Imate Sucks

Item: K-jam
Purchase Date: 10/05
Retailer: On the Go Solutions
Issues: Where shall we begin

Putting aside the minor problems: constant resetting, non responsive screen, blah, blah, blah, the real fun begins when you have a major problem. My first major problem started December 5, 2005, A little background:

I run my own business. I purposefully bought the k-jam because it offered Windows 5.0 and would allow easy use with outlook and other microsoft documents. Sure, the treo could do all of that without windows, but the future was here with the k-jam or so I thought.

So, I set up my k-jam and managed through its quirks. Screen problems and resets were minor drawbacks. Then, along came my vacation. My wife and I planned an 11 day vacation to the carribean. But, I had no fear. My contacts, my calendar, my personal info, a couple documents, and the interent were a moment away on my k-jam. I could forward the office calls to my cell and it would be like i was like everyone else suffering through the bitter cold chicago winter. Only if the fairy tale had come true.

Unfortunately, my k-jam failed to cooperate. On December 5th , at around midnight, I accessed the internet to check my bank account and fantasy football league and my k-jam had no problems other that a dying battery. So I finished up my web sessions and plugged it into my computer for the evening. The next morning I awoke to a dead k-jam that failed to charge over night. Thinking it needed a soft reset or maybe a hard reset, I tried both but nothing changed. Panic set it.

Luckily, a short 20 minute ride from our vacation home led me to an interent connection and the imate support group. I had found my savior. I penned off an email requesting a phone call to my wife's phone (my cell being dead and no regular email). I waited for that call. Three weeks later I still am waiting. Three days later and a check of my email, I learned the genius at imate had responded to my email telling me to perform a hard reset. Wow. You can't pay for that kind of insight.

Nevertheless, I returned back to my home on December 12th and the real fun began. I charged the phone with my wall unit overnight and hoped I would awake to a reinvigorated k-jam. Silly little boy. The next morning provided a still dead k-jam so I contacted live customer support. I think "live" is pushing the envelope when describing Imates online support team. They were rude and refused to acknowledge the product was faulty. After countless disconnects because their system claimed lack of communication (mind you, these long gaps in communication were a result of their customer service reps trying to figure our my next step), numerous resets and rom updates, the k-jam was still non functioning. Finally, however, after 4 hours they finally provided me with a phone number and return slip to Dubai.

So, like a fool, I sent off my k-jam hoping they would acknowledge the problem, fix it or replace the defective k-jam. I waited. No communication for 7 days. Then a revelation: Liquid damage. A mere 450 bucks and my k-jam would work perfect, they promises. Now you may be thinking: carribean vacation? sounds reasonable, the guy just dropped it into the old ocean. Yet, this is why the times are important. My cellphone bill corrobates the midnight on th 5th (running into the 6th) usage. Then no other usage. My email stamp (thanks microsoft sent folder file system) establishes that I sent the email at 10:30 a.m. on the 6th. I'm a R.E.M. fan but there was no nightswimming with my K-jam folks. I wish I had the engergy and my wife is better company than the k-jam anyway.

So, here I stand with "liquid damage." I have asked for an explanation of such, and the support center had failed to respond. I can't wait for their explanation. I then want them to explain how the liquid damage failed to stop the rom update, resync of my outlook and reload of the built in cab files that come with the rom update. It must be a time delay damage that only kicks in after these events. Must be some special substance. I bet the FBI and CIA would love to get ahold of this stuff. Just think of the possibilites. Nevertheless, my sage continues and updates are in line.
To quote the late great Christ Farley from Tommy Boy:

"But why do they put a guarantee on the box then?
'Cause all the know is that they sold you a guaranteed box of shit."


Lets come together and share our woes. Add yours to mine and remember to help those poor souls who even contemplate buying from these assholes.