Replacement Electronics with "old" serial number

James_Blonde

This is an odd one....

I crashed my drone into a river. I sent it, and the battery, back to the manufacturer to see if it could be repaired, and was told it couldn't - due to being water damage, it was a total loss, and I'd have to pay for a new device, but they'd offer me 15% discount. I paid around €350 for a new device. It's their smallest model, and that seems to tie in with the price of a new basic aircraft package (aircraft, battery, etc)

On receiving the new drone, I found that it had the same serial number as my old one. To me, that looks like they repaired my original drone and returned it. They also didn't send me a battery. They say they never received one.

There is no way that I would be pay €350 for a repaired aircraft - particularly when I was told I'd get a new one - when I can get a brand new one, with battery and everything else you'd expect, for the same sort of money. Though it seems these ones are hard to get hold of new as it looks like they've been discontinued, and they're about to be replaced with a new model.

So I went back to their support desk. This is where it gets a bit weird.

They claim that "You did receive a new craft, as is necessary when a unit is water damaged. However, your serial number has been reprinted and re-used. It's very much a new craft, with your serial number."

That makes absolutely no sense to me - why would a company take a serial number off a new device, and replace it with one from a failed device? I mean they'd have to physically remove a serial number that would have been put on by the factory.... They wouldn't, would they??? How would you ever identify your products if you did that? They're trying to fob me off claiming they've sent me a new device when they sent my old one back repaired, aren't they???

Also couldn't test the thing, as they haven't sent a battery and said they never received one!

Tell me I'm not missing something here, please, because this just sounds crazy!

Aylesbury_Duck

It does sound odd, but no one on here can say for sure whether it's the same unit or not. How is the serial number marked? Is it simply a sticker or is it engraved/stamped onto the unit itself? If the latter, that would suggest it's your old unit.

James_Blonde

It's back with them at the moment as I was asked to return it when I rejected the repair.

They only told me this today - so drone isn't in my possession so can't check

shaun_from_Africa

James_Blonde wrote: »

They also didn't send me a battery. They say they never received one.

Was it a rechargable lithium battery?
If so, who did you send the drone with? and did you declare that the shipment contained a battery?
It's possible that if the courier or Royal mail spotted a battery that hadn't been declared, they removed it from the shipment due to it being a prohibited item, something that would be even more likely if they knew that the drone and battery had suffered water damage.

James_Blonde

Yep, that could be possible Shaun

CardinalWolsey

If they have sold you a new unit, even with a discount, simply use your right to return within 14 days for a full refund - you can't have used the drone as you don't have a battery, so you should be entitled to a full refund. Then you can go elsewhere and buy a new unit, or go for the newer version.