You know what really frosts my flakes?
Companies that sell rechargeable gadgets without including a power adapter.
I bought a new Norelco trimmer this week. It came with all kinds of fancy attachments, a charging cord and enough paperwork to wallpaper my bathroom.
But no power adapter. Just a USB cord.
What am I supposed to do? Plug it into my laptop while I shave?
Then the instruction manual warns me to use only a specific type of USB power adapter or I could damage the battery.
Great idea. Except the company didn’t include one!
If you’re going to tell me which specific adapter I have to use, maybe toss one in the box.
Don’t tell me it’s to “save the environment.” We all know it’s about saving the company two bucks while giving them another accessory to sell.
And don’t get me started on trying to identify the adapters I already own.
The specifications are printed in microscopic gray letters on a black plastic block. You practically need a microscope, a flashlight and a 20-year-old with perfect eyesight just to figure out the voltage and wattage.
I dug through every drawer in my house trying one adapter after another, wondering if this one would fry the trimmer or simply refuse to charge it.
After wasting far too much time, I packed the whole thing back in the box and returned it.
Before you buy any rechargeable gadget, check the box to see whether it actually includes a wall adapter. Apparently that’s an optional feature these days.
And, if it does, somehow mark the plug so it connects with the correct gadget.
I’m Grandpa Grumpy, and I’m way too old for scavenger hunts every time I buy a rechargeable appliance.
When I buy something that plugs into the wall, I expect it to come with everything I need to actually use the thing.