Jeers for Lifestyle Fascination

[zackhugh]

Don,

Thanks for the sympathy. Nice to know someone's reading my post at least.

I'm not sure everyone who lives in CONUS is aware of this hassle that Hawaii (and Alaska) has with UPS and the great number of companies that ONLY use UPS. Thankfully, dat2zip, ARC, and a number of other flashaholic resources have lower priced shipping methods.

After a while when dealing with companies like Lifestyle, I start to wonder if I'm being unreasonable in questioning a shipping charge that seems clearly too high.

The only good thing in my case (as compared to yours) is that the light was pretty good for the money (my opinion is in the "A2 killer" thread). While I don't expect it to replace the A2 by any means, it can whet my whistle while waiting for the A2 to appear. And I am certainly anxious after hearing your initial thoughts on this light. Like most people here, I have definitely been buying more light and light accessories since seeing CPF.

Steve

[Bushman]

I agree you guys get ripped on shipping! Isn't usps priority the same as in the CONUS? Sigman (From alaska) has also felt your pain and has posted accordingly in another thread. I was about to order one of those lights... I might hold off...

[Chris M.]

I second that also. The first purchase I made went OK, if a little slow. International stuff can get here in days when it wants to, but it took a little over 2 weeks.
The second wasn`t much to grumble about either, as I expected the slow thing to begin with so the three-and-a-half weeks wait wasn`t so bad.
The third time really was taking the fish images/icons/rolleyes.gif . It took over two months and one failed delivery attempt to get it. They mangled up my address so FedUpx (BusinessPost have the franchize in this country) had no idea where to send it. I won`t do international calls but did make at least four to Fedex trying to get it re-routed and finally succeeded. A fair few e-mails to LF went unanswered too.

Though the Nuwai light looks like a decent product, I`m very hesitant to order one, unless I can find an alternative supplier. I just don`t want to go through what I went through to get my Collimator-Lite again. I lost money on that order too, as they saw fit to credit my card when the parcel bounced, and credited less than I`d paid to begin with. Then they charged me again (for more than they credited) when it was sent the second time (following a couple e-mails asking WTF was going on, and spelling out my address exactly as it should appear), with another shipping charge slapped on there too I`m pretty sure. And there were the fone calls to Fedex to get them to cancel one of the two Customs charges I was invoiced (for the bounced delivery) which, to their credit, they did for me.

Honestly. So much fuss for just one little torch....

images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[McGizmo]

Still off topic here; should be in Jeers for certain shipping practices! I use USPS for most of my shipments as they are cheaper than the others and internationally can fly under the radar of customs hassles. However, I know who I am shipping to and realize if a package IS lost, SOL!

I can't fault the vendors for shipping with accountability offered by the other carriers but the other carriers seem to be either not training well of perhaps scrapeing slime of the sides of the gene pool for some of their help! I currently have a UPS shipment that got within 5 miles of my house two days ahead of scheduled delivery date (COD) only to be rerouted to Washington state and now it looks like I might get the package this coming thursday ( a week after it was within visible distance to me!)

RE: Hawaii; I forced the shipping dept of my old employer (marine supplies) to start using USPS for our customers in Hawaii as they were getting screwed by Fed-Ex and UPS.

- Don

[zackhugh]

Bushman,

Yup, USPS Priority Mail is the same for CONUS as for Hawaii if it's under a pound. Over that weight I think the rates change slightly. But the difference in delivery time is minimal (negligible if UPS ships on a Friday). I think the Post Office does a tremendous job, especially when you consider their rates. I only bought two lights because the second one is discounted. I'll let you know--I may be able to sell/trade you my spare comparable to what you would pay LF.

Chris M.,

Wow! I feel a little guilty for my rant. Sounds like you got way worse treatment than I did. For me, I just get tired that Hawaii is part of the U.S. and still gets treated as second class citizens, if people even remember that we are a U.S. state.

Steve

[zackhugh]

Don,

I didn't mind paying the exorbitant (in my opinion anyway) UPS charges, but LF didn't even ship it that way. Unbelievable!

