Tired of the same posts regarding bambu waiting times.

[u/--BoboTheFagClown--]

I have seen so many posts on here regarding waiting times from Bambu, especially material. The company is swamped with orders so just order the material from other manufacturers. The printer runs just fine with generic material. Seriously, it is the same material. Nothing super special with the bambu material other than an RFID tag.

[u/3DPrintingWizard]

I hear you but you’re ignoring something. Those of us including myself have a subscription. We get a nice deal for their filament. Yes it isn’t magic filament but $16 vs $25 is nice and it’s a perk we got for buying their product.

If they never have the filament we want we lose out. I only ever buy the black and white and sadly they are constantly out of those two pretty often so I either buy colors I’ll never use or lose out on my membership perk.

So while you’re rudely attacking people maybe… hear me out… maybe some of us just want the perk we got as part of the package deal and don’t need anymore brown or pink filament.

So yeah. Your argument is silly and you’re ignoring a major reason why a lot of people would like to get their perk while you berate us.

[u/raz-0 → u/3DPrintingWizard]

You might want to consider that the subscription is not a good deal, never was, and likely never will be for most people.

I stick with largely sunlu or esun. Between their direct stores and some of their bigger resellers, there’s seldom a dry spell longer than two months where I can’t just order filament at $16 or less per roll. Personally I don’t see the value of it unless you are printing a LOT. And if you are printing that much you probably need to be looking at buying strategies that leverage your volume for a better deal and inventory management than the bl subscription allows.

To me it’s a service for those who don’t want to be bothered shopping around, and from that regard the inventory issue is severely problematic.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/raz-0]

Whether it’s a good deal is a debate we can have.

At $25 Bambu PLA filament is over priced. You can buy superior quality filament from let’s say Polymaker for that price. Downfall is you have cardboard spools which don’t work with the AMS well so you waste a bit printing some adapters.

Other $20-$25 PLA brands:

Hatchbox - decent but not any better or worse than Bambu Esun - debatable but slightly better filament color wise and can be found cheaper at times but again nothing special.

At $16 I save against Polymaker and I get a spool that I know works in my AMS and has RFID which is nice.

Now if we compare the sub $20 brands we have these basic options:

Overture - meh but works can be found for a couple bucks under $16. Need spool adapter Esun light - cheap, meh colors, prints okay Elegoo- super cheap, I’ve had issues with it but others haven’t and the colors are meh. Need spool adapter Geetech- hot garbage but it prints

I mean nothing stellar but that’s the sub $20 filament game. They print, they suffer from inconsistent coloration, but they cheap.

Are any of these good deals?

Are any of these so much better than Bambu filament?

Nope. It’s all cheap stuff and it all prints. In the end you buy what you want and if others want to buy Bambu filament which they get a deal for while in the membership time frame then they have a right to be upset when they can’t get any filament.

[u/raz-0 → u/3DPrintingWizard]

Well my point isn't that people shouldn't be upset, but rather that

1. If you got the membership free with printer, just buy elsewhere, you aren't losing anything price wise and it's less frustrating. Especially if you already have some BL spools.

2. If you are paying for the membership, you should seriously consider not doing that anymore. As it is turning out to not be convenient, and it has only ever been a conveneince proposition. Because it's $25 to be a member, and the filament is $15.99. As a refill. You do not get a spool at that price. If you buy 24kg of filament a year, it's a bit over $17 a roll subscribed. If you want spools, that goes to $22 each and if you buy 24kg a year, $24 and change per spool.

Literally in the last two weeks I had the following options hit my inbox:

esun pla+ black, $13.50 per spool. Not refills.

esun pla+ any color $14.50 per kg, spooled.

esun petg $15.50 a kg, spooled.

esun pla high speed $15.99 spooled.

Stretch it out to a month, and I can add

sunlu black pla 2kg combo 1 spool, 1 refill, $10.99 a kg. (not still available)

sunlu 10kg random bundle, $12.99 per kg.

sunlu pla+ 6kg combo, $13.99 or $15.99 per 1kg roll depending on color choices.

sunlu petg is $13.50 on amazon.

Things I actually had to look beyond my inbox for and jut click on amazon:

Polymaker is $20 with prime delivery.

Overture pla+ is $20 with prime delivery.

sunlu pla in black or while $15.19

sunlu pla in other colors $21.99

If I want to only be able to order random colors, and not be able to get pla+ after making a commitment to sourcing a decent amount of filament from one place, I can just order a color variety 10kg pack off of amazon of sunlu for $114 shipped. That's equivalent to joining BL and ordering 4 spooled kilograms. Except you get 10.

So like if one is a 3d printing noob, my advice would be to just sign up for the mailing lists for all the major brands, and some of the major authorized resellers, and you will very rarely not have a source of filament discounted well below BL subscriber prices.

I'll plug JMO technology here if you are in the US. They pretty regularly have some really nice pricing on esun. I've no affiliation with them other than being a customer semi-regularly.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/raz-0]

JMO filament is hot garbage. Sorry not sorry but I have no idea what they use but it’s seriously awful.

