Lotus Mouthpieces

jimspeedjae · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 165

I've pretty much run out of patience with this.

I was emailed on Jun 1st to reassure me again I would "100% get my order". With no confirmation when that would be. Not especially any different than the other updates I've had.

How fast are they getting through the 1200 or so orders? 550+ have been shipped so far according to the Jun 1 email.

So in 10 weeks since they sent an email (Mar 18th) stating "Mouthpieces are ready", they are averaging 10 a day, or less if you discount the 120 they had received by that time.

The email of Mar 18th also says "The first 120 mouthpieces have been finished and are being sent to our shipping company, set to arrive on Monday. The next few hundred will arrive shortly thereafter, followed by roughly a hundred per day until all of your orders have been sent out."

The email update of 26th April says that 650 mouthpieces had cosmetic flaws. And we are told that all the delays and remedial work has been related to the cosmetic flaws. What about all the other 550 pieces? Could they not be plated and sent out? Have they even been made?

I've been promised my mouthpieces in "a few weeks" and told "it won't be long". Then nothing for six weeks and then to be told that they still haven't done half of them...when we'd been told that only around half of them had the problem to being with.

I was supportive when I was told there was a production issue that's getting fixed in a few weeks, but tired of the it's-just-around-the-corner messaging and only ever getting an update when I ask.

I would have preferred an honest assessment and updates about the project as it goes along - it has basically been crowd-funded after all. How hard would it be to send out an update every couple of weeks? Why is it taking so long at this point? When the communication at the beginning implied they'd all be done in two or three weeks.

But it's not good when customers are report defects and issues with their orders. Flaky plating at this point? Wow. The messaging and fulfilment tell different stories.

At least they are now in a process and (even at 10 a day, rather than 100) should have a schedule and plan for when all the different models will be ready and can be shipped.

So I've asked for a delivery date and if they can't give me one, to give me a refund. I'm not desperate for the money, and would still like the pieces I ordered (then again not desperate for any more mouthpieces either!). But I don't like being strung along and so far it's a week without reply to that question.

I was sent a free gift though (it was literally described as that) - a video of Adam resonance and pitch. The gist of which seemed to be if you want a big fat sound, play flat. Maybe I was too overwhelmed with the generosity to understand that correctly.

Winghorn · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 2:25 pm Post subject:

For what it is worth, my recently received Lotus mouthpiece is perfect and beautifully finished.

cgooding · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 2:43 pm Post subject:

I'm still waiting on the bronze 3L I ordered in January. I've heard nothing about expected delivery. My custom AR Resonance took less than four weeks. Granted, Antonio clearly has his manufacturing game figured out far better than Lotus does.
I'm about at the point of cancelling as well.
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"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."

SMrtn · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 5:14 pm Post subject:

acritzer · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:30 am Post subject:

I certainly don’t begrudge anyone that’s lost patience. Lotus haven’t done themselves any favors for developing a strong reputation on consistency or expediency.
I will, however, strengthen my stance on how good the mouthpieces are. My Monette B3S3 hasn’t been used for a while now. The 3L bronze beats it in many ways. Certain troublesome notes are now laying in nicely, high E and Eb for example. No longer horribly flat. Great tonal range, flexibility, easy upper register, very full low register, etc.

Just seems like a great great design.

Jaw04 · Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2021 9:59 pm Post subject:

I haven't tried every mouthpiece out there but I will say the new Lotus 1L is the first mouthpiece that I've ever been able to play a nice sounding pedal C open fingering, as well as a nice sounding Double C. I've never been able to play an open pedal C on B-flat trumpet really until now. I'll take credit for putting in some good practice lately, but this mouthpiece has been a good copilot on that journey.

jimspeedjae · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 165

Maybe I'll revisit when they have them in stock. But unlikely.

They couldn't guarantee a delivery date, estimating a couple of weeks and promising to prioritise my order. Which seems like a nice thing to do, but only pushes someone else down the list.

So refund asked for, and provided graciously.

evolution · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:38 am Post subject:

I have a new 2S, 2M and 2L now. Very good mouthpieces with nice colors in the sound. The shipping, the development of the production line while taking orders and the pr might be a bit to "creative" but the product is real. I bought all my mpcs used as new from people cross Europe that didn't choose the right size. Happy me.
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Enjoy music!

Winghorn · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2021 11:40 pm Post subject:

Hello all-

I can certainly understand people's frustrations with the delay in the delivery of their Lotus mouthpiece orders.

I felt these same frustrations prior to receiving my Lotus mouthpiece a couple of weeks ago. And the lack of regular updates and slow responses from the company to inquiries didn't help. But...

My Lotus mouthpiece is truly exceptional, and I think that buyers cancelling their orders (or not ordering in the first place) because of delays and mix-ups by Lotus may essentially be "cutting off their noses to spite their faces".

Sure, cancelling can send a message to Lotus that you are unhappy with the way they are doing business. But is that worth giving up the opportunity to at least try a Lotus mouthpiece?

