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I had to send a Dani V2 back to Germany for repair. Total turn-around time from sending it 'off' and getting it back was 20 days. I send it USPS ($23) because both Fedex and UPS were well over $100 for shipping it back,
I quoted my post about it, if you want to scan the details of my experience. The folks at Dicodes to a pretty good job of keeping me updated ... overall I was pleased considering it had to be shipped back to Germany.
My Dicodes V2 is back home. Here's the tail of it's journey
2020-01-31 - I mailed it USPS from my hometown in PA
2020-02-03 09:54, GERMANY, FRANKFURT, Departed -> Your item departed a transfer airport in FRANKFURT, GERMANY on it's transit to the destination.
Then there was no tracking information updates. I had been tracking it using 17track.com and it just stopped updates.
I tried the tracking number at the DHL site, but it wasn't even found there.
2020-02-13 I get an email from Dicodes saying "Today we returned your Dani Box V2 to you"
I emailed them back asking for a tracking number and was told "
"We are sorry, but with the special service „DHL Warensendung“ the packages normally cannot be tracked. It lasts a little bit longer, but it works fine. Nevertheless please find attached the corresponding label."The 'number' on the mailing label didn't help me track it until it reach NY and was transferred to USPS.
2020-02-14 it was processed through Franfurt
2020-02-16 it arrived in NY
2020-02-19 it was delivered registered mail to my door.
Actually I was out for a walk around the neighborhood and my mail man pulled over and asked if I wanted to sign to a package. So it was delivered directly to me not my door. Bob, our mailman, is a great guy. I appreciate having a good mailman after some of the horror stories I heard of other people getting the mail and packages.
So total turnaround time was around 20 days and it cost me $23 to ship it to Germany.
PS: the day I got it back I placed an order with Creme de vape for another V2. So now I'm waiting again for a Dicodes to show up. One must have backups
Thanks for the heads up on that. I will post my results as well. It's coming out to $27 for me to ship it to Germany via USPS.
Do you recall what you declared on customs? There is a field for "Gift" "Merchandise" and "Returned goods"
I got the harmonization code from them. Just curious on that one point.
If it's not too late, Achim at Dicodes told me to put this note on the return package ... “Defective device returned under warranty. No commercial value.” He said it will help it get through customs faster.
Yeah, I was told to do that, so I wrote it on the shipping label, on the box, and in giant letters on a sheet of paper on the inside. Hopefully that gets the point across.
Batteries are on charge!
KAS
I've been using Molicel/NPE INR-21700-P42A with great results in my Mini 21700s
Seem to last a wee bit longer than the 40Ts.
I use TC, power set to 40W. I rarely see more than 20-25W being pulled though.
Well after using the 21700 for several days, I think I should have bought the 40T batteries. With these, they do not last any longer then my LG HG2 18650's in my Mini's, I thought I would get some longer battery life with these, I am not seeing it. I do like the devise though, I love the larger screen. 
KAS
KAS
Well after using the 21700 for several days, I think I should have bought the 40T batteries. With these, they do not last any longer then my LG HG2 18650's in my Mini's, I thought I would get some longer battery life with these, I am not seeing it. I do like the devise though, I love the larger screen.
KAS
I love the bigger screen on the 21700. Love how bright it is too. Don't have to jack up the brightness on my 21700, like I do with the mini.
As for the battery, I've got both the Samsung 40T, and the Molicel battery. I'm happy with both batteries, and see more battery life with the 21700 battery. But on that note, I still grab the mini more often. Just fits better in the hand IMO. But if I need a battery for a solid day to two days, I grab the Dani 21700.
In a few weeks I think I will order 2 Samsung 40T's, and 2 of the molicel's, and see if they last longer. I think I bought the 30T's, I was just kind expecting a bit longer battery life then I am getting.
KAS
Well Monday at 6:30 AM I put a Samsung 40T battery in and I just swapped out the battery, this was the battery life I was looking for. I have not tried the Molicel ones yet, but if they last anywhere as long as these, I am good.
KAS
KAS
Dicodes Dani Box Mini I sent for repair is stuck in German customs I believe. Going on 17 days now. Dicodes said "This means that this is a NON-EU consignment and at the moment it is checked for import."
I read the following on the subject:
The article goes on to say that sometimes the process can take even 6 weeks. So unfortunately it's just a wait and see game at this point.
I read the following on the subject:
Non-EU shipment - preliminary check for import
This status used to mean that the shipment is being prepared for customs clearance. The shipment has therefore arrived in the destination country and must be released by the customs there. This usually takes a few days, but can also take 3 to 4 weeks.
Shipments from non-EU countries (e.g. USA, China, USA and Switzerland ) may not be transported within Germany without customs clearance . Customs clearance usually takes place in the international post center in frankfurt ( IPZ Frankfurt ) or in the letter center in Radefeld , where mainly items from Eastern Europe are processed.
This status used to mean that the shipment is being prepared for customs clearance. The shipment has therefore arrived in the destination country and must be released by the customs there. This usually takes a few days, but can also take 3 to 4 weeks.
