ChocoVision Sent the Baffles under warrantee.

I've got to hand it to them. They came through.

It looks like ChocoVision may be sending me some

New baffles under warrantee. That would be great of them. I go through them like popcorn. They break all the time.

My Rev X: Got a replacement back

Well, last week, I finally got my replacement back from ChocoVision. If you recall the saga, I had had to send out my Rev X, again, to be fixed because the bowl motor stopped working. It was making chunking (chunk a' chunk 'a) noises before dieing. Now, Ian sent me his Rev X that he demos with because they had had a hard time getting the Rev X to pass inspection. Nice.

So far, so good on my Rev X. It's being used this Valentine season.

Happy Valentine's Day. Enjoy your chocolate.

ChocoVision Customer Service: My Rev X

If you remember, I sent in my Rev X to be fixed in about 15 days ago and I have not heard a word other than it takes longer or costs more if your machine has chocolate in it. Well, that is due to a design flaw of the Rev X. The usual customer service of ChocoVision is not doing well. They could be inundated by returned machines at this time of year. Because I have my beautiful Hilliard, I am only inconvenienced by this rather than devastated. No wonder why Hilliard is not worried about ChocoVision.

Indeed, some of my assistants like the ChocoVision Rev X better because of the convenience but I personally like the solid engineering of the Hilliard. Well, let's see the tally, ChocoVision Engineering isn't that good, the marketing has gone down hill, witness the email fiasco of a month ago. And now, their great customer service has taken a turn for the worse. I wonder if they have fallen on hard times? We'll see. I'll report back in a week or two.

My Rev X went belly up

I think the motor that turns the bowl died. I just don't want to even think about it. On a happier note, the Hilliard is doing wonderfully. I love it.

We'll see how good the service is at ChocoVision. It's supposed to be great. I hope so. This is a bad time for my temperer to die.

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 Redux

Final, I hope, installment on the Revolation Delta. I just talked to Rick, the person (engineer and consultant that Mike brought in to ChocoVision) who is replacing Mike. He called to ask me if I wanted the Delta back. I'd told Ian that I'd prefer the Rev X only because I'd had such problems with the Delta and Joe, the chocolatier, was using the Rev X and recommended it.

Rick assured me that the Delta would be, with the three thermister upgrade, as reliable as anything else. He even hinted that the spacers for the bowl might not be as necessary with the upgrade.

You know, I am going to also do an in depth look at Felchlin chocolate. As a quick peek into what is coming, let me say that if you are hand tempering don't use the Maracaibo Clasificado 65%. When I had my Delta, it was my favorite chocolate to use.

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Everyone at ChocoVision has been nice, which is great, but I want a reliable Delta. I'll report back as soon as I have used it for over 4 weeks without overheating. In the meantime, let's talk about chocolate.

--- Later ---

Ian sent me a chute. I think it's a used chute but it looks pretty brand new to me. Now, if only I had my Delta back, I'd be ready to go. Well, I AM ready to go now but it's so much more easy with a tempering machine. I have my melter that I got from Felchlin and that works wonders if I just stir and stir and adjust the heat. It does take a long time to melt the 10Kg but that's why I have a microwave.

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?