Delivery time for Versalab M3 Grinder

[mgrayson]

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

[skyryders90]

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 queried them yesterday as to their current turnaround, and was told that the next manufacturing run that isn't sold out already is at the end of April. That doesn't really help with your present issue really, but just some info - right now they're running a 2 month delivery lag.

[laservet]

They don't produce on a continuous basis, so it depends on when the next production run is completed. FWIW, that's not unusual for very small small, high end manufacturers. I am an amateur astronomer and one of the manufacturers, producing some of the finest scopes in the world, does a production run maybe once a year. There is a seven year waiting list and the ship time can slip six months.

It's worth waiting for, very consistent grind. My grinder was three or four months behind the original schedule because one of the components wasn't up to spec and had to be redone.

[narc]

Versalab grinder is on the short list for the next grinder. Wondering if anyone knows the volume of each production run. Are they all pre-ordered units? How many times a year do they manufacture the grinder?

Getting use to waiting for the finer things in life. 6-12 months would be acceptable. Beats the ~3 year wait for a custom Glyph.

[mgrayson]

Of course, I am fine with small production runs for high quality items and long waits for the results. Unfortunately, that's not how the sale has been represented. I was told "late January" when I ordered in December. In January, I was told "late February". Now it's "end of March."

Even this doesn't have me too surprised. (GS/3 anyone?) I'd just like some actual data rather than Customer Appeasement Speak (TM). Even the existence of a run which my order would be part of would be a big help.

Thanks for the info,

Matt

[CoffeeBuzz]

I'm in the same boat you are, but I've been in it two weeks longer!

Ordered an M3 on Dec. 14, and was told it would ship at end of January (6 weeks). They said their machine shop had built all of the parts for the entire build except for one piece, which they hadn't built any of, and had to do some work for Boeing before they would get around to making it.

I called the last week of January (after selling my Rocky) and was told the machine shop hadn't actually built any of the parts, but would soon build them and the M3 would ship by the end of Feb. (5 weeks) Was also told I should never have been promised end of January in the first place. (BTW, I talked to same person both times.)

I called in the middle of Feb and was told none of the parts had been built, and they were desperately looking for a new machine shop. Blamed Boeing again. Estimated ship date end of March (6 weeks).

I called the very next day to cancel my order, and was told they now had all of the parts in their possession. The only reason they couldn't ship immediately was that another build was ahead of mine, and the end of March was still the ship date. I let them talk me out of canceling.

I've wised up now and don't believe a word they say. Am I holding my breath for an end of March shipment? No way, but I am willing to wait anyway. Sad but true.

By the way, they charged my credit card 50% of the purchase price when I placed the order.

[lerch]

My father ordered the Versalab M3 grinder in May of 2007. He did not receive the grinder until February of 2008.

His experience with the waiting seems to be the same as those already mentioned in this thread. The story would change between all of the parts being made to some of the parts being made but delays at the machine shop preventing the final assembly. He was also told the the delays were caused by Boeing. The people at Versalab did seem to take many days off so they were not available for contact on many occasions when he attempted to get an updated order status.

[zin1953]

My father ordered the Versalab M3 grinder in May of 2007. He did not receive the grinder until February of 2008.

Well THAT'S certainly encouraging . . . not!

[EspressoObsessed]

I ordered an M3 the end of January and was told it would not ship until the end of March. Laura told me that there had been some difficulty obtaining a particular part from one of their suppliers and that they had just received the shipment. This might explain why lerch's father didn't get his until last month. Or maybe it's the Boeing thing!

After deciding to place my order anyway, I sent an email confirming my discussion with Laura: price, expected charge to my credit card, shipment not expected until late March, '08, etc. She responded right away stating all the details of my email were correct. I sent her another email late February asking for confirmation that we were still on track for late March but have yet to hear back from her. I presume this means "fat chance."

Lerch, please tell me if your dad is happy, preferably ecstatic, with his M3.

Mary

[lerch]

He does think that this is a great grinder but feels that the quality of the grinder is overshadowed by the poor way in which Versalab conducts their business. This is his only grinder and as such is used for both espresso and drip/vacuum pot coffee.

