EEVblog #751 - How To Debunk A Product (The Batteriser)

[StillTrying]

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/batteroo-reboost-make-rechargeables-work-anywhere-technology?secret_perk_token=07a22e18#/backers

I just see 2 traffic cones.

EDITY: I get the page today, rather than 2 orange traffic cones, maybe it was their version of a 502 or something.

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi,

I found this website, www.backerkit.com, that tracks activity on crowdfunded websites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter.

Here is the link to the Batteroo reBoost project:

https://www.backerkit.com/projects/batteroo-reboost-make-rechargeables-work-anywhere-technology

These are the main graphs from today:








I am sure that Batteroo chose a relatively small target of $30K in the hope that would blew the target out of the water.

Telling investors that Indiegogo campaign met its goal of $30K after a 30day campaign, is not a very good story.

I also believe that this product has a smaller addressable market, than the first product, alkaline batteries.

I don't know how many people bother with rechargeable batteries.

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

[djos]

The reality is this "product" has no market, real or snake oil.

Everyone knows that virtually every device on earth works fine with rechargeable batteries so the scam doesn't work.

[Brumby]

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/batteroo-reboost-make-rechargeables-work-anywhere-technology?secret_perk_token=07a22e18#/backers

I just see 2 traffic cones.

This is what I see (the interesting part of the page)




Not so secret after all...

[EEVblog]

The reality is this "product" has no market, real or snake oil.
Everyone knows that virtually every device on earth works fine with rechargeable batteries so the scam doesn't work.

Pretty much. No surprises this one has done a lot worse than the previous one, it doesn't have the same "save the world" vibe and outrageous "800%" claims, and supposed surprising information that there is still energy left in dead batteries. People went "wow" at all that.
No nearly the same "wow" factor with the new campaign, they will be lucky to reach their target.

[Domagoj T]

Something to start your day with a chuckle.

Hello Batteroo Supporters,
 
We are on the last leg of our campaign, only 7 days left! Due to popular demand, we have some new offerings available…
 
WE ARE NOW OFFERING RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES AND RECHARGEABLE BATTERY CHARGERS! We are offering high capacity AA and AAA rechargeable batteries and our battery charger can recharge up to 8 batteries at once!
 
Pairing ReBoosts with rechargeable batteries, what could be a better gift? With these high quality batteries and battery chargers that can charge so many at once, these products would be so useful for the people in your life who go through tons of batteries: new parents whose children use lots of battery powered toys, gaming teenagers who get frustrated at their console controllers dying so quickly, photography enthusiasts who need their nice cameras to last as long as possible, and so many others! Anyone who uses batteries could benefit from having Batteroo ReBoosts and rechargeable batteries in their life.
 
Here are our new perks:
 
1.    Basic Battery+Charger Bundle: $23 perk that includes 1x 4 pack of AA and 1x 4 pack of AAA rechargeable batteries, and 1x battery charger.
 
2.    EB Complete Battery+Charger Bundle: $50 perk that includes 3x 4 packs of AA and 3x 4 packs of AAA rechargeable batteries, and 1x battery charger.

 
Don't wait, our campaign is almost over! Check out the new perks here and don't miss out on your chance to get these great discount prices!
 
https://igg.me/at/batterooreboost/x/

Regards,
The Batteroo Team

I guess we now know who's got ties with The Big Battery.
Unfortunately, it doesn't say what brand and model of the rechargeables they offer, but I doubt they offer Eneloops (that's the ones they show in their unrelated pictures), since the retail price for those would be close to $100.
However, if they are offering Eneloops, it is a good opportunity for those that need some.
All that being said, if they ship anything other then Eneloops, they might get into additional trouble since, based on other images, somebody could reasonably get the impression that they offer those, and get thoroughly disappointed once they receive some crappy Banggood grade cells.

[Brumby]

This is like Goodyear selling cars to go with their tyres.

Next thing you know, they will be selling torches to go with the batteries......

[Mr.B]

Next thing you know, they will be selling torches to go with the batteries......

Yeah...  But not constant current LED torches. They prefer to promote lame old incandescent ones.
$0.30 from Banggood... 

[Zbig]

Gaming console controllers running on AA's... right

[Fgrir]

Actually...

