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This will not work for everyone based on your location. You need a few Best Buy stores around you, that will get watches at some point.
Also, there is NO GUARANTEE as some of this is luck. I only worked on maximizing my odds.
Here is what I did:
1) I went to the Best Buy site, searched for 'moto 360'; clicked the model I was interested in; clicked on 'Check availability in store'; entered my zip code, and current store availability was displayed.
2) I copied that page's link
3) In my case, I already had a small python script that would check for relevant changes in that page, but you can use pre existing solutions. The best mix of 'free' and good polling frequency would be a browser extension, such as 'Page Monitor' for Chrome or 'AlertBox' for FireFox. Bonus: they will check for only the bits you are interested in.
4) You are only interested in a new store showing up in your list! This is the one that is getting a delivery.
5) Even better: in my experience, the web site will be updated before the store's internal stock information is. There is quite the lag, in fact.
6) Walk/drive to that store and explain that, yes, 15 minutes ago (or whatnot) their store did not have the watch in stock but since then they got a delivery. That will make them think about that big truck they just saw and hopefully agree to check it out.
7) Run away with your watch (well, paying seems like a good intermediate step)
Except when your store lists it as in stock even though they know it isn't.
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
Nope
I just waited until late in the day and called whatever stores that still had one. I asked if they had it, two only had the silver one but I found one that had it in black. I figured if no one had picked it up by then I might as well drop by. I got one at around 7p yesterday evening from the Best Buy in the not so good side of town. Easy.
cyansmoker said:
This will not work for everyone based on your location. You need a few Best Buy stores around you, that will get watches at some point.
Also, there is NO GUARANTEED as some of this is luck. I only worked on maximizing my odds.
Here is what I did:
1) I went to the Best Buy site, searched for 'moto 360'; clicked the model I was interested in; clicked on 'Check availability in store'; entered my zip code, and current store availability was displayed.
2) I copied that page's link
3) In my case, I already had a small python script that would check for relevant changes in that page, but you can use pre existing solutions. The best mix of 'free' and good polling frequency would be a browser extension, such as 'Page Monitor' for Chrome or 'AlertBox' for FireFox. Bonus: they will check for only the bits you are interested in.
4) You are only interested in a new store showing up in your list! This is the one that is getting a delivery.
5) Even better: in my experience, the web site will be updated before the store's internal stock information is. There is quite the lag, in fact.
6) Walk/drive to that store and explain that, yes, 15 minutes ago (or whatnot) their store did not have the watch in stock but since then they got a delivery. That will make them think about that big truck they just saw and hopefully agree to check it out.
7) Run away with your watch (well, paying seems like a good intermediate step)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I did was step one and went to the store first thing. Got mine no problem as it was in stock for pickup today just like their website said. I got the last one so no telling how many that store ever got in. BUT there was no other store within the zipcode radius I entered that showed it as available for pickup today so I count myself lucky in snagging one.
knoxploration said:
Except when your store lists it as in stock even though they know it isn't.
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. If I wrote "Walk in any Best Buy that claims to have them in stock" there wouldn't be much value in that.
That's why, instead, I wrote to wait for a *new* Best Buy store to suddenly claim to have one. Not one that had been claiming that for hours.
This was helpful for me. Thanks.
No stores in my region have one. I'd have to drive about 5 hours one way to get to the nearest one.
It seems that the watches completely missed the Midwest.
cyansmoker said:
This will not work for everyone based on your location. You need a few Best Buy stores around you, that will get watches at some point.
Also, there is NO GUARANTEE as some of this is luck. I only worked on maximizing my odds.
Here is what I did:
1) I went to the Best Buy site, searched for 'moto 360'; clicked the model I was interested in; clicked on 'Check availability in store'; entered my zip code, and current store availability was displayed.
2) I copied that page's link
3) In my case, I already had a small python script that would check for relevant changes in that page, but you can use pre existing solutions. The best mix of 'free' and good polling frequency would be a browser extension, such as 'Page Monitor' for Chrome or 'AlertBox' for FireFox. Bonus: they will check for only the bits you are interested in.
4) You are only interested in a new store showing up in your list! This is the one that is getting a delivery.
5) Even better: in my experience, the web site will be updated before the store's internal stock information is. There is quite the lag, in fact.
6) Walk/drive to that store and explain that, yes, 15 minutes ago (or whatnot) their store did not have the watch in stock but since then they got a delivery. That will make them think about that big truck they just saw and hopefully agree to check it out.
7) Run away with your watch (well, paying seems like a good intermediate step)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great idea! I tried writing a script in python using 'urllib2.urlopen' but it doesn't return the same data as Chrome or Firefox. It always returns "We're sorry. This item is not available for Store Pickup in your area."
What python library did you use?
I had given up on getting one from BB yesterday about 1200. Got home and just happened to check the site one more time and my local store finally had some in stock. Called em up and they said they had 1 left and there was another guy on the way to pick it up but it was first come first serve. So I hopped in the car and drove like I stole it all the way there and it was still sitting in the display case... Needless to say, I'm the one looking at notifications on my wrist today.
Myzur said:
Great idea! I tried writing a script in python using 'urllib2.urlopen' but it doesn't return the same data as Chrome or Firefox. It always returns "We're sorry. This item is not available for Store Pickup in your area."
What python library did you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Scrapy!
