Ok, lets assume there is no parasitic drain of the type this thread was originally about… related to lockout
but for whatever reason, d_t_a needs to replace a defective TIP, due to it not holding a charge…
they request a video as part of the return authorization script that they follow
it does not have to be a scientifically verified test, you can just show a video of the unit with dead batteries, and how it won’t turn on. You can speak during the video and tell them that you charged it however many days prior, and that now the light is prematurely drained. Post it on Youtube and send them the link.
it does not matter how good the video is, customer service just has to go through a checklist before giving you a refund or replacement.
I suggest you get a refund… After that buy another one as a separate transaction… this will work faster than asking them to send you a replacement…
sorry you got a defective unit, let us know that it was an isolated incident, that you got a refund, and that your new one works fine
Yep… you can do this OR… just do what I have done three times.
Take a couple of pictures, nicely tell them you have no way to take a video, tell them briefly & concisely what is wrong. Tell them your proposed solution to the problem…(make it fair… but easy on you) For instance a replacement in this case.
Be calm, clear, concise, & short in what you write. Stick to you ‘guns’ & accept nothing less.
Has worked like a charm for me…… all three times.
Thanks for the suggestions. Will follow through them.
Have been a bit busy lately so haven’t contacted Gearbest yet. I’ll test it one more time just to triple-check. Just fully charged it again awhile ago, will see if by tomorrow morning (24 hours), it gets fully discharged again without any usage.
Clicking both switches does change from “Daily” mode to “Constant on” mode and vice versa (1 flash or 2 flash mode change indicator), that confirms I have the 2017 version.
I seem to be getting poor quality-control items the past days (defective UTorch UT01, now faulty NiteCore TIP CRI 2017, both from Gearbest). Also just received a Convoy BD04 (not from Gearbest but from Convoy official store) that product description says has ‘new’ firmware (I assume that implies Biscotti, the main reason I bought that flashlight), but in actual just has the old firmware Low-Med-High-Strobe-SoS, which I don’t like…
Dammit… I did not know about this lockout problem.
My TIP CRI was bought in December 2018 from Andrew & Amanda. Color is black, and no other color options were available (only the standard TIP was offered in colors). It did not come with a clip and did not say 2017 on the package. So it must be OLD STOCK.
1st TIP CRI - It would charge, but no light. I sent it back for a replacement.
2nd TIP CRI - Worked fine.
Mine does not behave according to the manual on the Nitecore site. I do not have a “Daily” mode. If I lock it out, it’s off. No single button presses do anything. But if I press and hold both buttons again for 1 full second, the light turns on. This is actually how I prefer it. I don’t like this “Daily” concept they documented.
Anyway, after a couple weeks, I noticed a peculiar behavior happen. After coming out of lockout, light would be on brightest setting. I’d turn it off, and then… nothing. Would not turn back on. Mind you, I had checked the battery level and got 3 red flashes (means above 50%) just prior to this happening. So battery was NOT dead… unless, the indicator was giving me a false reading. I had NOT been using the light extensively, just a few moments here and there for a few tasks. Anyway, I plugged it into the USB port and within a few moments, the light was working again. Somehow the plug-in reset it. Power level? 3 red flashes.
So… this happened once again about a week later. Same procedure. Worked again.
TODAY… different story. Took it out of lockout, was on bright, pressed mode to step down and OFF. DEAD. Would not come back on, even after plugging it in. Let it charge for 30 mins, then unplugged. Still NOTHING.
It seems that I got an old stock version. I went to Nitecore’s site and sure enough… I see they’ve expanded it and even included a clip. Mine did not come with a clip. So, mine must be from an earlier, problematic release. I created a video to demonstrate the issue and forwarded to Nitecore. I’m hoping that if they have any semblance of good customer service, they will send me a Nitecore 2017 replacement. I will not accept another V1… this is my 2nd one in a row with problems.
I bought it from Andrew & Amanda. First one was DOA… charge indication lights worked, but it would not turn on or show battery charge level. I had to send it back at my own cost to get a replacement. And that worked for a few weeks until now. I double-checked their site and they’ve got plenty of Nitecore stuff there, but it seems all the TIP lights are pre-2017. I’ve notified them and asked for a refund. I do not want to get a 3rd light and go through this crap again. I’ve also contacted Nitecore. Now, if they’ll authorize a 2017 replacement, I’d be OK with that, except I do not want to be obligated to pay shipping — that’s just not right. I’ve already wasted too much time on this situation…
Have you tried removing battery from light? Carry alone and put battery back in when needed. That would help drain. I remove batteries and only put them in when ready for use.
It can be taken apart mmalive. 4 screws does it. It would just not be practical to take it apart & remove the battery daily, as you suggested somewhere above.
Cool, thanks teacher. I do not own light. I am giving background from engineering stand point for OP. True NOT practical and you wear out screws attaching/removing on constant basis.
To follow-up, Nitecore “piddled” with me… sent me a photo of their “samples” and really didn’t say much of anything.
Their samples actually look better. They didn’t say if they felt a sharp edge or not… fail. But this all pales in comparison with the complete and utter functional failure of my light. A&A is taking my light back, but they claimed the behavior is because of the documented parasitic drain. But that’s just flat out wrong. I took a video showing the light fully charged, I take it off the charger, and the light will not come on. No way, no how. Tried all the documented button press commands.
So I’m mailing it back… AGAIN. And again, out of my own pocket. So now, I’m $8 in the hole from this and no flashlight. $8 “rent” for 3 weeks of use, I guess. That’s expensive.
While the TIP is a budget light, it’s still not their cheapest model. Should receive adequate customer support. Maybe it varies depending upon the person. I just received another email and they’re saying “well see what we can do—send your proof of purchase.” So I did… hopefully I’ll get some satisfaction.
