tweaking a 400mW green laser

Well, I hope you guys aren't right, but you're making me nervous. DHL told me that my package wasn't on the mannefest that was forwarded to customs, that's why there was a delay. They are saying that it could be one to three business days, but they expect it to be delivered tomorrow. Of course, that's barring any further unforseen delays. Hopefully the company wrote it up in a way that it is most likely to get through customs without too many problems. We'll see...

As long as you bought it with Paypal using a credit card to fund the transaction, you will be protected for non delivery. If it does not show up (after a reasonable amount of time), call the credit card company and tell them that you need to dispute the charge. Your credit card company will put a merchant hold on the amount of the transaction and make you fill out a statement, after which they will return the credit to your card (and take it from the greedy hands of Paypal, who will be left to deal with Boblaser for payment). Obviously, this also works when you pay directly with a credit card. Customs might eventually return the laser to BobLaser (or not). Either way, you get your cash back as Mr Robert Laser wont be able to to provide proof of delivery when Paypal and your credit card company ask for it. Unfortunately, if you used your bank account to fund the Paypal transaction you will have to fight with Paypal to get your cash. It can takes upwards of 6 months after they sort out why the delivery went wrong with a Paypal dispute. ALWAYS fund your Paypal transaction with a credit card. I hope that this helps. Bill

I do use my bank account, not a credit card for PayPal. Hopefully they will deliver it, and I won't even have to consider all the drama you described. When I talked to DHL today, they said there wasn't any notes in the system describing a problem, and that it was just generic customs red tape that they were dealing with. It didn't seem there was a specific problem with my package. Of course, they simply might not have had any further information available at the time.

I would hope that if there were a customs issue that prevented delivery, that they would simply return it to sender. Right? I mean, we're not talking about cocaine and AK-47s here. What I fear most is a long drawn out problem. Either deliver it, or send it back, and give my thousand dollars back. At this point, I don't care which. I can always buy more lasers. However, this did sound like a hell of a deal. Wouldn't it be a shame if this really was a bitchen 700mW laser, for $1100, but I just never got it because of customs bullshit.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of "The Lasers of Our Lives"

A close friend (not me...I would never do this) ;D purchased 20 cell phone jammers from China, delivered by DHL and customs never looked at the box. It went right through without problems. DHL is the clearing agent for their own deliveries and they make everything that's not radioactive or smell like explosives go right through. The Chinese have this thing where they wrap the entire box in yellow tape, possibly to make it water resistant. I think that this is a customs curiosity deterrent. I'm curious to know if your box is completely wrapped in tape. Incidentally, to say that the cell phone jammers are cool is a gross understatement. I hope that you get your delivery without issue. My guess is that you will. I can't wait to see the review.

Ok, a reason to feel optimistic. A big laser pointer can't look that much more menacing than a bunch of cell phone jammers. Since the customs person at DHL saw no indication of a specific problem, I think it's going to be fine. I'm trying to talk myself into believing this.....

Yeehah! I got a call from DHL this morning, customs clearing is COMPLETE! The part that sucks, is since it took them till Friday to do it, they won't deliver it till Monday now. Even though it's sitting less than an hour and a half drive away from me.

However, I did get my Laserbee. It's a little more "basic" than I expected, but as long as it works. Hopefully it will be giving out 700mW readings soon!
Below is a copy of my DHL tracking drama...

Date and time Status Location Service Area
2/27/2009 9:17 am Clearance processing complete Los Angeles Gateway, CA
12:17 am Clearance Delay Los Angeles Gateway, CA
2/26/2009 12:38 am Clearance Delay Los Angeles Gateway, CA
12:07 am Processing for clearance Los Angeles Gateway, CA
2/25/2009 10:49 pm Processing for clearance Los Angeles Gateway, CA
10:49 pm Clearance Delay Los Angeles Gateway, CA
10:48 pm Transit through DHL facility Los Angeles Gateway, CA
12:15 am Departing origin. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2/24/2009 10:13 pm Shipment picked up Hong Kong, Hong Kong

congrats!!

Now you just have one more hurdle... will the laser actually be in the box?

A lot of times they confiscate the item in question and leave everything else, such as the case, batteries, etc etc

I got my fingers crossed for you man! I really want to see how this laser turns out.

It sounds like it cleared customs without any major issues. I can't wait to see it Monday. I am having my wisdom teeth out Tuesday, and will have two days off work, so I will get to lay around and play with my new laser for two days! Now I actually have something to look forward to, not just extreme pain and talking funny.

Use eye protection with that laser or at least make certain not to take a reflection in the eye...........

Hey lowell....
  did you receive your LaserBee I yet.... :-? :-? :-?

I'm asking because you left us feedback on eBay yesterday... :-? :-?

Jerry

If you scroll up, Laserbee, you'll see I mentioned receiving it there other day. It's the first post where I also put the DHL tracking info for the laser. I can't wait to try it out. Anyway, yes I did leave feedback, positive of course.

lowell said:

If you scroll up, Laserbee, you'll see I mentioned receiving it there other day. It's the first post where I also put the DHL tracking info for the laser. I can't wait to try it out.  Anyway, yes I did leave feedback, positive of course.

Click to expand...

Sorry... I missed that.... :-[  

What did you mean by "It's a little more "basic" than I expected"... :-?
Hadn't you seen the photos on the eBay Listing or on our Website... :-?

http://www.bauer-electron.com/eby/eby1wlpm.htm

I hope you weren't expecting Big Flashing Lights and a Siren.... ;D ;D ;D ;D

Jerry

Don't worry, I'm not trying to say it wasn't represented accurately. I'm happy as long as it works. However, it looks like you have a new model, in a nice plastic casing. I probably would have gotten that had I seen that it was available. Oh well, I'm happy. As happy as I can be with DHL holding my laser for four days, with it sitting less than two hours away! :-/

I have a battery question. I have a bunch of the 3.6v 18650 batteries. Some of them are 2200mah, some are 2600, one is 2800. What does that number mean, and if I put the 2800 in a laser that came with a 2200 or 2600 is that ok? Any help would be appreciated... [smiley=dankk2.gif]

The mAh is the capacity of the battery...

for example your 2200mAh battery when fully charged will last
for 1 hour if your load is drawing 2200mA....
Or it will last 220 hours if yout load is drawing 10mA...

As long as the voltage is the same it will be OK... The laser will
just run longer before you need to recharge the battery...


Jerry

Thanks for the clarification on the battery. Now if I just had my laser to put one in... :-/