Customer Reviews

Smartparts SP72 7-Inch Digital Picture Wood Frame with Beige Matting (Espresso)

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

I did a fair amount of research on digital photo frames before purchasing the Smartparts SP72 7-Inch Digital Picture Wood Frame. I wanted something that was not overly expensive, yet provided good functionality and quality. Since Smartparts does not recommend the direct connect to the computer to download pictures, I used an SD 1 GB storage card to load up the pictures. It was pretty simple and did not take much time. We also used the timing feature to automatically shut down the picture frame in the late evening and it starts up in the morning.

So far we have been very happy with this product. The picture quality is very good and and the frame looks very nice as well. I would buy another one - and in fact we did - for my mother-in-law. We got the 8-inch version with more functionality and it has the same qualities as this unit.

Buyer Beware! My Smartparts display didn't work out of the box. I called their tech support and they were very rude. They had me ship it back for replacement. But I never received a replacement! Now they wont reply to emails or voicemail. They must be out of business or at least not interested in helping customers. It was a total rip-off. If yours works when you get it, good for you. If not, you will lose your money like I did.

After spending almost an hour reading the posted reviews I found out that the reviews posted are the same for different model numbers(Smartparts SP72 vs. Smartparts SP92). I discovered this because one reviewer mentioned that I should get a frame with 800 X 600 resolution. I selected the 7in frame from the drop down menu and that review was under this model number so I assumed that it was a good deal. After I verified the specs I noticed that this model did not have even close to this resolution. I then selected a different model number under the drop down menu and lo and behold the same reviews were under a different model number with different specs. I don't know about you guys but I purchase based on past reviews! It doesn't gives me a good feeling that others have taken the time to share their experiences both good and bad and the reviews are not even for the project being represented. I feel that now all my purchases are suspect from Amazon.com and am very frustrated. I called the Amazon help Number 1-800-201-7575, which by the way is the hardest to find anywhere and voiced my frustration. They told me that they were looking into it. I will give them the benefit of the doubt but will have a hard time purchasing from them in the future unless I see change.

I bought this picture frame in December--after buying a different frame for my parents, I really liked the idea so I wanted one for myself. When I got the frame initially, it worked great. It was attractive, easy to load, easy to operate, and I especially liked the timer setting. Less than 2 months later, I was vacuuming and accidentally unplugged the frame. When I plugged it back in, it wouldn't turn on. I tried connecting it to my PC and nothing changed. When I held the "on" button down, it would flash the "loading" screen and then shut down again.

Incredibly frustrated (and remembering I had read about that happening to other people in reviews I had read), I contacted SmartParts at the e-mail address they provided on their website. A week later I hadn't gotten a response, so I e-mailed them again. Another week later (this was my third attempt), I resent the e-mail to every e-mail address on the website: tech support, sales, returns--and STILL didn't get a response. Not knowing what else to do, I contacted Amazon's customer support. I received an e-mail less than 12 hours later advising me that, although the return window is 30 days, they would make an exception for me and mail me a new frame free of charge AND provide me with a paid label to return the defective item.

Although I don't even want the new frame, I'm extremely grateful for the customer service provided by Amazon. I can't believe that SmartParts was so absolutely disappointing in their customer service and I'm EXTREMELY disappointed in the performance of the frame. I will NEVER, EVER buy anything from that manufacturer again.

I should have listened to the reviews, but I wanted a nice-looking frame for a reasonable price...unfortunately that's not what I got. I would advise anyone reading this to buy a comprable Panasonic instead.

I bought the Smart Parts 15 inch frame last year. Suddenly it went totally dead. Customer Service does not return phone calls. Tech Support does not return e-mails. I started calling their US Office and extensions at random and no one ever picks up. Most voice mail boxes are full. I've left messages asking for calls and no one there calls back either. I now have a question as to whether or not the company even exists. CAREFUL !!!!!!!!!

