KickAss Products was previously trading as Australian Direct until May 11th, 2022.
AI reviews summary
Overall sentiment for KickAss Products is highly positive, driven by a reputation for excellent customer service and a wide range of reliable camping and 12V electrical gear. While the majority of users report seamless warranty experiences and knowledgeable staff support, a segment of customers has encountered significant friction regarding strict return policies, product durability of specific appliances, and difficulties with the warranty process for items without proof of purchase.
Pros
- Exceptional Customer Support: Staff are frequently praised for being knowledgeable, responsive, and willing to provide technical advice via phone or email to ensure customers choose the correct setup.
- Efficient Warranty Resolutions: For many, the warranty process is fast and "no-fuss," often resulting in immediate replacements or repairs, even for items slightly out of the warranty period.
- Quality Electrical Range: Batteries (AGM and Lithium), inverters, and DC-DC chargers are highlighted for their solid performance and ease of installation with provided instructions.
- Prompt Delivery and Communication: Online orders are generally processed quickly, with several users noting surprisingly fast shipping to rural areas and proactive updates on stock levels.
Cons
- Strict Return and Warranty Policies: Multiple users reported frustration with a "flat refusal" to accept returns outside the 30-day window (even for unused items) or to process claims without original receipts.
- Specific Product Reliability: Recurring complaints mention failures in portable air conditioners (noise/performance), induction cooktops (error codes/burning), and fragile components like on/off switches on fans.
- Shipping and Logistics Friction: Some customers experienced issues with expensive courier fees, lack of flexible delivery options (e.g., no "authority to leave"), and difficulty contacting local stores directly.
- Warranty Documentation Requirements: Some reviewers found the requirement to provide video evidence of faults or to ship bulky items back at their own effort to be an unnecessary hurdle.
Verdict
KickAss Products is a reliable choice for consumers seeking high-quality 12V power solutions and camping gear backed by expert technical support. While most users enjoy a professional and supportive experience, potential buyers should be mindful of strict return windows and ensure they retain all proof of purchase to avoid complications during the warranty process.
At Dandenong South , the staff were very helpfull , The young chap that served me asked a lot of questions with regard to the connections and vehicle controls charging the battery and was happy with the answers given, he also placed the battery in the car for me ! The instructions with the battery were straight foward with regard to charging / WIFI and the remote display and BMS system, it is now in service ! Show details
I was looking at a power station and decided to order it , but at the last moment decided to do some more research . Roger rang ,but I missed the call and then got a email from him stating a quote for the power station at a much lower price . Product came promptly and am impressed with the build quality and performance, will be dealing with… Read more
KickAss again as I have in the past . Excellent customer service from a Aussie company . Well done KickAss, customer service and after sales help means everything these days .
Walked into the store at Laverton. Sales person greeted my wife and I with a smile and asked how she could help. Purchased our products,the sales person even pushed the trolly to our car. Fantastic customer service ( which you don’t see a lot these days). Will be highly recommend my friends or family members to visit the Laverton store . Show details
Reviews with attachments
The worst experience with customer service and returns, will never buy another product from them again. Returning a grill that is unsafe as it does not get to temperature. item was returned still no refund. support do not reply.
Rubbish product The mist sometimes it works don't waste your money
- +3
Outstanding service and even better products, I have a lot of kickass gear and will continue to use it for years to come.
Bought the 1200 watt power station. The inlet AC charger does not work. Customer service/warranty department directed me to use a multimeter on my 240volt outlet?? Very unsafe practice for someone who's not a electrician. Then advise to replace the fuse at my own expense. Still not working, it's been 5 days now with multiple emails and no response. Really poor admin/service/warranty claim department.