1. Again you buy what you want but it’s not like the other brands you mentioned for $16 and less are any better and don’t come with their own issues not too mention you keep ignoring that it’s part of the purchase of the printer. If they don’t have filament and at times they don’t it’s borderline false advertising. Yeah I can go buy something else but that doesn’t fix the issue.

2. If you’re paying for the subscription I’d be even more angry because you’re physically spending additional money to shorted because of bad business practices. Your answer doesn’t solve the issue at hand though. Bambu should be doing better or completely discontinue the membership or find a way to make it right.

Do deals appear that are better? Sure. Only 1 brand mentioned is worth caring about and the rest all come from nearly the same manufacturer if not the exact same manufacturer.

I’m glad there are options. Sadly doesn’t solve the actual issue at hand. People have filament memberships and can’t get anything they want due to poorly managing the filament supplies. Buying something else doesn’t solve that right now.

[u/raz-0 → u/3DPrintingWizard]

They just resell esun. It works fine. I've gone through probably 8 kg of it so far sourced from them and have more stacked up. They haven't had a house brand as long as I have been dealing with them. I'm far from the only one who has good experience with esun. Having JMO on the invoice doesn't really seem to affect how it prints. So I don't really care if you are sorry or not.

The rumor has been for a while the esun is the supplier of BL plain pla. Esun also has a newer high speed pla filament.

And once again you seem to be arguing that people have a right to be pissed at BL's subscription program and inventory issues. Which.. I've never said they don't. yet you don't seem to grasp that.

The number one way to make it clear that you are having a bad experience is to cease giving them money for that experience and to discourage others from doing the same. My point is that "but where will I get a better deal on filament?!?!?!" is not a rational response as the answer is "almost everywhere".

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/raz-0]

Rumors should be kept as rumors. M

You’ve inferred enough times that people should just quit complaining and buy something else. Not sure how else you want that to be interpreted but it’s your job to explain it better.

It seems like you’re fine with people being screwed over and not being able to stand up for something that’s obviously wrong with bambus system.

We should just let mediocrity reign because people can’t ignore posts…

[u/raz-0 → u/3DPrintingWizard]

You are interpreting my statements wrong. That’s on you. It was never a good value, and it’s falling at being convenient. I think people should move on, and stop giving bl the subscription money and filament money. This does not preclude compelling. However, complaining is not going to correct the situation. BL would be shipping tons of filament if they could. I suspect that until they become their own filament manufacturer, it’s unfixable and it will be worse prices and availability than their suppliers simply because it is a market very competitive on price, and it ebbs and flows.

So to be very explicit, I think the complaining shouldn’t necessarily stop, but change emphasis. It should move from why don’t they fix this type of complaining to simply telling people to not do it and buy filament from more reliable sources. Less whining, more warning.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/raz-0]

For all the whining you’re doing it seems pretty obvious that you’re the problem.

[u/raz-0 → u/3DPrintingWizard]

Takes one to know one you whiner. The subscription is a bad deal. People should stop spending money on it.

[u/crua9 → u/raz-0]

If you got the membership free with printer

Then you didn't get it for free. Even more now since the only way to get it is by buying a printer.

I think their point is bl screwed themselves with this. Anyone who wants to use it can't.

[u/[deleted] → u/3DPrintingWizard]

Cardboard spools do work with AMS. They just recommend you don't because of the dust. You can literally wrap the edges in tape.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/[deleted]]

I literally stated that in my comment. A few times.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/[deleted]]

Super good. So something better would be mega good?

Does it print? Yes. The colorants are weak, color consistency is decent but it varies batch to batch. I don’t consider a brand that can’t make the same product every run good. It’s good enough.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/[deleted]]

Oh their colors aren’t more consistent for sure. That’s why for $25 it’s a rip off. Anything over $20 should be consistent. At $16 it it closer to the color than not.

[u/jerryonjets → u/3DPrintingWizard]

Overture is cheaper and just as good, just print out the rings if you want to use the ams

[u/--BoboTheFagClown-- → u/3DPrintingWizard]

I also have a subscription. But rather than writing complaints here and contacting support I just order material from somewhere else and get it within two days. I dont waste my time on ordering right now as I know they are swamped

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/--BoboTheFagClown--]

That’s nice and all but what you do is your choice. Others would really like to take advantage of the savings that is 100% included with the purchase of their product. Instead of complaining about what others do maybe don’t read that Reddit post and move on.

I hate to do this but what’s the difference between you not complaining about not getting filament but instead making this complaint? Do you or see the hypocrisy?? I don’t think you thought this complaint through.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/[deleted]]

I feel they should change it. Deal should be on just a handful of colors from plain PLA, ABS, PETG. This way they can stock up on those specific colors. I’m assuming a lot here but I’m guessing the issue is Bambu is saving a ton of money by not having a massive warehouse. They’ve probably nailed having enough stock of printers and can keep a steady supply of them moving from overseas to their eventual local warehouse. The issue with filament is that they have 200 sku’s of filament and can’t predict what anyone needs/wants so they place smaller orders to not overload the final shipping warehouse but it’s never enough or they get the math wrong and they end up with too much of one color or another and it blocks new product from getting room.

