Cheap, cheap, cheap - horrible case and packaging, OK device

I had relatively high expectations based on many positive reviews and was disappointed. I see a fairly cheap attempt to make this headset look like a quality product. The first thing you see is their failed attempt to create an "unpacking experience" invented by Apple and used by many companies these days. The headset comes in a plastic case. Getting this case out of the packaging foam is a challenge. The foam is very dense, like rubber, the case is slippery, and it sits in the foam very tight. I banged on the box, I turned it upside down - to no avail. I ended up prying it out with a screwdriver. The second challenge is to open the plastic box. I almost gave up and was close to returning this headset because I could not figure out how to open the case to get to the headset!!! First, it is not clear from which side it opens. There are no markings. Secondly, it is not clear how to open it. No, it would not open from just a gentle pull. I opened it after a number of failed attempts using a quarter, with the risk of breaking the whole thing. It turned out that one has to squeeze the box really hard to release the plastic latches, and while squeezing, open the box. On top of that, one has to somehow remember on which of the two sides the box opens. Hold on, it gets even worse! The headset comes with a very short micro-USB cable. Absolutely critical accessory to charge the headset. You need to always have it at hand and preferably carry it in the case, as most phone chargers are no longer micro USB. But there is no room for it in the plastic case! With some luck and with some wiggling, you may be able to somehow squeeze it into the case and close the lid - but this comes with a risk of breaking the headset or damaging the case! Once you are past this disappointment, the rest seems to work. The volume of the headset is on the low end. I had to set it to maximum to get a decent level. It sits on the ear fine. Sound quality is fine. Connection to the phone was easy. Cannot comment on long term reliability or battery life yet. The device seems to be fine, but the packaging is a disaster, the case is a disaster, the one who engineered it all should be fired. You feel from the moment you opened it that it is a low end, junky "made in China". I do not know who wrote all those positive reviews and what motivated them to give 5 stars to this product. My recommendation - look elsewhere. It is not a four or five star product by any means.

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