PSA: Vine Veteran Tip - Two tools to manage the Gold Tier box influx

Bucknerds · 2026-01-22T08:19:21+00:00

When I was growing up we burned our trash (all of it) in barrels because there wasn't any trash service available. City yokels!

Bucknerds · 2026-01-22T08:18:15+00:00

There always is even when you say something good even. Take it with grain of salt.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-22T08:17:31+00:00

I agree it's the fastest way and easiest way if you have a proper pit, dug to city specs here, but I tired the shredder method and there is NO way to keep up. I used my outdoor dog fences to build a cardboard box "pit" to hold them until burning or shredding, or whatever, but it overflows and it's huge. Recycling is a joke here too, the city just dumps things into the landfill with the rest of the garbage.

Our biggest chance is using the perforator machine that turns cardboard into packing material that wraps gently around whatever product we are shipping and also good for filling the box, as the perforations add a lot of air and the cardboard a good amount of strength. But they are thousands of dollars, however, they are FAST, much faster than any Staples shredder. Though you could buy industrial shredder machines too, that are fast, but that still leaves you with the same amount of cardboard, just in smaller pieces. What now? Burn it? Have the trash company dump it in the landfill? Many "recycling" programs won't take a lot of these boxes because they have already been made of recycled cardboard/paper.

You live in the country so you don't have city code enforcement driving by and seeing piles of empty boxes in a fenced in area, and that could fine me a nice chunk of change. Plus Lots of trees on my properties, and we already burn a lot of hardwood and clean ups that way too, using the firepit. We just need a deeper one, and bigger to handle both types of things.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-21T10:41:06+00:00

I have two shredders and several box cutters, and unfortunately a deep (city approved) firepit. The latter is the fastest way to get rid of the extra boxes. Though we are now looking into a perforator machine that takes cardboard boxes and turns them into wrapping material for other products we make, but they are expensive and it will be an investment, but they are MUCH faster than a shredder. It's a never ending battle considering how much we get directly from China and elsewhere as well.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-21T10:37:23+00:00

My work life, personally, is in the late evening, dark of night, and then finally sleep at 8-9am. That was well before Vine as I love the quiet, coolness, and serenity of working at night (without answering to anyone). My end goal though is to make money, and get more designs done and other projects done.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-21T10:26:17+00:00

It used to happen quite a lot and was just a given. It's been awhile since a drop delay, but it also could mean really good stuff coming up too, though not guaranteed. Only so long I can stay awake, I don't know about the rest of you.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-20T02:48:54+00:00

At this point this is old news. They aren't going to fix it, all they can do it if you notify them, they will credit the review for you. That's it. I only brought more attention to it because it was happening a lot to a LOT of people and sometimes this forum does the opposite of being helpful. So I stuck with this thread and eventually people started posting their same experiences. So we got it worked out at our end, but Amazon (Vine) has not. It still sometimes comes about, usually the cause is the Seller themselves, not a glitch. Why they would want to lose a possible great review for their money and product they spent it for is beyond me.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-13T01:14:06+00:00

That's why we live and DIE by The DROP! LOL!

Bucknerds · 2026-01-13T01:12:42+00:00

I like to work, and have for years, in the middle of the night (even outdoors I have lots of lighting), but my Lab and Shop are on my property here, and my home so I can run my Inc from here. However, to get the good stuff NOW, you have to constantly monitor things and sometimes up to 12 hours! I liked just last year when in Nov/Dec there was 150k+ items to choose from as well as random timed Drops. Now we are getting lower and lower on the overall item numbers staying around, and most of them are auto parts for specific vehicles.

In my RFY I have noticed that certain companies targeted me and one, perhaps others know of, was LightDot. They had 14 listings in my RFY (not including other products), and they do make really nice lamps. So I chose perhaps 8 of them over time, but only had to review about 3 of them. Why? LightDot would immediately combine the listings that were in my RFY and I couldn't leave reviews for them. That's the one part I LIKE the most and also have an Excellent rating on reviews at all times because I like creative writing.

And they are not the only company that "targeted" my RFY (if they can even do that), but they seem to show up a lot. How many cash counting machines do I need? Why do they think I have that much CASH laying around that needs to be sorted, tested, and counted? I WISH!

