[MemphisPapa]

Alrighty! I have bought and paid for BestGo prismatic cells back in mid March. I was sold on cost and manufacturing methods as well as better than average specs. After a series of unfortunate events, I still have not received my February battery order. Now, the story is that none of the major shipping/freight companies are shipping class2/3 hazmat labeled packages from Hong Kong. I was told there was a fire in a warehouse and all batteries are returned to sender. My Google searches show a fire in March. So I'm curious if anyone is having the same issue from another supplier. Has anyone received batteries from China in the last Month or am I just the latest scam victim?

I paid with the wife's credit card, so I'm not completely screwed. It just seems like I have been deceived and this has drug on way longer than normal time line. Misery loves company, but I'm really after trying to figure out if my expectation is off dealing with a company in China.

Thanks for the replies.

[Ziggythewiz]

Not direct from China for me, but several of us have received cells from calibpower in CA that were manufactured in China in April. There were supply delays with our orders but this is the first I've heard of a fire.

I know others have received through other routes.

[MemphisPapa]

I should also mention that I ordered 160Ah cells. It appears that there is some additional regulation proposed on large format lithium cells. I read a DOT document on DHL's website about the US requiring additional labeling and special handling. The document was from November of last year.

[mizlplix]

If you have any recoarse thru the card company, use it. Get it started, it has gone on long enough.

My cells took a month longer than expected because some unexpected problems at the China-end customs warehouse. My supplier was not very communicative. They would only answer emails if I was asking for a refund.

I eventually got my shipment, but there are no reliable Chinese sources for anything (that I personally know of). The one deal that went through took 2 weeks longer than it would have even if done in Europe.

Their business ethics are much different than ours. Here, We expect communication. We expect to be notified if things do not go to plan. We expect to be "in the loop".

They seem to be very helpful and friendly when promoting their product, but after the funds change hands, the attitude is "Our priority is, We got paid, "
Unless you find them and place your foot on their neck, they will forget you.

I have dealt with 4 different companies and 3 different items from China.
That is my experience. They have a LOT of respect to earn back.

Miz

[DavidDymaxion]

FWIW my experience with Kelly Controllers was good. I was nervous about buying cells direct so I went through Manzanita Micro and was happy.

Originally Posted by mizlplix

If you have any recoarse thru the card company, use it. Get it started, it has gone on long enough.

My cells took a month longer than expected because some unexpected problems at the China-end customs warehouse. My supplier was not very communicative. They would only answer emails if I was asking for a refund.

I eventually got my shipment, but there are no reliable Chinese sources for anything (that I personally know of). The one deal that went through took 2 weeks longer than it would have even if done in Europe.

Their business ethics are much different than ours. Here, We expect communication. We expect to be notified if things do not go to plan. We expect to be "in the loop".

They seem to be very helpful and friendly when promoting their product, but after the funds change hands, the attitude is "Our priority is, We got paid, "
Unless you find them and place your foot on their neck, they will forget you.

I have dealt with 4 different companies and 3 different items from China.
That is my experience. They have a LOT of respect to earn back.

Miz

[DIYguy]

I've bought lithium cells from China on multiple occasions. . . both large and small format. I have never had a problem. I did a lot of research before the first time buying and all the bad stories I could find were from domestic companies screwing people, not Chinese. Just my 2 cents.....

[MemphisPapa]

I really didn't buy them direct from China. I paid a domestic company that drop ships from China. They passed the buck through transparency, but truly it appears they have no skin in the game. I think they work a little like a coop in that they leverage volume prices with very little profit. I'm sure they get something and I did buy other stuff. It is clear though that the contacts in China have been deceitful at best.
It truly helps to get additional perspective. I was being lead to believe that my experience was a first and very unique. It appears my motor will go out of warranty before I get my batteries connected. The HPEV guys ship very fast.
Thanks all.

[onegreenev]

I would do a chargeback on that credit card if the company will not refund your money as they should or deliver your cells. Your not the first by any means to get screwed by an AMERICAN company. Delay too long and you will screw yourself. Did you buy directly from Bestgo Power or another company? Gotta be real careful when dealing with middle man companies. The snag your money and run. Then do it all over again and by the time you tell your self I got screwed it is way too late. Don't accept excuses. They are only detractors. Get your money back and shop somewhere else. Like CALB in LA. They are reliable and honest.

Pete

[ricklearned]

Originally Posted by DIYguy

I've bought lithium cells from China on multiple occasions. . . both large and small format. I have never had a problem. I did a lot of research before the first time buying and all the bad stories I could find were from domestic companies screwing people, not Chinese. Just my 2 cents.....

I also bought some Headways direct from China and they arrived very quickly via DHL. Interestingly, they were marked "wheelchair parts".

[dragonsgate]

Start the card cancelation immediately. My wife and I have a small cottage industry and we have ordered supplies that we can’t get anywhere else directly from China. The orders ranged from $50 to $200. Out of about 20 orders to Chinese companies we have had trouble with four. I guess that is not bad but enough to make me leery of sending 5 to $10 K directly to a place I can’t drive too in order to kick some ass and get my money back. I am hoping to up grade my car starting next year and lithium batteries are on the want list. As much as I loath the idea of buying Chinese I will do it through a proven company in the US even if it costs more. There should be some kind of escrow that holds the money until the batteries are delivered and approved. We have to be careful even with US companies. For example I was in an auto parts store and saw a two ton floor jack on sale. I had been wanting another jack and this one had a big oval sticker about four inches high and five inches long with big red letters of U.S.A. I like to buy American when I can so I bought it. A few days later I needed to use it and after ward was wiping it down when I noticed the one eighth high lettering above the three inch high red U.S.A. In my exuberance to buy American I assumed the words were “made in” when in actuality it said “inspected in”. At the bottom below the big U.S.A. in even smaller letters it said “made in China”. China is always ripping us off with patten infringements and knock offs so why can’t we knock off some good lithium batteries here in the states? Any way I hope you get out of this ok. The HPEV guys seem willing to work with us DIY’ers maybe you could call them and explain the situation in hopes of getting a warranty extension. THIS JUST IN! I was just now reading some of the replies on this thread to my wife and she said that one of the companies we had trouble with was a Chinese company working through an address here in the States. She ordered through the company and they sent the order to China where it was immediately used as wiping paper and forgotten.