Note that you need to save your cookies in a cookie jar if you do not want to get this reply (I have to check but I believe that's what I did)
Nlue said:
I had given up on getting one from BB yesterday about 1200. Got home and just happened to check the site one more time and my local store finally had some in stock. Called em up and they said they had 1 left and there was another guy on the way to pick it up but it was first come first serve. So I hopped in the car and drove like I stole it all the way there and it was still sitting in the display case... Needless to say, I'm the one looking at notifications on my wrist today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Opposite for me. Drove to the store, they sold the last watch 15 minutes before I got there.
I managed to get one at my local best buy as well. The site showed stock so I ran up there at lunch. Some guy was walking out with a black version (I wanted silver anyway) and when I asked the blueshirt working the mobile department he said he had a truck full of stuff and there should be two silver ones on there but it could take hours before they unload them... I waited a bit to see if they would put them out... Eventually someone else asked if they could help me and I told them I was waiting for something that was being unloaded from the truck.. "We didn't get a truck today... we get them on Friday...." Uhh.. ok... but this guy said blah blah.... The second guy just walked into the back and found them on the stack of stuff from UPS and brought them out. I wonder if the first guy was hoping to buy them himself at the end of his shift and sell it on ebay...
Either way... score!
-Matt
cyansmoker said:
This will not work for everyone based on your location. You need a few Best Buy stores around you, that will get watches at some point.
Also, there is NO GUARANTEE as some of this is luck. I only worked on maximizing my odds.
Here is what I did:
1) I went to the Best Buy site, searched for 'moto 360'; clicked the model I was interested in; clicked on 'Check availability in store'; entered my zip code, and current store availability was displayed.
2) I copied that page's link
3) In my case, I already had a small python script that would check for relevant changes in that page, but you can use pre existing solutions. The best mix of 'free' and good polling frequency would be a browser extension, such as 'Page Monitor' for Chrome or 'AlertBox' for FireFox. Bonus: they will check for only the bits you are interested in.
4) You are only interested in a new store showing up in your list! This is the one that is getting a delivery.
5) Even better: in my experience, the web site will be updated before the store's internal stock information is. There is quite the lag, in fact.
6) Walk/drive to that store and explain that, yes, 15 minutes ago (or whatnot) their store did not have the watch in stock but since then they got a delivery. That will make them think about that big truck they just saw and hopefully agree to check it out.
7) Run away with your watch (well, paying seems like a good intermediate step)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did exactly this. Woke up yesterday at 8 and checked online and saw that a BestBuy about 40 minutes away showed them in stock. Drove over, was the first person in the store and got one. The 2nd person in the store got one too. They only received two the night before.
Dont see how you guys are finding these things 4 days after launch. The 3 BB's in my city each received 2 units, and of course were all sold out by the time I got there. Or at least the personnel claimed. 2 of them didnt even know what it was "uh, a modo 360? huh?" and then just pointed me in the general direction of the smart watch area, and yes I was in the mobile department that sells them. One other person just immediately said "sold out" and she's taking care of like 50 customers so I'm just like "really? You just know that off the top of your head?" So who knows. Online claimed they had them in stock.
Thanks for the tip. I was able to snag one today. They said sold out, I showed them the website with the "Available in store" and they looked it up, located the watch, and sold it to me post haste. I was even able to get in a Mover's coupon for an extra 10% off.
fishfuzz said:
Thanks for the tip. I was able to snag one today. They said sold out, I showed them the website with the "Available in store" and they looked it up, located the watch, and sold it to me post haste. I was even able to get in a Mover's coupon for an extra 10% off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah see this pisses me off, because I had 2 stores say that their webpage lags behind actual inventory. I even had one BB tell me that the other BB definitely has 1 in stock, and that he was looking at an actual inventory scan list or something and NOT the website. When I get to the other BB the dumb chick behind the counter just goes to BB.com and says they're out. I make her turn screen and she's not even looking at the right thing. Then she says "he said we have 1 in stock? They should never say we have just one, because if it's just one then that most likely means NONE"....
WTF?!
To her point, the BB rep who helped me today saw one in his inventory, knew where it was (on a desk in the back), but also made sure to check the rest of the system to insure I wasn't about to purchase one from underneath another buyer. But the ETK (new employee toolkit) showed that it was free and clear, ready for purchase.
Just called in (Gresham oregon) had one of 3 left in stock black version held it for me walked in and have it in hand.
desantim said:
Just called in (Gresham oregon) had one of 3 left in stock black version held it for me walked in and have it in hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oregon ftw
I keep searching their website and I cant even get it to display stores in my area when I key in the zip code anymore. It just says not available in my area.
So I got my Moto 360 in the mail on Friday and have worn it for 2 days, i got my girlfriend one for Christmas so i noticed my button was clicking weird. Upon further investigation i saw that my button was loose, like basically hanging off, and could just be simply tugged out. After calling Motorola to tell them about the issue and being on the phone for 48 mins, I still have no resolve they seem to not be able to find my serial number on the watch even though i ordered it directly from them just last week. What to do?
elmodern said:
So I got my Moto 360 in the mail on Friday and have worn it for 2 days, i got my girlfriend one for Christmas so i noticed my button was clicking weird. Upon further investigation i saw that my button was loose, like basically hanging off, and could just be simply tugged out. After calling Motorola to tell them about the issue and being on the phone for 48 mins, I still have no resolve they seem to not be able to find my serial number on the watch even though i ordered it directly from them just last week. What to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorola customer support is terrible. Really terrible. I suggest you keep trying. Request that the incident be escalated to the higher branch of customer service if you don't get the answers you're looking for. Reference the order number when calling. Also try posting about it on their forums or via social media (Twitter specifically). I had to jump through a bunch of hoops just to RMA a leather band that arrived damaged.
