Asked — Edited

Where Are The Tracking Numbers?

Hello everyone :-} Has anyone received any tracking numbers as of lately, I place my order back in November 2014 for the Developer Kit and some other things, I figured I should have a tracking number by now. We are almost in the middle of August, what's going on. Please, don't anyone say be patient, I am beyond that now and I think alot of others are to. I am ready to get things going, where are the V4's that we were told were coming?


ARC Pro

Upgrade to ARC Pro

Unlock the true power of automation and robotics by becoming a proud subscriber of Synthiam ARC Pro.

#1  

Uhm I think we are in the middle of August! Which probably makes it worse. I too am waiting just as impatiently as you. Sorry nothing more constructive to add.

                   Chris
PRO
Synthiam
#2  

StoneWolf, what stage is your order in? It's best to Contact Us and someone will view your order status and let you know an eta. Orders are shipping, and there are thousands and thousands of them:) Shouldn't take much longer

United Kingdom
#3  

They are coming.

Bearing in mind pre-orders begun as early as July last year there is a backlog to deal with. Plus it will also depend on what the other things on the order are, these may impact the dispatch if they are still waiting on those parts to come in.

There are developer kits being shipped out now so it is happening, there is a photo of the developer kit in it's final packaging posted by a member who received theirs a week or so ago.

Orders are being shipped in the order in which they were placed once all parts of the order are in stock or manufactured. Developer kits have been being shipped since last month.

For specific information regarding your order the community will be unable to help you and you are better off asking EZ-Robot via their Contact Us page, they will respond.

I know you don't want to hear it, neither does anyone else but it is a case of being a little more patient. We are all in the same boat.

#4  

Did you receive anything yet Stonewolf?

#6  
  1. click on your name (upper right)
  2. click on order History (Right)
  3. Click on your order ID #
  4. Click on tracking number if you have one.

That is all there is to it. If you don't have a tracking #, then it isn't shipped yet.

Don't worry! I am sure it will be soon.

Hang in there! :-)

#7  

@Forge Yes I do have a tracking number now, my order was being held up because of the Lipo battery issues, so I cancelled the Lipo battery and charger in exchange for a couple of other items about the same price. Hopefully I will be getting my order soon.

#8  

Tracking info left Friday and here it is Monday, and it is out for delivery.

J

got it... at 5:20 pm edt.

It is better than I thought it would be, EZB v4 controller and camera.

J

#9  

Out For Delivery means you'll get it sometime Today. I have a Roli Kit ordered since November and I'm still NOT upset. Some might get cranky that people who placed smaller orders even after I did are getting Dev Kits before I get my Roli but, I'm not.

I knew what I was getting into. I've preordered things in the past that never made it to market or US market at least. Talk about letdowns.

EZR is a small company that recieved an enormous response. I'm personally impressed with the way things are going. I doubt a larger company would be fairing any better in a similar situation.

There is a level of personal attention we all get from EZ Co. One that they've insisted on maintaining when other companies would just leave you hanging or tell you to screw. They may not be able to get to everyone right away, and sometimes things slip through the cracks but they will get to you.

I'll honor the requests of not saying "be patient" and suggest reading the fine print when you order and gain a knowledge of what pre-order means. Although saying "be patient" sounds a lot less condisending so, I apologize if it comes off that way.

I've no intentions of insulting or upsetting anyone. I personally am just bored of seeing the forum filled with "where's my order" threads. I thought it would die down at this stage in the game now that orders are shipping but it only seems to be getting worse. :(

Canada
#11  

@Antron007 - I'm glad that you knew what you were getting into when you ordered Roli.

Unfortunately, my young son who ordered a Roli back in October 2013 with his birthday money was not so enlightened; neither was I.

But maybe my son's expectations were set when EZ Robot emailed on October 18th saying that "Your order will ship between November 1st and December 1st.". Or maybe it was the personalized video D.J. Sures on December 21, 2013 wherein it was strongly suggested to him that the Revolution Robots would show up shortly after Christmas and that Santa was just very busy. Or maybe it was the February 10th video where D.J. promised that shipping would start "very soon" and where he even mentioned March.

I can understand why @stonewolf is now wondering where the tracking numbers are for his order and why his patience has worn thin. It's been nothing but a repeat of promising shipments "soon", then nothing ships, then videos or explanations come on the forum as to why, then more promises that shipping will start "soon". It's difficult to explain to my son why the robot he sees on the website and in the videos cannot be shipped to him.

