Anyone having a problem with battery shipments from China?

[radiorental]

I ordered a hubmotor & 48v battery from a fairly reputable supplier, after receiving the motor I realised the battery was sent separately and the tracking number for that separate shipment was invalid.

I contact them, they explained that their original shipper was not accepting batteries anymore and they sent it with someone else.

"Hello *******
Pleae see below info.Thanks.

Hello William Jones
We get the reply from EMS.
* More than tens thousands of EMS parcles are in Shanghai airport.Waiting for re-checking each parcel carefully.If can't find any problem,will be shipped from Shanghai ariport or ship to Beijing,Guangzhou airports first,then ship to other countries.

* The reason is that Not allowed to ship dangerous goods.Because EMS parcels were on fire several times while checking these days.And the end of last month,one EMS parcel(after checking) was be on fire while carrying to airplane.

* Our EMS office told us: "they think all of parcles will be out of China in 3-5 days later."

Apologzie for that.

Below is our post office receives Chinese files from The Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Best Regards
#####"

I don't know who "WIlliams Jones" is. Either I'm getting bullshit or things are really messed up in china right now and the poor guys are firefighting customer complaints.

 

[dogman dan]

It's illegal to air ship a large battery. So the legit vendors ship by sea, and it takes a long time. You might be waiting awhile.

Or, when the bribes reach the right person in the right amount, your package ships by air.

 

[TheBeastie]

How big does it have to be for it to be illegal? When I got my BMSbattery 10Ah battery from China it was shipped via DHL via air, got it in less then 36hours I would say from the tracking emails I got etc.

I remember reading or hearing somewhere that some logistics companies have cargo aircraft that have air sealed or maybe even air sucked containers so that fire break outs are minimized.

 

[radiorental]

It's definitely being shipped by air. The word I got was that they're starting to crack down in china due to a fire from a package on it's way to the airplane.


Very dissappointed with the seller. I basically ordered on March 29th and the battery has only shipped April 19th. I got the motor yesterday. No communication that they were having problems.

They're claiming the battery had to be pulled from the original shipper and is now going on a TNT plane.

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing these issues out of China. When I get my battery I'll report back who the seller was.

 

[MadRhino]

...and is now going on a TNT plane.

Mixing batteries and TNT doesn't seem like a good idea

Since last year, it's been much longer to receive batteries shipped from China. Yet I received them all, so keep confident.

 

[alsmith]

It's definitely being shipped by air. The word I got was that they're starting to crack down in china due to a fire from a package on it's way to the airplane.


Very dissappointed with the seller. I basically ordered on March 29th and the battery has only shipped April 19th. I got the motor yesterday. No communication that they were having problems.

They're claiming the battery had to be pulled from the original shipper and is now going on a TNT plane.

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing these issues out of China. When I get my battery I'll report back who the seller was.

While I can undersand some of your sentiments a chunk is your own responsibility.

Maybe the supplier wasn't aware of the shipments being held? He can't tell you if he doesn't know. Or he may have heard of the problems but not know which dates where at issue? Most companies don't publicise warnings until they have ALL information.

These suppliers won't keep all Voltages and Capacity ratings just laying there waiting for a buyer- they'll wait for a buyer then build the battery. I'd bet most don't keep them in stock- they'll need to minimise working capital.
If delivery was so important to you then you should ask them if it is available from stock, or how long assembly, testing and packaging- all important steps- will take. If you ask for that information then you make your decision when they let you know. And before you say it shouldn't take that long - you are NOT their only customer, others will have ordered before you. and you do not know how log their build process and checking process takes.

You buy without asking, Your responibility. Your perception of very dissappointed is unfairly and blindly ignoring your own responsibilities in the buying process.

 

[r3volved]

It's illegal to air ship a large battery. So the legit vendors ship by sea, and it takes a long time. You might be waiting awhile.

Or, when the bribes reach the right person in the right amount, your package ships by air.

I don't know that it's completely 'illegal'...I think there's just a ton of hoops to jump through.
My ping pack came in less than a week...I assumed it was by air.
Vpower took a full 8 weeks to reach me in canada...I suspect that one was shipped by pony express

 

[Jason27]

Radio, its a good possability you will be ripped off. Sorry to sound negative but its the truth. There are many shady ebike/battery sellers in China. There also have been many people on this forum (like me) who have the nightmare experience of dealing with Chinese vendors. There are no protections when you buy from china.

You may think your getting a deal with their low prices, but it will cost you in the end.

Keep us posted on how things go. Good luck!

 

[Russell]

I just recently ordered a 'High C-Rate' 36V/15AH battery from BMSBattery. I originally selected EMS as the shipper but was told they can only ship batteries now via TNT and UPS. I chose UPS and had to pay a few extra bucks. It was shipped by air and I got it this past Tuesday.

-R

 

[radiorental]

I just recently ordered a 'High C-Rate' 36V/15AH battery from BMSBattery. I originally selected EMS as the shipper but was told they can only ship batteries now via TNT and UPS. I chose UPS and had to pay a few extra bucks. It was shipped by air and I got it this past Tuesday.

-R

Unfortunately it looks like mine went out before EMS stopped taking batteries. I'm told they switched to TNT but the tracking numbers they gave me are for someone else.

The motor arrive a week ago and I've been having a blast with my old 10ah 48v battery. It is just enough to haul my ass to work... I'm 190lb, the bike is about another 60lb and my commute is 17miles. It will do the trip at 35mph without dropping voltage.

Anyway, back to the thread. I'm giving up on the battery (I had ordered the 48v 20ah) and starting a Paypal resolution.

