The website failed, went to an error page, and then charged my credit card the wrong amount of $64.70. I received a confirmation email saying I’ll receive a confirmation when my order has been shipped, but I haven’t provided a shipping address or paid the full $499 price tag. It is the worst experience I’ve ever faced buying a consumer electronic product and I have no idea whether or how I’ll receive the phone.

I look forward to learning more about how terrible these phones turn out.

  • FiveMacs@lemmy.ca
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    2 days ago

    Even as a ‘lets see what this grift is all about’…why the hell would anyone order this horseshit…beyond stupid.

    • MimicJar@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      …because the author is an investigative journalist?

      We all know it’s a scam, but it’s their job is to prove it. To prove it you have to (attempt to) buy it.

      I agree any actual people trying to buy it are morons.

      • vaionko@sopuli.xyz
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        2 days ago

        It seems a lot of people have forgotten that proper journalism is more than repeating what someone tweets

    • ThePantser@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      To rip it apart on a software and hardware level to find the backdoors and spyware. We need to know how hardcore we are being spied on when the guy near us has one.

      • deafboy@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Most low cost phone resellers have no idea what software is even running on their phones. They just compile some samples from the manufacturers SDK, slap their own logo on top and ship it.

        I’m positively surprised it’s supposed to come out with android 15. Barely one major version behind.

    • IllNess@infosec.pub
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      2 days ago

      Journalism budget.

      This person buying it might convince persuade others to not to buy it.

    • PunnyName@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Journalism doing things the right way would try this out. You investigate one thing, learn about another, and inform.