Blue Pocket Pro finish already coming off

[Toeknee]

Originally Posted by suzymca

no worries Robertb, still excited and not going another route, it's just a pain in the arse

Makes me wish Canada were more consumer oriented, instead of us having to pay almost a 1/3 more for items like the prs-300 (don't know what the CAD retail would be of a pocket pro), and $12CAD for a bottle of Yellow Tail, vs. the $5CAD we pay across the border. Ah well, not opening a can of worms, just pointing some things out to no one in particular

I live in Canada too and I ordered a black EZReader Pro on September 19. The website only has black and white in stock, so I didn't get to pick the blue unit that I originally wanted. I'm OK with black though.

I live in Winnipeg, right in the middle of Canada and often get stuff shipped to Pembina, ND but opted to ship direct for this purchase. The shipping fee was 37.00 US which is pricey, but I'm anxious to get the unit and didn't want to wait for our next trip even though my friend and I typically head down every 2 or 3 weeks to pick up purchases.

The 5.00 fee is the customs office "I touched it" fee. The lady in Pembina charges 5.00 too so that is a wash. If customs doesn't inspect your package, you may get off without having to pay anything. It really varies quite randomly. My experience has been that packages under 100.00 or so usually don't get dinged at all when shipped directly to Canada. I downloaded CRA's duty documentation which lists off the duty for different types of purchases. You should pull that down as it gives you an idea of how much duty you might be charged.

[Dr. Drib]

Welcome to MobileRead, ToeKnee.

Thanks for the information on Customs and Duties for Canada.

You sound like you know your way around MobileRead, so I won't give you the familiar song-and-dance.

If you have any questions, let us know. There will be plenty of members here to help you.


Don
(Moderator)

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

So how is this Astak's problem? If they are having these units manufactured by another company and shipped to Astak, should the manufacturing company not have some form of quality control in place to ensure there are no defects? Is that not part of the manufacturing process? I know if I bought a new car I'd want it to come out of the factory in perfect order and not require the car yard to perform a full test to make sure it was built correctly. I'm just asking your opinion being a business owner in warehousing and shipping, I'm not trying to start a flamewar or anything.

Dear Solicitous:

Thank you. Yes, we could say "blame the factory" but that is a crummy excuse. Astak accepts the accolades when things go right; and needs to accept the balme when they do not (as we are doing). In the end, we rushed the factory and pressed and pressed hard.

Jinke does a magnificent job and I love their company. However, they are just learning the nuonces of the North American Market. They are being responsive; and they are doing everything they can do. The fact remains that the Pocket PRO IS a landmark for eBook Readers. Despite the paint problems by rushing, Astak and its factory came out with an incredible device that does so much really good. When all the dust settles, the facts will bear out that the Pocket PRO really changed the eBook Reader landscape and made a difference!

And... their factories are hard at work on new devices that will be the rage of the industry. I think their 9.7 inch, when it comes out, will be awesome. I know the wireless models will be phenomenal.

Things are shaping up!! The Mentor line has introduced a Version #2 of the Mentor Lite. Version #2 adds the Epson Controller and MP3. It is now fast and a fine 6 inch that we feel great about selling. The Mentor Line is just now getting good and you will see a lot of innovation coming with their 9.7 inch and their new models of the 6 inch.

Plus, work on the 7 inch MID Astak "Spectrum" is continuing and progressing. That will have a color screen. I cannot say any more than this about non-released product.

So, Astak accepts the blame on the paint and is making things right! The future looks pretty amazing!!

[Musicman]

I received my RMA number and I am now waiting for a UPS return label via E-mail.

[Solicitous]

Hi Robertb

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Solicitous:

Thank you. Yes, we could say "blame the factory" but that is a crummy excuse. Astak accepts the accolades when things go right; and needs to accept the balme when they do not (as we are doing). In the end, we rushed the factory and pressed and pressed hard.

I actually didn't think too much about that. Despite the problems Astak does really look like a company accepting all accountability, which as a consumer allows us to have trust in a company. I'm starting to feel Astak to be a rather credible company.

Originally Posted by Robertb

Things are shaping up!! The Mentor line has introduced a Version #2 of the Mentor Lite. Version #2 adds the Epson Controller and MP3. It is now fast and a fine 6 inch that we feel great about selling. The Mentor Line is just now getting good and you will see a lot of innovation coming with their 9.7 inch and their new models of the 6 inch.

Is there any further updates on this new Mentor Lite 2? Release date and/or pricing?

Overall I am excited about ordering my PP and see just how good this e-ink is. I have only read one blog where the author did not like e-ink, and their view was e-readers need to have web surfing capabilities and watch movies etc....sounds more like they need a tablet pc to me.

[superstitious]

I got my RMA number but still waiting for UPS label via email as well. My purple PP just gets a bit worse now because it started off with just fingerpring looking, a crocodile like skin in several spots, then a tiny chip in the back. Now the top right corner and thefront right side just below the wheel are bubbling up and the chip in the back now had gotten bigger also. I don't know if I should even ask for purple back but I really dont want to have to get a black one. What are you guys with color PP going to do? Are you still asking for the same color or just black and white one?