Rodeojones said:
Motorola customer support is terrible. Really terrible. I suggest you keep trying. Request that the incident be escalated to the higher branch of customer service if you don't get the answers you're looking for. Reference the order number when calling. Also try posting about it on their forums or via social media (Twitter specifically). I had to jump through a bunch of hoops just to RMA a leather band that arrived damaged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks man and I've heard nightmare stories of their customer service. But it sucks that I got one with an issue like this. I was on hold so much it's ridiculous.
This could benefit many who buy a new fireTV/stick and want to root it. It's a bit long but read on---
First, a little background; I bought my first fireTVstick a few months ago - 5.2.1.1 was on it before I even saw the home screen. I looked into rooting, but found that the hardware soldering method was the only way.
As you know, the fireTV asks for wifi password prior to initial setup & updates itself before you can intervene. But after initial setup, Amazon home can launch without a wifi connection..like on someone else's network..
A friend gave me a stick that hadn't been used since mid2016.. I plugged it in at my house, and before connecting to my network, discovered it was running 5.1.5.0 - so immediately i hid updates and then tried to root with kingo, unsuccessfully. I tried and tried to think of a way to go up one version, to 5.2.1.0, without going all the way to 5.2.1.1--nothing..
Until I stumbled onto a post by sconnyuk about his discovery: by plugging into a laptop USB port for power and performing a factory reset.. the device reboots with low power "complaints" and allows you in without updating - Then, when you go to manually update - POOF: 5.2.1.0 is what you get, and you can root and downgrade etc. Brilliant.
From then until a week and a half ago, I assumed a device with old software was very hard to come by. The only way you would have a chance to root is IF a stick was purchased pre 5.2.1.1, IF it was then setup pre-5.2.1.1, and IF it had not been connected since 5.2.1.1 was pushed out to devices. That's a lot of IF's.
And naturally you would assume that new device = new software....If 5.2.1.1 has been out for months, all new devices should ship with that version by now...right?
But the devices all auto-update prior to initial setup, as soon as they are connected....so who knows what version was there, on the device, in the box, sitting on the store shelf?
The day the voice remote fire TV stick 2 shipped in the US (oct 21) I purchased a standard fire tv stick from a major US electronics store.
Out of pure curiosity, I plugged it into my laptop's USB port, just to see what would be there if the stick was unable to update.
5.0.5.1....from a firetvstick1 purchased NEW at the END of OCTOBER 2016.
I figured it was a fluke- checked someone else's, purchased in a different city, days later.
Also 5.0.5.1.
So I updated to 5.2.1.0, rooted, blocked updates, downgraded etc and have two brand new sticks running 5.0.5 with FireStarter instead of Amazon home.
My question is, has anybody else looked into this?
Is this a coincidence..is it something localized to my area? or is Amazon relying solely on auto updates and leaving old software on ALL fireTVsticks?
One step further -
- Can this same process be done on the fireTV?
-- If so, what version comes loaded on new fireTVs at this point in time?
---Can new ones potentially be rooted/downgraded as was done with these sticks?
And for that matter..
-What about the fireTVstick 2?
--New updates were pushed the day of release...but what version is on the device when it comes out of the box?
To anybody who buys a new stick/tv/stick2:
plug it in to laptop power and go check the version, pre-update. Then post your findings.
I am very curious how common/widespread of an occurrence this is, what versions are being found and when/where, and whether it also includes other fireTV models.
Stick 1/2
Got a stick 2 on Saturday, purely out of curiosity..5.2.2.0, and it updated itself to a newer 5.2.2.0
Also grabbed a new stick 1, like the ones I stumbled onto a couple of weeks ago, it also had 5.1.5.0 - sweet!
But how long will they continue to ship in a possibly-software-rootable-condition?
Anybody have info on what software version the gaming edition, firetv1 or firetv2 ships with?
I'd like to pick one up for myself IF it is rootable; however I don't particularly want to spend 3-4x the cost of the stick for a box that ultimately has less functionality..
Anybody? What version does the FireTV 2 ship with? Gaming edition?
Firetv2
5.2.1.1 straight out of the box..not sure if this is everywhere or just the one I got...device says it was last updated in August 2016...even though I just got it today
This leaves the FireTV 1 --- I'm going to assume that "refurbished" devices from Amazon will already have been updated - but what are the chances of finding a new in box 2014 model ftv with 5.1.5.0 or older?
Somebody?? Anybody??!
Millenials Guide to Tech, Firmware edition.
1. WOW! Found out something crazy, you all should learn about!
2. So I bought this on saturday, and I thought, and then I went there,,,
3. And then a buddy told me...
5. But then I read on the internet...
6. So I'm wondering...
7. What do you guys think?
8. HELP ME!!1!!
Ok - how about we do this for real?
1. Fire TV (/Stick) has to be online to first register it (set it up with a username/pwd), or you would not have access to the main interface, which basically is something you cant work without.
2. Best way to do this is to be fast, and unplug your wireless router, as soon as the login goes through and you see the main home page.
