Imalent not Trustworthy

klrman · 2018-03-17T06:24:16.000Z

RobertB:

Shoot a youtube video of why you shouldn't buy an Imalent. Title it Imalent flashlight EXPLODES so you get a lot of clickbait hits. Explain the whole situation, what it cost you, and what they put you through. Then take it out on the concrete driveway and smash the hell out of it with a sledge hammer.

You'll get satisfaction as you watch the view counter rise

take the battery out first

haha. I'll bypass the video part but may bring out the ol sledgehammer if more leds start failing. Nothing more satisfying than bringing and early end to failing electronics. The head would make a nice paperweight though and a good conversation piece.

klrman · 2018-03-17T06:27:06.000Z

moderator007, you bring up some really valid points, thanks. I'm at the point where it's not worth my time. I have better more fun things to do everyday and will focus on those instead that make me happy. If I could do it all over again, I would have done things a little differently, but what's done is done.

Winston_Wulf · 2018-03-17T08:18:55.000Z

I do not know if you have official sales points for IMALENT in your country - we have a couple of them here in Germany. Because at the end the problem stated her is just based on one single point:

You get what you pay for. Period.

- Possibility number one: you buy the flashlight for the full price in your country - here in Germany it’s around 400,- US$. In this case you get the a receipt, the full service and everything is fine.

- Possibility number two: you buy it in China - and you just pay about 220,- US$. In this case you know in the beginnnig that there might be trouble - but you saved a whole lot of money

So, based on this, it always places a smile on my face when somebody expects the lowest price with the biggest service…

And if somebody asks: yes, I have a lot of IMALENT - and we really use them, means they not stay on the shelf but they have to work for the energy they consume. Based on this we just had one minor fail with a DN70 (sometimes she gets off when you directly go into Turbo) and one contact with Shellen (wtb a new tube for a DT70, the one with springs, worked flawless).

Based on the discussion here I even tested all three DX80 we actually use, none of them with the described error - my burning eyes can testify…

klrman · 2018-03-20T04:10:03.000Z

I did expect them to be smart and honest enough to test the new head that I willingly paid for like we agreed. Obviously they didn't even do that.

Winston_Wulf · 2018-03-17T11:17:23.000Z

@ klrman:

Sorry, you got me wrong - you obviously know what you are dealing with. And the fact that the second one is also not 100% perfect is not ok. While nobody can judge if the errors occures during the shipment or was already there before and they just did not see it, it’s just sad.

The “smile” was attached to a post on side one stating that there has to be a service point in every country or so…

klrman · 2018-03-17T11:27:36.000Z

Don't worry WInston Wulf, I wrote that in a joking way, no offence taken

hIKARInoob · 2018-03-17T11:40:38.000Z

Just wow… I’d say make a video, show it to Imalent and ask for another head. Let them pay everything.

klrman · 2018-03-17T16:56:09.000Z

hIKARInoob:

Just wow… I’d say make a video, show it to Imalent and ask for another head. Let them pay everything.

You're tempting me, I may just do it for kicks and see what they say!

Winston_Wulf · 2018-03-17T17:06:35.000Z

I would give it a try…

pinkpanda3310 · 2018-03-17T17:23:53.000Z

I had a dn70 that would strobe when in turbo. I made a video and contacted the vendor (can’t remember if it was gearbest or banggood…??) They only gave me a small in-store credit. I wasn’t entirely happy with that so emailed imalent with the video. I they said they had been made aware of the issue by the vendor then sent me a new light minus the battery. I was pretty happy with their service but I understand there are a number of faulty lights from imalent. The faulty one I gave away and have retained the replacement and a dn35.

hIKARInoob · 2018-03-17T18:51:33.000Z

klrman:

hIKARInoob:

Just wow… I’d say make a video, show it to Imalent and ask for another head. Let them pay everything.

You’re tempting me, I may just do it for kicks and see what they say!

