Showing posts with label Customer Service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Customer Service. Show all posts

Saturday

Fix For: Neato Docks - Won't Charge


12-27-2012                 Update TO:  
              EASY CHARGER FIX-Don't Buy New Battery Yet
The Fix At The Bottom May Work Sometimes BUT!!!
I have discovered that the true issue here are the springs that push out the bar on the horizontal silver bars on the front of the charger unit.  These springs look like a larger version of the spring inside a bar point pen.  They are very weak and appear to lose their ability to push the silver bar back into position to contact the metal contact rail on the back of the Neato.   I am trying to talk to Neato to see if they will send out replacement units or at least beefier springs.  If the spring strength is the problem --- tightening the screw in the below post will not fix the problem.


My Neato XV-11 would dock, but not charge.  If I manually moved it around, sometimes I could get a charge connection.  I talked with Neato 3 times- promised a replacement only to have techs decide it was the battery and cancel.  They also said to clean the contacts and move the charger.  I did all those things and bought a new battery, but nothing changed.
It ended up to be was loose screws on the back of the charger strips. 
The Fix:
1)  The plug in charger has two spring loaded strips on the bottom.
2)  Check to see if both metal strips stick out from case and can be pushed in and pop out again.
3)  If one or more strip is sunk inside plastic case, then the problem is that the screws that hold the strip to the spring in back are loose.
4)  Depress orange bar on top of case to open.
5)  Inside will be wrapped electric line and the back of the strips.
6)  At the end of each strip is a small screw
7)  Carefully tighten screw(s).
8)  This should cause the strip to pop out in front
9)  Reassemble case and Neato should be able to successfully dock.
10)  There is a chance that bar will still stick. I have inquiry in to Neato asking them how unstick it.  I will update this post after they reply.

 I didn't need to buy new battery and if battery run time is still good, neither do you.

Lets see.. the Celtic people had no vacuum cleaners.

Sunday

CUSTOMER SERVICE-TROUBLE IN PARADISE

10-18-2012

Possible owners meeting-NEATO ROBOTICS


A little cautionary note about NEATO ROBOTICS customer service.  In the past these people have been nothing but helpful, but that seems to be be eroding.

My Neato XV-11 has difficulties recharging.  It returns and hooks up, but doesn't really connect.  I have to get down on my hands and knees to move it until I hit the '"sweet spot" and it charges.  I cleaned the contacts, moved the charger around to different locations with no luck.

Finally, I called (Aug. 18) NEATO ROBOTICS and they said they would send another unit.  I waited 2 weeks - nothing.  I called again and they said my unit was flagged as a battery problem and warranty claim denied.  This was not communicated to me - so I would have waited forever.

I told them the batteries were fine and, once connected, fully charged and would hold same.  Customer service person said sorry for the mix up and they would send new unit out.  Another week or two goes by (it is now Oct 12) and I call again.  I am told that my unit is flagged as a battery issue and is not eligible for replacement.    I explained the charger problem all over again and finally, after several conversations with technical support, customer service rep said they would send new unit.  She also said that they sent me a message in August to tell me about denied warranty claim.  I went back through phone log and this never happened.

NEATO has been a bright spot in a gray world, so this is disappointing.  I will let everyone know what happens, because what happens to me is also happening to hundreds of other customers.  Whether a new unit ever comes, and whether it looks like a new one with the current software/firmware installed is a little in doubt.

All of you suspicious readers at Oracle, Stanford, and the Palo Alto Research Center, this may still have a happy ending.  I still have faith in this start up- just not quite as much faith.

NEW WARRANTY INFO
I was so impressed at the Neato Robotics Warranty and Customer Service.  Their warranty and customer service gave people confidence that this experiment would not waste their money.  It was explained to me and I explained to you that the 1 year original warranty started over each time a new unit was sent.  The Customer Service Rep guaranteed this interpretation.  I even repeated it back to her as I knew I would be telling my readers.  Now I am told this is incorrect.   The 1 year Warranty stays at the date of your original purchase.  That date does not move forward with replacements.

An example is:  
   Buy original unit for Christmas 2011
   Unit replaced July 2012
       -Warranty  date is still Christmas 2011 and does not move forward.
Good to know this information before deciding to purchase a NEATO.

Possible BAD FUTURE  SCENARIO
Buy Neato Christmas 2011
Receive replacement December 15, 2012
       -Breaks January 1, 2013 without extended warranty
YOU WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY (even though unit is only 2 weeks old)
I warned Customer Service that I would write this information on my blog and she said other Customer Service woman was wrong.




Monday

The End of NEATO XV-11 #3

8-29-2012

Good-by NEATO #3
 A Brave Soldier Goes Home


Docking did Neato #3 in.  Although Neato #3 almost always found his way home, once there could not self recharge.   Neato #3 always tended to dock crooked, but for a few months worked fine.  Then, he occasionally would not recharge and now it is the rule.  I can move him around and eventually find a spot that works, but it never happens automatically.   Neato Robotics said it needed to be replaced.  As always, the customer service person was very friendly and efficient.   I only hope the next one cleans as well.