3. Using an underpowered usb connection can delay it, but it wont delay downloading the next new firmware. I guess if you really knew what you were doing, and could root the Stick (because this is not, or less applicable to Fire TV boxes?) always staying on underpowered usb (edit: Or can you? Because su has to be written to the system partition, and actually I don't know how the "do not update check" works (does it prevent stuff like dalvik cache being reinitialized...) - but for now I am guessing, that staying on underpowered USB might be a valid solution...), you could then delete the already downloaded firmware, effectively withou ever updating the firmware once. (Having stayed online long enough for the next firmware to be downloaded... - throttling your routers DL speed is a real solution independent of all this, If you know how to do that.)
4. Fire TV (/Stick) updates are incremental. This information already is in the adventure report in the OP, but to summarize, what that means is, that the devices (as of now) will update to the next firmware update in row, and only then to the next one (downloads the next update, installs it on reboot or promt, ...), and so on and so forth...
5. Fire TV (/Sticks) that come directly from Amazon have a higher chance to be on a newer firmware, because Amazon has a process to preload your account information on there, if you don't buy the device as a gift. So they already power up the device, before shipping it out to you. Which means, that they also can lift it to a more recent firmware without much hazzle. We can't look into this process - or when it changes and how (which means, that at least I don't know if you have a better chance of receiving an older firmware version one, if you order it as a gift for example (username doesnt get set up by Amazon) - but I actually doubt it...).
6. Which means, that your best bet to get a device that actually can be rooted, is actually to go into a box store that doesn't sell through those devices quickly and grab a boxed unit that has been sitting on shelves for months.
7- Which of course means that you have to forego, those GREAT DEALS (wow, so GOODZ) on Amazons refurb path or discount windows.
Now you could crowdsource this out to get more information, if you actually had a community of buyers that was interested in this, and at least somewhat tech savvy, but as with any Fire device, you don't have that. (Generally speaking).
Also - as for the incremental updates - it isn't set in stone, that it will always be this way. Amazon could flip a switch and change that serverside. Its not especially likely that they do (because it requires having someone in charge of the firmware team, that actually knows what they are doing), but it is something that could change eventually, even over night.
Wow
There's no need to be condescending because you don't like my wording.
I'm well aware of incremental updates and the low likelihood of purchasing a NiB device from a major retailer with potentially rootable firmware on it.
The fact that Amazon cranks out "factory refurbished" devices at a lower rate would be a red flag in and of itself; even without considering the fact that the device would have already been updated if it had been used enough (once) to create the need to "refurbish".
I stumbled onto something which one would think would be a highly unlikely find - multiple times - from a MASSIVE electronics retailer with hundreds of locations across the USA.
I wasn't talking about finding a device that fell behind a shelf 6 months ago; this was from 4 different locations of a store which can't keep Amazon devices in stock no matter how many or how frequently they order..
My posts after the OP were primarily just to bump the thread in search of a response (which, what do you know? It worked) - not begging for somebody to help me figure out why I can't root the refurbished fire stick I got from Amazon for half price.
I guarantee I'm not the only person who would be excited to discover that a new device had rootable firmware on it -
A fire tv 2 with 5.2.1.1 pre-loaded is what you would expect to find; having bought it from the same place I found 5.0.5.1-loaded sticks +/-6 months after the version began getting phased out, I thought maybe it could also be the case with the box.
The purpose of my original post was to ascertain whether or not this is a common or localized find..to "crowdsource" .in the one place one would EXPECT to find FireTV enthusiasts..
Pardon my enthusiasm.
Have a stab at it. Crowdsource away.
You are only up against a userbase that doesnt know the least bit about the device, buys their Fire TVs in high percentages from resellers on Amazon, ebay and the local used good portal, because they saw a "free HBO" and SPORTZ label on it, that got told for the better part of two years that root is not necessary - by a freaking product blogger who maybe single handedly killed this scene - syphoning out all information from this community to sell it against ads on his portal (but he contributed pictures)...
And even now most people cant decide if they'd rather have "eazy Amazon Alexa fullservice", or be able to own their devices - but "has hacker found a way so I can use Alexa in *insert country here*".
People don't know how to interface with the device, or even how to copy files, people are told, that they don't need to know anything other than how to sideload using ES File Explorer. And as long as most people have their piracy options - they don't care about the rest.
Thats the deal. When Amazon started to force people that wanted to use alternative launchers away from their upgrade path - product bloggers celebrated it, because it would make stuff, so much more eazy.
Good luck getting the numbers. I have yet to get the impression that anyone (but me and a few others, but I can only buy so many Fire TV 2s in my lifetime...) actually care.
The broader lesson here is - that no one who cares about root rights, buys FIre TVs anymore. And rightfully so. There was so much wrong information circulating, structurally - because some people cared more about establishing their own dependencies, being on the hunt for "great dealz" and buying their way around having to learn basics - that there simply never was a culture of ownership (caring about root rights) around this product.
People updated root away, because product blogger told them, new firmware had great new feature.
Also - Amazon in the backend - now is set up very well to make the windows where devices are rootable very, very short. They don't even provide you with a prompt anymore - they just update away. They update before shipping, they force you having to be online to activate the device...
Those are structural issues. If you don't see them, having worked in the industy for several years, look again.
Back of the shelf boxed units still would be the best bet for people willing to take a chance - and word of mouth that "one guy got an older firmware on a refurbished stick, sold by Amazon" is just that. Word of mouth.
In the meantime you can wait for a new rooting method, and don't care, that amazon restricted apps from reading logs via adb and put in all kinds of non standard android features like "great blacklist, so eazy", and there is still no full conversion rom for this thing, because navigating via a remote is only slowly becoming part of android as an OS.
