Small token of appreciation... #welovebuffer

***To see all of my Buffer-related posts, click here*** 

Hey @buffer we use u for EVERYTHING we do, putting button on website was the LEAST we could do http://t.co/QLsv61FzhQ pic.twitter.com/o3hDeT5efz
— Suzanne B. (@suzanneisabella) August 8, 2013

To see how the button looks on our website, click HERE

Contacts (finally) retrieved/restored to BB Bold 9930 using Reincubate's Blackberry Backup Extractor ($25) - but no thanks to BB #byebyeblackberryhelloandroid #laststraw

***For the entire thread/issue (from start to resolution), click here***

Date: Wed, Jul 3, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Subject: BlackBerry Backup Extractor 1.0.7.0 feedback message
To: support@reincubate.com

Wow. Thanks so much for your service. I updated to BB 7.1 Bundle 2705 and somehow lost 2,500 of my 3,000 contacts in the process. (I had never used BB Protect or BBM.) I did have a recent backup file I'd created with BB Desktop Manager but for whatever reason (corrupted, could not access) I could not use it to restore them onto my phone, myself. I used your service to extract my contacts and used links that you provided in order to upload them into Outlook and then import them back onto my phone. I am exhausted from this weeklong experience - and very frustrated with BB, overall, right now - but really grateful for your service. Thank you!

ps - Other things that I (unsuccessfully) tried: BB website, contacting BB customer service, BB community forums, community forums for other non-BB websites, etc

***For the entire thread/issue (from start to resolution), click here***

Correspondence with Blackberry-knowledgeable-but-not-officially-Blackberry website/blog/support guy

***For the entire thread/issue (from start to resolution), click here***

From: John
Date: Tue, Jul 2, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930
To: Suzanne

I agree for once with BlackBerry somewhat. I haven't run into your issue before. Its so weird that you have a full backup and you can see the contacts are in fact saved but it's only placing a small amount of them back onto your device. Now BlackBerry should try to help instead of sending you to the carrier because we all know those people know less then anyone and will just say it's a BlackBerry issue. Hopefully this restore corrects everything cuz I hate to recommend a security wipe to anyone. 

Good luck,

John

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne B. Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 9:26 AM To: John Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

Can I please tell you that I am frustrated with Blackberry? I tweeted them, they tweeted back "Please follow us on Twitter so that we can DM you with help" - I did that, let them know that I was following them and then they sent me a DM "Your problem sounds complicated, please get in touch with your network provider". I'm done with BB as soon as I am able to upgrade according to my Verizon plan without having to pay a fee for changing devices.

Ok, thanks for letting me vent. I'll keep you posted - currently trying to restore one last time before I resort to the wipe.

Thanks again,

Suzanne

-----------------------------------------------------------------

On Tue, Jul 2, 2013 at 12:21 PM, John wrote:

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are still having issues. Hopefully the security wipe help. You should just need to go into your device setting, then to security and privacy, then you should see a section for security wipe. Once in that area you just need to type in "BlackBerry" in the section and it will take over. Please remember the wipe can take some time so just let it runs it course. Let me know how things work out. 

Thanks,

John. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne B. Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 9:03 AM To: John Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

Hey John,

Thanks again for your help. I have tried a couple more things with no success and am now considering doing a security wipe. Could you remind me how to do that? (I have a complete backup that I will be able to restore from, once I have done the security wipe.)

Thanks,

Suzanne

-----------------------------------------------------------------

On Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM, John wrote:

Hi,

The BlackBerry desktop manager should have backed them up and the restore feature should place everything back on the 9930 as it was before. The only thing I ever had to do was place passwords in after a upgrade. I have no where near the amount of contacts on my device as you but could it just be the device is still indexing all the contacts onto the device? I know when I move my sdcard my music takes a hour or so before they all show as being on the card. The only other place I can think of them being backed up is maybe through one of your email accounts? I have a outlook that all my contacts are backed up thru. I have slowly gotten out of the habit of BlackBerry products restoring things the way they should. Just so you know BlackBerry Protect is the app (should be preloaded on your device) that if you lost your phone can kinda tell you the location it's at. Inside the app though is another way to backup things which is just another way to make sure if BlackBerry desktop manager fails you will be safe. If all else fails maybe do a security wipe and a fresh restore? Just make sure you do have a complete backup still available to restore from. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 3:32 PM Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

John,

Thanks for the quick response. I checked out that "restore" button, as well - the address book portion was highlit in gray (indicating that it was a read-only file and could not be restored?) and also the number of contacts there is 600. It was when I did the same thing (went back a few days to the last backup performed before I updated to the new bundle) that I found the backup file that included all 3000 contacts - but even then, I was unable to selectively restore just the address book of that file and so I tried restoring the whole file. I am beginning to think that maybe restoring using a backup file does not restore the contacts/address book? So what I have now is my Bold updated to the state that it was two days ago (prior to upgrade and missing 2 days' worth of emails/messages/texts) and with 1/5 of the contacts, lol.

