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zaggsparq

I have to say, for all the negatives about the Sparq, the unit I received for review has been solid. No issues at all. I will keep using it (while keeping my IMP in my bag just in case).

Here's my thoughts on it, including video...

ZaggSPARQ Review
 
Daremo said:
I have to say, for all the negatives about the Sparq, the unit I received for review has been solid. No issues at all.
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After you recharge the Zaggsparq a few times then see how well it holds up. Both of mine that failed, worked great until they were recharged a few times.
 
Well now it looks like the second Zaggsparq I originally purchased back in December is now also not charging devices. Freaking amazing. Guess I have to send this one into Zagg as well. Hopefully the Zaggsparq2 will be an improvement that actually does what Zagg says it is supposed to do.
 
Daremo said:
I have to say, for all the negatives about the Sparq, the unit I received for review has been solid. No issues at all. I will keep using it (while keeping my IMP in my bag just in case).

Here's my thoughts on it, including video...

ZaggSPARQ Review
Click to expand...

I assume your follow-up review will present all of the issues documented on this and other threads.

Also, I'd like to see some substatiation and circumstances for 4 charges. Are they charges from 0 with the phone on or off. What settings are needed on the phone to achieve 4 charges. Not picking on Sparq, I would sure like to see the same thing for the IMP500.
 
ZipZap said:
I assume your follow-up review will present all of the issues documented on this and other threads.

Also, I'd like to see some substatiation and circumstances for 4 charges. Are they charges from 0 with the phone on or off. What settings are needed on the phone to achieve 4 charges. Not picking on Sparq, I would sure like to see the same thing for the IMP500.
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I've been using this as my primary source of charging here at home, to really put it to the test. My iPhone, iPod touch, Nano, Bluetooth headphones, and wireless bluetooth headpiece. I'm just trying to toss everything at it, to keep draining it down, and recharging to see if I can get it to fail. I'll keep you posted!
 
4 bad Zagg Sparq and going for #5

I just went through my 4th Zagg Sparq in 6 weeks and just notified Zagg for another replacement.

The USB ports stop working after a few days.
Avoid this unit at all costs!!
 
Get this, Zagg is now telling me I have to pay the shipping cost to return my defective Zaggsparq, which was one of two that I had purchased in December. I have already had to replace one of them, twice now. Both times Zagg covered the return shipping costs, as they should.

The initial Zaggsparq release apparently has a high failure rate and the reason for the up coming redesign. Lets hope the Zaggsparg2 releasing in February, actually works.

Now take care of your customers Zagg! Don't make us pay to return a product that is defective and should never have been put out to market in the first place. It is clear you released it early for the Christmas revenue. Now I have to pay to ship it back....really?

Do the right thing Zagg!
 
Krapz....mine is coming in either today or tomorrow. Hopefully I don't get a lemon.
 
Resist said:
Get this, Zagg is now telling me I have to pay the shipping cost to return my defective Zaggsparq, which was one of two that I had purchased in December. I have already had to replace one of them, twice now. Both times Zagg covered the return shipping costs, as they should.

The initial Zaggsparq release apparently has a high failure rate and the reason for the up coming redesign. Lets hope the Zaggsparg2 releasing in February, actually works.

Now take care of your customers Zagg! Don't make us pay to return a product that is defective and should never have been put out to market in the first place. It is clear you released it early for the Christmas revenue. Now I have to pay to ship it back....really?

Do the right thing Zagg!
Click to expand...

How long has the redesign been in the works? Did Zagg continue to sell a defective unit?
 
ZipZap said:
How long has the redesign been in the works? Did Zagg continue to sell a defective unit?
Click to expand...
If you read this thread from the start, you will see I stated when I was informed by Zagg that they will be releasing the Zaggsparq2 in February. I have no idea how long they have been working on the newer design, but the first Zaggsparq was just barely released prior to Christmas 2009. So clearly the second design is being released to correct the failures of the first design. I doubt Zagg has continued to sell the first design because they are telling me I have to wait until February to get one of my replacements under warranty.

But I am extremely upset that Zagg is making me pay to ship the second Zaggsparq (from my original December order), after it failed just like my other Zaggsparq did. This other unit failed, was replaced, fail again and I am now waiting for it to be replaced again as well.
 
They continued to sell through the end of the year...so I believe they have sold a unit they know to be defective.

I have received nor seen any correspondance regarding a new version and I think that everyone who has complained should get a new one no questions asked.

I returned my original and my replacement for a refund. I was fortunate to have bough the at xMAS so the expended return was in effect. I help my UPS return label and tried the second. When it failed, I send both back using the label.
 
My Zaggsparq saga continues. Now Zagg sent me a UPS return label, so I don't have to pay for the return shipping. They also suggested plugging in my failed Zaggsparq for 10 seconds in an electrical outlet and then unplugging it, this is supposed to reset the Zaggsparq. This procedure did nothing to fix mine but may be worth trying for others here.