UPDATE. After leaving messages at random on every extension I could locate at the company (I just guessed at numbers) and after e-mailing to every address linked at the website and after writing directly to the company at their headquarters in Totowa New Jersey and after filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, I finally heard back from them. Some one in sales. They insist that the company is fine and was just having some technical problems. (Their receptionist did not answer the phone and had a full voice mail box. Some technical problem.) They put me in touch with a tech rep who immediately told me to take my power converter to a Radio Shack and have its output tested. That was it. Output was erratic. Ordered a new one and the frame works fine again.

Eventually I did hear back from three separate people at the company but take it from me, unless you really know how to be a SQUEAKY wheel, you are going to get nowhere with this company.

Critical information that they don't put in their manual or on their website --- Do not let frame run 24-7. It seemed like it should be okay (despite wasting some energy) and was the most commonsense thing to do with a 15 inch wooden frame with a video display BUT don't do it. It will burn out the converter. It is obviously a bad design on the converter or bad converters. I think the tech supports entire job is just to say get a new power converter.

By the way. I was told that if it was not the power converter they had NO repair capability at all. None. They did, however, offer to replace a defective frame at 1/2 price. Not a bad deal for an out of warranty product but still, no repair capability at all? For a cheap item, sure, but when you spend a couple of hundred dollars you expect more.

This company does give new meaning to poor customer service.

The picture frame was very nice looking. I gave it to my mother in law for a Christmas gift. It was disappointing when I got a phone call from her 2 days later stating the software was missing and that the cord did not work for the frame. She unfortunately does not live close to us so we are unable to do anything until we see her again. NOT HAPPY!!!

I like the looks of this frame, it has a nice wood frame and tan matte all of which is pretty nice quality. The photos have good color and are clear. I also love how easy it is to use, this would make a great gift for someone that is not great with technology, I literally just had to take the memory card out out of the camera and put it into the frame and it started playing the pictures right away automatically with random transitions included. There are also not a ton of configuration settings or anything. Basically you can pick the types of transitions, the picture size, the speed they play and a few other easy to understand options that each only have a few sub options. But again you don't even ever have to go into the menu if you don't want to, simply insert the card and it works. In summary, this a nice looking easy to use digital frame.

I have never written a review for anything before. I am so disappointed with this product. I bought it for my mom for Mother's Day. I liked the wood finish and matting. That is the only good thing about it. When copying pictures from a memory card, the pictures were cut off at the bottom. This was after they were "optimized." I then tried to load the software onto my computer and the software would not load. I will not buy this brand again.

I received this picture frame as a gift and it did not work right out of the box. The frame does not connect via the USB to my computer, which means that I am unable to upload pictures to the internal memory. I emailed the customer service department and I never heard anything back. I tried to call them and I get a recording that says that no one is available and that I should call back.

I've bought and set up a few digital photo frames in my time, so I do have some experience.

Out of the box, it was very easy to set up. Plug it in, stick in a memory card, and the pictures appear. It was also very pretty. However, that's where my like of the frame ends.

I strongly dislike "widescreen" frames because really, who takes widescreen photos? Not me, and I am an intermediate photographer. Every photo on my hard drive is a 4:3 ratio (you know, like when you get black bars on the sides of your widescreen TV when watching a regular show?). The same thing happens with this frame. I did not want to even attempt using the included "optimization" software, because there is no good way to optimize 4:3 photos into a good-looking widescreen photo.

The resolution is also quite poor. Up close it was more obvious, but once you started to get farther away, it was hard to see the photo because it was so small. Seven inches SOUNDS big but it really isn't. This might work on your desk at work, but it's no good for viewing, say, across your living room on the entertainment center.

The other thing I really disliked was the stand for the frame. It doesn't hook in securely enough for me (basically just an insert and twist 1/4". If that wasn't bad enough, the frame stands almost vertical (see uploaded user photos) and a light touch knocks it over. That is not good at all. I kept knocking it over just trying to get a picture of it.

Oh, and there is an instance of bad grammar on one of the information screens, which is never a good sign on an electronic item. Photo uploaded.

I would seriously recommend spending your money elsewhere.