PGL-III-C 473 50mW died...

[davidgdg]

Hey Aryntha, I just wanted to offer some encouragement and maybe make you feel a little better about your return...
My replacement 80mW 473 came in about 10 minutes ago.
First power test: 148mW peak.
Second power test: 150mW peak after 13 second warm up! Stable at 130-140mW over 1 minute. I haven't pushed this laser yet, but it's definitely a keeper!

CNI came through with mine, and I think it was really worth the extra 1 month wait. I hope you get the same fortune.
I asked CNI to thoroughly test it before sending it out. They took an extra couple days but I really got a good unit! I would suggest you do the same.

Good luck!

I am guessing that your unit must be the most powerful hand-held 473 ever owned by a hobbyist! My 50mw (which is now being replaced by CNI) put out 122mw peak when it worked, but 150mw is amazing, as is 130-140mw stable. How does the beam/brightness compare to the monster 445s?

 

[Razako]

I am guessing that your unit must be the most powerful hand-held 473 ever owned by a hobbyist! My 50mw (which is now being replaced by CNI) put out 122mw peak when it worked, but 150mw is amazing, as is 130-140mw stable. How does the beam/brightness compare to the monster 445s?

If I had to guess 150mw of 473nm would be about as bright as a 300mw 445 nm. The thing about 445nm lasers is that they have a bigger beam diameter which actually makes the beam more visible at night.

 

[RA_pierce]

I am guessing that your unit must be the most powerful hand-held 473 ever owned by a hobbyist! My 50mw (which is now being replaced by CNI) put out 122mw peak when it worked, but 150mw is amazing, as is 130-140mw stable. How does the beam/brightness compare to the monster 445s?

It seems to like to be very cold. It's not doing well in the 106 degree weather I'm getting here... In 80 degree room temperature it will peak around 130mW and slowly drop off to ~80mW in about 60 seconds. It does much better below 75F. It would be nice if it averaged 130mW in "normal" California summer weather...

Highest peak so far is 161mW. The brightness is comparable to a known ~130mW stable greenie at night. Compared to a 445... probably about 300mW or so would be comparable.


Anyway, aryntha, I hope you get a comparable laser. Ask that they test it to ensure it works. It did the trick in my case, and worked out well in my favor!

 

[aryntha]

Ava says it (the replacement/upgrade 80mW 473) is still in production. She says she'll "take extra test to make sure" i am "happy with it".

I'll probably ping her on Friday to see if it's done -- right now, everything seems as its going as planned.

But needless to say, I want that final step of "customs/shipping/works at my house" to be over with.

RA - I know you had to ping them a few times to keep things moving along. Glenn has given me some advice on dealing with CNI ... (essentially - be as pleasant as possible!) It's been two weeks and production should be at least near finished.

Will certainly update here next time I hear, as I do want it to kind of serve as a guide for folks who may have to send their lasers back to CNI.

 

[aryntha]

Well, Ava told me yesterday (our Sunday) that my PGL-III-C-473 80mW would ship "Monday" (today) - and that she'd send a tracking number.

She said "Do not worry, it has been tested well" -- (we'll see) -- I've yet to see a tracking number, unfortunately... Even though I've asked a few times.

I've also got an invoice that I'm trying to get them to send me for another laser, and they won't do that..

It' seems to me that CNI/Ava (and i think Ava may be more than one person) reads the first line of your email, and will disregard the rest... Odd... Just trying to get some info out of them.

Well, its progress, so we'll see.

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

Well, Ava told me yesterday (our Sunday) that my PGL-III-C-473 80mW would ship "Monday" (today) - and that she'd send a tracking number.

She said "Do not worry, it has been tested well" -- (we'll see) -- I've yet to see a tracking number, unfortunately... Even though I've asked a few times.

I've also got an invoice that I'm trying to get them to send me for another laser, and they won't do that..

It' seems to me that CNI/Ava (and i think Ava may be more than one person) reads the first line of your email, and will disregard the rest... Odd... Just trying to get some info out of them.

Well, its progress, so we'll see.

