I recently purchased a silhouet-tone sequentium vmc from an electrologist in canada for a back up. I’ve owned a vmc for almost 12 years and love it. This machine I just purchased has presets that are much more intense than my original machine. So intense in fact that its impossible to treat fine hair without surface trauma. Does anyone kow if presets on a mahine can be changed. I never imagined that the same machine would be so different. I’m out of pocket 2270.00 already. I called silhouet-tone thinking at first that the problem was power surges. They said i would need to send it in and they may or may not be able to repair it. I’ve called since to see if presets can be changed and I’ve gotten no response.
Wow that’s alot to pay for a machine that isnt working properly? It was my impression that the VMC’s were all the same but maybe not. I havent had to deal with Silouete tone directly but I was definitely able to get a technician on the line with Apilus.Your best bet may be to send it in , or talk to the elctrologist you bought it from and see about returning it. If sending it to canada isnt an option you could also consider having the folks at Texas Electrolysis Supply have a look at it.The only reason I could see Silouette tone directly though is they could update the firmware on it which might solve your issue and I’m not sure if TES can do that.
Seana
You’re telling me its a lot to pay! The Electrologist that I purchased it from said she aquired it from the previous owner of the electrolysis business that she purchased. She said it wasn’t used much at all by the previous owner and she said she personally never used it. She told me all of this after I told her my issues with it. Prior to my purchase she told me it was like brand new snd that she purchased a Platinum and just didn’t need the VMC any more. It looks brand new. She also told me after my purchase that the previous electrologist worked on her with the machine and she couldn’t tolerate more than 2 minutes. Ugh! I called TES and the Dr. told me to call silhouet-tone. I was just wondering if anyone knew if the presets could be reset to the ones that my original machine has. That could possibly be the whole problem. If not then the machine is unusable and I just threw away all of that money!
Btw I paid $2000 for the machine. $270 is the amount i’ve paid in shipping and customs fees.
Well, Silouete Tone has a repair depot in miami address is:
Miami
1623 NW 84th Ave
Miami, FL 33126
I dont know of their competence, I did read one bad review though of their customer service.I would think though that updating the firmware should probably fix your issue. You cn contact them at : 1 800 552 0418
I am not sure on the VMC as I’m unfamiliar working on it, but if the presets are too high can you not adjust the levels manually?
I definitely can on my Aplilus but the only silouete tone I’ve worked with was analogue.
Seana
For about the same cost you can have a brand new Elite Stectrum that comes with direct support right here in the US.
Thanks SeanaTG for all of your help. I will try again tomorrow to call ST. I can manually set the machine but it would be ashame to not be able to use the presets as I am used to. If I could make adjustments manually to the presets that would be fine also, but I can’t. I have to start from scratch in manual mode. On this new machine when I use the same settings in manual mode as my original machine the UE is quite a bit higher. That doesn’t make since to me.
Laurier, I’m definitely considering the Elite spectrum if I can’t get this VMC issue worked out. I really hope it doesn’t turn out that I purchased a lemon. I’m trying to open a new office and just wanted to make the transition smooth by using the same machine that I’m used to. I had planned to purchase a new machine once i’m situated in my new office, hopefully within a year and use the 2nd VMC as a backup. I hope to find a resolution this week.
The VMC is an awesome epilator. Whatever the problem, the manufacturer should be able to get you on the right track. There is a modulation button where you can take the energy in the minus zone all the way down to -50 ( sort of like the temperature outside right now) . Can’t imagine having to do that if your epilator is functioning properly. Also, be aware that the current is modulated in the probe holder. If that is defective, then it is easily replaced.
Just get it re-calibrated if that is the problem. A Sil-Tone technician is where you should set your sights to resolve any problems. Seana was very helpful to give you the phone number.
Dfahey, thank you so much for your help! The first thing I did was test my cords and pedal. My handheld electrode cord failed. I immediately ordered a new electrode cord and to be absolutely sure I ordered a new probe cord and foot pedal. It didn’t help at all. I’m extremely relieved to hear you say that it can be recalibrated. I have hope now! I will call ST in Miami first thing tomorrow and see how I go about resolving this issue. I’ve been calling Vermont up to this point. (thanks to SeanaTG for the phone number) Thank you again!
I called ST in miami this morning and got a RA number in order to mail the machine to them. I mailed it today. I wasn’t given much hope that the machine could be repaired. Hopefully I will hear from them by next week and find out if it can be repaired.
Let me know why it can’t be repaired if that is the case? Motherboard problems? I still have my VMC. It is a treasured possession, but I am curious about their new model, the Evolution - http://www.silhouettone.com/index2.php?lang=en&page=equipment-details&id=37
Good luck to you and PLEASE come back and share your experience with getting your problem resolved. I thought the Miami office was very responsive and helpful when I talked to some people there a couple months ago.
I will keep you posted. ST told me that the VMC has been discontinued and that they may not have parts should it have defective parts. Also, they can’t retro reset it to the lower presets that my original machine has. So hopefully the problem is not that the presets are higher but something else that can be repaired. I had no idea that some VMC’s had different presets. I would never have even considered purchasing it if I had known. It appears as though its never been used much at all. It looks brand new. Its possible that the first owner was new to the VMC and had nothing to compare it to. They may have just thought it was just not a comfortable machine and moved on to a different machine. The shame is that people keep selling to unsuspecting Electrologists. I could never do that to someone.
How sad about discontinuing the VMC. I found it to be a wonderful, steady friend to my electrolysis practice for years that offered very comfortable treatments. I guess they are moving forward with the Evolution 5HD, their newer touch screen model. Progress is good and if the Evolution is better than the VMC, I’m all for it!
The Evolution is only in Canada.The frequency it uses I dont think is approved elsewhere.
Seana
That is news to me, Seana. I just talked to Rita at ST in. Miami yesterday and I think it can be purchased in the United States or she would have said something to me. She knows that I am from Ohio. Do you mean it is manufactured in Canada, which it is, but can be purchased in the United States ? I’m don’t think it is offered yet in Europe and beyond just yet, but it will get there, I’m sure.
I will email Rita now. Maybe she can contribute to Hairtell.
Ok well the last time I looked at that product a couple months ago it said it was only available in Canada. Now that reference seems to be gone. I had thought at the time that might be because of the 5 mhz frequency, but it’s possible they have eliminated that difficulty through FDA in the meantime.
Seana
I contacted Rita and she said she will respond. There can be so much confusion when new products are about to be launched. I think the Evolution’s launch date was in October. Thanks, Seana.
I’d heard a few things about this machine. ST was marketing it as their most comfortable machine. But the ability to upgrade the programming on demand via wireless seems an incredible advantage, just so long as those updates and new routines arent costing anything and are available. It’s definitely more money than I could afford but is definitely also a nice machine. That ST cant / wont necessarily be able to service their older machines though is something to think about when purchasing a newer machine from them though. I found Apilus more than adequately prepared to support my older machine when I inquired.
Seana
Some older machines can’t be serviced because the parts used are no longer made. Most equipment manufacturers buy a host of parts, and assemble their machines. When, say, vacuum tubes become a thing found only in China, one can’t service the spark-gap electrolysis machine unless one engineers a work around piece for the vacuum tube. At that point, one really just needs to get a new machine, or find another machine with a working tube, that has something else wrong with it and use two to make one. It is the same problem owners of older cars are having since the so called “Cash For Clunker’s” program dried up the supply of used parts.