I filed a complaint with PayPal against tessies_toys for misrepresenting their "unlocked" 2032s. So far they rep Im working with at PayPal seems to be siding with me, but that may change. I'll let you know how it goes, and then anyone who bought one from this bastard can get what they paid for or get their money back.

What was your story about it ssego?

Hi. I bought one of his unlocked 2032s. It took me a few hours of research and a few calls to Verizon, but I was able to get it working correctly, and it works just fine. When I bid on the unit, I assumed I would just have to activate it over the net and that's all there would be to it. In reality, it's much more complicated. In my case, I had to get rid of the Sprint PCS application and replace it with the Verizon Watcher application. Then I had to speak with the Verizon Technical Services group and have them manually activate the phone. Another thing I found was that when you enter the SID number, it wouldn't work unless it was 5 digits long, so we had to put leading zeros in front of the SID to make it 5 digits long. In the end I got what I wanted, so I can't complain, and he sent me some very helpful emails.

When I bid on the auction the title read Unlocked! Extras!.. Im not sure if he was just plain stupid or if he was lying through his teeth, but NEITHER of these statements was true. The PDA was NOT unlocked, he merely provided the SPC for it. That alone does not qualify for being unlocked. The 'extras' i received consisted of a CD-R with Verizon's software on it, and one each of an aftermarket sync cable, a house charger, and an earbud.

I decided at first to take the lumps and read more thoroughly next time. I was actually able to get the thing hooked up on my cellular provider, but the data didn't work. It has since come to my attention that the modem isnt working right. The data side of the SB555 seems to have connection issues, and when I emailed him about it he was a total ******* about it, and said that he could send me a different unit, one that was really unlocked, if I sent him more money and shipped the defective unit back to him at my cost. He wanted me to pay shipping on the 'new' 2032 as well. That cut the line and I filed a complaint with paypal about it.

Frank (the owner of 'tessies_toys') is a lying prick. He sold a ****load of these useless 2032s to people that thought they were getting something they could use, when in reality they can't, and he damn well knew it. He made sure to bury the truth about the SPC lock status in the ad somewhere, but I never saw it unit it was too late. I call that a misleading ad with a bait-and-switch. Bastard. I hope he rots in hell.

Ahhh,

Now I understand why you are mad.

I got a 2032 from Tessie Toys as well. But at the price I got it for ($80) i knew damn well what i was getting. My auction even said it would NOT work with US cell phone provider yet i got it working anyway. It is frustrating not being able to use the data part of the pda but I guess you get what you pay for. At the very least, for the price Tessie's selling them for, you get a good/cheap pda

But you SHOULD be able to use it for data. the dial up feature of the modem should work on any cell provider, and if your provider has 1XRTT Data that should work as well. The auction I bid on said it would work with any CDMA provider EXCEPT Sprint. Anyway.. I'm not bitching about the money part really.. its a decent price for a PDA. But had I known this thing wasnt unlocked I would have bid on a NIB Verizon unit that I could have used on Verizon since Verizon actually has service here.

Can I ask; why didn't you just email tessies_toys that you were unhappy with the unit and would like a REFUND. My phone would not activate with Cingular and I emailed her and they took it back and refunded me in FULL inlcuding shipping! I found them to be VERY courteous and incredibly fast with email responses and the refund happened the SAME day UPS tracked it to there place!

I did try that. I also offered that as a resolution to the PayPal agent. Frank (tessies toys' owner) refuses to take this thing back. He's insisting that the auction stated that the unit was not unlocked, even though the title said it was. I'm glad you guys seem to have had a smooth transaction with Frank, but he's been a bastard to me. All I want is a unit that works like its supposed to and he refuses to send me another one unless i pay shipping both ways and an extra 15 bucks to get it unlocked. Screw that.. i overpaid shipping the first time around. He charged me 20 bucks shipping, then shipped it priority mail and only paid $5.

I also heard an interesting tidbit of info about these things he's selling. Supposedly Sprint owns them, since the contract that bought them was never fulfilled. Sprint can go after tessies_toys for the full cost of the contracts or the purchase price of the phone, whichever is lowest. Keep in mind that I'm not a lawyer and I don't know this for fact, but the Sprint rep I talked to said that basically Frank has been selling stolen property that belongs to Sprint. I don't see how they could say 'stolen' but still, he's selling stuff that isn't his to be selling. They were supposed to be returned to Sprint from what I understand.

Yeah,

Stolen, no way. The device is yours the moment you leave the store with it and a service contract. The contract is just that, a service contract. Sprint even hands you a reciept (widely accepted proof of ownership) when you pay for the phone.

I ignore almost everything most Sprint reps say. Next time you talk to one, ask them to spell Sprint backwards and see how long it takes them. Now ask them a serious important question and see how long a correct verified answer takes. Most of the time they just make things up or have form answers that are distracting and misleading... anyway...

I would just re-read the ad, and maybe forward a copy of it to 'Tessie's Toys'... I have talked to many people who have dealt with them, most everyone says that they are good people to deal with... maybe just so many people calling/writing them about this though... I dunno.

I'll watch out from now on though... and to think I buy stuff on eBay?!

My last chime in on this matter though... I have followed Tessie's ad's for some time now in regards to the 2032's. At first they were listed as unlocked, when they were not. I don't think Tessie's really understands what locked and unlocked is for a cell phone. (you can verify that they didn't sell many cell phones by looking at their completed sales) I think they were mislead themselves.

I mean I am the one that turned them on to Fhon Wizards for unlocking. There I said it. I told Tessie's to contact Fhon Wizards to have their "unlocked" phones actually unlocked.

