I placed another order with RDQ and it was delivered today in three days from placing the order. Now I get to see if their customer service is still as good as it used to be.

One of the items I purchased is a HappyModel ES24TX Pro ELRS Module and when I opened it up, there is wear and scratches on the back of the module...
This unit is not new!!
I have never had this happen before, but then I have done very little business with GetFPV (who now owns RDQ) as I had problems with them early on. Looks like Pyrodrone may become my main supplier.

I sent them an email about it and will now see how they do. I will post back the results...

   

I got a reply from RDQ.

They state that they have reached out to the manufacturer and that they should hear back from them soon...

I got a reply from HappyModel.


They stated that they are sorry but the damage must have been caused during assembly and testing. They offered to send RDQ a new back plate to be sent to me and I can even "keep the old one" as a spare.

My reply started with "have you looked at the picture and stated that this was not done during assembly or testing. Then I mentioned that this is my second one and the first one that I have used for sometime has no marks or scratches. Then I let them know that this was not an acceptable solution as I do not believe that this is a new unit and will only accept a new replacement or the item will be returned.

Looks like I may end up returning it...

I should be ordering my ELRS module here soon.. you can bet I’m gonna check it it REAL GOOD when it arrives…

(29-Mar-2024, 03:55 AM)brettbrandon Wrote: Looks like I may end up returning it...

Do you have mail order selling regulations in the US? In the UK any online purchase is returnable within 14 days by law for any reason whatsoever and a full refund must be provided by the vendor with no questions asked. If you have something similar in the US then I would just return the item before you are out of time and then re-purchase one from elsewhere.

Update:

I have the latest response from HappyModel:

"Hello Harold,


Please send a replacement ES24TX PRO module to this customer or refund for him .
And help us to collect the defective tx module , we will add one replacement to your next shipment, thanks.

Regards"

I am guessing that they did not view the picture I sent of the module that I received.

I was actually planning on returning the module and purchasing the RadioMaster module as I had lost faith in HappyModel. Both RDQ and HappyModel are standing behind my purchase, so at this point, I will still purchase from both of them... I think HappyModel was hoping that I would just go along with their offer, but they are standing behind their product. That is all I can ask for...

I regularly shopped at GetFPV and RDQ. If given a choice, I always chose RDQ. Their shipping was off the charts good - faster than Amazon in some cases. GetFPV uses a crappy fulfillment and shipping arrangement with DHL, and it ALWAYS takes 3 or 4 days extra to the east coast. With the RDQ sale, I have been using Pyrodrone more because even with west coast shipping times, it still ends up faster than GetFPV through DHL.

Last Update:

RDQ has sent me a shipping label to return the unit and is issuing a store credit which I will apply to a "RadioMaster Ranger Micro 2.4GHZ ELRS Module".

HappyModel asked RDQ to either send a replacement unit or issue a refund, leaving the choice up to me.

They both took care of the problem so I will just move on. I am going with the RadioMaster module, 1 because I am afraid there may be a bad batch and I would get another bad one, 2 its going in a RadioMaster controller so why not...

(04-Apr-2024, 02:18 PM)safisoft Wrote: I regularly shopped at GetFPV and RDQ. If given a choice, I always chose RDQ. Their shipping GetFPV uses a crappy fulfillment and shipping arrangement with DHL,

....and it ALWAYS takes 3 or 4 days extra to the east coast. With the RDQ sale, I have been using Pyrodrone more because even with west coast shipping times, it still ends up faster than GetFPV through DHL.

My biggest gripe with rdq is knowing they won't have 50% of what I want in stock, so I end up going to newbeedrone or pyro even though I'm east coast based...

(29-Mar-2024, 05:40 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Do you have mail order selling regulations in the US? In the UK any online purchase is returnable within 14 days by law for any reason whatsoever and a full refund must be provided by the vendor with no questions asked. If you have something similar in the US then I would just return the item before you are out of time and then re-purchase one from elsewhere.

Hmmm, this sounds like something that benefits the consumer.  Unfortunately that’s no longer how the U.S. economy works.  Consumers are always left holding the bag unless the vendor happens to have a conscience.  There are very few laws left to protect US consumers these days.

