Update from Walton's on Shipping, Electric Stuffers and One Shot
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Hey guys, in the coming days, many of you will start seeing that we have made a major change in our shipping processes. In an effort to give more options and more control over what you pay for shipping, we made the decision to bring in FedEx as a shipping partner. There are a number of advantages for us to using FedEx as our main shipping partner. We had to stop using certain packaging types with UPS because of drastic cost increases, specifically with heavier packages, but with FedEx, we will be able to resume using some of our previous packaging which should improve deliverability and lower damage rates. UPS will remain an option and will be used occasionally when it remains cost effective. All online orders will be automatically selected for the most efficient delivery method between FedEx, USPS, and UPS by weighing the value of low-cost and quickest delivery. We know that some of you will love this change and others not so much. Which shipping carrier has a better reputation seems to be mainly based on the area of the country that people live and personal preference, so if you have a strong preference for a specific carrier, we can still ship any carrier, but our default will be the most efficient. If you want a different carrier than what we determine is the most efficient, you can still place orders over the phone with our customer service team and request a specific carrier and service type, and you just have to pay the difference between the most efficient carrier and service and what your preference for your shipment would be.
Now, we also reported early this week and late last week that a few people had received their 20 or 30-lb electric stuffers and 4 people so far are having an issue where the motor is not turning the gearbox in either direction. Obviously, we pulled units and tested them before they were sent and never saw this issue, but one customer sent us a video of it happening, and I have talked to him on the phone this week twice now and whether the motor is hooked up to the unit or not it does not turn the gear.
We had an emergency meeting with our vendor on Monday morning, and they believe the issue to be with the speed regulator. That knob is basically a voltage regulator, and if it is broken (they said they had a special hammer they hit it with), they found this problem. So, the knob isn’t telling the motor to pass any voltage to the motor to power it up or down. So, their theory is that they are being damaged in shipping and need to be replaced. We have a small stock of motors that we will be sending these customers as temporary replacements. I say temporary replacements because these are not the production motors; these are motors that QA testing on our end found a possible issue with their longevity of them, so when the next batch of production motors come in, we will be replacing those temporary motors with the version they should have gotten. The vendor assures us that they are doing everything in their power to get this fixed and have the motors shipped ASAP. We have also requested that the motors be packaged differently as the case they come in did not protect those motors through shipping.
Then, on the One-Shot stud issues, I have an update as well. First, I am still not sure how large of an issue this is, as I have done north of 500, maybe as much as 700 lb through mine, and not have any issues. However, I realize it is odd and people don’t like that it is doing it, and I can absolutely understand why. The good news is that there appears to be both a short-term and long-term fix. Short term fix is that we have replacement studs for the augers, and I tested removing one and replacing it, and it is fairly easy to do. Just a wrench and either a vice grip or a buddy and a pair of channel lock pliers should be enough to loosen it. Long term, we are having the auger stud designed, so it has a round surface right against the end of the auger, so there is nothing for the round hole of the kidney plate to wear through.
Other than that, it’s been a pretty easy week…yikes, I guess we know the busy season is here when there is hardly time to get everything done! Every year it is something, whether changing websites twice within the space of 12 months, changing shipping partners, not being able to get enough of a product to meet demand or just running around here with our hair on fire Sept-Jan always flies.
At least we have had the time this year to (re)shoot a few good videos recently like How to make snack sticks, How to Make Ring Bologna, How to Make Weisswurst and just today How to Make Bratwurst, provide the FAQ
Also, we are having our Livestream today as the 1st is a Saturday and we are doing it a little earlier at 2 pm CST. So join us at either waltons.com/live or just click the Live Icon at the top of Meatgistics. We’ve got Tumblers, Aprons, Jerky and other things to giveaway. Also, the Giveaway for October is already up at waltons.com/win, just scroll down on the page. See ya guys at 2
Get more help with your processing questions and learn more about processing meat by subscribing to our waltons.com youtube page at https://www.youtube.com/@waltonsinc
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cdavis Masterbuilt Canning Kamado Joes Regular Contributors Power User Sous Vide Oklahoma Team Camoreplied to Jonathon on last edited by
Jonathon sounds like yall have been very busy.
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Jonathon
During the Livestream could you show more on the one shot auger fixes? Sometimes pictures say more than words. Thanks -
Thanks for updating the community Jonathon. Even though I haven’t order either of the two items you mention it’s what I really like about Walton’s. You are totally transparent and constantly keeping us informed.
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glen Regular Contributors Team Grey Sous Vide Canning Dry Cured Sausage Masterbuilt Power User Meat Hack Winner Veteran Kansasreplied to Jonathon on last edited by
Jonathon Well done, great explanations and actions!
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Dave in AZ Military Veterans Sous Vide Canning Traeger Power User Arizona Dry Cured Sausage Dry-Cured Expertreplied to Jonathon on last edited by
Jonathon great info, thx for update, this is exactly the type of proactive response to feedback from customers, that improves a company from OK to great!
