Delivery time for Versalab M3 Grinder - Page 2

[ira]

They've probably had troubles with customers "changing their minds" in the interim between order and delivery. It would only take a couple such incidents before I'd insist on a substantial deposit.

You think? If that was the case, then everyone who ordered one should have had to give a the same deposit in advance and I would have expected that someone here who ordered one should have said that ordering one required a deposit of or possibly a non-refundable deposit of yet I remember nothing like that having been said. I have heard a number of people say they've been consistently misled on the delivery time, I guess we'll see if March brings M3s to all of their doorsteps.

And, I really want one of these and find this thread disturbing in ways that makes me question the wisdom of ordering one.

Ira

[HB]

And, I really want one of these and find this thread disturbing in ways that makes me question the wisdom of ordering one.

If you're impatient, I wouldn't recommend dealing with "boutique manufacturers", period. Versalab is a micro production shop owned by a retired couple and you cannot expect corporate manufacturer level service. I have little doubt they would eventually make good on every reasonable promise... with strong emphasis on the word eventually.

[mgrayson]

Indeed, if I needed an ultimate grinder tomorrow, I'd just get a Robur. Having the MK7R means I can afford to wait.

Matt

[Richard]

Seems odd that a family run business would be charging credit cards 6 months before shipping . . .

Odd only if you are unaccustomed to dealing with small-production enterprises.

For example, I worked in a profession which builds one-of-a-kind, custom-made musical instruments (pipe organs) with typical price tags in a range of $500,000 - several million dollars. The builders require an upfront deposit of typically 33% and progress payments through the time of building and delivery. Furthermore, the builders often have a backlog of up to ten years, and there are no guaranteed delivery dates. In other words, clients plop down ca. $100,000 to many hundreds of thousands of dollars and then wait until the builder to gets around to making their instrument, whenever that may be. FURTHERMORE, there are almost always contractual clauses which state that the actual price of the instrument will be adjusted according to a stated formula, typically the Consumer Pricing Index; in other words, the price tag is keyed to the inflation rate, so the eventual price may be significantly higher than that stated in the contract.

So do I think Versalab unusual? Not in the least. You want their product, get in line and wait (and no, I don't own stock in the company or have a Versalab grinder).

[DavidMLewis]

They've probably had troubles with customers "changing their minds" in the interim between order and delivery. It would only take a couple such incidents before I'd insist on a substantial deposit.

They do: it's half up front, so I don't feel bad about not paying the remainder until the grinder is ready to ship.

David

[CoffeeBuzz]

Versalab doesn't say anything about a non refundable deposit when you place an order, and they quote a delivery date. IMO a significant delay beyond that date is valid grounds for cancellation with no questions asked. Most credit card companies see it this way and will remove the charges without question if provided with a simple letter explaining the situation, and requesting them to do so. If the merchant feels they have been wronged, the burden is on them to go after the customer. In this case, not having indicated the deposit is non refundable, the merchant will have an impossible hurdle to overcome. Their only practical recourse is to not do business with that customer in the future.

My real beef is the statement made to me five weeks after my credit card was billed, and one week before shipment was promised. Quote: "You ordered in mid December? You should never have been told the end of January." (I spoke to the same person both times! )

Nevertheless, I am trying my best to bite my tongue (thus far unsuccessfully) and be patient in the hopes that I will be blissfully happy with a new M3 in 3 weeks time.

[darrylr]

I agree with Dan regarding Versalab. In my dealings with them I've found them to be honest and trustworthy, although also quite weak at setting dates! I do feel it's counterproductive to give a date when probably the date isn't known with some confidence. On the other hand, I imagine it's hard for a vendor to say to a customer "We don't quite know yet" when asked for a date because that's not an answer people will readily accept.

Darryl

[mvhendel]

I ordered a grinder from Versalab around the end of last year. Each month since then, I've been told that I should expect delivery at the end of that month. Grrrr..

My question is: has anyone received a grinder from Versalab recently and, if so, when did you order it? I'd like to get a realistic idea of when it is likely to show up.

Thanks,

Matt

I ordered mine around March and got it about August. Frustrating, but worth the wait. It is a fantastic grinder.
Michael Hendel

[phreaddy]

I can't believe anyone is defending such despicable business practices.

They've probably had troubles with customers "changing their minds" in the interim between order and delivery. It would only take a couple such incidents before I'd insist on a substantial deposit.

Well, who could blame customers for changing their minds after being so misled?

Versalab is a micro production shop owned by a retired couple and you cannot expect corporate manufacturer level service.

That's right. You should expect better service from such a small company. Even Dell has better service than that. If GM had such a pattern of misrepresentation as the stories we've heard here, every state's attorney general (except perhaps Michigan's) would be filing suit.
As far as the comparisons with custom manufacturers of pipe organs or what have you, these are not custom manufactured. Since they have such a long waiting list, why would they care if someone cancels an order? They could just send that grinder to the next person on the list, that much sooner.
At the very least, Versalab should be calling up the customers (or emailing them) to let them know the status of their order. When you're paying that kind of money, you shouldn't have to go chasing them for details -- that turn out to be wrong anyway.

