Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels, Almond
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels, Almond
Customer Review: Great Alarm Sound, great little clock
Summary: 5 Stars
I've acquired quite a collection of alarm clocks over the years in the search for the perfect one. And while Clocky isn't perfect, it is definitely the best one I've seen so far.
1. The alarm tone is adorable and (most importantly) somewhat random. Unlike the traditional Casio or Timex alarms, which sound like fire alarms, Clocky sounds like R2D2 going crazy. I hate all alarm clock sounds with a passion, but somehow I haven't been able to fall in hate with clocky. That sound is just too darned cute (and somewhat random, which helps).
2. The actual running around functionality is a little gimmocky but effective. The thing is, clocky doesn't run until after you've snoozed once, so you have incentive to get up (this can be configured from 10 to 0 minutes, thus effectively immediately buzzing and running). But overall, it works. Clocky runs until he gets stuck on a wall or a discarded bit of clothing, and makes a bunch of noise. You've got to figure out where he went and drag him back.
While I had imagined some sort of light hop to the ground, Clocky actually lands on the ground with a resounding thud. It does have 4 batteries in it. I once accidentally put clocky on the dresser over my bed, and woke to a 3 pound alarm clock falling 4 feet onto my chest. While this little thing feels hugely sturdy for an alarm clock, I can't imagine clocky would be too happy long term if you put it up more than 3 feet off the ground and had hardwood floors. Still, It's probably more safe to throw across the room than most alarm clocks.
3. They've also fixed a lot of the little problems with most clock interfaces. For one the buttons are easy to press and interact with. Changing the time isn't a tedius experience, as the key repeat rate is much faster and more responsive than most clocks. Otherwise, it's press a button, get a response, with a clean and simple UI. The only unintuitive function was setting the snooze time (hold down the alarm time), but otherwise the UI is beautiful.
There are two problems, though they don't quite detract enough to drop the a full 5 star score.
1. The button to turn off the alarm is simple and easy enough to press that the first few weeks I found myself pressing it accidentally every now and then, thus turning off the alarm.
2. If you have a cluttered landing site, Clocky may turn himself off as he jumps. If he lands just right (or, well, somewhat right) he'll hit that aforementioned button himself, and shut down.
Overall, of the 12 alarm clocks I currently own, Clocky is the only one I still use on a daily basis. If you hate conventional alarm clocks, I recommend trying this one. So far for me it has been great.
Customer Review: Great idea - only if it would actually work :-(
Summary: 2 Stars
Whom I bought it from: My Gear Store
Love: cute looks, smart concept (clock that runs away!), wacky "R2D2 on acid" sounds
Hate: poor quality, random functioning, lack of reliability
Week 1 problems: one time, after hitting snooze, the clock reset to midnight automatically. Thinking it was a fluke, I gave it another try, and it worked a few more days. Then one morning, it didn't even go off, and I realized the time was several hours off - probably another random time reset when I wasn't paying attention.
Weeks 2 - 8 illusion: worked fine.
Week 9 death: turned off altogether. Would not re-start even with new batteries and trouble-shooting help from Nanda Home.
My Gear Store positives - taking responsibility
My Gear Store paid for the shipping, and honored the 3-month manufacturer's warranty.
My Gear Store negatives - misinformation, confusion, disappointment
When I followed up with My Gear Store on my exchange/repair a week after returning the defective product, customer service confirmed to me that a new product has just been shipped back to me. I waited in great anticipation for my new and hopefully working Clocky. 4 days later, I got an unexpected email from Amazon confirming a refund from My Gear Store for Clocky. Confused, I checked with My Gear Store's customer service again - only to find out that they lied, they actually never shipped a new product, and that they decided to refund the purchase because the color I bought was out of stock. In short (1) they lied about having "just shipped" the exchange (2) instead of checking with me on what I wanted to do since the original color was out of stock (I would have wanted another), they assumed I wanted a refund.
Bottom line - always have a back-up alarm for Clocky, think twice before shopping with My Gear Store again
Before any innovative gee-whiz new function, reliability is the #1 basic criteria of alarm clocks, so despite all its innovative prowess, Clocky failed in execution. I would highly recommend having a back-up. And while I respect that My Gear Store refunded my money, the return experience left a horrible taste in my mouth.
Customer Review: Great... while it lasted!
Summary: 3 Stars
I've had my clocky for almost two years and it's been cute and fun and VERY useful to me. I even got one for my sister, who has moderate hearing loss and is a teenager (so she sleeps like the dead). Recently, (last few weeks) I started missing appointments and not getting up when I was supposed to. I started thinking I was "getting used to" clocky: I stopped waking up to it, but when I checked it, it seemed fine so it must be me, right? However, this hasn't happened before. Then I did more than a cursory check on it and it FREAKED OUT... kinda like what R2D2 does when he gets electrocuted in Star Wars (clocky sounds a lot like R2D2 in a mostly non-copyright-infringing way). We had to take out the batteries to make it stop, and I haven't even tried using it as an alarm since then. It's too untrustworthy, and I can't afford to miss any more school OR work. By the way, I seldom had it on anything but the floor... maybe that's why it lasted so long!
I give it three stars because I'm so disappointed in how things turned out, but I tell you I LOVED this product while it was working. Also, it gets three stars for lack of features, which you can read about in some of the other reviews. I know I'm way past the return/warranty for it so I'm just going to have to suck it up and buy another alarm clock but - with fondness yet sadness - it won't be a clocky.
Customer Review: If this clock does not wake you up & get you out of bed, you are dead!!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this clock for my wife for Christmas who is artsy fartsy and loves different types of gadgets. I set the alarm and placed it next to her side of the bed once she fell asleep so it would wake her up Christmas morning. This clock has a very unique sounding alarm. It sounds like a robot is attacking you with beeps, chirps, etc. and is rather loud.
When the alarm went off Christmas morning, the clock jumped off the night stand and took off across the floor, my wife jumped out of bed, nearly hitting the ceiling and started screaming! The whole time, I was laughing so hard I was crying. After a few seconds, she realized it was CLOCKY and started chasing it around the bedroom trying to catch it and turn it off. She was so excited ONCE she figured out what was happening and what it was. She had wanted a CLOCKY for a long time!
This clock is GREAT! Very unique looking and sounding and is very fun! You will never hit snooze again with this clock, although you can set it so that it does not run away when the alarm goes off, but why would you take the fun out of it!!
Great product!!
One thing to note. In the picture, the clock looks bright white and the item title says Almond. It is Almond (cream or off white color) and is NOT white. Just FYI. :) Enjoy!
Customer Review: Lasted Just One Night
Summary: 1 Stars
They call it titanium finished, but it's an awfully flimsy titanium. This combination alarm clock/flashlight has a mediocre display and a not too bright light. But then again, for less than $20 one shouldn't expect anything special.
However, one might expect the thing to work. Unfortunately, on a weeklong trip the flashlight gave out on night two. This was a little sooner than hoped for. The clock still works. Yipee!