In my Dad's case he was billed 50% of the price in May of 2007 when he placed the orders and was then billed the other 50% of the grinder in June of 2007. This was presumed to be the start (in my opinion they should not bill the entire amount until the product is ready to be shipped to you) of the build process but he was later told that they did not have all of the parts ready to start the build at that time. The story changing about the build status multiple times especially after being fully charged for a quite expensive grinder really did distract him from the final quality of the product. He feels that Versalab should change the way they handle this by perhaps keeping certain parts on to be able to be more responsive to customers paying a large sum of money for a grinder.

I have had the opportunity to use the Versalab grinder once for espresso and was impressed with it but do not think that I would have been as patient as he was in waiting for the grinder delivery. I also got the sense that Versalab was either not being honest with him or themselves did not know what they were doing do to the seemingly conflicting status changes that he got when querying the status of his grinder.

I hope this answers questions about how he feels about the grinder and his buying experience. If anyone has anymore questions about his grinder or his experience with Versalab post them and I will relay them off to him and post the responses.

[DavidMLewis]

After deciding to place my order anyway, I sent an email confirming my discussion with Laura: price, expected charge to my credit card, shipment not expected until late March, '08, etc. She responded right away stating all the details of my email were correct. I sent her another email late February asking for confirmation that we were still on track for late March but have yet to hear back from her.

For what it's worth, I just spoke to Laura on the phone, and she said that the current build, of which my grinder and yours are a part, is still on track for the end of March. We'll see, of course, but it's better news than I've gotten in the past, when the time to completion was always about six weeks away.

Best,
David

[mgrayson]

BTW, since some people have asked me, I want to say that I love the results from the MK7R. However, it's large, my wife hates it, and it isn't easily adjustable over a wide range, so can't be used (easily again) for drip and espresso. I am not expecting a really better cup from the M3. Just more counter space. Can't really reduce the footprint of the Andreja... damn.

[zin1953]

For what it's worth, I just spoke to Laura on the phone, and she said that the current build, of which my grinder and yours are a part . . .

Oh, David . . . and to think what Eric and I must have put you through with that "munchkin" machine we had behind the bar!

[JimWright]

BTW, since some people have asked me, I want to say that I love the results from the MK7R. However, it's large, my wife hates it, and it isn't easily adjustable over a wide range, so can't be used (easily again) for drip and espresso. I am not expecting a really better cup from the M3. Just more counter space. Can't really reduce the footprint of the Andreja... damn.

Someone posted a great mini-mod for the stepless Macap adjuster on CG that allows you to swivel the threaded adjuster out of the way to move from espresso settings to press pot or drip instantly, but still retains the adjuster for precision. I may do it, though lately I find I drink more & more espresso and less press/vac pot/etc.

[JWPATE]

I placed an order for the Versalab grinder (paid in full) in Mid-november '07. After nothing happened for a couple of weeks, I called and was told, in effect, "Oh I thought you already knew that the machines are not actually ever in stock. They are built to order and yours should ship in late January '08. After that date passed, I called again in Feburary and got the Boeing story. At this point I have no estimate! Considering a cancellation.

[CoffeeBuzz]

I'm tired and grumpy, and have an urge to hijack this thread. So here goes... HB, feel free to break this off into a separate thread if it is a violation of forum decorum...

The behavior of Versalab has the earmarkings of a company with a significant cash flow problem. I don't have any data to back this up, it is just a WAG (Wild A$$ Guess).

What if this is true? Are there any frequently replaced parts on the M3 that would be unavaliable in the aftermarket if they were no longer avaliable from Versalab? E.g. drive belt?

[HB]

The behavior of Versalab has the earmarkings of a company with a significant cash flow problem.

Or just the opposite, i.e., a family run business owned by a couple in their retirement years with no particular need to rush.

[JWPATE]

I believe that, as usual, Dan has it right. My plan is to leave them alone and wait.

[ira]

Or just the opposite, i.e., a family run business owned by a couple in their retirement years with no particular need to rush.

Seems odd that a family run business would be charging credit cards 6 months before shipping if they didn't have a cash flow problem. I won't charge the the day before shipping unless I'm packing the order before bed. Wouldn't want to charge a card today and have something go wrong and miss shipping tomorrow, just wouldn't be nice to my customers.

Ira

[HB]

Seems odd that a family run business would be charging credit cards 6 months before shipping if they didn't have a cash flow problem.

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.