Illegal EV3 Education Sets (45544) on European market

[peter_m]

I move the discussion from Mindstorms General Discussion thread to get a wider attention

I have recently bought two EV3 Education sets (45544) on allegro.pl, Polish analogue of eBay - from unofficial seller.

It turned out that the sets did not contain the rechargeable batteries - instead in each box there was a notice from TLG saying that they have found an error in circuit and removed the battery from all of the sets. And that they will provide it later...

I have called Lego support and the Support Lady said that they got some similar complaints already and that they are trying to solve this situation - I was asked to call in 2 weeks time.

So I did - and I got an information that those sets (with notice instead of battery) were not supposed to appear on Polish or even on European market - and that they will not provide batteries to those sets.

Now I ask you my dear Eurobrickers - what do you think about this situation? It is clear to me that TLGs distribution chain is malfunctioning - and I feel a little bit cheated - as I am the one (among many) that suffers.

Edited December 5, 2013 by peter_m

[D3K]

This is interesting!

For some time now, there's been a 45544 listed on finn.no (Norwegian market place), from someone going by the name "mandarin87" , who also happens to list a .pl e-mail address in his contact info. Could maybe be the same guy? Could it be he doesn't know of the missing battery?

[peter_m]

This is interesting!

For some time now, there's been a 45544 listed on finn.no (Norwegian market place), from someone going by the name "mandarin87" , who also happens to list a .pl e-mail address in his contact info. Could maybe be the same guy? Could it be he doesn't know of the missing battery?

There are few different sellers offering 45544 on the site I have mentioned - so that is not "just one guy". But yes, that might be one of them.

Regarding the knowledge about missing battery - one does not know that, not until he opens the box. My sets had welded plastic strap around the boxes, so they were unopened.

[freakwave]

This sound a lot like returns/re-calls as the lady stated, that fell off a truck somehow on the way back to TLG...

I hope you did not pay the price that they are offered on BL now.

[peter_m]

This sound a lot like returns/re-calls as the lady stated, that fell off a truck somehow on the way back to TLG...

I hope you did not pay the price that they are offered on BL now.

I guess those are not returns. Inside the boxes there was a legit notice from TLG in 4 languages that they did not want to delay shipment so they decided to ship without the battery and ship it later when it will be properly manufactured.

[Conchas]

Just raised the attention to this issue at the MCP forum / LEGO Education.

Eventually someone inside TLG, will come with a reaction.

[peter_m]

Just raised the attention to this issue at the MCP forum / LEGO Education.

Eventually someone inside TLG, will come with a reaction.

Thanks!

I guess there will be more people in the same situation - there are still 30 Edu sets on mentioned website. And when I was buying my sets many others have already been sold.

Edited December 5, 2013 by peter_m

[teflon]

I guess that those sets might be the preproduction sets intended for early demonstrations with Lego Education dealers (for FLL etc.). Those were not ment for (re)sale. A set that I've seen had a label that said "not for retail" and was without battery. However "our" Lego Education dealer is quite serious and was not selling it.

I am sorry about you but perhaps you can with a little help from Lego figure out where did this set come from.

[Jim]

I move the discussion from Mindstorms General Discussion thread to get a wider attention

I think it's a strange situation. In my opinion it's totally irrelevant that your set showed up in Europe (Poland). Originally this contained a faulty battery (or would have contained) so TLG needs to deliver a proper one.

Thanks Conchas, great work! Really curious to what the outcome will be.

[peter_m]

I guess that those sets might be the preproduction sets intended for early demonstrations with Lego Education dealers (for FLL etc.). Those were not ment for (re)sale. A set that I've seen had a label that said "not for retail" and was without battery. However "our" Lego Education dealer is quite serious and was not selling it.

My sets do not have such label.

I am sorry about you but perhaps you can with a little help from Lego figure out where did this set come from.

Support said that they are tracking those set themselves but they cannot share any details.

The lady also said that I have paid a good price for the set so I am not lossy in terms of money without a battery - and I can buy one from them if I really want it. That was not really nice thing to hear.

Edited December 5, 2013 by peter_m

[Cwetqo]

Why dont you contact your seller and complain that you got incomplete set. And he can request battery in your name. After all, there must be (at the end of the chain) someone who is legal education reseller.

