Flip Video Ultra HD – Buyer Beware!
Having bought the Flip Video Ultra HD on a bit of a whim 8 weeks ago, I was a little annoyed when it gave up the ghost whilst on holiday.
Now I’m pretty good when it comes to things breaking – every company, no matter how good they are, produces a product once in a while that doesn’t work properly, or goes wrong. The only way you can tell a good company from a bad one is how they handle the complaint. I’ve actually had pretty good luck in this regards (I wrote about the good service I received from Dell a few years back) so I was hoping for more of the same from Flip. But ooooh no.
The Flip Video Ultra HD broke just outside the 28 day return window with Amazon.co.uk, so it had to go direct to Flip to sort the issue out. So I contacted Flip through their efficient online returns system, and they agreed that the camcorder needed to ne returned. Great I thought, I’ll send it off to their office in London and have a replacement back in week. But no, it had to be returned to the Czech Republic. So off I tot to the post office, pay the £13 delivery charge to the Czech Replublic and wait. A week later I get an email to say they’ve received it, and then one to say that there is no stock available to send me one back!
The final straw, and the reason for writing this rant, is that I received a telephone call today informing me that there would be no stock until the end of the month. This is poor beyond belief. The very company who make the damn camera have got no stock to return to a customer who bought a dodgy one.
Many, many people love their Flip Video camera, and I can see why – it’s a great little device and takes decent videos. But since my initial problems, I discovered that I am far from being the only one who has had problems – there are loads of complaints online.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t buy one, just be careful that if you do:
- the chances of it failing appear to be higher than average
- if and when it does, it’s a major hassle to get it repaired or replaced
- you may have to wait a long time for the replacement
Buyer beware!
Same here, the battery on mine won’t charge which seems to be a common issue….I received the email saying………
Thank you for your response.
Please ship your camcorder to:
RMA #:
Case Number: ***************8933
ModusLink
C/O Flip Return Center
CT Park Brno
Turanka 110
627 00 Brno
Czech Republic
Along with your camera, please include on a separate sheet of paper the following information:
Model Number:
Serial Number:
Name:
Address (street, city/town, state/province, & postal code):
Phone:
Email:
Place of purchase
Date of purchase:
Description of problem:
Upon receipt of your camcorder, Flip Video will do our utmost to retrieve any videos you may have and make all necessary repairs. If we are unable to repair your camera, we will issue you a replacement. We will return your camera as quickly as possible.
Please note that you have 60 days from today to send your camcorder to our Receiving Center. After this time, your RMA number will expire and your case will be closed.
Please send only your camcorder and keep all accessories as these may not be returned to you.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
——–
However if it’s going to cost me £13 to send it back, I’m going to contact them again and say there is no need to send the camera back, it’s the battery pack that doesn’t work and ask if they’ll send a new battery pack out instead.
We bought half a dozen Flips, also had a battery issue.
Sent back to Czech Republic but the day it should have arrived they said “we haven’t received it”.
Funny that, they very day it would have arrived. International Signed For. Turns out Royal Mail UK cannot tell you if it arrived or was signed for or not. Postal insurance was only 40% of the Flip’s value.
Why is the return dept in the Czech Republic? So they can keep all the cameras sent Signed For from any other country? They can refurbish and sell as used I guess.
Flip is a tinpot company with big problems.