Paradise?

[deezdrama]

Cant get there site to load. Kind of worried.... I ordered all my controls over the weekend and havnt heard anything now the site wont load. Had problems with the site when I ordered. Is it just me or do others have this problem?

[PL1]

Is it just me or do others have this problem?

It was up an hour ago.

Should be back up once they realize the site's down and reboot the servers.   


Scott
EDIT: Site's back up.   

[yotsuya]

Oh look, it's Monday.

[deezdrama]

Its been a week. Have not recieved a shipping notice, is this normal?
Was hoping to get to wire controls this weekend.... looks like ill be lucky to wire some next weekend even.

[opt2not]

Screw it. I'm not touching this one. 

Use the search function for --paradise arcade shipping--.  There are a ton of threads like this..

[deezdrama]

Yeah.... wasnt aware of the other thread just recently posted and dont want to stir any more ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- up.
I was just concerned like the other guy when I didnt hear anything after a week.

They had the move and everything and I appreciate what they do..... I wanted lit jlf sticks and they seem to be the only ones offering that plus better prices than what ive seen. It just would be nice to have a "possible delay in shipping time due to...." notice on there site.

Its cool though... ill just have to be patient

[harveybirdman]

I wouldn't wait, hit them up on Facebook or by email.

[aldub516]

I got crucified when I brought up my issue with them.. But I do feel like I should put my resolution out there.. I ordered 3 simple wire harnesses on September 12 or so... I recieved no sign of any acknowledgment of my order in anyway.. I waited over a week and still never got anything. I posted here and got somewhat scolded for hurting a family owned brand that caters to our small market.. I sent them two emails and never got a response. I finally filed a paypal refund request on the 29th day,
And a few days later I received my refund with still no response. It actually sucks because they have good items and prices. I unfortunately am not going to return. I understand the ethics of calling out a small company and All that.. But it's the Internet. It's not hard to post and say "hey guys were going to close for a few weeks, or expect delays".. I don't understand the zero communication.

[deezdrama]

I did get a tracking # today so thats good.

[Hoopz]

I got crucified when I brought up my issue with them.. But I do feel like I should put my resolution out there.. I ordered 3 simple wire harnesses on September 12 or so... I recieved no sign of any acknowledgment of my order in anyway.. I waited over a week and still never got anything. I posted here and got somewhat scolded for hurting a family owned brand that caters to our small market.. I sent them two emails and never got a response. I finally filed a paypal refund request on the 29th day,
And a few days later I received my refund with still no response. It actually sucks because they have good items and prices. I unfortunately am not going to return. I understand the ethics of calling out a small company and All that.. But it's the Internet. It's not hard to post and say "hey guys were going to close for a few weeks, or expect delays".. I don't understand the zero communication.

Not everyone jumped up your butt about this.  And you're right, they are terrible at communicating.

You should post this in your thread though so that anyone searching can see how you had to resolve it.   

[Typefighter01]

If I ever open a business, I will make sure it is a "niche" business, this way I can do what-ever the hell I want and my customers will just have to deal with it...such horseshit.

[deezdrama]

.........

[eds1275]

If I ever open a business, I will make sure it is a "niche" business, this way I can do what-ever the hell I want and my customers will just have to deal with it...such horseshit.

I actually laughed out loud at this. On the one hand it's true. You get strange items nobody/almost no one wants, and then if you aren't prompt/business like about it, you have the whole community fighting for your honour because there isn't another alternative. I've decided that this hobby isn't about speed. In fact, I have started deciding on and ordering parts before I start the build so that I have them when I'm ready for them. I've ordered from a bunch of vendors and only one of them was good at shipping. The other 4 were super slow. And some of them just flat out ignore you unless you complain on this site and then they are all over you. In every case, it turns out to be a big deal with people on both sides of the argument and gets way off the initial topic of "where's my stuff?"

[yotsuya]

Yeah, that's great advice, eds. Buy stuff ahead of time. Most of these threads seem to get started by people on a tight deadline and get miffed because their emergency isn't the seller's emergency.

I'm also not going to defend vendors anymore. I'm happy to share my experiences and will always vouch for them, but sellers are big boys and their actions speak for themselves.

[vwalbridge]

but sellers are big boys and their actions speak for themselves.

