ghostwriter66
"Here - Hold my Beer"
I posted this early as a reply on another thread (( https://diysolarforum.com/threads/xuba-electronics-deal-280ah-lifepo4-cells-purchase-review.3850/ )) that has became pretty long and was asked by a couple of folks to post this fresh ... as to why I thought the reason so many of the cells that I have received have had the QR code scraped off and some flimsy black stuff not even taped on very well is being passed off as GRADE A new.
Now this is ONLY my thoughts .. I talk to many of these manufacturers all the time -- and for those that do NOT know me - YES I am Chinese (but born and raised in LA) and NO I am not a vendor and NO - and NO I don't think any of them are related to me (but then again I have 3000 cousins apparently when I go to China to visit - but I digress)
so yes many of the cells that I have received have had the QR code scraped off and some flimsy black stuff not even taped on very well is being passed off as GRADE A new. and obviously the top of the battery was hit by a grinder/polisher to make it look new and the blue wrapping looks new ... so theoretically its really like them putting lipstick on a pig .... HOWEVER - I run a full load test on every battery we get - PIG or PRINCESS - scraped QR code or not -- and every one of them has met or exceeded the rating ... to me THATS the most important thing ...
I use to be concerned about that - why is the QR code scratched off - and if i asked 3 manufacturers I got 5 answers ... or if i type in the QR code info that readable why does it come up to another company, etc etc ... some of the answers I got made sense .. that the QR codes are Manufacturer specific and Company A that normally sells directly to the USER (you)puts their marketing QR codes on the battery so you can order more stuff from them -- BUT Company B down the street is running low on 280's or 200's and went across the street and bought a few thousand 200's and NOT wanting YOU to know that they did not make the battery popped/scrapped the code and then recovered it (that seems to be the best answer)...
ALSO another one is that many of these batteries are stored OUTSIDE of China in warehouses in Germany and the US and technically sold as "refurbished" (to get away from customs fees and taxes, etc) and they pop-scrap the code in order to "fake" customs (you go girl!!) BUT they are actually still 100% Brand New Grade A...
Now of course if you get one that looks like its been through a drunken brawl on Saturday night and woke up somewhere Saturday half dressed and face down in the gutter - meaning - the Top is all scracthed up, the QR code is gone, there is scraping all over the blue tape where obviously it was used for something -and the black gasket on top won't even stay stuck down - then YES - you probably got one from someone that is trying to put one over on you ... Of course - once again - do a full check - if a 200 or 280 comes up with 200 or 280 respectively - then you just got battery that's ugly but still performs within the specs where its suppose to.
YES - like all of you - i get emotionally erect when the battery boxes show up and i tear into it like its XMAS morning and YES "i love the smell of LiFePO4 in the morning" and do get so ever disappointed when my new Red Ryder BB gun looks like its been shot buy someone else ((YEP I have intermingled several Movies into one sentence) ... BUT if the RED Ryder BB gun shoots straight (voltage) and shoots strong (aH) then I am fine with it ..
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR what you think also ...
Now this is ONLY my thoughts .. I talk to many of these manufacturers all the time -- and for those that do NOT know me - YES I am Chinese (but born and raised in LA) and NO I am not a vendor and NO - and NO I don't think any of them are related to me (but then again I have 3000 cousins apparently when I go to China to visit - but I digress)
so yes many of the cells that I have received have had the QR code scraped off and some flimsy black stuff not even taped on very well is being passed off as GRADE A new. and obviously the top of the battery was hit by a grinder/polisher to make it look new and the blue wrapping looks new ... so theoretically its really like them putting lipstick on a pig .... HOWEVER - I run a full load test on every battery we get - PIG or PRINCESS - scraped QR code or not -- and every one of them has met or exceeded the rating ... to me THATS the most important thing ...
I use to be concerned about that - why is the QR code scratched off - and if i asked 3 manufacturers I got 5 answers ... or if i type in the QR code info that readable why does it come up to another company, etc etc ... some of the answers I got made sense .. that the QR codes are Manufacturer specific and Company A that normally sells directly to the USER (you)puts their marketing QR codes on the battery so you can order more stuff from them -- BUT Company B down the street is running low on 280's or 200's and went across the street and bought a few thousand 200's and NOT wanting YOU to know that they did not make the battery popped/scrapped the code and then recovered it (that seems to be the best answer)...
ALSO another one is that many of these batteries are stored OUTSIDE of China in warehouses in Germany and the US and technically sold as "refurbished" (to get away from customs fees and taxes, etc) and they pop-scrap the code in order to "fake" customs (you go girl!!) BUT they are actually still 100% Brand New Grade A...
Now of course if you get one that looks like its been through a drunken brawl on Saturday night and woke up somewhere Saturday half dressed and face down in the gutter - meaning - the Top is all scracthed up, the QR code is gone, there is scraping all over the blue tape where obviously it was used for something -and the black gasket on top won't even stay stuck down - then YES - you probably got one from someone that is trying to put one over on you ... Of course - once again - do a full check - if a 200 or 280 comes up with 200 or 280 respectively - then you just got battery that's ugly but still performs within the specs where its suppose to.
YES - like all of you - i get emotionally erect when the battery boxes show up and i tear into it like its XMAS morning and YES "i love the smell of LiFePO4 in the morning" and do get so ever disappointed when my new Red Ryder BB gun looks like its been shot buy someone else ((YEP I have intermingled several Movies into one sentence) ... BUT if the RED Ryder BB gun shoots straight (voltage) and shoots strong (aH) then I am fine with it ..
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR what you think also ...