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Just got an Australia Post tracking number from Australia Post for Icetv. :)

So did I. To the wrong f***ing address!

Dave/IceTV

Have the units arrived in Australia and will you be shipping this week?

More importantly, Dave, what's the highest invoice number being shipped from this batch?

I think this whole thing has been an epic fail and a complete PR disaster for IceTV. As I see it, they went into this without a clue as to what they were doing. They've been stumbling through the whole process and have tried to cover their tracks with vague and spasmodic responses. It's not so much a campaign of deliberate lies as it is an inherent inability to function effectively.

What they should have done, apart from employing people with proper marketing and customer service skills, is to give very specific updates right throughout the process. People understand and respect honesty. They should have said that the initial shipment was only 12 units or 15 units or whatever. They should have said that the first part of the order was 700 units or 800 units or whatever it was and that that would cover invoices up to # xxxxxxx.

Specific information like that keeps everyone in the loop. They may argue that this would provide too much information to their competitors, but they are the ones who started the direct conversation with their customers, so they should maintain it and do so with honesty and integrity.

At this point, I can honestly say that not only will I never buy another IceTV product, I will actively discourage everyone I know not to buy one. Not because of the quality of their products ( I can't judge that yet), but simply because I have no faith in their ability as a company. As for going to the ACCC, I think you'd be better off contacting the ABC and getting it on Gruen.

Or...... We are sorry about the continued delay, but we are excited to tell you that you will be automatically updated to a Skippa2, as soon as we can get a production slot with our manufacturer.

Close, but I think the wording would be more like:

The replacement batch of Skippa's will be manufactured straight after the first batch of Skippa 2's. Pre-orders for the Skippa 2 will commence shortly. We're excited to offer existing Skippa owners (we have your money, so technically you own a Skippa), a special one off pre-order discounted price of $300 for a Skippa 2. That price includes a one year IceTV subscription (even though you've already paid for a lifetime subscription) and a free 90 day trial license of the Ad Skip functionality. Give us your money immediately to lock in this amazing offer.

Well folks, it's Monday, September 21 and still no sign of our Skippa's. Time for another (fake) reality check update from IceTV.

The Skippa's arrived in the country, albeit later than expected (by several months), but we have encountered a new problem. The shipment was incorrectly labelled as 'Clocks'. When Border Force failed to see a big hand and a little hand on the X-Ray, they immediately went into lockdown. The entire shipment has been taken out to a facility where it will be destroyed in a controlled explosion.

IceTV has lodged an urgent claim for compensation from Border Force and as soon as we receive payment, we will arrange for a new batch of Skippa's to be manufactured by our OEM. This will result in yet another delay, possibly six months or more. We apologise for the delay, but we're sure you'll find your new Skippa to be an amazing product and well worth the wait.

I wonder what their definition of a 'big shipment' is?

If Skippa required an annual subscription for IceTV, I definitely would not have bought (I mean ordered) one. I simply wouldn't have looked twice at it. I would have bought another PVR and been using it already for months.

Has anyone received a Skippa yet or at least the shipping notification? I know I'm one of the last 1000 but hear nothing yet.

Nothing yet and I'm one of the early ones (I believe). Here's where I think the process is currently at (but it's just a guess).
The last we heard, they had arrived by plane in one country and had to be transferred to another plane for the rest of the journey. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we received an e-mail on Friday telling us that the second aircraft had mechanical problems. Due to local customs requirements, the shipment could not be removed from the aircraft to another aircraft.

The airline contacted Boeing who are out of stock of the damaged part. They have ordered more parts from their OEM and they are currently in a queue, awaiting production (assuming they don't get bumped for a larger order). Once the part is made, it will be shipped to Boeing in Seattle who have added extra staff to expedite delivery of the part to the country in question. Once received and fitted to the aircraft, the Skippa shipment will continue on it's way to Oz.

So, it looks like IceTV were right about delivery at the end of July. They just forgot to specify the year.

No word yet if the Skippa landed in Australia over the weekend as per previous email, don't tell me, the Plane had to return to China due to engine problems  :o

What I'd really like is a post from someone at IceTV which says something like:

X Skippa's have arrived in the country and we are processing orders up to invoice number Y. We expect to have all of these shipped by Z.

Surely that isn't too much to expect and can't be that hard to do.

Hang on a minute. You said they couldn't be delivered to post office boxes and now you're telling us that Australia Post will be delivering them? Can I change my shipping address?

I got mine today! Can't wait until I get home!

Lucky you. I got told I'm not in the first batch, despite the fact that I ordered mine the moment pre-orders opened. Dave told me the initial delivery was only in the "double digits".

I obviously was a bit lax in ordering, my invoice number is 200849.

Ian

So if Murphy's Law holds true, the initial shipment will be 18 units.  :)

I just went and had a look at my invoice. It was timestamped 12:07 pm on May 25. My invoice number is 200819. I have no idea if this means anything. Perhaps I'm 19 in a queue which has been running since 2008? For all we know, every negative comment we make here could push us to the back of the queue.

How are you people finding out where you are in the queue? I sent an e-mail to IceTV in reply to today's e-mail and haven't heard anything. I'd love to know where I stand.

I need this thing as soon as I can get it. I gave away my other PVR a month ago in anticipation of Skippa arriving and my TiVo is playing up something shocking.

The bit in the e-mail I hated the most was:

"During our pre-order sale you saved up to $200 off RRP, and will be among the first to receive a SKIPPA® in Australia."

Because that makes it alright...NOT! Yes IceTV, I'm really clever for ordering early and saving money. I acknowledge that I will be one of the first in the country to receive a Skippa, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't receive it when you said I was going to receive it.

Your feeble attempts to placate me have failed.