Written by Apparently I am a sucker for solar. I previously gushed and blushed over the Smart Night Light. So now here’s another solar powered As Seen on TV product that I actually like (at least in theory, I haven’t tried this myself, but if it works as promised, I could see actually using it). It is called the Solar Charger by Bell and Howell. This is a solar-powered charging device that you can use to charge your cell phone, tablet, laptop, or just about anything that requires a charge.
Zap. The Bell+Howell Solar Charger.
This appears to be useful for when you need to get something charged and don’t have access to an outlet, but you have ready access to sunlight. It can also apparently draw and store power from any indoor light source or even your computer. I’m not sure how it can draw power from indoor light. I’d like to actually test that out personally to see how that works. There’s also a plethora of adapters included to give you coverage for a variety of devices.
Bell and Howell say that it charges instantly because of something they call a high discharge rate – whatever that means. I’d be very curious if anyone has tried this product…and if so, could you please leave a review in the comments below. All we have now is their word that this will work for your iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Kindle, Nook, Tom Tom, Garmin, Jabra Bluetooth, and a lot more.
Price is $19.95, plus shipping and handling and it is not available in stores – at least not yet. They throw in a second one free, but you have to pay an additional $6.95 p&h charge. So if my math is correct, you should end up shelling out close to $35 bucks for two of these and there’s likely no option to buy just one. Thus is the way of As Seen on TV, where free isn’t actually free and you can’t buy just 1 of anything.
Still interested? GetCharger.com
Update: There’s also an upgrade to a deluxe model for $10 more. I can’t tell what you get extra with the deluxe. Any input is welcome.
I was up late and saw the commercial for the first time. I’ve been burned before, but because I run my own business over my cell, I cannot afford to be caught with a dead battery! Customers call me, and if I’m not there to take their “Urgent” calls. It’s bad business to lose a call, because fans can be fickle. If they cannot reach me, they would most likely call the next girl who advertises my “specialties.”
I’m definitely buying one of these sets, so my cell and computer can be ready in situations such as when I travel and stay in hotels. I try to be connected 24 hours a day/night. When I have tested, I will post my opinion of the Solar charger!
Let the calls come !
Just saw this for the first time on Sat. 1/14/2012. Wondering if this really works. It would be great if it does. Bell and Howell’s name has been around for a long time. Let’s hope that means something for this product. This would be a handy little item…
Keep it charged up!
i ordered a charger about three weeks ago i havent received yet my order number is 5668345
did u get it?
Wow to your comment.. Wherever the place is located must be far far away, I purchased mine on February 6th and have yet to see the Buy One Get One chargers yet. I hope I wasn’t scammed.
I placed my order since 01/13/12 I have not received it yet. I have called several times but there is no significant information on the status of my order. I would adviced that you first talk with a costumer rep. before placing an order.
First told I would receive charger n Jan then Feb then march,then april,now I’m told May! DAM COME ON!!!!!!!!!!
Deuxe also has a flashlighon it. I also ordered this in March. Since then I’ve received 2 out of stock notifications. so, today I called to confirm expected shipping date of middle of May. I was informed of a further shipping delay of middle of June. I’m starting to wonder if this product even exists? Also, if it does, is it legitimately Bell & Howell? I believe a company of their status would not leave their customers hanging for months. So, I’m in search of a solar charger that’s available NOW!
yeah whats up mr bell and mr howell?! january you run tv ads for these chargers, a bunch of us order, and its july and i see no one else has received theirs either. we all like the mighty bell and howell co., every house has something made by you guys. so please say these cool little chargers exist and were all gonna get ours! hooray! we’re all rootin for ya, cause it would be sad if it was just a pipe dream
Listen after reading all of your comments I am starting to think I may have made a mistake. I just now placed an order and I have not seen a confirmation screen or seen a conf number. Then thinking that it was a computer glitch or an error on my part, I entered the info twice! So what does anyone suggest I do. Check with my bank to see if I’ve been charged twice and then put a stop on it immemdiately. Because, let’s face it folks sounds to me like a major scam. Too bad too it sounded like an awesome product to have. Boy, just another disappointment. Oh, btw, I clld customer service and low and behold they are on their fourth of July holiday break. So, I have to wait to be told what you’ve all been told that my oder is coming eventually, but God only knows when? Sorry, but no sirree Bob. Good luck to everyone who has been waiting for months, I hope you all do get it and when it comes, I hope it works exactly as promised. Sucks too, I love as seen on TV stuff.
hey folks hang on cause i think its gonna happen! its july 6 and i see they finally have just taken out the solar charger money from my account. so we’ll see what happens and i’ll keep y’all posted.
