Ordering from Brinsea is really hard

[buckbye]

Apparently their products are pretty great, but I wouldn't know because they make ordering nearly impossible.

I tried to order a discounted "scratched and dented" Octagon 20 Eco incubator from their Web site last month, only to receive a message several days later that the item was out of stock. If they didn't have any more, why was the item still listed on their page, and why did it continue to be listed for days after it was "out of stock?" Other e-commerce sites do not have this problem. Sloppy housekeeping, Brinsea.

Anyway, fast forward to a few weeks later. I was browsing Brinsea's site again and a listing for a "scratched and dented" EcoGlow 50 brooder caught my eye. (Can you tell I'm a bargain hunter?) I tried again to place an order. I thought things were going pretty well, until I received another message that while they were processing my order, they noticed that I had used a 10% off coupon code. I was informed that coupons could not be used with "scratched and dented" items. So why did the site accept the code when I placed my order, Brinsea?! Absolutely maddening. These people clearly need to hire someone who can run their e-commerce competently.

Until then, I'm still in the market for a new incubator and brooder.

I had heard that Brinsea's customer service was abominable, and now I certainly believe it. My experience with this company has been nothing but a waste of time. For those with their hearts set on a Brinsea product, I recommend purchasing it from anywhere but Brinsea itself.

 

[HEChicken]

I'm sorry you've had this issue. If its any consolation, I've rarely heard anything good about the Brinsea incubators. Many people have had issues hatching in them because of the location of the fan (just passing on what I've heard - I've never even seen one in real life). I wound up with an R-Com 20 and I love it. It is fully automated - so much that after setting it, my family and I went out of town for a week and when I came back, it had taken care of the eggs nicely for me while I was gone and a day later 17 out of 18 hatched.

I do have 2 EcoGlow 20 brooders and while I've been happy with them, the design of the 50 is much better. Adjusting the position of the 20 involves using a screwdriver to ease a little notch out of plastic and I can see that its only a matter of time before the notch breaks off altogether. However after I had ordered my brooder, I heard of another brand (the name is now escaping me), that many people have told me is superior in design and function, for around the same price. Knowing what I know now, if I had it to do over, I'd have ordered one of their products instead.

 

[Sclark73]

I have the Octagon 20 Eco with turner and have had a 100% hatch out if it all year. I however purchased it used from a friend. It works the same as how you described your Rcom 20, I load it up, add a bit of water and walk away. I have never had to re-adjust the settings like I had to with the styrofoam incubators. I'm very happy with it and am looking at purchasing a bigger Brinsea next year.
Stacy

 

[buckbye]

@HEChicken: Wow, I'm surprised to hear about problems with their incubators, given all the positive reviews on this site and on Amazon! I'll have to look into that. I will also look into the R-Com--I'm not at all familiar with the brand, but I'm all about automation.

If you can remember the name of that brooder, I'd love to know more! Thanks for all the information. (I'm enjoying the links in your signature, as well!)

@SClark73: Glad to hear the incubator is working well for you! (I'm not really interested in a Styrofoam model, either.) The Eco 20 with auto-turner is what I had been looking into. Having used it, do you find yourself wishing you had the features of the Advance? There's a sizable price difference between the Advance and the Eco, and I'd be interested to hear whether you (or anyone else reading this thread, for that matter!) feel that the additional features (temperature alarm, digital temp display, humidity display) are worth paying more for in the Brinsea, or any other incubator.

 

[HEChicken]

I did remember: Sweeter Heater!

 

[Sclark73]

@HEChicken: Wow, I'm surprised to hear about problems with their incubators, given all the positive reviews on this site and on Amazon! I'll have to look into that. I will also look into the R-Com--I'm not at all familiar with the brand, but I'm all about automation.

If you can remember the name of that brooder, I'd love to know more! Thanks for all the information. (I'm enjoying the links in your signature, as well!)

@SClark73: Glad to hear the incubator is working well for you! (I'm not really interested in a Styrofoam model, either.) The Eco 20 with auto-turner is what I had been looking into. Having used it, do you find yourself wishing you had the features of the Advance? There's a sizable price difference between the Advance and the Eco, and I'd be interested to hear whether you (or anyone else reading this thread, for that matter!) feel that the additional features (temperature alarm, digital temp display, humidity display) are worth paying more for in the Brinsea, or any other incubator.

Honestly, it works so good that I have never thought of purchasing the advance. I'm a bit of a frugal person, so I can't justify the cost difference in the digital. Besides, it's more things that could go wrong in the future. I have a hand held thermo/hydro that I put in periodically to double check the numbers are still good. IMHO I'd purchase one from Amazon instead of direct if your having such a problem with customer service. I've used Amazon for many things and have never had a problem with them, besides you could get a better deal on there. Previous to my purchasing a Brinsea, their were way too many good reviews from people than bad. Even though I brag it up, there are some things that I would of liked to see different with it,but there's not enough of a problem that I would knock it. The egg tray dividers are a pain in the butt although the hatch rate is so good I don't let it bother me overall outcome. I hope my ramblings are understandable as I'm not good at writing. Good luck with whatever you decide to purchase.

 

[buckbye]

@HEChicken: Thanks for remembering! I'm going to look it up.

@SClark73: Thank you too for sharing your tips and experiences.

Good idea about the handheld device. (And I understood you just fine!)

 

[av8torcrj]

I bought the octagon 20 digital advance over the Black Friday weekend sale directly from brinsea. A code for a coupon was found on their Facebook page which further reduced the holiday sale price by an additional 20%. $279 with auto turner. I struggled with the retail price for several weeks ($399) and thought this was a great deal. The incubator was shipped the next day. You can just tell when you open a box if something has been well designed and has had considerable thought put into it. That so far has been my impression. Plugged it in and it stabilized at 99.6 in about 15 minutes. The turning cradle is essentially silent in its movement. The digital features including cool down seem simple to manage. I'm waiting for a full set if eggs to be laid to begin a hatch but so far I'm impressed and happy with my purchase.
I studied the scratch and dent items and also realized that during check out it will accept a coupon code but each item clearly states in red that coupons are not accepted. I decided attempting to apply one amounted to no more than trying to pull a fast one and a waste of time so I never did. Besides, I got a brand new advance for $10 more than a scratch and dent simply by hunting for discounts.

 

[buckbye]

double

 

[buckbye]

Quote: That about the"clearly stated in red" is new. Probably because of this post. "Pulling a fast one?" My foot.