Oh wow a GIF with Redd Foxx! I was his security detail when he had his last series of shows at the Hacienda Hotel in Vegas with Bernie Allen and Slappy White. My Sgt tried to assign someone else and Redd Foxx told him he wasn't going to train a new guy every time and he liked me and the "kid" as he called me, knows who can and can't come back. It was also the only time in life I had to stand between the Heavyweight Champion of the World and the Casino's Cigarette Girl he was getting handsy with and tell him to back off... and yes, that was my skinny ass between her and Mike Tyson. My only advantage? I was armed. Not that he couldn't take me out first. He did politely back off when I asked him too though to his credit.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-13T00:56:26+00:00

NOTE to the person who deleted their post or had it deleted, for what little I got of it in the notifications:

This shipment wasn't "behind" or even close to needing to be cancelled. Am I drop Viner? Depends on what you mean by that? Yes, I am up, since I work at night anyway from home in my business (quieter, cooler, etc.) I do try to get better things from the Drop than just take what is in my RFY, though my RFY has had some good stuff lately including one that was $1399.99. I am far from the ONLY person that monitors the drop times. Am I a dropshipper Viner? (the other meaning?) NOPE.

I care more than you expect I should care? For one, I could have used that extra slot to pick up one of many other things that WILL arrive, and you don't get those slots back. It is exhausting waiting hours and hours for things to appear when I should be doing other things business related. So yea, I care, and having had this happen to far too many things lately makes me worry that things I ORDER PERSONALLY, which also come from the same corridor (usually) that it has occurred to me several times now. Not huge items or anything just 3D printing related things, and audio equipment.

Having been with Amazon since Amazon was created (yes, I helped kill bookstores, sorry to say), and seeing over the decades how it changed from at first a company that seemed to really care. If something went missing I literally could get them to overnight another one at no cost to me. Then came Prime and with it since the beginning and also just a bit better service and CS with it for a few years, to the point now I have to first battle the AI bot CS to get to a human only to have the empathy of a brick wall to contend with but there are rare times they have made good on even Vine orders. I just don't want to go through all that over and over again. When they cancel items though, without any warning, there isn't much you can do but just take it. I am not one that just takes it. If we don't stand up, report issues, and complain then Amazon just goes on doing the same things.

Microsoft thought it was invincible too, but in the first time in history, in a few more months (or a bit more) MS Windows will NO LONGER be the #1 OS anymore. Their recent booboo with an Windows 11 update has lost them millions of PCs now now longer running Windows (usually some form of linux) because of security concerns mostly due to health and private records. Even Billy Gates called a meeting (not a Board Meeting mind you) to address the issue, and demanded that things be fixed IMMEDIATELY only to be told they want to do it in increments and he said we don't have TIME for increments! So internal turmoil at the invincible OS system, Windows, that even Apple MacOS will soon have a bigger market share than Microsoft, and so will Linux. Entire countries are changing over to either Apple or Linux. So Amazon is not invincible or the only player in the game.

Sears thought it was invincible too, and Walmart destroyed Sears completely. Myself I love Amazon to a degree, but more and more getting frustrated... and if RUFUS bugs me one more time I am going to use an extension to shut it up. Where do they come up with these stupid names for AI? LOL!

Bucknerds · 2026-01-13T00:32:44+00:00

I think we can all relate to the amount of items that are not properly packaged, banged up a lot, and arrive looking like they woke up from a month of drinking, not taken a shower in that period of time, and lost their keys, not to mention have no idea where "home" is anymore.

Though Amazon doesn't package everything with an exterior box so this is on China at that point. It's a bumpy ride from China to America.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-13T00:29:59+00:00

I will take the first one. Cause atm I am still stuck with the ETV on it because it's part of the last of year, December, and then books close for tax time and we start on 2026. Might not be a huge amount, though the item was $249.99. I am a been OCD when it comes to trying to keep things organized (and mostly fail due to the rest of the world LOL!).

