aryntha
0
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,031
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- 83
EDIT 12/07/2011: CNI is now working with me on this. They are trying to make it right, and have shown me spectroscope plots of the replacement laser... I will update this thread as the process goes along - but it looks like they ARE finally working with me, and trying to provide good service... The forum got their attention, and it looks like CNI may want to make good on this in the long run after all. I'll update towards the end of the thread as things go on.
Ok. I just have to get this off my chest. As the details of this are still being worked out, I'm not going to reveal everything here (I'm still waiting for a repair from CNI, too, so I don't want to jeopardize that..) Understand, I feel kind of sick even posting this. I kind of wish I could keep living in a world where CNI is honest, and takes care of even their hobbyist customers -- which is is why I've pursued this for so long instead of just throwing in the towel. I want to give them the chance to make it right. But it doesn't look like it's going to happen.
Now, I've been, in my estimation, a pretty good customer of CNI. My signature should bear that out.
To make a long story short, some time ago, I ordered a laser from CNI. I paid $1000. Things tumble along - turns out this laser maybe isn't so easy to produce as they thought.
Well, CNI has a great reputation, right? They'll make it right, right?Not so this time. For the past few months, I've been trying to extract responses from Ava. And it has been HELL. Note, I also have ANOTHER "issue" with CNI on deck while this is going on, that I can't get any traction on either. So I've got even more money than this wrapped up in CNI at the moment, but I can't even manage to so much as get an email without a concerted effort on my part.
Remember, CNI *has my $1000*.:
(2 weeks pass. I check up.)
(2 weeks pass again. I check up again. Not once has Ava emailed me on her own.)
(2 weeks pass.)
(2 weeks pass.)
(2 weeks pass.)
(3 weeks pass)
.. WHAT?! I thought the 'test had passed'!!
(no response for a day)
(no response for a day)
... I *CALL* CNI. In China. That's right, I pick up the phone, and dial internationally. AVA PICKS UP. No, really. There really is an Ava, and she answers the phone at the number in her emails. Her english on the phone is far better than in email.
... I send Ava ANOTHER EMAIL, consisting basically of: "Ava, if nothing can be done, if this laser can't be produced, is there anything CNI CAN do?"
Ava responds in email:
^^^ I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP, FOLKS.
Maybe her grandfather did die. MY CONDOLENCES, if so. But, is this supposed to just make me drop my engagement? I don't even know!? I write back.
No response.
I go to Livechat, on CNI's site, and talk to Susan.
... 1 minute later:
Ava, in email:
.....And that's where it stands. I replied to this, with concern, and the most kindly-worded "excuse me but :wtf:" I possibly could, and I am now and once again in the 'zero reply zone'.
I don't even know where to go next. And I know I'm taking some risk here posting this story on LPF, as I know CNI has a stellar reputation and is an advertiser here. Some folks may not believe me, or may think that there's a whole lot more to this story. Really, there isn't. (I've got some folks I've kept apprised of the situation as it's gone on... who can kind of vouch for the play-by-play.)
Additionally, reactions and responsiveness to people like Glenn/Scopeguy20, as far as I know, with his group buys, have slowed to a glacial pace as well. I have this feeling that they want to wash their hands of the hobbyist scene.
I know really nothing can be done at this point. I'm guessing CNI is "firing me as a customer", and making a profit on it in this last deal.
Maybe CNI will come through at the last minute here and make things right. But I doubt it, as Ava seems to not want to answer my emails at all anymore. After 6 months, an 'extra' (her words) $500 plus the $90 bank transfer fee really isn't going to fly. And because of their behavior, I'm really very wary about throwing more good money after bad. I think I'd be a bit of a fool to think that another $500 would suddenly grease the wheels and make everything go smoothly. I've been polite every time -- bordering on "firm" after so many months. But the lack of engagement and seeming dishonesty and "lines fed" really are inexcuseable at this point. If it was a money issue, they could have been up front with me months ago. At this point, I've even offered to just take a cheaper/lesser laser -- that has been met with the 'black hole' response, too.
I know ONE person here ended up being able to talk to someone higher-up at CNI, and got their laser replaced with a MGL/lab unit after tons of trouble. I have no idea how on earth they managed that, as I seem to be firmly stuck in Ava's non-responsive cul-de-sac.
I don't know what to say. This is how it played out. What sucks is, I WANT to be able to trust them enough to buy more stuff from them. (Laserglow -- if you're reading; I'd buy from you guys but you don't offer the exotic wavelengths... )
But at this point, I had to let the forum know, if not to just let off some steam. I hope something resolves here, because, y'know, I actually do want to buy lasers from CNI going forward. But this BS and unneccessary runaround just makes it really tough to justify. At some point the man-hours, stress, and gray hairs end up costing more than the "sunk cost" of an order.
