Customer Reviews

Polder 898-95 Clock, Timer and Stopwatch, Black

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I really like this timer. Its very easy to setup and has a nice big display, counts up and down. I have two gripes about it though. 1. you cannot turn the alarm off which can be irritating in some situations. Also the alarm does no shut off automatically after a given time, it just keeps going and going which is not always desired 2. The other thing is that the buttons are very exposed and have no cover so they can be easily depressed accidentally. If you want to run or walk with this in your pocket, forget it. For a kitchen of task timer in the house its perfect.

Two thumbs up because I can start the count up button and at any point, tell how much time is left til the end of a movie; if you're running a home DVD movie and have to pause it to answer the phone, get another beer, or run to the john, just press the stop/start button and the count up will pause until you return to restart the DVD and resume counting the time remainingby repressing the start/stop button. Another use I have is to determine how much time is left before I can take food after taking medications that advises to take one hour, for example, before eating.

I purchased the black model and give its durability 5*, ease of use 5*, versatility 5*, attractive design 5*, value 6*, and printed instructions a 3* for making assumptions and being too brief about instructions for setting the clock. I would suggest that Polder rewrite item #3 of their instructions: "to set the time, enter a total of six digits in the following sequence: two for the hour, two for the minutes, and two for the seconds. For hours 1-9, enter a leading 0.

I served with an artillery unit in Vietnam and am over 75 years old, so my hearing is not very acute and the continual beeping after the time I set has elapsed (rather than 3 or 4 beeps then silence) is a plus for me, but I understand that it may be annoying to those with better hearing. Unfortunately, incorporating additional features, e.g., adjustable volume would probably require another button and perhaps software change and thus upping the cost. I rather like it as built because if I inadvertently turned the volume off and the time for an event passed, e.g., baked cookies, I would have only myself to blame when the kitchen became filled with smoke setting off the fire alarm and having me spend the rest of the afternoon scraping and cleaning the burnt cookies and baking sheet.

By the way, the product specs listed are in error; the unit is about 4-1/2" long, 1" wide, and 5/8" thick.

For the coming holidays, it would make a great stocking stuffer.

I was forever forgetting something in the oven or on the stove or the water in the garden, or to pick up my granddaughter in 90 minutes. Now I just wear my timer and it reminds me of my chores. The timer sets to a higher number of minutes than any other timer I have so I can set it way in advance.

The Polder 898 clock/timer is a neat little timer BUT! I sure wasted alot of time attempting to set the clock. The instructions are not complete. They tell you to enter the hour & minute ( with leading zeros always required ), but do not tell you it is required to also enter the seconds. Don't enter the seconds, no correct time!

When setting the clock, if you do not enter hours, minutes, and also press the zero key twice for seconds, the clock always defaults back to 12:00 AM as if you just installed the battery. Thanks to the reviewer below that posted the solution! Searching the web did not give me the answer ( including going to the Polder website ). Otherwise, I'd rate it a 5 if I had not had to waste time repeatedly trying and re-reading the instructions ( and searching the web ). My relatives love their's. Don't know how they figured out how to set the clock. Maybe they just use the timer function.

Bottom Line: Had some hassle, wasted some time, but really a great little portable clock/timer for the price. Needs improved printed instructions, but I do suggest it for cooks that tend to burn stuff, are forgetful, or are just multi-tasking.

Great for cooking and short period aquifer pump tests. I only wish it had a little cloth bag for protection in the field, but I'll find one somewhere. Note: When setting the clock you have to enter the seconds amount or the time setting won't stick. The price is great as I bought two on a "Pre-Order" for a dollar-off and will give-up one towards a raffle here at work. As a pre-order it did take a month to get it, but worth the wait.

I first bought the white version of this timer about ten years ago. At that time, it sold for $30, so at $15 it's a bargain; recently I bought the black version, which with its colored buttons looks cooler than white.

For the last few years, I've used the old one at least ten times a day, without ever having to change batteries. I've dropped it a few times on a ceramic floor and otherwise abused it occasionally, but all three functions still work perfectly. It's simple to set, has a "batch feature" (meaning it recalls the previous setting when you turn it off) so you don't have to reset it when you continue to use a particular setting. It's meant to be carried around your neck, if you wish, so it's on the small side and the compact button layout might not be convenient for people with arthritis.

It does what it was designed to do extremely well; what more can you ask?

I found the timer to be the perfect size. I can use it as a timer or alarm

clock when traveling (set the timer for the hours you want to sleep). The

only flaw I can see is the necklace, but using a memory stick (Flash) necklace is a great solution and mine worked great. Overall, Its a great

bargain with many features. I bought two. RJ

My wife and I purchased the Polder Clock, Timer & Stopwatch (in white) about 3 years ago and we just purchased two more in black since we often find ourselves needing to time two things at the same time. One of the two new ones will be a gift to a friend of ours. We actually use these timers almost as often as the microwave oven which is alot! The battery in the first one we bought lasted a very long time (it finally needed changing about a month ago). We highly recommend this product.

The directions are minimalist at best. I could not figure out how to actually set the correct time for the timer. Finally in looking through reviews someone mention it and viola now I've got it ! (e.g for 20 minutes punch in 2-0-0-0) It's handy around the neck but, at least on me, if I bump against something by accident, I'll hit a button by mistake. This is annoying. As others have mentioned the loud beep is irritating.

Otherwise nice large display, has clock and stopwatch.

Works fine and like the lanyard, but did not realize it uses button batteries which cost alot and are harder to find. Would not have bought it had I realized this.