ELECTRIC GOLF CADDY - BUYER'S SHOPPING GUIDE FOR QOD GOLF

electric golf caddy 2018 buying guide frequently asked questions

Electric Golf Caddy Shopping- Where to start? What matters most?

We feel your pain…several years ago we were just like you, shopping for a new electric golf caddy. It took us months to finally choose an electric trolley because every time we went online, we read something new about a motor or battery that would confuse us even more. When we finally bought our first caddies, we ended up disappointed in the quality anyway, which is why we continued our pursuit of a caddy that worked best for us and finally found it in the land down under…Australia.

WARRANTY:  We strongly believe that when making an investment in an electric golf caddy that will carry your bag hundreds of miles over several years, the most important factor is quality. Have you ever bought an appliance only to find out the warranty costs nearly as much as the product? Or maybe you bought a $1,200 phone from a company (we won’t mention any names, but it rhymes with scrapple) who then asks if you want to buy a protection plan? 

An electric golf trolley manufacturer who offers a three-year warranty on every part of their motorized golf caddy obviously has confidence in the structural integrity and durability of its parts and components. We suggest reading the fine print of the warranties of these electric golf caddy carts before you purchase your electric golf trolley.

BATTERY:  With the exception of cheaper electronic golf caddy carts that offer the heavier and less efficient lead-acid batteries, most major electric golf caddy brands sell lithium-ion batteries. A combination of factors such as the caddy's weight, bag weight, how hilly a course is and what the battery’s amp hours (aH) and voltage are, will dictate how long it should last on a single charge. Because there are so many variables outside of the golf caddy manufacturer's control, we suggest you just look at what the company advertises the lithium battery is capable of powering.

The QOD electric caddy battery is 18aH and 14.4V, and this will allow you to use the battery for 36 holes in a single day. We cannot guarantee this will be the case for all three years of your warranty due to individual variables, but we know this will be the case for quite some time should you properly charge your battery.

MOTOR:  All motorized golf cart brands offer a motor that is capable of handling the terrain you'd expect to see on a typical golf course. There may be some variation in the technical specs of the motor size, but this is usually due to the weight of the cart, whether or not it has a remote control, and the size and type of battery the electric golf trolley was designed for.

The QOD’s motor is 180 watts and we have taken it up the steepest hills you can find on a golf course without any issue at all. We feel it’s a safe bet to assume every caddy on the market can climb all of the hills you will find on a golf course. The question then becomes, how long will it last? Which brings us back to the golf caddy's warranty.

FRAME: We find there to be a very common theme amongst leading manufacturers of electric golf trollies, and that is aluminum welds made by hand during the manufacturing process, and shortcuts taken on cheaper plastic compounds. These hand welds are susceptible to weak joints from welding errors, and the cheaper plastics will more easily crack, scratch, and fade over time. A powerful motor and long-lasting lithium-ion battery are great, but what if the entire foundation holding the bag cannot handle the inevitable wear and tear it will face over the years of folding and unfolding, bumpy terrain (in those rare moments we miss the fairway), and of course the various weather conditions all of us diehard golfers find ourselves playing in from time to time? The QOD caddy cart is built from a durable nylon 66 compound which makes up that molded pieces, aircraft grade aluminum for the sliding tubes and axle pieces, and stainless-steel bolts and connectors holding it all together. This ensures integrity throughout the entire trolley and is why the manufacturer has no problem offering the 3-year warranty.

Why No Remote?

The first electric golf trolleys we ever purchased were remote controlled golf carts. But what we thought was a luxury quickly became a nuisance because instead of playing golf, we needed to “play remote”.

Steering a caddy between a cart path gets old fast, as does clicking left and right with your thumb all day, or swinging with a “garage-door opener” clipped to your hip.

Losing the remote or forgetting spare batteries is frustrating, but annoying your playing partners by accidentally running the caddy into their line of site is simply embarrassing.

We find having one less thing to think about, lose, or break, is a good thing when we’re playing a game as easy as golf is...

What Is The Battery Life And Power?

The battery is designed and built to last you for years to come and is covered under warranty for three years. How well you take care of the battery will have a significant impact on how long the battery will last after the warranty period, along with how many rounds you play a year, the type of courses you play, the weight of your bag, etc.

