Good morning all,
I typically frequent other online platforms for chicken tending but recent troubles have me expanding to other platforms in regard to my experience with this door and company. Initially, the $600+ investment for this automatic door solar powered battery backup with wifi seemed like it would be perfect to fit with the flock, and lifestyle I have. I live in central Florida and need something that will stand up to the heat, humidity and rain. I wanted reliability, hardiness, and a more controlled approach having the additional wifi module. The first 5 months I had that. The past 5-6 months, it has been a nightmare.
I'll start with the pros. The door is absolutely sturdy. Wood is solid. Nice to know racoons or bobcats won't tear it down.
Control panel and keypad are readable and easy to navigate. Menu takes a bit to get used to but the instructions for it lay it out nicely.
Having the solar power and battery backup is nice. Not having to "plug in" being so far from the house. However there is an option for power if you wish.
Wifi access to be able to open and close your door from anywhere, and initiate any setting.
Jim, the owner, does seem like a wicked nice guy ready and willing to help. Only up until you are tired of going back and forth for months and request a refund.
Cons. Wifi module setup and "app" are awful. Thereafter you have to use a browser for your navigation and use. Also, they discontinued the particle io app on android. If you had it and uninstalled it, you are out of luck. You need apple or someone with apple to get the wifi module setup.
If you have any issues, response times take a day or two.
Too many working parts for things to go wrong.
Complete unreliability. As mentioned above, I have spent the past 5, almost 6 months, troubleshooting, repairing, back and forth with the owner, and I still have a non functioning door. I gave up.
To condense this down, one night I came home and the door was wide open. Status lights flashing crazy. I sent email, photos and video to Jim. After 2 days, I got a response. He suggested a fix. It didn't work and I told him the wifi module also looked like humidity got in it, and I'm sending it in too. Another day to respond, he says they are sending a new control assembly out and to send in the old one.
I get the new control assembly, and my old wifi module back. Receipt states new control assembly and nothing with the wifi module. I thought maybe it was tested and fixed? Hook it up. Works for a short time then malfunctions again. I emailed and asked about wifi module, and he responds saying he didn't know why it wasn't looked at or tested. However, in a recent email, he states he himself tested the wifi module and it tested fine.
So, what happened between the first control assembly and that most recent email you ask? Replacements galore and guesswork. 2 control assemblies, a battery, and a wifi module replacement. 5 months of back and forth, unreliability, headaches, and failed troubleshooting, I gave up and requested a refund. Jim refuses, stating my door is ineligible for refund and offered repair and replacement services. My door has spent more time being boarded up not functioning than actually working. Frustrated, I said I couldn't be the only one experiencing this and he said that yes, I was the only one. Seems that isn't true. In the past couple of weeks, I've found nearly a dozen folks that have had numerous issues.
I should have done my due diligence and did more research prior. That's on me. I never would have purchased this hot piece of garbage. The mechanics are awful, the wifi module and app are archaic, and the subscription service is currently "inaccessible" so I can't shut off my recurring yearly charge. Jim said once they have access to it again, that he would shut off my subscription.
Am I wrong to ask for a refund? My warranty ends December, and once that is over, I'm out that money anyway. I offered to pay to ship it back, and even asked for half a refund for the 5 months it did work, almost half the time of the 1 year warranty period. I own my own business, working 50-80 hours a week, depending. I need a reliable door, or just keep my chickens locked in all the time. They are free rangers, and that's what I prefer.
Anyone wanting to make a purchase with this company should know the potential for failure. For the price of this door, I could buy 6 run chicken doors, and afford to have them all malfunction and fail because Amazon delivers them next day.
I hope for those that have this door, that it is working amazing and flawlessly for you. No one's flock should come as the cost as this much unreliability in a product. I know it's the chance we take as chicken owners and we do our best to make the right choices and calls, and it is never 100% foolproof. Responsibility still lies with us, but I do not want those odds of loss increased because of continued unreliability.
I found a lawyer willing to help and if anyone else wants to share their story with this door, please feel free. Share the good and bad please. I want people to make an informed decision before making a big purchase. I know the owner lurks here too, and I've already notified him too of my intent moving forward. I don't like it when my time and money are wasted and I don't want anyone else to go through something similar. Thank you for reading.
