Unfortunately my patience with trying to get some help from Jack’s ran out today. It looks pretty impressive on their website that they claim you can speak to their employees and get all the information you need, but I’ve been trying to get through to ask some questions for 3 straight weeks now. When you press “1” to speak to the Jack’s technical support, you just get a message that says the support team is traveling this week.
I was really looking forward to trying it, so I figured I’d wait a week, no problem. Then I got the same exact message the following week. I wanted to start my next run already, but I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and wait another week. I tried Monday and still didn’t give up on them, but after giving it another shot today, I’m done. I think it’s pretty unprofessional to make claims on your website that you can’t back up.
Maybe I’ve been overpaying for Advanced Nutrients over the years, but when I’ve reached out for them they’ve had my back every time.
Yeah, I hear you guys. I’ve seen the praise here for it the last several years, and I was definitely ready to give it a shot. The Advanced Nutrients I use works great, but it’s really expensive. I don’t feel I have unreasonable expectations. When I heard their voicemail that they were unavailable for the week I didn’t mind at all. But when 3 plus weeks have gone by and they’re still claiming that the support team is traveling “this week”, I feel like they’re not interested in my business. I already set my schedule back over 2 weeks now for my next run, but I’m starting it tonight and I’ll just stick with my AN.
Thank you to everyone who offered info and advice, I appreciate it. The post was more of an opportunity for me to vent than anything else. It’s not that I wouldn’t want your help, but I had my mind set on a live conversation with one of their reps like their website clearly claims they provide.
I wonder if they do a lot of 420 events and are actually still on the road. If I sold cannabis nutes my entire staff would be working shows getting contact info and following up for weeks. Plus its spring and they provide huge farms product and may be troubleshooting issues. I worked in a shop that got so busy in spring we disconnected the phones and only helped those in the shop. The phone would literally not stop ringing. If you took a call and answered, as soon as the handset hit the base it was ringing. We had to disconnect it in spring. People griped when they came in but the had to stand in line for the privilege. The line started in the parking lot btw and was that way from 8am to 4 or 5 when it was only a constant 3 people. We ate lunch while waiting on customers. There were no breaks in spring. My point is spring is huge for farm, garden, landscaping and the better you are the busier you will be. Understandable to not be happy about being unable to contact them. But I will posit that they have nothing against you personally. They no doubt wish they could help everyone all day long.
I suffer from pretty severe OCD @Myfriendis410, among other things as well, lol. I have to be incredibly thorough if I make a move as big as switching nutrients. I know my Advanced Nutrients routine like the back of my hand. Stepping away from something like that is definitely possible for me, but in order to feel comfortable I would have needed to ask them all my questions, and then also whatever new questions were generated by the first set of answers, lol.
Aside from all the raving reviews here within the forum, I really liked the way they boasted on their website about their stellar customer support and availability to speak with us about their products. I gave them almost a month, I think that was reasonable enough.
I know it’s my loss, I was really looking forward to trying it, but we are who we are, and as stated, I’m a hard headed SOB once something frustrates me beyond a certain point.
Thanks for your thoughts though, I appreciate everyone’s input and offers for help.
I hear you with all that @Spiney_norman, and it sounds pretty logical. Again, I’m an odd duck. If only they changed that recording so I didn’t feel like I wasted a few weeks because I was clearly lied to, I’d get past it. Why not say the support team was traveling “this month” instead of this week? Then I would have known I just picked an unlucky time and planned it for after this next grow instead of before. But now I’m soured, and there’s usually no turning that around in this pig head of mine!
Thank you for your thoughts and tips, I appreciate it!
I agree, I wonder if its just the default message when there are too many calls. Instead of the standard “All our lines are busy” you get that because someone hasn’t changed it yet.
Anyway, I just have weed brain right now and I get a bit yakkety.
I’m not defending them either, because i don’t particularly care for their new business model and marketing. Im also of the position businesses should do as they say.
However, hydroponic blend, calcium nitrate and epsom still check all 3 boxes. Cheap, easy, and effective.
Thank you @dbrn32, I agree the busy schedule is most likely the issue. Too bad it didn’t go differently. I would have been perfectly satisfied if they told me things were too hectic and I’d have to wait a while for help. I’m pretty understanding, until my switch gets flipped, lol.
I’ll come from the other angle here. 5-6 years ago if you called them they would hang up on you if you mentioned cannabis. Now they’ve had a change of heart, and at least claim to support our industry. This change of heart also brought a bunch of new and unnecessary products, recipes, and a huge hike in pricing. The last 25# bag of 5-12-26 i purchased was like $30 and calcium nitrate $20. I went to my local Sam’s club and purchased 14# of epsom and was all in for under $100 including shipping on the two 25# bags. I have absolutely no brand loyalty, but this is still a really good product.
Check out ebay for a 6 pound kit. This is just someone buying in bulk and breaking bags down for a little profit. Should find for less than $40 shipped. Give it a shot using standard 321 recipe and then tweak recipe as you see or feel fit. There are plenty of other things to try, but this is the recipe that put them on map. Based on their new company model I would say an old school grower with 2 or more years use of this stuff will be more help than the company. They’ll just try to sell you shit you don’t need.
I also felt a lil unnerved with jacks when reading which ones to try. And seen you send in a water sample to know etc … just seemed idk. Hard to me. I also been using an. And have just trues the master recipe. … just hit 21 days since flip ( 2 weeks or 3 depending who you ask lol ) and have just bought some goldleaf to try on new grow to see how it compares to an line.
My question is is gold leaf as good as jacks ? Seen a lot of good plants grown with it on sites etc. And i was inorwsses it says it phs the water. Removes chlroine from tap water and it a tyally phed my gallon with just 2 ml … says to use only 8 ml every third watering. Seema cheap and easier than jacks. Is it comparable ? To the OP. Maybe goldleaf would work for you also ?
I had never heard of Gold Leaf nutrients @Jestertz, I’ll check it out, thanks. I think for now though I’m just going to stick with the AN. It works great for me, and I’m ready to get my next run going! Let us know how the Gold Leaf works out. Maybe someone else here has used it and can give you a comparison to Jacks.
Hey @Cap_Ron sorry about the cs issues, that would tick me off as well. Bad cs is a deal breaker for me as well even if it’s a great product.
I’ve been running jacks for a while now based on the opinions here and having decent results. I’d say stick with the am for now and give jacks 1 more chance after the run. As mentioned the group here can probably answer any questions you might have
and have just bought some goldleaf to try on new grow to see how it compares to an line.
