Hi Everyone,
In the past 2 months I have had some really bad experiences on the German Amazon.
I bought a DX3 Pro+ for my bedroom for approx 200€. I unpacked the shipping package and saw that the Topping box was dented and not sealed, neither with plastic foil nor sticker. There were some scratches on the underside of unit. Without even trying it, I contacted Amazon and was immediately refunded, without having to return unit. So no issues there.
I then tested unit and it was partly non-functional. For example, the control knob was unusable. Trying to change volume (I was not pushing and turning, just turning) , it instead changed input. It would then turn off and turn back on in firmware upgrade mode. Required numerous restarts to enter "normal" mode. I can only sporadically enter setup mode. I tried to flash firmware 1.25, but interface still shows 1.0. I thought I could live with this as I was fully refunded. I did suspect, though, that I had been sent a return from a previous customer.
A couple weeks later, I bought a Topping L30ii amp, also from Amazon. This also arrived in an unsealed box. On to Amazon again who immediately issued a refund. Unit works, so all good there, except I think this was also a used and returned unit.
The icing on the cake is when I bought, again from Amazon, an SMSL C200 DAC. I had decided that I could not live with the spurious failings of the DX3. The delivery arrived and I did not pay attention as it was passed to me by courier with a number of other packages and I was busy at the time. Later that evening I saw that the package was simply the SMSL product package on which the shipping label was slapped. Worse, the box was actually open and suspiciously light. With trepidation, I opened the box and of course! No C200, just the manual, power cable and USB cable. I now I actually felt insulted. Back to Amazon and again got and immediate refund.
You could say I'm lucky and got two units for free, one of which kinda works, but not really. What's going on here? Anybody with similar experience?
I have been in contact with Topping in China who established that the unit is out of warranty. They said I could sent it to China for repair. That would set me back at least 100€, maybe more for shipping and parts plus possibly another 50 or so for import charges when they send it back. Thing is, it seems such a waste to just throw it away and buy a new one. I have also, through Amazon, contacted their supplier as the unit, from my point of view, is still under warranty. No response as of writing this.
Sorry for long story. Just thought it was interesting and perplexing enough to be of interest.
Cherrio
In the past 2 months I have had some really bad experiences on the German Amazon.
I bought a DX3 Pro+ for my bedroom for approx 200€. I unpacked the shipping package and saw that the Topping box was dented and not sealed, neither with plastic foil nor sticker. There were some scratches on the underside of unit. Without even trying it, I contacted Amazon and was immediately refunded, without having to return unit. So no issues there.
I then tested unit and it was partly non-functional. For example, the control knob was unusable. Trying to change volume (I was not pushing and turning, just turning) , it instead changed input. It would then turn off and turn back on in firmware upgrade mode. Required numerous restarts to enter "normal" mode. I can only sporadically enter setup mode. I tried to flash firmware 1.25, but interface still shows 1.0. I thought I could live with this as I was fully refunded. I did suspect, though, that I had been sent a return from a previous customer.
A couple weeks later, I bought a Topping L30ii amp, also from Amazon. This also arrived in an unsealed box. On to Amazon again who immediately issued a refund. Unit works, so all good there, except I think this was also a used and returned unit.
The icing on the cake is when I bought, again from Amazon, an SMSL C200 DAC. I had decided that I could not live with the spurious failings of the DX3. The delivery arrived and I did not pay attention as it was passed to me by courier with a number of other packages and I was busy at the time. Later that evening I saw that the package was simply the SMSL product package on which the shipping label was slapped. Worse, the box was actually open and suspiciously light. With trepidation, I opened the box and of course! No C200, just the manual, power cable and USB cable. I now I actually felt insulted. Back to Amazon and again got and immediate refund.
You could say I'm lucky and got two units for free, one of which kinda works, but not really. What's going on here? Anybody with similar experience?
I have been in contact with Topping in China who established that the unit is out of warranty. They said I could sent it to China for repair. That would set me back at least 100€, maybe more for shipping and parts plus possibly another 50 or so for import charges when they send it back. Thing is, it seems such a waste to just throw it away and buy a new one. I have also, through Amazon, contacted their supplier as the unit, from my point of view, is still under warranty. No response as of writing this.
Sorry for long story. Just thought it was interesting and perplexing enough to be of interest.
Cherrio