I recently ordered a small hand-held keyboard and trackpad combination device to control the computer-aspects of my Home Theater PC. The device is called a Whamberry. It looks as though it's exactly what I need. I don't know that for certain though because after two weeks I still don't have it. In fact until yesterday I wasn't even certain that the order had been properly received and executed. Why?
The only feedback I received that the order was in the system at all was the email from PayPal telling me money had been sent to the vendor. After waiting a week for a "we have received your order" email I sent an email to their contact@ address. No reply. After waiting two days I sent another email this time indicating that I would report the transaction to PayPal and my CC vendor if there was no communication. Still no reply. A phone call to the number buried in the PayPal email raised a company that claimed to have nothing to do with the Whamberry company, but they could pass along a message if I'd like. FINALLY an email that afternoon (yesterday) saying "I've looked at your order. It should be there by now. Let me know if it's not there by the end of the week and I can give you a refund." So - Yay. They've finally actually communicated SOMETHING to me.
Dear Small Companies On The Internets - Being completely non-communicative with your customers is NOT how you succeed. Be proactive. Send messages, even automated boilerplate, that says "Thanks for your order! We're processing it now!" and follow that with "We shipped your order!" This kind of thing is trivial to automate and lets your customer know that something is being done. Respond to emails asking for status. Have a valid contact phone number. Make your customer feel like they have done something more than just flush money into a black hole.
kthanks.
Comments
I recently have had the same
I recently have had the same problem. I ordered one of those about same day as you, got the notice from my online bank statement that my card had been charged the money. To this date I"ve received absolutely NO conformation or any sign of a shipment.
I sent whamberry an email to their contact thing and got no response.
Please share with me who you contacted so I can get the same help!
ccarey4@twcny.rr.com
If you check your PayPal
If you check your PayPal confirmation email (or the PayPal web page for the transaction) you will see two @whamberry.com email addresses (contact@ is the address that is indicated for questions, but scott@ is the one that had money sent to it). There is also a phone number listed, though the people on the other end claim to not handle Whamberry customer enquiries. When I spoke with them they offered to "relay a message" and within a few hours I had an email from Scott.
My Whamberry never arrived (much to my annoyance - it's exactly what I want for my HTPC). I emailed the addresses (contact@ and scott@) letting them know and received a refund via PayPal this past Monday.
Status of Whamberry
I cannot get to their web site now. When I ordered (and received with no hassle) my Whamberry in early December, their web site existed. I am guessing they are gone now. I even talked tech with Scott about something I wanted to do with Whamberry, but this also was before Christmas. Guess only choice now is the wireless keyboards/mice and similar devices that have been around for a long time.
What a shame. I like the
What a shame. I like the product's form factor.