Fo sho. Word travels fast in this hobby and they will get the message soon enough. Vendors with poor customer service weed themselves out. If I'm being honest, I don't care how big or small you are...I ordered from you and I expect my parts. And if you just email me that you are back-logged...I'll totally understand. Good old fashioned communication solves 99% of all problems. But NO communication can ignite 99% of all problems. I'll be patient to the end of the earth and back if you just tell me what's up.

Thankfully, my experiences with vendors in this hobby have been fantastic. (ie, Lucian045 for artwork, Ultimarc, hailrazer on KLOV, twisted quarter, and iankellogg.com) These vendors have "set the bar" in my opinion. I've never had to wait more than 24 hours for a reply to an email. (Usually in hours) and I've never waited longer than a week for a shipment to arrive.

I've never ordered from Paradise before but this is going to make me think twice.

[yotsuya]

I've ordered from all the vendors here and have never been cheater or ripped off or anything like that, but it's clear that my expectations and experiences aren't the same and everyone elses, so rather than muddy the waters, so to speak, I'll just let actions speak for themselves. I'd order from Paradise or GGG or Ultimarc without hesitation, but I have experience with each of them and have my own expectations. I'd go straight to the source if I had issues rather than start a thread, but that's me. Conversely, I don't blame guys who have done their due diligence, made repeated attempts to make contact, made phone calls, and have been met with silence.

[Hoopz]

I vote with my dollars and they go to Randy and Andy. Business, like respect, is earned. Those that want respect, give respect.  To me, that means communication is key in a niche business.  Andy and Randy both do that better than most.

T-molding guy is good as is/was Scott at the overlay company that I can't remember the name of that may or may not be in business anymore. Guy in B/S/T who did the replacement optic boards was great as was the first guy who offered the weeded/unweeded button labels. Few others that I've dealt with too  that I'm too old to remember.

[deezdrama]

..........

[jeremymtc]

Those are different variants of the JLF.  IIRC the shaft length may differ on those out of the box but they're still interchangeable.

JLF-TP-8Y has a pcb with harness connector: http://www.kowal.itcom.pl/ArcadeParts_pliki/joySJLFTP8Y.htm

JLF-TM-8 has standard microswitches with spade terminals: http://www.kowal.itcom.pl/ArcadeParts_pliki/joySJLFTM8.htm

[lacanian]

They didn't respond to an email about more info about a product so I bought from else where.

[yotsuya]

They didn't respond to an email about more info about a product so I bought from else where.

See, and that's fair enough.

[Aceldamor]

I was perusing the site yesterday. It was slow though.

[deezdrama]

.........

[Phreakwars]

My  first order was also messed up, I only got a couple items and I ordered several things. According to Susan, what had happened is there were multiple sheets printed for my order, but only 1 sheet was filled. I'm guessing the same thing has happened to you. I'd just give them a call and explain what happened. I did and she corrected the problem and shipped out right away. This last time I ordered from them, it wasn't so bad. I had a turn around time of about 10 days.

[deezdrama]

.........

[Hoopz]

They have alot of excuses

FTFY

[Phreakwars]

They have alot of excuses

FTFY

Sad, but true. But AT LEAST, they don't just outright rip you off. You eventually will get your ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, you just gotta kick em in the ass every once in a while.

[Phreakwars]

Word travels fast in this hobby and they will get the message soon enough. Vendors with poor customer service weed themselves out.

This is a great testimony to the power of the free market. I like paradise, I really really want to support them, I have even returned as a customer for the sake of being loyal, but sadly, I have REALLY REALLY considered going elsewhere for the next project I have coming up. I guess it boils down to time constraints for me personally. If I am building for someone else, like the one I am working on now, I give that person an estimated completion date with the hopes that all of the vendors combined get me what I need. If one starts lagging bigtime and pissing off the people I made promises/estimates to, I really have no choice but seek another distributor. And with the vast selection of up and coming and long time vendors being passed around and learned about from web forums such as this. It only gets easier and easier to take someone you were once loyal to, and replace them with someone else. You gotta stay on top of things and keep the customers happy, else risk having them find someone else, even if they end up paying more.

[deezdrama]

..........

[Hoopz]

File a charge back with your credit card company right now. Perhaps lost revenue is the only way to get their attention.

[deezdrama]

.........

