Vendor: Chefs Flavours
Please post reviews of your experiences with this vendor. Topics to consider:
- Prices
- Selection
- Shipping Time (Out the door - don't blame the vendor for UPS or the USPS)
- Customer Service
- Order Problem Responses & Resolution
- Packaging
- Customer Service & Response to Contact
Negative reviews will not be removed. The vendor is allowed to respond to all comments. Your review will help other DIY-ers decide whether or not they want to do business here. This post will be linked in the wiki for reference.
I use them fairly regularly. Mostly because of the selection. The offer things I NEED and can't easily get elsewhere.
Great people, terrible website. Flavoring prices seem a tad high - incredibly low-priced international shipping more than makes up for it. Usually takes more than a week but less than two weeks to get here, not bad considering it's going from the UK to Texas and I've had U.S. vendors take that long. No problems with packaging.
Super duper customer service. Probably have the most loyal customers of any vendor, for good reason.
Selection is almost unbeatable. Certainly I the top tier. Price is pretty bad, but makeup for it a bit by not being as expensive for shipping as many alternatives. Never had a problem with the shipping on their end... Once a package spent so long in transit they reshipped, the packages arrived within two days of each other. So customer service is unbelievably good. Packaging seems very good, never had a problem. One issue - their labels are sometimes annoying... Black text on a dark color background works perfectly on a computer screen (it's actually my preference) but on a label it's practically unreadable. I've only had problems with their flavor creative and Wrecka labels, tho. I think I've ordered more from them than any other vendor, which considering they're on the wrong side of the Atlantic, is kinda testament to them.
-Prices: Was able to finagle a coupon and get many FLVs for ~$3.36 (as well as Rich Cinnamon 10mL for ~$7.50), FA under Flavour Creative for ~$2.10, a 30mL of OSDIY BR Slush and FE Sweet Rice were both under $7. Shipping is like ~$6.50 and came in exactly one week.
-Selection: One of the best. Basically the only place you can get that sort of selection besides diyvaporsupply and the latter are quite expensive (and don't carry VTA!). At chef's Holy Vanilla 10s and 30s and Premium Custard 30mL sold out the morning before I made my order, so I'm awaiting a restock or may just DIYVS it. I'm a thrifty-ish shopper and Chef's selection combined with price checked enough boxes for me. I liked chef's so much I may just await their restock, I'll save a DIYVS order for those real rarities I have yet to have the desire to obtain rationally.
-Shipping Time (Out the door - don't blame the vendor for UPS or the USPS): they shipped my order on Xmas eve. I think that says enough.
-Customer Service: Haven't had the need although I've heard they'll carry a specific elusive flavor if we get a community representative (u/ID10-T ?) to ask them to lol
-Packaging: A little messy, but I excuse for the holiday. Concentrates were placed loose in box with some crumpled paper as buffer but box was small so little could've really happened. Compared to the little zip-loks (that fit ~5 flavors) stuff from BCF or ECX come in, it seems lacking but we saved some waste so yay gaia.
Concentrates themselves are in PET bottles with angled-top caps that tighten nicely. Labels are easy to identify the flavor house and easy on the eyes - EXCEPT for the actual name of the flavor. The font chosen and closeness of the letters to each other do prove difficult to differentiate.
-Customer Service & Response to Contact + Order Problem Responses & Resolution: N/A
This was my first order with Chefs and will surely not be my last.
They're my go to vendor here in the UK for making larger orders. If I only need a few "common" concentrates I go elsewhere with a lower free shipping threshold.
​
- Prices - Not the cheapest but the next point covers for this, works out cheaper than paying multiple shipping costs.
- Selection - Second to none here in the UK, they have almost every flavour I've looked for
- Shipping Time (Out the door - don't blame the vendor for UPS or the USPS) - Never had any issues getting my delivery fast
- Customer Service - Brilliant - always replied to my email within a couple of hours, will order in stock of flavours they don't currently stock (asked them to hold DIYFS Holy Grail RY4 and they bought it in on their next order)
- Order Problem Responses & Resolution - Never had any issues
- Packaging - Small black box roughly 1.5x taller than the 10ml bottles. In loose but no room for any accidents.
Keep in mind I'm in EU (Austria) so some thing like shipping cost and times may vary depending on location.
- Prices
Competitive with other UK Distributors like vapable, Code POTV at checkout is always active.
Shipping is expensive at 10 quid, that's why I team up with friends to split shipping prices.
