I’m not ‘sticking up for Neal’ but, this all seems a bit odd to me.
I don’t know about Germany, but almost all (if not all) parcel services in the UK require a phone number for both sender and receiver, so your explanation is incorrect since the UK is in Europe, I can’t imagine DHL/TNT/FEDEX/DPD etc operate differently in Europe to the UK, it wouldn’t make sense?
The ones I’ve used to send/receive items won’t even allow you to progress without giving a number (sender and receiver)
I wonder why wouldn’t you give him your phone number? it makes total sense, and seems to me like he’s trying to help, and you (inadvertently) are causing the problem.
Those phone numbers enable updates for both parties, I usually get a text or call to tell me,
When roughly it will be here (maybe a day or so before)
When exactly it will be here (1 - 5 hour slot) depending on the quality of the service.
I never had any problems with Neal. In my perception, he’s communicative and reliable. Now don’t switch me on on DHL! I could write a 10 pages post just summing up their fuck-ups.
FW3A from Nealsgadgets just received. Three weeks exactly to US. At no point in the process was the tracking info correct in either 17track or DHL. It just showed up out of the blue. Tracking status has still not changed since day 0. This more or less met my expectations of a Chinese reseller.
I’m not sure at this point. My FW1A was DOA. He answered the first couple emails. I asked about a replacement. Nothing since. So a $35 paperweight. If something comes along i’ll post it here but for now I wont order from there again if nothing is resolved.
i have also mixed experiences….i was waiting MONTHS for whatsapp answer to my order question…but iam afraid,there are internet china government prohibitions or how to call it…and then he is helpless….he should explain it here,cos there are many people with the same problem…no iam a bit afraid to order from him….BG no problem…but i wanted to support him…but its in fact christmas time,so now its almost doesnt make a sense to order…
I’m not sure China filters/prohibits emails/pm’s from here complaining about missing/faulty flashlights etc, hardly at the top of their list, but what do I know lol maybe they do!
I wonder what happen to Neal …………………………Anybody know perhaps ?
Hope not he went fetch some wood and not planning to return ?
It seems there are definitely two scenarios with different experiences with Neals gadgets stores and with his communication via his emails. Maybe use “ messenger “ as first priority above email communication and/or using some sifting methods .
I for one have both in favour and disfavour experiences which are quite opposite.
My take on it , he is definitely sometimes a busy man, he is probably a nice guy as all prescribed, he probably don’t have time to answer all emails, probably prioritize emails or whatever reason we not sure of …………………………….But any business succeed or failed with good communication and service or lack with it .
So far over the years I didn’t have any negative experience with Banggood , Aliexpress, FastTech and if there was any hiccups it was sorted with immediate response, no hiding techniques……………
Lately Banggood uses Buffalo as a intermediater for customs to SA , arrival is very fast (two to three weeks), painless with reasonable cheap fees with the same products .
eg: I have a order with Neals stores, order placed 31 October, from his web logging in today still show unfulfilled meaning order not sending out yet. Try to contact him numerous times as I want to add some items on same order, no reply yet …………silence as before , should have ordered from Banggood ………………will give him a another generous week or so before open a dispute through PayPal.
On the other hand I have Emisar products ordered from Hank from Intl Outdoor which been placed on 6 November , I received my order today (two weeks ) …….Very happy
Having some enquiries to him, he always answer promptly, straight and honest ………………kudos to Hank
This may be continued depending on if I get my light w/ the same issues others are having. That light is the NI40 SBT90.2 Group buy.There are a lot of the same issues[driver?switch?] along with just not responding to many people.To me that is inexcusable.
I emailed him on 10.23.2019 and another on 10.29.2019. Never responded.Many people have had the same problem. Some have had success on FB others not. Needless to say the guy is inconsistent and lacks efficiency, reliability, consideration and basic communication with his customers.
I am blessed with the dealers in USA. There are a half dozen or so who have superior customer service.
I am not alone, and mine is not an isolated issue. Just read the thread I posted along with other threads.
I am One and done with this Neal guy. I have no patience for irresponsibility
I ordered a light from him a week ago and the order is still unfulfilled. I’ve emailed without any response. First time I’ve ordered from him so I’m not super impressed but I’ll just be patient and see what happens.
