This is somewhat of a rant, but its also a warning to anyone who might fall victim to the same thing. I'll start from the beginning.
I have a Nintendo Wii system, which (like all Wii systems) will play GameCube games, provided you have the supporting controllers and memory cards. I like to play it due to my affinity for the Rogue Squadron games. Unfortunately, all I can find is corded controllers, which makes distance playing somewhat cumbersome. I've been searching local EB Games outlets to find wireless GameCube controllers, but everyone tells me the same story... only a few were ever made and they're damned-near impossible to find, since most people who have them continue to use them on their Wii systems and don't return them for 2nd-hand sale.
After a bit of online searching however, I found a website in the states called
VPGames.com that carried several types, mostly by a company called Kuma. Reviews I've found of this product are typically good, but the company that makes them appears to exist ONLY in the form of its products... no website, no email, no phone number. In any case, I was getting quite desperate for a wireless GameCube controller, so I chose to take a chance and ordered one. First of all, their website refused to accept my credit card because it didn't have a certain security validation thingy, but I was able to use a PayPal account to get around that.
Next, it took the better part of a month before it finally arrived here, since I live in Canada and the shipping origins are in California. Unfortunately, the controller refused to transmit to the receiver, so it was completely useless. I then contacted the company telling them in no uncertain terms that I wasn't happy and that I expected them to ship me a working product as fast as they could, at their expense, and cover the cost of returning the defective product to them. The reply said that they couldn't cover the return shipping, but they could reimburse me for my initial shipping cost. I agreed and (after a delay due to work schedules and child care obligations) shipped the product back to them, following their return instructions exactly. I even included a note indicating that I wanted my initial shipping costs reimbursed, as per the individual I was in communication with at their support email. I was informed when I shipped it, that it should take about 5 business days to reach the destination. Then, I waited... and waited... and waited. Then I emailed and asked for a status update... and waited... and waited... and waited. Then I called their 1-800 number which always goes to voicemail and asked for an update... and waited... and waited... and waited. I called twice and sent a total of 3 emails, and not one of my phone calls were returned and I received no responding emails besides the automated we-got-your-message-and-someone-will-respond-within-2-business-days response. I was just about to send another more heated email yesterday, when my wife comes in from being at work and hands me a package with the replacement unit within.
A quick test revealed that the controller and receiver were communicating with each other properly, but I wasn't able to test the controller properly, as my wife had shows to watch until later that night. So its after 11pm, my wife has gone to bed, and I power up the Wii, pop Rogue Leader into it, fire up the controller, sync the two together, and watch in amazement as the control inputs did absolutely nothing at all. I tried several different options and activation sequences, all with no result. My only 2 conclusions are 1, its defective, plain and simple, 2, despite all advertisements both from product distributors and on the product packaging itself, it is NOT in any way shape or form, compatible with the Wii system. I know someone who has an old GameCube so I may have the opportunity to test that part of the theory. In any case, I immediately shot an email back to the company telling them in not so few words that they were a bunch of incompetent, bastards with no concept of customer service and sell poorly designed crap and pass it off for quality products. I also told them that I'd make sure that I'd tell anyone I know who might be looking for a product that they carry, to shop elsewhere. I even told them that I'd give the same advise to total strangers. Since this board is populated by both total strangers and acquaintances, its the perfect place to give out such advise.
Incidentally, they sent me the automated email response today. Even if someone reads the email, I expect that they'll send it to the electronic equivalent of the circular filing cabinet, and go right back to handling their so-called business the same way. THAT is why I'm putting up this warning.
Thank you for your attention, and patience.
