Samsung Jitterbug OneTouch - SPH-A110 (Great Call)
Cellphones Buying Guide
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March 3, 2007 06:39
Mediocre
1.0/5
I was SO EXCITED to get this phone for my mother... she has limited functionality due to a stroke. She is forever being confused and perplexed with small buttons and screens. The idea that she would be able to simply say "Call Frank" was WONDERFUL and I gladly plunked down $500+ for the phone and a years worth of services.
First... they gave her the WRONG PHONE AREA CODE! This is incredibly stupid as they insisted on knowing it before they sent the unit. NOW (get ready) when I called to have the number changed to a local area code... I was told it will take a minimum of 8-10 WEEKS! I am STILL WAITING for the change!
Of course... that was when I could actually get through to customer service... I have grown accustomed to wait times from 1 to 2 hours... really. Inexcusable.
Now for the great features...
First... the voice recognition is AWFUL! My mother is forced to use the operator for EVERY CALL because it refuses to understand her voice... but it is NOT just her... it also fails to work for me, my wife, my sister and the many nurses and aides who have tried to get it to work. This leave my mother with a phone that has NO WAY for her to call (no number pad) without incurring a 5 minute air time penalty each time she uses the phone.
Another huge problem is there is NO RINGER CONTROL. One of the most simple and straight forward features of any phone is the ability to change the amount of rings before going to voicemail. Especially on a phone targeted to seniors and those with disabilities... the ability to have a longer 'ring' before going to voicemail is a necessity. After numerous calls I was told that they could "remove" voicemail entirely and allow the phone to ring more... but they didn't know if it really would ring more or not... This change only took 6 weeks to happen... and they telephoned me to let me know it was changed... but I still get voicemail and it only rings 3 or 4 times on her end.
There are other issues... but the bottom line is I would GLADLY pay the cost of this phone and service IF it actually delivered what it claims. Customer service is NOT interested in my problems and, in fact, THEY complain to ME about the number of calls they are getting! So Sorry!
My advice... WAIT. See if they actually get all the bugs ironed out in the next year or so before wasting your money like I did. -
July 15, 2007 07:56
Terrible
0.5/5
DON'T BUY THIS FOR PIECE OF MIND! THIS FAILED ON A 911 CALL! The phone failed to accept or receive calls. We were told after the 1st incident that better training will occur-NOT! Have owned phone for several months, purchased for elderly parents (three button type- Operator, 911, and "choice". We have had two (2) incidents in the last two weeks (1-emergency parent taken to hospital for heart problems 2)death in family) which makes me questions Jitterbug's service. They say they are available 24 hours - only if you want to buy their product. We have two times the phone will not accept or place calls and this failed when parent was calling for emergency help! (on a Sunday) and no one is available for "techincal support" until Monday A.M., they said call the operator from the phone, but again if the phone doesn't work you can't call the operator. And even when we did get an operator all they are good for is changing phone numbers in the phone!
Don't belive the hype on the website:
""What's unique about Jitterbug Phones?
Live, 24-hour operators provide personal service Our team at Jitterbug has taken on the "simplicity" challenge so everyone can enjoy the peace-of-mind and comfort of always being in touch.""
""Customer Support
Always at your service!
We make it easy to be a Jitterbug customer,
because we're committed to making your
entire experience simple with Jitterbug, familiar and friendly.
Have a problem? We'll take care of it.""
