[ Closed ] Orders Shipping List (Page 3 of 64)

when they say weeks your have to read months.... (oh or years?)
this is going ridiculous
same situation 'im order 771

I went through the same process and came to the same conclusion. There is a very cheap kit printer available in the UK called the SUMPOD, but it isn't cheap enough make it a better deal.

You make a great point regarding the potential benefits of not being 'the earliest' of adopters, and this is one of the (admittedly somewhat selfish) reasons why I don't mind waiting. Improvements in production should mean a better product as time goes on.

I understand from comments made by support that some units will fail on the production line and need to be reworked, causing delays for some orders. There was a suggestion that each frame serial number is pre-assigned to an order, which made swapping of units difficult under such circumstances - but there are only really two models of printer (the case doesn't really count), so I don't see why the next completed unit can't simply be reassigned to the order in such a scenario?

My printer has finally arrived:

Order: 1338
Order date: 05/18/2012
Shipped: 08/22/2012
Delivered: 09/04/2012

No toolkit.
Case included.
No tears on Kapton.
Edit:
Only one roll of filament sent out of the two ordered.
Can't find the PVC spool holder yet either.

I've been against making a post concerning frustrations with the ship date of the Solidoodle I ordered for a number of reasons, the least of which being that I didn't feel it would provide any tangible benefit. The company is a start-up, working through a massive backlog due to an unanticipated interest. Okay, so they weren't able to even start shipping the first units until after the original promised ship dates. I can understand, bootstrapping a company is non-trivial.

So why am I making this post? 
Well, dbgw's post struck a chord with me. I, too, have questioned the odd shipping order of the units. I, too, have suspected this had something to do with addressing the squeaky wheel(s).  In addition, I've felt that John (from support) has become increasingly defensive in responding to people in the forums. To be fair, I wouldn't wish his job on anyone. Sam, if you're listening, I'd highly recommend rotating this position to avoid the jading that tends to occur with tech support/IT.  Just my two cents.

What is my specific complaint?
I have been in contact with Solidoodle support since my original order. I have been polite and cordial in all of my communications. I have requested a shipment date on my order only after the shipment date has been surpassed.
Original order:
Request for delivery date on: 5/12  Delivery date provided: 7/11
Second request for delivery date:
Request for delivery date on: 7/11  Delivery date provided: 7/25
Third request for delivery date based on a blog update:
Request for delivery date on: 7/17  Delivery date provided: 8/14
Fourth request for delivery:
Request for delivery date on: 8/14  Delivery date provided: 8/27
Fifth request for delivery after blog update:
Request for delivery date on: 8/27  Referred to Delivery date provided: 9/5

As you can see, I have been repeatedly provided with delivery dates, only to be disappointed. Perhaps the Solidoodle will materialize on the shipping dock tomorrow.

It's become a running joke at my workplace that I keep looking for this package when it was promised.  Why have people who have later order dates been sent their machines prior to people who ordered before them?  This nonsense about being assigned a serial number and something happening with the machine just isn't believable.

Here is my information:
Order Number:  1023
Order Date:  5/12/12
Model:  Expert
Website Status:  Pending

I did finally receive my printer after weeks of waiting. However, I ordered the Expert model and they did not ship the case/door with it. When I contacted John frm Support, he inidicated that they shipped it that way so I could begin printing as soon as possible. That was fine, I could wait for the case a few weeks. He assured me the case would ship in a couple weeks. It has been four weeks now and he will not respond to my email. I am wondering if I threw the extra $50 out the window for the case. I really wanted the finished look so I can show it off at work and other events. I also hear that the case helps keep the printer bed warmer. I sent three emails in two weeks with no response.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

After following up my previous email with a more to-the-point request for an explanation to the shipping order (and an estimate for my own printer), I've been told the following:

I quoted two order numbers (and dates) kindly provided in this thread as examples of non-chronological shipment, and the suggestion is that those orders were expedited.

As far as I'm concerned they made a huge mistake as soon as they started 'expediting' orders. Doing so immediately causes disruption to everyone's shipping estimates (making support's lives difficult) and causes the kind of confusion and animosity we now have with regards to people's place in line.

At the end of the day no-one is going to order one of these printers (with an 8 week lead time) and expect them to turn up bang on time - nor is the possession of a 3D printer ever going to be the difference between life and death - so the idea that there would ever be a 'dire necessity' for such a device just doesn't make sense to me.

Like Jon, the pending dispatch of this printer has become a running joke in the office and at home. Until recently I was defensive of the company and device, but I'm starting to waver.

With respect, I believe everyone is well aware of that.

No argument there. As explained earlier in the thread, my personal grievance is not with the delays (given the nature of the product and company, I'm sure most of us expected these), but with the 'expedition' of certain orders.

Just spotted a worrying new post on the Facebook page:

In response to some of the comments, let me be clear about my prior posting.  I'm aware that Solidoodle is a start-up, not some big box store.  I believe I have been patient with the delays and will continue to be so.  Also, I do not think that the company is involved in any sort of scam.  Everything about this has the look and feel of an earnest start-up.  I support Solidoodle and wish them nothing but success.

My complaint is with the combination of repeatedly missed deadlines (all of which were offered freely from the company) and the apparent prioritization of some orders over others.  I do not fault the people who ordered after me and received their unit before mine, clearly this was a decision on the Solidoodle end.  I also don't think this reflects anything on the health of the company, but it does seem to shine some light on the policies being implemented. 

The reality may simply be that this is an earnest effort to help people who have made some plans around the missed delivery dates and are losing money as a result.  While I'm tempted to find causation where only correlation is evident, the out of order fulfillment may have very little to do with the failed deadlines.  Fact is, I also have business planned for the unit, but I opted to put the brakes on after the first missed delivery date.  Others may not have been so lucky.

While I may exhibit a bit of frustration, this post and my previous one are intended to reach out to a community that I'm becoming more acquainted with on a daily basis, not to flame, belittle or call "foul play" on Solidoodle.  Should the delivery date policy be looked at?  Almost certainly.  Should the order fulfillment policy be examined?  Maybe, we don't really have enough information to know.  Do I have confidence that I will receive my order?  Absolutely, the only question is when.

Well put, I share your exact sentiments.

Thank you for confirming this; I suspected as much.
Even if you had, my problem is with Solidoodle allowing such a thing, not those whom have requested it (for whatever reason).

In reality I suspect whomever at Solidoodle responded to my query did not have the time or inclination to look up the example orders I gave (given the volume of mail they must be getting I can't blame them for this), so mostly likely they assumed expedition was the reason.

This does however suggest that the 'expedited orders' reasoning given at various points by support staff is not the sole cause of the erratic build order.

Hopefully a blog update will be forthcoming in the next couple of days that gives us a real progress update and addresses our queries (and those of others on the Facebook page).

ordered. end of May .. order 1650 ish ..

got onto irc late last night (my time) to check status and was told shipped !
unfortunately the tracking numbers quoted say it went to italy instead of australia, some sort of number mix up I hope, I received no email on status. I hear about mass emails but have not received a single email since my invoice.
I was ensured 'its definately shipped' albeit no correct tracking yet.

Will try irc a bit later tonight and see if saturday brings further info.

I am optimistic though .. just ordered a couple of rolls of filament locally.

Order # 1284
Order date: may 17th
Status: Pending ..... and pending ...and pending
Should be shipped by now per John