Its a pitty that it turned out this way - because for a short window - both the Fire TV Stick and the Fire TV2 where the best value for money in this sector you could buy (raspberry pie still has less "power" than a AFTV2) - but you had too many interests only "faking" that they would act in favor of a homebrew community - too many users that only cared about solving problems that came up as a result of them not understanding what they bought on shady channels - looking for service, to many people too willing to excuse Amazon of wrongdoing, before even all the facts came out...
The truth is, that this is a dead category.
Give the raspberry pie two more years, and understand that if you care about openness and doing stuff the manufacturer hasnt set up for you - open hardware will be more and more your only opportunity.
Not so much because devices become harder and harder to hack open (which is also an increasing issue) - but because you cant set up a community thats set on "demanding enduser service", paying resellers to cut corners as far as them learning to set up stuff, and listening to product bloggers that provide them with tutorials stolen from here ("But they have added pictures!!"), as long as it is convenient for them, but then help mask the fact, when and how amazon splits this community or moves against our interests, because they benefit more - when they can make their readers entirely dependent on Amazon - and look, its so easy....
Try to get your numbers in this environment. I watch.
harlekinwashere said:
Have a stab at it. Crowdsource away.
You are only up against a userbase that doesnt know the least bit about the device, buys their Fire TVs in high percentages from resellers on Amazon, ebay and the local used good portal, because they saw a "free HBO" and SPORTZ label on it, that got told for the better part of two years that root is not necessary - by a freaking product blogger who maybe single handedly killed this scene - syphoning out all information from this community to sell it against ads on his portal (but he contributed pictures)...
And even now most people cant decide if they'd rather have "eazy Amazon Alexa fullservice", or be able to own their devices - but "has hacker found a way so I can use Alexa in *insert country here*".
People don't know how to interface with the device, or even how to copy files, people are told, that they don't need to know anything other than how to sideload using ES File Explorer. And as long as most people have their piracy options - they don't care about the rest.
Thats the deal. When Amazon started to force people that wanted to use alternative launchers away from their upgrade path - product bloggers celebrated it, because it would make stuff, so much more eazy.
Good luck getting the numbers. I have yet to get the impression that anyone (but me and a few others, but I can only buy so many Fire TV 2s in my lifetime...) actually care.
The broader lesson here is - that no one who cares about root rights, buys FIre TVs anymore. And rightfully so. There was so much wrong information circulating, structurally - because some people cared more about establishing their own dependencies, being on the hunt for "great dealz" and buying their way around having to learn basics - that there simply never was a culture of ownership (caring about root rights) around this product.
People updated root away, because product blogger told them, new firmware had great new feature.
Also - Amazon in the backend - now is set up very well to make the windows where devices are rootable very, very short. They don't even provide you with a prompt anymore - they just update away. They update before shipping, they force you having to be online to activate the device...
Those are structural issues. If you don't see them, having worked in the industy for several years, look again.
Back of the shelf boxed units still would be the best bet for people willing to take a chance - and word of mouth that "one guy got an older firmware on a refurbished stick, sold by Amazon" is just that. Word of mouth.
In the meantime you can wait for a new rooting method, and don't care, that amazon restricted apps from reading logs via adb and put in all kinds of non standard android features like "great blacklist, so eazy", and there is still no full conversion rom for this thing, because navigating via a remote is only slowly becoming part of android as an OS.
Its a pitty that it turned out this way - because for a short window - both the Fire TV Stick and the Fire TV2 where the best value for money in this sector you could buy (raspberry pie still has less "power" than a AFTV2) - but you had too many interests only "faking" that they would act in favor of a homebrew community - too many users that only cared about solving problems that came up as a result of them not understanding what they bought on shady channels - looking for service, to many people too willing to excuse Amazon of wrongdoing, before even all the facts came out...
The truth is, that this is a dead category.
Give the raspberry pie two more years, and understand that if you care about openness and doing stuff the manufacturer hasnt set up for you - open hardware will be more and more your only opportunity.
Not so much because devices become harder and harder to hack open (which is also an increasing issue) - but because you cant set up a community thats set on "demanding enduser service", paying resellers to cut corners as far as them learning to set up stuff, and listening to product bloggers that provide them with tutorials stolen from here ("But they have added pictures!!"), as long as it is convenient for them, but then help mask the fact, when and how amazon splits this community or moves against our interests, because they benefit more - when they can make their readers entirely dependent on Amazon - and look, its so easy....
Try to get your numbers in this environment. I watch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough... I don't have the funds to test the waters on the spread of still-rootable FTVs either. Matter of fact, I returned the one I bought, the day after I posted the bit about it being unrootable.
Dead category or not, I still enjoy screwing around with them and I know others out there (in here, in this forum) do too..
The problem is, as you said, it's a device that sells out not because of the people who populate these threads, who have both (hopefully) the interest and ability to investigate, understand, and modify, the ins-and-outs of the things they buy...but because of the people who buy the devices up 10 at a time and run an automated process to sideload kodi with outdated wizards, so they can make $15 a pop..
I think the back of the shelf copy is a thing of the past, at least in my area..the number of retailers is a small one, only a few places carry them - they get a whole bunch in, then sell out in a day or two..and nobody has any for weeks..
I don't know if anybody still stocks ftv1's but I am still curious what remains floating around in circulation...
The search continues...
The title says it all. Google decided to use 'Ontrac' as the company to deliver my 6 pro. And as you might expect, it they decided to mark it as delivered.
A few days ago, after i saw my package shipping email, i decided to look up reviews on Ontrac on Reddit and other various forums.
