Wrong batteries

Well, the same thing happened to me with another vendor. Not going to call their name. I ordered two Trustfire 26650 batteries. I paid the price, and waited patiently for 3 weeks. Finally a package came, I knew they were my TFs.

I opened the package, and sure enough they were trustfires, but they were 18650s. I quickly sent and email and filled out a ticket to the vendor. About 11 days later, after jumping up and down, and opening a paypal dispute, they finally at least, talked to me.

They so sorry for mistake, and asked me did I want the 18650s and they would refund me the difference in price. I said NO!! I want my TF 26650. They replied back, the TF 26650 out of stock, do I want refund? I said okay. But, I want a full refund. I was waiting for them to ask me to ship the 18650s back, I had a ready reply.

However, they never asked me that. BTW, I had opened a paypal dispute too. About 5 days in the wait for my refund, the 2 TF 26650 arrived. I think they knew better than to ask me to ship that wrong batteries back. If they did, they would have to sent me a mailer.

Tmart agreed to make a full refund on a single mode $9 SK68 that was advertised as 3 mode when I bought it, and let me keep the light. Shipping cost to China played a part in the negotiations. It took a while to negotiate. My last offer was to settle for a $5 coupon, but they countered with a full refund.

I wouldn't say that buyer paying for the seller's mistake is actually a standard policy. It sounds horribly wrong to me.

OP, did you try to contact IOS official representative here on BLF? It might be a good idea, he can probably help.

Viktor

I wouldn't bother returning them... it doesn't sound like they have very good control over inventory, or really know what stock they have on hand anyways.

I'd stick with the magnets and use a little JB weld on their sides to secure them to the +B. That way theres good electrical contact between the cell and magnet and magnet to light.

I got another reply back from them, they are now going to ship me out the correct product and asked me not to use them, but rather to hold them to re-ship to a USA customer that they will deteremine at a later date.

Thats funny..... You are the drop shipper. Solder blobs work too. I did the ones I got of benkie.

Thats the first ive heard of such an arrangement...kinda cool. But they should still refund you for the cost of reshipping them.

Not everywhere it seems. I know at least one vendor who will even let you keep the item after refunding or compensating you for the trouble.

What you did not even use the magnets i sent ya

I certainly hope they do pay for me drop shipping for them, I shouldn't get stuck with that cost, this isn't China, shipping does cost here.

I guess those batteries are very precious to them, because I had a similar situation with DX a long time ago; they asked for a picture of them, and then a couple of days later told me to just keep them as a gift for my troubles and they have re-shipped the correct product to me.

I'm happy though I'm going to get (hopefully this time) the correct chemistry & button tops I wanted to use with the J12, as that is why I re-spent the money on the batteries in the first place. I thought it was a weird way to handle it, never seen that done before.....but as long as it doesn't cost me any additional $$ and I get the correct product, at the end of the day that is what really matters.

On a side note: maybe they want to send me their whole product line & I can then drop ship to everyone in the USA for them..........wow wouldn't that be a hoot!

Yikes... thats not very responsible on their part. As the retailer, importer/exporter Intl-IO should be the ones controlling their inventory consolidation. not their customers. What if a less responsible / less attentive customer looses track of them, or maybe uses them for a while before shipping.

I'm keeping a note of this info... it may some day come in handy.

I was contacted again and asked to drop ship these out to a customer in the USA for them at their expense, I plan to do that tommorow.

Ha, first I heard of the kind resolution. They did right by shipping you out the CORRECT cells. But, that hold on to them and at a later day they will tell you who to ship them to?? That sounds like some big time BS. First of all, to ship them out to anybody will consist of postal fees, packing, transportation to the shipping place.. Come on.. Yeah, hold on to the mistaken batteries in a light that can use them.

This is what I would do, when I get the correct cells safely in hand, I would email them and tell them that acting as a third party shipper is not in your resume. However, if the vendor would send somebody to pick them up, that would be feasible. All other options are DOA, after all it was their fault, not yours.

Let us know when you get your correct cells...

Edit, just saw your latest post. If they want you to drop ship to somebody else, they should pay for packing, transportation to shipping place, and all postage fees.

That is just odd all around.

You should also keep in mind the liability (personal injury, property damage that can happen from a fire/flame/vent incident). We all know how shipping companies man-handle and damage goods in transit... What if the parcel gets damaged, cells vent and cause a fire or personal injury and the senders packaging job/materials are found to be at fault?

Good Luck though in whatever you chose!!! its great you are stepping up an being a good samaritan... but there are risks in this case, because you are shipping hazardous materials.

Very strange arrangement. I didn't expect this from IOS.

Also its not fair, i know you will not use the cells but some one could end up with used cells if IOS has used this method before.

Yes it is an odd thing to do for sure.....I just wanted what I originally ordered and this "deal" allows that to happen w/o spending anymore cash that I shouldn't have to. As for shipping dangerous goods, while I agree with you in principal, let me point out if I sent them back to IOS @ their exspense I'd still be the shipper, plus the new exports rules would come into play. So while this might not be the ideal way of getting it done, it should work out in the end.

They send the wrong item, IMO, it is THEIR fault. They should send correct item, and customer keeps mistaken item. Why? Because customer didn't do anything wrong, and it would be too much trouble to put the customer in another situation. Unless they arrange for pickup, customer should keep the mistaken item.