After reading your comments I started to lose faith in this products existence but it’s possible that it has been made just not mass produced, and I hope you receive your orders soon so I can place my order with confidence PLEASE keep me posted.
I have ordered this product several months ago and not have received it and now it’s July 8th and I seen them advertise it again just last night. If they are out of this product why do they keep advertising this scamming product grrrr
Has anyone seen the Privacy Policy? I wonder if some of their money comes from the information that we provide, they sell the info, make the money then have some money to make the product?? If so seems kinda backwards in today’s marketing world when you are trying to be “big scale”.
After reading all your posts, I decided against ordering one. I am planning to need one as a gift in 6 weeks and am not completely not sure if I can rely on it or not. Maybe as a Christmas present??! THANKS FOR YOUR POSTS!
Here’s part of the PRIVACY POLICY, from their website. Read first BEFORE visiting their website. I don’t know how legit this is. Seems innocent enought but I wonder… Am I now a recognized IP address that can be spammed? Think I would use my computer for this product? NOT. I might call them to order but not otherwise.
……………………………………………………………………………………
“For each visitor to our Web page, our Web server automatically recognizes only the consumer’s domain name, but not the e-mail address (where possible).
We collect the domain name and e-mail address (where possible) of visitors to our Web page, the e-mail addresses of those who post messages to our bulletin board, the e-mail addresses of those who communicate with us via e-mail, the e-mail addresses of those who make postings to our chat areas, aggregate information on what pages consumers access or visit, information volunteered by the consumer, such as survey information and/or site registrations, name and address, telephone number.
The information we collect is used to improve the content of our Web page, used to customize the content and/or layout of our page for each individual visitor, used by us to contact consumers for marketing purposes, shared with other reputable organizations to help them contact consumers for marketing purposes, disclosed when legally required to do so, at the request of governmental authorities conducting an investigation, to verify or enforce compliance with the policies governing our Website and applicable laws or to protect against misuse or unauthorized use of our Website.”
i ordered 10 18 12 its now11 19 12 they dont get back when i email them they took the money of course basters well wat goes around comes around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone was asking about the pricing for $10 more per item… This is from their website that explains what the difference is. For me, personally, I don’t think 3 LED lights to make it a flashlight is what I need but maybe, as in the commercial, to save space on your keychain, it might be worth it for someone else.
…………………………….
“Yes! I would like to upgrade to the Deluxe Bell + Howell Solar Charger, featuring 3 LED lights, for $29.95 plus $7.95 and get a FREE Deluxe Bell + Howell Solar Charger, just pay $7.95 S&H.”
“Please send me the Bell + Howell Solar Charger for $19.95 + $6.95 S&H and a FREE Bell + Howell Solar Charger, just pay $6.95 S&H”
f u
i found out its not a scam fedx contacted me and have my package it suppost to be delivered fri or sat. but it did take 3 months good luck so ck with fedx x and they well track it .
Hi, There are a lot of these on ebay, not this particular one. but this is not the only one of these. just wanted to tell ya. ok, bye
Oh shit !! I smell a scam. Hey folks , wait before you order this charger because there dosen’t appear to be any deliveries. To much to be coincidental.
U are so right, no more people should be allowed to be scammed anymore. wait till it show up at wal-mart.
My brother and I have been looking at Walmart and still nothing
hopefully it will be out soon.
Rite Aide has them now.
