[nfbwatlk] braille 'n' speak question

[Carl Jarvis]

Right.  They do not get along.  But I am able to send files from the Braille 
'N' Speak to my disk drive and then to my computer.  I cannot retrieve those 
files either.
When I transferred my phone files to my computer I sent them in Text.  In 
order to open them on the computer I had to rename the files.  That is, I 
put a period and WPD after each file.  They open and read in the King's 
English...or close to it.
I did send an email off to Blazie, asking for help.  I hear that they are 
not as fast at responding as they were some time back.  We'll see.
I do know that I will never, never, never  again do business with Humanware.
My Voice Mate is 20 months old.  It quit working, but I coaxed it along 
enough to transfer my most important files to my computer.  I'd heard that 
the batteries go out at about 18 months.  When I called, on March 26,the 
fellow with the voice of an early teenager said it sounded like new 
batteries were in order.  That, he told me, would cost somewhere around 120 
dollars.
On April 10 I decided that I'd better check.  I'd told him that this was my 
work unit and I needed it back as soon as possible.  So I figured I would be 
told that it had been shipped two days ago.
Ha!  The young woman, with the voice of an early teenager, told me that she 
would need to search for information as to its where abouts.
Finally she returned.  In a matter of fact voice she told me that it was 
still sitting there with a note on it.  Someone was going to call me.  I 
didn't ask what century this was going to occur.  Yes, it needed new 
batteries.  And a new board.  Total price, 1,500 dollars and change.
Did I want them to go ahead with the repair???  Hmmm???
I did about 60 seconds of controlled breathing and then explained that I was 
thinking in terms of 120 dollars.  The 1,500 dollars and change had stunned 
my brain.  But I certainly was not going to pay almost as much for repairs 
as I would pay for a new unit.  And before she got any ideas about asking if 
I wanted to order a new unit, I explained that I did not have 1,500 dollars 
and change.  If I did, I would go somewhere else and buy a more reliable 
product.
Later, in an email, I mentioned my old faithful Braille 'N' Speak, working 
since 1993, with only a couple of battery changes.
But mostly I was upset over the lack of customer care.  How long would they 
have waited to call me?
Oh yes, then she said, "We'll ship your Voice Note back to you.  It will 
cost 95 dollars plus shipping".  I said, "You want me to pay you 95 dollars 
to look at the machine and discover that you produced a defective product? 
Over my mother's dead grave!"  Actually it would be over my mother's ashes.
I said, "You want me to pay to have this dead thing shipped back to me, and 
I'll have to pay someone else to dispose of it as hazardous material?"
She said I could send an email releasing it to them and there would be no 
charge.
I said I expected them to send me back my AC adapter.
But the long and the short of it is that my trusty old Braille 'N' Speak is 
getting close to needing new batteries.  And I hear that Blazie is not much 
better at their turn around time.  Sigh!

Carl Jarvis
PS.  Don't tell me I should have taken out insurance.  I already carry so 
much insurance that I have to dig worms to afford meat.
cj