Yeah right. At least Hims makes a quality product that will last. I have done a few unmentionables to what I have currently, and it still works fine. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 12, 2015, at 9:28 AM, Russ Kiehne <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Here are some things to be aware  of about the Blaze.  internet radio and
> downloading podcasts work just like the bookport plus and plextalk pocket.
> The Stream has a much better implementation of internet radio and podcasts. 
> I
> feel that the Stream has a better way of organizing it's content.  The Blaze 
> will not be able to play content from Audible or read brf files.
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Buddy Brannan
> Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 6:11 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: A Recent Interaction With HumanWare
> 
> My Book Sense (standard) worked great for about 3 years, then died =
> during a reflash. Haven't sent it for repair. I'll be interested to see =
> what happens with their newest Blaze player.
> 
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: 814-860-3194=20
> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>> On Apr 11, 2015, at 3:15 PM, Jordan Gallacher =
>> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> =20
>> I had the same issue with them a few years ago regarding my =
> BrailleNote not
>> working correctly.  I recommend highly the book player from Hims Inc.  =
> The
>> one I have works great, and it has been through a lot in the past 5 =
> years.
>> Jordan
>> =20
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators =
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan
>> Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 11:40 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: OT: A Recent Interaction With HumanWare
>> =20
>> Sorry for any stray nasty characters here.
>> =20
>> Still haven't decided what I'll do about this. Their response to my =3D =
> email
>> will help determine that, perhaps.=3D20
>> =20
>> Just posted to my personal blog at=3D20
>> http://buddy.brannan.name/blog/2015/04/what-to-do-about-humanware/
>> =20
>> What To Do About HumanWare?
>> =20
>> Back in August, I purchased a second generation Victor Reader =
> Streamfrom =3D
>> HumanWare at a promotional price. While I thought that the included =3D
>> accessories were a bit stingy (a case with no belt clip and no SD =
> card), =3D I
>> thought the device itself was well designed and well executed. The =3D =
> user
>> interface was a worthy follow-up to the first generation. It has =3D
>> easy-to-use controls that are intuitive, and really, I liked mine so =3D=
> much
>> that I often used it instead of other players I have around here, =3D
>> including ones on the iPhone.=3D20
>> =20
>> Back in February, my Stream developed a problem. Some important =
> controls =3D
>> (play, fast forward, rewind, and the sleep timer button) started =
> acting =3D
>> strangely. They would either intermittently not work, or they would =3D
>> intermittently act as though multiple buttons were pressed at the same =
> =3D
>> time, or one button was pressed multiple times. Both hoping the =
> problem =3D
>> was a fluke and would clear itself up, and also because I had more =3D
>> important things to deal with at the time, I put the player aside. =
> When, =3D
>> recently, I pulled it out again and the problem persisted, and my =
> other =3D
>> irons in the fire were well into resolution, I called HumanWare tech =3D=
> 
>> support and sent my Stream off for repair. They received it Tuesday, =
> and =3D I
>> received the following Email from them today:
>> =20
>> Recently you sent us equipment for repair.
>> =20
>> After evaluation,  the technician found out that the damages caused to =
> =3D
>> your unit cannot be repaired.
>> We will have to replace the unit.
>> He also found out that these damages are not manufacturing issue and =
> so =3D
>> cannot be covered under warranty.  We took some pictures.  If you need =
> =3D
>> copy of them, please let us know.
>> =20
>> Please find attached a copy of the quotation for a replacement unit.  =
> As =3D
>> soon as we receive your purchase order or payment we will proceed the =
> =3D
>> order and the unit will be sent to you.
>> =20
>> Please take note that after receiving this quote, if you do not wish =
> to =3D
>> proceed with the replacement unit, HumanWare will return the =
> unrepaired =3D
>> unit and freight will be at your expense or a diagnostic fee, if =3D
>> applicable.  In case you do not require the unrepaired unit back, =3D
>> HumanWare will dispose of it for you. Failure to reply will lead to =
> unit =3D
>> disposal after a period of 3 months following quote issuance.
>> =20
>> If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the =
> customer =3D
>> service department.
>> =20
>> Sincerely,
>> =20
>> Customer Service, HumanWare Inc.