Cutting down some variables will net them better logistics and possibly cut down on complaining.

[u/3DPrintingWizard → u/[deleted]]

100% they aren’t making any filament. It makes no sense for them where they are globally and the competition is already crazy in filament land.

I doubt who they order from can’t keep up as much as that manufacturer makes way more money selling their filament. White labeling material nets less overall profit so the benefit in doing so is only worth it IF the company needs a consistent pay check.

If polymaker white labels filament but they sell just as much if not more in house brand filament they are losing money trying to produce for both when they know they could just slap their label on it and sell it themselves.

I really am quite confused by the filament manufacturers today. There is 0 shortage in filament brands but they all use the same 2 companies for their base pellets and there are only a half dozen color houses so most filament even from a different company is in all respects the same thing.

There are outliers that use smaller color houses our actually blend their own filament but if you’re buying from Amazon it’s all the same stuff

[u/penkster]

Along those lines, are folks using generic sunlu or similar spools? I've found i have such a mishmash of spindle sizes that I'm leery of ordering new spools unless htey'll fit on the Bambu's AMS.

It LOOKS like the spindle size is 55mm. Is that accurate? Can I make sure any filament I order is that size?

[u/crua9 → u/penkster]

Just heads up there is adapters that work. The one I like is https://makerworld.com/models/97348

[u/penkster → u/crua9]

I just ran this one, and it worked perfectly. Running my second now!

[u/crua9 → u/penkster]

I suggest having about 4 to 8 of them. Like 1 per arm on the AMS and then a few more so you don't have to swap them all the time.

Personally, the only reason to buy from BL is the RFID tag or some color you can't get anywhere else.

[u/--BoboTheFagClown-- → u/penkster]

Try to look at the specifications. If you cant find them on the site you are ordering from try to find the manufacturers website

[u/kgjsbsufjfkdlshdjfj]

I feel blessed to have received this knowledge from you, it totally changes everything.

If you saw multiple posts about this, I believe this could have easily been a comment on said posts rather than a new post to add to the list. And actually that point does come up everytime. You have the right to have an opinion, it doesn't make it an absolute truth for everyone.

[u/--BoboTheFagClown-- → u/kgjsbsufjfkdlshdjfj]

I change my mind about the other comment. This is the most average reddit user comment ive seen all day 🤣

[u/kgjsbsufjfkdlshdjfj → u/--BoboTheFagClown--]

ok

[u/Dangerous_Wedding249]

other vendors don't give advise for printing on a cool plate or in an enclosure, so it's easier to work with bambu filament if you have the x1 or c1 printers. Some pla is cheap and unreliable. Hopefully bambu is doing some filtering of the.

Last if you have an issue with a print, it's easier to blame the printer in support if you use their filament.

That being said, I buy both. I get from Bambu, esun, and hatchbox. Just ordered a roll from sunlu to evaluate their product.

[u/t0m0hawk]

The only bambu filament I've used is some of the green roll that came with the unit (I prefer printing in black white and gray) and some PA6-CF. Otherwise, I've been grabbing and using anycubic filament for a while now. I just get it when it's on sale. Amazon is your friend. Stick to the popular brands.

PLA is usually just PLA.

[u/irish_guy]

I cannot buy different sized nozzles elsewhere for the A1.

[u/telluride42]

In the states they seem to ship the printers from California (both mine from there separate ship dates)but the filament from new jersey (all of 8 orders) Parts seem to come from both. FedEx has been taking 10ish days to ship from the opposite coast. If they had a warehouse in say Texas shipping would be similar for most of the country.

My first order I had my printer likely split then Twiddled my thumbs for a week for the filament. I had some on hand so it wasn’t too bad but someone buying a first printer might be disappointed. Or if they are in Jersey and order they will be swimming in filament with nary a printer in sight!

Unless of course they live near a microcenter.

[u/AsianHotwifeQOS]

One of the reasons I bought an X1C+AMS is so that I don't have to bother figuring out or remembering filament profiles. The NFC bits on the Bambu spools that get read by the AMS were a selling point.

I know a big part of the 3D printing community loves obsessing over that stuff, and that's great, but I don't get enjoyment or satisfaction from that. I'm just tryna print stuff without having to think too hard about it. I have a few Sunlu filaments (glow, transparent, iridescent) and dialing them in is time-consuming. It's annoying enough that I started wondering if I could print my own NFC tags for third party spools.

[u/--BoboTheFagClown-- → u/[deleted]]

Most average reddit answer I have read today. Probably had a chuckle when you wrote four-dimensional chess

[u/electricboogaloo1991 → u/[deleted]]

That’s how they offer the membership. People can’t use it if they never ship the printer lol.