Chinese Phone DOA

WillyHeckaslike · 27th May 2019, 14:30

Well, it's finally happened. I've been buying the odd item now and again direct from China and never really had a problem in doing so until that is ... now. I bought a Leagoo T5 mobile phone to replace the stolen Blackview P2 that I posted of a few weeks ago. The tracking info shows that it arrived reasonably quick in the UK and that it then sat in the system for nearly a month before it was delivered to me. The phone is sadly dead on arrival, it won't switch on and it will not charge. I've tried different leads and chargers to no avail and it makes no difference whether a wall socket or laptop usb port is used as the charging source.

A quick google points to a sleeping or dead battery being a common cause of the problem, quite possibly a result of the delivery delay when it hit the UK system. I gather that it might be possible to revive the battery by flashing it with a 9V battery but the phone will have to be opened up to do it and there is no guarantee of success even if the battery is replaced. Plus given that the phone is factory fresh I'm not keen on exploring that option for now though I haven't ruled it out given the alternative in the circumstances. The alternative being to return the phone to China.

Anyone got any experience of this and is there a low-cost way of shipping something like this back to China?

suzublu · 27th May 2019, 14:46

Forget it Steve, it'll get "lost" & never get back to China.

I have an Elefone you can have if you're desperate

Actually got 2 as they're pretty good phones

WillyHeckaslike · 27th May 2019, 15:11

Thanks Ronnie, that is a very kind offer which I couldn't possibly accept but it is very much appreciated. I've yet to look in detail at the shipping return cost but I expect it might be an intended barrier by both some of the Chinese sellers and the likes of Aliexpress which is the shopping platform I used to buy the phone.

I quite like the look and feel of this Leagoo T5 not to mention the good specs which attracted my initial interest. It would be nice if I could get it working and all considered a further spend of up to £10 to achieve that seems palatable atm but I might revise that figure when the cost of the return option is a bit clearer.

planenut · 27th May 2019, 16:02

Just a long shot, would it charge via a "wireless" connection? If someone near you has that facility might be worth a go.

Dallas · 27th May 2019, 16:57

You have most probably done this already, but have you taken off the little blue tab from the battery contacts?

WillyHeckaslike · 27th May 2019, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by planenut

Just a long shot, would it charge via a "wireless" connection? If someone near you has that facility might be worth a go.

No, I don't think it is compatible with wireless charging. From what I've googled the battery might be in sleep mode, this happens apparently when the charge reaches such a low value that a protection circuit activates a switch to completely isolate the battery. I don't know if what I've read is correct regards this as it seems bonkers to me to have this happen on a phone with a battery which by design is not meant to be user removable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallas

You have most probably done this already, but have you taken off the little blue tab from the battery contacts?

No, I haven't Wes. I briefly thought that something like this could possibly be the problem but then I thought how could it be when the battery is of the non-removable type as were two other phones which I've bought from China over the last year or so and both worked fine out of the box.

Dallas · 27th May 2019, 18:59

I had the same thing happen with a phone once, I simply left it on charge for a few hours and eventually it sprung into life.

You could also try pressing the volume up/down key while holding the power button, do this while the phone is plugged in on charge.

WillyHeckaslike · 27th May 2019, 19:20

I've tried pressing and holding the buttons in different combinations Wes but still no joy. I bought the phone direct from Leagoo and I've been in contact with them about this and they suggested leaving it on charge for at least 20mins, but it has made no difference doing that and I've even left it on charge overnight to no avail. I have had it at a local mobile phone shop who tried the same methods I've described as I watched and still no joy. They offered to open the phone and try to revive the battery for ... £30.

The shop's fee would be extra for a new battery if needed and of course there is no guarantee that the battery is the problem - although it is a common cause of the problem.

SCP440 · 27th May 2019, 20:56

My last Sony did this, I was told to leave it on charge for 24 hours or more and on the second day I noticed the charge light had come on.

I have now had it 3 years with no problem.

WillyHeckaslike · 27th May 2019, 22:41

Good to hear that a much longer charge period has worked for some. I've nothing to lose so I will give it another try and leave it on charge for a couple of days then.

