Order Placed! - (Your latest online purchase.)

Edwin · Dec 30, 2021

jvickers said:
Well, I can scratch that. They only got 3.5 stars on Amazon. The low reviews mention the absolutely incredible sound quality they have. However, they apparently have connectivity issues. The app also is purported to be horrible. The connectivity issues are what dissuade me from purchasing them.

I read rave reviews...
The only cons I read were connectivity issues when walking or jogging...,
and, questionable battery life! shrug

PerpetualCycle · Dec 30, 2021

Still messing around with my iphone. T-mobile is the pits when dealing with issues. I ordered a 256GB iphone Max Pro online. Then I found out that it wouldn't ship until March, which wasn't acceptable because my Samsung s9 is dying. So I called customer support to cancel it (because you cannot online) and order a 128GB, which was in stock instead. So the support rep said the 256 GB was cancelled and I received my 128 GB 2 days ago, that was after a 2 hour support queue wait with horribly load awful muzak and maybe 30 minutes with the rep.

So fast forward to today. I get notification that the original 256 GB phone has shipped (and arrives tomorrow). So I called tmobile customer support. After waiting an hour, someone answered but she couldn't hear me, and before I could even check to see if I had the mic on the call muted, she hung up. Another 45 minutes later, I get another rep. I told him the situation and I really wanted the 256 GB and I had only compromised because their website said March delivery. He has processed a return of the 128 GB (return label etc) and said I would get a full refund. I wanted assurance of this because I will get the higher capacity phone tomorrow, open it, and transfer my data to it, then ship of the other on Monday. I don't have a lot of confidence this return will go without a hitch. Boy they are really screwed up at the moment

And, it takes 5-10 minutes to log onto their website, and you cannot track your order because their servers are unavailable. And don't get me going about their recent data breach!

We moved to a different state and want to keep our numbers, otherwise I would change carriers.

/end rant.

Edwin · Dec 30, 2021

@geneo
Don't you just love the technological frontier!

SmokeMe · Dec 30, 2021

My 2nd order of 2 kits arrived today. Thought I'd try to stay on the safe side here w/ the news now days.

iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, 2 Tests per Pack,FDA EUA Authorized OTC at-Home Self Test, Results in 15 Minutes with Non-invasive Nasal Swab, Easy to Use & No Discomfort

Amazon.com

PerpetualCycle · Jan 2, 2022

Edwin said:
@geneo
Don't you just love the technological frontier!

Yes, but not necessarily the service providers.

Anyhow, my 128gb is on its way back and transferring a couple of days worth of customizations took a couple of minutes. LOL. The phone is a brute.

PerpetualCycle · Jan 2, 2022

SmokeMe said:
My 2nd order of 2 kits arrived today. Thought I'd try to stay on the safe side here w/ the news now days.

iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, 2 Tests per Pack,FDA EUA Authorized OTC at-Home Self Test, Results in 15 Minutes with Non-invasive Nasal Swab, Easy to Use & No Discomfort

Amazon.com

I should get some. We had a number of kits provided through a drop off at our local library, but burned through them when my son got Covid. Now they are none available.

BTW, it appears the these are not as reliable for the Omicron variant. If you test positive you pretty much have it for sure, but for Omicron, chances of a false negative are significant.

Take care and be safe.

Winuser · Jan 2, 2022

geneo said:
Still messing around with my iphone. T-mobile is the pits when dealing with issues. I ordered a 256GB iphone Max Pro online. Then I found out that it wouldn't ship until March, which wasn't acceptable because my Samsung s9 is dying. So I called customer support to cancel it (because you cannot online) and order a 128GB, which was in stock instead. So the support rep said the 256 GB was cancelled and I received my 128 GB 2 days ago, that was after a 2 hour support queue wait with horribly load awful muzak and maybe 30 minutes with the rep.

So fast forward to today. I get notification that the original 256 GB phone has shipped (and arrives tomorrow). So I called tmobile customer support. After waiting an hour, someone answered but she couldn't hear me, and before I could even check to see if I had the mic on the call muted, she hung up. Another 45 minutes later, I get another rep. I told him the situation and I really wanted the 256 GB and I had only compromised because their website said March delivery. He has processed a return of the 128 GB (return label etc) and said I would get a full refund. I wanted assurance of this because I will get the higher capacity phone tomorrow, open it, and transfer my data to it, then ship of the other on Monday. I don't have a lot of confidence this return will go without a hitch. Boy they are really screwed up at the moment

And, it takes 5-10 minutes to log onto their website, and you cannot track your order because their servers are unavailable. And don't get me going about their recent data breach!

We moved to a different state and want to keep our numbers, otherwise I would change carriers.

/end rant.

I thought that we now have the option to take our number with us no matter who the provider is or the type of phone.

Winuser · Jan 2, 2022

Edwin said:
I just had to spend 600 bucks fixing my brand new car! Timing belt!

Better now than disintegrating the engine whilst bombing down the freeway 65mph!