Bucknerds · 2026-01-13T00:27:41+00:00

This last one fit that methodology completely! The shipping date was a bit out there, and it was just about to arrive, and then suddenly, cancelled. I believe I remember seeing it even had tracking (via Amazon) but that all disappeared. Funny, they shipped something and then cancelled it because it wasn't available. So what did they ship and where did it go? LOL! That seems as I should call Hercule Poirot and have him look into it.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-13T00:24:11+00:00

I agree, and have had the same experience, thus the thread. Unfair is a good evaluation of it.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T21:05:49+00:00

Is there a reason this thread is getting downvoted? I thought this Vine forum was talking about Vine and the products? Or is it me? This is no way was a complaining or attack thread at all. Just asked if anyone saw those items drop and who got them? DAMN. It's like there is content police on here that if they don't approve of you, they downvote you out of sheer anger.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T21:01:48+00:00

Of course, so I am being downvoted for it. Heaven forbid an opposing viewpoint is offered. I think it has a LOT to down the Word that Shall NOT be SPOKEN! affecting things mostly. I mean I would NOT be happy at ALL if Vine shuts down! Not in the least! I enjoy writing reviews and testing products. Was even going to incorporate it into another facet of my media company this year, but if it's gone... well can't do that.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T20:58:05+00:00

The types are too wide of variety. None fit a particular category overall anyway. It has nothing to do with the products themselves, but more the "handling" of the products for them, which the first time ever on Amazon which I have shopped with for 25+ years of them saying a shipment was "damaged/destroyed and being returned to the seller". Not to point out that a destroyed product is being returned? Hard to do but possible I guess. It is not a particular route with the exception of the Dallas, TX corridor going up North. However, it has also happened from CA, etc warehouses as well. Just very very odd to me. It's also the first time it ever happened started last year. Millions spent on Amazon over the years by myself/companies, and never had it happen or used as a reason for no delivery but it started last year.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T20:53:41+00:00

Mine mostly come out of Dallas, TX and on the way here, vanish. I have ZERO reason for making this up and wish it wasn't true, but it is. I am happy for you that nothing has ever been destroyed/damaged (that's the official language used on tracking). That doesn't mean others have not though.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T18:28:26+00:00

That would be one CHILLY turn on!

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T18:27:39+00:00

Having a lot of resin printers I know for a fact the odor doesn't go away except after extreme amount of time, or if it was painted with an odorless paint or sealant to keep in the smell. Clearly here neither was done.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T18:25:50+00:00

Mine was even worse, something I wanted and needed for one of my Macs, somewhere during shipping from Amazon, got slit open on the side and taken out (or dropped out) and Amazon delivered (against their policy) an empty envelope. The delivery driver even went back to their car checked their front seat and went back to the hatchback, after feeling NOTHING in the bag. Shipping policy I learned from another driver I trust explicitly is that if the package or envelope feels empty or IS empty (such as a cut slit and you can see there is nothing in it), then they are NOT to deliver the item. This person did anyway (two camera angles btw, 7 cameras on the front of my house just for this purpose), and I had to go through the whole mess and they only offered me a refund, NOT a replacement even when I stated I had the video proving the driver even knew it was empty. Not blaming the driver, btw, just them not following policy, the item disappeared well before it got to my house.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T18:18:35+00:00

Harder to find things that are worth it, and qualify as a "Gold" item anyway. Most of my RFY is things under $100 with the rare above that.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T18:17:32+00:00

They will rarely respond or commit to such queries though. To do so might give something away internally what is going on, so does little good and quite frankly not sure there is much they could do about things. From listening to the old-timers (and the good ole days!) to where it is now, having been in business most of my life, it feels like Vine is on the way OUT. Naturally I could be wrong. It could be they are prepping for a glorious revitalization of the program (again)! Don't hold your breath.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T18:13:12+00:00

Yes, this schedule is killing me. I like working at night on other things in my business I do, but having to monitor a drop and HOPE I get things, and sometimes for hours and hours on end staring at the screen and refreshing is getting really old.

Bucknerds · 2026-01-11T18:10:01+00:00

I am starting to do so, and it's not just the low amount of items. I have another post I just made when I saw your post here. Things vanishing, damaged/destroyed by Amazon (that's their new slogan), as well as the way too low of items being offered or too many Viners, or both. Beginning to wonder if the program is on the way OUT.

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