Customer Reviews

Remanufactured Sony SPP-A2780 2.4 GHz Expandable Cordless Phone Answering System with Corded Base

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I loved this phone for the 45 days that it worked. I loved it so much, I even considered exchanging it for a new one (instead of getting a refund) thinking that perhaps I just got a lemon. I will save my money after reading the other reviews.

The jog dial is brilliant. It allows you to access all functions through it and is much faster than arrows. All program functions were simple to figure out, which means you actually get to use all the features of the phone. I liked the larger handset because it was easier to hold and more like the previous cordless phones I've used. I also loved the intercom feature between all handsets, allowing one person to take the phone into the yard and call them via intercom instead of shouting! (nice for densly packed neigborhoods)I also loved the corded handset and speakerphone on the base unit, which meant no searching for the cordless phone to make a call.

Now the negative, the phone was just badly made. After 45 days of normal use, one of the cordless phones just stopped working. Actually, it loudly beeped randomly for a day or so before quitting. When I sent it back to Sony for repair, the service was awful. They asked me to return the base unit, even though that was working fine, thereby knocking out every phone in my house since I bought additional handsets. They then said the repair was not under warranty since the problem was caused by corrosion, which is caused by liquid damage to the circuit board. When you look at the back of the unit, under the battery cover, their are 4 holes in it, and the battery cover doesn't even have as much as a gasket to keep even a drop of water from getting in. On top of it, customer service was very unfriendly and arrogant. The whole system had to be reset to unregister the broken unit.

I also had problems with the cordless units loosing contact with the base unit twice in 45 days, but I was able to reregister them- it was extremely complicated.

Their was also no way to transfer a call when the handset ran low on battery power, the call would just be lost because you can't just pick up another phone, the call had to be transferred from the phone that you are on. By the time the battery low warning goes on, there is not enough juice to transfer or park the call. This is very annoying if you have been on hold with Sony technical service for over an hour, only to be disconnected and have to call back!

All in all, it is unfortunate that this phone was such poor quality as I thought it has been one of the easiest cordless phones I have ever used. If it had been more durable, I would have kept it. If Sony had been more reasonable about repairing or replacing it, I would have kept it- despite its shortcoming. Unfortunately "Breaks easily and becomes useless" is not a shortcoming anyone can live with. I am not sure what to purchase either since Uniden, Panasonic, and V-tech all get bad reviews as well.

I bought the original base phone and a additional handset at Christmas from Circuit City. They worked great so I wanted to add an additional handset in March. The base phone would not recognize the new handset. Called Sony and three hours later I had NO PHONES!!! They had me do a few things and it erased all factory presets of the base phone. This can only be fixed at the factory. Long story short I now have to send all three phone back to Sony to have them reset. Of course Circuit City woundn't exchange them it had been 60 days since I bought the first phone and they make no exceptions. Also, my base phone was cordless and they don't sell that model anymore. I wonder why. Never reset the base even if a Sony rep tells you to do so. Will be a major catastrophe!

I have owned this phone for about a year now, and I am very satisfied with it. The jog dial is great, with tremendous capacity, and so much easier than trying to remember "location numbers" for everyone. The intercom feature has saved us from having to yell for someone elsewhere in the house. My only regret is that I didn't buy a 3rd cordless handset while they were still available. By the time I realized I wanted one, Sony had discontinued them for some reason. We've also had no problems with the equipment even though one of the handsets was dropped outside on the concrete. In reading the other reviews, I see that someone had quite a few problems with theirs, but fortunately, that's not been our experience. Now if only I could find that extra handset, and at a reasonable price.....

I reviewed this phone before and this is only to back that review after 3+ years of regular use. We also got an additional set for this and paid like $279.99 for two handsets and this phone.

This is the last phone to come from Sony who later got out of making Home Phones. Ever since, I hardly find a good looking phone that beats this one in style.

I can't compare it with other phones as I didn't get to use any. All I have to say about this phone after 3+ years is, it does what a perfect phone needs to do. Very clear, loud, excellent buttons, nice and big LCD for viewing caller-id, very good speaker phone and digital answering machine.

The battery stength is very good and didn't have to replace it yet nor does it show any signs of battery dieing anytime soon.

Hope Sony comes back to making home phones which will have intelligent features like cell phones.

