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[Lizzie Zoom]

Has anyone been tempted by this device and the supposed "advantages" of plugging it in?

At £29 PA I am personally not tempted, but am I overlooking something good?

[STEMO]

You don't need one, Lizzie. You drive an omega and I can predict when it's going to break down:

Once a week, every week. 

[Viral_Jim]

From their website, the "benefits"

Car Genie keeps an eye on your battery so you can avoid that sinking 'flat battery' feeling

It automatically lets us know about certain types of crashes, so we can be on hand to help

It knows your car's location so you can see where you parked it, or if it's moved while you're away

Seems like an appalling investment, I can't see any use for those features that justifies £2.90 per year, much less £29.

A trap for the unwary and the stupid would be my synopsis.

[Lizzie Zoom]

You don't need one, Lizzie. You drive an omega and I can predict when it's going to break down:

Once a week, every week. 

 

[Doctor Gollum]

From their website, the "benefits"

Car Genie keeps an eye on your battery so you can avoid that sinking 'flat battery' feeling

It automatically lets us know about certain types of crashes, so we can be on hand to help

It knows your car's location so you can see where you parked it, or if it's moved while you're away

Seems like an appalling investment, I can't see any use for those features that justifies £2.90 per year, much less £29.

A trap for the unwary and the stupid would be my synopsis.

Seconded...

1. Your battery will always be flat as it has a power hungry dongle plugged in 24/7.
2. Pointless. AA doesn't recover accident damaged vehicles.
3. Might as well get a tracker. Equally ineffective once cubed/in a shipping container.

Better off buying a nice bottle of plonk for your birthday each year

[Lizzie Zoom]

From their website, the "benefits"

Car Genie keeps an eye on your battery so you can avoid that sinking 'flat battery' feeling

It automatically lets us know about certain types of crashes, so we can be on hand to help

It knows your car's location so you can see where you parked it, or if it's moved while you're away

Seems like an appalling investment, I can't see any use for those features that justifies £2.90 per year, much less £29.

A trap for the unwary and the stupid would be my synopsis.

They were my instinctive feelings when I saw the advert and read about it online

[Lizzie Zoom]

From their website, the "benefits"

Car Genie keeps an eye on your battery so you can avoid that sinking 'flat battery' feeling

It automatically lets us know about certain types of crashes, so we can be on hand to help

It knows your car's location so you can see where you parked it, or if it's moved while you're away

Seems like an appalling investment, I can't see any use for those features that justifies £2.90 per year, much less £29.

A trap for the unwary and the stupid would be my synopsis.

Seconded...

1. Your battery will always be flat as it has a power hungry dongle plugged in 24/7.
2. Pointless. AA doesn't recover accident damaged vehicles.
3. Might as well get a tracker. Equally ineffective once cubed/in a shipping container.

Better off buying a nice bottle of plonk for your birthday each year

Now that is a sensible approach GD!

[Viral_Jim]

Thinking about it, I reckon they are just a good way for the AA to sell its batteries.

"Good morning mrs smith, your AA genie has just informed us that your battery is perfoing below the expected level, we'll send an engineer out today to get it changed for you" 

And you can bet your last quid that in this case "below the expected level" will be a long way from knackered .

[Lizzie Zoom]

Thinking about it, I reckon they are just a good way for the AA to sell its batteries.

"Good morning mrs smith, your AA genie has just informed us that your battery is perfoing below the expected level, we'll send an engineer out today to get it changed for you" 

And you can bet your last quid that in this case "below the expected level" will be a long way from knackered .

Monitoring your battery certainly seems to be a prime aim of this device, and all for £29 per year.  How useful, NOT!

[Bigron]

This is a bit cheaper, Lizzie:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Car-Battery-Digital-Meter-Monitor-Volt-Voltmeter-Gauge-Cigar-Lighter-Plug-/262729724598?hash=item3d2be972b6:g:7CwAAOSwHMJYNAER

and doesn't have an annual fee!

Ron.

[Lizzie Zoom]

This is a bit cheaper, Lizzie:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Car-Battery-Digital-Meter-Monitor-Volt-Voltmeter-Gauge-Cigar-Lighter-Plug-/262729724598?hash=item3d2be972b6:g:7CwAAOSwHMJYNAER

and doesn't have an annual fee!

Ron.

That seems like a good idea Ron

Going back to what GD said, I just wonder if this could drain the battery if permanently plugged in?

[Bigron]

Nope! That device draws about 20mA, and as you know, with an Omega the power to the front cigar lighter stops with ignition. The power to the rear socket stops after around 30 minutes; so no problem whichever socket you use. 

Ron.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Nope! That device draws about 20mA, and as you know, with an Omega the power to the front cigar lighter stops with ignition. The power to the rear socket stops after around 30 minutes; so no problem whichever socket you use. 

Ron.

Thanks Ron

In that case I'm ordering one

[Lizzie Zoom]

Now ordered!

[Doctor Gollum]

Now ordered!

Have you seen the delivery date?

[Bigron]

Not unusual for goods from China, DG, is it? Although they are often better than they predict.

Ron.

[Lizzie Zoom]

I did when ordering, but as I am in no hurry it doesn't matter, especially for that small price

[BazaJT]

Only caught a bit of the ad for the AA thing,so didn't know what it did or what cost.It'd have to do a whole lot more than that for me to consider such a thing and at £29 a year they can keep them.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I bet the AA will made shed loads of cash from this little device, until they end up on Watchdog!   

[tidla]

Bit like British Gas Hive

[Nick W]

I saw those, and can't see that they do anything more than a cheap Bluetooth OBD device and a copy of Torque on your phone. That's anything useful to you.

[omega2018]

This is a bit cheaper, Lizzie:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Car-Battery-Digital-Meter-Monitor-Volt-Voltmeter-Gauge-Cigar-Lighter-Plug-/262729724598?hash=item3d2be972b6:g:7CwAAOSwHMJYNAER

and doesn't have an annual fee!

Ron.

i've got one of those, they are great.  didn't get it as cheap as that though

[Kevin Wood]

So, you can pay £29 a year to allow the AA to stalk you.

I wonder who they're selling the data to?

[Varche]

This is a bit cheaper, Lizzie:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Car-Battery-Digital-Meter-Monitor-Volt-Voltmeter-Gauge-Cigar-Lighter-Plug-/262729724598?hash=item3d2be972b6:g:7CwAAOSwHMJYNAER

and doesn't have an annual fee!

Ron.

My hobby horse. How do the produce that, package, post and admin it for £1.49.

[Bigron]

Agreed, Mr. Varche; I have often wondered about exactly that from so many goods from China. Even if they didn't work (they do) there are still significant costs involved. Our own Post Office can't manage such low carriage rates and they don't have to use a boat from thousands of miles away!
There must be a hidden agenda, something that I have missed, surely?
Anyone clever able to answer this?   

Ron.

[Doctor Gollum]

This is a bit cheaper, Lizzie:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Car-Battery-Digital-Meter-Monitor-Volt-Voltmeter-Gauge-Cigar-Lighter-Plug-/262729724598?hash=item3d2be972b6:g:7CwAAOSwHMJYNAER

and doesn't have an annual fee!

Ron.

My hobby horse. How do the produce that, package, post and admin it for £1.49.

Simple... they've made 100,000 of them...

5,000 units covers the cost of producing all 100,000 units, a further 20,000 covers the global shipping in a container to a convenient first world hub, the remaining 75,000 units are gravy

Do that ten times in ten different colours and you've a nice little business. Add an led for the next batch and so on...

[Sir Tigger KC]

Chinese factory workers getting paid about a penny a week! 

[Varche]

I think they are hugely subsidised by Chinese government.

I bought a perfectly serviceable external spare wheel cover for £2.49. Several years ago I went to buy one today for an elderly neighbour and they are now a whopping £11.all inc postage. It says may take six weeks , so come to a container port hub in Europe I suspect.

Spain now has an enormous "pound shop" infrastructure which I am convinced is a money or drug laundering front. I cannot see how they make enough from the small footfall.

[STEMO]

Agreed, Mr. Varche; I have often wondered about exactly that from so many goods from China. Even if they didn't work (they do) there are still significant costs involved. Our own Post Office can't manage such low carriage rates and they don't have to use a boat from thousands of miles away!
There must be a hidden agenda, something that I have missed, surely?
Anyone clever able to answer this?   

Ron.

The Chinese government are behind these companies and have installed software that will stop every car using one when the secret code is transmitted. Other devices will wreak havoc on whatever they're plugged into. Obviously really.

[Nick W]

Agreed, Mr. Varche; I have often wondered about exactly that from so many goods from China. Even if they didn't work (they do) there are still significant costs involved. Our own Post Office can't manage such low carriage rates and they don't have to use a boat from thousands of miles away!
There must be a hidden agenda, something that I have missed, surely?
Anyone clever able to answer this?   

Ron.

The Chinese government are behind these companies and have installed software that will stop every car using one when the secret code is transmitted. Other devices will wreak havoc on whatever they're plugged into. Obviously really.

don't forget the cumulative mind-control drugs that are delivered by camouflaged drones to all the Chinese takeaways. They'll be activated by a carrier wave broadcast by all the cheap tat imported over the last thirty years, and we'll all be sleeping in the shed whilst our new masters occupy 'our' houses.

[Varche]

 

[Sir Tigger KC]

don't forget the cumulative mind-control drugs that are delivered by camouflaged drones to all the Chinese takeaways. They'll be activated by a carrier wave broadcast by all the cheap tat imported over the last thirty years, and we'll all be sleeping in the shed whilst our new masters occupy 'our' houses.

I have had plans to build a new shed in my back garden for a while now.    I'd better get on with it!