Fortunately, things are looking up now in August 2014. I am glad in seeing that people have gotten their EZ v4 boards and that the hexapod robot appears to have been shipped. This is different from the previous promises, in that things are being shipped to at least some people and that some actual progress is being made for the end customer.

The EZ team has also been good in getting back to my inquiries promptly (albeit mostly saying that shipping will start soon); and the videos from DJ did help explain things to my son initially. However, he is still waiting for his robot and his original excitement and anticipation has been slowly crushed over the months.

So I'm really hoping that his Roli will actually ship soon and that he gets it before his next birthday. I can then try to get his excitement back up for robotics.

#12  

@Sander I am still a kid at heart not years. I have been waiting since 9/18/14 for my robots too. I did get ezbv4 controller and camera yesterday! It is better than I thought it would be! I even installed it in food-bot, that was my first ezrobot. I was so excited that I did this last night and started again this am. Made a mobile app and have been test it here and there.

J

PRO
Synthiam
#13  

@Sander, thanks for the message and concern. I have replied to your other post and will reply to all of your other posts as well. But please refrain from spamming the forum and distracting users from achieving their robot goals. Many users have questions regarding technical usage of building their robot.

Your sons robot is later than the proposed shipping dates because the product was not completed yet. Pre-order products is becoming very common in consumerism to assist in product development. By Pre-ordering a product, you are putting faith and investment into the product. We wanted to ensure the product was 100% to your expectations.

If we would have shipped the product months ago, it would not have been reliable and your son would have been disappointed.

If you can explain what exactly you are looking for from your posts, I can try to help. What are you asking for in the posts? If it's merely complaining, I can only recommend two options

  1. Wait a few weeks until you receive your product because we are shipping

  2. Contact Us and cancel your order, which will help someone else get theirs faster

If there's something i'm missing, please let me know so I can try and help.

#14  

Sander,

I know money can't replace the damage that EZ Robot's perpetually hyped expectation of delivery has caused. I'm sorry for this loss to your family and hope you can regain your son's trust.

Your son isn't the only one and outside of about 6 forum accounts that parrot the "be patient" and "EZ Robot is incredible and worth the wait" verbage, the majority of the members are as disappointed as you.

There are valuable lessons your son could be taught about snake oil salesman, dealing with depression and why emerging technology is called cutting edge. You could even read "Don Quixote" with him. Sadly, none of these are robotics based and the passion he once had may have already turned to resentment.

#15  

It is up to the parent to set expectations, especially when ordering a product that is in development. Its simple, if you dont want to wait, ask for a refund and go buy an equally powerful product from one of EZ-Robots competitors. If none are available, then go with a lesser product from one of the competitors that costs as much or more.

The option is yours as it has always been. Wait or get a refund. If you are not willing to wait, get a refund and go to a competitor and use their products.

Posting on a forum that is meant to provide help for those experiencing issues with robotics isn't really a viable option without looking like you are just trolling. If you are willing to wait, then you really have nothing negative to post because you are doing this to yourself at this point.

United Kingdom
#16  

@Forge, I may often state "be patient" however that doesn't mean that I haven't been disappointed either. I am sure DJ and EZ-Robots are disappointed that shipping hasn't been to their original plan but as DJ has said, shipping earlier would have resulted in shipping of products that are not up to the standards required.

The reason I keep stating "be patient" is because you can't do anything else. No amount of complaining will speed up any of the process.

The thing to take away from this is that pre-order dates are never guaranteed and if you are expecting an order to be delivered quickly then pre-ordering may not be for you. This applies to all industries. The video game industry often has huge delays. Toys and games have delays. Music CDs have delays. Even the construction industry suffers from delays.

As DJ and the EZ-Robot staff have explained many times, if you are unhappy you are more than welcome to request your order to be cancelled. If that option is not one you wish to take then it's a waiting game as it always has been. There are no other options.

As for shipping duty and taxes, if you must avoid these then there are retailers in many countries which will be stocking the EZ-Robot products, perhaps you should order direct from these once they receive stock, however check their shipping terms to make sure no additional duty or taxes will be applied.

Canada
#17  

@jdebay - Thanks for letting me know that you've gotten your order and that you became excited again.

#18  

@FORGE,

Many customers happily and successfully receive their products and do not mention it on the forum. When there is no surprise or no disappointment, people don't pipe up. The loudest voice isn't always the most representative, only the most disgruntled.

