Official Thread for COMETA Refunding - Problem solving

Dear BLF members, I’m Budda and I’m member of the CPFItalia’s staff.

This is the OFFICIAL thread for helping members dealing with their refund from BangGood for the Cometa they bought.
We red that members had trouble getting their money back from paypal: they have been asked to make countless pics, videos, they have received “funny” solutions that don’t work at all from “professional staff” by Banggood, and to return the light in order to get the refund.

This thread is born with the purpose of letting paypal know how things are, and to keep track of each one of your refund requests.

Here is the situation summarized:
Some members came up with an idea for our forum’s flashlight for 2016, named COMETA (comet, in english).

The first prototype made had these specs:
“Jax Z1
XP-L HIGH INTENSITY
Copper MCPCB
Turbo @3,5A with 3’ step-down
Engraving “CPFItalia“”

Neal, BangGood flashlight manager was interested in making the light for us and and this is the sample received


Note the JAX logo on the light.

Then, BangGood sent new driver and bigger cables, so the light could be upgraded with the final driver and cables.

They told us that the light, with these changes, would be the one produced and sold. Our Beautiful Cometa…

Here’s the problem: the light that was sent as a sample is different from the one produced and sold. The Cometa sold are cheaper, dangerous and underperforming.

This is a list of the differences:

- Different sized pill

- Smaller cables

- Wobbly threads

- Cheaper lens

  • No JAX logo on the light, ad different construction: the Cometa pieces can’t be mounted on original Jaxman Z1 (and Jaxman wrote this very CLEAR thread saying that they never made a special edition with XP-L Hi)
    [/quote]

This are NOT minor differences.
For example, the Cometa lights bought from the members did short the battery, at the pill (due to changed pill size compared to the Sample) and at the led (due to bad soldering and poorly anodized discs).
This constitutes a very serious danger to the users: reported damaged springs, burnt fingers and broken drivers/emitters when the lights were simply turned on. This problem affects all the cometa lights.
And the members had to sort out these problem by themselves, with no statement from BangGood.
Only after many members complained about their broken cometa and burned springs caused by the batteries shorting, BangGood offered to send insulating discs to the one who required them.

However, many user got the light with other problems:
light that don’t work at all (some DOA, other dead after few minutes of work), have defects in the UI (doesn’t change modes), damaged o-ring (due to incorrect installation), chipped lens and not working switches.
These problem will not be solved by adding insulating disks.

+Also, replacing these light with new ones, won’t fix the BIGGER PROBLEM: members bought lights that are VERY different from the advertising and the original specifications.
+

After many mails from WonWurster, administrator of CPFItalia, BangGood offered to send to members who are interested, a kit with washers and bigger cables:
1 washer battery tube
1 washer for around the led under the poorly anodized disk
1 small roll of heat resisting electical tape
2 wires 20AWG with a lenght of a coupl of centimeters.

However, this solution requires that the members to their own soldering work.
This is not acceptable because members paid for a working light, not a light that has to be built, and not all members are able to do the soldering.

Now, we asked BangGood flashlight manager Neal, responsible for the Cometa, to:

- Refund ALL the money for member that are not happy about their Cometa light. If BangGood requires the user to send the Cometa back, they have to refund the shipping fees.

- If someone is somehow satisfied of the light, and would like to receive the kit that BangGood offered before, the kit will be sent to the user for free. If the members accept the kit “solution”, there will not be any further refunds.

  • To remove that light from the store and to remove the CPFITALIA engraving, since this is not the light we came up with.

This is all the update we have for now.
As stated before, we want that each member who bought the cometa and wants to be refund / to have their problem solved.
So, post here (ONLY IF YOU BOUGHT A COMETA), and state:

- What’s the problem with the light (for example: mine works fine but it’s not the one I paid for, or: mine was DOA, or: mine was shorted and now doesn’t work, mine have broken lens…)

- what did you ask to BG or Paypal

  • what’s the situation about your claim (got money back, been asked to to this and that but still no money back, been asked to return the light…).

So, post here ONLY if you have bought a Cometa.
We’ll be happy to see that all the members who bought a cometa have a solution for their problems.

If you want you can insert the link to this thread in the paypal claim, to help them now how things are.
We believe this thread can help paypal making the right decision for all the members - customers.

UPDATE 10 June 2016:
Many users contacted me and asked if, where and when the Cometa lights with 100% specs will be available for sale.

The answer are all negative: NO, NOWHERE, NEVER.
The project of the Cometa required to start from a Jaxman Z1 modifyied light with an XP-L hi emitter and other things.
Jaxman has said that they are not interested in producing a XP-L Hi customized version of the Z1.
Also, we had to do a lot of work to get out of BangGood the simple “repair kit”, and at this point we don’t even think they will start making “the right” Cometa now.
Remember: we choosed the Jaxman Z1 for its great construction and great lens.

So, we consider the CPFItalia Light forum 2016, the Cometa, a light that was never produced and will never be produced.

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: