Radioddity & Retevis - Return process broken [updated]

[OffRoaderX]

Guys... GUYS!!

...just kiss and get it over with...

[BoxCar]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

Guys... GUYS!!

...just kiss and get it over with...

Mark the spot? ('cause you're all ...)

[Wayfarer]

@WRYS709

I think I see your point, that I shouldn't have worded my title with "Do not buy direct" with my post instead suggesting people buy from Amazon.   People don't like to be "told" what to do, especially based on one person's limited experience.  I get that.  Thanks for the extra explanation.  I've edited the title, again, to delete that language.

As for the rest of your criticisms, I'm not sure I understand, since you have no personal experience with their return process.  I acknowledge you've always gotten good radios from Radioddity and that your buying experience has been better than mine.  And Retevis is still giving me the runaround, no resolution there.  

-------------------

I received my DB20-G (from Amazon) and it works great.  That one went into the truck, but I plan order two more for my Jeep and for farm base station use.  But I won't be ordering anymore TYT-9800/7800s anytime soon.  

[SteveShannon]

3 hours ago, Wayfarer said:

@WRYS709

I think I see your point, that I shouldn't have worded my title with "Do not buy direct" with my post instead suggesting people buy from Amazon.   People don't like to be "told" what to do, especially based on one person's limited experience.  I get that.  Thanks for the extra explanation.  I've edited the title, again, to delete that language.

As for the rest of your criticisms, I'm not sure I understand, since you have no personal experience with their return process.  I acknowledge you've always gotten good radios from Radioddity and that your buying experience has been better than mine.  And Retevis is still giving me the runaround, no resolution there.  

-------------------

I received my DB20-G (from Amazon) and it works great.  That one went into the truck, but I plan order two more for my Jeep and for farm base station use.  But I won't be ordering anymore TYT-9800/7800s anytime soon.  

Don’t worry about it. Someone will always have an opinion about how you should word something. I’ve done it myself. Just be yourself. 

[WRYS709]

17 hours ago, Wayfarer said:

@WRYS709

I think I see your point...

You do and you remediated the problem!

[CoffeeTime]

Hey Wayfarer,

This is Awesome!!!!!      

Happy to see your update about Radioddity coming through (finally) to make things much better for you.     

 

Please consider additional follow-up contacts with Retevis.  I know it is a PITA,  but they need to provide better support for customers like us.  

Best regards! 

[Wayfarer]

On 3/23/2025 at 7:54 PM, CoffeeTime said:

Hey Wayfarer,

This is Awesome!!!!!      

Happy to see your update about Radioddity coming through (finally) to make things much better for you.     

 

Please consider additional follow-up contacts with Retevis.  I know it is a PITA,  but they need to provide better support for customers like us.  

Best regards! 

I've since bought three DB-20-Gs, two from Amazon and one direct from Radioddity, for use on the farm and mobile for offroad/backcountry use.  One is already mounted to our tractor and seems to put up with all the vibration and dust.  I've put silicone around the mic cord attachment to seal it better.  All the DB20s work great.  So my batting average with chinese radios is improving.  The DB20's seem to be good little radios.  The TYT-7800/9800 and other Yaesu clones on the other hand, I'd stay away from.  If you get good radios, then you won't ever have to deal with customer service.

I got a Yaesu FTM-150RASP for home use, and it too works great.  Broke the bank on that one - I can buy 4 DB20's for the cost of one FTM-150 - so that one stays home snug in the shack.  Can't recommend this radio highly enough, but be prepared to pay up for the 'privilege' of operating a Japanese superheterodyne radio.  HRO will do the MARS mod for an extra $35 if that's your thing.  

No further word still from Retrevis.  As part of the return process, they had me open the radio and take a photo of the internal PCB.  I had to order the special T6 torx tool to open the radio, which I did, and sent Retrevis the photo they requested.  Since I sent them the photo now almost two weeks ago, crickets.  So after jumping through all their hoops, now apparently they've ghosted me.  It seems they would prefer to send their buyers on a wild goose chase and prevent any returns of defective radios, or maybe its just incompetence.  Either way, if you get a defective radio, there isn't any recourse from Retevis, at least in my personal experience.

So in the end:  Radioddity GOOD (with a lot of prodding) and Retrevis BAD (with even more prodding but still unable to return the defective radio).  Buyer beware and hope you get a good radio.