How long should I wait to follow up?

So, recently I won some giveaways on some vaping shows, including Mod Envy.

I followed the instructions and sent the e-mails / messages thanking them and provided my info and preferences.

No responses. 2 separate vendors, 2 different shows.

It's been several days and not even an acknowledgement of receiving my info.

What should I do next? Start sending e-mails or messages until I get a response? Do I wait?

I'm not desperate for the items I won (but they would be nice to have!) and hate the idea of basically begging for attention and my prizes.

I'd just as soon say f*** it and mark those vendors as 'not getting my money' moving forward.

Is this common within our community? These are the only two times I won something!

Your Opinion? Suggestions? Advice? Your Story?

Never won anything, but 5 business days sounds reasonable.

Depends on the vendors, 4-6 weeks is what like mod envy advises.

If you sent the info in at the beginning of the week (remember Mon was a holiday for some), then today would seem like a good day to send a follow up asking if they received your previous emails..

And check your spam box..

I won 30ml juice from smokecignals.com on Sat....sent one email...received reply and was in my mail box yesterday. By the way, was impressed, "Key Lime Pie was really good! My advise would have been to contact a mod from the show to see what they advised, but that's me, I can be a pest when I want to get something done. I would not be down on the vendor, has to be explanation why you not getting responses
Good luck Sully.

Seems to me that a reasonable time has elapsed.

Go for it!

And shame on them if they don't live up to their commitment.

I feel ya, OP. I have had one win never show, it was free, so I just said whatever. I've had one win show in two business days. Tomorrow will be four weeks for juice I won on Mod Envy, so if it doesn't arrive I'm gonna just message a host, I double checked the show recording and my email I sent, so it's either just taking time, or got lost in the operation of business. Not gonna stress, I'm sure It will be sorted.

For Rich on Tower Of Vape, he actually responds back with a date to contact him on if you haven't received your winnings, and I have one that has come and passed. He emailed the vendor and cc'd me, but still nothing. The other juice from him is close to the day he mentioned as well, so I'm gonna email him tomorrow if nothing shows.

The way I see it is, I'm sure it will be made right, and wait at least four weeks before inquiring. It makes the mailbox fun daily, but also a let down as well. My only issue is that I was fortunate to win a full juice line, so that and my Other two wins is 9-30ml bottles. I'm about to need to order juice if it doesn't show up, but that's enough if it does come for me not to order.

I hate posting this publicly, but I'm not slamming anyone, and I understand your experience. We both just need to contact a host I think. They will make it right.

Edit: My win that did arrive, I received no email back on, so I wouldn't worry about not hearing back from the vendor or show. It's a matter of time passing and it not arriving when you need to follow up.

I think a good guideline in 2-3 business days before following up. People (myself included) are doing give-a-ways to drive traffic, and attract new customers. The last thing on their list is to alienate prospective new buyers. That said a sellers primary focus is filling orders in a timely fashion and they may frankly loose track of when the contest ended.

I try to abide by one rule with my purchases and assume the seller is honest and reach out to them early on. I've been pleasantly surprised is most circumstances. The most common problem I see is that people assume they are going to get shafted in one way or another but never actually ask for help from a vendor in rectifying the problem.

Bear in mind that while all vendors want every transaction to be flawless we do benefit, to a degree, with one that goes off the rails. That's where a relationship of customer service can be built. Everyone messes up from time to time. How it's handled is what counts in my book.

All great feedback. Thanks everyone! CB, I've decided to wait 2 more days and then send the first follow up e-mail to each vendor. This will be over a week since I sent the initial ones. Hopefully, they will respond!! If I don't get any replies (after another week), I think I'll just walk away from it. That would be a shame, but its not worth the headache to me. Let's hope it doesn't come to that though! I'll keep you posted.

I have won quite a number of things via Facebook giveaways. Some items have arrived the same week I won and others have taken weeks to come in. I would be patient, your items will come. It has been my experience that the vaping community is top notch and people always honor their giveaways/contests.

Talon4x4 said:

I have won quite a number of things via Facebook giveaways. Some items have arrived the same week I won and others have taken weeks to come in. I would be patient, your items will come. It has been my experience that the vaping community is top notch and people always honor their giveaways/contests.

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Most of us honor what we give away!
Sadly there have been a few who have kept prizes or simply ignored their viewers.
I host at Nova so please do let me know.
C.B.

I did send a PM today, I figure four weeks is reasonable to at least inquire. Again, it makes me feel a bit like a pest, since it is free after all, but I think it's alright to politely check in. I'm gonna reach out to Tower today, too. The email he sent to one vendor, and CC'd me still has done nothing, so that's kinda not cool on their part. I won't mention them, I'm not interested in disparaging a company, but it is kinda disappointing.

Again, can't really complain about not receiving something I didn't pay for, but on the other hand, vendors should be honoring their prizes. I also realize that I'm not their priority, and they could have simply forgotten. We shall see, I know every host and most vendors are honorable people, so I'm confident it will be sorted some way. I'd also think that hosts would want to know if vendors aren't sending stuff out. If it's a mistake, understandable, but if there is a pattern of it, I would want to know if I were a host.

Good luck @Sully

TBCAmor said:

I did send a PM today, I figure four weeks is reasonable to at least inquire. Again, it makes me feel a bit like a pest, since it is free after all, but I think it's alright to politely check in. I'm gonna reach out to Tower today, too. The email he sent to one vendor, and CC'd me still has done nothing, so that's kinda not cool on their part. I won't mention them, I'm not interested in disparaging a company, but it is kinda disappointing.