[peter_m]

Why dont you contact your seller and complain that you got incomplete set. And he can request battery in your name. After all, there must be (at the end of the chain) someone who is legal education reseller.

I did - but he is just a middleman - he got the sets from someone else. Two weeks ago he said that he will try to acquire those batteries from his source.

Support lady has also contacted that guy - and from what I have understood - official statement is that those sets (without batteries) sold outside U.S. will not get the replacements. So I will not get the battery directly and the seller will not get it for me either.

I may live without these batteries - but I do not want to be treated as the one that is to be blamed.

Edited December 5, 2013 by peter_m

[Conchas]

The lady also said that I have paid a good price for the set so I am not lossy in terms of money without a battery - and I can buy one from them if I really want it. That was not really nice thing to hear.

That's the most ridiculous part of the story!...

This is not an acceptable comment, from one speaking in name of the company.

[Jim]

That's the most ridiculous part of the story!...

This is not an acceptable comment, from one speaking in name of the company.

True! That's very disappointing and totally unacceptable, coming from a TLG employee.

[peter_m]

The same lady had helped me few times in the past with some minor shipment / order status issues and then she was polite and thoughtful.

But this time I felt a bit weird... and was far from being satisfied with her answers and explanations.

Just raised the attention to this issue at the MCP forum / LEGO Education.

Eventually someone inside TLG, will come with a reaction.

Any replies?

By the way - thank you guys for your support!

Edited December 5, 2013 by peter_m

[Conchas]

Just sit and relax...

This can take time, if there will be an answer.

At least I hope the subject to reach someone who may eventually not be aware there is such issues happening.

[DrJB]

Seems to me some 'entrepreneur' is buying sets in the US and reselling them in Europe ... for whatever justifiable reason. Still, I think TLG should honor such requests.

To my knowledge, nothing on the box says that contents are to be sold/used only in North America ... One could very well buy them in one country and use them in another. But if it's an entrepreneur ... some import/customs laws must have been 'loop-holed ...

In any event, I am sure ultimately TLG will honor your request, I have had only positive experience dealing with the EDU division... at least here in the USA

Edited December 5, 2013 by DrJB

[JopieK]

Education is always a problem, in Holland there is one official reseller, others buy via this reseller (Heutink.nl)

[teflon]

True! That's very disappointing and totally unacceptable, coming from a TLG employee.

Well, welcome to the Third World!! Sorry, but Lego has such an attitude with all outsiders that are not within focus. I just hope Peter finds a good solution.

[peter_m]

Well, welcome to the Third World!! Sorry, but Lego has such an attitude with all outsiders that are not within focus. I just hope Peter finds a good solution.

Well I have spent ~$750 in shop.lego.com so far (since Aug'13) and I hoped that they will treat me as a 'customer' - not just 'another random complaining guy'.

What do you guys think should be my next step? Should I email LEGOedu?

[DrJB]

Here is a thought. In the US, boxes were sold with that paper notice. In EU, it appears you can't buy EDU until the battery issue is fixed. Since US/EU have different 'accounting' (book/keepers), it is understandable that the EU division does not want to cover US expenses ... Ultimately they are the same company, but global companies are not really 'global'.

What if you tried to contact the US EDU office and see what they come up with? The fact of the matter is that you ended up with a US version and they 'should' be able to help you. Let us know what you find out.

You have to be patient though as, I ordered the EV3 battery over 2 months ago, and still have not received it as they must have a huge backlog. This, at least is what the customer rep told me when I called few days ago.

Good Luck.

Edited December 6, 2013 by DrJB

[peter_m]

I have sent an email to LEGOed. Let's see what they say.

[peter_m]

Just raised the attention to this issue at the MCP forum / LEGO Education.

Eventually someone inside TLG, will come with a reaction.

Sorry for impatience, but do you possibly have any news from MCP forum?

[Conchas]

No, unfortunately not!

If had, I'd have posted them here.

[peter_m]

I got an email from Lego Education's Senior Territory Manager for Europe - he asked me for receipt and my address so they could send me batteries (yay!) - but unfortunately I do not have the receipt, as I was buying those sets from private person :(. I told him that the best I can do to prove that I am in possession of two EV3 45544 sets is to send him (via conventional mail) the notices that were present in the boxes (those explaining the lack of battery). He then replied that this is not good (aww!) - and he needs up to 1 week to figure something out for me.