Don't buy there products – Brought there new portable air-conditioner what a joke had to wait almost a month to recieve it and it doesn't even work . Spoke to the head office in Brisbane and all I got was how sorry they are . Have to send it back to them for warranty claim so another month of waiting it looks like .. don't buy there product warranty is a joke and so is quality control
KickAss KickCharge Swag 88 Portable Power Pack for Camping - 24,000mAh https://kickassproducts.com.au/products/kickass-kickcharge-24000mah-portable-power-bank-for-camping Does not charge IOS- Iphone. Very misleading information regarding outputs on the website (link above), it was between 1w and 2w output max no matter what cable we used. Apple… Read more
authentic, aftermarket, aftermarket fast charge. Would not accept back as faulty product when contacted online, wanted me to fill out warranty documents, ship it back to them, wait 2 weeks etc. Old mate online was very well versed in not accepting an faults, even when provided photos. I felt like he simply read a pre written document that summarized as we are great, its not our products that are bad it other companies issues. I mean of course Apple doesn't have technology equal to Kickass (insert eye roll)
I literally opened it and tried to get it to work for about an hour before concluding it was just a dud product. Drove to the store 45minutes away from work to return in person. Waited for approximately 45 minutes whilst they tested it on other phones, other speakers, other random USB C devices. Finally accepted that it did not work as advertised and said they would refund it. Refund arrived to account a week later.
Overall a terrible product, with extremely poor performance and shocking customer service. Australian owned and operated means nothing when it comes to not being a fair dinkum business. I would say the experience was about equal to a bad Facebook marketplace purchase. One star rating is generous
These guys are great and one of the best online and shop front businesses that I have used. They exceed customer support to ensure that the customer is always looked after. I have been using Kickass for the last 4 years and oven I've never been let down. They always give an opportunity to ensure that they have met your requirement to meet your… Read more
expectations. Hats off to kickass, and they're stores. Particularly a shout out to the Laverton North Store. Keep up the great work. Cheers Tony from Tassie
- +1
I’ve been running the 3000W inverter along with two 40A MPPT controllers in my van setup, and I’m really impressed with how well everything works together. I’ve got two 500W panels going into one MPPT and two 400W panels into the other, both linked via Cat5, charging a 600Ah battery system. The setup has been solid and performs exactly as I need… Read more
it to.
The inverter handles load without any issues, and the MPPTs have been consistent and reliable, even with varying solar input. It’s a flexible system and gives me confidence I’m getting the most out of my panels.
What really stands out though is the support. I’ve had to call a couple of times to better understand parts of the system, and every time the team has been patient, easy to talk to, and genuinely helpful. They never rush you and take the time to explain things clearly, which makes a big difference.
The whole 12V and solar space can get confusing quickly with all the different variables, so having a company you can call and actually speak to someone knowledgeable without long wait times is a huge plus.
Overall, great products backed by excellent service. Highly recommended.
They are selling 12V 1500A jump starter packs that you can’t use until you charge them according to the operators manual. But they don’t supply or stock the charger you need and tell me I need to buy my own somewhere else. I feel ripped off.
Find out how KickAss Products compares to other Camping Shops
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KICKASS FAST CHARGING 100W USB-C/A CAR CHARGER works fantastic bought 2 for my wife and myself a must for anybody who wants a great charger
I purchased the 3 in 1 sandwich maker. Extremely happy with my purchase and communication with the KickAss team. Thank you
Amazing to deal with; you get what you pay for. The website is easy to navigate, and postage is super quick. A++
Went to the shop in Perth, was awesome experience, my eyes were bigger than my budget, I just needed a couple things to make camping with my kiddos a little easier for me and luxurious for us. I cant remember the fellas name, but he was so wonderful, shared my excitement and some of his wisdom on camping, he showed me some items and didn't try to… Read more
oversell anything or muck me around to buy stuff I didnt need. He knew I was on a budget and respected that, even offering me a cheaper, smaller and much more appropriate charging brick which doubled as a light and he was right, was perfect for us. We've now had the charging brick with a light torch thingo, a rechargeable fan and lights and the world's cutest lantern for a year now. Used them lots camping and they've served us well. The lantern was dropped while on so now thats broken, but the rest are still going strong and lasting us 3 days of camping before needing to be recharged. Brilliant products, brilliant knowledge and experience on products and great salesman, everyone hates an overseller and I guess with kickass products. They sell themselves and don't need the overselling hey
Great service, prompt replies for technical support, purchase process is streamlined and their products are fantastic. Highly recommend KickAss Australia.