Ok. I just have to get this off my chest. As the details of this are still being worked out, I'm not going to reveal everything here (I'm still waiting for a repair from CNI, too, so I don't want to jeopardize that..) Understand, I feel kind of sick even posting this. I kind of wish I could keep living in a world where CNI is honest, and takes care of even their hobbyist customers -- which is is why I've pursued this for so long instead of just throwing in the towel. I want to give them the chance to make it right. But it doesn't look like it's going to happen.
Now, I've been, in my estimation, a pretty good customer of CNI. My signature should bear that out.
To make a long story short, some time ago, I ordered a laser from CNI. I paid $1000. Things tumble along - turns out this laser maybe isn't so easy to produce as they thought.
Well, CNI has a great reputation, right? They'll make it right, right?Not so this time. For the past few months, I've been trying to extract responses from Ava. And it has been HELL. Note, I also have ANOTHER "issue" with CNI on deck while this is going on, that I can't get any traction on either. So I've got even more money than this wrapped up in CNI at the moment, but I can't even manage to so much as get an email without a concerted effort on my part.
Remember, CNI *has my $1000*.:
(2 weeks pass. I check up.)
(2 weeks pass again. I check up again. Not once has Ava emailed me on her own.)
(2 weeks pass.)
(2 weeks pass.)
(2 weeks pass.)
(3 weeks pass)
.. WHAT?! I thought the 'test had passed'!!
(no response for a day)
(no response for a day)
... I *CALL* CNI. In China. That's right, I pick up the phone, and dial internationally. AVA PICKS UP. No, really. There really is an Ava, and she answers the phone at the number in her emails. Her english on the phone is far better than in email.
... I send Ava ANOTHER EMAIL, consisting basically of: "Ava, if nothing can be done, if this laser can't be produced, is there anything CNI CAN do?"
Ava responds in email:
^^^ I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP, FOLKS.
Maybe her grandfather did die. MY CONDOLENCES, if so. But, is this supposed to just make me drop my engagement? I don't even know!? I write back.
No response.
I go to Livechat, on CNI's site, and talk to Susan.
... 1 minute later:
Ava, in email:
.....And that's where it stands. I replied to this, with concern, and the most kindly-worded "excuse me but :wtf:" I possibly could, and I am now and once again in the 'zero reply zone'.
I don't even know where to go next. And I know I'm taking some risk here posting this story on LPF, as I know CNI has a stellar reputation and is an advertiser here. Some folks may not believe me, or may think that there's a whole lot more to this story. Really, there isn't. (I've got some folks I've kept apprised of the situation as it's gone on... who can kind of vouch for the play-by-play.)
Additionally, reactions and responsiveness to people like Glenn/Scopeguy20, as far as I know, with his group buys, have slowed to a glacial pace as well. I have this feeling that they want to wash their hands of the hobbyist scene.
I know really nothing can be done at this point. I'm guessing CNI is "firing me as a customer", and making a profit on it in this last deal.
Maybe CNI will come through at the last minute here and make things right. But I doubt it, as Ava seems to not want to answer my emails at all anymore. After 6 months, an 'extra' (her words) $500 plus the $90 bank transfer fee really isn't going to fly. And because of their behavior, I'm really very wary about throwing more good money after bad. I think I'd be a bit of a fool to think that another $500 would suddenly grease the wheels and make everything go smoothly. I've been polite every time -- bordering on "firm" after so many months. But the lack of engagement and seeming dishonesty and "lines fed" really are inexcuseable at this point. If it was a money issue, they could have been up front with me months ago. At this point, I've even offered to just take a cheaper/lesser laser -- that has been met with the 'black hole' response, too.
I know ONE person here ended up being able to talk to someone higher-up at CNI, and got their laser replaced with a MGL/lab unit after tons of trouble. I have no idea how on earth they managed that, as I seem to be firmly stuck in Ava's non-responsive cul-de-sac.
I don't know what to say. This is how it played out. What sucks is, I WANT to be able to trust them enough to buy more stuff from them. (Laserglow -- if you're reading; I'd buy from you guys but you don't offer the exotic wavelengths... )
But at this point, I had to let the forum know, if not to just let off some steam. I hope something resolves here, because, y'know, I actually do want to buy lasers from CNI going forward. But this BS and unneccessary runaround just makes it really tough to justify. At some point the man-hours, stress, and gray hairs end up costing more than the "sunk cost" of an order.
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I am definaly never going to buy from those people :wtf:
