I bought this solar mobile charger with much expectation, having seen it previewed and recommended by no less than Channel 5's Gadget Show. The accompanying video looked very promising too. It was intended as a gift to a favourite uncle in India, where I was visiting shortly after Christmas.
Boy, was this such a disappointing anticlimax! The moment I tried to fit the adaptor connecting the charger to my BlackBerry, it came apart in my hands when I tried to disconnect it. Just like that. OK, I thought, accidents can happen, and I could probably get a cheap but effective replacement adaptor in India, as long as the main machine worked.
No such luck. Although I explained the problem with the adaptor to uncle dearest, and we even expended much shoe leather on sourcing a suitable adaptor that would work, this proved a futile expense as no matter how much we primed the charger (according to the instructions this was ideally through a USB charger for several hours), there was no release of the charge.I asked him to have some patience and keep trying--after all it was from Amazon, how far wrong could it go?! This was despite the obviously plentiful sunshine available in India. In the end, with much egg on my face, I was obliged to take back the gift and bring it back in my luggage at much inconvenience, not to speak of the hassle of getting it refunded, and the tedious task of warning other punters out there.
In retrospect, the benefit of the doubt was a complete waste. The moment I realised the quality of workmanship when said adaptor came apart almost as if by magic, I should've wised up to the fact that this could be nothing other than a very unsophisticated apology for solar technology.
Even though I wrote this in my complaint letter when sending off for a refund, the seller ( interestingly and misleadingly called PARAMOUNT UK) has not sought fit to answer any of my allegations a week afterwards, hence my public post, to help make sure others don't fall foul of either this merchant or the circumstances of my purchase.