Earthlink Mailstation
March 22, 2003 - 11:01am — gfair
I was just checking an old email account and found a web banner that took me to this site that previews a new email station that looks a lot like the Apple eMate - the Earthlink Mailstation. Wireless, unlimited email for $10/month US.
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Comments
transfer user
I have an email machine that was my mother in laws and she enjoyed it very much, but is no longer able to use it. I want to give it to a friend and will I she be able to set up and earth link account? July 22, 2008, Lyn
Cidco/Earthlink Mailstation
I can't believe how many people have had identical experiences as my 71-yr-old mother & I! Makes me feel better that it's not just us! The faulty service, the hours of phone calls to India being told the same things over and over, being given ridiculous busy-work fix instructions that, surprise! surprise!, DON'T WORK. Then finally, Oh, your machine is bad. You'll need to buy a new one. Like heck I will! I am in the proccess of ordering a Landel Mailbug as we speak. Seem like American-based company and sounds like much better user reviews! If no go, I guess we'll go back to WebTV. http://www.landel.com/mb1.html
brochure/order form:
http://www.landel.com/pdf/Consumer_MailBug_brochure_0605.pdf
clearing out Mailstation mailbox
OK, so my mom has a Mailstation, and every month or so she's unable to use it because (according to Earthlink support) her mailbox is full.
In the past, she's called up Earthlink support and been put on hold for anywhere up to an hour, before being connected to someone in India who clears out her mailbox in a matter of seconds.
Nowadays, I do it for her by logging into her mail account via the Earthlink website. When I log in, I see that she has hundreds of "new" messages in her Inbox, even though she's read and deleted nearly all of them.
Is there a setting on the Mailstation that actually causes the server to DELETE the message when the user deletes it? I find it hard to believe that the Mailstation was designed in such a way that its entire user base has to call India every month or so to get their mailboxes cleared out.
Thanks in advance.
Clearing out mailstation
Here's what I learned about my dad's Cidco 100 Mailstation that might be relevant to some of the problems reported here:
The emails on the server are usually deleted after being read, but I think you have to login to the account using a computer and set it up that way online. Check out "mail options" when you login.
But even if you do that, if the email contains HTML or is otherwise not entirely readable by your Mailstation (i.e email too long) you may get part or all of it on your Mailstation, but it WILL NOT DELETE the offending email from the server. Only clean, unformatted emails will be deleted after being read by the Mailstation.
I know, because I had to login to my father's Mailstation account weekly to delete old messages that were sent to him in HTML. (Lots of people default to sending email that way, especially AOL people)
It's really a pain, but that will help with the server getting overloaded with too many emails and the 'No mail" messages even though you see 100's if you check with a real computer.
Another problem: My dad used to get INBOX FULL or other problems receiving mail when his SENT MAIL folder got full. He was in his 80's and I could not get him to understand that he had to periodically (weekly at least) manually empty his "Sent Mail" folder to make room for new email.
The Sent Mail, Inbox, Outbox all use the same memory and there wasn't much on his Cidco 100 Mailstation, especially if people were sending him long emails. Also, when he replied to these long emails, he included the original email with his reply. All that got copied into his "Sent Mail" folder and chewed up memory like mad!
So, it's very, very important to empty the SENT MAIL folder often to keep things running smoothly.
This is not documented very well, so I thought I'd throw it out there.
Hope this helps at least some of you and keeps you from talking to Michael in India as often!
Problems with Earthlink, Email-Stations and getting mail
I read your comments about your mother having trouble getting her email. having to call and talk to someone in India who doesn't understand her problems. My mother can't get her email most f the time. She is so frustrated.
I'm going to try and go to earthlink and see if I can get into my mother's email box and see what's there to be deleted. She's had this trouble for over 3 months now and has been on LD Calling with India over it many, many times with no fix for her.
If you have other suggestions or tips on helping clean up her email bix please send me via email. Make sure in Subj. you say Blogger on Email Station.
Thanks,
Bad mailstation service from Earthlink
I agree that Earthlink service for Mailstation is terrible. I set my mother up in Dec 2005, and couldn't get connected. They kept telling us that it's our fault--bad phone line, bad machine, etc. After a month, they finally realized that too many had problems and began to examine their own software and got it fixed.
It's worked great since then, until feb 18, 2008 when the machine wouldn't fully connect to their servers. I have been trying for 3 months to get some good service, and they usually just try to empty emails from the machine, from the website, reset the machine. It never works. The machine does dial in, starts to log on, but then disconnects, with error message saying taht email service is busy or unavailable, to try again.
I've had some of their tech reps give me great service, to seriously try to solve the problem, but I know it's in their software, not my machine. But they just don't listen.
I am so glad to have found this site, because I know that there are others who are having incredible troubles. Isn't there some govt agency we can contact to complain? To have them investigate Earthlink?
If any of you have any comments, PLEASE contact me at my email-- tlworkroom@yahoo.com. I would be very willing to hear from you about what we can do.
