1/5

posted Oct-04-2010

I lost $6.38 shipping on a defective model HP17 12 cell laptop battery received from Level8Technology. I also lost many hours of my time charging and discharging the defective product (4 times) in an attempt to "condition" the battery as their web site suggests.

They did pay for return shipping on the defective one. Thank you for that. But, they should have refunded my full purchase price instead of deducting the shipping that I paid. After all, I didn't pay $6.38 shipping so I could weed out a defective battery from their inventory for them.

They claimed the battery tested "ok" at their facility after they received the defective return. I have my doubts about the efficacy of their testing procedures. I actually have to wonder if they even tested the failed battery at all. Please read on to see what I mean.

In my laptop, the Level8Technology product would charge to 92% and never go higher. The laptop indicated it was charging for about 8 hours and then finally returned a Windows pop-up message saying: "Charged to 92% but charging has stopped." The run time with this Level8 12-cell battery was shorter than with my 6 cell OEM battery. I had to suspect their product was faulty because my laptop was working fine with its OEM 6 cell battery.

I still needed a 12 cell extended time battery so I purchased one from the Hewlett Packard store. They've got them on sale now for $119. (I have discovered that HP batteries have additional features that help to compensate for the additional $40 cost over they Level8 product.)

I've now got the HP 12-cell battery and it works great. It charges in about 4 hours and runs for 7 hours if I use the right power settings selected in my Windows power profile.

So, Level8Technology sent me a battery they said tested okay. It totally failed in my laptop. I bought an HP battery and it works fine in my laptop.

From my singular experience, I must infer that Level8Technology sent me a defective product and that Level8Technology either didn't actually test the battery (though they say they did) or Level8Technology has testers that do not thoroughly evaluate a battery's performance. I believe they sent me a defective product and they should have refunded the full amount including the shipping I paid. (I wonder if they turned around and resold that defective battery to someone else? They said it was "good." I know it was not.)

The HP battery, by the way cost $40 more but it's worth it. It's got a connector port so you can plug the AC adapter directly into the battery and charge the battery even while the battery is not installed in the laptop.

The HP battery also has a built-in LED indicator to tell you its state of charge. You just pick it up, press a button, and it tells you if it is 25or50or75or100% charged--even when not installed into a laptop.

Yes, I know there are many good reviews about Level8Technology here. Good luck to you all. But for those of you whose experience is similar to mine? Know that you are not alone.

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2/5

posted Jun-13-2007

They aren't answering my eMail requests for a partial return of this order. Items to return are unopened and therefore new and resaleable but I'm getting no response. It looks like I'll have to consider purchases to be one-way only with no return privileges in the future. I received on 06/05/2007. I should have 15 days to return according to their posted policy. 6 days after receiving it, I should have 9 more days but they are ignoring multiple eMail transmissions to their RMA department.

This review was modified by RustyInKentucky on June 13 2007 03:05:08 PM

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1/5

posted Oct-25-2005

They sent a non-retail product to me when I ordered a US Robotics External Modem (USR5686E) and I think it might have been refurbished. It wasn't in a retail box. It was wrapped in bubble wrap. The product web page from which I purchased surely didn't indicate OEM or Refurbished. U S Robotics makes it extremely difficult to obtain warranty exchange on OEM products and refurbished items may not have a warranty at all. I've learned that only retail products receive adequate support from U S Robotics and I wouldn't have purchased this item from ZipZoomFly if I had known it was anything but retail. I've returned this modem to ZipZoomFly, but, they charge 15% restocking regardless of the conditions. End result? I pay $10.50 restocking + $8 return shipping = $18.50 lost because they forced a non-retail product on me. I won't buy there again. You never know what you will get and they charge you restocking on their errors.

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5/5

posted Oct-19-2005

((This review should be dated 07/08/2008. For some reason, the web engine displays it with the date of a previous review I did in 2005.))

Received a damaged a/c compressor. Pulley bent as though dropped: Concealed damage, though, because shipping carton and product carton were undamaged. Oh well, these things happen. What to do now?

I phoned RockAuto on a Sunday morning and spoke to "Luke." Get that? Yes! They take calls on Saturday and Sunday and they've got full access to their data systems and they're not afraid to use them. Luke is top-notch. No doubt about it.

Luke fixed me up with a return shipping label so that returning the damaged item is on their dime. He says they'll also refund the original shipping charge when they refund the damaged compressor.

On that Sunday, he set me up for a re-ship of the same item. Next day (Monday), I check my order status at about 11:00 a.m. and it's already shipped. All I have to do is wait a couple of days and the replacment will be here.

I've bought from RockAuto for years and I've always wondered if everything would still be fun if I had a problem. Yep. It's still fun.

Yes, there is a wait time for shipping but I have to admit brick and mortar parts stores in my area often force me to wait days for parts to come in. I'm no worse off with RockAuto in that respect.

What's the big thing RockAuto gives me? Well, the price is good. That much I like. But, know what else? I can pick the brand. If I want Raybestos, or Denso, or Walker, I can pick it. Brick and mortar stores mostly re-box stuff with their logo and I don't know what's coming until it gets to the store's countertop and that's only if I can recognize the brand by looking at the part.

I hope the Taylor brothers continue practices as they have been. It just doesn't get any better than this unless they'd come to the house and install the parts for me (ha-ha).

(I see last time I reviewed RockAuto was Oct 2005 according to resellerratings.com. Didn't realize I'd been a customer that long. It really has been an enjoyable experience.)

This review was modified by RustyInKentucky on October 04 2010 05:55:03 AM

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