I have watched the descriptions change since then as well... These phones can work with Verizon, totally. I am in discussions with Verizon about it right now. Getting Verizon up to speed on how to activate them and how to get the internet to work with them. Mind you, I don't even use one anymore.

This was all just a project, turned into a hobby, turned into an obsession, now it's my mission to get Verizon to ADMIT that the Toshiba 2032 is the same thing as the Audiovox Thera. I am supposed to talk to the big-wigs again tomorrow. I'll keep you all informed in the proper thread... Now I feel somewhat obligated to help everyone who reads these threads be able to get these phones activated... if I don't, who else is going to, Verizon? Sprint? Telus? Alltel?

Sorry to rant, but when I see people filing claims, I too get in a frenzy over the issue.

If I were you ssego, I'd try this. Email tessies toys again with no history and just say you got a phone that wont activate and you'd like to return it for a refund. Phrase it politely and simply. They deal with so many people I bet they don't remember you and they will do it! Look at it this way; what have you got to lose! The IDIOTS at Paypal will not help with a "not as described" claim. Believe me. Been there, Done that. You WILL lose and be more angry. Just give it a whirl and let us know!

I got an "unlocked" thera from tessies. It seems to work with Verizon but the phone interface is still Sprint PCS. So I am unable to access voice mail and other features

Jeryst, where did you get the watcher program? Thanks.

Watcher:
http://www.pdaphonehome.com/forums/s...atcher+on+2032

JimEther

Thanks for your help. I followed the instructions upto the point where it says :File->Import Register-> Click on 2032-watch. At this step (after running tre.exe), I could not find this file 2032-watch and got an error. However I was able to run Watcher after the soft reset.

But here is the problem: If I try to do a *228 to access Verizon for latest updates or do a *86 for voice mail I get the voice message "Feature code you entrerd is not valid".

Is this because my installation is not complete? Thanks for any advice.

Hey There,

I'm not sure what that message means, I have recieved a few emails about it lately.

I would suggest you enter the modem config, and under 'system' change 'pcs cdma' or whatever yours is set to over to 'Cellular CDMA Only'... you will also want to make sure you have your other settings setup for your region.

You MAY also want to try the modem firmare upgrade on AudioVox's website... It's talked about on here, I don't have the link just this moment though.

First, I have no vested interest in saying this, I dont know the guy or anything like that.

Even if the SPC is not 0's, who cares? As long as he gave you the SPC. Is there something I'm missing? AFAIK, the overall fact remains that, with the SPC you can reprogram the phone to other networks. If I'm missing something (such as, the SPC he gave you doesnt work, or you cant see all the menus), politely tell me, and ignore the rest of this message.

...

The phones he sells on ebay were programmed and configured to Sprint. That doesnt mean it cant be moved to another network. To move it to another network, you need two things: the SPC, and someone at the cellular store of your choice that knows how to set it up. With the right configuration, you CAN get 1x working. I know its possible on at least SOME other networks, for sure.

Now, admittedly, finding a store rep or someone at the help line that knows how to configure it is hard / impossible to find.. but, IMHO, its ultimately not the guy who sold it to you's responsibility, unless that guy was working for the company you wanted to hook it up to, and he worked at the cell store.

Realize, he cant somehow sell it magically configured to all networks. Theres too many variables! Software, Firmware, Options. Etc. However, the 'variables' are all attainable via audiovox's website and this great board to make it work for you.

My point is, I think its mighty unfair for you to call the guy names and to file a paypal complaint on him just cuz, from what as near as I can tell from your reasoning, is because you don't know how to configure it. There are lots of posts on this board that should help you configure it / move it to another network. You'll probably need to change the modem firmware. Search the board. The modems WILL WORK on other networks for 1XRTT.

I'm not trying to make you angry. I'm just saying that I dont think its fair for you to try to get the guy in trouble just because you weren't aware there is some extensive configuration necessary to move networks. And why name calling? Why was it necessary to call him a 'b*stard'?

Please, lets not start a flamewar just cuz I posted this. Im not interested, and I wont get into it. Im just offering my opinion, You dont have to agree or disagree, and I dont know all the facts, and I dont know everything thats transpired. But, if everyone who sells something thats an awesome deal on ebay gets in trouble because of unfortunate misunderstandings, everyone loses out. He sells so many of these things, he can hardly afford to tell every one of the buyers how to configure it to their particular network.

Just my 2c.

Cheers

Hey There,

The only thing I can say about the above post is that having the SPC isn't enough. Most carriers in the U.S. have major issues with OTA and even activation if your phone has an SPC locked on it. Not all carriers, but most. It's a little worse then if you put a sticker on your phone from another carrier, they get all crazy and say it will never work, normally.

I do agree though, the device WILL and CAN work... it's just getting everything configured and getting an activation specialist with more then 8 brain cells.

When someone comes out with a way to update the PRL without using OTA then I'll be ok with it. As it stands I have a half-assed PDA with a useless cellular modem that could be a half-assed PDA that connected to the internet and was a big asset to my company... since I'm self employed and always on-the-go it would be great to be able to check my email... but I cant.

Yeah... I can update the PRL... but I don't know if I can get your internet working as that is mostly up to how helpful your carrier is.

I know how to get on the net with my carrier.. you need the EaseEdge picture messaging package and then you dial #777 to connect. The only things that are keeping me from connecting are the user authentication changing to verizons stnadards all the time and the price of 1X data from my provider. I was hoping to get a dial up PPP connection working but I dont know if thats possible.