Official Thread for COMETA Refunding - Problem solving

Here are measurements by member unkown01, confirming the Cometa is very different from what it should be and perform.

Reserved

Reserved

Ciao Sembra una buona idea.

La luce originale sembra buono.

A few people here in Australia had bad lights just the shipping alone to send back would be half of what the light cost!

I wrote two reviews, submitted at the web page for buying the Cometa

Those reviews never appeared.

I found BG has a forum for product discussions (stumbled over it while ’oogling the Cometa stuff)

(NOTE: as of today, that page is archived at: https://archive.is/2pi1C in case it disappears)

RickBobby there had created a thread reporting BG censors negative reviews.
His post there pointed people to the various sources of information on the problems (threads at BLF), same ones I had pointed to in my reviews that never appeared.

I added a comment to that thread, which you can see there.

They refunded my money — I had not requested a refund, they just said they’d give me a refund.
I said ok. They refunded the purchase price to PayPal.

Now, I no longer show up as a purchaser of a Cometa.
Their sales page no longer allows me to post reviews.

I bought a host directly from Jaxman — sent a PM here to Jaxman (before the current group buy started), directly asking them to sell me one, which they did last week.

Stop posting off topic.

OK, good idea.

I bought two lights, one for me and one for a friend. One of them had a slightly broken lens, but by carefully putting it back it doesn’t affect usage. For both lights the O-ring around the lens was damaged, but again it’s not really a big deal for regular usage.

Both lights are OK and were used quite a bit outdoor. In the end my main gripe is that we received something else than promised and the light is held back regarding output.

I agree that sending a DYI kit is not really the most ideal solution… In another thread I read that The Miller got a new pill, I guess this with the right board, wires and (fixed?) washers could solve most of the problems in a relative easy way.

I purchased and still own a COMETA.

Mine showed up after the first dozen or so that were delivered either melted down and/or had obvious issues reported to the membership, so I used electrical tape over the solder and fashioned a milk jug washer for around the spring. It works fine… for now…but I don’t trust it enough to leave a cell in it, so in reality and practice it doesn’t work at all. I mean, what good is a flashlight that you can’t leave a cell in?

Anyway, given my personal past experience dealing with Neal and Banggood, I didn’t bother with filing a PP claim. Technically, my light does work, so I wouldn’t have a strong case in the eyes of PP. This decision was reinforced by the number of reported claims that PP has found in favor of Banggood and/or would have forced the buyer to send back the light at the buyer’s expense. To do that securely, it costs as much or more than the light is worth. Factor in my time and it really becomes not worth it.

Now, would I want a refund if one was easily available? Sure. Do I think I deserve one? Yes I do. Would I send the light back at no cost to me? Happily. Would I accept a new pill without the shorting issues and be satisfied? Yes.

While I applaud your efforts, Budda, I think it is highly unlikely that Banggood will, in mass, make good on this - no pun intended.

I have the same position as Cone. My light works but I don’t feel it’s safe. I did not file a PayPal claim either. I am an owner, but an unhappy owner and one who was duped (deceived). Appreciate all efforts to rectify this. Thanks.

I have finally received my Cometa and have been preparing a review of it. I still have to check amperage draw and get it all written up.

Mine came fitted with an insulating washer and I added a butterfly spacer at the emitter. I feel mine is safe and have no unusual qualms about keeping a battery in mine (no more than any other light). To hopefully put some people at ease I will be dropping mine to show that this light is safe to use.

I received a Cometa. The edge of the lens is broken, but unless I white wall hunt I can’t see it in the beam. I got mine a few days after the uproar began, so I made a milk jug washer and have had no problems with it. I find that it is not as bright as I expected. I did not pay with PayPal, but paid BangGood directly with a credit card. Having heard all the hassle people are having to go through to get a refund I have not complained to BangGood about it. I would be happy with a new lens, but unless there is a fairly hassle free way of getting one I am not going to bother.

I received a Cometa and it’s stuck on only one mode, but not all the time, and I do not feel safe with the light, so have used Protected 26650 while testing.
Now the light is back in it’s box, and I don’t think I ever will take it out again. Mostly because of safety issue.
Filed Paypal claim today because, I can’t solder and do fixes that is not just putting a piece a place without moving anything or screw up something.

I recieved the Cometa after some of the problems were highlighted in the forum by members here.
Mine is the early batch without the insulating washer installed.
I opened up the Cometa to inspect for any defect and found that my lens has some scratches/chipped at the edges but it doesn’t affect the beam.
The head on mine as reported by many is wobbly due to the gap between the body and the zoomhead.
I tested the light using the 18650 tube and all working fine.

After that I PM’ed Neil with my order number requesting for the insulating washer.
I made and installed my own DIY washer while waiting for the insulating washer from Banggood.
The washers (2 of them) arrived roughly 2 weeks after I PM’ed Neil.
I submitted 2 reviews (average 2 stars) on my Cometa, highlighting the flaws but also the solutions, but Banggood never published it as of now.
Their CS keep asking for videos even though the photos that I submitted are clear cut in showing the issues.

Am I’m happy?
No, I’m not.
Banggood deceived all of us (here and at CPFitalia) and I applaud @Budda for his efforts, even with some noises by some members here.

i’m happy that i skipped out on buying this dud light.

I'm an owner, but I too feel deceived. Of course it's all patched up and electrically safe, but the lens edge is cracked and I ordered a supposed Z1 lens from BangGood already. Mine had disappointing output, so I swapped the LED for a better XPL HI I had. It's better, but not as good as my Z1. I'm not happy bout the deception and quality compared to the real Z1.

I haven't attempted to contact BangGood or PayPal about it - for me it's kind of borderline. If something simple was done for compensation, I'd be interested.

Also an owner… Honestly, I’m mostly happy about the Cometa I have.

However, it is quite a bit different from the stock Cometa. I spent several hours tweaking and making minor modifications to get it to where it is now, and it still doesn’t meet the advertised performance. The only things I could improve from here would be a higher bin LED, and perhaps an improved FET driver.

I wouldn’t say no to a partial refund considering everything that had to be done to it and it still underperforms.

I purchased in good faith. Felt deceived and taken advantage of, with light not being to spec. Made a milk jug washer, emailed BG about the loose focus head that rattles like a maraca, and Sent videos and pictures. Got back nonsensical emails from Professional Guy. Filed PP dispute, they wanted more videos and pictures. Told them I already sent videos and pictures and wasn’t going to play that game anymore, and all I wanted was a flashlight that wasn’t an under performing rattle. Three days later they issued a refund and dispute auto-closed. They are more than welcome to have this light back. Waiting to see what the guys come up with using the Jaxman host.

Hi mate,

I am from Sydney as well, after a bit of back and forth they asked me to return the 2 Cometas I purchased. I said I would be happy to but only if they paid the shipping costs. Came to $53.80AUD for shipping alone.

So I mailed it back to them. When I gave them the tracking number 2 days later they refunded the shipping costs, then a day later they refunded the $110AUD for the 2 torches.

It’s a real shame, if these were built to spec it would have been one of my favorite lights and easily my best zoomie. I’d love Jaxman to be paying attention here, maybe do a run of these properly.

Pictures resized & link fixed. Thank you Budda for the efforts of you & Won. :+1:
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edit: Deleted, OP now fixed… both pics & link. :+1:

received the one i ordered.
shorted out with 26650
filed paypal claim
received refund.
light is a shelf queen now