Silk Road forums
Discussion => Silk Road discussion => Topic started by: Pharmville on February 22, 2012, 11:22 am
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Hi Everyone,
I have taken down all our listings and put us on vacation. They will be down for approximately a week and as the week progresses I will keep everyone posted as to the time when they will be back up.
Ben and I had been discussing taking them down for a day or two to catch up on the pm's and some other things because we hadn't taken a day off since we started here last July. But then we got some very bad news. Someone in Ben's immediate family died. And Ben is the eldest male member of his family so the duties associated with arranging a funeral and all the things that go with it falls to him. Therefore he has left town and is taking care of the things you have to take care of when something like this happens. This person was very close to Ben and he is having a very hard time of it so I told him that he could take whatever time he needed to grieve and deal with it. He assured me that a week was enough time and that he'd be ready to go and go hard by the time he came back. One thing I can say about Ben: he is no pussy. So he's gone and all of the orders have shipped except for a few and I am going to get those shipped on Wednesday. But if I have to do some things to help him out and don't get them done, then I'll finish on Thursday.
I haven't had a chance to do the shipping confirmations for Tuesday yet, but I'm going to do them as soon as I get done writing this post, so if you get a confirmation by say 9am EST, then your order shipped on Tuesday. If you DON'T get a confirmation, then it didn't ship and if you'd like to cancel it, just send a pm saying "CANCEL MY ORDER" in the subject line and I will check the pm's every two hours all day and cancel any orders that people want canceled so your bitcoins get released and you can spend them elsewhere. If you don't cancel it, I will ship it today and if I don't finish them all then I'll ship the balance on Thursday. I'm not nearly as fast as Ben, so it takes me a lot longer to ship an order. But I can get it done, I've done it before.
Both Ben and myself like doing this business and we care very much about our customers. If you're one of our regular customers then you can count on the fact that we'll be back in a week and we'll be just as good or better than we were before. There are a lot of new item projects pending and this break will give me the time to get them finished and ready to ship. It will also give me a chance to get every one of the pm's answered and I promise I'll work on them as much as I can every day until they are all finished.
If you're a new customer, especially one of the people that's come on board in the last couple of weeks and already given us 3 or 4 or 5 orders, we really appreciate your business too, but we've been doing this 7 days a week, never less than 15-16 hours a day, for the last 7 months. So we should have taken a couple of breaks before, but now we have to, and I'm sorry that it's going to affect your ability to order from us. But when we come back in a week you'll get the same excellent service you got from us since your recent start with us and, hopefully, get to see some new items from us as well. And I'm sorry that this break had to happen just when you were getting started with us but in the future we'll always give notice before we have any days off so you'll always have a chance to stock up and won't get caught without product.
And to all the haters: wow, you guys are amazing! You spend a lot of time writing posts on threads trying to tear us limb from limb and I don't have a clue why or who any of you are. I know you're not our customers, because if you were then you'd put those complaints in your feedbacks and I don't see them there so who are you exactly? Are you people that who think it's fun to rip at people just because they are successful at something? If you do it to annoy us or make us angry, you're not getting very far because we're so busy that unless someone specifically points something out to me to come over and take a look at it, I don't have time to read the Forums and so you're really just talking to each other. Ben doesn't even read the forums so he never hears about your escapades unless I happen to tell him because one was funny or something like that.
All I know is that we started up here to try and do a good job selling product in the opiate and benzo categories. As it turned out, we did become the #1 vendor and we've just been keeping our heads down and trying hard to make our customers happy and make a profit while doing it. I don't know if in the future it's going to be possible for just two people to be the biggest and the best when there's a quarter of a million people to be served, but I do know that we'll definitely choose working to be the best over being the biggest and if that means we have to stop taking new customers, or start having a minimum order, or whatever, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. But we're here to do a good job and to fill people's needs at a fair price. We're not here for any other reason. And we will continue to do that for as many people as we possibly can and still have an outside life. But we're not going to keep working these hours and letting the rest of life get ignored and undone. We're going to find a way to strike a nice balance and then just keep it that way. We hope everyone can understand that. I told Ben when we started that we had to take some days off or this thing would become like a monster and eat up every hour of our lives and then I just totally forgot about that and let it do just that. Well, that's got to stop and there's got to be a better way and I'm really hoping to figure it out this week so I'll have it in place when Ben comes back to work. Maybe other people who vend here are well equipped to handle 180,000 buyers, but we never thought there'd be anything approaching that number when we started and we don't have the ability to serve them all...so we're going to have to figure out just how many we can serve and do a really good job and then that's going to be our limit.