My mother is 83, and loves her mailstation, and would not do well to try and learn a computer, altho' she's dreading that we may have to, if Earthlink doesn't wise up. Mailstation owners.......Unite, organize, and protest!!
PS----there's a company called Landel that has a similar machine and I think is still in business. I'm going to get rid of Earthlink and go with Landel. I hope that all of you who are having trouble with Earthlink will do the same.
MAILSTATION
I've had a Mailstation since 2003 and have absolutely no trouble with it. I love it because it's low-tech, i don't have to worry about viruses, etc. This way I can keep my computer "clean" and for work only because I don't go online with my computer.
If I want, or need, I can access my webmail from a library computer, or other. If i need to do research online, I go to a college library and I can use the computer as long as I want. This way someone else can worry about keeping all the security up-to-date.
As for printing out emails or contents of your address book, the mailstation has a parallel port, and you can attach a parallel cable to ANY printer with a parallel port.
Unfortunately, my old Canon printer bit the dust last fall, and my new one has USB. I have not been able to find any printers that will perform all the up-to-date tasks such as photos, that has a parallel port. They're all USB. I have also been unsuccessful in finding a specialized cable that will hook up the USB printer to the parallel port on the mailstation.
ANY IDEAS, ANYONE?
Despite its limitations, I still Mailstation is best for my needs. I pay $9.99 for month to month service from earthlink and I think their service is terrific. Everytime I call I get a real human being right away, and if I travel to another area, there is no trouble getting a dial-up number from them for that area.
Parallel-to-USB cables are
Parallel-to-USB cables are fairly easy to find ... although they are usually used for connecting parallel ports on old printers to PC USB ports, they'll probably work in the other direction as well. Go to your local Best Buy and ask for a Dynex 6' USB-Parallel Printer cable (model DX-UBPC). If it doesn't work, you can always return it.
Earthlink Mailstation
Any ideas what we can do:I PURCHASED 3 EARTHLINK MAILSTATION AS GIFTS FOR DISABLED AND ELDERLY PERSONS WHO CANNOT USE THE COMPUTER, AND THEIR ONLY WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. WE HAVE BEEN CALLING SINCE XMAS TRYING TO GET THE MACHINES ACTIVATED, BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON IT, BUT COULD NOT ACTIVATE AT THIS TIME.TODAY I WAS TOLD YOU NO LONGER SUPPORT AND CANNOT ACTIVATE ANY MORE MAILSTATIONS.ONE IS A REPLACEMENT MAILSTATION FOR MY DISABLED SISTER AS HERS IS ALMOST WORN OUT. THIS IS HER ONLY PLEASURE AND ONLY WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. SHE ALREADY HAS AN ACCOUNT WITH EARTHLINK BUT CANNOT USE A NEW REPLACEMENT EMAILER.NOW I HAVE 3 USELESS MACHINES. THIS IS A SHAME AND DISGRACE ON YOUR PART TO TAKE AWAY THE ONLY COMMUNICATION THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD FRIENDS AND FAMILY. NOW WHAT ARE THESE POOR SOULS TO DO TO COMMUNICATE AND GIVE THEM SOME PLEASURE IN LIFE. HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?IT WOULD SEEM YOU COULD AT LEAST SUPPORT THE MAILSTATIONS THAT CAN STILL BE USED. ON THE MARKET.BARB
I'm not sure to whom you're
I'm not sure to whom you're addressing your questions ("how can you do this"), as there are likely to be no Earthlink employees who read this forum. I'd suggest you call Earthlink (866-874-2071) and ask them about this.
If it is true that they are no longer activating new Mailstations, then whoever sold you your Mailstations should refund your money. If they don't, you should call the Better Business Bureau, as it seems to me to be illegal (or at least VERY bad business practice) to sell a device that requires an unobtainable service.
My mother is a Mail Station
My mother is a Mail Station useer so I called Earthlink and asked them about the rumor/story that they're stopping service. They told me that they are not taking new customers but they DO plan on being able to transfer a customer from an old mailstation to a new one if the old one goes bad. They said there server is updating at this moment and it will be about 2 weeks before they are able to transfer their customers over to new machines. She said that they plan on continuing to serve mailstations in the future just not taking new customers.
Mailstation account inactivated
I seem to be experiencing the same issues that several of you have mentioned so I thought I would add my two cents worth. My mother-in-law has had a mailstation for 7 years and loves the simplicity of it. About 2 years ago I started paying by check rather than credit card, got tired of them automatically charging my card with my approval. In Dec, I sent a check but apparently not soon enough because they also charged my credit card. I have been battling with them for 3 months to get the credit issued, no less than 8 calls to the ever-so-friendly customer support services located out of county. Each time I get a different answer on the status of the refund, so I disputed the charge on my credit card. About a week ago the account was deactivated. Again several calls to customer service, repeat long story again, and they say they will submit the request to reactivate, check again in 24 hours. I give up! We're going shopping for a laptop and I may never get my $100 back.
