spoonyfork's Journal: mobile phone data cable from RPI Wireless good times

I have a LG VX 6000 mobile phone with Verizon. All I have is minimum minutes package and voicemail -- no other features. The LG VX 6000 came free with renewing my contract. It is a camera phone which at first I thought to be completely useless. After a year I found that I had taken some pictures with it to set as my background wallpaper on the phone itself. I've come to like the images so much that I want to get them off the phone before it dies. The picture mail service was like $5/month which doesn't seem all that bad except there were only 3 pictures I wanted off the phone. I could sign up for the service, mail the pictures to myself, then cancel the service but it seemed like a hassle and would only been good for one shot. If I took any pictures later I would have to do it again at another $5. Another alternative was the data sync USB cable. My preliminary searches found it for like $80. Then I read in a Verizon newsgroup about RPI Wireless which had one for $25. The cable's documentation assured me it would be able to get pictures off the phone as well as put ones on. I could also get my contacts, calendar, ringtones, etc. Plus the USB cable charges the phone without a power adapter and can also be used to make the phone into a modem. What a deal!

So I go to RPI's website and order the phone. I knew something was fishy when they redirected me to a separate online billing site. Their certificate checked out and I've heard of smaller businesses contracting out online billing so I went ahead. Besides, it was only $25. So what if I got ripped off. I get a confirmation email with my order number and everything looks cool. Shipping was like 3 to 5 days but I was in no rush. A week goes by. I send an email to RPI's customer service. Two more days go by with no response. I get distracted with other crap and the next thing I know two weeks have gone by and I still don't have the cable much less a shipping #. I try calling their 800 customer service number and get put on hold for one minute before it hangs up on me. Email doesn't work, phone doesn't work, my last resort is their web-based online chat support desk. Below is the transcript from my chat session.

Spoony: I placed an order two weeks ago Tuesday and I have not received any confirmation of order processing or shipping. What is the status of my order #XXXX?
*** Welcome Spoony! Please hold while we contact a representative. If a representative does not respond in a few seconds, then he/she is not available at this time.
*** You are now speaking with Robert of SALES.
Robert: hi, how can we help today
Spoony: hi
Spoony: I placed an order two weeks ago Tuesday and I have not received any confirmation of order processing or shipping. What is the status of my order #XXXX?
Robert: let me check on that for you.
Robert:
Robert: i am transfering you to jason in shipping, one second please.
*** Please hold while being transferred to Jason Nelson of SALES.
*** You are now speaking with Jason Nelson of SALES.
Jason Nelson: hello sir
Jason Nelson: how my i help you
Spoony: hi
Spoony: I placed an order two weeks ago Tuesday and I have not received any confirmation of order processing or shipping. What is the status of my order #XXXX?
Jason Nelson: one sec
Jason Nelson: i will check your status
Jason Nelson: they are shipping it as we speak
Jason Nelson: here is your tracking #
Jason Nelson: USPS # : XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Spoony: has it left for shipment? USPS has no record of that tracking number
Jason Nelson: no sir
Jason Nelson: Packages go to post office at 4:30pm EST
Jason Nelson: it should hit the system by 01:00am EST
Spoony: right, I guess I'll try again tomorrow, thanks for your time
Jason Nelson: it will show up on there site
Jason Nelson: Welcome sir
Jason Nelson: I am sorry about the delay
*** Your party has left this session.

Not 10 seconds after the chat session ends I get a shipping confirmation email from RPI. Too much of a coincidence for me. I don't trust any of it. Robert and Jason are probably the same damn person in south India. USPS doesn't show the tracking number provided as being real for another 3 business days. On the 4th day the cable arrives at my house. I install all the weird drivers and sync up with the phone and get my pictures to my desktop machine. Whew, mission accomplished. A week later I get another package from RPI Wireless with the same USB cable for my phone. Panicking, I check my credit card statement online but I was only charged for one. Idiots.

All you need to know: RPI Wireless is a bit flaky -- not recommended.