I am here to eat crow!!! I spoke about being a possible victim of fraud due to the many posts of delayed deliveries and recieved my charger 1 day later. I called to find that there was a backlog due to the many orders , but the main order from the manufacturer has arrived to the company and everything (including delivery) is moving briskly. It works great !!!!!!!!!
This product was seen in one of China’s made film. Just like everything else in America .I guess the price is so high because of import cost and profit. I am just speculating. I hope that you get get your products. Thanks for the warnings.
I HAVE 23 ORDERS TO PLACE, BUT WHAT I AM HEARING ABOUT NOT GETTING THE PRODUCT I AM HOLDING OUT UNTILL I HERE SOMETHING POSITIVE ON RECEIVING THEM.
This ordering company will sell your name. I just got a Call fro QRI confirming that my order will be shipped shortly and to show their appreciation, the are giving me an opportunity to join this savings club with free gas vouchers and other scammy things. They will bug the hell out of your and call you up to 10 time per day. I finally blocked thier phone number. This markting’s phone number 866-379-2003. They will have your information and credit number on file that the ordering company provided to them.
Ok, these reviews scared me. First of all they sold my name and I called the customer service at 888-326-0978 where I ordered my chargers online from http://www.getcharger.com, the tv advertisement representative for this product. First, I complained that they sold my name and gave my credit card information to this marketing group called QRI and told them they have no authorization to give them my credit card information. She told me they don’t provide give out credit card information and then to continue to explain that this marketing company told me if I joined thier discount program, my credit card ending with XXXX will ve charged etc., I told them how did they get that number? She got nervouse and totally agreed my questions and continued to say, well, I did add you to our do not call list. I told to her please answer my question about the credit card information. And then I continued to complain that according to online complaints, many people are still receiving marketing phone calls several weeks after requestiong DO NOT CALL request. She could not explain. I told her to cancel all my orders and demanded to speak to someone that is responsible selling the names to marketing organiations. Data is not send out to marketing companies by themselves. By, the way, if you are concerned about ordering online and still want one. wait a few months. Most items that are “NOT SOLD AT STORES” AS SEEN ON TV products are always on sale at the stores usually about 3 or 4 months later or after sales decline after tv adverts. Good luck!
Hi, Lots of solar chargers out there. been out for a while, look at ebay to get an idea. so glad that i looked here before i ordered thank you all of you, i will get another of the one i got on ebay. thanks again, cher
I just saw the commercial for this product and thought I might check for reviews and came across this site. It would be a great item, but I have my doubts, because I don’t think the size of that solar panel is adequate to charge a cell phone, or a iPad. Lol. I see red flags all over this product.
I saw the commercial for the first time today and I am definitely intrigued. Would be interested to see if it works. Upgrade today for the deluxe is for one that has a three bulb flashlight on it.
got three of them. One got stuck during the charging process
The USB cord and when tring to remove it the whole
Unit just broke into pieces.
The other two seem to work fine but don’t expect it
To charge your phone full. Just enough to get you to
A docking station.
Oh my $31 for shipping
Isn’t anyone honest anymore?
Andrea
Yeah, I just saw this ad too and I see no spec specifications ANYWHERE on the site but it screams scam. With these reviews and the ones on other sites they’re not up to date on customer service and shipments, so gonna assume it’s too good to be true.
Don’t buy this. It is a scam. The unit is too small to provide more than a couple minutes if any charge at all.
You have to be pulling my leg… That was the fastest and worst order I ever made. It didn’t give me a chance to review my order and it was three times as much as it was supposed to be. $19.95 plus shipping turned into $147.50 in the blink of an eye… Now God only knows what I’ll have to go through to get it straight…
Yes this is a ridiculous scam. May work for a few minutes in an emergency, nothing more.
For those of you seriously interested in solar phone chargerers take a look on Amazon.com
Do a search for “high capacity solar chargers”
You will find several. It’s all about mAh (milli amp hour) capacity.
For example a 4000 mAh capacity solar charger will charge an
iphone with a 1900 mAh battery 2 times. I found a 5600 mAh
solar charger I velcroed to the back of my phone for $30.
(The solar charger is about the size of an iphone.) It came with
several different adapters for other types of phones. I can go
camping for a week and never worry about my phone going dead.