With respect to changing the shipping practices of your old employer, I thank you on behalf of the State of Hawaii (though no one has authorized me to do so!). It's nice that someone's looking out for us.

Steve

[Quickbeam]

Wow! Very unfortunate. Stick to your guns and hammer them about the charges for the shipping, especially since they did not ship the way they promised. I have the LED/Xenon light and I do like it. Even overengineered IMHO - lots of metal and heavier than expected. Hope you get it straightened out.

[zackhugh]

Quickbeam,

I may send them a snail mail complaint next. At least someone would have to open the letter and read it before throwing it away. Emails and phone calls have failed thus far. I wonder if they even have much staffing dedicated to customer service.

Actually, I think I have you to credit (blame?) for this purchase images/icons/smile.gif After reading your review I figured that it was worth the $40 and it was. Thanks. graemlins/icon14.gif One more flashlight for the pile.

Steve

[zackhugh]

After reading the generally positive reviews of the LED Xenon torches (inexpensive A2 "substitutes) by other members of this forum, I purchased a couple from Lifestyle Fascination. I was assessed $22.72 for UPS 2nd Day Air to Hawaii, a somewhat pricey charge (because UPS only ships 2nd Day air to Hawaii) that I accepted because at least they would get to me quickly. Later I receive an email from them saying they shipped via US Mail! images/icons/shocked.gif I immediately sent an email questioning their charge since Insured Priority Mail would only cost about $10 or so. I received an automated email response but no one actually addressed the shipping charge. graemlins/icon13.gif images/icons/mad.gif I emailed again with the same result--no response. I just got off the phone with the company; I gave up after a half hour with no one from customer service answering the phone. images/icons/mad.gif I guess I shouldn't be surprised; they still had their Christmas sale and holiday music/info playing in the background! I've learned my lesson on which companies to deal with in the future. And at least I get to vent here and add to my small number of posts. graemlins/icon14.gif

[McGizmo]

zackhugh,

I feel your pain! I think with LifeStyles, one must bear with the motto: "Buyer be ware!" I bought a couple of lights from them and as I expected, they were crap, IMHO. The claims and text in their catalogs and on line are likely written by news stand headline writer wannabees.

- Don

[zackhugh]

images/icons/blush.gif Whoops. I just checked my credit card balance online and it appears that they've credited me the cost difference between the UPS and USPS shipping. graemlins/icon14.gif images/icons/smile.gif Of course, no one there emailed me to let me know that they did it. I appreciate their honesty, but it would have been good to tell me. I guess I'll send an email to thank them for doing this. Is it too late to change the "Jeers" to Cheers"?

Steve

[Gene]

Steve,
I'm glad it worked out. I guess this is off-topic but I'll tell you, it's maddening when companies won't respond to e-mails or answer with "form" e-mails. There's a company that a lot of CPF members buy from and they ship fast but they just won't answer e-mails. I've ordered from them twice and their service is good but it just bugs me because they won't respond if I e-mail them with a question.

[bmsmith]

My latest order with Lifestyle is similar to yours, Steve. I ordered 4 items, received only 3. The invoice had a hand-written note that said item #4 was out of stock and was backordered, but I was charged. I've sent 3 emails asking the status of the item with no response. I also had a second complaint about not honoring a 10% discount code I had used during ordering. Yesterday I checked my credit card and I see a credit that appears to be about the right amount to be the 10% difference, but, like you, I never got any email from them. I'm still waiting for the 4th item.

I would recommend emailing Greg at Brightguy.com to let him know you are interested in him carrying Nuwai flashlights. I and some others have already done so and Greg is checking out the possibility. I know I would be much much happier ordering from Greg. Most of the Nuwai lights aren't bad.

[zackhugh]

bmsmith,

Thanks for the info. I will email Greg at brightbuy to let him know. Someone reviewed one of those small AAA led/fluorescent/xenon combos from Lifestyles that look kind of interesting to me. FYI, I received a postcard from Lifestyles to tell me that they had received my request/complaint and that it was being processed. I assume you'll get one too. The problem is that it's so vague that I wouldn't know that they took care of the problem if I hadn't gone to my CC web site. If only they emailed me to say they took care of the problem this thread might have been titled "Cheers for Lifestyle Fascination." Puzzling.