Shipments from non-EU countries (e.g. USA, China, USA and Switzerland ) may not be transported within Germany without customs clearance . Customs clearance usually takes place in the international post center in frankfurt ( IPZ Frankfurt ) or in the letter center in Radefeld , where mainly items from Eastern Europe are processed.
The article goes on to say that sometimes the process can take even 6 weeks. So unfortunately it's just a wait and see game at this point.
Well, that was NOT what I wanted to read this morning.
I sent one off 3 days ago, and all the USPS has managed to do so far is get it moved 250 miles away. So now I have a long wait when it hits Germany. This was really a no-win situation.
DHL would have gotten it there in 3 days, and from what I understand they have worked with the various countries to do their own customs certification. But using them would have been $90-100 instead of the $38 I paid for Priority International.
I sent one off 3 days ago, and all the USPS has managed to do so far is get it moved 250 miles away. So now I have a long wait when it hits Germany. This was really a no-win situation.
DHL would have gotten it there in 3 days, and from what I understand they have worked with the various countries to do their own customs certification. But using them would have been $90-100 instead of the $38 I paid for Priority International.
One of my 21700s is also stuck in German customs. Don't forget, lots of Europe takes holiday for the month of August.
Luckily, I have my other one and a host of DNA 250Cs available.
Still, shows the problem with out of country support.
I know Fasttech is a different kettle of fish, but it puts me of the mind that everything global is a bit of a clusterf--- these days due to COVID-19. Makes me nervous so close to PMTA and USPS vape mail ban to send anything out.
But yeah, I know someone who lived in Germany and apparently they take their time off seriously. So maybe it would have taken this long anyway.
So the other day I went to take a vape on a Dani Mini, and it shut off immediately. After a few attempts, I managed to catch the error message that flashed on the screen just as the device shut down. It told me the battery was low. This mystified me, because I had just switched to a newly charged Dani (I use the Dicodes charging station). I removed the battery and popped it in my Gyrfalcon. It told me the voltage was at 3.8 something and proceeded to charge the battery up to 4.2. I put a different battery in the Dani, and everything worked fine.
I've been noticing lately that the charger is sometimes taking a while to recognize the battery when I pop a Mini on it. And sometimes it has said a battery is full when I know it can't be, and, if I remove the device and then put it back on, the voltage will be much less than the maximum 4.14 to which the station charges and charging will recommence. I wondered if the battery in the device that shut down abruptly was not properly charged and that's what led to the shut down, but since the Gyrfalcon didn't report a low voltage when I put the troublesome battery into it, that doesn't seem to be the case.
I don't know what happened. Nor do I know why I'm telling you all about it, except that it was disconcerting and I need to grumble. I hope the stupid charger isn't failing. It's not very old (I got it last October) and those things ain't cheap. It's still under warranty, but the prospect of shipping it to Germany doesn't thrill me.
Bah humbug.
I've been noticing lately that the charger is sometimes taking a while to recognize the battery when I pop a Mini on it. And sometimes it has said a battery is full when I know it can't be, and, if I remove the device and then put it back on, the voltage will be much less than the maximum 4.14 to which the station charges and charging will recommence. I wondered if the battery in the device that shut down abruptly was not properly charged and that's what led to the shut down, but since the Gyrfalcon didn't report a low voltage when I put the troublesome battery into it, that doesn't seem to be the case.
I don't know what happened. Nor do I know why I'm telling you all about it, except that it was disconcerting and I need to grumble. I hope the stupid charger isn't failing. It's not very old (I got it last October) and those things ain't cheap. It's still under warranty, but the prospect of shipping it to Germany doesn't thrill me.
Bah humbug.
I think the Dicodes charger is an excellent charger. But I also think they could have done a lot better on designing the charging contacts. Unlike any other Dicodes device I own, it simply requires fiddling around with it.
At first, I'd set a mod on the thing and walk away. But after a few experiences like you just mentioned, I stopped doing that. To feel sure it was going to do a good job, I'd often rock the mod in the slot or even insert and remove it a couple of times until I verified the display showed what I would have expected.
I guess there's a chance there's a problem with your mod, but I've never run into anything like that in 4 years. I'd bet that those little pointy contacts didn't get a good connection to that gold strip on the board. Remember that the charge rate (and shut off) depends on the level of charge it sees in the battery. So if that measurement was off, it could have easily resulted in less than a full charge.
At first, I'd set a mod on the thing and walk away. But after a few experiences like you just mentioned, I stopped doing that. To feel sure it was going to do a good job, I'd often rock the mod in the slot or even insert and remove it a couple of times until I verified the display showed what I would have expected.
I guess there's a chance there's a problem with your mod, but I've never run into anything like that in 4 years. I'd bet that those little pointy contacts didn't get a good connection to that gold strip on the board. Remember that the charge rate (and shut off) depends on the level of charge it sees in the battery. So if that measurement was off, it could have easily resulted in less than a full charge.
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