2014 lunocet

[Ted Ciamillo]

Hello Olivier,

I understand your frustration. There were several emails sent out regarding delays due to a large number of orders we were dealing with but evidently they didn't make it to you. I am very sorry for the long wait. I have been working just as hard at getting orders out as I have been at getting new tooling online to meet the demand. Bali is no to be missed. I will get you tracking information on a shipment headed out today.

Please note: to any customers still waiting on orders that have a trip, competition or event scheduled, please email me with "URGENT" in the title and I will do my best to get you your equipment on time. I receive over 200 emails a day and spend most of my days on the shop floor getting tooling online and building lunocets - please forgive my customer service issues as we're trying to get that part of the business more streamlined as well.

Thanks,

Ted

 

[REVAN]

Hi,

I am a new member on this forum and I follow this thread from France where I live.

Unfortunately I cannot contribute to the debate in a positive way as I am always waiting for my lunocet ordered at the end of last November!
As told by others before me, the customer service is just non-existent and I received at best an automatic answer to my sent complaint e-mails .

Furthermore, it is extremely frustrating to read about your own experience of your Lunocet and comments of the differences between the normal or pro version while others paid the high price (399$) without having of possible choices and have still nothing!

It was the first time I made an on-line order in US (there is no dealers in Europe) and I am just dumbstruck by the differences with the " B to C" practices in Europe. At least we get advised of any such abnormal delay….

I was not able to enjoy my monofin during my Christmas holidays, now my hope is to receive my equipment in time for my next holidays at Bali in 4 weeks. It could be a very nice place to have a first Lunocet experience and give to this forum a more positive contribution from a monofin beginner.

Have fun.

Olivier Valverde

Please do not let this experience taint your overall impressions of businesses in the US. I think this is more of an exception than a common customer relations experience.

And, I hope you can get your monofin before your next dive trip.

 

[noa]

Hi Olivier,
Looks like Ted finally got back to you. Hope you get your fin soon and enjoy it on your trip.
As Revan said, don't let this singular experience taint your impression on customer service in the US. I'm from Europe but as a whole, actually consider US customer service fairly more professional than what we typically get in the EU. And certainly much better than the typical French "service"... : )

 

[Apneaddict]

Hey AA, how's that report of the pro coming along... : )

Part 2 on the classic fluke performance should be ready soon with performance comparisons to bifins, longfins, monofins, hyperfins, etc.

Part 3 on the Pro flukes should be about a week later - trying to get good video of it in use.


As a quick data point re: the pro flukes, the acceleration is there such that I got across a (slow / turbulent) 25m pool last night on sore legs with no suit (relax... I had swim shorts on) in 2 single kicks.... And even tried it by coming to a complete stop.

No swim cap and I didn't even shave my legs or chest!

 

[noa]

Cool. Look forward to hearing more...

 

[Eelco de Rook]

Sorry, allmost offtopic, I'm new, but I just learned everything about the possibilities of using the correct swimming technique:

 

[Chipswim]

Part 2 on the classic fluke performance should be ready soon with performance comparisons to bifins, longfins, monofins, hyperfins, etc.

Part 3 on the Pro flukes should be about a week later - trying to get good video of it in use.


As a quick data point re: the pro flukes, the acceleration is there such that I got across a (slow / turbulent) 25m pool last night on sore legs with no suit (relax... I had swim shorts on) in 2 single kicks.... And even tried it by coming to a complete stop.

No swim cap and I didn't even shave my legs or chest!

Part 2 on the classic fluke performance should be ready soon with performance comparisons to bifins, longfins, monofins, hyperfins, etc.

Part 3 on the Pro flukes should be about a week later - trying to get good video of it in use.


As a quick data point re: the pro flukes, the acceleration is there such that I got across a (slow / turbulent) 25m pool last night on sore legs with no suit (relax... I had swim shorts on) in 2 single kicks.... And even tried it by coming to a complete stop.

No swim cap and I didn't even shave my legs or chest!

Wow! Stretching 2 strokes and imagination. Was there a zip line entry involved? A push off the wall? A river?

 

[Apneaddict]

There was a wall push off.

Your river comment reminds me of something I'm planning on doing in Sept in Jamaica. The resort has a lazy-river loop that as far as I can tell is about 180-200m, according to google maps.

WITH a safety following me and likely first thing in the AM before anyone gets in... I'll take the Lunocet Pro for a downstream loop!!! Should make for a unique video!

Upstream would be a recipe for B.O. I'm guessing...