When you say "the majority of the members are as disappointed as you", that is absolutely not true. Many members will often pipe up and give their thanks. We receive thank-you emails every day. Things are going well, though we are working really hard to get the products out! Shipments happen every day. Six is in shipping, and other robots are almost there. Lots of members received their development kits and EZBs and are talking about them, and are very happy.

If we were really "snake oil salesmen", you would see a lot more outrage than this. We've been transparent throughout the process. Please be patient with us! We'll prove ourselves to you before long.:)

Canada
#19  

@FORGE Yes I am trying to use this as a lesson in patience to my son.

@d.cochran Actually, it’s up to EZ Robot to set proper expectations. When we ordered we were told that due to high demand, orders would ship between November 1st and December 1st. Only afterwards did things change to shipping soon and then to the product is not completed yet and the quality isn’t there yet so you won't be happy. Claiming high demand and setting a definite shipping date window is NOT the same as asking one to put faith and investment into a product not yet completed. I’ll try to attach a copy of our order confirmation that provided the very clear shipping date window:

User-inserted image

@DJ-Sures - The original poster expressed frustration and said he was wondering where the V4’s were that he had ordered back in November. Then @Antron007 said that he knew what he was getting into, back in November. I replied to share that I, like @stonewolf, did not know this. Instead we were expecting to have received our order long ago. I also explained that the expectations of my young son have been let down and am expressing my frustration at seeing his interest in robotics diminish over what may end up being close to a year-long wait.

@chrissi I agree, disgruntled people often take the time to post (more so than happy customers). It’s good to see the EZ Robot team answer these forum posts quickly; and it is also good to see that @jdebay got his order. It’s still frustrating, however, to get the same answer i.e. please be patient, Roli will ship soon. I trust you understand that.

That said, we are keeping faith in EZ Robot because of: (i) seeing additional people being hired recently, (ii) having transparency now in terms product quality and Roli almost being completed, (iii) prompt replies to emails and forum posts and (iv) due to customers now reporting that they’re receiving product and being happy with it.

#20  

@FORGE.... Dude, you must make friends everywhere you go.... Let it go, the product is shipping...I got mine and so have many, many others....

#21  

Okay, you ordered a product that was not developed and in production yet. Its like ordering a video game that gets delayed. it happens on almost every video game out there. Operating systems are no better. Computer products, game consoles, cars and really anything out there has been delayed.

Its up to you as a parent to set the expectations of a child to the fact that the product may never even ship when they are ordering.

read this post. It is exactly what we are all talking about. :D 3d printer that wasnt

The product was in development. Things happened. It was delayed. This happens with almost every technology that there is. Believe me, I know. I have worked in the cell phone industry designing cell phones. I have been in the computer peripheral industry working on the first digital camera. I have worked for software companies. All of these have been missing deadlines for the past 25+ years. Robotics is no exception. For someone not to know that there would be delays that has watched technology evolve over the past 30 years is surprising to me. It happens with RC Cars, coke machines and pretty much anything electronic. Things happen and the world is so tightly integrated now that something that happens half way around the world will affect your product. It is the world we live in now.

Short of going to the store, and buying the product, you cant guarantee that you will get the product, especially when you are so dependent on so many other companies or agencies that are out of your control to get the product to you. It is your responsibility as an adult and parent to make sure that the child has a realistic expectation of what ordering a pre-order means.

Most of the delays are out of your control. Most companies keep deadlines very tight lipped because people dont understand these delays. This is why you dont find out about when the ship date on the next operating system until it is about to hit the door (ubuntu excluded). You dont know what is going to happen that will delay your product until it happens and you have to react to it. I would rather a company be transparent and tell me what they think at that point in time, as opposed to me being in the dark. If DJ and company had been quiet about expected shipping dates, the same people would be complaining that they dont know anything. Its a no win situation and I appreciate that EZ-Robot chose to handle the information like they did.

I wouldn't expect a 13 year old to understand this. They have just started ordering things.like this. I would expect an adult that has seen everything that has transpired in the world over the past 20+ years to understand this. It is because of this that I say that it is the parents responsibility to set realistic expectations for their child. You dont have it until you have it, and you might never get it depending on what happens tomorrow or the next day. When you get it, rejoice and have fun with it. until then, decide if you want to wait for it or get a refund. Short of a disclaimer that says "This product isnt made yet and you are helping to fund development of this product" I dont know what else EZ-Robot could have done. They told you what they thought was the case at that time. What more could you have wanted? Did they lie to you? No, they told you what they believed to be the truth based on the information that they had at that time. What more can you ask for?

