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FrozenGate by Avery

Allow TinkerTavern back? POLL

Give TinkerTavern one more chance?

  • Yes

    Votes: 15 83.3%

  • No

    Votes: 3 16.7%
  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .
Unown (WILD)

Unown (WILD)

Well-known member
Staff member
LPF Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 4, 2020
Messages
1,743
Points
113
Hey everyone. I wanted to offer the chance for TinkerTavern to come back. I want you guys to decide what to do and I asked him to write up a message for us all.
It goes as follows,

"
“Hi!

Since the last time Tinker was on LPF, a lot has changed. I was working mostly alone, and this was much more than any one person could handle! Bad idea for myself and especially for our customers.

Now we have expanded our team to increase our ability to handle any issues, and also of course expanded our wavelength lineup

If you would have us, we would be honored to have a chance to be part of this community again! I cannot promise perfection; but I can promise communication. Make of that what you will!

If you need to reach us with any questions, Discord @tinkerlasers or phone (609) 285-3168 (8am-4pm EST) are the fastest ways to get to me. I check these myself and will always answer to the best of my ability.

Thanks for your time!”"
 





Please feel free to leave any comments both good or bad on here.
 
I purchased a couple laser modules from TinkerTavern a while back. I posted a review detailing my experience. In short, I felt that TinkerTavern was dishonest about shipping times, and the lack of reliable communication about delays gave me concerns that I was getting scammed. Despite these problems, the items I ordered arrived, with a gift for my trouble. I haven't yet had a chance to review the items I received, as I'm currently working on the project (should be done soon) but the summary is that I'm very pleased with the modules I ordered.
The gift I recieved is also of high quality. I didn't expect or ask for anything more than my original order. I appreciate the gift, but I don't think it substantially sways my opinion.

I voted to let TinkerTavern rejoin. The members here expect honesty and transparency from vendors and as long as that can be maintained, I think the community will benefit from having present a supplier of some interesting and unique products.
 
Same here - I share the same experience as RA_Pierce. The communication and shipping times haven't been great, but I've never not gotten my orders and more on top of them to compensate for the delays.

Edit: That said, those who have commented are all vets and I'm sure tinker knows that. While I do love my access to weird and exotic stuff, I'd hope and expect that randos would get treated the same as I do.
 
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I say let him back as long as buyers know the deal with his "past"
Just could be he has changed his ways and as long as he is honest with shipping time.
 
Here's my honest experience. I own 5 of his lasers, with 2 more on the way. The closest thing to a problem I've had is one time I had to wait a few extra weeks when my order never got scanned by USPS (and presumably they lost it) and he didn't have any more in stock. He messaged me back about it after I asked (it had been a week with no movement on the tracking). I did get my order eventually, and he even went above and beyond to make it right. (I was fuzzy on some of these details when I was talking about it on the Discord but checked my emails before posting here to get the details accurate.)

Not from my own experience, but from what I've seen on the forums, there was a time where it appeared he was taking a lot of preorders for the 573nm Valkyries and I don't know if everyone who was buying them was aware they weren't actually in stock or just how long they might have to wait, and then it got delayed on top of all that (and maybe my details are fuzzy again but it shouldn't change my point). There were some times where he was swamped and didn't answer his emails in a timely manner and some even looked like they slipped through the cracks. And I admit there are probably some examples outside of these that I'm not familiar with.

So if we're being candid, could he have done better? Yes. But I don't believe that he is a scammer.

I've stuck with him this whole time because he's got wavelengths nobody else has, and I'm personally willing to be flexible on timelines, especially when I know I'm dealing with bleeding-edge hobbyist stuff from a small business. And I know how hard it can be to run a business, there's just not enough days in the week to do it perfectly and there's no way to make everyone completely happy all the time. Mistakes will always be made; what matters most is that they eventually get fixed, and then using those mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow and do better. And that's what I see in Tinker. He seems really committed to improving and really serious about doing business in this hobby. I think he is doing his best and I put my money where my mouth is on that, trusting him with $$$$ and planning on $$$$ more.

Edit: I have 5 Tinker lasers already, not 4.
 
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The guy isn't a scammer. He just needs to work on his communication. His products are very good. And he is always actively searching for new lasers we could add to our inventories. I say give him another chance to show us an improvement in his customer service.
 
Would be a nice gesture if Tinker would make his commercial business a paid LPF business advertiser at whatever level and/or become personally an LPF site supporter.
Offering a discount on his products for LPF members would also be a nice gesture to extend to LPF members for tolerating all the tumult concerning his business and business practices.
 
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I've been buying from him for like 3 years, and I've experienced the communication issues. But I eventually got everything I ordered and it's all high quality stuff. Definitely should keep him around.
 
A returning banned member was able to vote for their short period of time being on here so the "no" vote count is actually 3 not 4
 
Polls looking good for Tinker. Tomorrow is the last day. I might close earlier tomorrow than the end time. No need to drag it on. I gotta find tinkers profile so I can unban it. Sucks that mods can't view banned profiles. You'd think that would make sense right? lol
 
Meh Ill unban now. Welcome back Tinkertavernco. Alright so I should probably say a few words just to provide some perspective. This is another opportunity to right the wrongs in the past. I don't know details about any of Tinkers transactions with his customers and honestly it's not my job or desire to know. But what I do want to know is that communication above all else will be maintained whether it contains bad or good news.
And I can say this really goes for anyone who sells or does business. Customers want information good or bad. So I encourage Tinker to maintain that communication and that delivering bad news is okay. People are more forgiving if you're honest and quick to reply. Sure some customers go really too far and want updates every hour which is totally unreasonable but that comes with the job I guess.
Also if you need encouragement you have lpf members who support you. It was because of them I reconsidered the situation.

In addition please consider offering a permanent lpf member discount for your store and all products. Take good care of each other dudes.
 
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