They run $25 – $50. on Amazon and work great. Do your research, go green!
@Ron.
My husband and I are avid outdoors folk especially camping (backpacking with tent, not RV with electric!) so a solar charger for our phones has long been on the wish list – not only for safety but for photos!.
What did you get from Amazon?
Thanks!
Hi, they have a pretty good assortment on ebay also. amazon has them too. I am so glad I did not order these. once again, thank you all of you. and thanks for affirming the other solar chargers, i will get another. thanks
IT’S A SCAM!!!!!!!!!! DONT BUY THIS JUNK!!! DOESN’T WORK…AND THEY ALSO DIDN’T REFUND MY FULL AMONT OF WHAT I PAID FOR IT…I PAID $47.90 AND THEY ONLY REFUNDED ME $32.00 AND ALSO I HAD TO PAY TO RE-SHIP IT TO THEM AGAIN.SO I LOST A LOT OF MY MONEY IN SHIPING COST.. LIKE $28.00
Ladies and Gentalmen I have some information on the as seen on TV solar charger LMFAO, Go to Amazon.com look up Bell and Howell scroll down and you will find a charger by Neewer for $2.71 its for a nokia but it is a solar powered 3 led flashlight and phone charger it is the exact same unit with slightly different adapter fittings as the as seen on TV unit, it does include all specifications on the unit, so with an additional order for additional connectors you will have a far cheaper unit, check it out and laugh at as seen on TV
i went there and they have no ipod touch charger with it
and i heard its crap
I want to thank you. I just started to order this tv ad thing and I read this. You saved me some money. Thank you and bless you!
thank you to all of you. I want to buy it but after see all comment here and there…..so Goodbye I hate scam
Havent recieved mine yet. Its been three weeeeeks im calling tomorrow when yall are open. Get me my stuff please. Or i would like a refund straight up.
i wanted this and i heard reviews.. yea not sold in stores was right.. walmart and no stores have them.. i checked every single store.. no dice..
find me a link at amazon please
i see all the complaints about the ordering, i placed a order on Aug. 27 2012, and received it Sept. 4th, 8 days later. im suprised to see it show up in the mail after all the complaints. i even got my buy one get one free. havent tried it out yet, but i will post in a couple of days and let you know how it works.
This thing is not what you think it is. It doesn’t work in direct sunlight nor indoor light. I have tried to charge my iPhone with it. Once I plug it in to the phone the red charge light comes on then goes off after about 5 minutes. Then I would have to connect the charger to the computer again to recharge it. The directions said that you would only have to do that before the initial use. But, that’s not true at all. This is crap!!!!!!!!!!! I will be sending back for a refund.
well im back and i have tested this product for a short while. it seems to to the job, but really only for emergencies. i have a cheap flip phone and it only charges it half way, the manual say it could take a full 2 days to charge it in in-direct sun light or about 5 hours in direct sunlight.You can charge it on your computer, but whats the purpose of that if your by an electrical outlet. i am going to hike the appalachian trail for about 11 days in mid Oct. 2012, the sole purpose of why i bought this thing. that will put it to the real test and i will be sure to get back to you guys and let you know how it works. check back at the end of Oct. and i will give you an update, but so far its seems to do the job (that i need it for anyway). i dont think you can rely on this thing as a everyday use, only because it takes to long to charge and it dont put out enough power to charge fully even the most cheapest phone, much less an i-pod or some high end phone that has the bigger batteries. LATER.
worthless piece of crap t.v.ad is full of LIES won’t hold charge,won’t charge indoors unless 100+watt bulb is used(forget using CFI bulbs)even after fully charging via usb cord it starts to dis-charge while not even being hooked up to anything.and if used on anything but the most BASIC cell phone(don’t even think about using it on a smart phone)if you must rely on it for emergencys make sure it’s fully charged and if it has the optional 3 led flashlight figure on only having of usage.yeah right you can use it on “pads”and pigs ARE flying out of your local airport to parts unknown.
They sell them at target people. Its on the as seen on Tv endcap