Zoombak ZMBK100 Advanced GPS Dog Locator

by Zoombak

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 2.8 x 9.1 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0014J62VM
• Item model number: ZMBK100
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (196 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,234 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Model: ZMBK100

Manufacturer's Description--May 5, 2008

The Zoombak Advanced GPS Dog Locator is a dependable and accurate way to help locate your dog and bring her home safely if she runs away or is stolen.  The small, lightweight, water-­resistant locator attaches comfortably to your dog ’s collar with a durable and secure pouch.

The Zoombak uses a combination of GPS satellite and cellular technologies to more precisely and reliably determine the unit's location at any time. Locate your pet's’s whereabouts on-demand using Zoombak.com, your mobile phone, or live customer care. Track your pet's location in real time, or view a map of your pet's current location or location history. Create your own customized "safety zones", and get notified via text message and email when your pet has left the zone. Unlimited on-demand location requests, an easy-to-use website, and a 24/7 toll-free phone number for live customer care and location support, will provide you with the peace of mind you are looking for in pet safety. Please note that Zoombak requires a monthly service plan (Learn more)

Key Features

• Find the current location of your pet online, via mobile phone text message, or via toll-free 24 hour customer service (Learn more)
• Track your pet's location continuously (Learn more)
• Get your pet's location history (Learn more)
• Get alerts whenever your pet leaves custom "safety zones" that you define (Learn more)
• Low Battery and "Power Off" Alerts (Learn more)
• 24/7 Customer Service
• Just 2.5 ounces
• Long battery life (standby = up to 120 hours or 5 days; active use = up to 150 location requests)
• Water-resistant housing
• Low-cost service plan (Learn more)
  

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How Zoombak Helps If Your Pet is Missing

Your pet gets stolen or you want to pinpoint its location	You receive a text alert on your mobile phone or an email on your computer	You can see your pet's location on your computer	Helps you find your pet and bring it home safely

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Unlimited On-Demand Locates 

An on-demand locate helps you to find the current location of your pet containing the Zoombak Advanced GPS Dog Locator. There are 3 easy ways to conduct an on-demand location request.

1. Zoombak.com
1. Log on and click "Find Now."
2. See your pet's real-time location displayed on a map, along with the closest street address.
3. View your pet's location in detail. Using our detailed map, you can easily zoom in and out or scroll in any direction.
   
   
2. Send a text message via mobile phone
1. Use your mobile phone to request the real-time location of your Zoombak locator.
2. Send a text message to "ZMBAK" or "96225" with the name of your locator and your PIN number.
3. Receive a prompt location alert via text message containing the nearest cross streets, along with the city and state information.
   
   
3. 24/7 Toll-Free Live Customer pete
   
1. Contact Zoombak live customer pete toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-951-0101.
2. Receive friendly, knowledgeable support and our staff will help you find your pet.

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Personalized Safety Zones 

A safety zone is a personalized virtual boundary around a location that you’ve chosen. When your pet enters or leaves an active safety zone, you can be alerted via email and/or text message (your choice.) You can create up to 10 safety zones, 5 of which can be active simultaneously at any given time. Safety zones can be quickly and easily turned on and off via Zoombak.com.

Safety zones can be quickly set up on Zoombak.com in 4 easy steps:

1. Name your safety zone and enter an address or use the current location of your Zoombak Locator to create your virtual boundary.
2. Select a boundary radius from as small as 110 yards to as large as 880 yards or a 1/2 mile.
3. Create a schedule for when you would like your safety zone to be active. For example, Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
4. Select how and when you wish to be notified. For example, you can be notified via text message and email when your pet enters and leaves the safety zone.

When your pet enters or leaves your safety zone, you can receive a text message and/or email notifying you of the date and time of activity. The Zoombak pet & Family Locator automatically keeps track of your pet’s location while the device remains active.

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Continuous Tracking 

Zoombak's continuous tracking feature provides you with an automatic update of your pet’s location every 5 minutes for up to 1 hour. Your pet’s location, with time and date, will be shown on a map on Zoombak.com. Upon activating this feature, Zoombak will:

1. Determine your pet’s real-time location.
2. Display its location on a map.
3. Provide location updates every 5 minutes. After 1 hour, you can easily extend continuous tracking for an additional hour

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Location History

Zoombak’s location history allows you to see where your pet has traveled for the past hour, day or week. Your location history will be available for your review on Zoombak.com for up to 7 days.