>> =20
>> My first reaction wasn=3DE2=3D80=3D99t disappointment over my problem =
> not =3D being
>> covered under warranty. (I did read the attached PDF and saw that =3D =
> I can
>> get my out of warranty problem replaced for half the cost of a new =3D
>> unit.) No, my first reaction was to marvel at the sheer rudeness of =
> the =3D
>> email. The problem wasn=3DE2=3D80=3D99t a manufacturing problem, =
> it=3DE2=3D80=3D99s =3D
>> your fault, and we=3DE2=3D80=3D99ve got pictures to prove it. Rude and =
> =3D
>> confrontational all on its own, but remember, this is a company whose =
> =3D
>> primary audience includes people who are blind. This specific =3D
>> product=3DE2=3D80=3D99s main users, and buyers, are people who are =
> blind. =3D Those
>> would be people who cannot see pictures, no matter how damning the =3D
>> evidence.=3D20
>> =20
>> Of course, if this were merely an oversight, it might be excused, but =
> =3D
>> it=3DE2=3D80=3D99s a pattern. HumanWare has put out several marketing =
> =3D campaigns
>> with product teasers that were purely visual in nature. Hey, =3D look =
> at the
>> picture of our new product! We won=3DE2=3D80=3D99t tell you what =3D =
> it is, nor will
>> we describe the picture, but you=3DE2=3D80=3D99ll love it! Oh, =3D by =
> the way,
>> it=3DE2=3D80=3D99s a braille display, we find out later. Really?=3D20=3D=
> 
>> =20
>> =20
>> I should stress here that I don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t find fault with their =
> =3D conclusion
>> necessarily. After all, I could have accidentally done =3D something =
> or other
>> to break the thing. That sort of thing happens =3D sometimes, in spite =
> of our
>> best intentions. My problem is with their =3D delivery, which struck =
> me as
>> abysmally bad customer service. I therefore =3D replied with the =
> following:
>> =20
>> Hello:
>> =20
>> Thank you for your Email regarding my damaged Victor Reader Stream. =3D =
> While
>> I appreciate your telling m that the repair is not covered under =3D =
> warranty,
>> not being a manufacturing defect, I can=3DE2=3D80=3D99t say I =3D =
> appreciate your
>> delivery. You have pictures and are happy to send them? =3D Great! =
> This would
>> do me, as a blind person, and by the way one of your =3D primary =
> markets, any
>> good, exactly how? Would it really have taken you =3D that much more =
> time to
>> have explained, in plain language, what the =3D problem was?
>> =3DE2=3D80=3D9CUnfortunately, it looks as though your Stream got =3D =
> splashed with
>> water.=3DE2=3D80=3D9D Or =3DE2=3D80=3D9CUnfortunately, we found =3D =
> foreign matter in your
>> play button.=3DE2=3D80=3D9D Or perhaps, =3D =3DE2=3D80=3D9CUnfortunately=
> , a peanut butter
>> sandwich will not fit in the SD =3D card slot.=3DE2=3D80=3D9D? Really, =
> an Email that
>> says, =3DE2=3D80=3D9CSorry, it=3DE2=3D80=3D99=3D s your problem, and =
> we have pictures to
>> prove it=3DE2=3D80=3D9D is rude and =3D confrontational, besides being =
> terribly
>> unhelpful to a blind person, who =3D is, I may stress, part of one of =
> your
>> primary markets. I would suggest =3D that this is an unacceptably poor =
> level
>> of customer service.=3D20
>> =20
>> Allow me, if I may, to craft an Email that you may use in future =3D =
> dealings
>> of this nature. I=3DE2=3D80=3D99ll even give this to you at =3D =
> absolutely no cost.
>> Feel free to use it in full or in part. Do not, =3D however, use the =
> Email you
>> sent me in future dealings of this nature.=3D20
>> =20
>> =3DE2=3D80=3D94=3DE2=3D80=3D94=3DE2=3D80=3D94-Cut=3DE2=3D80=3D94=3DE2=3D=
> 80=3D94=3DE2=3D80=3D94-
>> =20
>> Dear [Insert customer name here]:
>> =20
>> We are writing to follow up with you regarding your recent repair =3D =
> request,
>> with RMA #XXXXXX.=3D20
>> =20
>> After inspecting your [product name], our technicians have determined =
> =3D that
>> the damage cannot be repaired, and a full replacement of the unit =3D =
> will be
>> required. We found the following problems:
>> =20
>> * There was foreign matter dropped into the controls.
>> * Liquid damage from [water, coffee, etc.] is apparent.
>> * A peanut butter sandwich will not fit in the SD card slot. Please do =
> =3D not
>> attempt to put one there.
>> * A crack in the control board indicates a drop from a significant =3D =
> height.
