I debated about posting this, but I finally decided it had to be done.
We needed 4 new T-105 batteries for our smaller inverter, and Mr. AE saw an online ad on one of the DR newspaper sites, good prices. Centro de Baterias Darlin in Santo Domingo. He called and ordered the batteries, and they said they'd be there after 12 pm.
They showed up at 7 pm, installed the batteries, collected their payment, and left. Next morning, the inverter isn't working, so we called our guy. He comes over, starts checking the system, and asks "Where did you get these batteries??". Mr. AE tells him, and guy says 'These aren't new. They cleaned them and put new terminals on the top, but they're used.' Guy calls a buddy, another electrician, who comes over, checks and agrees with our guy - used. Ask to see the invoice, and when he does he reacts immediately - tells us Darlin did the same thing to him. He had complained, and they did replace his, but they only lasted 3 months [which is the 'full guarantee' these people give you].
They deliver at night when you really can't see what they're giving you.
Mr. AE called and confronted the company, and they immediately offered to replace the batteries - "we're expecting a new shipment any day". Despite frequent calls, days turned into weeks. Finally, the woman said "bring me the batteries and we'll replace them". Mr. AE, one of his brothers, and a police officer Mr. AE knows went to the office, the officer taking the lead in explaining that this is fraud, etc., etc., etc.
Lo & behold, she does not HAVE batteries there to exchange. [She might have, but after the police arrived I think they decided against giving us more used batteries] After heated discussion, and phone calls to the owner by her, they're told to leave the batteries and new ones will be delivered tomorrow. Police officer reminds her he will be following up.
Now we have no batteries, so our guy hooks whole house into the bigger inverter to buy us time. Next day we get a call saying that the owner is going to refund what we paid, and give us 4 use batteries to exchange when we buy elsewhere. Only problem is he only has 10,000 pesos now, and he'll give us the rest "next Tuesday". Mr. AE refused his offer, demanding to be paid in full. Ok, next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, if we didn't have the other inverter & batteries, we'd have some serious issues.
We were going to just go to a reputable store and buy the batteries, but Mr. AE's other brother said not to do that until we got the refund, just in case they decided to give us batteries at the last moment.
Midweek comes and our guy is at our house to work on our generator [when it rains, it pours] and tells us the prior evening one of his neighbors called him over when her new batteries were delivered. He went and checked them - they were used. Asked the guys delivering to see the invoice - same company. He read them the riot act, and told them to take their crap used batteries back with them.
That Saturday morning Mr. AE got a call saying that new batteries were coming that evening. No call, no show. On Monday he called them, and they said "oh, our truck broke down, they'll be there today". Monday came and went, no call, no show again. Plans made to go to SD Tuesday morning with both the police and the electrical guy. We went to bed.
Close to 11 p.m. our caretaker knocked on our window, to tell us the battery people were there. They left the batteries in the garage.
Our guy came in the morning and checked the batteries. They're new this time.
We are sure the only reason we got new batteries is because the police were involved. We also think that they assumed we'd gone out and bought new batteries already, and that we'd squawk at them not giving a refund, so they could then say "Well, we TRIED to give them new batteries" if we got the fiscal involved.
This whole process took over 6 weeks start to finish.
We've learned our lesson - buy your batteries at a reputable supplier. Stay away from this one.
We needed 4 new T-105 batteries for our smaller inverter, and Mr. AE saw an online ad on one of the DR newspaper sites, good prices. Centro de Baterias Darlin in Santo Domingo. He called and ordered the batteries, and they said they'd be there after 12 pm.
They showed up at 7 pm, installed the batteries, collected their payment, and left. Next morning, the inverter isn't working, so we called our guy. He comes over, starts checking the system, and asks "Where did you get these batteries??". Mr. AE tells him, and guy says 'These aren't new. They cleaned them and put new terminals on the top, but they're used.' Guy calls a buddy, another electrician, who comes over, checks and agrees with our guy - used. Ask to see the invoice, and when he does he reacts immediately - tells us Darlin did the same thing to him. He had complained, and they did replace his, but they only lasted 3 months [which is the 'full guarantee' these people give you].
They deliver at night when you really can't see what they're giving you.
Mr. AE called and confronted the company, and they immediately offered to replace the batteries - "we're expecting a new shipment any day". Despite frequent calls, days turned into weeks. Finally, the woman said "bring me the batteries and we'll replace them". Mr. AE, one of his brothers, and a police officer Mr. AE knows went to the office, the officer taking the lead in explaining that this is fraud, etc., etc., etc.
Lo & behold, she does not HAVE batteries there to exchange. [She might have, but after the police arrived I think they decided against giving us more used batteries] After heated discussion, and phone calls to the owner by her, they're told to leave the batteries and new ones will be delivered tomorrow. Police officer reminds her he will be following up.
Now we have no batteries, so our guy hooks whole house into the bigger inverter to buy us time. Next day we get a call saying that the owner is going to refund what we paid, and give us 4 use batteries to exchange when we buy elsewhere. Only problem is he only has 10,000 pesos now, and he'll give us the rest "next Tuesday". Mr. AE refused his offer, demanding to be paid in full. Ok, next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, if we didn't have the other inverter & batteries, we'd have some serious issues.
We were going to just go to a reputable store and buy the batteries, but Mr. AE's other brother said not to do that until we got the refund, just in case they decided to give us batteries at the last moment.
Midweek comes and our guy is at our house to work on our generator [when it rains, it pours] and tells us the prior evening one of his neighbors called him over when her new batteries were delivered. He went and checked them - they were used. Asked the guys delivering to see the invoice - same company. He read them the riot act, and told them to take their crap used batteries back with them.
That Saturday morning Mr. AE got a call saying that new batteries were coming that evening. No call, no show. On Monday he called them, and they said "oh, our truck broke down, they'll be there today". Monday came and went, no call, no show again. Plans made to go to SD Tuesday morning with both the police and the electrical guy. We went to bed.
Close to 11 p.m. our caretaker knocked on our window, to tell us the battery people were there. They left the batteries in the garage.
Our guy came in the morning and checked the batteries. They're new this time.
We are sure the only reason we got new batteries is because the police were involved. We also think that they assumed we'd gone out and bought new batteries already, and that we'd squawk at them not giving a refund, so they could then say "Well, we TRIED to give them new batteries" if we got the fiscal involved.
This whole process took over 6 weeks start to finish.
We've learned our lesson - buy your batteries at a reputable supplier. Stay away from this one.