CNI PGL-III 400mW is now 200mW...

That actually happened to me by going "over the duty cycle" of ~45-60 seconds. My 480mW dropped to 200mW after doing that. It was a Rayfoss though and Faona fixed it for me!

I'm seriously impressed by how good Rayfoss has been both to customers and builds and everything over the years. I've never had a single problem or bad thought towards them! (just had to throw that out there).

Ever since I've been careful that even if the duty cycle is advertised as like 90 seconds I keep it under 45-60 no matter what.

If the Nd:YVO4* had cracked it wouldn't be lasing at all, just so you know.


*In a portable like this, they're going to use an Nd:YVO4 + KTP crystal set.

aryntha said:

EDIT: Hmm, USPS says $35. Any reason to not go with USPS vs UPS for international?

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What on earth? UPS seems ridiculously expensive.. I bet even DHL would be cheaper than UPS.. (though I only have experience with DHL -> me (~3 days)
USPS Express (EMS) takes about a week. USPS priority takes from 1 week to 4. I haven't shipped many packages to China, though.

Check out this tracking for an express shipment. USPS - Track & Confirm

PGL you say? I've shipped Jetlaser PL-Cs back to china in the flat rate express mail envelope. They cost roughly 28$...

Craig

Edit; here's another tracking I just got restored: http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInternetWeb/InterLabelInquiry.do?origTrackNum=ec 965 364 741 us

Did you warm up the laser? If you bring it outside on a cold day the crystals will be cold and the output will be lower.

See, CNI tells me I should send FedEx, which is $147. USPS is $35. With CNI recommending FedEx, is there any reason I shouldn't go USPS ? More risk they won't get it? We're talking $300 total in shipping vs $70 total... on a possible $200 repair it'd be a total of $270 vs $500... Both FedEx and UPS (not usps) want 145-147.

Just not sure if I'm taking a chance with USPS at $35 when CNI tells me FedEx .

Anyone shipped back to CNI successfully ?

Also, yes, I have warmed it up.

I shipped back to Viasho once with UPS and once with USPS. They got there at the same speed, except Frank had to pick up the one I shipped via USPS at the post office. That might be why they want you to ship it via express courier.

Your call, I guess.

-Trevor

csshih's tracking is pretty convincing... FedEx was a lot more painful....

Just wondering if anyone has any horrible experiences or big warnings with usps to CNI...

aryntha said:

csshih's tracking is pretty convincing... FedEx was a lot more painful....

Just wondering if anyone has any horrible experiences or big warnings with usps to CNI...

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I go with USPS whenever I ship things out of the country. The only problem I've ever had is a snatched batch of lasers I sent to Australia.

aryntha said:

csshih's tracking is pretty convincing... FedEx was a lot more painful....

Just wondering if anyone has any horrible experiences or big warnings with usps to CNI...

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CNI is in china. There aren't any differences within countries

Ask CNI what they think about EMS. (which is usps express)

Craig

Just my opinion, but CNI likes FedEx, but has no right to dictate what shipper others use. I believe UPS is just as reliable but always label lasers FRAGILE so it can be less kicked about. BTW I think USPS does the best job of not shaking units violently. & I always use FedEx to send back units to CNI when they pay the shipping. -Glenn

Yeah; every time I ask them if another method is OK, they simply say "Please use the method we told you." (I remember this from when I sent my 473 back.)

FedEx was expensive, and a real bear to get all the customs things right.

Does anyone know if USPS Express (International) / EMS has tracking, and if it goes air vs ground ? I presume it does.

aryntha said:

Yeah; every time I ask them if another method is OK, they simply say "Please use the method we told you." (I remember this from when I sent my 473 back.)

FedEx was expensive, and a real bear to get all the customs things right.

Does anyone know if USPS Express (International) / EMS has tracking, and if it goes air vs ground ? I presume it does.

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I remember having to ship my Viasho system via UPS the first time. Customs was a bear.

And yup, it's air.

-Trevor

Yes; I had to ship some stuff to Sweden recently via USPS/Postal, and it took maybe five minutes and was $40. My FedEx international experiences to China and even Canada really make me wonder what I was paying for at 3x the price in those cases.

I did UPS to China once and it was just as bad. You'd think for what they'd charge, they'd take care of all the paperwork for you, and get it there much faster.

No such luck. I'm guessing CNI wants it sent FedEx for some reason that greatly benefits them -- a customs or pickup workaround, or something. I don't want to endanger my laser, or rile them up, but I just can't justify paying 1/2 the value of a laser in shipping - before repair charges - to get it fixed.

They keep telling me, "Please use the method we told you." whenever I ask about another method... I wonder if they'd take issue if I do send them a USPS/EMS tracking number instead of a FedEx one. DJNY/Phi has said he's sent two lasers back to CNI via USPS, no problem.

Glenn, you -have- sent them back USPS/EMS when they didn't pay for shipping? And that went smoothly?

aryntha said:

They keep telling me, "Please use the method we told you." whenever I ask about another method... I wonder if they'd take issue if I do send them a USPS/EMS tracking number instead of a FedEx one.

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Well... maybe since they're a big company they probably have some sort of dropoff deal with FedEx?

I'll ask Frank on MSN tonight why Viasho prefers the express shippers. I know for a fact it costs Frank much less to ship DHL to me than it costs me to ship DHL to him. Higher by a factor of three or four if I remember right.

Dunno. Just speculating. :tinfoil:

-Trevor

Its nuts. They pretty much told me that if I use EMS/Postal svc., that it "Will be detained by China custom and will not be repaired for months!"

$300 for both ways in shipping though is just absolutely re-f*cking-diculous though for a 1lb 14x4x4 inch box.

Yeah I have sent by EMS quite a while ago, and Yes, I can't believe the delay is so long w/ EMS... I believe they get a kickback from FedEx -GH