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Hongyi Messed Up
9 years ago
Hi Folks,
Headline: Beware - Hongyi makes mistakes at the Customers Cost
I don't normally like to discuss things like this publically, but I'm really very disappointed, unfortunately yet again, with the way Hongyi deals with problems they have caused.
I bought one of those lovely Goodra Dragons, which to my best knowledge is not a copy of someone elses design (Please let me know if I'm mistaken)
Copy 1:
I was sent the original copy, which was made out of the same lovely soft squeakie material that my Toothless was made from, however, it became quickly apparent that the paint started to come off when it got wet. Woah, this isn't going to be very good for taking to the pool / seaside with me, I'd better get back to Hongyi.
Their initial response was "Oh well, you'd better just not get it wet then" - erm......no, that doesn't work for me. Then, somehow, I'm bartering with them, how about 20% off your next order? What?! No, I have a problem with the inflatable that makes it un-useable, I'd like a replacement please.
After much debate, I end up having to foot the additional cost of shipping Copy 1 back to them and new Copy 2 out. I'm unhappy with doing this, but I've been held over a barrel and see this as the only way to fix the problem.
Copy 2:
Copy 2 arrives with me last Tuesday, so you can imagine my excitement. Here we go, a nice shiny new inflatable to replace the one with the problems, initially happy happy.
Unfortunately, I get the Goodra out of her bag (not sent in a box, just a bag, not brilliant) and notice the surface of the vinyl is very rough, that's not good. And it doesn't feel like the squeakie soft previous goodra? Oh dear......And, the connection points that held the hands over her breasts are missing? Oops........And the surface is quite dirty indeed, so I'll just give it a quick wipe over with a cloth and water (no chemicals), and.......What?! the paint comes off AGAIN!
Reponse from Hongyi, I'm told:
- The second was checked before it went out - Not true or these issues would have been spotted.
- The Material is exactly the same, it might be because of the UV Print that it feels different. Well, no, the previous one was very smooth, and the previous one (exactly the same size) weighed 10.5kg, so why does this one only weigh 9kg?
- Hongyi can offer me a 35% refund on the inflatable only cost (Approx $190 of the $750 paid), the sales agent and manager think this is not an insulting offer
- No comment is made about missing features
- Oh and the sales agent claimed she had repeatedly told the factory what to do and they hadn't (Hang on, that's Hongyis factory right? not a separate company. Aren't you representing your factory? the place where your inflatables are made?!)
It seems I'm not alone, I've already spoken to 5 other people who are currently having issues with Hongyi. it appears they are rushing things, not paying close enough attention, and the after sales care is really unacceptable, in fact I'd go as far to say absolutely rubbish!
HONGYI, you have a chance to make things right, but it does mean you'll have to communicate with me, refund me or make another inflatable of the same cost to replace.
The Gauntlet is laid down!
P.S. if anyone else wants to talk to me about their issues or questions about Hongyi, please let me know, don't suffer in silence, you're not the only ones having problems.
Headline: Beware - Hongyi makes mistakes at the Customers Cost
I don't normally like to discuss things like this publically, but I'm really very disappointed, unfortunately yet again, with the way Hongyi deals with problems they have caused.
I bought one of those lovely Goodra Dragons, which to my best knowledge is not a copy of someone elses design (Please let me know if I'm mistaken)
Copy 1:
I was sent the original copy, which was made out of the same lovely soft squeakie material that my Toothless was made from, however, it became quickly apparent that the paint started to come off when it got wet. Woah, this isn't going to be very good for taking to the pool / seaside with me, I'd better get back to Hongyi.
Their initial response was "Oh well, you'd better just not get it wet then" - erm......no, that doesn't work for me. Then, somehow, I'm bartering with them, how about 20% off your next order? What?! No, I have a problem with the inflatable that makes it un-useable, I'd like a replacement please.
After much debate, I end up having to foot the additional cost of shipping Copy 1 back to them and new Copy 2 out. I'm unhappy with doing this, but I've been held over a barrel and see this as the only way to fix the problem.
Copy 2:
Copy 2 arrives with me last Tuesday, so you can imagine my excitement. Here we go, a nice shiny new inflatable to replace the one with the problems, initially happy happy.
Unfortunately, I get the Goodra out of her bag (not sent in a box, just a bag, not brilliant) and notice the surface of the vinyl is very rough, that's not good. And it doesn't feel like the squeakie soft previous goodra? Oh dear......And, the connection points that held the hands over her breasts are missing? Oops........And the surface is quite dirty indeed, so I'll just give it a quick wipe over with a cloth and water (no chemicals), and.......What?! the paint comes off AGAIN!
Reponse from Hongyi, I'm told:
- The second was checked before it went out - Not true or these issues would have been spotted.
- The Material is exactly the same, it might be because of the UV Print that it feels different. Well, no, the previous one was very smooth, and the previous one (exactly the same size) weighed 10.5kg, so why does this one only weigh 9kg?
- Hongyi can offer me a 35% refund on the inflatable only cost (Approx $190 of the $750 paid), the sales agent and manager think this is not an insulting offer
- No comment is made about missing features
- Oh and the sales agent claimed she had repeatedly told the factory what to do and they hadn't (Hang on, that's Hongyis factory right? not a separate company. Aren't you representing your factory? the place where your inflatables are made?!)
It seems I'm not alone, I've already spoken to 5 other people who are currently having issues with Hongyi. it appears they are rushing things, not paying close enough attention, and the after sales care is really unacceptable, in fact I'd go as far to say absolutely rubbish!