[eds1275]

The moral of the story is that you didn't learn in the first place! Seriously I feel your pain. I had similar nonsense with a different vendor. I would suggest not ordering again.

[Hoopz]

The moral of the story is that you didn't learn in the first place! Seriously I feel your pain. I had similar nonsense with a different vendor. I would suggest not ordering again.

This.

And if the dollar amount is not important to you, then don't complain.  I'm not trying to PBJ you, but if it's worth complaining about or airing your frustration in public, then it's worth resolving through your cc company.  That's my two cents.  YMMV. 

[SusanInParadise]

Aloha All -    this is kind of what I feel like when reading this. I completely understand your frustrations, and I apologize for causing them.  Can I share a little backstory?  Thanks, here goes.

June and July - pack up the 40 foot container so that we can move our home and business from Hawaii to MN. Do this alone and/or pay my employee and her friends to help me as Bryan is studying for boards to be a Board Certified Ortho Surgeon and can't help at all.  This is on top of my take Tyler to/from school, normal work day of anywhere from 10-15 hours and oh yeah, be a mom, wife, housewife and what ever else comes up.

Now my normal days consist of this, Take Tyler to school, work, pick Tyler up at school, (if I haven't already been called in to pick him up early because of a medical condition) work some more....dinner, work some more, put Tyler to bed, work some more...go to bed.  And somewhere in there find time to be a mom, wife, housewife etc.  I am still the single person here....yes I make mistakes, i'm human and am probably rushing through things faster than I should due to other pressures. Bryan is now a Fellow meaning the last year of his Spine training.  We have someone on board to help with things but still needs training in all areas. Which I will do and Bryan will assist in the technical aspects. I am the go to person for the business, for my customers, for my family.  I'm not trying to make excuses, just showing you what I do.

I've come up with a newer schedule that I hope will keep me on track with a number of work related issues that keep coming up. ie answering emails in a timely manner....inventory control, same or next day shipping etc.

I apologize for missing emails, mispacking orders and not giving you the awesome customer experience I know I can deliver.  Things will be getting better in Paradise.

Mahalo for your business.

Susan 

[SusanInParadise]

Almost forgot- our server is having issues with speed.  Yes we have had them looking into it for a few weeks now.  And on top of that, the Paypal/Prestashop module is having issues as well. I'm having to cross check our sales with Paypal reports to make sure nothing gets missed....then create the order in our store. This is a Paypal issue, Paypal itself actually went down. Crazy. 

If anyone has issues and for some reason cannot get me by email, just text me at 651-332-3665  That is the fastest way to get ahold of me.

[deezdrama]

.........

[Vigo]

Thanks for popping in to respond to this, Susan! 

[SusanInParadise]

Yes I did screw up on your order bigtime. I don't think you're trying to pull one over on me at all.

In all fairness, I called to let you know about the led's and micros and got them out right away, and while i'm 99% positive i had the hollow shafts correct, I sent another one out right away. 

Got my package... Susan wrote that she was sorry for the delay.

I got my buttons and sticks but missing a jlf long hollow shaft, all microswitches, and all leds for the buttons.
While I was at work I got an email with tracking from paradise. I thought it was just a notification saying the package was delivered but its a tracking number for a different package.
Was no note ,email, or mention of the missing items and if/when they would be shipped seperate.

I dont want to keep pestering them with emails.... should I just wait for the package?


Also.... im still a noob here but I had a sanwa jlf I already had..... in my order I ordered a led jlf and the parts to convert the jlf I already had. The jlf I recieved is different than the jlf I already had. The one I had uses pins and a harness, the one I just got doesnt use pins and a harness....you just wire it straight to the microswitches.
Can anyone clear this up for me? Are they different models or ??

Will I be able to install the hollow shaft, led, and balltop I ordered to light this other one I already had?
Why do the two jlfs look completely different?

[SusanInParadise]

Can anyone clear this up for me? Are they different models or ??

Will I be able to install the hollow shaft, led, and balltop I ordered to light this other one I already had?
Why do the two jlfs look completely different?

One is a stock JLF and one is our LED JLF Cherry Mod.....yes you can install your parts!

[yotsuya]

Susan, thank you for checking in. There are a lot of us who have done business in the past with Paradise and have nothing but positive things to say, but it's good to see active communication from you guys.