LOBSTER customer service

[lobsterletmedown]

I had a problem with one of the LOBSTER so called international Premier Dealers.

This is from LOBSTER website:

International Orders
Order Directly From An Authorized International Dealer

For international product inquiries, please contact the following International Premier Dealers, which are fully approved and endorsed sellers of Lobster Sports products. Their prices will include all shipping fees, import duties, warehousing, and taxes. In addition, by purchasing from them, they will service our warranty and returns. You may also use a credit card to make your purchase. Lobster Sports does not accept ANY credit cards that have an international billing address
========================================

"Which are fully approved and endorsed sellers of Lobster Sport products."

Well, one of them made a funky move on my order, I tried to straighten out the problem, with the so called Premier Dealer, to no avail.

Then I tried and contact Lobster customer service, and his sales representative C. Toney, also to no avail.

I sent 6 mails, and no one from Lobster had the courtesy to answer any of them.

I bought a brand new Grand Slam 5 LE.

This is the only machine I ever owned, so I have no idea how others machines work, or what kind of customer service they have.

But regarding Lobster, I am very disappointed with them.

To be continued.

 

[lobsterletmedown]

I ordered the External Battery Pack

This is a link from the American site.

This is the itemized list of the components:

Need extended court time from your Elite Series machine? The external battery pack will provide you with an additional 4-8 hours of court time. The external battery pack includes a large 18-amp sealed lead-acid battery, battery cord with connector, XLR adaptor, 1-amp fast battery charger, and canvas carrying bag with shoulder strap. The external battery pack can be used with any Elite Series tennis ball machine.
http://www.lobstersports.com/products/Accessories/Elite_Battery_Machine_Accessories/el19.htm

And when I ordered from the Lobster's German Premier Dealer that is exactly what he had in his website, just like the premier dealer in China Eagnas also with the list of the components:

Includes a large 18-amp sealed lead-acid battery, battery cord with connector, XLR adaptor, 1-amp fast battery charger, and canvas carrying bag with shoulder strap.

http://www.eagnas.com/ballmach/battery.html


Or in Middle East:

http://www.lobstersports.ae/Elite-Battery-Machine-Accessories.htm

As you can see in all of them there's a 1-amp fast battery charger.

It was also in the German Premier dealer website, until I complained I did not received it, and I pointed out that is his website he had the picture of the External Battery Pack and it showed (till he deleted it) the fast charger, I also said to him that he had along with the picture, an itemized list of the components showing a 1-amp fast charger as part of the package.

Then the German dealer (tennisman.de) photo-shopped the fast charger away from the picture, deleted the components itemized list, and sent me a mail saying he was not sure what I was talking about, since in his website shows no fast charger.

When he deleted the fast charger out of his website, he also re-positioned the XLR adaptor, but he was not able to fix the XLR adaptor, if anyone knows those adaptors, will know that this device is completely symmetric and on both ends has the same shape, something that is not truth in his website, because when he photo-shopped the fast charger away, he also remove the end of the right side of the picture.

this is how it looks the External Battery Pack after his lame job:

http://www.tennisman.de/oxid.php/si.../9874ba6a7697cac50.28942577/Externe-Batterie/

When I saw what the dude has done, I did not answer to his last mail, it is crystal clear this guy is a crook.

Anybody can make an honest mistake, but this was no mistake.

He also said to me, that in Germany nobody has ever received a fast charger along with the battery, he also said he would talk to Lobster main office to find out what is the deal with the external battery pack.

As you can imagine, he has not sent me any other mail.


=============================================

I sent 6 mails to LOBSTER info, and to C. Toney.

NO ANSWER

What is going on?

Can I get some help from anyone?

 

[Topspin_80]

I ordered the External Battery Pack

This is a link from the American site.