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Low Battery and Power Off Alerts

As part of your service, you can opt-in to have Zoombak notify you via email and/or text message (your choice) when your Zoombak Locator has been powered off or has a low battery. You can add multiple email addresses and mobile phone numbers to receive device alerts.

• With "Power OFF" alerts, you can opt-in to be notified promptly when your device has been turned off along with the current or last known location information.

With low battery alerts, you can opt-in to be notified when your device battery is at 25% capacity. If your Zoombak locator powers off due to a low battery, you can receive a second alert advising you that your Zoombak locator has been powered off, along with the last known location of the device

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What's In The Box

• Zoombak Advanced GPS Dog Locator device
• Durable and secure pouch collar attachment that works with all collar types
• AC Wall Charger
• User Guide
• One-year Manufacturers Warranty

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Service Plan Details

Zoombak requires a monthly service plan. See www.zoombak.com for details on service plan pricing and coverage.

Service Plan Includes:

• No activation fee
• No hidden fees
• Unlimited on-demand location requests via the Internet and customer service
• On-demand location requests via mobile phone
• Unlimited continuous tracking via web and customer pete
• Unlimited safety zone alerts
• Opt-in for "Power Off" and low battery alerts via email and text message
• Location history via Zoombak.com and customer pete
• 24/7 live customer pete and location support

Service Plan Requirements:

• One-year customer agreement required for all service plans
• Convenient, paperless online billing and account maintenance
• Credit or debit petd
• Early termination fee applies

Product Description

The Zoombak¿ Advanced GPS Dog Locator is a dependable and accurate way to help keep track of your dog's real-time location on-demand 24 hours, 7 days a week. Zoombak communicates its GPS position to you via the national network of a leading cellular carrier, so it can assist you in finding your dog in this nationwide coverage area. Additionally, Zoombak uses Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS), which brings together both satellite and cellular technologies allowing for a more precise and reliable way to determine the location of your Zoombak Locator. Our small, lightweight, water-resistant locator attaches comfortably to your dog¿s collar with a durable and secure Zoombak pouch (included). If your dog leaves or is taken from the safety zone you have created, e.g., your backyard, you can be promptly notified by text and/or email (your choice). You can then pinpoint your dog¿s real-time location on-demand via Zoombak.com or through our live, toll-free customer care which is available 24/7. Additionally, you can determine your dog's location in real time using our continuous tracking option which provides your pet's location every 5 minutes for up to an hour. Simply log on to Zoombak.com to view a map of your dog's current location, as well as his path taken since leaving home. Unlimited on-demand location requests, an easy-to-use website, and a 24/7 toll-free phone number for live customer care and location support, will provide you with the peace of mind you are looking for in pet safety. Zoombak locator is 2.87" x 1.69" x .0.82" (L x W x H), weighs only 2.5 ounces and is water-resistant. Long-life battery of up to 5 days on standby or up to 150 location requests before recharging. Recommended for dogs over 15 lbs. Zoombak requires a monthly service plan starting at $9.99/month. Minimum service term required. Activation and use of Zoombak locators are subject to Zoombak's customer agreement, plans, terms and conditions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Works OK, but needs improvement!, May 9, 2008

By 

Hazwaste (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zoombak ZMBK200 Advanced GPS Car and Family Locator (Electronics)

This device seems to work fine when using Zoombak's web site to do a location search. The device can not be placed somewhere that heavily shields it from the outside, or it will not get a good cellular and/or GPS signal.

The zone feature is the area where it's just not delivering as advertised. Once you've set up a zone, it is supposed to alert you when the device enters or exits the zone. Sometimes it doesn't alert you at all. When it does alert you, the alerts are sent 15 to 20 minutes after the device has entered/exited the zone, instead of sending it within a minute or two. If you enter and exit the zone within that 15 to 20 minute window you don't get an alert at all.

This is not how it is portrayed on their little advertisement video.

Lastly, good luck on reaching a level 1 tech support staffer who speaks understandable English. This part is extremely frustrating. Why companies who provide tech support to English-speaking countries don't make mastery of the English language a requirement is beyond comprehension. I guess political correctness is more important than a satisfactory customer experience.

135 of 147 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed so far..., March 28, 2008

By 

Richard W. Hill (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zoombak ZMBK200 Advanced GPS Car and Family Locator (Electronics)

It has been a real challenge dealing with Zoombak. I was initially excited when I learned of their product. I am currently using TomTomWork for GPS tracking of our personal vehicles, which runs $500 per tracking unit, plus installation and $50.00 per month tracking fee, per unit, which adds up quickly.