I am just trying to think of another place that my phone/software might have backed them up - no, I did not try Protect (not sure that I've heard of it?) and am kicking myself for not regularly using Backup Assistant, ugh.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

On Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 6:24 PM, John wrote:

Hi Suzanne,

Did you by chance ever use BlackBerry Protect to backup things? Just to try to help I fired up my 9930 and connected it to BlackBerry desktop manager. If you have your device connected to your system in the upper left corner click on "device" then go to restore. From there make sure the backup you want to restore is highlighted then look down you should see "select device data and settings" click that and the first one is your address book. Does it show the number of contacts that you should have?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 3:19 PM Subject: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

Hey John,

I found your blog entry in a web search and am hoping that you might be able to help me. I updated my Blackberry Bold 9930 to the OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705, earlier this week (on my desktop, using Blackberry Desktop software). I thought that everything was going well; but at the end of the install/upgrade, this message appeared:

          Your BlackBerry! Device Software is updated and you can safely disconnect your device.

          Warmings were encountered during the loading process:

          Application data could not be restored to the device. The backup data file has been saved to (file name/location within my computer) You can use the Desktop Software Backup/Restore tool to restore this information.

I looked at the screen of my phone and could see that the background on my screen had not been restored, for example, and so I went ahead and used the backup/restore tool (along with the file mentioned) to restore that info. Upon completion, my screen looked the way that it had before and so I assumed it to be a good indication that the upgrade/installation had gone fairly smoothly. The problem that I ran across, however, once I exited the desktop software and disconnected my phone from my computer, is that only a fraction of the contacts on my phone are still in place. (I had approx 3,000 - I now have 600? Looks to me like maybe only the recent contacts were restored?)

Getting all of my contacts back/restored is more important to me than having the OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 installed and so I went back to the most recent backup file that the Desktop Software had created from my phone and stored on my computer (an hour or so before having updated/installed the 7.1.0.991 Bundle 27050) - and I went ahead and restored my phone with that, hoping that my contacts would be restored. (I did not do a wipe of my phone or anything like that.) No such luck.

I am wondering if you have any suggestions of where I might be able to find/locate all of my contacts and/or how I might get them back? I never used Backup Assistant on my phone (as I had assumed that my contacts were part of what my Desktop Software was backing up, each time) - and I also do not use BBM and so I do not know whether that function of my phone could be helpful or not.

I am a bit at a loss. I've been using Blackberry devices (old-school pager-type, Pearl, Curve, Bold, etc) for 11 years now but am feeling frustrated and losing patience. I consider myself relatively tech-savvy but am losing patience with the brand.

Thanks,

suzanne

***For the entire thread/issue (from start to resolution), click here***

My search for a cruelty-free plug-in air freshener

I was searching online today for a cruelty-free plug-in air freshener to buy. After two hours of searching (using PETA's searchable guide to cruelty-free companies/products, which is always my go-to reference) and checking out ten different companies/products, I finally ran across The Good Home Co.'s "Scentball™":

I haven't ordered it yet - I wanna take another look at their reed diffusers, too - plus I wanna do a quick online search for any current coupons to use, along with my purchase) but I'll keep you posted!

Have you had any success finding a cruelty-free plug-in air freshener online? Alternatives? Let me know in the comments!

Suzanne

Posted in Blackberry Support Community

***For the entire thread/issue (from start to resolution), click here***

Go to website

Go to website

Go to website

***For the entire thread/issue (from start to resolution), click here***

Cozi app/website feedback: Confusion locating customer service, good customer service (once located) & annoying/redundant upgrade-to-Gold ad to current Gold members

(sent in to Cozi customer service - using their "Contact customer care" form, located here - on Thurs, June 27 2013)

THIS IS A QUESTION RELATED TO COZI.

I was really into the app when I first began using it (earlier this year) but little by little I am losing interest/affection for it. While I am writing you this email I wanted to take the opportunity to suggest that Cozi/USCellular might consider putting some kind of logo/link/button on the USCellular customer service page that says "Cozi customer service here" or "Are you a Cozi subcriber? Click here!". When I was a regular (read: Free) Cozi subscriber, Cozi advertised "Priority support: Go right to the front of the line with top priority email-based customer support!" as one of the many perks that I would get if I upgraded to Cozi Gold:

I'm sure that someone else must have raised this point - but I just want to express how CONFUSING it is for a Cozi Gold subscriber (looking for support) to actually understand how/where to go for support. On the Cozi Gold page, there is a link provided - but when the US Cellular page pops up - with no Cozi logo anywhere, no mention of Cozi anywhere (like "Cozi members, click here!" for example)