And to the people who have current orders in house with us right now:
PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL YOUR ORDER RIGHT NOW IF IT IS "LATE"...I've had other things to deal with tonight with Ben and I am just now getting started sending out the shipping confirmations for today. EVERY ORDER THAT SAYS "LATE" WAS SHIPPED. So please don't cancel it and make me have to write to you for the money and keep track of that on top of everything else.
And please do not write to me asking about the $1 for 1mg xanax sale because I cannot do that until Ben is back and ready to work at the pace that that sale will demand. We have the product and it's going to happen, I just can't tell you when. As soon as I know, I will make sure everyone knows.
During this week I am also going to take a look at every product, policy, rule, regulation, whatever, that we have and decide which parts make sense and keep them and which parts don't make sense and get rid of them. The person who died was very close to Ben and he is pretty broken up but he also told me that he is committed to this business and he will be totally ready to work when he gets back. I was very happy to hear that and I was happy that he would even think to say something to me like that as I was dropping him off at the airport. I am pretty close to the members of Ben's family and it hurt me too to hear this person had died, but nothing like it hurt him and so if you think that Ben has been a good guy and worked his ass off to get your orders out really fast and used really good packaging, you could send him a note, I set him up an account on the forum tonight, it's user # 12437 and he's called "BadBen" but that's just a nickname, he's not really a bad guy. :)
I don't really know what else to say so now I'm going to get to sending out all the order confirmations and then I'll do some pm's and then get to the balance of those orders. I hope our unplanned "vacation" doesn't affect anyone too badly and I know we'll be ready to go when we put our listings back up.
take care everyone,
Alex
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Condolences to Ben and his family. Hope you guys are back as soon as possible because, you're good people and an important cog in the Silk Road machine.
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My sincerest condolences to Ben and his family. May he find some peace and comfort in the days ahead.
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So sorry for the loss. As a fairly regular customer I want to say how much I appreciate you guys.
I'm sending a BTC tip just to say thanks for what you do (and as peace offering for PMing you!).
kindest regards to you both.
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I'm so sorry to hear about your loss :'( You guys have become like family around here and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that our hearts go out to you and your loved ones. I am sorry your much needed and deserved vacation came in this way, but take as much time as you need for yourselves as well. I look forward to your return :)
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Hey Alex, sorry to hear sad news.
I hope that Ben will be ok and you bot are working hard and deserve time to rest and refill energy.
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Condolences to Ben and his family.
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wow...thank you pharmville. I am a new costumer who unfortunately happened to order from the wrong time from you guys. but it sounds like it's been a rough week. and I have no doubt of your fantastic costumer service and ability to make us happy.
I just I wish you guys the best - and only the best for our #1 vender on here. you guys are on top for a reason. and I'm sure I'm not the only one to say this, but take as much time as you fellas need! I'm sure we will be here when you return :)
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OH NO!!! I hope my BTC dont lose too much value between now and next week! Oh well, you guys are worth waiting for. Sorry for your loss.
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My condolences to you both! Very sad news.
I've been writing about an issue but happy now that I didn't jump to conclusions and post something on here negative. Hopefully the break will give you a chance to dig out and update me and others about what's up with orders. For the record, I'm a noob and I have been treated very positively by these guys and I have no rep so I appreciate their trust and being professional and patient with me. No complaints at all. My current order is the first concern I've had and this explains the lag in communication. I'm confident they'll resolve it and I'll be back ordering when they come back after the break.
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What a selfish ass I am wondering where I'm going to get my Valium this week when such a tragedy has struck. Best of luck on coping with the whole ordeal, as soon as you guys are ready for us we'll all be back waiting for our favorite vendor.
Who is this we? Well, the entire SR community of course. It's no coincidence that Pharmville just happens to be the top vendor: they've earned it.
There's something special about not needing to check your PMs or order status because you KNOW your order shipped when it was supposed to. The only downside to ordering from them is you can't give them a rating higher than 5/5 like they deserve.