I typically frequent other online platforms for chicken tending but recent troubles have me expanding to other platforms in regard to my experience with this door and company. Initially, the $600+ investment for this automatic door solar powered battery backup with wifi seemed like it would be perfect to fit with the flock, and lifestyle I have. I live in central Florida and need something that will stand up to the heat, humidity and rain. I wanted reliability, hardiness, and a more controlled approach having the additional wifi module. The first 5 months I had that. The past 5-6 months, it has been a nightmare.
I'll start with the pros. The door is absolutely sturdy. Wood is solid. Nice to know racoons or bobcats won't tear it down.
Control panel and keypad are readable and easy to navigate. Menu takes a bit to get used to but the instructions for it lay it out nicely.
Having the solar power and battery backup is nice. Not having to "plug in" being so far from the house. However there is an option for power if you wish.
Wifi access to be able to open and close your door from anywhere, and initiate any setting.
Jim, the owner, does seem like a wicked nice guy ready and willing to help. Only up until you are tired of going back and forth for months and request a refund.
Cons. Wifi module setup and "app" are awful. Thereafter you have to use a browser for your navigation and use. Also, they discontinued the particle io app on android. If you had it and uninstalled it, you are out of luck. You need apple or someone with apple to get the wifi module setup.
If you have any issues, response times take a day or two.
Too many working parts for things to go wrong.
Complete unreliability. As mentioned above, I have spent the past 5, almost 6 months, troubleshooting, repairing, back and forth with the owner, and I still have a non functioning door. I gave up.
To condense this down, one night I came home and the door was wide open. Status lights flashing crazy. I sent email, photos and video to Jim. After 2 days, I got a response. He suggested a fix. It didn't work and I told him the wifi module also looked like humidity got in it, and I'm sending it in too. Another day to respond, he says they are sending a new control assembly out and to send in the old one.
I get the new control assembly, and my old wifi module back. Receipt states new control assembly and nothing with the wifi module. I thought maybe it was tested and fixed? Hook it up. Works for a short time then malfunctions again. I emailed and asked about wifi module, and he responds saying he didn't know why it wasn't looked at or tested. However, in a recent email, he states he himself tested the wifi module and it tested fine.
So, what happened between the first control assembly and that most recent email you ask? Replacements galore and guesswork. 2 control assemblies, a battery, and a wifi module replacement. 5 months of back and forth, unreliability, headaches, and failed troubleshooting, I gave up and requested a refund. Jim refuses, stating my door is ineligible for refund and offered repair and replacement services. My door has spent more time being boarded up not functioning than actually working. Frustrated, I said I couldn't be the only one experiencing this and he said that yes, I was the only one. Seems that isn't true. In the past couple of weeks, I've found nearly a dozen folks that have had numerous issues.
I should have done my due diligence and did more research prior. That's on me. I never would have purchased this hot piece of garbage. The mechanics are awful, the wifi module and app are archaic, and the subscription service is currently "inaccessible" so I can't shut off my recurring yearly charge. Jim said once they have access to it again, that he would shut off my subscription.
Am I wrong to ask for a refund? My warranty ends December, and once that is over, I'm out that money anyway. I offered to pay to ship it back, and even asked for half a refund for the 5 months it did work, almost half the time of the 1 year warranty period. I own my own business, working 50-80 hours a week, depending. I need a reliable door, or just keep my chickens locked in all the time. They are free rangers, and that's what I prefer.
Anyone wanting to make a purchase with this company should know the potential for failure. For the price of this door, I could buy 6 run chicken doors, and afford to have them all malfunction and fail because Amazon delivers them next day.
I hope for those that have this door, that it is working amazing and flawlessly for you. No one's flock should come as the cost as this much unreliability in a product. I know it's the chance we take as chicken owners and we do our best to make the right choices and calls, and it is never 100% foolproof. Responsibility still lies with us, but I do not want those odds of loss increased because of continued unreliability.
I found a lawyer willing to help and if anyone else wants to share their story with this door, please feel free. Share the good and bad please. I want people to make an informed decision before making a big purchase. I know the owner lurks here too, and I've already notified him too of my intent moving forward. I don't like it when my time and money are wasted and I don't want anyone else to go through something similar. Thank you for reading.