I am disappointed with this company to say the least (Directed Electronics - DEI holdings) and they should be ashamed of themselves. They made this product called Viper Home automation (model vhs100). It was made exclusively for BestBuy bestbuy.com/site/viper-w… .
They contacted me and said they figured they will get into the home automation business because Viper is a brand name for security. It made sense to me. They then saw that other companies were giving it away and just making money off the subscriptions so they decided they want to get out of the business.
They asked me if I want to buy this as a closeout at a closeout price. They said the system is a DIY home automation system that allows you to monitor your home on your computer or your app. No need to hire an installer. They showed me a link on theViper.com website which pointed to viper.com/home . I figured its a good deal. A viper product, listed onViper.com website, that allows one to monitor their house, office, warehouse in 15 minutes. I was told they would maintain service for the product for 3 years.
I used to buy closeouts from them years ago. My expectations are very managed when I buy closeouts. I understand the items wont be red hot. I figured for the price its still makes sense.
Here is what happened:
1) A few weeks after this was purchased, they took off the link from Viper.com. This was pretty bad in itself because all the documentation on the system pointed toViper.com so it looks like a fake product.
2) Viper.com/home was taken off line a few months later so all documentation was gone. The phone number was disconnected, emails either bounced back or were never returned. The documentation all pointed for them to email, call or go to the web site. That no longer exists.
3) The web user interface works only on some old Internet Explorer browsers. The software has not been updated for years so it doesn't work on any modern browsers.
4) If you do somehow register the "product", which is almost impossible, they force you to sign up for a monthly subscription for $9.99. This says nowhere on the documentation. I was told that there is a premium service for the $9.99 and there is some usage of this system without the $9.99. This is untrue. They have no clue about this product for the following reason. They used this company essence-usa.com to make this product. Things of course went sour with them so Viper can only try to hide from this product.
5) They lost control of the product. When one registers this product, many of the new factory sealed products say registered already when you try to register it, and they have no clue how to fix this issue.
6) The browser (only old IE browsers), crashes most of the time.
7) The app is a not even a joke. Most of the buttons link to a site thats been taken off. Its not been updated for 3 years. Crashes most of the time. Doesn't come close to working in IOS6. The app IS THE PRODUCT and they simply gave up on it years ago.
The list goes on and on and on. This was one big disaster for Viper / Directed and they hoisted their trash on me. When I contacted my rep, which I have done dozens of time, he tells me hes waiting for Bill, that needs to talk to Jennifer, thats waiting on Albert, whose on vacation with Larry, thats waiting for a phone call for Mike, whose out for the weekend with Jayson. This has been going on now for 1/2 year. They are running from me because they cant explain in words what their position is. They do not have a position.
I've offered to meet with SR managers multiple times with the product and demo it. I even offered their most senior product manager to offer to demo it. They simply chose to ignore me.
I've reached out to them multiple times offering them a amicable way out of this. I even offered to fly down and meet them at CES so we can sort this out. If they can explain in words and give me a persuasive argument, I will accept that and go away. They are hiding, running for the hills afraid to look me in the eyes and for good reason.
They are ignoring me hoping I just go wither away. I started the legal process (which is a shame because I love my reps - he was misled as well) and I plan a class action lawsuit against anyone who dished out cash for a Viper home series.
Directed Electronics Reviews
I am disappointed with this company to say the least (Directed Electronics - DEI holdings) and they should be ashamed of themselves. They made this product called Viper Home automation (model vhs100). It was made exclusively for BestBuy bestbuy.com/site/viper-w… .
They contacted me and said they figured they will get into the home automation business because Viper is a brand name for security. It made sense to me. They then saw that other companies were giving it away and just making money off the subscriptions so they decided they want to get out of the business.
They asked me if I want to buy this as a closeout at a closeout price. They said the system is a DIY home automation system that allows you to monitor your home on your computer or your app. No need to hire an installer. They showed me a link on theViper.com website which pointed to viper.com/home . I figured its a good deal. A viper product, listed onViper.com website, that allows one to monitor their house, office, warehouse in 15 minutes. I was told they would maintain service for the product for 3 years.
I used to buy closeouts from them years ago. My expectations are very managed when I buy closeouts. I understand the items wont be red hot. I figured for the price its still makes sense.
Here is what happened:
1) A few weeks after this was purchased, they took off the link from Viper.com. This was pretty bad in itself because all the documentation on the system pointed toViper.com so it looks like a fake product.
2) Viper.com/home was taken off line a few months later so all documentation was gone. The phone number was disconnected, emails either bounced back or were never returned. The documentation all pointed for them to email, call or go to the web site. That no longer exists.
3) The web user interface works only on some old Internet Explorer browsers. The software has not been updated for years so it doesn't work on any modern browsers.
4) If you do somehow register the "product", which is almost impossible, they force you to sign up for a monthly subscription for $9.99. This says nowhere on the documentation. I was told that there is a premium service for the $9.99 and there is some usage of this system without the $9.99. This is untrue. They have no clue about this product for the following reason. They used this company essence-usa.com to make this product. Things of course went sour with them so Viper can only try to hide from this product.
5) They lost control of the product. When one registers this product, many of the new factory sealed products say registered already when you try to register it, and they have no clue how to fix this issue.
6) The browser (only old IE browsers), crashes most of the time.
7) The app is a not even a joke. Most of the buttons link to a site thats been taken off. Its not been updated for 3 years. Crashes most of the time. Doesn't come close to working in IOS6. The app IS THE PRODUCT and they simply gave up on it years ago.
The list goes on and on and on. This was one big disaster for Viper / Directed and they hoisted their trash on me. When I contacted my rep, which I have done dozens of time, he tells me hes waiting for Bill, that needs to talk to Jennifer, thats waiting on Albert, whose on vacation with Larry, thats waiting for a phone call for Mike, whose out for the weekend with Jayson. This has been going on now for 1/2 year. They are running from me because they cant explain in words what their position is. They do not have a position.
I've offered to meet with SR managers multiple times with the product and demo it. I even offered their most senior product manager to offer to demo it. They simply chose to ignore me.
I've reached out to them multiple times offering them a amicable way out of this. I even offered to fly down and meet them at CES so we can sort this out. If they can explain in words and give me a persuasive argument, I will accept that and go away. They are hiding, running for the hills afraid to look me in the eyes and for good reason.
They are ignoring me hoping I just go wither away. I started the legal process (which is a shame because I love my reps - he was misled as well) and I plan a class action lawsuit against anyone who dished out cash for a Viper home series.