ChocoVision Marketing, just like their Product, the wheel has turned

O ChocoVision, why am I on this list of pain? When will it end? Why did it begin? Is that marketeer still working there?

Here's something interesting. I received almost 100 emails saying remove me from this list and one person suggesting a class action suit. All in the name of tempered chocolate. Why? ChocoVision sent out a promotion to a list of people who were not asked to be on the list. And because people replied to the list, asking to be taken off the list and because the sales and promotions list weren't properly constructed to be a no reply list, every time someone replied, and to my knowledge replies, we all get it.

What will ChocoVision do? I emailed Ian, the CEO of ChocoVision, directly and told him to shut down the list. ChocoVision has remained silent during this fiasco. It sort of reminds me of the Delta release. I still wont touch that machine. Last time I used one, it tried to kill me. Christine, my Revolation Delta, is safely, I hope, back in ChocoVision hands. And I equally hope that man-eater is locked up in chains. My Rev X, after a few iterations, is still working reasonably though I am going through baffles like popcorn. I don't think a baffle should be a consumable. I think it should last.

I would have to conclude that their marketing has finally caught up with their engineering. Now the marketing is as hit and miss(guided) as the engineering. And here I was finally getting over the scares of the Rev Delta. Now those scars have been reopened, twice. First, I ordered the wrong baffle, returned them and still have not been credited and now I've been emailed to death. Some of the people on the list have had their mboxes flooded. One person is suggesting a class action suit. O! Joy. More ChocoVision fun and games.

Ian, O! Ian, where is thy management? Discipline. Goals. Basic bidness. Your (ex-)customer long for some courtesy and respect and products that work as spec'ed.

And to all you people who have replied to the list, I have saved all of your replies. Let's get together for a party this Christmas. Who wants to host? I'll bring the chocolates.

ChocoVision (Rev X) works great.

I have been using the last release of the Rev X for several months now and it is solid. They've asked me if I want the latest SW release to get rid of some small quirks but I said no. After my long history of problems with the Rev Delta and X, I'll be sticking with what I have.

The baffles are still a problem and they've raised the price on the them. They break easily. Luckily, I had a store of baffles. I just ordered two. By accident, I had ordered three of the Rev 2 baffles and they happily exchanged them. ChocoVision has always had great customer service and now they have a working machine. I don't think I'm going to chance the Delta. I'll stick with this workhorse.

I may buy another one but for now, I have to get something bigger. I am debating between a Hilliard Hand Coater or a 6 inch Coater. Suggestions anyone?

ChocoVision: Rev X has arrived!

Well, it isn't the Delta but I am so glad that I got anything. I'm using it right now to create new Tea Sets! I have a bit of a run on these magical truffles. It's working beautifully. I'll give another report in a few months but the machine seems solid.

Order a Tea Set today. Order the love. Or you can order them piece by piece. Enjoy.

Just made some Milk Chocolate Cherry Cordials

Well, I just finished some of my great Milk Chocolate Cherry Cordials. I must say. These are as good if not better than the dark Cherry Cordials. Try some. Buy some. Order now for the new year. What could be better than ringing in the new year with some cherry cordials? Nothing.

Call 518 966 5219.

I just cannot wait to get my ChocoVision Delta. Ian told me that they're in testing. I have been without my Delta for some time now.

Chocovision (Rev X and Delta Tempering Machines) imploded?

I was just informed that Mike, the engineer, was let go. Mike was finally getting the product on the right road. I don't have my Delta but it never really worked. However, with Mike gone there is no one to take the company and the technology forward. That means when I grow I'll be moving to Hilliard . Hilliard has a great workstation product that looks like it will be a big help.

I just had a phone conversation with Joe, the chocolatier. He really knows his stuff. Joe assured me that the reason that Mike was let go was personality differences rather than the company imploding. It's nice to know that I haven't bought a paperweight. He says that Mike will be replaced. I am very sorry to see Mike go. Without the three thermister upgrades, I don't see the Delta ever working. The Rev X now has those upgrades and the card upgrades. It's a great machine in its class.

I also just had a email from Ian, their GM, who once again says that I can get a full refund so that I can go with Hilliard. What a nice guy! I told him that indeed I would stay with the Rev X, which works, until and unless they do the card upgrades and hardware to the Delta. At this point, I am swamped with orders and need something. When the dust settles, I can decide how I want to grow. I was so looking forward to the new machines. Sigh. I guess I'll have to use with the Rev X.

You see, I understand these situations. Having met and worked with Mike, he was probably being the engineer that he is, worrying more about quality than the niceties of business. Having been a VP of Engineers, a COO and a CEO, and having been an engineer, I can understand what a pain engineers can be with their ideas of quality etc. But, in my day, and even today, it's an attitude I not only understand but appreciate. If an engineer rolls over to meet foolish deadlines and creates a bad product, what do you have? You have a bad product. If you have read the blog, you know what I'm talking about.

It's about confidence. It's about the product. It's about getting it right. It's about the customer. Mike understood that. Joe understands that. I'm sure Mike will find another job and enrich the company he works at. I'm very sorry he no longer works at ChocoVision. They've lost a great resource. Too bad I'm no longer in the industry or I'd hire Mike immediately.

Well, it may be time to start comparing tempering machines. I'd like to get to take a look at the Hilliard show room.

--- Later ---

I just found out that Hilliard doesn't have a show room and are building to spec right now. Building, QA/QE and shipping as fast as they can go. I guess I'll have to see their products at the Philadelphia National Candy, Gift and Gourmet Show.