Ordered several times from Neal. Super fast shipping and he took care of issues I had with previous orders at the same time.
Yes, he becomes insanely busy sometimes and/or your order may wait a few days to a week to be shipped with others. Also, don’t forget to check for Chinese holidays.
With that being said, I have always received orders within 2 weeks.
I will always check Neal’s before back-order Banggood.
I have been waiting on my last order about 2 month.
I emailed Neal about 5 weeks ago and have not heard back , communication is poor this time (as hes replied to other emails on previous orders)
Thats a shame, as I expect good customer service, here in the US or abroad, especially if your orders are $50-100.
But it sounds like hes a good guy, so I’ll give him another chance.
Disappointed this time.
Must be coincidental, I received email notification this morning my, order is possibly dispatch with a tracking nr, would be interesting what the dispatch date is.
This is ± 3weeks after order date, I have no problem with the delay if products is out of stock, chinese holidays, personal reasons etc but I still have a huge problem with lack of communication from him or his store . Not the first time. He could have have more items ordered from me if there was some reply or communication from his side.
If products are out of stock, Neil should just updated his web store immediately with possible expected arrival dates. If he(Neil) can not manage orders because of personal reasons, he or someone on his behalf must just post a notification on his web store, nothing strange or offensive to have a sign “back in two weeks on xx date ” or if needed get more personnel what ever the reason would be.
If he (Neil) experience problems receiving emails from customers which maybe are blocked somewhere, or having some other difficulties responding to email, would someone with personal contact with him please refer him to this link please.
I don’t want to believe he(Neil) categorized/discriminate customers in preference. I doubt if location of customers in this instance have any influence.
Customers mostly have empathy when there is some honest sharing and explaining, but it have it’s boundaries.
Please Neil, it is your chance to make it right ……………………
I recently ordered the NS53A from Neal. I started to panick when I saw other people saying theirs had arrived even though I had ordered mine before them. I started to panic. i would say shipping in total took about 6 weeks. For 5 of those weeks it just said in transit from china. Finally the status changed and said it arrived in Los Angeles and from there it took another few days. I’m in Southern California. Also keep in mind we are approaching the holidays and shipping is slowest this time of year as they are busiest.
Though I’m affraid the floodgates are already open, I would like to make a small comment.
Neal is just a one-man-shop. Working his a$$ off trying to keep the customer happy and his family alive. Of course it is heartwarming to see you guys give pointers how to reach Neal, but that makes things worse. Do you realise how much time it costs, besides fulfilling his daily tasks in his job, to read: Fakebook, regular email, his PM, and several threads in this forum that are used to vent some frustration. Just reading those wil cost him his day.
It’s true as buyer you have a contract with him as seller, and he is the first to address. But that includes also things he did not cause, like mechanical faillure or slow shipping. As for myself, Neal always came through. In the end.
hm…i try to think of his business…is it good? or not? hes got enough orders?is it parttime job or full? if is it profitable for him?if so,maybe o should working with someone…i dont know his kind of work,but if hes doing everything alone,then its not easy…emails,refunding,pm here on forum,post….cos hes known here as a trustfully person.but his non answering and extremly slow shipping is not good…maybe he need someone for partnership in crime:) i would like to order now from him one torch,but hes not responding…so,i cant…
Neal is by all accounts a great guy. I have bought a few items and they came and worked fine. I never once bothered him with any emails other than the one for his paypal address. After that I tried to forget I ordered it and it always showed up, sometimes quicker than was expected.
That being said,Well, here is the deal;
I have heard that same defense of everyone who decided to call themselves a “Business” and then not have the time resources to fulfill their obligations to their customers and ultimately fail because of it.
No one cares what your personal schedule, dead pets, sick kids, etc. when you call yourself a professional company. You and your company will be judged by how you deliver and perform, period. No excuses. This is the stone cold reality of doing something as a professional venture.
Too hot? Get out of the kitchen!
Something that may help would be simply raise prices $2 (or more as needed) on every item and use that increased profit to hire someone to field and sort the insane amount of messages that always come through from people who just want to talk, ask for something unobtainable, etc.
We always hear how cheap labor is in China, so charge more and get help.
