FDA...FDA...FDA

phoenixvapor · 10-19-2009, 08:48 PM

Hello to all,
New to the forums..please forgive if I put this in the wrong place. I have a good shippment coming in. Is there any new info on FDA and seizures? Please take a look at the site and any feedback good or bad is appreciated. peace brothers.

Joye 510 ecig in Maine and New England - phoenixvapor.com

Thanks in advance.

Duane

firhill · 10-19-2009, 10:39 PM

Site looks good but in all honesty with prices at 150%-200% of most other online suppliers...I won't be back.

....still wishin' you the best of luck in the biz.

Mick · 10-20-2009, 04:54 AM

I'm going to have to agree with firhill. You are coming in at way too high priced, but also wishing you the best of luck.

Mick

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 07:23 AM

Im sorry about the price, I was comparing prices from Totally Wicked and Innovapor and the price seems to be comparable. Totally wicked has the Titan 510 kit with a nice box but no case for $70 and Innovapor has a nice case and includes juice for $100. I'd like to be competative can you tell me a few more sites that I can look at? to see what they are offering.

The kits I have come with everything shown (charger, 2 batteries, 2 atomizers, 5 prefilled/refillable carts, carry case and one 10ML bottle of Juice) Is $70.00 really off in price? Thanks for your input.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 08:17 AM

sorry all..even ecig express has a 510 kit with no juice or case for $54.00. I just dont see where Im coming in to high..please advise. Thanks again.

Duane

SoCalVape · 10-20-2009, 12:32 PM

As for the FDA, I have not heard anything as to whether they are allowing any imports through. We at VaporCig.com were notified that our shippment was going to be destroyed because they only hold their seizures for a limited amount of time. Good luck with your shippment. Let us know how it goes.

PUFFDADDY · 10-20-2009, 12:32 PM

Phoenix,

You might try somewhere in the $60-65 range, thats a price people can deal with. Especially since you are a new company nobody will want to pay that price($70) because your a new business and nobody knows if you have good customer service, quality product etc..... Think of it from a consumers stand point. I know $60-65 isnt far off but to some people its a HUGE difference. Just my 2cents

Puff

SoCalVape · 10-20-2009, 12:41 PM

Hey Phoenix, I think your prices are pretty fair, but you will have to back them with awesome customer service. Be ready for people to call with dumb questions and also be ready for returns and exchanges. Like with any new electronic device, batteries are always a problem. Are you offering a warranty or any exchange/return policy? Something to think about.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 12:41 PM

Puff thanks for the advice, I'll adjust the pricing to accomodate and see how it goes. SoCal they took one of your shipments and now they are destroying it!, I dont see how they can do this. One it isnt illegal, so how are they taking anyones shippments? I read that they took nJoys because they claimed it to be a "healthier" alternative. where do people rant about this?

SoCalVape · 10-20-2009, 12:46 PM

You can rant everywhere. Nobody is listening! I know, the shippment they just destroyed was blank carts! But because it is associated with electronic cigs, they think they have jurisdiction over it. The FDA should stick to the tobacco companies and leave us vapers alone! Don't they have paper to push?

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 12:53 PM

SoCal how do they even know whats in the packages is it because of the way its labeled? I mean you'd think the manufacturers would be helpful in this situation.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 12:54 PM

The manufacturer im working with ships in small amounts, I have a few shippments already but am worried about the others..so far so good. I havent even checked to see how they are labeling the shipments..but will check.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 12:56 PM

I also read on totally wicked's site an article that said the FDA doesnt want to ban the ecig just regulate it..now that is new news to me, I heard back in June that they wanted a ban.

SoCalVape · 10-20-2009, 01:10 PM

We had one shippment that the manufacturer labled "grinding wheels." WTF is that? So, of course, the FDA opened it. They will randomly open packages to inspect them if they are curious. I don't think the manufacturers know/understand that the label can make or break the shippment. That is good that you are getting your product in small quantities. But is that cost effective?

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 01:16 PM

LOL..grinding wheels, sorry but thats funny. as far as cost effective goes, it is more pricy but not enough to make a real dent. Unfortunately it gets passed along the line...another FDA side effect, because if I could get it shipped all at once I'd save a bundle and could order more product.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 01:17 PM

SoCal how many shippments have you had seized, and how big are the orders?

SoCalVape · 10-20-2009, 01:31 PM

Only one seizure so far, but that was not that big. It had 13 boxes and they let 9 come through. They held 4 and they were blank carts, the 9 that came through were filled carts. We have been a little gun-shy about placing orders since then. We were pretty well stocked at the time. I think it may be time to place another order soon, with the veto of SB400. It is always so risky making that purchase in advance of receiving the product.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 01:38 PM

I know the nail biting feeling of paying for the product and not knowing if its going to get here or not...If it were the other way around, the manufacturers would be raising hell as well. Arent the manufacturers kind of responsible if you pay for something and dont recieve it? or do they just blame it on customs and relieve themselves with a small disclaimer.

SoCalVape · 10-20-2009, 01:46 PM

I think it depends on your supplier. Do you have a good relationship with your supplier? My boss sends e-mails to ours and has it translated to Chinese, so there is no question as to what is being ordered and how we want it sent and so on. I think a lot of the manufacturers use several plants to either manufacture their stock or they buy from eachother. We have had issues with that. One shippment - great, next shippment - not so great. Told it was the same product, but it wasn't. We had to order new chargers because the first shippment was shorting the second shippment batteries. It was a disaster! So it is a crap-shoot. You just never know.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 02:12 PM

Yes although only two months old my supplier speaks very good english and is really quick to respond to all my inquiries. I will say that I was very skeptical with them in the beginning asking a hundred different questions and getting many quotes before hammering out orders, and so far so good they have have been very attentive.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 02:14 PM

Im just wondering if its the order size that is bogging down shippments, I dont know how my orders compare to yours. my average order is about 250 kits what do you normally go per order?

SoCalVape · 10-20-2009, 02:48 PM

We have ordered in large quantities each time. We should probably order in smaller amounts, but we want the most bang for our buck, you know, the more you order, the cheaper it is. But the draw back from that is getting it through customs.

Snarkyone · 10-20-2009, 02:52 PM

Yikes, those prices are way higher than I see anywhere else for a 510 kit. That's high even for TW standards. Have you checked around at some other suppliers prices for these kits at all? I wish you luck but I fear if you don't get more competitive prices it's just wishful thinking. Best wishes.

phoenixvapor · 10-20-2009, 03:25 PM

Hi Snarky thanks for the input but as I mentioned above I went to the TW site as it was one of my early comparisons. The TW Titan is running 70.00 for the kit. can you point me to some comapnies that are less than this, I have checked innovapor, TW and ecigexpress (ecigexpress is 54 with not case and no juice) I havent really seen where Im that far off so far..on Puffs suggestion I might go to $60.00 but cant imagine much less. Thanks again though.

Stehle · 10-20-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixvapor

...how many shippments have you had seized, and how big are the orders?

Evidently too big.

By the FDA & US Customs:

4 of 7 Seized (2 still in litigation)

Better than 50%

Advice:

Keep orders small. (It can be relative.)
Do not mix juice and hardware.
Be prepared to do the identity & address change thing.

From a few I talked with experiencing the e-cig import game; once they have your number, the odds will definitely go up.

"They're watching!"

(Hope I'm not OT or not being relevant hijacking this thread)