This is the itemized list of the components:

Need extended court time from your Elite Series machine? The external battery pack will provide you with an additional 4-8 hours of court time. The external battery pack includes a large 18-amp sealed lead-acid battery, battery cord with connector, XLR adaptor, 1-amp fast battery charger, and canvas carrying bag with shoulder strap. The external battery pack can be used with any Elite Series tennis ball machine.
http://www.lobstersports.com/products/Accessories/Elite_Battery_Machine_Accessories/el19.htm

I had quite a few problems with my Lobster, I e-mailed Lobster several times, and finally they responded my mails, one of them guys tried and be helpful, but in the end they didn't do anything to solve the problem.

I had the feeling that there was something wrong with this company, now after seeing your post with all the data you show, it is clear that I wouldn't recommend this company to any one.

Machines that are not what they say they are, and customer service in my case it was not helpful.

I can not recommend other machines since Lobster is the only one I know, but based on my experience with Lobster, I certainly recommend to steer clear from this company.

I wish you luck.

And when I ordered from the Lobster's German Premier Dealer that is exactly what he had in his website, just like the premier dealer in China Eagnas also with the list of the components:

Includes a large 18-amp sealed lead-acid battery, battery cord with connector, XLR adaptor, 1-amp fast battery charger, and canvas carrying bag with shoulder strap.

http://www.eagnas.com/ballmach/battery.html


Or in Middle East:

http://www.lobstersports.ae/Elite-Battery-Machine-Accessories.htm

As you can see in all of them there's a 1-amp fast battery charger.

It was also in the German Premier dealer website, until I complained I did not received it, and I pointed out that is his website he had the picture of the External Battery Pack and it showed (till he deleted it) the fast charger, I also said to him that he had along with the picture, an itemized list of the components showing a 1-amp fast charger as part of the package.

Then the German dealer (tennisman.de) photo-shopped the fast charger away from the picture, deleted the components itemized list, and sent me a mail saying he was not sure what I was talking about, since in his website shows no fast charger.

When he deleted the fast charger out of his website, he also re-positioned the XLR adaptor, but he was not able to fix the XLR adaptor, if anyone knows those adaptors, will know that this device is completely symmetric and on both ends has the same shape, something that is not truth in his website, because when he photo-shopped the fast charger away, he also remove the end of the right side of the picture.

this is how it looks the External Battery Pack after his lame job:

http://www.tennisman.de/oxid.php/si.../9874ba6a7697cac50.28942577/Externe-Batterie/

When I saw what the dude has done, I did not answer to his last mail, it is crystal clear this guy is a crook.

Anybody can make an honest mistake, but this was no mistake.

He also said to me, that in Germany nobody has ever received a fast charger along with the battery, he also said he would talk to Lobster main office to find out what is the deal with the external battery pack.

As you can imagine, he has not sent me any other mail.


=============================================

I sent 6 mails to LOBSTER info, and to C. Toney.

NO ANSWER

What is going on?

Can I get some help from anyone?

Amazing your story, unbelievable that with that wealth of details nobody is doing anything.

I had problems myself with Lobster, they did respond my mails, but nothing came out of it.

I would never ever recommend Lobster to anyone, further more after reading your post I will recommend to steer clear from Lobster.

I wish you luck.

 

[nn]

Amazing your story, unbelievable that with that wealth of details nobody is doing anything.

I had problems myself with Lobster, they did respond my mails, but nothing came out of it.

I would never ever recommend Lobster to anyone, further more after reading your post I will recommend to steer clear from Lobster.

I wish you luck.

I'm considering lobster grand 5 ltd. Can you please tell me what was your problem? Did lobster back way from warranty repair? I think you are in USA because international warranty fulfillment is not going directly from Lobster us head quarter (in los Angeles)

 

[Chotobaka]

I have not heard anything bad about Lobster CS, but I really do not like the way the nickel and dime buyers with their al a carte pricing. What starts out as normally priced machine quickly gets over priced by paying for items that other manufacturers include in the package price.

 

[nn]

I have not heard anything bad about Lobster CS, but I really do not like the way the nickel and dime buyers with their al a carte pricing. What starts out as normally priced machine quickly gets over priced by paying for items that other manufacturers include in the package price.

