Hardware:
- So-called Solar Calculator included in a Samsill organizer
- AG10 Button Cell Battery
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| Our actual Samsill organizer with built-in FAKE solar calculator |
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| AG10 Button Cell Battery |
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| Dual-Powered Calculator is actually a fake |
A (so-called) solar calculator that came built in, in one of your organizers, stopped working for my boss and he asked me to look into fixing it. I noticed that there was a little door on the back and wondered if there was a battery under it even though it was a solar calculator (and thought it might be a battery assisted solar calculator). I looked and there was a button cell battery under the door but it still bugged me a bit why the calculator still didn’t work under a bright light. So I disassembled the calculator and discovered the solar panel was a total fake and only the battery was wired to the calculator. Were you guys aware you were selling fake solar calculators with your organizers? I read a little about you on your website and it doesn’t seem like that kind of thing fits with your company values.
Thanks,
John
I’ll update this when I hear back from them.
Update 10/17/12: While I was writing this blog post I got on samsill.com’s website and they have a chat-now link and I got in touch with one of their customer service representatives. It turns out that this portfolio is advertised as “dual powered” and is still sold at amazon.com here. I shared my findings with the Samsill rep and they are sending us a replacement version of their Slimline Pad Holder in the mail and they said they would verify that it was truly dual-powered before they sent it. I am very curious whether it is! The rep also said that they would forward on my findings to their Marketing Department. When we get it I’m going to take it apart!!
Update 10/18/12: I received an email this morning from Samsill’s Director of Marketing:
John,
I am the Director of Marketing here at Samsill and Roe passed along information from your chat yesterday regarding the issue with the “dual powered” calculator on part# 70890. First of all, let me apologize for the inconvenience and for the product not living up to our promise. The product your boss had was indeed 8 years old as was made by our old factory. We did switch factories over a year ago and have double-checked to make sure that all calculators coming in now are in fact “dual powered”. Just to make sure I pulled a product from inventory yesterday and took apart the calculator. The attached image shows the inside. I just spoke with Roe and she will be sending you a new product today. Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention and we hope the new product will be the last one your boss will ever need. Be sure and let me know if there is anything else I can do.Best Regards,
Drew
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| The truly dual-powered calculator–all they had to do is add one capacitor and a solar panel to the fake version above |
Update 10/22/12: We received the replacement portfolio and calculator today. Thumbs up to Samsill for backing their products and making things right. I still had to take it apart just to verify and it truly is dual powered:
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| Truly Dual-Powered Solar Calculator |
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I haven’t used my Office Depot portfolio binder for the past 5 years. When I pulled it out of storage the calculator would not turn on. I contacted Office Depot and they said that after more than 4 years of not having been used the battery may have drained up (…. well, it has a solar panel, so it must be a fake..). So I am supposed to replace the button battery or the calculator all together. Office Depot offered 20% discount if I buy a new binder or a new calculator. It seems unfair to me and I would rather fix the calculator. However the calculator is practically glued to the binder and forcing it out would tear up the internal cover. The Office Depot representative had no idea. Any tips on how I can extract it with no damage to the binder?
You might try warming it with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive.
Ugh, how many of these so-called solar calculators are fakes? I have the same issue with an Office Depot calculator.
I'd contact them, they'll probably send you a new one. I'm always amazed at what I can get for just asking.