For anyone interested, the vendor is Leafbike. While they do generally respond to email they are terrible at actual communication. They can't give me correct tracking numbers, I have to pester them with questions just to find out what is going on. I would not buy from them again.

 

[Jason27]

Your money is long gone. If you open a paypal case and the Chinese guy on the other end already withdrew the money, you wont get your money back.

 

[radiorental]

Your money is long gone. If you open a paypal case and the Chinese guy on the other end already withdrew the money, you wont get your money back.

I'm not sure that's how it works in practice, but thanks anyway :?

 

[d8veh]

Paypal will sort it out as long as you sent the money for goods/services and not as a gift. There's a sort of automatic element to the resolution process, so if they close the case not in your favour, ring them up to explain the problem. They'll re-open it and sort it out then.

 

[dogman dan]

I didn't say it could not be shipped legal. But the last three or four larger packages I got were definitely illegal. Too big, and then labeled toys, or gift. One package had a leaking pouch cell, and stunk like hell. I couldn't believe the postman delivered it. But he sure gave me a look.

Very typical for them to mislabel, and ship illegally by air. IT'S CHINA. When the guy they pay off leaves, it takes time to set up the proper payment to the new guy. After a fire they may not be able to pay enough for a time.

 

[alsmith]

If you didn't ask for, agree to, or know about 'gift' labelling then it is the supplier at fault, you should get refunded. If they told you in one of their emails hope that paypal haven't and don't see it.

 

[radiorental]

Yes, the guys at leafbike are pretty pissed off that I opened a ticket. Some sort of threat that if I close the paypal claim they can 'ensure delivery' (I think that's what they're trying to say)

"We can make sure you can delive it if you can close that claim now.
But we can't give you correct deliver time now.
We must try out best to handle this so that you can deliver asap.
We don't hope need this shipment issue.But did meet this.

We shipped your battery that day.Now this battery is in Shanghai Customs.
We are out of control after shipped(When parcel left from our company).
Our post office told us "should wait for about 10 days,until May 10th,then they can get this parcel and re-ship""

Again, this is Leafbike and I'm sure they did ship a battery and it got caught. But they expect me to wait patiently and hope that the battery eventually makes it's way through the system. There seems to be a 2 month window at Paypal to make a claim and I'm not willing to risk missing that.

I do understand these are Chinese suppliers and 'customer service' might be a little wanting. However, the right thing to do here would be for them to eat it, refund me and pull their shipment back. Or, worst case, put the $600 in an escrow on the condition it arrives within some length of time.

They have been giving me misinformation, contradicting themselves and making thinly veiled threats since I found out they don't know where the battery is.

Again, my advice is to stay away from leafbike, it seems they've been shipping batteries under the radar and got caught (at my expense they hoped)

 

[alsmith]

Aside from whatever it is that leafbike are trying to say making a paypal claim is the correct action. They have the opportunity to give this information to paypal who will evaluate it- I'd guess they'll get the information in their native language and get it properly translated rather than try to make a decision based on what are poorly put together short phrases. They have the opportunity to tell paypal what they have done and what they know about the current status. If things are all ok you will be told the position and you'll have to wait for delivery- as you should if things are essentially alright.
Anyhow, your claim is in as it should be and now you wait patiently while they get a comprehensible response to make a decision. If they can't get one you'll get the refund, as you will if there is something wrong.

Just remember things may still end as a case of 'wait patiently for your goods' (ie its not the suppliers fault and beyond their control).

 

[radiorental]

Aside from whatever it is that leafbike are trying to say making a paypal claim is the correct action. They have the opportunity to give this information to paypal who will evaluate it- I'd guess they'll get the information in their native language and get it properly translated rather than try to make a decision based on what are poorly put together short phrases. They have the opportunity to tell paypal what they have done and what they know about the current status. If things are all ok you will be told the position and you'll have to wait for delivery- as you should if things are essentially alright.
Anyhow, your claim is in as it should be and now you wait patiently while they get a comprehensible response to make a decision. If they can't get one you'll get the refund, as you will if there is something wrong.

Just remember things may still end as a case of 'wait patiently for your goods' (ie its not the suppliers fault and beyond their control).

That's pretty much what I said, I'm putting the claim in now before it's too late. Leafbike, in somewhat good faith, sent the battery in to the mail and it got caught. They want me to just wait. I'm sure I will get the battery in due course but because things seem to be messed up right now there is a degree of risk that the battery gets lost somewhere.

My point about avoiding leafbike still stands. They have been borderline dishonest about the situation.

 

[d8veh]

Exactly. After 40 days, you lose the chance to claim.

Whenever you order somethiing and pay by Paypal, you should always count the days. If you don't get a tracking number within 30 days, contact the supplier ant tell them that you're about to make a claim. Get your claim in by day 39.

 

[radiorental]

Exactly. After 40 days, you lose the chance to claim.

Whenever you order somethiing and pay by Paypal, you should always count the days. If you don't get a tracking number within 30 days, contact the supplier ant tell them that you're about to make a claim. Get your claim in by day 39.

And that is why they are so keen for me to remove my claim. It's just plain dishonest. They said that I "should wait for about 10 days,until May 10th". Guess what, that's exactly 40 days after my initial purchase and the exact same day that Paypal have said is a deadline for them to respond. Coincidence?

I do have to say that the motor they shipped was well packed and arrived promptly. I imagine that when everything is working fine, they're not a bad seller. I rolled the dice and lost. Fortunately I already have a battery and have been able to ride.

Avoid Leafbike because if things go wrong in shipping they only care about themselves.

 

[dogman dan]

I'd make the claim. The item is not tracking as on the way to you. It does sound like they will have to re ship, after the 40 days.

Then, when you get your money refunded, go to, well, you know, EM3ev or Ping.