- even when the customer is completing this form that I am currently completing right now, there is not even an option within the "Topic" drop-down box for "Cozi issue/question". I do not mean to be a marketing nerd but I really dig your app/service and I would like to see it continue doing well, becoming more and more popular, getting more and more users, etc - and so I am passing along this question/suggestion. When I upgraded to Cozi Gold (with the understanding that I would receive "Priority support: Go right to the front of the line with top priority email-based customer support!", if ever I needed it) and then had a hard time actually finding/locating that customer support, when I actually did need it, I felt resentful for having upgraded to Cozi Gold under that pretense.

Aside from that above issue, I would like to point out that the Cozi customer service does seem to be very good (once the customer understands/guesses where to send their concern/issue/question). When I already used this customer service form within the US Cellular site (the same one that I am completing right now), I recall receiving a relatively quick response to my question/issue. In addition, I have been impressed with the Cozi page on Facebook - the response by the Page to customer questions/comments, there. So that is very cool.

Anyway, neither of the above two things (difficulty locating Cozi customer support and the good customer support, once it is located) is the reason that I came here today. The reason that I came here today was to ask/complain/indicate annoyance/confusion regarding the new message (ad) that I saw when I logged onto my Cozi desktop app, this morning. Under the "Our Family" heading within my home page, today, I saw this message:

2 Reasons You’ll Want to Start the Summer with Cozi Gold
See more of the summer calendar on the go with Cozi Gold's mobile month view, and get a free photo book from Shutterfly when you upgrade!

Under the message were the highlit words "Read more"; when I clicked on them I was taken to a generic page with more info:

I was confused as to why I was seeing this message about upgrading to Cozi Gold - wondered if maybe my subscription to Cozi Gold had been cancelled? When I looked at the top of this generic page, it said "sign in / sign up" and so I thought that maybe I was seeing the message because I had not been logged into my profile under the Cozi website. I signed in on the website and went to my homepage, there - but I am still seeing the message there.

I went back to that page about "2 Reasons You’ll Want to Start the Summer with Cozi Gold" and realized that it was actually an entry within the Cozi blog. I scrolled down the page and saw one comment under the blog entry from a fellow customer who was one step ahead of me:

I can appreciate the marketing - but just wanted to let you know that it was confusing/frustrating to receive the message on my home page when I am already a Cozi Gold subscriber. When I realized that Cozi put this message/ad on my home page on purpose - with no regard to my status as a current Cozi Gold subscriber - it made me annoyed.

Again, I love(d) the Cozi app/website/service, back when I began using it earlier this year - I am writing in hopes of communicating to you some ideas/suggestions/feedback in order to contribute/ensure the continued success of the app/service.

Thanks for listening!

Suzanne B.
Cozi user since 4/2013

ps - My very last observation/suggestion for today would be that Cozi does have a profile on Twitter but that it does not list "Follow Cozi on Twitter" under the "Extras" section of a member's homepage (bottom-right area of my Cozi home screen?)

- nor is the Twitter profile listed on the Cozi facebook page

A suggestion would be that links to the Cozi profile on Twitter be listed under the "Extras" section of the member's homepage and also on the Cozi facebook page in order to boost Cozi's twitter followers

(sent in to Cozi customer service - using their "Contact customer care" form, located here - on Thurs, June 27 2013)

Google Chrome / Shockwave Flash conflict

I am loving Google products, IN GENERAL, right now. I've used Gmail for years but just began using Blogger about two months ago, in order to make/build blog-based websites. (Check them out here.)

I even switched over to using Google Chrome as my default browser. (I had previously used Internet Explorer.) Overall, I am enjoying it - especially for using the Google products like Blogger, Adsense, Google Analytics, etc - but I do occasionally run into a problem (examples: printing out certain forms from the internet, viewing certain pages on the internet, using certain intranet pages at work, etc) and so in those instances I open up an Internet Explorer window to complete the task at hand.

HOWEVER. I have recently been running into this Google Chrome / Shockwave Flash conflict and it is DRIVING ME NUTS.

At first, I was encountering a "The following plug-in has crashed: Shockwave Flash" error message. An internet search using the error message led me to the HowToGeek website, where they address this conflict in a blog post. I learned that the problem is a well-known one and has to do with the fact that Google Chrome has its own built-in Flash. The post was easy-to-understand and included plenty of images along with detailed instructions on how to hopefully fix the problem - I even learned this cool trick:

To see a list of all the plug-ins installed in Chrome, type about:plugins in the address bar

Unfortunatetly, I do not think that the Chrome/Shockwave conflict that I am experiencing was due to the problem that the HowToGeek website explained; when I pulled up the list of plug-ins, I could see that there was only one entry for Flash. However, their post did give me the idea to temporarily solve my problem by disabling Chrome’s internal installation of Flash.