What! No warranty? Next time don't hang up when you get that final call to buy an extended auto warranty.

I do have to say that $600.00 for replacing a timing belt is much cheaper than replacing the engine because the valves got bent.

Edwin · Jan 2, 2022

Winuser said:
What! No warranty? Next time don't hang up when you get that final call to buy an extended auto warranty. I do have to say that $600.00 for replacing a timing belt is much cheaper than replacing the engine because the valves got bent.

'New to Me' :wink:

2015

Winuser · Jan 2, 2022

jvickers said:
Timing belts are expensive to replace, that I know. I'm sure they're easier to change than they were 30 years ago, but it's still a process. They based on some bizarre formula on "hours to replace" versus the actual time it took to replace. Seems kind of disingenuous to me, but auto mechanics get away with it. Not sure how much the part cost, but you can count of most of it being on the labor...

Most garages go by the hours that the book says it should take. Yes, there are books that state how long a repair should take. Depending on how the shop pays their mechanics it can be good or bad. If the garage pays by the book hours and the job takes longer the mechanic loses money if shorter the mechanic makes more money because they can start another repair job.

Winuser · Jan 2, 2022

A Guy said:
People often change the water pump when having the timing belt changed because it has to be removed in the process anyway. My car has timing chains

A Guy

My explorer has two chains. One in the front and one in the back. It would probably be cheaper to buy a rebuilt engine than replace both chains.

Winuser · Jan 2, 2022

Edwin said:
'New to Me'
2015

If it has less than 100,000 miles Ice-T is looking for you. :)

Edwin · Jan 2, 2022

Winuser said:
If it has less than 100,000 miles Ice-T is looking for you. :)

95,000 miles
scooped it for a modest 4 figures!
5 speed, what a riot! Haven't driven a stick in decades!

SmokeMe · Jan 2, 2022

geneo said:
I should get some. We had a number of kits provided through a drop off at our local library, but burned through them when my son got Covid. Now they are none available.

BTW, it appears the these are not as reliable for the Omicron variant. If you test positive you pretty much have it for sure, but for Omicron, chances of a false negative are significant.

Take care and be safe.

Thanks geneo, I hope you stay safe too.
I generally used the (Free) OC Health Care Agency for mine. Access website, answer some questions, receive email & next day receive PCR spit test.
Collect spit & FexEx back & results in 2 days.
With available 15-20 minute Antigen kits available now & wanting fast results I ordered these.

ZDNet has their recommendations but doesn't say which CV-19 is detected or not.
These w/ 2 tests per kit, my plan is to take them around 3-4 days apart when needed (GF is a HCW w/ old patients, doesn't want any dying).

Covid testing: How to get free at-home rapid test kits

Testing at home can provide quick, affordable peace of mind.

www.zdnet.com

PerpetualCycle · Jan 2, 2022

Winuser said:
I thought that we now have the option to take our number with us no matter who the provider is or the type of phone.

Not necessarily when you move to another state, with different area codes and switch carriers.

In addition, their are 4 of us on a family plan across two states, so kinda stuck. That may change though, but not now.

Winuser · Jan 3, 2022

Edwin said:
95,000 miles
scooped it for a modest 4 figures!
5 speed, what a riot! Haven't driven a stick in decades!

I learned to drive with a 64 chevy pickup that had 3 speed on the column shift. Is your new car a Sports car? Standard shift is hard to find today. Even big trucks are going automatic. The Public Works Department where I retired from only has 4 trucks with standard shift. Two roll offs and two dump truck. All four are old.

Winuser · Jan 3, 2022

geneo said:
Not necessarily when you move to another state, with different area codes and switch carriers.

In addition, their are 4 of us on a family plan across two states, so kinda stuck. That may change though, but not now.

Did you check with a new carrier after you moved? This link may help. How to Switch Cell Phone Carriers (and Keep Your Phone Number)

Dru2 · Jan 3, 2022

jvickers said:
Well, I can scratch that. They only got 3.5 stars on Amazon. The low reviews mention the absolutely incredible sound quality they have. However, they apparently have connectivity issues. The app also is purported to be horrible. The connectivity issues are what dissuade me from purchasing them.

As a former Amazon reviewer, I'll say you have to read those Amazon reviews with a grain of salt as anyone can post anything, whether factual or not, whether it applies to the product or not. You also used to be able to comment other's reviews and or alert Amazon of bad reviews, but Amazon removed that whole feature, so the system just devolved into a joke. And the reason I no longer participate.

Amazon doesn't monitor reviews like they should. What they will do (and does do, which is why I stopped reviewing) is cow-tow to a vendor. I wrote a review on a chair I got and because the vendor didn't like it, they complained to Amazon and the review was "hidden".

Anyway, I'd take the whole star rating system with a grain of salt, especially if you actually took the time to read some of the "reviews". You will find a lot of "this products sucks, don't buy" with a 1-Star rating and no other explanation. Also, some people will just bash for competitor's sake. My suggestion is to look at more than one source when looking for/at reviews.

My two cents :)