Think Lasers

[Greenie]

I am glad someone finally posted this info. Maybe this will generate a response from them other than beating around the bush

Thanks Justin

 

[thinklasers]

It was a simple domain trick for a competition test. This is simply marketing, buying the domain "thelaserglow" was a great way to gain targeted customers and if laserglow was a more marketing savvy company they would have grabbed it incase of competition. Just like ask.com purchased all the misspells of "google.com", its simply marketing in an internet and keyword based world.

Last year LG made a huge fuss and did a lot of negative bash talking about us, simply because they may have been outmarketed? We respect all trademark laws but they need to understand competition exists in a competitive market that competes for sales.

Thinklasers.com has always been a trustworthy laser retailer and has always followed through with orders and good customer satisfaction, this little marketing campaign has nothing to do with our laser products or how we work with customers. We simply know smart marketing and we're not going to apologize for that.

we hope this can help close the issue on our strong re-entry into the laser market, thanks guys.

 

[Aseras]

a spoof or a parody website is cute sometimes in the right context, but be careful when you do it to your own gain and profit. clever marketing and competition is one thing, but deliberately setting up a false domain and website to steal the same of someone else based upon their good name is not marketing it's fraud.

intentional misdirection isn't a trustworthy thing to do. how would you like it If i paid for my "hercules 2" with monopoly money? I mean you didn't say what kind or whose dollars...

 

[thinklasers]

I see what you are getting at 100%, but domain purchases is not fraud. I mean major companies like ask.com would be fraudulent organization is this was the case. I don't see google jumping on lawsuits because of this simple harmless tactic. If you're not a marketer we can understand the confusion and how marketing can enter some grey areas. But none the less, its still just agressive marketing. In this case I would say, to each his own.

 

[pseudonomen137]

Thanks to Laserglow for jogging my memory... without LC search to check up on, I'm pretty sure the following is what I remember of "thinklasers":

About a year ago I was still pretty new to laser forums, but I recall a few posts from people who bought from thinklasers and didn't get anything. Occasionally posts like like this would crop up over the next few months - basically people who were charged, and never received anything. I'm not sure what the verdict was. I heard some rumors that they had problems with the FDA, and others who thought they were just an outright scam...

or at least that's how I remember it. More info is probably on LC if I could search back to it.

So I may be mistaken/mislead here, but I'd exercise extreme caution in dealing with thinklasers and be sure you are covered by some sort of chargeback policy just in case.

And BTW, I'm not saying this in support of laserglow either - Just trying to get the truth out as best I can so you can consider all the facts before you make a decision. In fact, around the same time as the thinklasers stories, an ex-moderator of LPF and I shared a good laugh about some of the business practices of laserglow...

 

[thinklasers]

Thinklasers company has currently accepted 25,000 credit card transactions, referring to sales. In order to even accept credit payments through legitimate companies, merchant bank accounts must be established where chargebacks are always an option to protect consumers. We use Chase Manhattan as our merchant provider. Rest assured any information is safe + secure and orders are always guaranteed, this is a real business. Otherwise we'd have some serious legal problems dealing with that many customers.

 

[pseudonomen137]

Thinklasers company has currently accepted 25,000 credit card transactions, referring to sales. In order to even accept credit payments through legitimate companies, merchant bank accounts must be established where chargebacks are always an option to protect consumers. We use Chase Manhattan as our merchant provider. Rest assured any information is safe + secure and orders are always guaranteed, this is a real business. Otherwise we'd have some serious legal problems dealing with that many customers.

Sorry if I'm mistaken here, but your response seems to glaze over the main point of my post. I understand merchant accounts, chargebacks, etc., but I don't understand what happened to the customers who posted on LC - some of whom claimed to have gone over the time limit on a chargeback in blindly hopeful anticipation.

I don't know the full story here, but I think some sort of explanation on your end would be appreciated by everyone.

 

[thinklasers]

The LC posts really must be from marketers who were upset with us and saw an opportunity to bash us in a few ways. Even so, One or two claims out of thousands and thousands of transactions I don't think is too bad of a reputation. A 99% customer satisfaction rate seems impressive enough to us. But we can totally understand you concern, mistakes do happen. But also remember that not every single thing spoken on in forums is true, marketers are always bashing one another for the sake of their own companies. People are negative by nature and can really exagerate things out of proportion. Have we had chargebacks, yes, but not because of No delivery, because the consumers themselves saw an opportunity to get money back and keep the products. This happens alot with high priced items and we are always working with our credit providers to avoid this. Every single laser retailer out there will tell you that people pull chargebacks even though shipment has been received, its just a risk of business. Just like not every business is moral, neither is every consumer.

 

[timelord]

Thinklasers I still think your a mouthy twat and your lucky SenKat backed your corner, otherwise I would be standing by my previous decision. Words of warning though Don't pick a fight with me ever again and you'll do just fine.

 

[Placebo]

Just like not every business is moral, neither is every consumer.

Perhaps so, but unlike every business, every consumer is always right!