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calldoctoday Team Blue Power User Regular Contributors Alabamareplied to Dave in AZ on last edited by
Dave in AZ If we could get half of that out of a whole lot of other companies out there these days, the other companies would not be half bad, but Walton’s is CONSISTENTLY, fantastic!
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Thanks for the update on the shipping and the electric stuffers. As I live in Alaska USPS has always been the cheapest and easiest to get stuff to me. I appreciate the quick response I got from Walton’s when I just put together the Electric stuffer this morning and the motor wouldn’t turn either direction. The replacement motor already shipped. Thanks for being a quality company!
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dawg Cast Iron Masterbuilt Team Blue Power User Regular Contributorsreplied to Jonathon on last edited by
Jonathon
FedEx, electric stuffer, and one shot grinder head; You guys have nailed customer service again. Thanks for the update. This is why you are a top tier company that most companies should strive to be like when it comes to customer service. -
FedEx and heavy boxes has been very hit or miss for us. Lets be honest nobody wants to deliver some of the heavy s**t we expect them to bring to our door step for as cheap as possible… But, We order Gallon sauces for our food truck and we’re batting 50/50 if the package is damaged along with the product. Good luck with FedEx. Trash company overall.
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bocephus Team Orange Power User Canning Masterbuilt Regular Contributors Veteran New Mexico Sous Vide Gardeningreplied to Jonathon on last edited by
Jonathon As usual, you guys are stepping up and solving problems. Thanks everyone at Walton’s for being a great company that is concerned about their customers.
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processhead Power User Regular Contributors Smoker Build Expert Bowl Choppers Nebraska Veteran Team Camo
Jonathon Introducing new products with new features and designs is always a challenge.
Sometimes no matter how much pre-sales testing you do, there will be gremlins that only come out once the product gets in the hands of the end user.Cudos to Walton’s for standing behind the products and taking care of the customers.
Personally, consumer grade electric stuffers leave me a little uneasy. The protection device technology that you are relying on to save the stuffer from damaginging itself during normal use, or user- misuse is a potential weakness that I would need to see proven over a extended period of time. Just my opinion and worth exactly what you paid for it. lol
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Even if there turns out to be a problem it’s better to be found and corrected. Waltons is one of the few who really care and will make things right.
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ND Mike Big Green Egg Team Blue Regular Contributors Cast Iron Power User North Dakota Veteranreplied to Jonathon on last edited by
Jonathon it sucks that there are issues with some of the new equipment but I know you guys will always stand behind it and make it right with the customers. Never a doubt Waltons would do the right thing.
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I appreciate the update. I will say this though, luckily I’m apart of this community but I know there’s going to be many that buy from you guys that aren’t. I ordered both the one shot and 20LB electric stuffer back in August. Estimated ship date was Sept 7th. It’s been over a month now since estimated ship date and I was really curious where my stuffer was at. I think sending out an email to customers who ordered one with an update would go a long ways instead of just leaving them hanging for over a month. Something as simple as “we’ve found some issues with the motor and are fixing the issue before sending them out” is all it takes. Just my opinion from someone who’s spent way too much money on processing equipment. Haha
Haven’t used the one shot yet since I was waiting on the electric stuffer before I run another batch. May build a bigger smokehouse in the meantime while I wait. Thanks for standing behind your products.
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bocephus Team Orange Power User Canning Masterbuilt Regular Contributors Veteran New Mexico Sous Vide Gardening
Had package sent out Monday afternoon and received it Thursday A.M. from FedEx, package was in pristine condition.
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Denny O Iowa Team Camo Weber Grills Canning Gardening Cast Iron Regular Contributors Power User Green Mountain Grill Sous Videreplied to armyguy on last edited by
Jonathon I’m just passing this on to raise it to your attention.
armyguy Give the customer service department a call.armyguy said in Update from Walton's on Shipping, Electric Stuffers and One Shot:
I appreciate the update. I will say this though, luckily I’m apart of this community but I know there’s going to be many that buy from you guys that aren’t. I ordered both the one shot and 20LB electric stuffer back in August. Estimated ship date was Sept 7th. It’s been over a month now since estimated ship date and I was really curious where my stuffer was at. I think sending out an email to customers who ordered one with an update would go a long ways instead of just leaving them hanging for over a month. Something as simple as “we’ve found some issues with the motor and are fixing the issue before sending them out” is all it takes. Just my opinion from someone who’s spent way too much money on processing equipment. Haha
Haven’t used the one shot yet since I was waiting on the electric stuffer before I run another batch. May build a bigger smokehouse in the meantime while I wait. Thanks for standing behind your products.
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Denny O , I called customer service today and they said they have zero information of when the stuffers will ship.
On the one shot issue, is it safe to use it currently as is without getting any kind of metal shavings into the meat?