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sorry to hear about your loss. we will be thinking of you guys. think good thoughts...peace
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ohh damn.. i feel awful because i just sent several pm's to check on my order... so sorry for the loss..sending good vibes your way
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Very sorry for Ben's loss. Keep up the great, professional, work. We really do appreciate it!
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You know me by another name on SR... I'm very sorry. Take all of the time you need. This is the stuff of life, and you'll be better for getting through it. Don't even think about your customers right now. Their needs (and wants) can wait; now is time to spend on yourselves.
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so professional... I tip my hat to you, sir. great work
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WTF, WHY WASNT MY ORDER SHIPPED D: D:
no im kidding- i swear! you guys look like the most professional pharmacy i've never been to, and im glad to see you've decided to extend the empire to the great white. regards to ben and his fam, and when you guys are ready, we're set with baited breath! :D
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condolences to Ben. sorry you had to take your break in that way.
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Wow... I just hopped on here to put in an order with you guys and was shocked to see such a consistently reliable, immaculate vendor with no listings. Then come on the forums and find this...:So sorry for your loss guys (especially Ben). I really hope everything comes out OK and you and Ben have your time to deal with things as needed.
I personally know how an unexpected loss can take such a toll on one's self and require time for reflection and (re)evaluation. Take your time off, you deserve it, not just because of unforeseen, unfortunate circumstances, but just time off in general, as much as is necessary, please take care of yourselves first! We as customers can wait.
I'm sure when you are both ready to regroup you'll bring SR a better service that can accommodate both the consumers and yourselves. You guys need to set designate regular days off and a set schedule just as anyone working a 9-5.
If only SR provided benefits and PTO :) lol
Cheers and here's to hoping Ben can settle out his received estates/priorities in an appropriate and accommodating manor
Wishing you both the best now and in the future,
Deadfuture
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Aww man that sucks =[
Sorry for your loss guys.
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You guys need to cross train and each have a day or so a week where its no SR =]
Hope to see you soon guys!!
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You guys have always been THE BEST vendors on SR IMHO, and always conducted yourselves professionally and considerately, so I send my condolences to you both and to Ben especially. Take care of yourselves.
-thequake
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Your buyers' and friends' replies speak for themselves. Definitely take all the time needed and come back and continue to impress. One of SR's great vendors, keep it up!
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Peace to you both.
A loved one recently passed and (although we had not seen each other for a long time - to my regret) this tune helped a lot:
You have to imagine Jerry's sweet voice in your head
"Broke-down Palace"
Fare you well my honey
Fare you well my only true one
All the birds that were singing
Have flown except you alone
Goin to leave this Broke-down Palace
On my hands and my knees I will roll roll roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time - in my time - I will roll roll roll
In a bed, in a bed
by the waterside I will lay my head
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back back home
It's a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I've come
since I first left home
Goin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
Goin to plant a weeping willow
On the banks green edge it will grow grow grow
Sing a lullaby beside the water
Lovers come and go - the river roll roll roll
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
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condolences to Dan. Hurry back soon!
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Sorry for ben's loss. that's sad news. sending out good peaceful vibes.
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I am, of course, very sorry to hear about your loss and wish you all the best. It was a nightmare when my father passed a few years ago. I hope you guys are getting close to being back in good spirits.
I placed an order on Monday (3/5/12) around noon-ish EST, then didn't read the new bit in Pharmville's profile about orders needing to be in by 9am, which is understandable. So I figured my order would be processed and shipped Tuesday, and I messaged them Tuesday night explaining that I just read about the 9am policy thing, and was wondering if it had shipped yesterday sometime.
So far I have not heard back, and the order is still stuck at processing, so I don't know what's up now, is anyone else having any issues with Pharmville within the past day or two? Normally they are on the ball and get my order out the same day and are able to overnight in some cases. I do still have full faith in them that they will get it out eventually, but as always, it sucks being in limbo.
If something has come up, I will certainly understand, but just please let me know if there's some issue preventing you guys from fulfilling your orders at the moment, thanks.
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Orders are going out. I received mine today as well as a bunch of others who ordered over the weekend. Alex had a computer issue the other day and made a thread about it where he talked about there being delays in PM'ing DCNs. I got my package this morning before I checked to see if I had a DCN(which was done by Alex early morning.)
So no worries. Alex has been very forthright explaining any issues.