A downright litany/fukkton of people were complaining that Ontrac marked the package as delivered, when they never were. Packages seem to grow legs and disappear with this company. This gave me deep core cringy anxiety once i saw this.
Now....... I'm pissed, because i can't even reach Google, because of the INSANE wait times for calls and online chat. I'm beyond upset, what a complete sh1tshow.
Please request to have another company deliver your pixel. Stay a mile away from Ontrac.
has your package been stated as delivered? wasn't clear by your post....
Burt Squirtz said:
The title says it all. Google decided to use 'Ontrac' as the company to deliver my 6 pro.
A few days ago, after i saw my package shipping email, i decided to look up reviews on Ontrac on Reddit and other various forums.
A downright litany/fukkton of people were complaining that Ontrac marked the package as delivered, when they never were. Packages seem to grow legs and disappear with this company. Now I'm pissed, because i can't even reach Google, because of the INSANE wait times for calls and online chat. I'm beyond upset, what a complete sh1tshow.
Please request to have another company deliver your pixel. Stay a mile away from Ontrac.
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Edit: forgot to type that my package was indeed marked off as delivered. But of course it wasn't.
mccabeross said:
has your package been stated as delivered? wasn't clear by your post....
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Of course it was marked off as delivered. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to type this.
In the modern world of shipping companies dropping and running, its a GREAT idea to put a motion sensitive security camera of some sort to catch the front of your property.
I use some generic high resolution IP cameras and a Zoneminder server.
If there is ever a claim that a package was delivered, you just need to find the footage applicable for the time they claim it was delivered. If none exists, then they obviously didn't deliver.
I've caught all kinds of weird stuff, like a delivery ape literally THROWING a package marked "fragile". Also a neighbor from across the street trying to sneak a couple of extra bags onto my driveway, and after I had a little chat with him, sneaking it onto OTHER people's driveways.
Note: it was an old guy, and I actually told him that it was OK, just give me a call first so I know its him and not someone from the other end of town throwing out body parts
Similar situation with Best Buy. Had I known, I would have done in store pickup. Now mine is "an event has delayed your delivery". I guess on the plus side, it hasn't officially been stolen yet.
Norma Stitz said:
Similar situation with Best Buy. Had I known, I would have done in store pickup. Now mine is "an event has delayed your delivery". I guess on the plus side, it hasn't officially been stolen yet.
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OMG. Still nothing on my stolen/vanished p6p. I had to order one off eBay, and on top of that miraculously, an hour later found a 256 stormy black at best buy that will be delivered on the 3rd! I got completely scalped on the eBay pixel.
I have learned a valuable lesson. Don't get phones shipped to your house guys.
1) Always get doorbell camera security system for your package delivery doors.
2). Try everything in your power to get packages routed to 'in package store pickup', and DO NOT use sketch package delivery companies like OnTrac!
So I decided to share my experience with Google so far. An experience that unfortunately is still ongoing. I'll start by saying the last pixel device I purchased was the nexus 6p. Decided I was going to try the pixel 6 pro as I was intrigued with the new features and Google tensor capabilities.
Release day comes. I try to preorder the 6p and the website keeps crashing before I can complete the order. After 2 hours of trying, I suddenly get a message say they were out of stock. I was bummed. I decided to try later that night and to my surprise everything was back in stock and I was able to finally submit my order.
After waiting a week or two, my device finally ships and arrives. I have the phone for 2 weeks and suddenly the system board completely fries. Screen totally black and will not power on. I Google my options and find a page where Google recommends taking it to an "authorized repair shop". The shop is nearly 45 minutes away. I take it there only to be told "they will see what they can do". A few days later I get a call and they say the system board is fried and I should contact Google to have a replacement sent out. I already knew the system board was likely fried from the symptoms. The "repair shop had no parts to fix the phone and had no replacements in hand to swap mine out with. So what was the point in trying them? I ended up wasting 3 hours of driving time just to be in the same position I was.
So I contact Google and initiate a replacement request after waiting on hold for over 1 hour. I pick the "rush" option where they send the device and put a hold on your account until you send back the old phone. After a week, my replacement still wasn't shipped. I had to contact Google support and after the 4th try, they finally shipped out the replacement. As soon as I received the replacement, I sent back the defective unit with the prepaid label they included. It was due back December 16th to avoid charges. I tracked my package and it showed Google received it December 9th. Ok .. great. End of story right? Nope!
December 16th rolls around and I get a notice saying I didn't send back the defective device and I would be charged the full amount of the replacement device. Furious that I once again would have to reach out to Google, I replied to the email from my last support ticket to let them know they once again messed up and incorrectly charged me. I receive a reply saying my issue would be escalated. After 3 days I heard nothing else. I replied to email asking for an update and again, no response. So I decided I would have to once again get a call from Google. The support person clearly had no idea what they were doing and I was told they were going to escalate the ticket and I would hear back in 24 - 48 hours. 3 days later, still have not heard back. So once again, time to contact Google. Again, same result as I was given no answers and the ticket was escalated and still have not heard anything back.
So it has now been 2 weeks that I was incorrectly charged and $973 was stolen from my account. Google obviously does not want to fix this as it takes 5 seconds to confirm with tracking number that I sent the device back and issue a refund. At this time I feel like I need to look at other options because they simply will not resolve the issue.