[HB]

I can't believe anyone is defending such despicable business practices.

I'm not defending it, I'm suggesting a probable cause.

Their mistake, in my opinion, is offering an estimated delivery date in the first place. Given John's production rate is very limited, he should just offer your position in the queue. Once he starts working on your grinder, then we can talk about actual delivery dates.

John would lose some sales by being open and saying, "I'll get to it as soon as I can. I can tell you there are 3 grinders ahead of you in my production schedule, but I cannot tell you your delivery date until I start your grinder." The upside of such openness is those who do order will not complain they went in uninformed, and Laura would spend less time on the phone and her inbox giving status updates.

[CoffeeBuzz]

I gotta admit to blowing off steam because of the delays, but notice that I am still waiting in line. I guess the reason Versalab is still in business is that they are the only company selling a grinder with the particular combination of features that makes many of us think it is the ultimate home grinder.

So Versalab, if you are listening, please have a thick skin, and please, please please hurry up and finish my grinder!

[narc]

My impressions are that VersaLab is a small specialty company that makes a limited number of units a limited number of times per year. Like any small specialty company they may be dependent on some outside vendors for parts or raw material. If this is the case personally I would have no problem with a charge placed against my account prior to shipping. Assuming it was stated clearly that is their policy for order placement. Giving a specific delivery month not knowing for sure they could meet that date may have been improper. A general time frame of when they hope to start and the complete the units would have probably saved everyone some frustration. This grinder even with the above experiences is still on the short list.

drifting.....thread: in the uke world we place non-refundable deposits sometimes years in advance for a custom. Put 25% down on a Glyph a year ago for an instrument that the luthier may start building maybe this autumn or early winter '09. Factoring in the sinking dollar, probable period of inflation & recession, the uke is getting less expensive by the day.

[Cafesp]

50% deposit, 6 months, pay the rest when shipping + " No free shipping or discount ever"
Take it or leave it!
Hate the game! don't hate the grinder!

Cooling yourself off by ordering the Cimbali Max Hybrid for $795, free shipping, committed 1 yr warranty & excellent service from Chris Coffee Service; have it within a week, enjoy one of the best grinder (+4 pts for CMH vs -10.5 pts for Versalab) for 6 months then sell it for $500 easily ( make some people happy as well )
Versalab owner-to-be easily absorbs a few hundred dollars more easily!

Warning! you might end up having the 2 best grinders, just try to come up or make it up to your boss.

Just my 2cents

Cafesp

[lerch]

50% deposit, 6 months, pay the rest when shipping + " No free shipping or discount ever"

That however was not the case when my dad ordered his Versalab as they charged him the first half when he ordered it and then charged him for the second half and shipping about 4 months before the grinder was shipped. Then when it was shipped he got charged the shipping fee a second time leaving it up to him to get that matter straightened out. Paying half first and then the rest when it is complete is reasonable. In my opinion getting charged the entire amount and the shipping amount prior to the grinder being completed is not.

That said it is a great grinder and he is happy with the performance and cleanliness of the grinder. I don't want to seem like I am saying it is a horrible experience and you should never order from Versalab but people should be aware that there may be a long delay to get this grinder and may not get as much feedback as they would like in the process of it being built.

[skyryders90]

That however was not the case when my dad ordered his Versalab as they charged him the first half when he ordered it and then charged him for the second half and shipping about 4 months before the grinder was shipped.

As far as I know, this is still the case. I placed an order with them last week and was told it was 50% up front, and the rest when manufacturing begins.

[lerch]

As far as I know, this is still the case. I placed an order with them last week and was told it was 50% up front, and the rest when manufacturing begins.

I might be mistaken about their billing policies as it was not me who placed the order. If this is their policy and they are upfront about it I would have no problem with that. I still feel that shipping should be charged when the item is actually ready to be shipped.

[skyryders90]

I might be mistaken about their billing policies as it was not me who placed the order. If this is their policy and they are upfront about it I would have no problem with that. I still feel that shipping should be charged when the item is actually ready to be shipped.

I'm not sure how the shipping is handled. The up-front 50% I was charged was half of the grinder+portafilter rest, with no extra for shipping, tax, etc. So they aren't charging half of the shipping up front, but I have no idea if it will be tacked onto the second 50% at the start of manufacturing. I'll let folks know.

[EspressoObsessed]

I received a reply today from Laura about my 2/26 email:

We've had vendor problems that have caused delays. We're looking at
mid-April.

So end of March is out of the question. Waiting is the answer!

Mary

[Cafesp]

That however was not the case when my dad ordered his Versalab as they charged him the first half when he ordered it and then charged him for the second half and shipping about 4 months before the grinder was shipped...

Just look back to my grinder's record! What lerch wrote is right.
50% deposit , 3 months 1 day later 50% more + shipping ( $ 45 from CO to CA ), then about another 3 months...

Cafesp

[CoffeeBuzz]

I was contacted this morning and informed that my machine was still on schedule for shipment at the end of March.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed, as well as my toes, and my teasing needless (which I won't need much longer) and...