Matteeboy

Recently bought an RC car - got it from Oz because it's a great spec. £40 for delivery which was fine but got hit for £45 for tax and VAT too!

Anyway, got it home, charged up the battery (11.1v lipo, brushless motor) and it was UTTERLY brilliant - super fast, brilliant handling and looks great:



It worked really well - for about ten minutes. Then reverse went.Then forward went - not the battery, didn't crash it or get it wet. Looked like a faulty ESC.

So I contacted them (in Oz so almost a days delay each time):

After several emails and a YouTube vid explaining the problem (I took a vid of it) I got a very useless reply. I had asked them to send me an ESC fan if when they sent me a new ESC (if they agreed that was the problem) - it seems that was the ONLY part of my messages they took any notice of. They have done similar subject dodging with previous messages:

I have launched a PayPal dispute and sent them a message telling them I either want a partial refund or a new ESC to be sent urgently. Had anyone done similar? What are the "rules?" I basically want some money back to cover the cost of the new ESC.

NOT impressed. I have actually bought an new ESC from a UK supplier but I may end up having to send the whole thing back and then waste it. And they are now shut for the weekend - the 10 hour time difference makes it all but impossible to call them. Oh darn. I'm sure I will sort it out but this is making an annoying situation worse.

Also, the first response ignores several bits of info - the battery and connections were clearly okay as it did work fine at first.



Message string - does not include all the info I sent though:




Thank you for your email.

Yes, you can purchase a cooling fan for your ESC. Just go into the hobbystore search box and type in "fan".

If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

Anna
Customer Support - RC Hobby Centre

-----Original Message-----
From: "Me
Received: 3/6/2009 12:31 AM
To: info@rchobbycentre.com
Subject: RE: Fw: URGENT Item # 260362658125 - NEW 1/10 SCALE BRUSHLESS ELECTRIC CAR RTR RC 4WD BUGGY [113393:47579]

If/when you send me a replacement ESC, can you also please send me a fan - although the motor and ESC did not get hot, I have been advised to get one.

Thanks,

Matt


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Me
To: info <info@rchobbycentre.com>
Sent: Thursday, 5 March, 2009 10:27:22
Subject: Re: URGENT Item # 260362658125 - NEW 1/10 SCALE BRUSHLESS ELECTRIC CAR RTR RC 4WD BUGGY [113393:47579]

Hi Anna,

This video is a bit clearer:

YouTube - XSTR problems 1

Several UK RC experts have now told me they think the ESC has packed up.

Thanks,

Matt

k


From: info <info@rchobbycentre.com>
To: M
Sent: Thursday, 5 March, 2009 3:00:08
Subject: RE: URGENT Item # 260362658125 - NEW 1/10 SCALE BRUSHLESS ELECTRIC CAR RTR RC 4WD BUGGY [113393:47579]

Thank you for your email.

It sounds like the battery in the car is low. Are you able to measure the voltage of the car battery with the car running using a multimeter? The battery should show > 7 volts when plugged into the car with the engine running and the wheels of the ground i.e car sitting on block of wood or similar

To measure the battery voltage, slide the multimeter probes around the wires on back of the the plug, there is just enough room to do this.

Also, if you can, could you check to see if any of the following plugs have come loose in transit.

Steering servo plug (where the Steering servo plugs into the receiver)
ESC (Elecronic Speed Control) plug (where the ESC plugs into the receiver)
ESC to Engine plugs
Switch to receiver
Please note all 3 receiver plugs are plugged in with the black wire to the outside of the receiver.

ESC to Motor plug

Crystals, there are 2 crystals, one on the transmiter (it will say 27xxx mhz and there is one on the receiver.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate ask.

Best regards,

Anna
Customer Support - RC Hobby Centre

-----Original Message-----
From: "M Sutherland"
Received: 3/5/2009 2:56 AM
To: info@rchobbycentre.com
Subject: RE: URGENT Item # 260362658125 - NEW 1/10 SCALE BRUSHLESS ELECTRIC CAR RTR RC 4WD BUGGY


Hi Anna,

Just got the above car - charged up the 11.1v lipo battery as I should and the car went very well for about 5 minutes - it then stopped going into reverse (small movements of the motor cog but just a sort of "twitching") and then the motor stopped working altogether. It sounds like the ESC is trying to make it go (electronic bleeping noises when I go forward or back) but nothing is happening. The battery is fully charged and the steering works fine. Has the motor broken already? I didn't even get it up to anywhere near full throttle.

Please help - me and my son are understandably distressed.

Thanks,

Jamie

You should of bought a real RC car not a poxy battery operated rc car! why did you not buy one from a local shop for local people would of saved you all the hassle.

bugeyeandy

Paypal suck when things go wrong. They stitched me up royally to the tune of £120 last year when a buyer on Ebay bought an item from me with Paypal funds that weren't theirs.
They always seem to protect the buyer at the sellers expense so just put in a dispute for the whole amount and cancel it when the seller coughs up with the amount a new ESC costs.

Matteeboy

I buy locally when I can. Local RC shop has just shut down and two others I emailed to see what they stock didn't get back to me. This isn't available in the UK. I have a wife who wanted me to get a quietish car - brushless is very quiet and will match nitro speeds with the right battery. I can't be bothered with the faff and noise of nitro! However I won't buy from Oz again! All my other overseas buys (G Shock watch not available here, specialist surfboard fins and a few other bits) have been fine.

Andy -that's the ideal "scenario" and it had a one year guarantee. I don't think (!) I'm being out of order. Can't wait to get it going again though - it was VERY quick!

Jamie

Sorry to dampen your thoughts but they sell them rc cars in the uk matt

EddScott

I got to say I'm not surprised.

As you've got a new ESC I would see if you can push them into sending a new ESC and then flog that one on fleebay to recoup some of the money.

Its going to cost you much money to send the whole thing back and don't forget you may end up paying duty again - I know why you shouldn't but it will be a complete ballache to explain the HMRC why you shouldn't pay again.

If you escalate the dispute to a claim I suspect paypal will side with the seller - paypal can't comment on condition of the received item and whether it wasn't you that broke the ESC rather than it not coping with the 11.1V pack (I'm sure its too high) it ran OK with the 7.2 pack didn't it?

Nurse Gladys

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you are wasting your time with paypal!

They only protect you if you don't receive the item - not if it's damaged or faulty - as I found out to my expense!

In fact paypal are a waste of space, do not answer questions fully & will close a dispute without resolution!

A bit late now, but my advice is ALWAYS use your credit card - you have far more protection!

Good Luck!

Matteeboy

Jamie - not the "Pro" version though which has loads of upgrades.
Edd - bit of a turn around - they are now sending me a new ESC and fan (already got one ordered)!! I might actually keep one as a spare though.

Blue - I did use my credit card. I reckon it's pretty mucg resolved now - as long as I get it pretty soon. Cheers all!