Had one of those 10 year smoke detectors start going off regularly for
no reason after five years of service. Called the manufacturer, waited
on hold a good 20-25 minutes for a customer no-service droid who kept
putting me on hold after each bit of info he asked for.

He eventually said they'd send me out another and email me a shipping
notice and tracking number when then did. On the plus side, he spoke
clear, intelligible English.

About 10 days later I happened to notice a rather soggy package sitting
near my front door- which I never use as we come in and out through the
garage.

I ran the tracking number that was on the package (they had never
emailed me a shipping notice) and it had been delivered the previous
day. Unfortunately, it had rained overnight. While the shipping carton
was a mess, the retail box was only damp.

Installed the detector and it was DOA- making erratic alarms and not
quitting when I hit the hush button. I had to jab the kill hole on the
rear of the device with a screwdriver.

I called the mfr again- this time only spending only 10 minutes on hold,
and they said they'll send a new one.

Sheesh!

--
The fastest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

On 7/17/2018 12:56 PM, Wade Garrett wrote:


About 10 days later I happened to notice a rather soggy package sitting
near my front door- which I never use as we come in and out through the
garage.

I ran the tracking number that was on the package (they had never
emailed me a shipping notice) and it had been delivered the previous
day.

Sheesh!

Sheesh for sure.
By now I'd probably be ordering a different brand.

Do you get many packages? The major carriers, USPS, UPS, FedX will let
you sign up (free) and get shipping notices from them, not the shipper.
You can also specify where to leave it if other than the front door.
When a package is delivered I get a text in seconds.

On Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at 3:20:46 PM UTC-4, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 7/17/2018 12:56 PM, Wade Garrett wrote:


About 10 days later I happened to notice a rather soggy package sitting
near my front door- which I never use as we come in and out through the
garage.

I ran the tracking number that was on the package (they had never
emailed me a shipping notice) and it had been delivered the previous
day.

Sheesh!

Sheesh for sure.
By now I'd probably be ordering a different brand.

Do you get many packages? The major carriers, USPS, UPS, FedX will let
you sign up (free) and get shipping notices from them, not the shipper.
You can also specify where to leave it if other than the front door.
When a package is delivered I get a text in seconds.

Yes, same here. I usually do it for a specific package I'm interested in,
by looking up the tracking number, at which point you can opt for text/email
notifications where they notify you that it's been delivered, changes in
the estimated delivery date, exceptions, etc. With USPS you can get a
notification of everything they are delivering each day. My text chirps
with a delivery notification as the USPS truck is just driving away,
I can hear it. I have had issues in the past with some UPS guys putting
in on my porch which is great, it's large and well covered. Others have
left it by my garage door where sometimes I haven't seen it for a couple
days and it is exposed. I have a friend who got in his car, opened the
garage door with the remote and backed out over a package.

On 7/17/18 3:20 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 7/17/2018 12:56 PM, Wade Garrett wrote:


About 10 days later I happened to notice a rather soggy package
sitting near my front door- which I never use as we come in and out
through the garage.

I ran the tracking number that was on the package (they had never
emailed me a shipping notice) and it had been delivered the previous day.

Sheesh!

Sheesh for sure.
By now I'd probably be ordering a different brand.

Do you get many packages?Â* The major carriers, USPS, UPS, FedX will let
you sign up (free) and get shipping notices from them, not the shipper.
You can also specify where to leave it if other than the front door.
When a package is delivered I get a text in seconds.

Thanks, that's definitely worth doing.

--
Following Youth and Middle Age, I've entered the third stage of life:
"Gee, you look great!€�
- @patsajak

In alt.home.repair, on Tue, 17 Jul 2018 12:56:23 -0400, Wade Garrett
wrote:

Had one of those 10 year smoke detectors start going off regularly for
no reason after five years of service. Called the manufacturer, waited
on hold a good 20-25 minutes for a customer no-service droid who kept
putting me on hold after each bit of info he asked for.

He eventually said they'd send me out another and email me a shipping
notice and tracking number when then did. On the plus side, he spoke
clear, intelligible English.

About 10 days later I happened to notice a rather soggy package sitting
near my front door- which I never use as we come in and out through the
garage.

I ran the tracking number that was on the package (they had never
emailed me a shipping notice) and it had been delivered the previous
day. Unfortunately, it had rained overnight. While the shipping carton
was a mess, the retail box was only damp.

Installed the detector and it was DOA- making erratic alarms and not
quitting when I hit the hush button. I had to jab the kill hole on the
rear of the device with a screwdriver.

I called the mfr again- this time only spending only 10 minutes on hold,
and they said they'll send a new one.

Sheesh!

I wouldn't throw away the first one, maybe not even the second one.

One of my neighbors had erratic alarms, thought the smoke alarm was bad,
took it out (allegedly to have it repaired!), fire started not long
afterwards, had been smouldering in a sofa or something.