Seriously, I’d contact Shellen and make a video of both your DX80 with a defected led. Just ask what next? Eventually the most logical thing is to have a fully functioning head without spending a cent. Of course stay polite and professional.

klrman · 2018-03-17T19:15:36.000Z

hIKARInoob:

klrman:

hIKARInoob:

Just wow… I’d say make a video, show it to Imalent and ask for another head. Let them pay everything.

You're tempting me, I may just do it for kicks and see what they say!

Seriously, I’d contact Shellen and make a video of both your DX80 with a defected led. Just ask what next? Eventually the most logical thing is to have a fully functioning head without spending a cent. Of course stay polite and professional.

First time around I sent Shellen a pic of the defective LED, this time around I could make a video and just give it a try to see what she says, thanks. I did send her a message about the second head so I'm expecting a reply by Monday hopefully. My guess is she's going to ask me to pay to ship it back to them and they will replace it again, but you never know.

Flying_Luminosity · 2018-03-18T01:59:58.000Z

I must admit that - despite its flaws - I have felt quite attached to my DT70 since I bought it last year. Yes, the display is disappointing and pretty much useless, and the premature charge termination makes internal charging more of a gimmick than anything else. But I just can’t help feeling impressed by its output every time I use it, and it’s even one of the few lights where I don’t mind the cool white.

On the other hand, I need to sell a few lights, and it seems that I should be able to get nearly as much for it on ebay as I paid myself. I was a bit undecided at first whether I really want to let go of it, but knowing that Imalent engages in some of the immoral practices that I’ve read about on here, has made that decision easier. It’s actually my most powerful light at the moment (even if they overstate the output - something else that makes them less sympathetic than some of their competitors), but it’s easy to figure out that there will be something twice as powerful for less money soon.

klrman · 2018-03-18T02:18:35.000Z

@flying Luminosity. I know how you feel. I'm still very attached to my DX80 as, even with the defective led, it puts out an overwhelming amount of light. It's pure fun every time I turn it on, but quite a bummer getting two defective heads in a row.

Phlogiston · 2018-03-18T06:04:35.000Z

@moderator007

Point taken - thanks for setting me straight.

When I thought about it again, after reading your post, I realised that I only ever buy things from AliExpress, EBay or sites that let me use PayPal. The one thing they all have in common is access to a reasonable dispute resolution system with real teeth.

I’m fine with contacting a seller once to ask for a problem to be solved, and then starting a formal dispute if they get awkward about it. It only takes a few moments, and if the dispute doesn’t go completely my way (I have to pay return postage, for example), well, I tried and I leave it at that.

I wouldn’t buy from those sellers if I didn’t have those safeguards, because there’s no way I’d let myself in for twelve rounds with a seller who knew that they could just stall until I got fed up. As you say, that’s just not worth it.

BanglaBob · 2018-03-18T06:11:58.000Z

RobertB:

Shoot a youtube video of why you shouldn’t buy an Imalent. Title it Imalent flashlight EXPLODES so you get a lot of clickbait hits. Explain the whole situation, what it cost you, and what they put you through. Then take it out on the concrete driveway and smash the hell out of it with a sledge hammer.

My sentiments, exactly

hIKARInoob · 2018-04-06T21:57:45.000Z

Any update?

klrman · 2018-04-07T05:43:37.000Z

They never replied back when I emailed them that the second head was faulty. I kind of figured they would not reply and can confirm Imalents 5 year warranty is just writing on paper with nothing backing it. There is good news though as I finally got the second head working. I kept it on 13,000 lumens a couple of times and let it step down and the faulty led finally came back to life and stayed there and is still working as of today. No matter what I try with the first head, the one led remains only half lit.

Winston_Wulf · 2018-04-07T07:37:53.000Z

Let’s generate a positive side:

- you paid around 220,- US§ for the first DX80

- you paid around 120,- US$ for the second head

you got 23% back from Gearbest

So we are at a tot of less then 300,- US$ for one DX80 and an additional head.

After doing the burn in, you have:

- one DX80 completely working fine

one DX80 head working at 94%

From my point of view you made a perfect deal…

klrman · 2018-04-07T17:01:12.000Z

Depends how you look at it. I wouldn't buy from them again.