True Stories of Tech Support: Just How Bad is XYZ Tech Support?

For those of you considering a Davinci, here’s the transcript (from the XYZ support center) of my three-month struggle just to get a simple warranty repair done.
About half-way through, I gave up waiting on them and bought a Flashforge dreamer. The difference between a Davinci and a Dreamer is like the difference between a Powerwheels and a Tesla.
And yes, I did replace the sensors, and the wiring. It’s something deeper than that.
Also, since XYZ would not respond to my continued requests for support, I posted a link to this post on soliforum (http://www.soliforum.com/topic/12247...z-tech-support) on their Facebook page. Within an hour, they deleted my comments and blocked me from commenting on anything else on their page. I wonder why?

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⦁ Ticket WUSA150705003
⦁ Open Date: 2015/07/05
⦁ Last Update: 2015/09/05
⦁ Issue Type: Hardware issue

KillerTigger
⦁ Extruder seems unable to find home _ attempts to home x axis result in extruder moving 10 mm to the left each time home x command is issue. In addition, when calibrating extruder head will stop on the left-rear corner and on subsequent calibration attempts (at which point the extruder should return to home to re-run the calibration) the extruder will grind against the left x-axis stop/rail end instead of moving right to the home position.
2015/07/05 01:37
KillerTigger

UPDATE
Ok, swapped the top door optical sensor with the x-axis optical sensor _ made no change. Firmware is reporting X position as -33.00 mm. Each time I tell it to Home X it moves 10 mm or so left, but the displayed x-axis location does not change and stays steady @ -33.00 mm.
2015/07/05 03:36

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Customer;

Please send us a copy of your purchase invoice and advise us your full name, complete address and contact number.

Regarding to the issue, please refer to below link. The printer type is different, but the demonstration is the same.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Valerie)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/07/06 20:56

KillerTigger
⦁ Invoice is attached.
I’ve completely taken out the x-sensor, checked the wiring, and re-installed it. I’ve tried replacing it with the identical sensor from the lid. I’ve also checked and re-seated the connectors on the extruder body and the carriage.
The board in the video looks nothing like the board in the 1.0A _ where/how can I check the x-motor board connection (the small daughter board in the video) on the 1.0A board?
Thanks!
2015/07/06 21:08

KillerTigger
⦁ OOPS _ forget the attachment. Here’s the invoice. BTW, total shown is $0.00 because this was for a replacement 1.0A paid for with an Amazon gift card. The first 1.0A I received from Amazon was DOA.
0" Davinci_invoice_12.23.14.pdf
2015/07/06 21:10

KillerTigger
⦁ Also, I’m not getting the lights/alarm/contact service code except every 10th boot or so. Just the ‘move left’ when homed and other problems listed in the initial ticket.
0" Davinci_invoice_12.23.14.pdf
2015/07/06 21:12

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth;

Thank you for the information.

Please kindly advice us whether you would agree to send in your printer for repair to diagnose the root cause and have a full checkup of the printer.

If yes, please fill up and sign the attached RMA form and send us the scanned copy for our reference.

Please ship your printer to the address below with RMA# RWUSA150705003 then kindly send us the tracking no.

Once our tech department have done the repair, we will advise you the tracking no. once available.

XYZprinting
RMA# RWUSA150705003
9877 Waples St.
San Diego, CA 92121
Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Valerie)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
0" XYZprinting%20RMA%20request%20form.pdf
2015/07/06 21:26

KillerTigger
⦁ Thanks for your quick reply.
I have two quick questions:
1-Will there be any charge associated with this repair, or should this be covered under the warranty?
and
2 - Can xyz provide me with the proper shipping materials so that I can safely ship the printer in for repairs? I held onto the original packing materials for 90 days, but did eventually dispose of them after four months of trouble-free printing.
I do not feel comfortable shipping the unit without this shipping material.

thanks!
2015/07/06 23:21

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

The cost on your side would be the shipping fee in sending it to us then we will cover the shipping fee when sending it back to you.

For the packaging materials, we will be able to sell the box if you would prefer to buy from us.
Or you may use any packaging materials but please make sure the printer is well packed and please note that we will not hold any accountability for any shipping damage.

Thank you very much for your patience.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Kristel)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/07/07 03:48

KillerTigger
⦁ Thanks for the reply. How much would it cost to purchase the packaging materials from you?
2015/07/07 10:53

KillerTigger
⦁ Also, to clarify, will you be able to provide just the box, or all the packaging materials (bed brace, etc.) needed to safely ship the printer?
thanks again!
2015/07/07 11:18

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Regarding your inquiry of packaging material cost, the packing material is $25 Plus shipping and tax, consists of all the packaging material needed for the safety of the printer. Please also note that only check is accepted as payment.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/07/07 16:43

KillerTigger
⦁ Sounds great. Please send me an invoice with the total for the packaging materials (materials, taxes, shipping) and the address where I need to send the check.
2015/07/07 16:59