I continued working in Google Chrome without further conflict and was pretty proud of myself for having "solved" the problem - until I began seeing error messages on certain Flash-friendly websites, indicating that I needed to install Flash in order to see all of the content within their page.

I pulled up the HowToGeek blog post again and scrolled down the page, where they mentioned Adobe’s Flash download page.

Cozi app

Things I love about the product/service/app

-Interface/design: fresh, colorful

-Blackberry has an app for it! (This is rare)

-Android has an app for it

-Very accessible through their social media accounts



Things I don't care for

-Cannot search appointments/events

-Customer service: goes to US Cellular?

Walgreens website (Balance Rewards, credit for lost points, etc)

Wow. Awesome. I picked up a prescription at Walgreens, yesterday, and realized/remembered as I was driving away that I had forgotten to give the pharmacist/cashier my Balance Points card. I made a mental note to myself to log onto my profile later with my receipt in hand and get credit for the points.

And so I just did that – and it was super easy! I logged on (website allows me to select option to remembers my log-in ID, super-helpful, love that in this day and age when I have 4 million log-in IDs/passwords for every website on the web) and immediately saw a link on the screen for “Credit for missing points »” – I don’t have to dig around the site, I don’t have to go to “Frequently Asked Questions”, I don’t have to submit some confidential message to customer service through the website, I don’t have to call in and/or use an automated system, I don’t have to look up an email address for customer service and then log onto my email in a separate browser and then wait 48 hours for a response, etc etc etc.

A smaller window pops up, asking me how I would like to look up my missing points – and offers me three different options. I select “Store Receipt” and it has two simple boxes to complete, along with a “Submit” button underneath. It has a picture of a sample receipt next to these boxes along with the information on the sample receipt clearly/simply circled so that I can understand where on my own receipt I should look for this information to complete the two boxes.

I enter a 20-digit code from my receipt but it is not necessary for me to enter the “dashes” between every set of four digits. When I submit the information, it does not say “Error – you need to go back and re-enter your number with dashes entered between the numbers. The system accepts my 20-digit number as I enter it, without dashes. (You laugh but it is these small-but-simple things that contribute to the simplicity/user-friendliness of a site and make the user either want to return to a website – or not.

The best part of the whole transaction was when I hit “submit”, the system quickly identified my missing points in the system and credited them to my account immediately. One of the first screens had let me know that it may take some time for my missing points to be credited to my account – and so it was a pleasant surprise to see my balance increase immediately/automatically.

I appreciate the simplicity of your website – how easy it is to use (I use it a few times a week – between uploading/ordering photos, logging onto Balance Rewards, checking out weekly circular/ad, looking at “Steps” program, etc). I just wanted to write this all down and let you know.

Thanks so much,

Suzanne

Cozi Customer Service not really that helpful, actually

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Customer Resolution Support <CustomerResolutionSupport@uscellular.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 4, 2013
Subject: RE: U.S. Cellular Customer Service Online Request

Good Afternoon Suzanne,

I really appreciate you taking the time to write to us. I sincerely apologize for the long delay in my response and I want to thank you for patiently awaiting my reply. I understand your concern with not being able to print or send your lists to family members. I am more than happy to provide you with information that you may find helpful.

I was unable to find any known issues with this application. Unfortunately, we do not support third party applications so I wouldn’t be able to provide extensive troubleshooting steps to resolve that issue. However, I recommend deleting the application and then reinstalling it to see if that will resolve the issue. I am sorry that I couldn’t be more assistance to you.

Thank you Suzanne for your time and allowing me the opportunity to assist you. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at 888-944-9400. I hope you have a great day!

Stephanie R.

Customer Resolution Support

U.S.Cellular|”Hello Better”

From: Suzanne Benson [mailto:suzanne.isabella@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 2:49 PM
To: Customer Resolution Support
Subject: OLR2930610 U.S. Cellular Customer Service Online Request

Questions/Comments: Hey there - I love love love the Cozi app (I upgraded right away to Cozi Gold - use the desktop app at work, the mobile app on my BlackBerry and just started using the Android app on my brand-new ASUS nexus 7 tablet that I got for Mother's Day!). I was just wondering if there is anyone else experiencing trouble printing out their calendar since upgrading to Adobe Acrobat? (In particular anything more than "this week" - for example, when I try now to "Print Next Few Weeks"?) Also my other question is I am no longer able to find option "send this list to another family member's cell phone"? I swear I used to be able to do that, when I first started using Cozi, a couple months ago?!? Thanks