Mike,
You'd be surprised what you do and don't know. :wink: Also, Jason seems like a good guy. He's the only one who ever attempts to explain everything when HK starts failing hard in some area. I'm talking about Tony Hand. He's had to change his business name/website name many times because of all of the people he's ripped off through negligent customer service and shoddy business practices. Just google his name and do some reading. I'd imagine there are a few hundred thousand people that have had negative experiences because of his "business".
Jeremy,
It's truly sad to me that this is my first communication with you on this forum. I really respect your ideas, intelligence and dedication. Synopsis of what happened is, HobbyKing sent me over $600 in Lipo in a thin crappy worn out box and it arrived all beat up so I'm going to have to tear every pack apart to replace banged up cells. They told me to send the batteries back at my expense. I don't feel that their normal return policy can be applied because they made NO effort to get my items to me safely. When I did give up and decide to eat the shipping, I took the batteries, in the box they sent them in to the post office to return and that's where things went south for HK. The postal employee noticed the issues on the customs form and was aware of the UN SANCTIONED LIPO SHIPPING LAW (look it up) that was enacted in January or something, told me it was illegal to send back without specialized hazmat packaging since their structural integrity was compromised and reported the package to customs and the post master. Since HK made it very clear to me through inaction, forum banning, etc that they didn't care about making things right with me, I really don't feel too bad about them getting caught. If I was the straw that broke the camel's back, then it has resulted in HK doing the right thing and opening up a US warehouse. What's so bad about that? So if you're still mad at me, you can Foxtrot Oscar but I'd love to be friends.
BTW, just so you guys know. I've been doing a ton of research on lithium battery production and suppliers and found some scary information. I really hope it's not true but there's a ton of evidence supporting the following statements. The only way HK stays in the lipo business is through government subsidies. They do not actually produce profits. The lithium industry is so heavily supported by the government that private businesses in other countries can't compete. It is a tactic of the Chinese government to have a monopoly on the supply of batteries once they start replacing oil in the future. I'm not saying that other countries can't chose to do the same thing. Apparently South Korea has a similar idea. My thing is I don't like the idea of supporting those who don't have to play fair. If HK can have a monopoly on lipo by being able to set prices lower than anyone operating honestly can because of the government subsidies, and they don't even hire enough employees to have decent customer service, anyone doing business with them is an enemy of the free market and supporting a company with extremely questionable business ethics.
The fact that a lot of you guys are so smart about electronics and development is awesome but it's time to realize how your actions in other areas affect the rest of the world. Basically, your only voice/vote/way to really change things is your money and who you spend it with. If you haven't thought about all of this, you know, stuff like how your actions affect the future of the human race, honestly, you are lucky, but if you have, and still continue spending money with companies that pollute, produce disposable crap, skirt international shipping laws designed to keep aircraft from falling out of the sky, and through their negligence and or ignorance, cause thousands of people per year, based on Luke's 10 per day number, which was based completely upon HK order support forum posts, to lose money or time because of making the decision to do business with them, then you are not needed on this planet and have lost your value as a human. It's time to re-evaluate your position here on earth or prepare to be swept away because your lifestyle is not sustainable.
That's all I have to say about that whole issue. I felt the need to clarify and defend myself against some negative stuff that was said. If you have any questions or counter points, please re read my posts. There is nothing more to say about this. I have covered it all and have stated nothing but the truth.
Bottom line. HK shipping sucks because they don't want to follow the rules that everyone else does. They do not care for one second about your business. Find or create alternate suppliers.