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

Hi Robertb



I actually didn't think too much about that. Despite the problems Astak does really look like a company accepting all accountability, which as a consumer allows us to have trust in a company. I'm starting to feel Astak to be a rather credible company.



Is there any further updates on this new Mentor Lite 2? Release date and/or pricing?

Overall I am excited about ordering my PP and see just how good this e-ink is. I have only read one blog where the author did not like e-ink, and their view was e-readers need to have web surfing capabilities and watch movies etc....sounds more like they need a tablet pc to me.

The Mentor Lite Version #2 (with Epson and MP3) is now in our warehouse. We are trying to work out the price still. The problem is we would like to sell it thru Retail Stores and we need a great price for the end user that will make a bargain for the end user too. Right now the discussion is $249-$259, a good price for a 6 inch with the Epson!

We are not saying much about it yet only because getting everyone happy on the Pocket PRO is top priority.

There is some info on it on my blog: www.robertbEZ.blogspot.com

[rling]

Originally Posted by Robertb

The Mentor Lite Version #2 (with Epson and MP3) is now in our warehouse. We are trying to work out the price still.

Thanks for info, but don't take too long. My emails for a second unit with combined shipping to Ruby was not answered. I was not too concerned, as I heard about the 6" unit. Am queeing to place order once it is available...

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by superstitious

I got my RMA number but still waiting for UPS label via email as well. My purple PP just gets a bit worse now because it started off with just fingerpring looking, a crocodile like skin in several spots, then a tiny chip in the back. Now the top right corner and thefront right side just below the wheel are bubbling up and the chip in the back now had gotten bigger also. I don't know if I should even ask for purple back but I really dont want to have to get a black one. What are you guys with color PP going to do? Are you still asking for the same color or just black and white one?

I asked for a replacement in Black - I felt since I have a black EZ-Reader and there are no problems and others here say that the black and white have no paint problems that it would be best to go with that.

[Musicman]

I just received my UPS Label via e-mail - all within one day.

Good Customer Service RobertB!

[superstitious]

I just got mine too! Do you know if we keep the SD card that come with the PP? Ive read somewhere..maybe in this post by Robertb saying something about keeping the sd card so it doesnt get mix up. Thanks Astak team for working hard and fast for the exchange. Im keeping my fingers crossed and will keep mine the same. Purple that is. I am determine this time to get my "toy" in color. Every time I want to buy something in other colors I always go back to black. Not this time!

[Jane A]

Originally Posted by superstitious

I got my RMA number but still waiting for UPS label via email as well. My purple PP just gets a bit worse now because it started off with just fingerpring looking, a crocodile like skin in several spots, then a tiny chip in the back. Now the top right corner and thefront right side just below the wheel are bubbling up and the chip in the back now had gotten bigger also. I don't know if I should even ask for purple back but I really dont want to have to get a black one. What are you guys with color PP going to do? Are you still asking for the same color or just black and white one?

I'm going to take a chance and get another purple one. They're just so purty! Mine is not bad at all, just a tiny bubble on one of the front buttons (that I haven't hardly used), and a fingerprint sized splotch on the back.

Though I'm a little concerned that the same thing will happen again, I really think Astak wiould replace it if it fails again, this time with a black or white unit. This is not based on anything they've said, just supposition given how willing Robert seems to make things right.

[superstitious]

Jane, I decided to stick with my purple also. What a cute color! Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. Go Purple!

[Jane A]

Originally Posted by superstitious

I just got mine too! Do you know if we keep the SD card that come with the PP? Ive read somewhere..maybe in this post by Robertb saying something about keeping the sd card so it doesnt get mix up. Thanks Astak team for working hard and fast for the exchange. Im keeping my fingers crossed and will keep mine the same. Purple that is. I am determine this time to get my "toy" in color. Every time I want to buy something in other colors I always go back to black. Not this time!

BTW, do keep your SD card, per Amy!

Yes, the purple color really is what sold me, though it's silly I know.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by superstitious

I just got mine too! Do you know if we keep the SD card that come with the PP? Ive read somewhere..maybe in this post by Robertb saying something about keeping the sd card so it doesnt get mix up. Thanks Astak team for working hard and fast for the exchange. Im keeping my fingers crossed and will keep mine the same. Purple that is. I am determine this time to get my "toy" in color. Every time I want to buy something in other colors I always go back to black. Not this time!

Dear superstitious and janea:

Good, good. Now we are getting somewhere. I love the Metallic Purple also and I KNOW the problem is totally solved on what we have now in stock. You have my word that the colors are now safe to order. Every day I walk by them and rub about 10 of them hard to make sure. I take no chances now. Fellow employees think I have lost my mind... but I am from Missouri and "you gotta show me"!

My thought on the SD card is that it will be a calamity if those returned come in with the card and someone fouls up and does not change it over to the new replacement. We would end up hunting for cards that all look alike and, of course, they are not labeled with any names. I would hold your own SD card until the exchange is made.

My nightmare is people posting: "the exchange went fine except they lost 10 of my ebooks that were on the SD and my only copy of my favorite song".