27th May 2019, 14:30	#1
WillyHeckaslike This is my second home Rovers 75 & 25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wearside Posts: 4,520 Thanks: 543 Thanked 709 Times in 511 Posts	Chinese Phone DOA Well, it's finally happened. I've been buying the odd item now and again direct from China and never really had a problem in doing so until that is ... now. I bought a Leagoo T5 mobile phone to replace the stolen Blackview P2 that I posted of a few weeks ago. The tracking info shows that it arrived reasonably quick in the UK and that it then sat in the system for nearly a month before it was delivered to me. The phone is sadly dead on arrival, it won't switch on and it will not charge. I've tried different leads and chargers to no avail and it makes no difference whether a wall socket or laptop usb port is used as the charging source. A quick google points to a sleeping or dead battery being a common cause of the problem, quite possibly a result of the delivery delay when it hit the UK system. I gather that it might be possible to revive the battery by flashing it with a 9V battery but the phone will have to be opened up to do it and there is no guarantee of success even if the battery is replaced. Plus given that the phone is factory fresh I'm not keen on exploring that option for now though I haven't ruled it out given the alternative in the circumstances. The alternative being to return the phone to China. Anyone got any experience of this and is there a low-cost way of shipping something like this back to China?

27th May 2019, 14:46	#2
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,912 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	Forget it Steve, it'll get "lost" & never get back to China. I have an Elefone you can have if you're desperate Actually got 2 as they're pretty good phones

27th May 2019, 15:11	#3
WillyHeckaslike This is my second home Rovers 75 & 25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wearside Posts: 4,520 Thanks: 543 Thanked 709 Times in 511 Posts	Thanks Ronnie, that is a very kind offer which I couldn't possibly accept but it is very much appreciated. I've yet to look in detail at the shipping return cost but I expect it might be an intended barrier by both some of the Chinese sellers and the likes of Aliexpress which is the shopping platform I used to buy the phone. I quite like the look and feel of this Leagoo T5 not to mention the good specs which attracted my initial interest. It would be nice if I could get it working and all considered a further spend of up to £10 to achieve that seems palatable atm but I might revise that figure when the cost of the return option is a bit clearer.

27th May 2019, 16:02	#4
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Just a long shot, would it charge via a "wireless" connection? If someone near you has that facility might be worth a go.

27th May 2019, 16:57	#5
Dallas This is my second home 1979 Capri 1.6L, 1982 Capri 1.6L, 2016 Dacia Stepway Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dorset Posts: 8,595 Thanks: 3,496 Thanked 3,397 Times in 2,218 Posts	You have most probably done this already, but have you taken off the little blue tab from the battery contacts?

27th May 2019, 18:59	#7
Dallas This is my second home 1979 Capri 1.6L, 1982 Capri 1.6L, 2016 Dacia Stepway Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dorset Posts: 8,595 Thanks: 3,496 Thanked 3,397 Times in 2,218 Posts	I had the same thing happen with a phone once, I simply left it on charge for a few hours and eventually it sprung into life. You could also try pressing the volume up/down key while holding the power button, do this while the phone is plugged in on charge.

27th May 2019, 19:20	#8
WillyHeckaslike This is my second home Rovers 75 & 25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wearside Posts: 4,520 Thanks: 543 Thanked 709 Times in 511 Posts	I've tried pressing and holding the buttons in different combinations Wes but still no joy. I bought the phone direct from Leagoo and I've been in contact with them about this and they suggested leaving it on charge for at least 20mins, but it has made no difference doing that and I've even left it on charge overnight to no avail. I have had it at a local mobile phone shop who tried the same methods I've described as I watched and still no joy. They offered to open the phone and try to revive the battery for ... £30. The shop's fee would be extra for a new battery if needed and of course there is no guarantee that the battery is the problem - although it is a common cause of the problem.

27th May 2019, 20:56	#9
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	My last Sony did this, I was told to leave it on charge for 24 hours or more and on the second day I noticed the charge light had come on. I have now had it 3 years with no problem.

27th May 2019, 22:41	#10
WillyHeckaslike This is my second home Rovers 75 & 25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wearside Posts: 4,520 Thanks: 543 Thanked 709 Times in 511 Posts	Good to hear that a much longer charge period has worked for some. I've nothing to lose so I will give it another try and leave it on charge for a couple of days then.