Steve

[bmsmith]

Steve,
You are correct! I received a postcard in the mail yesterday telling me that my request was received and that I should see a credit within the next billing cycle. I do feel better now, but, like you, wonder why they can't reply to email requests. Certainly should be much cheaper than mailing postcards!
I will probably order from them again if I see something of interest. They haven't really tried to screw me - just some confusion and slow (snail-mail) response to requests.

- Brian

PS - I have both the 4AA and 4AAA combo lights you mention. I like them both a lot. The 4AA version seems slightly "tougher" and "refined" in design than the 4AAA version, but is a fair amount larger in size. The CCFL in each light works great, which I think should be the main reason for buying them.

[BigHonu]

Steve,

I feel your pain!

Aloha

[zackhugh]

Brian,

Your postcard said more than mine. Mine was a little cryptic and I still wouldn't have been able to tell about the cc credit except that I checked online. It was a very general statement. Yeah, it would be much cheaper and better for them to respond by email. I'd be singing their praises right now. Oh, and thanks for the extra info on these lights. I think the discussion in the other thread said something about the AAA light being a little fragile even though the size was very good. But I'm intrigued by the CCFL. This flashaholic thing is really getting out of hand. I used to buy lights before getting on CPF, but now my behavior is reinforced by the sheer magnitude of phototropic fanatics graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif

BigHonu,

Hey, we're both in Hawaii and both in Honolulu (I live in Manoa). Therefore we're used to completely irrational and unconscionable shipping policy of UPS. I will NEVER understand why everything has to come here 2nd Day Air. I always go USPS Priority Mail whenever possible. Fedex from Arc isn't so bad at $10, though.

Steve

[flashlightlens]

I ordered two of the "Aluminum Xenon/LED Hand Torch's" from them and instead received two of the "Xenon, LED, CCFL Light's." The invoice was correct - just packed wrong. The invoice said UPS ground service - instead it was USPS P-Mail (no big deal - probably got there quicker than UPS anyway). Spent about a half-hour on hold waiting for customer service. Customer service was pleasant - they said they were sending a call-tag and would ship the correct lights ASAP. I'll wait to see what happens before I pass judgment. I've sent the wrong lenses to 1 or 2 people, but I always try to throw in a little extra for them to make up for it.

Chris

[GJW]

Hmmmmm...........
I ordered two on Friday afternoon and had them by Monday evening.
My last order from them took about 3 weeks but I was notifed of the delay both by e-mail (within 24 hours) and by postcard (with 2 or 3 days).

[bmsmith]

Update for my order: I received an email today with a shipping tracking number, so I'm hopeful it's item #4 that was backordered. I am fascinated that they can't send an email (written by a human) to me to answer my questions. Very strange.

Things are looking good. I'll post a final update when I receive it.

[The_LED_Museum]

I bought a vacume cleaner from them early last year, and got crappy service. images/icons/frown.gif
I paid extra for fast shipping, but it turned out the thing was backordered, so it took a month to get here and I never got a refund on even part of the shipping. images/icons/tongue.gif

[Chris M.]

That sucks images/icons/frown.gif images/icons/tongue.gif

[flashlightlens]

Here's my recent timeline with them:

1/11 - Received wrong items
1/13 - Called and was told correct items & return label on their way
1/21 - nothing yet - called and told correct items never shipped.

I asked them if they were going to at least upgrade the shipping service since I was experiencing all these problems and was still waiting for the lights - they said I could probably get it by tomorrow - 1/22. We'll see.........

Chris

[bmsmith]

Final update for my order: I received the backordered item #4 from my original shipment.

My final conclusion: Their customer service department is afraid to use email as a means of communication, but they aren't out to screw you. I would not call my experience bad, just slow and unknown.

I hope you guys get your problems resolved as well.

- Brian