Sadly, allmost all the chinese laser companies do that Like "Frank" at dragon lasers, he is not a real worker there, but a name for all of the staff :/

 

[aryntha]

Yep. I've talked to "Frank" before too -- sometimes with him forgetting what "he" just said

Anyways, I should get tracking later today so i'll keep my fingers crossed as the final 2 steps (shipping, receiving+working) happen here

 

[RA_pierce]

Yep. I've talked to "Frank" before too -- sometimes with him forgetting what "he" just said

Anyways, I should get tracking later today so i'll keep my fingers crossed as the final 2 steps (shipping, receiving+working) happen here

Communication can be difficult at times.
I usually try to keep my emails concise. The longer they are, the less likely all your questions will be answered.

I thought it might be worth mentioning that I received an bill for a $20.13 customs charge for my laser several days after the shipment arrived.

 

[aryntha]

I can live with a $20 charge, hopefully it won't be much more than that. I'm going to try ordering something direct from them, too, shortly, so we'll see how that goes as well. Though I'm guessing the customs fee would be a lot more for a direct order than a repair..

On that note I wonder if Glenn gets build for his GBs much.

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

I also got a bill after my laser arrived, it took about 2 weeks to show up but it was for $35!

 

[aryntha]

It seems most of the courier companies will do that "because they can"; I have a hard time believing the bill actually came from customs itself.

Anyways, I got a tracking number for the 473 today --- DHL. :undecided: (sound of breaking glass and screeching tires...)

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

It seems most of the courier companies will do that "because they can"; I have a hard time believing the bill actually came from customs itself.

Anyways, I got a tracking number for the 473 today --- DHL. :undecided: (sound of breaking glass and screeching tires...)

My 532nm PGL-400 was due to arrive to me today, but the post man just came and nothing

 

[RA_pierce]

It seems most of the courier companies will do that "because they can"; I have a hard time believing the bill actually came from customs itself.

Anyways, I got a tracking number for the 473 today --- DHL. :undecided: (sound of breaking glass and screeching tires...)

That's what I was thinking. As if they don't charge an arm and a leg for the shipping service already... Oh well.

I think your laser will be ok. CNI packed my laser pretty well, even though I think they used the same bubble wrap I sent it to them in. Which is ok, because I packed it very well.
Let us know how it is when it arrives.

 

[aryntha]

Great. DHL called me saying they need a "Federal Tax ID" number, "Description of Use" and a "2877" form to deliver the laser.

I have no idea what any of this is for, or why. This is probably going to be a problem.

EDIT: Basically, it got caught in customs. The "2877 form" is a "Declaration for Imported Electronic Products Subject to Radiation Control Standards." I could very well be screwed here.

They say they need a copy of my 1040 tax form, and this "2877 form" with accession number to be filled out...

CNI claims on their site:

“We have obtained FDA accession numbers for all of our products to be shipped into the United States.”

So this.. should be able to work out, right? ... (Unless they're lying about the accession #...)

 

[Don't Laze Me Bro]

Great. DHL called me saying they need a "Federal Tax ID" number, "Description of Use" and a "2877" form to deliver the laser.

I have no idea what any of this is for, or why. This is probably going to be a problem.

EDIT: Basically, it got caught in customs. The "2877 form" is a "Declaration for Imported Electronic Products Subject to Radiation Control Standards." I could very well be screwed here.

They say they need a copy of my 1040 tax form, and this "2877 form" with accession number to be filled out...

CNI claims on their site:

“We have obtained FDA accession numbers for all of our products to be shipped into the United States.”

So this.. should be able to work out, right? ... (Unless they're lying about the accession #...)

I don't think CNI would lie about that, but you never know. Have you contacted CNI yet?

 

[aryntha]

I have, but no response yet...

I haven't heard of anyone else having to do this with a CNI purchase...

So far I'm around $1050 all in for this laser.. If I lose it.... .... that's going to be a big deal.

It seems to me that this is something that CNI should have taken care of; the issue to me now is how difficult it is to communicate with CNI. (They will probably email me saying 'Wait a few days and see what happens'. I really hope not.)

I have a real sinking feeling that this is a sudden change, thanks to Wicked Lasers' antics, ruining this for all of us. Let's just say I'm not holding my breath that I'll be getting my PGL-III-C-473.

Has -anyone- dealt with this? RA - was yours delivered via DHL?