These are direct quotes from Jitterbug's website and they are a lie! -
April 1, 2008 07:57
Terrible
0.5/5
My Aunt bought this phone for me for Christmas & then I was supposed to pay the monthly payments after she paid for the phone activation, etc. They REALLY SCREWED UP BIG TIME!!! They put everything into her name and under her phone area code zip code etc, even though we spent over an hour on the phone when we ordered everything to make sure they got everything right as to who was responsible for what charges. When I got my phone I found that it had been assigned a phone number with my aunt's area code instead of mine. I live in a different area so when I tried to log in to my account for the first time I naturally assumed that they should have put it under my zip code which is what they require when you first set up the on-line account with them once I got my phone. It would not let me log in until I used her zip. When I tried to call customer service they refused to speak to me since according to them I didn't have an account with them my aunt did. Once my aunt called and we spent another hour on the phone with them, they said to send the phone back & they sent me another phone within a few days using my area code and other info. We sent the original phone back and they received it back less than a week after I got it. Now instead of charging me for just one phone with the right information they start charging me for both the old & new number even though they were supposed to deactivate and cancel the first phone per our agreement. They kept charging me for both phones for the past 3 months despite NUMEROUS conversations with just about every idiot that works at Jitterbug. They have charged me $121 for less than 3 minutes of actual time that I've spent using the phone. They actually had the nerve to suspend my account & threatened to send me to collections for nonpayment. When I called them 2.5 weeks ago to again try to get everything straightened out and pay half the bill for the only number that was supposed to be active instead of both, they actually REFUSED to accept payment until it was corrected my financial services. I was told that would take 72 hrs. before it was corrected and have my phone turned back on. I called them today to find out why my phone had still not been turned on and credited. I found out it had been fixed a few days ago and they had "tried to call but couldn't reach me" on my home line which I know is another lie because I have an answering system with voice messaging & I'm the only one that uses my phone & I have not left home for the past week due to illness. Long story made short I spent about $121 and 10 hrs with "customer disservice" for 3 min of actual usage to get all the charges canceled/ paid. I closed my account with them today & told them that if I never heard from/ about Jitterbug again it would bee too soon. Avoid doing business with these idiots at all costs. They are hopeless, useless, awful, horrible idiots to ever get involved with. -
June 21, 2007 10:50
3.5/5
I bought this phone for my mother and father who live in an assisted living center. I wanted them to have easy access to 911 or myself if there was an emergency. The phone came programmed with my home number as one of the 3 buttons. We also programmed other family members in the phonebook. All they have to do is say the person's name and it automatically dials to that number. I like that if I am not available, my mother can reach an operator at all times. -
April 24, 2007 04:56
Terrible
0.5/5
I bought this phone for my parents who are a bit technophobic, I thought whatever can make things easier.
When the phone came I tried to use the feature to enter names and numbers, didn't work. I called up and they said, oh..we'll send a signal that will update your phone in a week or so. I thought, in the meantime, I'll upload them using the Internet feature...DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I call up again...Oh....doesn't work, we'll send signal. The only way I could do it is by faxing them names and numbers I wanted entered. When they did, I noticed a mistake so called up yet again, the customer support is HORRIBLE, you will be on hold forever.
Finally I returned it asking for a full refund and 2 weeks later, FEDEX delivered another phone. I called up...the person couldn't help me and suggested I speak to a supervisor who, of course was not available. Do you think he returned my call? No, of course not. I called again the next day....Oh he went home and of course, no one else could help. I'm on day 3 and still no call. Horrible experience. Oh and my mother commented that the phone was so heavy. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT AND COMPANY. -
March 30, 2008 11:20
Spectacular
2.5/5
Think we will be able to use this product with ease -
November 10, 2008 04:29
Terrible
0.5/5
Their customer service is beyond bad. Our phone stopped working over a month ago, and they still have not fixed it, or let us know what is going on. We call and they have no update. They basically don't have any system to help you. All they say is "and I do apologize for that". They do not have the option to get a loaner phone, even though we are paying $4.00 a month for replacement service. So, an elderly person or someone with special needs has to live without a phone until they fix it. They told us we are "welcome to keep calling back to check the status of our phone." -
February 9, 2008 11:37
3.5/5
I think my "Jitterbug" is the Model SPH-110. I've not tried to use it everywhere in the 48 contingent States. Here in NM, however, it seems to work well. I think somewhat overpriced, but that price should get lower in time. I do like the design & engineering. Although 78 years old, I'm a retired comp programmer & tech writer. Back in Silicon Valley (years ago), we talked about the phenomenom of "creeping elegantism." It seems that this phenomenom has engulfed the whole cell-phone universe except for Jitterbugs. So, stay with it, Great Call, & Godspeed. Dan O'Connell, Rio Rancho, NM 1-505-796-5003 (Jitterbug #). 2/9/2008