(05-Apr-2024, 02:17 AM)QuadFlyer68 Wrote: Hmmm, this sounds like something that benefits the consumer.  Unfortunately that’s no longer how the U.S. economy works.  Consumers are always left holding the bag unless the vendor happens to have a conscience.  There are very few laws left to protect US consumers these days.

I think the only thing we really have in the US is being able to dispute the charge with the credit card company (if it was purchased on a card).

(04-Apr-2024, 04:37 PM)brettbrandon Wrote: Last Update:

RDQ has sent me a shipping label to return the unit and is issuing a store credit which I will apply to a "RadioMaster Ranger Micro 2.4GHZ ELRS Module".

HappyModel asked RDQ to either send a replacement unit or issue a refund, leaving the choice up to me.

They both took care of the problem so I will just move on. I am going with the RadioMaster module, 1 because I am afraid there may be a bad batch and I would get another bad one, 2 its going in a RadioMaster controller so why not...

One thing I do want to add to this...

RDQ sent me a shipping label for returning the item, and what I thought was pretty cool was that they had me take a picture of the receipt from the post office and email it to them. The refund was issued within minutes of sending them the email instead of waiting days for them to receive the item in house.

That was a first for me and I was able to order the replacement module this morning instead of having to wait a few days...

I ordered from them one time a little over a year ago. Also once at NBD. Last time for both after a lengthy battle for support to be provided. NBD I had to chargeback before they finally made good. But they threatened to blackball me from the entire FPV community, LOL. RDQ the major calls himself a general while insulting you so he got the nix as well. 

I see more conglomeration and less support for the actual customer. 

Not saying this is normal practices, but the first few impressions last…

Just my impression and I have not data to back it up, BUT...

In the past, many (maybe most) people who go into FPV were DIY and builders 
at heart. Many have or had careers of a technical nature and already had many 
of the skills needed to build a quad including soldering skills. Consequently, there 
was a demand (large?) for parts which resulted in companies to provide them 
(many were FPV builders and pilots). So, you had vendors that were dedicated 
to the hobby besides making a buck. During these times, FPV was wild and free 
(more or less, regardless of regulations). 

As things change, the trend is towards smaller quads, quality pre-built quads, and 
a shift in the builder/pilot profile... from techie to less skilled consumer. Yeah, the 
techie types still exist, but some are leaving and some are just less active. The 
volume sales are in products for the consumer who wants to get into FPV. 
Consequently, more and better BNF quads, better combo kits, more options 
especially in the smaller category. You no longer have to be a builder to get into 
the hobby. This shift seems to be driving the smaller concerns out of business 
(reference Cyclone FPV). 

    Even given that Cyclone had more than one issue, larger corporations
    can weather these storms better. It is the small guy, who gets pushed
    out. Plus, if someone offered me the right money for a business that
    I owned, then I would be out, too.

Yeah, there seem to be tons of folks entering the hobby with no soldering skills 
that just jump right in, botch everything, and want to know what happened. 
The long and the short of it is that the hobby is moving from techie to consumer.

At least, that is how I see it.

Later, iFly  

(22-Apr-2024, 03:26 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: The long and the short of it is that the hobby is moving from techie to consumer.

At least, that is how I see it.

Later, iFly   

For the most part I think you're right. When I first started in the hobby back in 2018 there were virtually no BNF quads on the market. Well there were a small handful such as the crappy Eachine Wizard, but most people entering the hobby had no real choice but to dive into the very steep learning process, then select / source suitable / compatible parts, and then build a quad from the ground up before they could think about going out to fly.

Fast forward to 2024 and there is an untold number of BNF quads now on the market, and very good quality ones at that which work out cheaper than building your own with equivalent parts, so a lost of people probably don't even bother building their own now, especially newcomers to the hobby. Digital transmission systems and sockets on FC's have also made things far more plug and play than they used to be. It's mostly only the die hard old and school hobbyists who seem to want to get their hands dirty with the technical stuff while a lot of the newcomers just seem to want to plug things in, switch equipment on, and then go out and fly instead of putting hours in on the workbench.