The battery has plenty of power to handle any size bag, on any type of course for 36 holes in any given day. Due to variables in the customer’s charging routine, storage habits, and playing conditions, the warranty does not guarantee it will last for 36 holes per charge for all three years, but it does guarantee the battery will last 18 holes per charge for all three years so long as you maintain your battery as directed in the instruction guides and manual.

Should you need a new battery outside or beyond warranty coverage, the price for our customers is always at our cost from the manufacturer.

Charging the battery is simple. It plugs into any standard wall outlet, and after the first charging cycle which can take up to eight hours, the battery typically re-charges in less than four hours. You should charge your battery after every use, even if it is only for nine holes. And when you do not play for extended periods of time, you will need to charge the battery before storing it in a cool, dry place, and then charging it again every six to eight weeks to keep it happy during extended breaks. All of these details will be provided to you with your purchase.

Is The Qod Caddy Easy To Set Up And Fold?

The QOD is the smallest electric golf caddy in the world and it folds it quickly and easily. It will take you a few rounds of golf before you can do it without thinking about it, but until then we will send you a quick photo “cheat-sheet” that you can keep on your phone to reference any time. Please take a look at this video to see a demonstration of how the QOD electric golf trolley sets up.

What Is The Size And Weight Of The QOD Golf Caddy?

The QOD caddy cart folds more compact than any other electric pushcart in the world. When folded, it is only 13" high, 14.5" wide, and only 17.5" long. This is smaller than any manual push cart in the world as well. The lithium-ion battery weighs 5 lbs. and the cart only weighs 26 lbs.

How Do I Control The Speed?

How Do I Steer The QOD Caddy?

Is The Speed Of The Caddy Adjustable? Can It Go As Fast As I Want?

The QOD is capable of moving as quickly or slowly as you choose to walk. Please see the video below for reference. The QOD has 9 different speed settings and you can select the speed that is right for you by using the plus or minus button on the display, or using the rotary dial located at your right pointer finger on the handle bar.

Does the QOD have “free-wheel” mode?

Yes, the QOD is always in “free-wheel” mode without having to change or disengage anything. If you are in the parking lot, tight spots on the course, around the green, or you happen to forget to charge your battery, you will always be able to push or pull your QOD freely in any direction, at any time.

What If I Need Service Or Support?

Our team is here in the United States and available to help you 7 days a week should you ever have any issues. Although the warranty is provided by the Australian manufacturer, all service and support is done by our team here in the U.S.A. You will not have to chase down a manufacturer abroad to have your caddy serviced, we are always happy to help and will do everything we can to get you back up and running asap. 

Warranty Details

We believe a product’s warranty says a lot about how much a company believes in their product and values their customers. We are proud to offer what we consider to be the best warranty in the marketplace. While many companies only offer a limited one-year warranty, the QOD is backed by a three-year manufacturer’s warranty, with all of the service and the support provided here in the USA. For full details, please visit our WARRANTY page here.   

How do I charge the battery?

Charging the battery is simple. It plugs into any standard wall outlet typically re-charges in less than four hours. You do not need to take the entire electric caddy into the house to charge it, you can simply take out the 5lb. battery and leave the trolley in the car if you prefer. 

Is It Really Free Shipping? When Will It Ship?

All orders ship free via FedEx ground service, and any order placed by 2P EST will be shipped the same day! We will send you tracking information for your QOD within one business day of its shipment so you can follow its progress online as it makes its way towards you.

Will The QOD Help Lower My Scores?

When we launched our massive internal scientific study, we found the only way to guarantee your scores improve with the QOD was to skip the last two holes.

However, common sense tells us that when we save our energy for hitting shots instead of pushing or carrying our clubs, our legs, backs, and arms are fresher as we head into the last few holes of our round.

When it comes to the mental side of golf, we find that walking makes a huge difference in our game, as opposed to riding in a cart. Walking 300 yards to your drive (we’re giving you the benefit of the doubt (a lot of doubt)) gives you ample time to think about and plan your next shot. Driving to your partner's ball in the other fairway, watching them take three practice swings before chunking it into the bunker, and then driving back over to your ball doesn’t bode well for your mental preparation of hitting your next shot.

Golf is a tough game and not every day is going to go your way, you might as well enjoy the walk.

Have more questions? Please Contact Us anytime, we’re happy to help.

 

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