- Selection
They have most of the common brands and a solid selection of them, some flavors are constantly sold out it seems though. Examples: FLV Rich Cinnamon, FLV Sour Apple, FA Kardamom
- Shipping Time
It's always on time with about 10-12 days, DHL shipped.
- Customer Service
I only needed it once when I inquired about some sold out flavors and they got back to me within the day in a very friendly manner and assured me they'd stock up, which they did within a month! I'm a happy camper.
- Order Problem Responses & Resolution
I ordered from them 9 times, most of the times worth around 100-150€, never had a problem.
- Packaging
Black Cardboard boxes with the flavors inside in extra baggies, standing upright and enough fill material so they do not move around, never had one bottle leak.
Most flavor vendors I ordered from had the occasional leaky bottle in a package at least once, never with chefs though so kudos for that.
​
All in all I'd happily give them a 10/10 but I have to deduct 2 points for the website which is working poorly sometimes and some flavors are there but really hard to find due to them being mislabeled in the database. So 8/10 it is, If they update the site to run smooth they would be perfect.
Shipping to Germany (and I guess to Austria also) is only £ 3.30 if you stay below a certain threshold. If I don't find people to team up with, I usually try to split orders to pay e. g. £ 6.60 instead of £ 10.
Ordered once from chefs I had no issues what’s so ever absolutely amazing service great price plenty of options of flavours, merchandise and diy equipment ie bottles, syringes etc...... I use 2 other companies mainly due to locality but looking at my next order to come from chefs due to the service and the fact of availability of flavours and great prices
It's one of the vendors I use regularly here in the UK. We have so many great online vendors I like too share my orders between them. Great delivery times, brilliant customer service, well packaged products and competitive prices. Not only do they the best aromas in the world chefs also produce some of the best custards I've ever used. 10/10 from me.
- Prices: Correctly priced, they also have a "sale" section with cheap flavors/concentrates.
- Selection : Great, just look at the site.
- Shipping Time (Out the door - don't blame the vendor for UPS or the USPS): Correct. 1 week to 1 week 1/2 from the UK to France
- Customer Service: Never had anything to ask them.
- Order Problem Responses & Resolution: Never had any issue with them
- Packaging: Correct/Great.
- Customer Service & Response to Contact: I've never had to contact them
Personal note: Very professional. Great website.
Vendor: Chefs Flavours
I have purchased for a hundred euros spread amongst many orders / 2 years as a solo diy'er from this site. Here is my experience:
-
Prices The prices are very fair (cheaper than most other vendors / sites I purchase from, even with shipping to BE). It is only a shame when I have a large order and I need 50ml of a certain flavour but am forced to buy 5x10ml because their larger bottles are out of stock and I end up paying a lot more. In my experience, out of stock flavours have always been restocked quickly. Might also depend on which flavour it is.
-
Selection The selection is great. Rarely do I need to order from another site. Also the 1-shot selection is highly recommended to try out. The sale section is also nice to view
-
Shipping Time Shipping has always been same day / next day. On my large orders I receive a tracking code. Being shipped to BE, it usually takes no more than 3-5 business days.
-
Customer Service I've had a few questions for them, and I always got my answer the same day. I know with other sites there is usually a live chat option, but I have not missed it for this shop. Helpful and to the point without much fluff.
-
Order Problem Responses & Resolution I haven't had any order issues. Everything has always been accounted for. Nice service!
-
Packaging I've never had a bottle arrive open or damaged. Sometimes there is even an extra ML of flavour in a bottle :D
-
Customer Service & Response to Contact Nice customer service, to the point and friendly. I enjoy shopping here and trusting I will receive what I pay for in a very timely manner. A nice, professional experience
-
My wishes for the site
I wish they had some point system or returning customer coupons or small testers / freebees that they add. For some other vendors I receive this sometimes. My orders have always been my orders. Nothing less, nothing more.
*edit: formatting
I used them once because, fuck you shaun casey! FANA decided to tell us which flavors we can have. So I got about six to eight 10mls of mostly FA flavors that have been banned here. I think the price was a tad high but whatever. I picked the cheapest shipping option (Which doesn't include any tracking info). I think the wait time was fair considering where I'm at.
If you're going for FA, pick Flavour Creative which is just FA with another label but £ 1.20 cheaper (£ 2 instead of £ 3.20). Here is a list of other rebranded manufacturers at Chefs.
Prices may b a lil higher than some of other sites but not ridiculously overpriced and the low cost of international shipping plus the availability of certain flavors not easily accessible state side like fa custard pi and vt lemom meringue tart makes it worth it 100% imo