 

[Chipswim]

There was a wall push off.

Your river comment reminds me of something I'm planning on doing in Sept in Jamaica. The resort has a lazy-river loop that as far as I can tell is about 180-200m, according to google maps.

WITH a safety following me and likely first thing in the AM before anyone gets in... I'll take the Lunocet Pro for a downstream loop!!! Should make for a unique video!

Upstream would be a recipe for B.O. I'm guessing...

Sound fun....Zero dark early at lazy rivers may become prime destinations!

Maybe you've invented the NASCAR of fin swimming. ....... Brightly colored trunks with decals and numbers and one real mermaid leading the races....

 

[noa]

There was a wall push off.

Your river comment reminds me of something I'm planning on doing in Sept in Jamaica. The resort has a lazy-river loop that as far as I can tell is about 180-200m, according to google maps.

WITH a safety following me and likely first thing in the AM before anyone gets in... I'll take the Lunocet Pro for a downstream loop!!! Should make for a unique video!

Upstream would be a recipe for B.O. I'm guessing...

That is one super cool and fun sounding idea...

 

[noa]

Sound fun....Zero dark early at lazy rivers may become prime destinations!

Maybe you've invented the NASCAR of fin swimming. ....... Brightly colored trunks with decals and numbers and one real mermaid leading the races....

And you Chipswim, I think you might be on to something with your idea...

 

[noa]

Has anyone here received their pro model (besides AA that is) ? Ted's done a bit of a "Malaysian airlines" on me the last ten days...

 

[Apneaddict]

Note that this isn't a simple oval... It will require some looking-where-you're-going.

Strategically, it might be easier to swim on the outside wall, due to water speed, despite it being the longest distance.

It gets fun if you try it with it busy. Like underwater frogger or pole-position.

I bet guys like Alexei, Goran or Dave could do 2 laps at least.

Maybe I'll ask them to crank up the water pressure! Downstream Luno-gliding... You wouldn't even need to kick! Just a constant hydrodynamic glide / static.

 

[Apneaddict]

Has anyone here received their pro model (besides AA that is) ? Ted's done a bit of a "Malaysian airlines" on me the last ten days...

My understanding is that he's literally "living at the shop" for the last and next week, ramping up the tooling and production and is largely off the grid.

 

[Chipswim]

NOA needs to start a helmet thread!

 

[marginatus]

My understanding is that he's literally "living at the shop" for the last and next week, ramping up the tooling and production and is largely off the grid.

The "new tooling" has been going for some months... It should be a huge shop by now
Kidding asside, the wait is frustrating... I know all about it

 

[REVAN]

My understanding is that he's literally "living at the shop" for the last and next week, ramping up the tooling and production and is largely off the grid.

It must be stressful selling a new design before it is done. I don't think I could be so bold.

 

[Kars]

Everybody please give each other some time, we all got our heads and hands filled with demands.
I cannot look into Ted's head, but to me he clearly is passionate about monofinning and engineering, not quitting after all the setbacks.
Maybe he could use a friend who understands and helps him out with the logistics, so Ted can concentrate on what he loves most.

Yes I love to see his design work, and eagerly anticipate AA's and other's reporting.
Ron, I also love to see your design gain popularity and recognition.

I hope more great products can help monofinning and freediving make a bigger splash, and win positive public recognition.

 

[Jacblue]

Shame there's no where in Aus to try one out. They look interesting, more portable and seem much cheaper than a normal monofin to be shipped from overseas. Don't know that I'd be brave enough to pay that sort of money for something I might dislike using though, looks like the technique is different. Might have to wait until it's been out longer I guess, or move overseas (*Goes back to trying to glue back together the old and trusty, if very uncomfortable Model 1 waterway mono*)

 

[noa]

Everybody please give each other some time, we all got our heads and hands filled with demands.
I cannot look into Ted's head, but to me he clearly is passionate about monofinning and engineering, not quitting after all the setbacks.
Maybe he could use a friend who understands and helps him out with the logistics, so Ted can concentrate on what he loves most.

Yes I love to see his design work, and eagerly anticipate AA's and other's reporting.
Ron, I also love to see your design gain popularity and recognition.

I hope more great products can help monofinning and freediving make a bigger splash, and win positive public recognition.

I agree with you 100%. Having said that, an e mail to let us know how things are progressing once in a while, to customers that have already payed for their product would be nice...
All good though, and I do wish Ted to make it through this phase that must certainly be quite demanding for him.