Swordfish 300 Pro+ ***Sent back for warranty repair to China!*** Disappointed***

[photohoward1]

***THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY A KNOCK ON STEVE***


As the title says. I purchased a Swordfish 300 Pro+ from Steve this summer. (Steve warranties them for 30 days then off to China) I ran it with a Neu/2230/1y. on 10s/....I run it hard. Well it died. I could not get the Data off of it so I sent it back to China. 2 weeks later I get an email that they got the Data of of it and were removing the coating from it. 2 weeks later I get this reply.

[I]From: Michelle <[email protected]>
To: 'howard tucker' <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 4:57 AM
Subject: Fwd: Swordfish 300 pro+

Hello Mr. Howard Tucker,

Good day.
Sorry for late response.
We have finished check to the 300A Pro Plus ESC. As what the data logger shows, ESC was loaded hard in previous running, the peak current was almost 307amp, and ESC heated much. When open it and remove the glues here, ESC inside was damaged seriously, many electronic components were damaged.
In this condition, not only to change the damaged electronic components with new ones but also needs to change a new circuit board, so that it can bear the high power as it will.
Therefore, the repair cost is a bit expensive, needs 153USD.
Please keep me know if you accept the repair cost?

Best regards,
Michelle
Chongqing HIFEI Technology Ltd.

https://www.hifei.com

Skype:hifei-michelle

This is my reply to them: So what does everyone think?

Let me understand this. Under Warranty right? Max amps 307. (unit claimed burst rate of 380amps.) Unit claims 100 celsius max. I hit 91 Celsius. Seems within specs to me.
So I ran it hard. That is why I bought it. I shouldn't have to pay anything. How about just shipping me another unit that works?
BTW I will post this on public forums. I think you should honor your Warranties.
Please do the right thing. I will report my satisfaction or dissatisfaction on the forums. All of them.

Howard Tucker

[LiPo Power]

I feel sorry for you friend but here is my opinion.
So after reading this very unique English I have a feeling you are screwed...
In this case IMO they will not replace it and they are using the peak current as warranty violation...
Remember, their 380 amps are our 240 or so if you lucky.
Or the other choice is for me and you to go there and pay them a visit..... :-)
I was once there with HK aquastar 240....Lost the game, pay the shipping just to learn I was nowhere....

[photohoward1]

I feel sorry for you friend but here is my opinion.
So after reading this very unique English I have a feeling you are screwed...
In this case IMO they will not replace it and they are using the peak current as warranty violation...
Remember, their 380 amps are our 240 or so if you lucky.
Or the other choice is for me and you to go there and pay them a visit..... :-)
I was once there with HK aquastar 240....Lost the game, pay the shipping just to learn I was nowhere....

I hope that is what forums are for. Just keeping the world updated on the policy.

[LiPo Power]

Did you get their respond on this yet?

Let me understand this. Under Warranty right? Max amps 307. (unit claimed burst rate of 380amps.) Unit claims 100 celsius max. I hit 91 Celsius. Seems within specs to me.
So I ran it hard. That is why I bought it. I shouldn't have to pay anything. How about just shipping me another unit that works?
BTW I will post this on public forums. I think you should honor your Warranties.
Please do the right thing. I will report my satisfaction or dissatisfaction on the forums. All of them.

[oscarel]

I got the same response from them. While running one of the motor wires unsoldered. They claimed where I coupled the wires together MAY have contacted the case, which would have nothing to do with the failure. But there was no signs of arching. And I'm also without an ESC that was run well within specs.

[photohoward1]

No wiring mistakes made. I have to wait till morning for a response. I wonder if Steve had any say as a customer of there's?

[Southwest]

I had to send back a esc to Washington state ( HK ). The answer was , where's the instructions? I sent the instructions with esc in same package. They received the esc but no instructions came with it , so no refund will be sent to you, sorry. Same old answer I've read on many forums!

[kfxguy]

Sounds like im not getting that swordfish esc I was looking at. The most durable esc I've run so far is a mamba monster 2 car esc converted to water cool. It barely gets warm no matter what I throw at it. Its completely waterproof. Submerged it several times.

[photohoward1]

What do the instructions have to do with it? We need to post all this on public forums. If they don't hold to the warranty polices maybe we can force them to.

I had to send back a esc to Washington state ( HK ). The answer was , where's the instructions? I sent the instructions with esc in same package. They received the esc but no instructions came with it , so no refund will be sent to you, sorry. Same old answer I've read on many forums!

[ray schrauwen]

Not good, I hope they step it up some....

[iridebikes247]

pretty easy to rework everything they said to prove you did nothing wrong.

1. 91 celsius, within limits and also if heat was a problem the thermal protection should have kicked in. it didn't therefore the esc is at fault.

2. 307 amps. on the website in the specs it lists 300a constant, 380 surge. Is surge defined as a 5 second time constraint that the esc can handle 380 amps? I bet that motor pulled 307 for a second or two if that then dropped. Clearly within their definition of "surge".

--The data logging numbers reflect then the escs true limit, and the specifications listed on the website aren't accurate? I'm lost. Please let me know I'm willing to pay for shipping and inspection of $70 realistically but anything else seems outside of the warranty.

I'd send another email like this see what they say. worst comes to worst you could pay it then sell the esc on here as a refurbished hifei for $180 bucks buy a new one and lose $100 bucks total. If you're done with hifei I'd go with the modelbaupirate 300a esc or perhaps an atos formel.

[Southwest]

Howard, the esc didn't work and I emailed them and they said, send it back to Washington state ( HK ) with instructions of which I did. I never received a refund or an email regarding the esc again. Don't go jumping on me, just telling what happened to me about the esc. Steve had nothing to do with sale! Maybe we'll have to go to the European market place from now on! I'm a average rc boater with a champague taste on a beer income!

[jaike5]

Hi Howard, I-Care has access to new sch. 40/160 and 300's . as well as repairs
Cheers, Jay.

[photohoward1]

I wasn't jumping on you I was jumping on them. Weather the instructions were sent or not has nothing to do with warranty. I hold Steve in High regard. I would not want his issues with these Chinese vendors.

Howard, the esc didn't work and I emailed them and they said, send it back to Washington state ( HK ) with instructions of which I did. I never received a refund or an email regarding the esc again. Don't go jumping on me, just telling what happened to me about the esc. Steve had nothing to do with sale! Maybe we'll have to go to the European market place from now on! I'm a average rc boater with a champague taste on a beer income!

Mike: Basically that is the email I sent. So far no response. Then again it is Saturday there I think.

[photohoward1]

Jay, I thought they were out of Business? Do you know if they can still be sent back to Germany for repair?
BTW: fut-xxl-40.334WK, splash proof, water cooling $963.00 330/440 A 3 - 14 L