Though honestly, I've been carrying my MVT much more because I like using it better. I'm pretty sure I like it better as a vaping device, but not positive because I get a bad feeling every time I even see one of my Mi's because of all this Zion crap - so not sure I can even give a fair comparison. Well put by @muunch - "weird energy" sums up this part well.
But, I do feel obligated to give the Mi any pushes I can to move the Zion along, and that will be my primary motivation for encouraging The VC to review. Not really sure if you could call this extortion, but it sure as fuck feels like it or something very close. I've always had a problem with people who take and take, and continue to ask for more, while not giving. I do here as well, but in my own selfish self-interest (to FINALLY get my fucking Zion), I'm gonna have to suck that up and make the requested payoff. And, this isn't even really fair to true extortionists. In most cases of extortion/blackmail, or even paying protection to the mob, you know what you're getting in return and when. Seems here it's just to keep the Zion dream alive, with still no idea of when (or if, for that matter) I'll ever fucking have one.
ARGH!! Circus train, indeed. Really hope it's not going to the same destination the Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey line recently did.
What the Zion train really looks like? Notice it's not moving!
And what a rant it was.
I appreciate that you maintain a sense of humor along with your frustration. That's a good quality to have.
As usual, constructive criticism posted in a respectful way is always welcome. Going forward let's please aim to keep this thread more civil than some others have gotten during frustrating setbacks. As tough as it can be it's better than devolving into constant fighting.