Are you saying lobster grand 5 ltd and silent partner smart are same machine with grand 5 ltd has few more features for $1000 more (that is expensive for sure)

I don't have any experience with either one.

 

[Chotobaka]

Are you saying lobster grand 5 ltd and silent partner smart are same machine with grand 5 ltd has few more features for $1000 more (that is expensive for sure)

I don't have any experience with either one.

Not at all. I am referring to the up-charge to the advertised price for each individual item, like the remote, fast charger, etc. I have a Silent Partner Edge Star, which is fine for my needs (and the advertised price included remote, heavy duty battery, smart charger, oscillation), but if I wanted more machine I would go with the Playmate Full Volley.

 

[lobsterletmedown]

Amazing your story, unbelievable that with that wealth of details nobody is doing anything.

I had problems myself with Lobster, they did respond my mails, but nothing came out of it.

I would never ever recommend Lobster to anyone, further more after reading your post I will recommend to steer clear from Lobster.

I wish you luck.

I even have more data on this TENNISMAN.de fraud, and I offered LOBSTER customer service to share all the mails I have from this guy.

What I get from LOBSTER?

NO ANSWER

Anyone that want to deal with a company with no customer service, do it at your own peril.

 

[nn]

I even have more data on this TENNISMAN.de fraud, and I offered LOBSTER customer service to share all the mails I have from this guy.

What I get from LOBSTER?

NO ANSWER

Anyone that want to deal with a company with no customer service, do it at your own peril.

I think think international customers face warranty issues. Just based on responses on this forum us base customers have better luck with repairs.

 

[groove2k]

I just had an EXTRAORDINARY CUSTOMER SERVICE experience with lobster. I had a problem with my Grand V and I called Lobster this morning right when they opened. I reached a CSR immediately and got what I needed to fix my machine. I'm not sure why you're having a difficult time, lobsterletmedown

 

[Topspin_80]

I just had an EXTRAORDINARY CUSTOMER SERVICE experience with lobster. I had a problem with my Grand V and I called Lobster this morning right when they opened. I reached a CSR immediately and got what I needed to fix my machine. I'm not sure why you're having a difficult time, lobsterletmedown

I am glad to hear you got your problems solved.

Perhaps you have reading problems, I wrote many e-mails, you called them on the phone.

I live in Western Europe, do you want me to make a long distance call?

Just in case you don't know e-mail is a businesslike way of communication.

I just sent another mail to c toney

 

[groove2k]

I am glad to hear you got your problems solved.

Perhaps you have reading problems, I wrote many e-mails, you called them on the phone.

I live in Western Europe, do you want me to make a long distance call?

Just in case you don't know e-mail is a businesslike way of communication.

I just sent another mail to c toney

You might be right about my reading problems- I did not pass my English subjects . I have e-mailed them before and I got a reply within two business days -complete with a solution to my problem.

I might be way off base here but would it be too presumptuous to assume that if it is within your capacity to purchase a $2500 machine, shouldn't you be able to afford a 3-5 minute long distance phone call? Additionally, I don't know how long it takes for technology to reach western Europe but there's such a thing now called VOIP. It's been around for a few years now. All you'll need is a data plan/internet and your cell phone.

I hope you get your issues resolved before you pop an aneurysm. Good luck!:grin:

 

[nn]

You might be right about my reading problems- I did not pass my English subjects . I have e-mailed them before and I got a reply within two business days -complete with a solution to my problem.

I might be way off base here but would it be too presumptuous to assume that if it is within your capacity to purchase a $2500 machine, shouldn't you be able to afford a 3-5 minute long distance phone call? Additionally, I don't know how long it takes for technology to reach western Europe but there's such a thing now called VOIP. It's been around for a few years now. All you'll need is a data plan/internet and your cell phone.

I hope you get your issues resolved before you pop an aneurysm. Good luck!:grin:

groove2k, can you share you thoughts on grand 5 at following thread

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=483213