Got the batteries today, put in the the 5D, can't get it out, called them and they told me that they still have these batteries in stock and are still shipping out the OVER-sized battery, is it stupid ?
So just warn those if by the BP511, call them to confirm.
ovredal73 wrote:
Crazy. I was just about to order some of their batteries. Which version of the batteries is it you ordered? The 1800 mAh or the 2000 mAh ?
Two 2000mAh.
I read some posts 2-3 days ago here, and said the company shipping new batteries. The fact is they have both new and OLD in stock, so they will still ship them out, crazy
I need to send the batteries back , they will send me the NEW ones....
So they are still sending the bad ones out even though they know they are bad? That is kinda dumb--I was just about to buy a couple of these too. Thanks for the heads up.
I just got my correctly sized set of batteries yesterday - on their third attempt. I returned the original bad set and they said they got the new ones in, so they sent out a new set. Well, those were also the bad ones. At least they cross shipped the third set, so I got them without them having to wait for the return. It was a pain, but they did make sure to get the good batteries out in the end. Now I just need to see if they're going to refund me my return shipping charges.
I had the same issue a few weeks back, but didn't think it was worth the hassle to return them. It's very simple to fix the problem - it takes a nail file and about 20 seconds.
Basically, file the flat side (outer edges) of those two tabs down very slightly (maybe .5mm). Test fit it as you go so you don't file too much off, but that's really all there is to it.
I got mine yesterday and it has the same problem. At another forum a poster posted 2 weeks ago that he called and the person told him that it's due to a bad batch. So apprently, they know it will get stuck but are still shipping them out without even a notice to the customer, so you find out after the battery is stuck in the grip and you have to force it out with a lever or something.
I think it's with their 2000mah models as I've had their 1800mah versio without this problem a long time ago. I think they may be phasing the 1800mah version with the 2000mah version.
The fix is to shave a bit of the plastic off the edge of the battery by the positive terminal side on the right. I don't know about the left side as mine works now with just filing down the right side only.
What makes me mad is that for a company that has a good reputation, that they seem to be knowingly sending out batteries that will get stuck in the camera without letting the customer know before hand. Sure I buy this brand b/c it's cheap but spending $5 or so to return a known defectvie battery kinda makes the savings pointless as the $18 battery (including S+H) is now about $23 or so with return shipping. It maybe better to goto a local store and buy one where you can try it out first or compare it with the stock battery.
Till this issue is corrected, I think it's better to avoid them as their business tactic seems questionable.
It's ridiculous to ship out known defects. That said, I also used a file for a few seconds and avoided waiting for a new battery. It's been working just fine.
Here is an update:
Gabi at the customer service said that they did have a bad batch she tells me that they don't know which ones are the bad ones (perhaps they don't keep track of the batteries by batches).
So it appears that they are just sending them out and letting the customer find out it they got a bad one or not.
She said she'd send one to me from the good batch today (makes me wonder how she knows which is good or bad) and since they don't allow prepaid return shipping for defective material that they sent out, I'd have to pay to return the battery and they will refund my account the shipping cost once I e-mail them a return confirmation number, which means I have to pay for delivery confirmation.
I know a lot of you guys swear by the Sterlingtek batteries, and maybe my experience is unique, but...
I bought a pair for backup with my 20D about 2 yrs ago. Within a couple of months the capacity on one was very low - but outside of warranty so I was stuck. Here within the last few months the other has started to decline. Now I use them only for emergency use as they are not reliable. One time I may get 300 shots, the next 50. I'm just gonna plunk down for the real deal as they have been steady as rocks.
Regards,
Jon
PS: And I'm not believing their "increased capacity" claims either. Neither battery has *ever* lasted as long as the Canon original equipment. And before some naysayer jumps in I condition and use my batteries carefully - so no - it isn't due to faulty charging/usage patterns.
If you send the batteries back to them according to their return directions, they will refund the shipping charges. My invoice did note a credit for the postage, but I have not checked my Mastercard to see if it is really there. I assume that it is. As I noted in a previous thread, the replacement batteries fit my 5D fine. I have not had them long enough to make any comment regarding longevity or ability to hold a charge.
Fixing the problem is SUPER easy. Just file down the housings a bit with your wife's nail file, I used a Leatherman tool, whatever. (If you have a more aggresive file the job will go very quickly.) Just remove plastic where I've marked the battery in red. Don't take off plastic the thickness of the red lines; the lines are just to show where to file.
http://www.dirtimage.com/images/BP-511.jpg
http://www.dirtimage.com/images/BP-511b.jpg
(sorry for the ugly ISO 3200 hand-held macro shots)
BubbaJon wrote:
I know a lot of you guys swear by the Sterlingtek batteries, and maybe my experience is unique, but...
I bought a pair for backup with my 20D about 2 yrs ago. Within a couple of months the capacity on one was very low - but outside of warranty so I was stuck. Here within the last few months the other has started to decline. Now I use them only for emergency use as they are not reliable. One time I may get 300 shots, the next 50. I'm just gonna plunk down for the real deal as they have been steady as rocks.
Regards,
Jon
PS: And I'm not believing their "increased capacity" claims either. Neither battery has *ever* lasted as long as the Canon original equipment. And before some naysayer jumps in I condition and use my batteries carefully - so no - it isn't due to faulty charging/usage patterns....Show more →
I had their batter for a XT not work and they replaced it for me past the 30Day warranty. I think their warranty maybe for one year, so you may want to give them a call.
Here's an update, I got a replacement stating to ship from the 2nd batch. So it must be the first batch that is bad. Anyway, the only differences are that the defective battery is made in Hong Kong and the second batch, which works fine, is made in China. The second batch battery aslo has a tougher plastic feel to it.
So if you get one made in Hong Kong, I'd either file the plastic down or return it. Some cameras have enough space in the grip to use your fingers to pull the battery out, some like the 30D have no space so you have to pry it out with a slim object if the battery gets stuck.