I just took this phone back to the store. I had two portable hand sets. After 1 week, the first refused to connect to the base. Exchanged it for a new one, however the replacement was useless: with the one originally registered but exchanged phone missing, the base refused to register the second phone. Sony help-desk said I should have 'unregistered' the first phone. Note however (1) the manual is explicit about the fact you can not unregister phones (2) how do I unregister a phone that doesn't want to communicate with the base in the first place? Sony adviced me that only solution was to take everything back to the store. So in effect, one part goes bad, the whole system needs to be replaced. Talk about poor design... Human factors on this thing are rather poor as well, e.g., there's no squeezing this one between your chin and shoulder without running the risk of pushing (disconnect) buttons. I was more than happy to get my money back.

The sound quality is fine in my apt. but if I walk 10 feet away the connection breaks up. I bought a powerful cordless to be able to at least walk to my mailbox and remain on the phone but this phone doesn't allow for that. It's a pain to program--you can't set the time on the base, and although I've set it several times from the handset, the time STILL says 12:00--it's as bad as a VCR. Accessing my speed dial numbers is a four part process (its faster for me to just dial the number). The sound quality on the answering machine outgoing message is unacceptable. I've recorded several times and it still sounds like I recorded it from a depth of 4000 feet. I've had three Sony phones (only because I continually have to return them to the manufacturer and they send a new one) because after about 6 months the key pads stop working. Sony should be ashamed.

I've been through MANY other phones, both for myself and for my stepmother who always, unintentionally, tested the poor phones for durability. These were the best I've tried and the only phone not to tear up within a month of my stepmother's use.
The handset shape is comfortable, the audio excellent, and the buttons easily visible. The only change I'd make in the design is having it so that a call could be transferred from one handset to another without having to use the intercom feature.
I have two SPP-A2780 systems with all their additional handsets and they do not interfere with each other. I put numbers on the top of each handset so I can easily tell which system it goes with. When I want to talk with someone in another part of the house, I just intercom the handset we typically have in that area - very convenient!
If ever a handset is not responding, as with most electronics, simply reboot. You can restore proper function by disconnecting the battery for a few seconds and then reconnecting. Confirm by placing the unit in a charger.
The three systems of which I know, and their handsets, are still going strong after more than two years!

The cordless handset works well, much better than our last one, which died after 15 months, and can be used in our backyard, even with airplanes overhead (we live near O'Hare). Can't find an extra handset in stores and should have bought one at time of original purchase. We forget to plug in the handset but it holds its charge very well. Would have liked a cordless handset on the basephone, but works okay. Speaker phone works very well. Still get confused trying to do all the things this phone can do and refer often to manual.

I've had this phone for three years now, and it works great. Unfortunately my daughter spilled a coke on the base and fried the circuit board. I'm picking up a replacement station in e-bay for around $20... Well worth the original price.

Maybe...but don't make this Sony Wireless handset/phone your friend. Make it one of your less-liked friends because once you buy it you'll think it's you're best phone friend, but in actuality, the more you use it, the less you'll like it. Make sense? Let me explain...

Reception and clarity of voice and calls is not a problem, at least not the worst problem. For me, the problem is the wireless handset.

HANDSET PRO+ and CONS-

+ Useful information displayed on LCD, especially callerID functions.
+ HOLD button included, many phones do not have this!
+ Easy to see number pad and other buttons to configure.
+ Volume is good, three click-adjusting on the side of the phone.
+ Round rolling dial for callerID and settings is superb idea, Sony basically patent-started this on their products.
+ Headphone jack is in an acceptable placement on side of phone above volume control.
- Bad ergonomics, the phone shape is too big and curved to grip.
- Heavy, the battery is large and placed on the bottom.
- The TALK/OFF buttons are in the way of holding the phone between your face and shoulders, extremely easy to just accidently turn it off [I have almost 75% of the time].
- Clip on back of phone is not strong, and really not even a clip at all! More like a part they just forgot, then stuck something on. It will not snap-clip to anything, basically it just sort of hangs on, and poorly at that because the phone is big and heavy.

CORDED PHONE PROS+ and CONS-

+ Useful information displayed on LCD, especially callerID functions.
+ HOLD button included, but placement is kind of off and hard to distinguish with the other same shape/size buttons around it.
+ Easy to see number pad and other buttons to configure.
+ Volume is easy to adjust, especially for ringer.
+ Round rolling dial for callerID and settings is wonderful and makes configuring very easy and quick.
+ Speakerphone is loud and clear, volume adjustable.
+ LCD display is large enough to see and understand.
- Corded phone is plastic, too light-weight and thin to hold.
- Actual size is quite large, so it takes up a bit of surface space.

OVERALL IMPRESSION [again]

This corded/wireless set would be the best if separated. The handset is great and recommended, but the handset you should avoid unless you like being disconnected unexpectedly.