HONGYI, you have a chance to make things right, but it does mean you'll have to communicate with me, refund me or make another inflatable of the same cost to replace.
The Gauntlet is laid down!
P.S. if anyone else wants to talk to me about their issues or questions about Hongyi, please let me know, don't suffer in silence, you're not the only ones having problems.
If you don't have anything constructive to say, I'd rather you don't post. Thanks
Of course this means you won't ever be able to buy from them again.
that seems to be pretty dangerous if the paint has lead content or toxicity D:
Because the paint hasn't cured, it washes off the vinyl surface when it is wet (yep, very much like water colours). I don't think think it would have any toxicity to it as it has to be on a toy, but it is a very good point your raise if chemicals are ingested or absorbed through the skin?
This is in addition to having the pigments in the paint stain surfaces in and around my home.
I hadn't thought of this so thanks for posting
I'm sorry for the problem you got with them. I haven't ordered anything from them so far, but they have few toys which look interesting to have at the beach. ^'===='^
It's possible that the previous idea of leaving it in UV light for some time to cure might help, but it's already rubbed off this one. Had no help or even attempts to figure out what the problem is by Hongyi. They claimed it was their previous paint / machinery and told me it had been replaced, but how can it have been if I received a second inflatable, after that event, still with the same problem. We shouldn't have to be doing anything once we've received the inflatables, those bucks were given to them to finish the job right?!
There are good inflates there, like the big white TPU Night Fury I had made, but their quality control needs much better attention and so too does their aftersales care. They don't seem to understand the principle we have that a supplier fixes the problems they create.
That's possibly the odd bit then, the surface is actually dry and slightly rough (Not really any additional odour that I can pick up). I don't know whether they have added a powder to the surface to dry it off? You'll know better than me. I actually received IW inflatables recently, and they have a chalky dust on the surface - wondering if this is used to dry off any remaining residues on them?
I've also had issues with the red UV print on the first TPU toothless I've got, it certainly wasn't bonded to the surface. Although it was cured fine, as soon as it was flexed, it started to crack and come off (like paint you see in a really old building that's curling up and flaking off). Possibly also not helped by the TPU being more flexible than the paint - it is certainly more rigid than the TPU (so much so that it made the tail section it was applied to quite stiff too)
Digi-Print would certainly be the way to go for this one now. Again, we shouldn't keep being used as Guinea Pigs, paying for Hongyi to make mistakes. Especially when they have clearly done nothing to remove the issue on the second copy (isn't the first sign of madness doing the same thing and expecting [or in this case claiming] different results?!)
Also, at the moment I'd love to request anything, but Hongyi are currently ignoring me. It's been a week since I emailed Tom (Evas Boss) and no reply.
Oh man..I could probably write a research paper on trying to formulate a flexible/stretchy UV ink, which I spent the good part of a year on with almost success but not quite. It is very difficult to do as cured UV film is traditionally very brittle, but with the right oligomers it can at least be flexible but not really stretchy, which could be the problem with the TPU inflatable being so balloonie x3
Arrgh darn Hongyi >.< I really hope you can get a hold of them since you have been such a good customer of theirs. But for them to do this to you is not cool at all :(
Hongyi "manager" Tom contacted me again today after I sent him more follow up emails yesterday - he's saying "If I stick to my plan there is no way to continue peace talks". Let me re-iterate, my "plan" was requesting that seeing as they had caused the issue (again) they replace the defective goods or refund me (A practice Well known around the world). It didn't account for them simply ignoring comments I make, hoping I will just go away!
Shame for them. Could have been a lot more bottle caps going their way, but this has made me re-think the whole situation
more reason my interest in inflatables might be declining...
Aww. Don't give up on Squeaks, they always need good homes (Especially if they are homes of Dragons!)
Sorry I'm not quite understanding the context of your comment there. Relaxing on a big soft inflatable or relaxing by not dealing with the inflatable industry and getting all stressed out perhaps?
All these things.... meh...
Worst comes to the worst, I'll repaint it. That really isn't the 'hard' part of making one of these, and making one durable enough for 'use'.
Repainting can still be an issue though, finding the right bonding agent and getting it to adhere to already paint laidened surfaces. If you have know-how, am sure in addition to myself, others reading would be interested to learn more ☺
Really pleased with this result! This solves it for me because I don't mind the fading that has already happened to my Goodra - I just don't want it any worse.
Regarding repainting though... it is very difficult to find the very light purple shade in an appropriate product. These guys sell the most shades of an appropriate product, but only of the dark purple and the other minors colors: https://www.vinyldye.co.uk/
If you want to do a repaint, this should get you started, probably straight away if you're happy to change her lavendar-ish colour to something else, even plain white - if you just want to keep her protected from further damage, I think that first product cracks it.
And it doesn't emit fumes during application or spraying, so it can be done indoors... thankfully!
Also, I guess the key here is use it as early as possible before any paint rubs off, that way you lock it all in.
Thanks very much for providing feedback on that one, £16.99 to help keep our squeaks looking lovely isn't too much to pay at all
There is however a tradeoff - the surface feels somewhat tacky when dry. Appearance-wise appears to be just fine though, but I can't comment with full confidence there as the surface quality of the paint is already compromised from earlier, mistaken attempts to see if the loose paint was just excess that could be washed off.
Personally though it's hard to even consider the slight stickiness a problem - it's a Goodra after all lol
Appreciate the feedback by the way, it's good to know the solution is a good one 😊 cheers!