I. Am. Pissed.

I often talk on my cell phone while I drive. Yes, not the best of habits, but I at least always use a hands free device when I do it. In August 2006, I got a new cell phone. It came with a wired hands free device so it was adequate to use in the car, but I wanted a bluetooth headset. So in October 2006, I went to Honolulu Wireless after eating at the Pearl City Genki Sushi and purchased a Samsung WEP200 because the person who worked there (I think it was actually the proprietor) told me that it was a popular model. I usually like to research these kind of purchases before I buy them, but I really wanted it so I impulsively bought it. When I got home, I tried it out and was dismayed to discover that the sound quality was horrible. I could hear the person on the other end of the phone fine, but the person I was talking to complained that I was difficult to hear and understand when I used the device. I wasn't happy, but it wasn't that big of a deal because I still had my wired device.

Sam recently changed service providers so he got a new phone. He gave me his old phone (though it's pretty new) and I love it, love it, love it. But I needed a hands free device. So I dug up the bluetooth that I had purchased because I read online that bluetooth devices perform differently with different phones. It paired easily with my phone but it didn't work at all. So I tried it with Lance's phone. It worked, but the sound quality was pretty crappy even though we were at home. Frustrated, I turned to the internet and was surprised to find out that the Samsung WEP200 actually rated pretty high on cnet.com and it got a lot of good feedback from other users. I was pretty grouchy already so Lance took over the computer to search online forums for troubleshooting information. As I contemplated chucking the device across the room, I watched him pick up the box and snort. He told me to look carefully at the box. So I did and saw that on the silver authentic looking sticker it said, "Samsing Official Accessory." Samsing? WTF?

I was sold a knockoff. I'm pissed. It's not like I bought the item from the Swap Meet. At least there I would expect to go home with a knockoff. And it would've been priced like a knockoff, instead of the going rate of a bluetooth device. I bought the device from a bloody "reputable" store. I had every intention of marching myself into the store and telling the owner off and contacting the Better Business Bureau, but the fact of the matter is that I bought the device over a year ago and I don't know if I even want to deal with it. I'm trying to live a more stress reduced life and I feel as though dealing with an issue that I should have dealt with over a year ago is not conducive towards that goal. We'll see.