With a little patience you may end up with a mouthpiece that really helps your playing, as I did!

irememberchet · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:31 am Post subject: Lotus Mouthpieces

I am very frustrated with the way Lotus has handled their ordering process, communication with the mouthpiece buyer, and delivery of the finished product.

I ordered a single Lotus mouthpiece many months ago to give it a try. I have no idea how the mouthpiece plays, because I have all but given up on ever actually receiving my order.

There has been excuse after excuse, delay after delay, and no communication from Lotus whatsoever UNLESS I wrote to them asking where the hell my mouthpiece is. Dealing with them has been a miserable experience.

Their communication has been non existent, and I have heard every excuse known to mankind why they can't deliver their mouthpiece orders, on time and as promised.

I told Lotus that I very nearly ordered a brand new trumpet from them, but based on their very poor customer service and poor track record with my mouthpiece order, I will never buy one of their horns.

I was in the business world for many years, and if we had done business this way, we would have been OUT OF BUSINESS!
_________________
Richard Harris
Monette MF Prana
1940 Martin Handcraft Committee #3 Large Bore
Yamaha 8335 LA II Bergeron Custom
Yamaha 8340 EM Eric Miyashiro
Schilke Handcraft HC1
Taylor Phatboy Flugelhorn

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2581

Winghorn · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:22 pm Post subject:

Maybe I was wrong to assume that most people could spare a hundred and fifty or so dollars essentially in escrow while awaiting delivery of their Lotus mouthpieces, without being precluded from trying other mouthpiece choices in the meantime.

I never suggested waiting with baited breath for a Lotus mouthpiece and giving up "exploring other excellent options and wasting valuable time". I mean, can't a player do both?

I would not be wasting my own time going back and forth with other posters if I did not think my new Lotus mouthpiece was truly special. It is not a magic mouthpiece, but it has sure made a noticable difference in my playing after a few days of acclimation.

It is truly something different in feel and response compared to any of the myriad mouthpieces I have tried and played in the past. It is not just like trying another mouthpiece...

Maybe I am wasting my time trying to be altruistic and wanting other players to experience what I have, but I have never been this enthusiastic about a mouthpiece before.

Again, unless you really need the money, why not continue to be patient while in the meantime exploring other equipment options?

And don't forget, you can return your Lotus mouthpiece if you don't like it.

Steve

Jaw04 · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 4:38 pm Post subject:

lotherro · Regular Member Joined: 16 Dec 2011 Posts: 26

I would appreciate, for anyone who has the time, a more detailed review of their mouthpiece(s), especially a comparison with the 1st generation ones. For reference, I have 1XL+ brass, and am thinking of getting the same size or material (or in maybe bronze) to see what the differences are. Anything along those lines would be great if you guys have the time and leisure.
_________________
Shires Destino III
Monette B2S3 Prana Resonance
Lotus 1L+ Nickel-Silver 1.0
Lotus 1L Nickel-Silver 2.0
Lotus 1XL+ Brass 1.0

Jaw04 · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 5:33 pm Post subject:

acritzer · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:17 pm Post subject:

acritzer · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:25 pm Post subject:

ERoscio · Regular Member Joined: 24 Feb 2021 Posts: 21

I would focus more on the shady practices their business, we already know they have no clue on how to make the products and how to run a business by now, they are literally using the customer base as a test ground.

Me, a few friends of mine in Europe and a shop have tried over and over to obtain an invoice from Lotus for a product that all of us aren’t really happy with anyway.
Charles Wagner told us, in various forms, that they would have sent the mouthpiece with a fake customs declaration to avoid paying VAT and duties.
They say it works most of the times and that is their standard business practice.
We asked for a real invoice, many times. In the end Henrik Grahn told some of us that a generic PayPal screenshot is all we will ever get.
There is literally no way to get a proper invoice with a sum, a company name, a registration number, an address, a tax rate or anything that will make it possible for us to write the cost off.

I would love to know if any of you got a real invoice.
Not a PayPal payment confirmation, that is NOT a valid invoice.

What’s your experience?

Irving · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 1885

I am just guessing, if you didn't pay tax on your purchase, that is why they don't want to send an invoice. Which is not really an excuse, because goods shipped outside of Europe aren't taxed within Europe. Maybe they don't know how to do the accounting work? If you did pay the full European price stated on their website for sales within Europe, then ignore this post.

ERoscio · Regular Member Joined: 24 Feb 2021 Posts: 21

I’m puzzled myself: they say that everything is proudly made by Italian, Polish and Dutch companies.
So it’s an European product shipped from the Netherlands (still Europe).
This means that an invoice must be issued and VAT must be charged, there’s no way around that.
I have no way to know if they charged VAT because after several requests done over several weeks I still haven’t received one.
And if the goods are shipped outside Europe there still needs to be a proper invoice with the real value so that VAT and customs duties can be applied from the tax offices on the destination country.
So, an invoice is due in any case and a real declaration of the true value.
Any European here?
And US customer?
What’s your experience?