>> [And so forth]
>> =20
>> If you wish to inspect the damage as outlined above, we can provide =3D =
> photos
>> upon request.=3D20
>> =20
>> Unfortunately, this damage is not covered under the limited =3D
>> manufacturer=3DE2=3D80=3D99s warranty, as it is not a manufacturing =
> defect. =3D
>> Please see the full statement of warranty here: [insert URL to limited =
> =3D
>> warranty]
>> =20
>> Since your [product] was returned to us within the warranty period, we =
> =3D are
>> prepared to offer you a non-warranty replacement at half retail =3D =
> price plus
>> applicable shipping and tax. Please reference [invoice =3D number] =
> when you
>> phone if you would like to take advantage of this =3D offer. For your =
> records,
>> we have attached an accessible PDF with full =3D offer details. This =
> offer is
>> good for 90 days from today.
>> =20
>> Alternatively, if you wish to have your damaged [product] back, we =3D =
> require
>> that you pay return shipping charges. If you do not wish to take =3D =
> advantage
>> of our replacement offer and do not want your damaged =3D [product] =
> back, we
>> will be happy to responsibly dispose of it for you at =3D no =
> additional
>> charge.
>> =20
>> If you have any questions or concerns, please phone or Email. We are =3D=
> 
>> available weekdays from [range of hours], Eastern time.=3D20
>> =20
>> We appreciate your business. Thank you for being a HumanWare =
> customer.=3D20=3D
>> =20
>> =20
>> Sincerely,
>> Joe Schmoe
>> HumanWare Customer Service
>> =20
>> =3DE2=3D80=3D94=3DE2=3D80=3D94=3DE2=3D80=3D94-CUT=3DE2=3D80=3D94=3DE2=3D=
> 80=3D94=3DE2=3D80=3D94-
>> =20
>> Let me stress here that I have no doubt that you really do have =
> pictures =3D
>> of the damage. I also have no problem believing that the problem is =
> not =3D
>> covered under the warranty terms, not because I know what caused the =3D=
> 
>> problem (I don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t), but because, let=3DE2=3D80=3D99s face =
> it, stuff =3D
>> happens, sometimes stuff even happens of which one is unaware. It =
> would, =3D
>> therefore, be really helpful if you could tell me, in plain language, =
> =3D the
>> nature of the problem, so that I know what caused the keys to do the =3D=
> 
>> strange things they were doing. I would really appreciate this =3D
>> information.=3D20
>> =20
>> I really love the Stream. It=3DE2=3D80=3D99s a fantastic product. It =
> does what =3D
>> it does very, very well. It is well designed and easy to use, and
>> I=3DE2=3D80=3D99=3D
>> ve found that I have started using it in favor of other book =3D
>> players I have around here, including ones on the iPhone. So, yes, it =
> =3D
>> really is a great product for the tech savvy blind guy, too. I would =3D=
> even
>> like to get a second one for my wife, who has just lost all of her =3D
>> remaining vision, has very little feeling in her fingers, and is not =
> at =3D
>> all technology friendly. She has a first gen Stream and likes it a =
> lot, =3D
>> and I know she=3DE2=3D80=3D99d like the new one even more. =
> Unfortunately, due =3D to
>> the nature of your communication, I honestly don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t know =
> what =3D I
>> want to do about either a replacement or a second unit. How can I, in =
> =3D good
>> conscience, support a company with so little regard for its target =3D
>> audience? After all, your Email is only one of several such instances; =
> I =3D
>> reference the several years of product teasers (at least one of which =
> =3D was
>> for a braille display) that were purely visual in nature. Can I, =3D =
> indeed
>> *should* I, support a company who, essentially, thumbs its =3D =
> collective nose
>> at the population it purports to serve?=3D20
>> =20
>> Cordially,
>> =20
>> Whether HumanWare was right or wrong in their determination =
> isn=3DE2=3D80=3D99t =3D
>> really the point. Well, I guess it kind of is, because I have no idea =
> =3D
>> either way, having been given no information about it. But even if =
> they =3D
>> were correct in their assessment, their handling of how I was updated =
> on =3D
>> my repair status left pretty much everything to be desired. In short, =
> =3D
>> their Email was a great example of how not to do customer relations. =
> If =3D
>> you do customer relations this way, stop it. Please. Just =
> don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t.
>> =20
>> =20
>> =20
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: 814-860-3194=3D20
>> Mobile: 814-431-0962
>> Email: [log in to unmask]