#22  

nice to know im now an example for the dangers of pre ordering:D

#23  

@Sander is right about the changing expectations post-ordering. Having a date set is not the same as still being in development and then changing your website t&c. At least acknowledge that customers are justified in their frustrations.

"When we ordered we were told that due to high demand, orders would ship between November 1st and December 1st. Only afterwards did things change to shipping soon and then to the product is not completed yet and the quality isn’t there yet so you won't be happy. Claiming high demand and setting a definite shipping date window is NOT the same as asking one to put faith and investment into a product not yet completed.."

#24  

I'm scared to order now that I've read these posts is it a good idea to buy them or not because I want to recieve mine sometime in October and I don't want to wait a whole year for this.

United Kingdom
#25  

What are you ordering?

You wont wait a whole year, there are thousands of orders in a back log but this should clear pretty quickly, however it does come down to what you are ordering as some items are yet to begin shipping.

The sooner you order the sooner you will receive. You will always have the option to cancel the order should it not change from processing to shipped in October too.

#26  

Here is my viewpoint

I would order and have ordered over $2,000 from them. The product is amazing and you will not be disappointed in the product. If I was disapointed, I wouldn't still have other orders pending. They would have been cancelled.

#27  

I'm ordering the JD Revolution, I will try to get it asap but if I don't I'm not waiting a year even though I really want one.

#28  

Nitrate, you have to understand the following

  1. The people that ordered a year ago were ordering a product that was not being produced yet.
  2. They knew it was a pre-order and as such, there were probably going to be delays in delivery of the product.
  3. JD is a produced product now.
  4. JD is being shipped now.
  5. You wont be waiting a year to get the product.

The people who are complaining are doing so but are not willing to accept the offer of a full refund. This means that they can only really be upset at themselves. If they are willing to wait for the product, then they should do so without complaining. The company that you would be ordering from has been very transparent in everything, almost to a fault. It is because they are so transparent that information is given, events occur, they react and the new information has to be given. People view this as them not being honest when actually it is quite the opposite. They are very open and honest with the information that they have available to them at that time.

Order the product and if you want your money back and cant get it, I will buy your order from you. I have that much faith in this company and what it is doing. If you get the product and you are not satisfied with it, I will gladly buy it from you. That is how confident that you will love the product I am. I say this because of what I have been able to do with the developer kit. This is truly the best platform for building robots that is available by far. The company has stood behind their products when issues have arose and there have been very few of those. They are good people working hard to provide a great product. It is that simple. I am serious about my offer to you.

#29  

Nitrate, also please understand that this product is made in China and as such, you might have to pay some additional government fees when the product is delivered. I dont know what these fees are, but others in Canada have seen this. I just want to make sure that you are aware of it and that you read the information presented to you when you are ordering.

#30  

@d.cochran... Nitrate will have to pay Canadian sales tax (In Ontario it is called HST)... He will also have to pay some duties and collection fees as well...

#31  

I just wanted to make sure he was aware of it. It seems that many people don't see this and I didn't want him to feel like he didn't have all of the information when he was placing the order. Thanks for clearing that up Richard!

#32  

@d.cochran I understand now thanks, so I should get my product on time.. Okay makes me feel better about ordering.

@Richard Thanks I've ordered from China before only on some things I had to pay additional fees. It was free as long as it was shipped by seas or something like that can't remember.

Thanks guys.

#33  

Remember Nitrate, you bought in Canada (hence paying tax)... yes shipping is from China... The reason I know is because I paid tax and duties 4 days ago on my V4 order... Your order will ship DHL by the way...

#34  

@Richard It takes one month to be prepared, and since it's coming from china, it took a month for you to receive yours correct? Or maybe a little under a month? (with the free shipping)

#35  

DHL will get it there in about 3 days. That is the free shipping.

#36  

@Nitrate... If it is shipped DHL you will get it within 3 days from China... When my order shipped, I got it in 3 days.... If the order is over $200, yes shipping is free... However, you will pay Canadian Tax, duties on that order no matter the amount....

#37  

@d.cochran @Richard oh okay thanks guys. awesome. now I feel comfortable about placing my order. thanks guys I'll be visiting the forum more once I've got my JD!