Such a waste of money the Induction plate is. Packaging looked good, but it burnt the bottom of my beautiful induction stainless steel expensive pans with the silicone mat under on low heat on one side and its tainted the steel. It also happened on my precious dogs Stainless induction pan that ive been using for 10years. Not happy. KickAss had a… Read more
p*ss poor reply to my concerns which makes me event more annoyed. They dont give 2 hoots that theyre product isnt up to scratch. Your true colours will shine through. Its one thing not to be happy with product, its another to receive an unempathetic response from company. The refund isnt as important as the response and you failed. In the photo you will see meat isnt even cooked, thats how dog likes it so it was cooked on very low heat - the milk setting, because its to just warm the meat not cook it... look how it burnt the bottom. the burn wont come out of pan now .
Furthemore, I also concur with others dissappointed with product that it has insistent error messages which prevented it from working, i had another pot that worked on home induction and wouldnt work on this.
Latest follow-ups
- I have a companion instant gas heater for my tent set up - around $400 - and I swapped it for a Kickass 12V shower - as the latter is so much better and more reliable - I just heat up the water in a 15L container and then plonk in the 12V pump. No… Read more
waiting for the heater to warm up the water.
and I have just ordered a second 12v shower to use in my caravan - even though it already has a shower built in - because the Kickass 12V shower head uses way less water and less gas - and also, its fantastic for pumping water from jerry cans into the caravans water tanks.
lastly... I live in WA and its hard to believe how quick the Kickass Team get products to me.
a big thank you Kickass.
Follow-up · the water pressure is great - if your using a standard blue 10litre container … you get 5-7 minuted of shower where the wayer flow is enough to kerp warm. hose length is around 2metres. No noise while running except for when it sucks up the last remaining drops of water … lol
The 500 amp Shunt and was working great but suddenly I couldn't configure it. I rang customer service and went through a couple of steps again to no avail. They are going to replace it. Excellent to deal with. Show details
Follow-up · The replacement one is working excellent. Very happy with the product and service.
Had a warranty issue with kickass 95 litre fridge contacted kickass who were extremely prompt and helpful .Fridge was over 3years old but they were still able to resolve my issue. I don’t usually do reviews but they completely deserve all my thanks Cheers Terry
Follow-up · My issue was a the digital display started to fade in and out to the point that it was unreadable .The fridge still worked fine just couldn’t read or adjust the temperature.Contacted kickass and within a short amount of time had sent me a brand new display which was relatively easy to change over (plug and play) all at absolutely no cost to me. I… Read more
Find out how KickAss Products compares to other Camping Shops
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In-depth reviews
Hello everyone, I'd like to share my experience with Kickass. Well I've bought quite a number of items 4 AGM batteries, 1 being 5yrs old in my truck & going strong, 1 slim line AGM battery in My Sons 4x4, 2 AGM batteries 4 the caravan, now I'm trying my 1st lithium Battery in my 4x4, scary but go with the times. Also 3 Jump starter packs, so small… Read more
go under our front seats & have saved my partner 3times, myself on 4 occasions, sitting in my truck listening 2 music, oops but I have my jump pack so no problems. Now I can't think of the other things I've bought. In saying that I so love all the products, the shower tent i bought 4 my son, unreal, I kept the base 4 my shower tent. I'm nearly 60 & i love travelling, hook on the little jayco van & off we go. Kickass you have totally spoilt me/us. Next is 1 of your induction cook tops. Your products go above & beyond. Thank you for all those things we didn't think we needed but now can't live without & your prices are wonderful. To all the kickass family, have a good one & you all be safe. With kindness, Celia Fear xxx
This review is based on my first-hand experience dealing with KickAss Products’ warranty process, and unfortunately, it has been extremely disappointing. To be fair, the product itself seemed good for the price. I will also acknowledge that there was a lapse on our end in not inspecting it immediately after purchase. However, what is far more… Read more
concerning is how KickAss handled our warranty claim once the defect was discovered.