Has anyone else ever had this awful experience with google trying to get an incorrect charge removed/reimbursed? I am thinking of disputing the charge through my bank to see if they have better luck, but not sure if that is the best answer or not. One thing is for sure, Google will NEVER make another dime from me as long as I am alive. 2 weeks and they still have not corrected a mistake THEY made and returned my money? Outrageous. I wouldn't expect this level of support from the worst company in the world.
I am sorry that you had to go through this. I read someone else's experience which was similar on the Google Pixel reddit. Not sure if you posted there too but there are a few others who have either gotten damaged phones or received empty boxes and they stated Google would just escalate the issue, back and forth several times.
From my experience, I've never had an issue with Google support but this was for the Nexus 6p, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL. Each time an advanced RMA went through without a hitch.
For my first 6 Pro that I sent back for a screen issue, the support person seemed to have no idea what I was talking about as they were asking if I modified the screen or the underside of the screen? Nonetheless they issued an Advanced RMA and I got it and sent the old unit back without problems.
But as I have been noticing, I think their support has been outsourced now, they are short staffed and it seems "escalating" just means it will get passed on to the next support person. The last time I called, I could barely hear the support person because you could hear everyone else in the call center too. I don't recall having this same experience on my previous phones years ago.
Have you tried calling instead of email? Keep trying until you get an Agent that is willing to help. If anything, try to tweet them at @madebygoogle with your issue and see if that gets the ball rolling.
If you do a charge back they can block access to your google account so make sure you back everything up and take it out of google if you absolutely have to do this.
Good advice above on the charge back. I have heard of that happening.
Google employees don't so support, they farm support, shipping and repair out to Ingram. They suck.
Bummer! It's needle in a hay stack to get good googleeeee support all in one place!
selayan said:
I am sorry that you had to go through this. I read someone else's experience which was similar on the Google Pixel reddit. Not sure if you posted there too but there are a few others who have either gotten damaged phones or received empty boxes and they stated Google would just escalate the issue, back and forth several times.
From my experience, I've never had an issue with Google support but this was for the Nexus 6p, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL. Each time an advanced RMA went through without a hitch.
For my first 6 Pro that I sent back for a screen issue, the support person seemed to have no idea what I was talking about as they were asking if I modified the screen or the underside of the screen? Nonetheless they issued an Advanced RMA and I got it and sent the old unit back without problems.
But as I have been noticing, I think their support has been outsourced now, they are short staffed and it seems "escalating" just means it will get passed on to the next support person. The last time I called, I could barely hear the support person because you could hear everyone else in the call center too. I don't recall having this same experience on my previous phones years ago.
Have you tried calling instead of email? Keep trying until you get an Agent that is willing to help. If anything, try to tweet them at @madebygoogle with your issue and see if that gets the ball rolling.
If you do a charge back they can block access to your google account so make sure you back everything up and take it out of google if you absolutely have to do this.
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Yea I first started with email, pretty much got blown off, then I requested a call twice, both times resulting in the same "we will escalate your issue and you'll hear back in 1 or 2 days", and this last time I used chat. Surprisingly, the chat person has been replying to my emails, but still unhelpful as the replied are "your issue has been escalated, please allow us another 1- 3 days to resolve your issue" every 3 days. I just don't understand how a company is allowed to operate in this way. Yes accidents happen and companies sometimes screw up, but then they are quick to own and resolve it. Definitely hasn't been the case here. Especially with doing this right before the holidays when money is tight? I'm comfortable right now, but a lot of people can't afford to have $973 stolen from them.
I just realized I first reached out to Google December 12th after noticing the hold was still on my account 3 days after FedEx tracking confirmed it was shipped and they received it. Still have not been refunded. That means today is day 23 that Google incorrectly stole my money and has not refunded me. 23 days. UNBELIEVABLE. Never EVER buying a Google product from Google again. Sadly a quick Google search reveals my case is not an abnormally. Hopefully their support catches up to them and the company crashes and burns. One can hope. No legit company should be permitted to operate in this way.
I hope that you have proof of your sent-in (pictures of the package, receipt from sending in). I'd probably wait a couple more days (~ 1 month total) and in case they haven't refunded you by then, write them again (e-mail or whatever, always in written form! telephone is worth nothing in front a court, since you can't proof sh*t) and give them a deadline (must be reasonable) to process your case, or else you will go to a lawyer.
As advice for the future (in case you haven't done that already), if you package anything of value - my own minimum is ~150 € - have a witness there when you package the product (friend, mother, whatever - dog will probably not count - if you want to go overkill, prepare a written statement for them (product is in functioning condition, is packed properly, witness to that blabliblup), so they can just sign it to help your case - in case anything goes wrong), best also make a small video / photos of the packaging process. That way you have hard proof and if you go to a lawyer with that, they'll rub their hands and get you your money in no time. It's important that you can prove that you have properly shipped the product.
I know that this sounds "overkill", but you have just experienced why this is important. DHL once destroyed a 4 figures expensive OLED of mine whilst transporting it and only because I prepared proof in advance of the pristine condition of the product, I was able to get 100% of my money back. It will only take a couple minutes - and s*it happens. In 99 of 100 cases, it will not be important and you might "waste" a couple minutes each time. But once you get a problem... you will wish that you made the effort...