NOT SO! ii HAVE TRIED
NOT SO! ii HAVE TRIED SINCE LAST jUNE TO HAVE SERVICE TRANSFERRED FROM OLD NON-WORKING MAILSTATION TO NEW ONE. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT IS DOWN.
My Mother's Mailstation 350
My Mother recently called the helpline and the person she spoke with hung up on her when she asked why she was getting emails asking her to resign-up. She isn't understanding why she has to sign up again and the helpline person was completely useless. Her service was paid in November for a year. The mailstation has been very useful for her because there is family spread out everywhere and she enjoys having it but she gets so frustrated by messages that don't explain it's purpose. Does anyone know anything about this "sign up" again thing? Was it a glitch? Her service has not been interrupted.
Mailstation suppor being shut down
I would suggest anyone using a Mailstation to start looking into alternatives SOON.
My Mother had a mailstation and when I tried to do a serial # swap (which we did twice a year when she'd move between a winter home and her regular home) back in December.
For the first 4 days I kept getting an answer of "our system to do serial # swaps is down. Try again tomorrow."
Then on the 5th day I got "well, to be honest, we are shutting down support of the Mailstations and we won't do serial # swaps". Ever. Great.
So we ended up quickly buying a laptop, setting up a dial in service, and trying to teach a 70+ year old how to use a computer. We had limited time since we were flying home the NEXT DAY.
Earthlink did refund what was left on her 1 year contract. But what terrible service. No advanced notice of them dropping support of the Mailstation.
bad mailstation service from Earthlink
I was surprised that Earthlink would change out machines. My mom's machine stopped logging on in Feb 2008, and I even bought another machine to replace it, but was told in March that it wouldn't be done. I even got a tech rep to admit that it was their software problem, but get them to admit it publically!!
There is another company called Landel which has a similar machine called Mail Bug, out of Calif. It's prices are very similar, and I'm going to get connected for my mom, because she just can't handle dealing with a computer. But for dialup service, I would strongly recommend a company called LocalNet. Their tech reps are just the OPPOSITE of what Earthlink has---extremely knowledgeable, very VERY direct, and get the job done, without messing around. If I have to get a laptop for my mother, I'll go with them for dial up service.
If you have anything further to add or talk about Earthlink's bad service, please feel free to contact me at my email tlworkroom@yahoo.com. I wish we could contact FCC or some govt agency to complain, force an investigation of Earthlink. I don't fault the individual tech reps on other side of world whom we have to speak to, it's higher ups that make these decisions.
Bad Earthlink service for mailstation
I agree that EArthlink is a terrible company. I've had friends who've had their regular email service and they've had tons of trouble.
My mom is 83 and loves her mailstation, had it since Xmas 2005, when it wouldn't connect, they said it was our fault---bad phone line, bad service, etc. After a month, they realized it was their software, and begged us......yes, actually begged us not to quit service, and eventually got it working for past 3 years.
But on Feb 18,2008, the machine couldn't log on. it keeps getting an error message saying that email service is busy, try again later. For 3 months it says that. Luckily, we'd paid ahead by mistake, so didn't have to send money.
But since then, they've tried to "fix" my machine, but I know nothing is wrong with it, that it is their own software. But now, they're just trying to get rid of the service. I don't know why they're being so bad about this. Why don't they just admit to close down the mailstation service, and move on. Would stop from making so many customers hate earthlink.
However, there might be a solution. There's a company called Landel who still might be active. And prices are very competitive. My mother dreads having to learn a computer, her perceptions are limited, but a mailstation type machine is just perfect for her. So check Landel out. If you have ANY further comments terrible earthlink service, please contact me at my email
tlworkroom@yahoo.com. I wish we could complain to the FCC or someone for such shoddy service.
Mailstation 250 problems
My elderly parents have the Mailstation 250 and it has worked well for a number of years. Just recently they cannot send or receive email and get a message that there is no dial tone, check phone line and retry. The phone line is fine. I have talked to 3 different support techs. They have deleted emails, one told me to disconnect the machine for 10 minutes, then reconnect and it should work. It did not work. I called back and they told me it had to be disconnected for 24 hours (after they did something on their server. I think deleting emails). We tried that but it still does not work. Anyone had similar problems or any solutions. I don't know if the machine has a fatal problem, or if it is Earthlink's problem. Appreciate any advice.
Earthlink Mai Station Problems
My elderly mother has the unit and I'm 600 miles away from her to physically fix! For 4 weeks now, no emails sent or received. Four technicians....India, telling me different issues to the problem. Meanwhile, my deaf mother is mad, I'm mad, the Earthlink tech support SUCKS!...they've deleted emails from the station...just giving me the same ol crap support! I've paid for a year service and get NOTHING!, no service, nothing! Talk about frustration! I'm looking for a different service and unit just for emails. FRUSTRATED AND MAD in MICHIGAN July 1, 2008