and it worked fine.
So began my six-week
journey to get Mad Dog
to replace the brick. The
responses ranged from “it’s
being looked into” to no
response at all. In September,
I was finally given an RMA
and shipped the brick back.
A few weeks later I contacted
the company and was told
that the RMA was given by
mistake and that the company
was still trying to come to a
conclusion as to whether the
brick was under warranty. I
have not heard from Mad Dog
since. I’ve tried contacting the
company for an update but
have heard nothing.
So far I have an external
case with no power supply,
a receipt for $6.15 for the
postage to send the part
back, and whatever the
phone calls have cost. This
has been going on for seven
months now. Want a good
laugh? Check out the sup-
port page on the Mad Dog
website. It brags about the
great service.
—Edwin KanadyThe Dog also tried several
times to reach Mad Dog
Multimedia to hear its side
of the story. Even emails sent
directly to Adam Colton, the
chief financial officer of the
company, went unanswered.
That’s no surprise, though.
The Better Business Bureau
gives the company a thumbs
down and has logged 74
complaints about it in thelast three years. Consumers
posting on Ripoffreport.
com vented about unfilled
rebates, while a story on the
Washington Post ’s website
told of a reader who had two
bunk graphics cards from the
company and was working on
a third.
What exactly is going
on with Mad Dog? It’s not
clear. The main number the
company lists for rebate
information has been dis-
connected and the number
for tech support gets you
voicemail. Given the com-
pany’s inability to reply
to consumers’ email, let
alone the Dog’s requests for
information, does anyone
really want to risk buying
Mad Dog hardware? The
Dog certainly wouldn’t and
recommends that readers
steer clear of the company’s
products. Woof.All Stick, No Carrot
After my kids destroyed
my iPod Shuffle’s dock
(only Apple could turn a
simple USB cable into aproprietary hunk of junk
that costs $30 to replace),
I went on the hunt for a
cheaper and simpler idea.
I thought I found it with
Carrot Idea’s Flexible Dock,
but after more than a month
of waiting, and having paid
$10 for the cable, I have
heard nothing—and worse,
I’ve received nothing. The
money lost isn’t much, butit’s the principle. Please
let other folks know not to
order from this store. I guess
I’ll just have to buy a second
iPod Shuffle and use the
dock for both.
—Stephen PalmerIt must be the month for
companies not to respond
to the Dog because Carrot
Idea representatives haven’t
answered the Dog’s emails
requesting information on
the company’s status.
Although the website
shows a mailing address in
San Jose, CA, the Dog could
not locate a phone number
for it nor could the Dog locate
any papers of incorporation
with the California Secretary
of State. The actual physical
address is likely just a mail
drop, though, as a Postal
Connection is located at the
same address as Carrot Idea.
The good news is that the
Dog found few gripes about
Carrot Idea at the usual agen-
cies that track complaints.
The company actually
describes itself as “a leading
manufacturer of computer
accessories founded in
Seoul, South Korea,” so it’s
quite possible distance is to
blame for the lag in sending
your hardware out. It’s not
total flim-flam, as others
have reported receiving
the Flexible Dock. There is
another option, however.
Incipio makes a similar cable
that costs even less than the
Carrot Idea Flexible Dock.
It’s available at http://www.myin-
cipio.com/product/IP-
for $6—far cheaper than a
new Shuffle. And, of course,
the Dog recommends that
readers steer clear of Carrot
Idea for now. Woof.EMAIL THE WATCHDOG If you feel you’ve gotten a raw deal and need assistance
setting a vendor straight, email the Dog at [email protected]. Please
include a detailed explanation of your problem as well as any correspondence you
have sent concerning the issue. SP3 Spoof
Only APPle cOuld turn
A SimPle uSB cABle
intO A PrOPrietAry hunk
Of junk...