I see @JonnyRoy point but for a different reason. I hold companies responsibly for their products. Something that isn’t as it should be needs to be reported. BUT something like this causes a conundrum.
A. If you hold them accountable, you need to still follow their policies for replacement/return, and then it’s at THEIR discretion if they want to deviate (send you a battery/credit) or not.
B. If you do nothing and just swap the battery as @joewom suggests, you let the company off the hook and they have no incentive to improve or resolve issues. In my opinion, FAR too many folks take the easy way out, the latter in this scenario, and companies get even more complacent leading to them straight up ignoring what’s “right.”
I will argue for a resolution in a situation like this, that at least (hopefully) makes the company realize they need to satisfy the customer and their promises for the product. It also makes them possibly realize the potential profit loss for this kind of issue, thus forcing (hahaha) their QC department to up it’s game.
Then there’s the part of me that hates all corporations, and I’d just say f it, report to support a defective sensor, and await an advance replacement. This has happened to me twice, well, honestly, they were bad, and ST sent a new one ASAP, very good support. They never asked if they were from my original kit or the 5 pack’s I’ve bought.
As soon as you said it was a dead battery…I assume you tested with another battery…you lost that leverage so to speak. This isn’t 100% ethical, but MAN is it less bad than how companies generally treat us!
And @pstuart, I have to disagree on the cost benefit. $2 is WAY more to you or me than a company this size. Ya know, relatively. It’s in their interest to cough up a replacement no questions asked, then to ask for a return or other customer concession. Both my RMA’s had a pre-paid label in them ready to go. That’s good customer service! Home Depot and Lowe’s do this as well.
However I agree 100% on the alarm comments. Holy crap @JonnyRoy save yourself the headache of using ST as an alarm in it’s current state!
And to everyone, please get batteries from an actual Panasonic/Sony authorized seller, the VAST majority of batteries on eBay and Amazon are fakes. Arrow.com or digikey.com are two of the best sources I’ve found.
Edit: and obviously test WHAT YOU CAN when you first receive it. Some items you simply can’t do that with, that’s why there are warranties/support services. But if it’s not immediately reported, you fall firmly in the first camp of following THEIR rules.
