Cheap Dash-Cam Trouble >:-(

[Answerprancer]

I just bought a journey recorder from Maplins ("Why"? I hear you ask).
It's a basic model and looks identical to this one:

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

The bloody thing is cheap and nasty, instructions explain nothing and it seems as though every time you switch the thing off it freezes the time!!
Does anyone else have this and can they explain the time thing?

Unfortunately I paid substantially more than the £16.35 that Amazon charge.

[ll_billym]

If you haven't already, try and find the manufacturers website - I have boutght 'cheap' items before and you definitely take your chances but I have got some good results with a firmware upgrade and sometimes they have updated documentation on there.

Also recommend finding the item on Maplin website and posting a link in here to help people know what you have.

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps give it back to Maplins and ask for your money back.

[mrs_overall]

OK, I'll be the one to do it and ask....why?

[Hopkirk]

Because it is not fit for the purpose it was sold for.

[mrs_overall]

Hopkirk - noooooooo

I was asking why he bought it in the first place

[ll_billym]

To record journeys I assume.

[Answerprancer]

Mrs overall, I'll be the one to answer, because I hung onto the hope that Maplins might provide a less 'anonymous' model and I might have some comeback if it turned out to be a bummer. I assume I got it wrong.

[Answerprancer]

Thanks to ll_billym for the most helpful answer.
It seems as though I have a re-badged piece of sh!te that I could have bought from Amazon for a fraction of the price. My prediction is that Maplins will go down the plug hole when people realize that they are just re-selling cheapie mass produced Chinese stuff tarted up and made to look like what it aint.
You live and learn...
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation
http://www.maplin.co.uk/vga-journey-recorder-625683

[ll_billym]

Thanks for the link, I've checked and cannot see the original manufacturer - I would take it back as not fit for purpose then and get a refund if it is that bad.

I have bought some cheapo items before and they have worked okay but sometimes it's just better to get a branded product.

[Answerprancer]

Maybe you're right but I bet they will claim it's ok because it's not broken and at the best will offer me credit rather than my money back. For forty quid, I could probably get an HD from Amazon.

[playersdigger]

I have been using the same kind for several years from several companies. Its tiny and sticks to the screen.Vital as they usually drop off. Well over £100 but it gives as good picture as the Google maps.
Dont know if I can advertise or not but if you look for Amacam..............