Again, can't really complain about not receiving something I didn't pay for, but on the other hand, vendors should be honoring their prizes. I also realize that I'm not their priority, and they could have simply forgotten. We shall see, I know every host and most vendors are honorable people, so I'm confident it will be sorted some way. I'd also think that hosts would want to know if vendors aren't sending stuff out. If it's a mistake, understandable, but if there is a pattern of it, I would want to know if I were a host.

Good luck @Sully

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You shouldn't feel like a pest "since it's free after all".
They got their free advertising. They're taking the piss. Follow it up mate.

Hobby Kid said:

You shouldn't feel like a pest "since it's free after all".
They got their free advertising. They're taking the piss. Follow it up mate.

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Thanks bud... It's just my nature, I'm too nice sometimes. Kinda second guess myself, too. Just something I've worked on in life, and have gotten much better about it.

I did operate a web store for a good six plus months, and I was doing some thinking. I know giveaways are not paying customers, but if it were me they would be the very first thing I fulfilled, if not for any reason but I know I might forget. I did operate from home, so I would have just walked across a room and package it up, then print a shipping label so I could drop it off the next day with other orders. That makes it simple, I assume most of these people aren't operating out of their house, lol.

It also gives me perspective on dealing with customers, and that might contribute to my hesitance to check in. People are fucking nuts when it comes to tracking and whatnot, I would get a ton of emails wondering why tracking only said electronic shipping info received. That was when USPS wasn't required to scan, and I always filled orders same day if before my cutoff. Fucking USPS had a tendency not to update at all until the package was delivered, they're cheap, but they suck. Caused me tons of headaches, and unnecessary emails to respond to. So, I get being a vendor, but as I said, a freebie is something I'd just get out immediately, I forget things otherwise.

Good to hear from you @Hobby Kid , I knew that thread would die at some point... We run for ourselves after all, and there's only so much to say, lol. Thanks for the vote of confidence bud. Hope your still getting in those runs my friend. I know I am.

Just figured I should mention that I received nearly immediate response from my PM for my mod envy wins. Tyger and Smokie were on it, and Smokie even took care of my win from July that I had given up on, in addition to instructing me on how to contact for my big juice win. Again, definitely wait, I think 4 weeks minimum, which is what I did. I shouldn't have felt bad, though. They were happy to help on their Saturday, which is super kind, and it wanted to throw out a thanks in this thread. I never doubted they would be helpful, but it just reinforces the integrity of the people who give us this forum... Thanks!

Also, I'm still missing the first juice I won on Riches show, which had the email sent to the vendor, but ironically I received my more recent bottle yesterday, which was within the time frame... Lol. I had this funny feeling that I would receive something right after I made contact, and I did. Big thanks to Rich and Unicorn Vapors for my juice!

I have 2 wins from 2 different shows over the last month and a half. Never heard back on either. The first one I contacted mod envy on and they got back to me super quick and re-sent my info to the vendor. Still never heard from the vendor though, lol. The second win, I submitted the form and never heard back from the show host. I believe its been about 3 weeks for that one so I have given up. Glad some of you out there are getting your wins but think I'll just PIF anything from here on out. Enjoy the rest of the weekend all!

Update: One of the vendors was in chat last night and assured that all wins that had not been sent out will be taken care of very shortly. Will keep you posted on this. Will follow up with the other vendor tomorrow. A little communication is all I'm looking for! Let me know if you got my info, confirm my win, let me know when you think you might get it out. I'm extremely reasonable and don't mind waiting a few weeks, just talk to me!!

Vendor #1 - Shipping notice received!!

Vendor #2 - Responded to my follow up, with, yes I saw your e-mail, we will take care of it in a few more days, we need to take care of paying customers first, then show wins. I guess they only get a break from fulfilling (paying) customers orders every two weeks or so. Whatever, just happy to hear something!!

Good deal Skully!!

Whiskey said:

Good deal Skully!!

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I'm not the redhead from the X-Files!! Although, sometimes I do feel as if I live in some other worldly place!

I won from Clouds of Vapor on 10/11/14 show. COV & the Vape Mall were both giving away the same prize which was a 32mg of juice and a Cobra Clone! There was chat about the same prize being gven away. I contacted Bruce at Clouds of Vapor and he said that week he gave away a Sigeli 8w mod--& no one has claimed it. He's more than happy to send it me, but needs confirmation from Joe. Help!! I don't know how to get a hold of Joe, he's a busy man with all of the drama now. Cigar Babe if you can contact Bruce that would be great. The drawing was 29 minutes into the show--The show with the rather large woman and the Moist comment. If some one could help me that would be awesome! I can email any verification needed. It's not every day one wins on Mod Envy. Abby was hosting for Tiny. How does one approach this subject. Bruce at COV keeps emailing me. HELP!

Sorry this posted twice. OOPS

I got in touch with @TygerTyger who put me to @SMOKIE for my mod envy winnings, she doesn't deal with it, but apparently he does. I'd try him. They were both incredibly communicative and expedient in helping me out. I'm sure they will take care of you. Good luck.

And thanks @TygerTyger and @SMOKIE !

After checking everything out I contact Bruce COV, and said this, Bruce this person won on Mod Envy 10/11/14 from you a 32 mg bottle of juice, and a Cobra clone. Not the mod which was a week or two prior. MauiVaporLady, [email protected]. Waiting for a reply from him.

Thanks Smokie! I'm happy that I have someone looking out in the confusion. He told me though that he doesn't have any Cobra clones. I didn't know what they were so I looked it up and they look like a Genny atty. I don't want him special ordering anything. But a big Aloha to you for looking into it.