horrible experience

So I just attempted to order a 75w light from A-51, and had a terrible experience.

I attempted to buy a light and finalized the deal on the day they were closing the website down to move. This was two days before they were actually moving....

The unit was packaged up and waiting with the other shipments ready to go, at least according to the email traffic from their office.

Well, the UPS driver apparently forgot the package.
Fine, A-51 tells me they will ship it out the next day, and it will just be a day later.

Well at midday A-51 and informse that the UPS driver MAY have forgotten my package yet again. Or else they had screwed up the inventory(exact words from A-51). A-51 says I will know in an hour when UPS scans my packages if it got picked up or not...at this point you can guess I am thinking wtf? But I say fine let me know!...so an hour rolls by, and another...finally at 5 pm central, after business hours, I email, them saying something to the effect of I guess they forgot my package?

After 4 hours roll by, I receive an email that yes they did, and my unit would be shipped out when they reach their new location..........2 WEEKS FROM NOW-Not including shipping time...

I was disgusted at this point.

I said, ya know, I never even got an actual apology, just y'all blaming the UPS man, and I understand y'all are busy, but IMO even small customers such as myself should not have to constantly email a business to keep abreast of a situation like this. I am in a critical time and am frankly just disappointed by this whole thing. I would ask that you either allow me to upgrade to a bigger panel for cheaper which would benefit us both or that you refund my money.
I THEN received an email saying how they had been closed for two days and they worked with me.... even though you could still order the bigger panel lights as of Monday, because the 75w said sold out....it also accused me of trying to "bully" them out of a bigger panel....I don't understand how trying to get a discount on a bigger light which would COST me more money than I originally wanted to spend is bullying...I was attempting to keep money I'm their pocket?
Finally the end of the email reads, your refund is on the way, go buy somewhere else.

I could only reply with a "Thanks."

Now I am not talking any crap about these guys, I am just posting my experience with them, which leaves quite a bitter taste in my mouth, as I am in the first week of flower, and currently having to use CFLs becuae I expected a new light by this weekend.

It sucks becauss buying American is supposed to be better, but I have yet to EVER see such a negative experience with the better foreign companies.

I am not saying stay away from A-51 either, because the experienced growers on here,plus my own research, show that these lights are good. I am just reviewing my experience with them as a consumer.

I will indeed buying somewhere else, or more than likely going DIY



I also just wrote this whole thing them checked to see if my money had indeed been refunded and it was....of course the A-51 guy left me a nice snarky note on it....
Y'all want to talk about BULLYING!??
Like seriously an owner of a company making me feel bad because they screwed up over and over again?

I change my mind-
I don't care HOW good your product is, if you treat one customer like this, what is to say you won't treat someone else this way....there are panels just as good and priced around the same, so I would stay away for sure.

There's a 250w horticultural CFL and reflector

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HG1JRK0/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

It might be good as a temporary measure until you can build or buy the led you want. They're $60. I've been pleased with mine so far. Its decent until I can build a cob setup.

Okay, I will look into that

vitamin_green_inc said:

So I just attempted to order a 75w light from A-51, and had a terrible experience.

I attempted to buy a light and finalized the deal on the day they were closing the website down to move. This was two days before they were actually moving....

The unit was packaged up and waiting with the other shipments ready to go, at least according to the email traffic from their office.

Well, the UPS driver apparently forgot the package.
Fine, A-51 tells me they will ship it out the next day, and it will just be a day later.

Well at midday A-51 and informse that the UPS driver MAY have forgotten my package yet again. Or else they had screwed up the inventory(exact words from A-51). A-51 says I will know in an hour when UPS scans my packages if it got picked up or not...at this point you can guess I am thinking wtf? But I say fine let me know!...so an hour rolls by, and another...finally at 5 pm central, after business hours, I email, them saying something to the effect of I guess they forgot my package?

After 4 hours roll by, I receive an email that yes they did, and my unit would be shipped out when they reach their new location..........2 WEEKS FROM NOW-Not including shipping time...

I was disgusted at this point.

I said, ya know, I never even got an actual apology, just y'all blaming the UPS man, and I understand y'all are busy, but IMO even small customers such as myself should not have to constantly email a business to keep abreast of a situation like this. I am in a critical time and am frankly just disappointed by this whole thing. I would ask that you either allow me to upgrade to a bigger panel for cheaper which would benefit us both or that you refund my money.
I THEN received an email saying how they had been closed for two days and they worked with me.... even though you could still order the bigger panel lights as of Monday, because the 75w said sold out....it also accused me of trying to "bully" them out of a bigger panel....I don't understand how trying to get a discount on a bigger light which would COST me more money than I originally wanted to spend is bullying...I was attempting to keep money I'm their pocket?
Finally the end of the email reads, your refund is on the way, go buy somewhere else.

