Geekpod Inquiry

[nibelung]

As of late, my 5G ipods been seeing a lot of use. So, I've decided to take the plunge and get an external battery; and so far, the Geekpod 100 seems to be the front runner since it's had claims and testimonials of it doing what it's supposed to do: Extend the battery life way past what the ipod can do by itself.

However; I have also seen reports that the site that sells these items have been inolved with, how shall we say, less than savory activities. By that, I mean planting favorable reviews, overcharging S&H, horrible customer service and so on. Since my money is limited, I want to make sure that I'm getting the most from my hard earned money.

Can anyone validate my concerns or simply point out that I'm being too paranoid?

Any and all light shed on this matter would be most appreciative.

[honeybee1236]

Welcome. Please give me the website name. Post it w/o the www in front.

Is this the website your referring too?
http://www.batterygeek.net/ProductDe...ode=GeekPod100


Battery for iPod Video (http://www.ib2cool.com/bti.html) by BTI. I just purchased this one from this site and am in the process of testing it now. I payed for it using the PayPal option. Ordered on 3/22 or 3/23/06 and rec'd the item on 3/30/06. It's this battery here (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipo...ttery-ii-ipod/) upgraded to include this (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/new...-ipod-battery/) accessories to change the belt clip to the new one that has a kick stand for watching TV on the iPod.

So far it's been running the iPod for 7 hrs on battery power and the little kick stand works as well. I also have and use this battery here: Belkin Backup Battery Pack
(http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipo...ery-pack-ipod/). This one works with the 5G iPod and takes 4 AA batteries.

I use both because I like having the one that runs on regular batteries.

[nibelung]

Originally posted by honeybee1236
Welcome. Please give me the website name. Post it w/o the www in front.

Is this the website your referring too?
batterygeek.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GeekPod100

Yes. That's the one. And I would be more than happy to get the other ones you listed, it's just that I have a Skintight Cover on my iPod to protect it and as a result, it'd be too cumbersome to get the ones that are supposed to fit on the back of one's unit.

[honeybee1236]

The BTI battery for the 5G I posted comes with 2 clear cases to use while your using the battery to power the iPod. One for the 30GB and one for the 60GB. It's thin and has a click wheel cover. The bottom of it is open and there is no screen cover but you iPod won't get scratched while using it. The sides of the battery are resting on the case instead of directly on the iPod.

I'll check the website out and post back.

[honeybee1236]

I've been reading the feedback at different websites and it is not good at all. They do have a negative report with the BBB as well.

jkontherun http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonther...y_extende.html
Dragonseye http://www.dragonseye.com/blog/archi...tteryGeek.html
Furl.net http://www.furl.net/item.jsp?id=6322551
Consumerist http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/...geek/index.php

Popgadget http://www.popgadget.net/2006/02/superlong_runti.php

Posted by: Judi Sohn | February 12, 2006 09:21 AM

I've heard mixed reviews about the company Battery Geek and their products. Theres talks that they google their name and salt the forums with fake postive reviews... So my question is if you actually bought a geekpod battery, and if so, what was your experience, with performance and especially customer service?

Posted by: Locke6854 | February 27, 2006 12:26 PM

Is this the info you were referring to seeing about the 'false positive' reviews? There are companys that do it to see their product. This company has bad customer service and the posts I found people rec'd defective batteries and had to send them back.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB Reliability Report
The Better Business Bureau®
Serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington
1000 Station Drive Suite 222
DuPont, WA 98327

Company:
Battery Geek Inc
17533 SW Mardee Ave
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Telephone: (800) 287-1663
Fax: (309) 409-5658
www.batterygeek.net

Original Business Start Date: June 2004
Principal: Mr Sean Murray, CEO
Customer Contact: Mr Sean Murray, CEO - (800) 287-1663
Email Address: sales@batterygeeek.net
File Open Date: September 2005
TOB Classification: Battery Supplies
BBB Membership:This company is not a member.