--- Later Still ---

Well, I talked to Mike and it seems that he was getting along with everyone. It seems that ChocoVision is behind in their Rev 1 and Rev 2 tempering machine orders. Dove chocolate and Hershey's uses them a lot in their satellite stores. They basically laid off the one guy who knew how to improve the Delta and the Rev X in order to hire more assembly people. And we know under the pressure of a big order what happens to quality control. Remember, Mike was the engineer putting the quality into the process and the product.

Ian, the GM, General Manager, is going to get me a Rev X with the three thermister upgrade. We shall see. I'm thinking maybe I should just get my money back and go over to Hilliard because I don't think I'll be getting my machine anytime soon.

Here's an interesting discussion on eGullet.org.

--- Even Later ---

I just talked to Rick and he said he was Mike's replacement. So, I assume he is an engineer and not just an assembler. I believe he even said, "I'm the engineer who is replacing Mike." I'm glad to hear it for two reasons. One is I want my Delta back and the other is I want ChocoVision to succeed. I love their product when it works. The Delta is fantastic.

ChocoVision Revolation: ChocoVision Delta Tempering Machine

Here's the scoop, the reason I am sticking with ChocoVision is because they are committed to creating a fantastic tempering machine. The Delta, in its class, has the potential of being that machine.

Mike, the chief engineer at Chocovision, has been doing wonderfully with the machine. I have been trouble shooting various machines that he drops off. Basically, my normal usage pattern is pretty intense. Plus I have 120V electricity. Other than that, the conditions in my chocolate factory are ideal.

I can't say enough about Mike, the engineer, and Joe, the chocolatier. They are both wonderful and really do a great job representing the customers' needs. I'd say, buy the next rev of the Delta. It's going to be a great machine. I think Mike is going to give me the 25lb machine to test as soon as it is ready. Go ahead and compare tempering machines.

Stay tuned for more insights and information about the ChocoVision Revolation Delta Tempering Machine.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to happen. Read here. I could be wrong but rarely am. I'm more than willing to be wrong. Mike and Joe brought me back into the fold once. Can it happen again? How knows?

Chocovision: Chocovision Revolation Delta

Well, Mike the Engineer, has brought me two new baffles and I'm burning up the machines. I'm only doing about 10lbs a day but that's all I have time for. I'm making hazelnut pate cups with Felchlin dark chocolate, 64% and I'm making hickory smoked peanut butter cups with dark Felchlin chocolate, 65%. Yummy.

My mom is visiting and she's helping. You really need two people on the cups to push out a reasonable amount of chocolates. Since I make everything by hand, completely by hand, except now, for the tempering because I have a Rev X and a Rev Delta, it takes time. Lots of time.

Come, by my artisan chocolates. Only $40 a lbs. You can also buy them for $10 a quarter pound plus shipping and handling.

ChocoVision Revolation: ChocoVision Delta Tempering Machine Not Ready

Life by Chocolate, the store, the website and now the Life by Chocolate Blog.

You and I both know that because I'm talking about the Chocovision Delta tempering machine, and because this blog is so well indexed, that anything I say will come up when someone searches for tempering machines or Chocovision, so I best choose my words with care.

Well, my Delta failed again. It went down in flames. I was ready to pull the plug and not ever use it again and go to a competitor. But I'm stickin'.

The Chocovision team, in the form of Joe Cravino, and Mike the engineer have brought me back in to the fold. They are having problems with their board, and yes, Mike, it is with the board. Remember, we didn't get the bad readings from the bad set of baffles until after you replaced the board. So, no, it wasn't JUST a bad set (2) baffles. My worst cracked baffle and the new one that Mike brought were the best working ones. (Remember, I'm also running these baffles though my dishwasher.) And yes, please make these out of polycarbonate and not PVC. Ugh.

Well, to make a long story short, they gave me a Rev X, another Chocovision machine, and they put a new board in my Chocovision Delta. They all seem to be working. More importantly, I'm going to be a tester for them. Sort of off site QA and QE. And for those of you that know me, there is no better QA or QE on the planet than moi. Just ask the directors and managers of QA/Release Engineering that have worked for me.

I remember going to a party, a bugfest, that is a company sponsered testorama at Kim's company. The QA director, after getting my test results and my beautifully written up, clear, concise bug reports, wanted to hire me. I had to tell him that I already had a job as VP of Engineering. Too bad, kids. So, you know that I will not only put these machines though their paces, the Rev X has the new board in it destined for the Rev Delta, but I'll also give good bug report.

They're talking about giving me the chance to test the 25 lb machine. With this kind of customer support, what's not to love?

Finally, I think this company is on the right road. I've found bugs that they've fixed and have reported a host of additional bugs that I know Mike is now working on. I'm comfortable. Overall, this is the best game in town. Chocovision is reworking the machine and it will be the premier machine for small batch tempering, 10 to 25 lbs.

So, go out and buy one. That's what I recommend and tell them that Mark sent you. This is a fantastic tempering machine and for small dipping and small amount of molding etc., there is none better. Eventually, I think their design could scale to 100lbs but right now their niche is a small scale tempering machine for hand work. This doesn't mean I couldn't push two hundred pounds of chocolate thought his machine per day, but you have to have a largish melter and some technique for doing that.

You taste my chocolates, look at them, feel that snap and you tell me if my chocolate isn't properly tempered. Of course it is.