DocLarge
Premium
join:2004-09-08
| MagicJack Resells Returned Jacks ALONG WITH CALLED NUMBERS!
Firstoff, I like this little thing called magic jack. Hell, I've sent one to a friend who's overseas right now. The problem came when I opened up the first magic jack I wanted to send to her. I stuck it into my usb port and the thing came up "with a phone number and the numbers the previous owner had called. Yeah, oooooooooo s**t!
It then occured to me that if someone started going through the numbers and happened to recognize, say, an automated phone payment system prompt at Verizon, USAA, etc..., all you'd need to do is follow the phone prompt and then look for the sequence where you enter your credit card information and "BOOM!!" There you have it; theft thanks to poor quality control!!!
What tipped me off was when I tried to tell one of the online techs about it; her answer was "just return it for another one." After I told her the implications of the issue, she kept saying "just return it" so I asked for a supervisor; she was just as bad and incoherent.
Long story short, if you don't like magic jack, "format" the damn thing and then take it back. Make sure you tell them the device is damaged so they destroy it, otherwise, it will be sent back to "magic jack" central for resale.
Oh yeah, if you buy one that already has a number assigned to it, you can't change it because you don't have the password to the original account, nor can you get a new number; a number can only be assigned "once" (to hear magic jack techs tell it) to the device unless you have the password to the account to pay $10 dollars to have it changed.
Some things suck, but minus its faults, I like it. 
Jay |
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VirtualLarry
Premium
join:2003-08-01
| So MJ is reselling used units as new? Isn't that illegal? I would contact your state's Attorney General with that information, along with proof of your purchase, and the "used" magicjack.
It's especially disturbing that they cannot re-assign the number at all. |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| said by VirtualLarry  :So MJ is reselling used units as new? Isn't that illegal? Why would it be illegal? It's not food or a mattress. If the unit was repaired, it has to be marked refurbished or used, but if the unit was deemed to meet factory specs as is (probably by a deaf, dumb and blind kid named Tommy), they can resell it with no issue. Sure it's creepy that they sell a unit unwiped of previous user info ... but is anyone here really surprised by that? |
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Msradell
join:2008-12-25
Louisville, KY
| In most states there are laws that prohibit reselling of returned or refurbished units as new. They have to be marked "refurbished" or "open box" when they are resold. Sounds like they could be in legal trouble for reselling them if they already have numbers programmed into them. |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| said by Msradell :In most states there are laws that prohibit reselling of returned or refurbished units as new. They have to be marked "refurbished" or "open box" when they are resold. Most? I'll bet you can't name one state that does not allow the resale as new of a returned electronic item that the seller deems to be in fine working order. Should also apply to other electronic items like clock radios, calculators, cordless phones, watches, etc. of similar value (i.e. $20). said by Msradell : Sounds like they could be in legal trouble for reselling them if they already have numbers programmed into them. oh, give me a break. of all the nefarious business practices of Magic Jack, you think this is the one that brings down the empire? With all the terrorists, and murderers, and tax cheats, and McDonalds stores running out of McNuggets...what law enforcement agency and loser prosecutor would take this case? |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
 ·magicjack.com
3 edits | reply to Msradell
said by Msradell :In most states there are laws that prohibit reselling of returned or refurbished units as new. I can't think of any state that requires returned merchandise to be labeled accordingly. Some things like new cars with more than 2k miles(?) must be sold as a "demo." In my state, underwear can't be resold (which means stores won't accept returns).
But, I return stuff to Home Depot, Target, etc. I watch them put the stuff in carts classified by department. After a period of time, someone takes the cart to the department and starts putting the stuff back on the shelves.
For electronics, it's probably a matter of reputation not to sell returns. Costco used to(?) have a generous return policy. You could return your tv once a year(?) upgrading to the latest model. I doubt Costco put those back on the shelves.
Nobody wants to buy electronics and find evidence that it was previously used. A store doing that would get a very bad reputation. At Fry's Electronics they resell returned merchandise, but it's clearly labeled and comes with a small discount. I'm sure it's not a law. Just their way to deal with returns (instead of selling them to Overstock.com).
It should come as no surprise that MJ has no concern for its reputation.
EDIT: BTW, a few months ago someone reported the same problem the OP experienced. So, it's been occurring for a while.
Mark |
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