I could only reply with a "Thanks."

Now I am not talking any crap about these guys, I am just posting my experience with them, which leaves quite a bitter taste in my mouth, as I am in the first week of flower, and currently having to use CFLs becuae I expected a new light by this weekend.

It sucks becauss buying American is supposed to be better, but I have yet to EVER see such a negative experience with the better foreign companies.

I am not saying stay away from A-51 either, because the experienced growers on here,plus my own research, show that these lights are good. I am just reviewing my experience with them as a consumer.

I will indeed buying somewhere else, or more than likely going DIY



I also just wrote this whole thing them checked to see if my money had indeed been refunded and it was....of course the A-51 guy left me a nice snarky note on it....
Y'all want to talk about BULLYING!??
Like seriously an owner of a company making me feel bad because they screwed up over and over again?

I change my mind-
I don't care HOW good your product is, if you treat one customer like this, what is to say you won't treat someone else this way....there are panels just as good and priced around the same, so I would stay away for sure.

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Well what can you do when the package isn't picked up? I don't see why they, Area 51, would sell you a bigger light at a discount because of something they had no control over.

Grandmah said:

Well what can you do when the package isn't picked up? I don't see why they, Area 51, would sell you a bigger light at a discount because of something they had no control over.

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I think they definitely "had control" over the package. Dealing with UPS pickup everyday I can say 100% that when UPS stops at your place of business they pick up EVERYTHING ( it's how they make money ) your shipping dept has ready for pickup. Blame the shipping dept, not UPS.

Thanks for the info, they sound really childish, I'll be sure to stay away from them.

I probably wasn't going to buy one of their units anyway, but if this story is really true, I will not buy an A-51.

First, learn to run a business and treat your "bullies" with more respect.

Grandmah said:

Well what can you do when the package isn't picked up? I don't see why they, Area 51, would sell you a bigger light at a discount because of something they had no control over.

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I offered it to them to try and save face? I wanted to keep money in their pocket, and seeing as I had ALREADY PAID for the unit they forgot to ship out two days in a row, itbwas either that or ask for my full refund back...so I did both in the same sentence, and then I recoved not only the email about "bullying" them, but when they refunded my money, under notes on Paypal the owner left ANOTHER smartass note....I have never been treated by a company like this, and I don't want anyone else to have to do so.

No excuse for poor customer service.

Well, the timing and circumstances are unfortunate. Not sure why you felt the need to be compensated for the hassle, but that's your right as a consumer. Regardless, there are other manufacturers that will sell you a light if you choose to do so.

My experience was the polar opposite to the OP. Ordered RW-150 qty 2, knowing they were back ordered. Changed my mind and went qty 4 RW-75's for flexibility of setup and availability. Shipped me my lights same day after receiving my email - and didn't even charge me the price difference. Didn't ask them to do this, they just did it. I'll be ordering more from them in the future.

I really like my onyx led I have 2 bloom and one veg talk to mike @Rapid led and he will give you a great deal

makomachine said:

Well, the timing and circumstances are unfortunate. Not sure why you felt the need to be compensated for the hassle, but that's your right as a consumer. Regardless, there are other manufacturers that will sell you a light if you choose to do so.

My experience was the polar opposite to the OP. Ordered RW-150 qty 2, knowing they were back ordered. Changed my mind and went qty 4 RW-75's for flexibility of setup and availability. Shipped me my lights same day after receiving my email - and didn't even charge me the price difference. Didn't ask them to do this, they just did it. I'll be ordering more from them in the future.

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I felt that way after being told for two days it would be shipped out, and then after I had to constantly email them, I NEVER EVEN RECIEVED A "SORRY" or "I/we apologize." Or "we messed up" just excuses blaming the UPS driver.. I felt that way after ordering a product from a company so that I could have my product by the end of this week but instead, after I pay over $200 USD I would be forced to wait 2+ weeks for said product. I was also, again, attempting to stay with A-51 by allowing them to keep the initial payment PLUS SPEND MORE.

Idk about you, but when I need something for my girls, I usually NEED IT. I could get a shipment from China in less than 3 weeks, and at least they wouldn't bs me, or patronize me via email.