Nature Of Business:
This company is an e-commerce business specializing in ultra high capacity external battery packs and laptop accessories.

Marketplace Experience:
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to failure to respond to a complaint.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The Bureau processed a total of 1 complaint about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 1 complaint closed in 36 months, 1 was closed in the last year.

This complaint concerned:
1- Refund or Exchange Issues

It was closed as:
1- No Response

Report as of March 31, 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You will have to purchase from them at your own risk though I wouldn't advise you to deal with these people at all. If you want a battery that you can get good charge time and leave the iPod in the case then you can use one of the BTI batteries and just take the plate that holds the iPod off and leave it off. I have this one by them and use it with my 4G & 5G iPods w/o the plate that holds the 3G iPod. It's the first one they came out with but it is heavier than the BTI battery II they have now but get more charge time (3 days). I only use it at home since it is heavier.

If you decide to by-pass buying from them you can use this and take the plate off to use only the battery and your case. The belt clip also comes off:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipo...ttery-ii-ipod/

[nibelung]

Ok, now that I'm pretty much bent on NOT getting the Geekpod, the Battery for Ipod Video by BTI is starting to look real nice. Considering the potential cost of it too.

Which leads me to my next question; did you get a chance to use it?

[VipFREAK]

Ok this one sounds interesting... http://www.xtrememac.com/chargers/micropack_submit.php

As for all ext batt packs it's better if you can possiblely actually buy them try it and then take it back. I've been able to so far avoid buying these because of my habits but there are times were I could see running into a batt problem. So far the USB power adapter has been the best solution.

Depending where you are Fry's has the BTi ext batt. I don't know if it's 1 or 2 though but at least you can try it and if you don't like it you can take it back

[honeybee1236]

Originally posted by nibelung
Ok, now that I'm pretty much bent on NOT getting the Geekpod, the Battery for iPod Video by BTI is starting to look real nice. Considering the potential cost of it too.

Which leads me to my next question; did you get a chance to use it?

I do use it and so far my first 'unfinished' test use gave me 11 hours of playing time with 3 of the lights showing full green and the forth one showing a dim green of battery juice left to use. I played movies & videos straight through w/o stopping. I also used it when we went out to dinner. We had a 3 yr old with us so I took the iPod so he could watch cartoons. The battery use was excellent and played the iPod w/o a problem. The amount of time added so far is very good. The speakers I used are another story. Had to purchase something better.

I have both BTI Batteries, the 1st one purchased for my 3g iPod and the 2nd purchased for the video. Both work with the iPod 3G, 4G & 5G and I have used both with each. I purchased the BTI Battery ii because it's lighter than the first one and it has the stand so that you can view the iPod at an angle. It comes with 2 cases - 1 for the 30GB and one for the 60GB iPod. It is portable as well.
The BTI Battery that came out first is heavier but can be used with the 5G. Just take the plates off. This one gives 3 days of battery for music so maybe about half that or more for videos (just a guess). I haven't done an actual test with this one as yet but do use it for at home use. You can't connect the iPod to it but you can leave it in the case to use the 1st BTI.

I suggest getting the BTI Battery ii from the link above 'ib2cool'. This is the site I ordered it from and used PayPal to pay for it. The discount code will reduce the price since the battery along is runnin at $80. I had no problems ordering from the site.

[kschonha]

Batterygeek's customer service may not be the greatest, but the Geelpod 100 is a terrific product that is solidly built and performs as advertised.

[nibelung]

Originally posted by honeybee1236

I suggest getting the BTI Battery ii from the link above 'ib2cool'. This is the site I ordered it from and used PayPal to pay for it. The discount code will reduce the price since the battery along is runnin at $80. I had no problems ordering from the site.

Sounds good. The only problem is that I can't seem to find that blasted coupon code anywhere on the site. Am I just missing it when it's in plain sight or is it something that subtly hidden that only the observent can find?

Edit: Wait! Never mind. The tip to finding the code is to watch the commercial.

Looks like my ipod's gonna be just fine when I go to Japan in a little less than a month.