My wife and I purchased a shower awning from their Eastern Creek store on Australia Day (Monday). Due to work commitments and an upcoming camping trip, I only had time to install it on Wednesday evening before we left for camping Thursday morning. When we finally used the awning, we immediately noticed several holes in the fabric. These were clearly defects, and my wife documented them with photos for warranty purposes. Since we were camping in a remote area without reception, we reported the issue as soon as we returned.
Their initial response was to immediately claim the holes were caused by wear and tear, despite the product being brand new and used for the first time. It felt like they were trying to dismiss the claim without properly considering the circumstances. After we explained our situation and provided evidence, they reluctantly agreed to proceed, but not before the staff member gave me a lengthy lecture about our “failure” to inspect the product immediately after purchase. While I acknowledged our oversight, the tone and approach were unnecessary and unprofessional, especially when dealing with a customer reporting a genuine defect.
What made the experience worse was the inconvenience they imposed. They initially required us to ship the awning back at our own effort (even if shipping was covered), instead of allowing a straightforward in-store inspection. We pushed back, and they eventually agreed for us to bring it to the Eastern Creek store.
We dropped it off on Saturday (Feb 14), and the staff member told us they needed one day to inspect it and would call us the next day. It has now been several days, and we have heard absolutely nothing. No update, no follow-up, nothing.
Trying to contact them has been equally frustrating. The Eastern Creek store does not have a direct phone number. All calls go through their Brisbane office, and they refuse to provide the store’s contact details. This makes it nearly impossible to follow up on a warranty claim for a product that is already in their possession.
The most disappointing part of this experience is not the defective product, but how poorly KickAss handles customer support and warranty claims. There seems to be little urgency, poor communication, and a lack of accountability once they have your money.
Based on this experience, I would strongly caution anyone considering buying from KickAss Products. The product may seem good value upfront, but if something goes wrong, be prepared for a frustrating and disappointing warranty process.
I accidentally selected the wrong store for click and collect, so I called customer service to see whether I could change the pickup location or have the order delivered instead. The representative I spoke with was incredibly helpful. They immediately found my order—without needing extra details—because their system recognised my mobile number… Read more
from the call. They offered a simple solution: cancel the order and issue a credit so I could repurchase at the correct store.
It might sound straightforward, but the ease of the process and the confidence with which they handled it really stood out. Their understanding, efficiency, and knowledge were impressive, and it reflects so well on Kickass and the people behind their IT systems, which work far better than what many other companies offer.
The great service didn’t end there. When I arrived at the preferred store, they already had a record of my original order, the credit was ready to use, and they quickly gathered my items and finalised the purchase—all within just a couple of hours of my initial call.
The product itself was exactly what I expected, but the customer service was exceptional. Kickass truly lives up to its name.
Recent reviews
I ordered a bundle deal with a tripod light and headlamp, both arrived ok , however the headlamp was missing an elastic headband. Irish at support fixed it up within 30 minutes and a new product was in the mail,, TOP STUFF !!
I had a problem with my lithium battery box after 2 years faultless running. The support team were amazing helping with the issue and sending me a new battery with no fuss. Very hapoy
Kickass have consistently proven value of their products and their online ordering is easy to navigate. Communication with the customer is consistent and timely. Delivery of product was incredibly quick and an opportunity to rate their service which indicates a belief in the products and services they offer.
I visited the show room in Perth twice in one week and both experiences were brilliant. Excellent customer service, no pushy vibes, great range of products and staff were super helpful!
Disappointing experience with KickAss Products. I purchased water pumps for a project, however due to delays in finalising the setup I wasn’t able to confirm suitability until recently. The pumps are completely unused, still boxed and in brand new condition. I contacted KickAss immediately once I realised they wouldn’t suit the application and… Read more
simply asked whether they would consider a return. They didn’t even offer a store credit or even a restocking fee arrangement like others in their industry would.
The response was a flat refusal because the purchase was outside their 30-day policy window, despite the products never being used.
I understand businesses need policies, but good customer service also requires a level of common sense and discretion, especially when the items are clearly resalable and the customer is acting reasonably.
Unfortunately this experience has left me in a position where I’m out of pocket and wouldn’t consider their products again.
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