- Joined
- Jul 27, 2011
- Messages
- 114
- Points
- 0
RESOLVED BY THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE!
NOT RESOLVED BY BWHOLLEN.
From the start it seemed like my purchase would be a great one from the user bhwollen. I paid for a 1.8W 445nm laser from him on 07-28-2011. He said he would ship the next day, but there was a delay (of course I was not notified). Anyway I received the laser on 08-22-2011 in Canada. I know shipping can take a bit longer to Canada, but it doesn't usually take that long.
SO me, being a noob, I put my goggles on and press the button to turn it on after charging the battery and putting it in. Nothing happened. I shook the laser a slight bit and turned the focus knob (which was loose and almost hanging out, I assumed that was the way it was). The laser then worked for a second and then stopped. I screwed in the focusing part and the lens a bit better. I then turned it on again and it worked for about 30 seconds and then I turned it off, so as to not burn anything as I didn't get any really specific instructions on how long to run it (even after asking for them).
After this I could no longer turn it on, so I assumed that maybe this had worn down the batteries somehow so I put them back in the charger. I then contacted bwhollen, and he suggested shaking the device more.
After a few days of this back and forth I finally opened the laser up to see if I could see what was wrong as I assumed it had something to do with contacts.
I found this
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Notice that the black wire is not contacting. Now I took this to my fathers office to solder it back into place. It was then that I noticed (you can't quite see it in the photo) that the solder points of both wires are touching and even if the wire was soldered into place the circuit would be shorted.
I had no idea what to do, so I told bwhollen this. He told me that I could pay for shipping there and back and for materials he could fix this.
I felt that this is clearly not my fault and I told him that he should pay the cost of repairing it as he was the seller.
He declined this, he said if I send it to him and paid for parts he can quote "see what he can do".
So my counter that still stands un-replied is that he could send me a new diode or whatever and guide me through fixing this myself. Since he has been unreasonable about paying any money towards this up to this point I think I can assume he won't do this.
Now I do understand there is no real warranty when buying like this, but I think a reasonable person or a good businessperson will stand behind their product.
I will wait until tomorrow, and if I still get nothing, I will file a claim with paypal since I do feel I have been wronged here. If he will pay for shipping I will send him back his piece laser I guess, but if not I will wait until I am more experienced with this stuff and I will then try to buy the parts and repair this item myself.
Over all, bad communication (i had to wait long between replies, and he only replied if I put a message on his public board asking him to), bad at keeping promises (didnt send when he said he would), and bad product (worked a total of less than a minute and now is essentially worthless).
I have taken this as a lesson and I most likely will no longer do any business with people on this forum unless they are proven to be VERY reputable and will stand behind their products.
My likely next purchase will be through Lazerer which so far has a good rep and they have been very cordial in communication so far.
Sorry this went so long. I'm just very chapped and disappointed. Especially when he said in his last reply "not a chance" to my request that he fix things.
Not sure what to do now other than try to get my money back through paypal, suggestions?
EDIT: he declined to send any replacement parts to fix it as he says there is no warranty and he says that I broke it.
Also, I wish that I had seen and read the other negative transaction with bwhollen before purchasing from him. That thread was not a one-off, this is a mediocre seller.
NOT RESOLVED BY BWHOLLEN.
From the start it seemed like my purchase would be a great one from the user bhwollen. I paid for a 1.8W 445nm laser from him on 07-28-2011. He said he would ship the next day, but there was a delay (of course I was not notified). Anyway I received the laser on 08-22-2011 in Canada. I know shipping can take a bit longer to Canada, but it doesn't usually take that long.
SO me, being a noob, I put my goggles on and press the button to turn it on after charging the battery and putting it in. Nothing happened. I shook the laser a slight bit and turned the focus knob (which was loose and almost hanging out, I assumed that was the way it was). The laser then worked for a second and then stopped. I screwed in the focusing part and the lens a bit better. I then turned it on again and it worked for about 30 seconds and then I turned it off, so as to not burn anything as I didn't get any really specific instructions on how long to run it (even after asking for them).
After this I could no longer turn it on, so I assumed that maybe this had worn down the batteries somehow so I put them back in the charger. I then contacted bwhollen, and he suggested shaking the device more.
After a few days of this back and forth I finally opened the laser up to see if I could see what was wrong as I assumed it had something to do with contacts.
I found this
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Notice that the black wire is not contacting. Now I took this to my fathers office to solder it back into place. It was then that I noticed (you can't quite see it in the photo) that the solder points of both wires are touching and even if the wire was soldered into place the circuit would be shorted.
I had no idea what to do, so I told bwhollen this. He told me that I could pay for shipping there and back and for materials he could fix this.
I felt that this is clearly not my fault and I told him that he should pay the cost of repairing it as he was the seller.
He declined this, he said if I send it to him and paid for parts he can quote "see what he can do".
So my counter that still stands un-replied is that he could send me a new diode or whatever and guide me through fixing this myself. Since he has been unreasonable about paying any money towards this up to this point I think I can assume he won't do this.
Now I do understand there is no real warranty when buying like this, but I think a reasonable person or a good businessperson will stand behind their product.
I will wait until tomorrow, and if I still get nothing, I will file a claim with paypal since I do feel I have been wronged here. If he will pay for shipping I will send him back his piece laser I guess, but if not I will wait until I am more experienced with this stuff and I will then try to buy the parts and repair this item myself.
Over all, bad communication (i had to wait long between replies, and he only replied if I put a message on his public board asking him to), bad at keeping promises (didnt send when he said he would), and bad product (worked a total of less than a minute and now is essentially worthless).
I have taken this as a lesson and I most likely will no longer do any business with people on this forum unless they are proven to be VERY reputable and will stand behind their products.
My likely next purchase will be through Lazerer which so far has a good rep and they have been very cordial in communication so far.
Sorry this went so long. I'm just very chapped and disappointed. Especially when he said in his last reply "not a chance" to my request that he fix things.
Not sure what to do now other than try to get my money back through paypal, suggestions?
EDIT: he declined to send any replacement parts to fix it as he says there is no warranty and he says that I broke it.
Also, I wish that I had seen and read the other negative transaction with bwhollen before purchasing from him. That thread was not a one-off, this is a mediocre seller.
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