EDIT: I like your "100% Satisfaction Guarantee"

Normally all sales are final, It is in the clients best interest to do research about the output power required for any particular application. There are no "free demos or trials".

At our discretion, we will issue a refund to you within 72 hours of delivery, All refunds issued will have a 25% restocking fee as well as shipping costs. Once a unit has been sold it is a used unit and loses some of it's value, fees are to cover any losses.

 

[thinklasers]

At our discretion, [/b][/i]

this is only referring to items that are not damaged that people simply want a refund on, which every laser seller will tell you can be a problem. This does not refer to damages, delays or anything else, simply a person who orders a laser and then decides they don't want it. We encourage proper research, there is no free trials. Our 'guarantee' or whatever you may want to call it that or not, is being modified to fit the market.  Obviously not everyone can be happy, people will complain even if you give them free lasers, i know its happened.

And the consumer is not always right, when they are tryin to cheat and steal from business, there are no absolute. YOu can't say the business is 100% this and the consumer is 100% that, its just unrealistic. THere are always variable and everyone is diffirent, you can't please everybody

 

[pseudonomen137]

The LC posts really must be from marketers who were upset with us and saw an opportunity to bash us in a few ways. Even so, One or two claims out of thousands and thousands of transactions I don't think is too bad of a reputation. A 99% customer satisfaction rate seems impressive enough to us. But we can totally understand you concern, mistakes do happen. But also remember that not every single thing spoken on in forums is true, marketers are always bashing one another for the sake of their own companies. People are negative by nature and can really exagerate things out of proportion. Have we had chargebacks, yes, but not because of No delivery, because the consumers themselves saw an opportunity to get money back and keep the products. This happens alot with high priced items and we are always working with our credit providers to avoid this. Every single laser retailer out there will tell you that people pull chargebacks even though shipment has been received, its just a risk of business. Just like not every business is moral, neither is every consumer.

Sorry, but from that response I again get the feeling the phrase "Even so, One or two claims out of thousands and thousands of transactions I don't think is too bad of a reputation" skirts around the issue.

I understand that I can't trust everything on any forum, esp LC, but there were MANY posts about it, and honestly you aren't that special of a player. If people were gunna try putting down a company, I'd expect WL, LG, optotronics... but not you. I have trouble believing all the claims are wrong.

Also, did you guys go on a hiatus for the past your or did the forums just forget about you? After the ongoing scam posts your site kinda dell off forum knowledge until recently it seems. Any explanation?

And I agree with SenKat that some explanation is needed on the Spyder situation. Sure, the rest of the stuff you're just being another typical CNI reseller - same as anyone in the world could do with a computer, sheer ignorace of the laws, and had a few k$ of startup money. The Spyder situation is a bit more unnerving though since WL doesn't recognize you as a reseller.

So here's where it is for me now: I'm not saying your a sham company for sure or anything, but there's a lot of odd things about thinklasers, and so far we've gotten a lot of responses, but few if, any answers from you. So I stick to my original point that your company should be dealt with only under extreme precautions. You disagree?

 

[Placebo]

There appears to be two guarantees. One is conditional and the other is not. Which one applies?

On your home page it says this:

100% Satisfaction Guarantee - If for any reason you are not satisfied with any item, return it for either an exchange or a full refund of the purchase price.

On your "guarantee page" it says this:

100% Satisfaction Guarantee - Normally all sales are final, It is in the clients best interest to do research about the output power required for any particular application. There are no "free demos or trials".

At our discretion, we will issue a refund to you within 72 hours of delivery, All refunds issued will have a 25% restocking fee as well as shipping costs. Once a unit has been sold it is a used unit and loses some of it's value, fees are to cover any losses.




EDIT: While I'm at it, on your homepage you state that you guarantee that you will not be undersold. Closer examination reveals that you actually guarantee that the retail price won't drop. Underselling and retail prices are two different things. Are both covered by your guarantee?

 

[pseudonomen137]

At our discretion, we will issue a refund to you within 72 hours of delivery, All refunds issued will have a 25% restocking fee as well as shipping costs. Once a unit has been sold it is a used unit and loses some of it's value, fees are to cover any losses.
[/b]

Holy crap, 25% restocking? People yell at me for asking 5% on my eBay sales and I've yet to actually follow through on it once. At 25%? You might as well just have made the sale. That's not a refund, that's a buy back on a used product.

As placebo says, it would be nice to have a 100% solid answer as to what applies. 25% restocking fee is not a return policy in any sane persons mind.

 

[timelord]

SenKat I knew what I said was right about this Thinklasers man You've been under more pressure lately my good friend I'm here for you always

Thinklaser I'm still not happy with your shit man!!!! The more I see the more I'm getting itchy with my beautiful, pretty and swift banned button

 

[N00B]

DAMN, $350 for a CNI 95mw!! What are you guys thinking, honestly? Nova Lasers Sells the X-85 W/ kickass case and an average output of 95+ mw for $179.

Best price guarantee huh? Maybe that needs a little work?