When replacing the batteries in your Xbox One Wireless Controller, use only AA batteries that have an “LR6” designation (alkaline batteries)...
For the best performance, rechargeable AA batteries are not recommended.

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/using-aa-batteries

[Zbig]

Actually...

When replacing the batteries in your Xbox One Wireless Controller, use only AA batteries that have an “LR6” designation (alkaline batteries)...
For the best performance, rechargeable AA batteries are not recommended.

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/using-aa-batteries

Wow You learn something new every day. Did a quick Google check before posting, by searching for "Xbox controller charging station" and got several results so figured they went for Li-Ion. Seriously, there's no in-device recharging option with Xbox? Well, I'm glad I chose Playstation...

[hermit]

The problem they face is that people with rechargeable don't care how quickly they drain.  They just pop them back in the charger.  No extra gadget needed.

[Ice-Tea]

This is like Goodyear selling cars to go with their tyres.

Next thing you know, they will be selling torches to go with the batteries......

At some point, Michelin owned most of Citroen...

[djos]

Actually...

When replacing the batteries in your Xbox One Wireless Controller, use only AA batteries that have an “LR6” designation (alkaline batteries)...
For the best performance, rechargeable AA batteries are not recommended.

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/using-aa-batteries

There's really no issue with rechargeable batteries in the One controllers, I use them without issue in mine. This is just marketing b.s. Designed to push you into buying their expensive "charge and play" kit - they did the same with the 360 controllers.

[Godzil]

360 controller drain AA as fast as lightning, and the battery they were selling was .. the same, I never had to got them to run them even half of the expected time. Always find the controller out of battery after a couple of day. A really badly design product. On the other hand, the ~50h promised by Nintendo on the Wii U Pro Controller was maybe not on par, but I nearly never charge it, and used it a lot, or just leave the thing for weeks without use to find it still fully charged...

[dr_frost_dk]

3 days left
$28,013 USD raised by 431 backers
93% of $30,000 flexible goal

I bet 1500-2000$ gets thrown in any day now, or will they fail or canceled in the last hour?

[Kean]

3 days left
$28,013 USD raised by 431 backers
93% of $30,000 flexible goal

I bet 1500-2000$ gets thrown in any day now, or will they fail or canceled in the last hour?

It is a "flexible goal" - so no failure or cancellation likely, as they are going to get all the funds already collected.
And they'd be silly to throw in any of their own money to get it "over the line" as they'll just be paying extra IGG fees on that.
It is clearly a flop whether they reach the $30k goal or not.  No current or potential investor is going to be impressed.

[Fungus]

I bet 1500-2000$ gets thrown in any day now, or will they fail or canceled in the last hour?

Nah, the missing amount will appear by a miracle.

(from somebody with a suspicious connection to Bob)

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi,

For Bob and the crew, this is really looking like a disaster. In the last campaign, for the batteriser (renamed Batteroo) they set the target at $30K and raised a respectable $395,149, 1317% of the goal.

In the new campaign for the ReBoost, it looks like they will raise 95-105% of the same $30K goal. The money raised includes some shipping charges and the resale of some batteries and chargers. They now have to develop four products, AAA, AA, C and D versions of the ReBoost.

They have also demonstrated, to potential investors, that there is very little interest in this product, and therefore further diminished the value of the company.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I wonder how many people use their Batterisers on a regular basis?

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

[StillTrying]

They must owe their mates about $25,000 by now! 

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi group,

The campaign on Indiegogo has switched to InDemand. The thing is, the ReBoost doesn't seem to be in demand at all, just one lonely backer since the campaign closed:




There have been no updates and very little activity in the comments.

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

[Brumby]

Is this still a "thing"?

[djos]

Is this still a "thing"?

The company is totally on a death spiral now, their second best scam idea has flamed out in spectacular fashion. 

[hermit]

People that have popped for rechargeable batteries have already figured out they work in most things and simply recharge them when needed.  Go figure.   

[EEVblog]

I had forgotten all about this, as had all the customers it seems:
They just scrapped in on their target, not that the target mattered to a venture backed company with big money.
They were no doubt shooting for a million dollar campaign, so this is nothing short of a complete flop. They would be making a big financial loss on this campaign.
The company won't be in business much longer unless they get that big Kmart/Walmart order, investor patience will run out, they don't want this nickel and dime IGG rubbish.