After I received the email saying that I would recieve my full refund, along with the awesome patronizing note from the seller, I was extremely upset. I decided to be mature and cut my losses and not respond to the obvious baiting I had received on the last email, and responded with a "Thanks!" And that was my final communication to the seller. He then left a note on the refund in my Paypal again patronizing me....I may be youngish, but even I am not that childish!

vitamin_green_inc said:

I felt that way after being told for two days it would be shipped out, and then after I had to constantly email them, I NEVER EVEN RECIEVED A "SORRY" or "I/we apologize." Or "we messed up" just excuses blaming the UPS driver.. I felt that way after ordering a product from a company so that I could have my product by the end of this week but instead, after I pay over $200 USD I would be forced to wait 2+ weeks for said product. I was also, again, attempting to stay with A-51 by allowing them to keep the initial payment PLUS SPEND MORE.

Idk about you, but when I need something for my girls, I usually NEED IT. I could get a shipment from China in less than 3 weeks, and at least they wouldn't bs me, or patronize me via email.

After I received the email saying that I would recieve my full refund, along with the awesome patronizing note from the seller, I was extremely upset. I decided to be mature and cut my losses and not respond to the obvious baiting I had received on the last email, and responded with a "Thanks!" And that was my final communication to the seller. He then left a note on the refund in my Paypal again patronizing me....I may be youngish, but even I am not that childish!

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I get why you are upset. Onyx makes a great light as well and is competitive on price. They were my other choice and outside of the fact you have to have separate lights for veg and bloom, I likely would have ordered from them. Competition is a good thing - and consumers vote with their dollars! Good luck with your decision and I'm sure you'll find a great alternative.

After the first "missed pickup," i would have asked them: "how much is my time worth to you? Because Your error just cost me more than 2 weeks of it." (and if they balk/counter with the "it was UPS!" argument... you ask them: "who is running your business? You? ...Or UPS?")

As you age, this becomes increasingly important, because each day is one closer to death, and one less day of time to wait for things that could otherwise be expedited.

However, i would also advise to try to maintain diplomacy when dealing with anyone in similar scenarios; the "catch more flies with sugar..." adage often helps. Although sometimes, being super nice doesn't work, and then you have to be blunt and insistent... or just get that refund and stop stressing about it.

Yeah I was having a decently friendly banter via email up till the 2nd day they messed up. I have worked many years in the moving and storage business and was sympathizing with them about how stressful it was...so I TRIED, I truly did!

reasonevangelist said:

After the first "missed pickup," i would have asked them: "how much is my time worth to you? Because Your error just cost me more than 2 weeks of it." (and if they balk/counter with the "it was UPS!" argument... you ask them: "who is running your business? You? ...Or UPS?")

As you age, this becomes increasingly important, because each day is one closer to death, and one less day of time to wait for things that could otherwise be expedited.

However, i would also advise to try to maintain diplomacy when dealing with anyone in similar scenarios; the "catch more flies with sugar..." adage often helps. Although sometimes, being super nice doesn't work, and then you have to be blunt and insistent... or just get that refund and stop stressing about it.

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vitamin_green_inc said:

Yeah I was having a decently friendly banter via email up till the 2nd day they messed up. I have worked many years in the moving and storage business and was sympathizing with them about how stressful it was...so I TRIED, I truly did!

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I read the OP... an unfortunate incident indeed.

Only thing i can guess is they must be stressed about the move, maybe aren't making enough profit, and are frustrated by the whole situation enough that they reach the "fuckit point," which produces the attitude you encountered... or maybe they're making so much profit that they've gotten cocky, and don't mind telling off customers when they make a mistake they don't want to own? Honestly, it seems weird... i've mostly encountered people who seemed to go out of their way to make sure their customers are satisfied. In fact, the only negative experiences i can recall at this moment, have been with my bank! lol...

anonymous13 said:

No excuse for poor customer service.

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We are paying THEM! DEMAND RESPECT AND QUALITY

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Rollitup mobile app

That sucks. Not that it's an excuse for your treatment but I imagine the transition is stressful and maybe that explains the response. Idk. We have to deal with all kinds of logistics stuff here at work to. And unless there was no label or the box was not placed in the right location I Just don't see ups missing a package especially twice. I'm sure it could happen but i'd be more inclined to think otherwise. Though UPS or FedEX fucking up once it's in their hands. Definitely experienced plenty of that though. LOL

Haha yeah, as my dad likes to say "there's three things in life people fear the most, Death, taxes, and moving."

anonymous13 said:

No excuse for poor customer service.

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I agree. Customer service should be a priority. Just because it's hadn't shipped in two days though doesn't mean they should have given you a discount to purchase a bigger light but they could have definitely been nicer about it. It's unfortunate. Remember that sometimes cucumbers taste better pickled