Follow-up to WOOT Ripoff: Energizer XP8000 battery

My earlier blog post was at: http://iponderus.com/2010/08/woot-ripoff-energizer-xp8000-battery.html

This particular saga is still not over, however there have been some more developments.

First, I opened a support ticket with Energizer, because the tip wasn’t in the box, and their web site showed the tip (kind of), but would not let me order it as part of my free plan. They were horrible. I don’t know what the backstory is in terms of cost or development or technical problems, but what it comes down to is the tip doesn’t come in the box (that was something Woot was doing). It’s not available as part of the free tips, instead they want you to pay TWENTY dollars for it. They are nuts, and they weren’t particularly customer-friendly about it either. Classic bait and switch. They’ve certainly lost my trust and respect. The whole battery package from Woot was only ~$40!

So I opened a support case with Woot. Within a day I had an email telling me they would send me the tip, just that easy. Now I feel horrible about the title of this post! Energizer is the evil company here, not Woot. Woot rocks!

WOOT Ripoff: Energizer XP8000 battery

I received the Energizer XP8000 battery from Woot today, that I ordered around 8/11, specifically because it is supposed to charge the iPad as well, which takes double the standard iPhone charge -  2 Amps at 5 Volts = 10 Watts. The iPhone takes 1 Amp at 5 Volts = 5 Watts, and your standard USB port puts out .5 Amps at 5 Volts = 2.5 Watts, if I have my facts straight.

Well there was a little bag for the iPad adapter (PC007), and some instructions inside, but no adapter tip. So either somebody stole it, or Energizer never put it in.

What makes this worse is I went to the Energizer site, where I am supposed to get two free tips a year with registration, registered, searched for the iPad tip, could see it in the list, but was unable to order it. There’s no information on why, if they are out of stock or if the tip catches on fire or what. A Google search didn’t turn up any more info.

I’ll keep the device, because I can use it for cell phones and netbooks, etc., but what a bad experience. Hopefully some day I will get the right tip, though I can tell it’s going to involve pain and suffering. I will think twice about doing business with either of these companies again.

Black Friday

http://bfads.net/

A site that aggregates flyers for upcoming Black Friday, before they come out. Basically industrial espionage, but for consumers. How helpful! Now you know whether to strike on that Woot (http://woot.com) or not...