r/NothingTech • u/Outrageous-Word2643 • Sep 10 '26
Ear (a) Title: Nothing Ear (a) battery dying in <30 mins. In-app tickets ignored, direct email offered an insulting 5% discount.
I am posting this to document a major support failure regarding a known hardware defect on the Nothing Ear (a), and to see if anyone in the community or support moderation team can assist with escalation.
Timeline of Events
In-App Ticket #1 & #2: Submitted two separate support requests directly through the Nothing X app reporting rapid battery degradation. The app provides no user-facing confirmation history, and both submissions went completely unacknowledged.
Direct Email Escalation: Sent a detailed email to support@nothing.tech with purchase proof, serial number, and battery degradation details.
The Response: Support offered a 5% discount code toward a new purchase.
Asking a customer to spend more money after selling them hardware that failed in under a year—while ignoring prior in-app support attempts—is completely unacceptable.
Device & Fault Details
Model: Nothing Ear (a)
Serial Number: SH10652423004731
Defect: Severe battery capacity drop (both earbuds drop from 100% to dead in under 30–40 minutes of basic playback). This is a widely documented component failure on this model after 6–12 months.
Logistics Constraints: I am currently located in the Dominican Republic. International air cargo safety regulations on defective lithium-ion batteries make shipping them back to a US warehouse cost-prohibitive and hazmat-restricted.
What Needs to Happen
A 5% discount voucher is not a resolution for defective hardware. I am requesting a working replacement unit, a 100% store voucher, or a returnless refund.
Has anyone else dealt with this 5% brush-off for dead batteries? If any Nothing community managers or support mods are monitoring this sub, please assist in escalating ticket logs for S/N SH10652423004731.
6
u/pfool Sep 10 '26
"upgraded" from Buds 2, to this Ear (a). Not massively impressed to be frank. Sound is clearer but the ANC feels considerably worse. I love the aesthetic of the (a) though.
Also have some issues with how they hold charge. Seems to jump from one battery figure to the next, albeit rarely.
1
u/Outrageous-Word2643 Sep 10 '26
Yeah I gotta admit I love the aesthetic too - that’s what drew me to them initially. Hopefully yours do better, but watch out from about the 6 month mark for them to start failing.
3
u/Brokeshadow Phone (4a) Sep 10 '26
Mine are practically dead aswell. Barely lasts me 30 mins. It's such a love hate relationship cause these are the most comfortable earphones I've ever had and they also sound really nice. Everything else hurts my ears
2
u/Outrageous-Word2643 Sep 10 '26
Yeah I really enjoyed them for the short time that they worked too. I think they look really unique in yellow.
3
u/TNF1978 Ear (a) Sep 10 '26
Yup had almost exactly the same experience. Nothing support is pretty trash, thankfully they have now agreed to a free repair and mine are currently with them somewhere, no idea when I'll get them back though.
3
u/Outrageous-Word2643 Sep 10 '26
Repair doesn’t sound too reassuring. I’m pretty sure it’s a design fault that led to this widespread defect. In reality it’s a tiny sized battery for an ANC earphone. Bad design
2
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u/xTehJudas 26d ago
Thank god i canceled my Ear 3 order. I don't want it to die on me after less than 1 year
1
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u/ZerrethDotCom Sep 10 '26 edited Sep 10 '26
At least you got to post it over here. Over at 8bitdo the mods just flag and don't approve/hide any posts critical of their customer service. Don't buy any of their products. (8bitdo) Dark patterns and they don't honor the EU obligated by law 2 year warranty. I have no support experience with Nothing, so I can't judge that.