The Not So Magic Jack
There is nothing like a frustrating user experience for good blog fodder.
Several years ago, I gave up having a land line, opting for a cell phone which took care of most of my needs. Now, running a business, I need much more phone time than any decent cell phone plan allows. I've successfully used Skype for the last few months, but always wanting to save money I decided to look into the next big thing. The Magic Jack. www.magicjack.com
It came highly rated by many hi-tech magazines and the infomercial looked good. Free local and long distance and voicemail. Too good to be true?
The claim is that in 5 minutes, with a special USB that is sent to you, you can plug in your phone and make all of your calls through your computer for $10/year. Great! My phone bill problem is solved. But my technical problems have just begun.
I asked for expedited delivery since the need is sooner than later. The device arrived in a few days. It's not too overpackaged and comes with a single color card wrap. It looks easy. But it's not.
Rather than walk through what has become a painful scenario (45 minutes and it still doesn't work) I'll share the highlights:
Several years ago, I gave up having a land line, opting for a cell phone which took care of most of my needs. Now, running a business, I need much more phone time than any decent cell phone plan allows. I've successfully used Skype for the last few months, but always wanting to save money I decided to look into the next big thing. The Magic Jack. www.magicjack.com
It came highly rated by many hi-tech magazines and the infomercial looked good. Free local and long distance and voicemail. Too good to be true?
The claim is that in 5 minutes, with a special USB that is sent to you, you can plug in your phone and make all of your calls through your computer for $10/year. Great! My phone bill problem is solved. But my technical problems have just begun.
I asked for expedited delivery since the need is sooner than later. The device arrived in a few days. It's not too overpackaged and comes with a single color card wrap. It looks easy. But it's not.
Rather than walk through what has become a painful scenario (45 minutes and it still doesn't work) I'll share the highlights:
- Asking for passwords that were never sent or given and then acquiring a password via email that doesn't work.
- Continued difficulty bringing up Live Chat for tech assistance and no possibility of a phone conversation.
- Confusing queries on set up and a box that you don't know to click that is supposed to offer "quick help"
- Requiring upgrades to a brand new device. Most users won't know how to save and run an .exe file. (this assumes a fairly advanced user)
- No good answers on how to fix the "connect to the internet" error message when I am clearly connected. Apparently they are upgrading and I have to wait 24 hours to try my new device again.
What did work was an extension USB dongle in the package since the USB is large and would cover needed plugs in my laptop, fairly simple packaging, though they could use less stryofoam.
So far, I am less than impressed and hope they are continuing to try and fix this user experience.
Comments
I'm having all of the same problems. Not only that, they scammed me for an extra 49.95 for 5 years and I discovered they charged me for that immediately, so half the 100 I paid is in their pocket with no indication they will refund that portion.
So, I bought this to save money and now these crooks have my money and I can't reach them.
I'm furious. I'll be writing this up in my own blog. Yeah, my 40,000 hits a month isn't much, but I want to my part to expose the baloney.
and the next $46.90 to be billed on 6/13/08
well $96.85 just came out of my account today 5/15/08
thank christ i had enough in there. TECH SUPPORT BEGINS WITH S and has 5 letters and when waiting a total of 45 min for entire (live chat) and getting nowhere and then getting the call termminted by the operater?well that s word again comes into play Watch out for the all upfront payment like i got my invoice/bill states one thing,there charges did just the opposite.BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!