By the way, since you talked about bank/reimbursed (disputing the charge through your bank) in your OP post, DO NOT do that. Google will use that as an excuse to shut down all your Google accounts, since "the relationship of trust with the customer is disturbed" - or something along the lines of that. If they don't act within a reasonable time frame given, get a lawyer. Do not act on your own and DO NOT remove money from Googles account. That will instantly create red flags in your profile and will permanently damage your standing with that company. And since Google is just a small indie company, you might not care about that. But... You know where I'm going with this.
scott.hart.bti said:
I just realized I first reached out to Google December 12th after noticing the hold was still on my account 3 days after FedEx tracking confirmed it was shipped and they received it. Still have not been refunded. That means today is day 23 that Google incorrectly stole my money and has not refunded me. 23 days. UNBELIEVABLE. Never EVER buying a Google product from Google again. Sadly a quick Google search reveals my case is not an abnormally. Hopefully their support catches up to them and the company crashes and burns. One can hope. No legit company should be permitted to operate in this way.
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Click to collapse
So you didn't get charged but have a hold on the amount, right? Don't banks remove a hold after a certain number of days? I'd start with them. As for destroying your Google account, they used to do that when Google was running the return/support process. Now they have outsourced it and I wonder if they will still do that. I haven't seen current reports on that but you can check Reddit for all the down and dirty stuff like that.
Morgrain said:
I hope that you have proof of your sent-in (pictures of the package, receipt from sending in). I'd probably wait a couple more days (~ 1 month total) and in case they haven't refunded you by then, write them again (e-mail or whatever, always in written form! telephone is worth nothing in front a court, since you can't proof sh*t) and give them a deadline (must be reasonable) to process your case, or else you will go to a lawyer.
As advice for the future (in case you haven't done that already), if you package anything of value - my own minimum is ~150 € - have a witness there when you package the product (friend, mother, whatever - dog will probably not count - if you want to go overkill, prepare a written statement for them (product is in functioning condition, is packed properly, witness to that blabliblup), so they can just sign it to help your case - in case anything goes wrong), best also make a small video / photos of the packaging process. That way you have hard proof and if you go to a lawyer with that, they'll rub their hands and get you your money in no time. It's important that you can prove that you have properly shipped the product.
I know that this sounds "overkill", but you have just experienced why this is important. DHL once destroyed a 4 figures expensive OLED of mine whilst transporting it and only because I prepared proof in advance of the pristine condition of the product, I was able to get 100% of my money back. It will only take a couple minutes - and s*it happens. In 99 of 100 cases, it will not be important and you might "waste" a couple minutes each time. But once you get a problem... you will wish that you made the effort...
By the way, since you talked about bank/reimbursed (disputing the charge through your bank) in your OP post, DO NOT do that. Google will use that as an excuse to shut down all your Google accounts, since "the relationship of trust with the customer is disturbed" - or something along the lines of that. If they don't act within a reasonable time frame given, get a lawyer. Do not act on your own and DO NOT remove money from Googles account. That will instantly create red flags in your profile and will permanently damage your standing with that company. And since Google is just a small indie company, you might not care about that. But... You know where I'm going with this.
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Thanks. Appreciate the feedback and advice. You know, you are 100 percent correct with sending things back. No one really thinks about it because a majority of the time it goes smoothly, but when there are issues it's extremely difficult to prove and any extra steps/precautions would be critical. I will start doing this going forward as I am a very precautions person and have little trust in the way everything operates nowadays.
I finally got an email from Google a few hours ago saying they were "processing a refund". Disturbing part is it says it can take up to 14 days. So hopefully at this point it's resolved and the money shows up. I notified my bank to seize looking into this matter for now and hold the claim to avoid any issues you mentioned. What an absolute nightmare. I truly can't understand how they are a successful lucrative company and have support comparable to a kindergarten student at a lemonade stand.
bobby janow said:
So you didn't get charged but have a hold on the amount, right? Don't banks remove a hold after a certain number of days? I'd start with them. As for destroying your Google account, they used to do that when Google was running the return/support process. Now they have outsourced it and I wonder if they will still do that. I haven't seen current reports on that but you can check Reddit for all the down and dirty stuff like that.
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At first it was a hold until December 16th when they sent an email saying they never received it and it turned into a legit charge. Unreal, but finally seem to be making progress as per my last post.
I did a quick search and man... It's disturbing to see how common this is. I mean how can a company operate this way and yet still generate hundreds of millions in revenue? Blows my mind.
scott.hart.bti said:
I did a quick search and man... It's disturbing to see how common this is. I mean how can a company operate this way and yet still generate hundreds of millions in revenue? Blows my mind.
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Do a search for Samsung, Apple, (insert name of company here) and you will find the same results. It's just the way it is and always has been. Just much more pronounced now in this day of covid and people not working and everyone understaffed.
Yes, my experience with Google warranty was very similar.
The problem is these ass clowns are using FedEx Ground and they take their sweet ass time. Not only with this shipment but literally every shipment for me that's ever touched their system for the last year has been delayed. If not stated no delivery information available, what???
I used to work for FedEx Express. There was pride in there their work ethic and getting people their stuff typically within minutes of the commitment time at the latest. Now they just don't give AF.
Yes, they charged my card too. I called fraud and had them reach out to FedEx Ground and fix their lazy delivery style.
In addition, Google was very slow to admit that my old phone was overheating from no user error whatsoever. That process took two months. They definitely didn't send me a replacement that was an unlocked bootloader.
What a nightmare.
I bought an open box 6 Pro from Best Buy and it randomly decides to have a stuck green pixel and a giant line across the screen. Trying to exchange it has been hell because it has to be another open box and they are hard to catch but I managed to today. The phone rep guy just added it to my original order and it's gonna be here tuesday. No mention of returning the one I have.