Nikko Digi-Q Clone problems

I know, I know.. shoulda bought a Digi-Q, anyhow I have this Nikko iRacer (not my choice) and it just won't go. it's got literally about 3 inches of range, I have to hold it's controller on top of the thing to get it to go. Am I missing something? Nikko's 1-800 line is busy, so they're going to be of little help to me, as thousands of people are probably calling them right now.

I just traded it at Toys-R-Us for an identical one. The Mercedes A-Class (A160) Replica is one of the few Digi-Q bodies that they can make look VERY close to the real thing. I love it. I know it's not a "Q" but it's way quicker than my two modded R/C's by a long shot. It isn't quite as fast as the Digi-Q Skyline and special controller I saw at the mall (that thing was effing amazing!) but it'll satisfy my need for speed.......for a while.