And about the the new Zaggsparq release, this is what Zagg emailed me a few days ago:

I am happy to inform you that we have re-engineered the ZAGGsparq for better performance. The ZAGGsparq is out of stock, but we expect to be getting a shipment of the ZAGGsparq2 in February and we do not have an exact date.

Their statement of "re-engineered the ZAGGsparq for better performance", is more likely to correct all the failures.
 
So far, after a few full charges on the Zaggsparq, it's still changing my units fine. No failure, YET. The only thing I do notice, is even one hour after a full charge (even for 10+ hours) the LEDS drop from 4 to 3 lit. I'm not sure if it's just an LED issue, or if the sparq is actually losing it's charge.
 
Daremo said:
The only thing I do notice, is even one hour after a full charge (even for 10+ hours) the LEDS drop from 4 to 3 lit.
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All of mine did this same thing as well. I bet you only get a few more full charges of the Zaggsparq before yours fails.
 
Surprise Surprise

After 2 full charge cycles, my 2nd replacement will no longer charge our iPhones ... had emailed Zagg previously to ask if original sparq owners would be given a deep discount on sparq2 or if we would get our replaced and this is all they replied:

"We are offering a warranty replacement for anyone that has the item and it is now defective. We will replace under the warranty for the new version."

Sooooo if yours is working fine and dandy and then craps out a day after warranty is up you're up the creek. With the failure rate on these things they should all be recalled and replaced with the "new" version .. hell, these only came out in December right? And to already have a new model? ::sigh:: Isn't is ironic that the day after they send me that this one kicks the bucket. Just sent another trouble ticket to zagg requesting a prepaid shipping label and a no charge sparq2 ... will let you all know what happens ....
 
As soon as V2 is out make a request for warranty replacement. Its not like they are really going to test you unit. With the failure rate, you'll get a no questions asked replacement.
 
Here is the latest word from ZAGG about the Zaggsparq issues:

We have traced the problem of the ZAGGsparq to a quality control issue with a component that we purchased from a third-party manufacturer. The problem did not show up on our internal quality assurance tests because the specific components we were testing were not defective. The issue emerged only when we began shipping the finished product. The ZAGGsparq 2 will solve the charging problem by sourcing the part in question from a different manufacturer.

Would be nice if ZAAG used this time to add an LED on the unit to let us know when the Zaggsparq is fully charged while plugged into an electrical outlet.
 
Update:

After fully charging the ZAGGsparq for 10 hours, I let the unit sit and have not used it for 7 days. After 7 days, the unit is down to 2 LEDs. It still changes my iPhone and iPod Touch, but I just don't know yet if these LEDS are accurate, and this really leaked / drained 50% of it's charge in 7 days. If this is true, this is a complete failure. THe ability of charging the unit to full, and tossing it in my bag, I need to know this unit will be charged and ready to go when I need it. I'm going to see how many full charges I get out of this, with only 2 LEDS after 7 days of non use on a full charge.
 
Why are you charging it for 10 hours? They say to charge it for 9 hours. I doubt this device has built in overcharge protection.

But I bet if you run it through a few more cycles it will fail completely.
 
Resist said:
Why are you charging it for 10 hours? They say to charge it for 9 hours. I doubt this device has built in overcharge protection.

But I bet if you run it through a few more cycles it will fail completely.
Click to expand...

I was told by my contact at ZAGG that this is completely safe, and fine to do, and won't harm the unit. Just for the hell of it, I just sent a message to their support asking this question again.

They couldn't possibly expect you to set a timer to remind yourself of exactly 9 hours, to unplug the device. People can't always determine where they might be in exactly 9 hours.
 
Daremo said:
They couldn't possibly expect you to set a timer to remind yourself of exactly 9 hours, to unplug the device. People can't always determine where they might be in exactly 9 hours.
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I agree but their instructions with the device said nothing about the unit having over charge protection. I would think all devices have this by now, but they don't.
 
Resist said:
I agree but their instructions with the device said nothing about the unit having over charge protection. I would think all devices have this by now, but they don't.
Click to expand...

With the failure rate of this unit being so high, I wouldn't doubt this one bit, but I HOPE they were smart enough, especially with a 9 hour charge time, to have overcharge protection.

I tell you what, since I was sent this for review, and if the support email comes back with a message saying it's safe to leave it plugged in longer then 9 hours, I'm going to put this to the test. I'll really see just what it can take, and how well it holds up. Honestly, other then the LED issue, I've had zero problems with charging.

I'll take any suggestions from people, other then obviously damaging it on purpose, but if you can think of ways I can push this to the max, let me know, and I'll do it.
 
Daremo said:
I tell you what, since I was sent this for review, ...
Click to expand...

Do you really think they would send you a unit for review that may fail? You, my friend got the cream of the crop. The rest of us got the fodder and failures.
 
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