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Please advise your shipping address so we can calculate the tax and shipping cost. We will be sending you a quotation first before sending the check payment.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com

2015/07/07 19:03

KillerTigger
⦁ Oops guess that would make it easier. Shipping address is: John Culbreth, (address redacted)
2015/07/07 19:29

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Thank you for the information. We will keep you updated once the quotation is ready.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/07/09 17:08

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Please advise us your contact number for our reference and quotation purposes.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/07/09 20:10

KillerTigger
⦁ xxx-xxx-xxxx (redacted)
2015/07/09 20:42

KillerTigger
⦁ Four days, no response _last update was 7/9/15. It would be great if we could move this process forward.
2015/07/13 18:41

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Sorry for the waiting. Here is the quotation for the packaging materials. Please see attached file.

You can mail the check payment to following address.

XYZprinting
RE: (Subject)
9877 Waples St.
San Diego, CA 92121

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
0" Quotation.pdf
2015/07/13 20:32

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Sorry for the confusion. Here is the quotation for the packaging materials. Please see attached file.

You can mail the check payment to following address.

XYZprinting
RE: X5071049
9877 Waples St.
San Diego, CA 92121

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
0" Quotation.pdf
2015/07/13 21:11

KillerTigger
⦁ Thank you very much. One last question before I order the packaging materials _ Is there a limit on how long the RMA # will be considered valid; i.e. will the delay between sending the check, receiving the packaging, and shipping the unit back for repair cause any issues? How many days do I have to get the unit to you under the existing RMA?
Thanks again!
2015/07/19 04:45

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Please be informed that RMA # is valid for 30 days and if it goes beyond that, you can contact us back so we can have a status update from your side.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/07/21 07:24

KillerTigger
⦁ Personal check # 977 has been cut and is being mailed out today for the shipping materials. Please make a note that the shipping materials have been ordered and that the RMA will need to be extended in order to allow time for me to receive the materials and ship the defective printer to you.
thanks,

JC
2015/07/31 14:46

KillerTigger
⦁ Requested RMA form attached.
0" XYZprinting RMA request form.pdf
2015/07/31 15:26

KillerTigger
⦁ Requested RMA form attached.
0" XYZprinting RMA request form.pdf
2015/07/31 15:43

KillerTigger
⦁ OOPS sorry duplicated the message…

0" XYZprinting RMA request form.pdf
2015/07/31 15:44

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Thank you for the information. We will advise the relevant department regarding your ordered shipping materials and we will get back to you once we received the feedback from them.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Mhane)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/07/31 16:23

KillerTigger
⦁ Looks like my payment has cleared. Do you have an ETA for the shipping materials?
2015/08/13 05:14

KillerTigger
⦁ Nearly three weeks, no reply _ is this what passes for customer support @ XYZ? The check has cleared, the RMA has been sitting waiting for XYZ to get the package to me since July 6. We are now just about to the two-month period since the RMA was issued. Why is it so hard to get a simple answer, any answer, from XYZ? This is completely unacceptable ‘support’.
2015/09/02 03:16

Customer Service Staff
⦁ Dear Mr. Culbreth,

Our sincere apologies for the delays and inconvenience.

Please allow us to get back to you tom. for update.

Thank you for your patience.

Best Regards,
Customer Care (Kristel)
XYZprinting Inc.
www.xyzprinting.com
2015/09/03 05:04

KillerTigger
⦁ ‘Please allow us to get back to you tom’ - this was your last message on 9/3, manning you would get back to me in 9/4. Today is 9/5, or TWO days after 9/3,yet I have heard nothing else re this tech support request, thus once again proving moping that XYZ has horrendous tech support that promises far, far more than it can or will deliver. This is beyond ridiculous - all I want is the packaging material, which I paid for over a month ago, and the warranty repair, which I was promised way back in July. PLEASE resolve this.
2015/09/05 17:48

KillerTigger
⦁ ‘Please allow us to get back to you tom’ - this was your last message on 9/3, meaning you would get back to me in 9/4. Today is 9/5, or TWO days after 9/3,yet I have heard nothing else re this tech support request, thus once again proving that XYZ has horrendous tech support that promises far, far more than it can or will deliver. This is beyond ridiculous - all I want is the packaging material, which I paid for over a month ago, and the warranty repair, which I was promised way back in July. PLEASE resolve this. __(fixed Autocorrects)
2015/09/05 17:49

Wow that’s terrible. If they continue to give you the ring around on customer support I would recommend submitting a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission if you don’t get a reply soon: Link That is really bad business management for the company. The longest I’ve ever had to wait for a reply from a customer service for my printer was 2 business days.

Thanks for sharing John! Nice piece to keep in mind before making a purchase, and hopefully with exposing posts like these ones, companies are more aware of how important it is to provide customer support prior to a sale. Especially with 3D printers, since it’s so vital for parts to be replaced at times.

Did you end up getting any other updates from them?