Zoombak's "claimed" capabilities along with lower month tracking fee prices ($14.99), seemed to be more cost effective then TomTomWork's program.

I attempted to order from Zoombak directly via their website ($249 per unit). Their web site declined two (2) different credit cards. I called Zoombak directly (Daniel), they weren't able to authorize them either. I called my credit card companies, they never received any authorization request from Zoombak, they said that there should be no problem. I called Zoombak back, Anna the first agent that I spoke to did not speak English very well. I asked to speak to her supervisor, the supervisor's English was worse than Anna's! She basically said the it was my problem not Zoombak's.

So being discouraged but still wanting the device as any "early adapter" would, I searched the internet and found it on Amazon for $60.00 cheaper, I bought it, there was no problem with my credit card! It was delivered yesterday.

I went to Zoombak's website, created my account, paid the activation fee.

I charged up the device for 6 hours and turned it on. Zoombak's system was not able to connect to the device, after about 10 attempts of trying to connect to the device (the unit was placed out in the yard of my metropolitan city). I called Zoombak's tech support, Felipe (limited English) told me that new units are sometimes difficult the 1st time connecting. He suggested that I turn it off and back on and wait 30 minutes for the "Que" to clear out and try it again. If that doesn't work to call back. Well, it didn't work!

I called Tech support again, I didn't get the girls name (limited English also). She told me that her supervisor would contact me within 24-48 hours! I tried to ask her some direct questions, she didn't understand me, she was defiantly reading from a script.

Pros - nice looking unit, not sure if it works or not.

Cons - their customer service leaves a lot to be desired, 5 phone calls, 1 person spoke English. 24 hours later and numerous attempts to connect and the unit still will not connect to their system.

Hopefully Zoombak will get their bugs worked out and consider hiring a better talent pool of customer service agents that speak English.





UPDATE 2 1/2 years later.
After bitching in 2008, they sent me a new device which worked fine. My account has shown both devices listed in my account since 2008. The defective device had an X next to it and was listed as not active.

Moving forward, September 29th 2010 - I get an email from Zoombak saying I owe them $75.00. I called them up to find out what this amount was for. They told it $60.00 for the 2nd unit (defective / returned device) and $15.00 for the monthly service. This made NO sense at all, I spent 30 minutes reexplaining the last 2 years events. I asked the rep, if I have been being billed for this 2nd (defective) device for the last 2 years, he told me that he would have to look into it. As for the $75.00, he said that I would have to pay the full amount and they would credit me back the $60.00 within 10 days. I told him that was BS, it's not my fault for their lack of systems and customer service tools. He told me that it would take 2-4 days for my account to be corrected. I told him that I would call back in a few days.

Yesterday (10-06-10), I get a another email from ZoomBak saying that I still owe them $75.00 and they are going cancel my service and it would cost me $100 to get it reinstated! I called them back again, same story / same run around. The girl told me, that I only canceled the 2nd device on September 29th 2010, you idiot that is when I called in last week and wasted my time for your mistake 2 1/2 years ago! She asked for a few more days to correct it in the system.

Very frustrating to say the least, I wonder how they have been billing me for a 2nd device and how many other people they have done this too.

As for their service, the web interface search is VERY VERY slow, it takes 4-5 minutes on a high speed connection to locate the device. And that is if it finds it! 7 out of 10 times it doesn't. Their iPhone App is junk, it has NEVER worked (WiFI or 3G) in the 6 months that I have had it.

BEWARE, you have been warned!

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Not Quite Ready For Prime Time", August 31, 2008

By 

J. Vercellone (Nokesville, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zoombak ZMBK100 Advanced GPS Dog Locator (Electronics)

I bought the Pet version of the Zoombak about a month ago and I'm sorry to say after a week of testing and multiple consultations with the Zoombak Technical Staff I did not have enough confidence in it to place it on my dog. I returned the unit to Amazon and received prompt credit.I also received an immediate credit from Zoombak for the year service that I had signed up for upon registering my unit because it was within their 30 day risk free period. The Zoombak staff was very courteous, and I'm sure they would be of assistance in locating your dog if you requested, however it wasn't until I asked to speak to a Technical Supervisors did I feel comfortable that someone understood the difficulties I was experiencing with the unit. As most of you probably know the Zoombak uses a combination of a Cellular Phone and GPS service to provide you informationn on your pet. The cellular portion of the system worked fine. I received immediate notifications when I turned the unit off or when the battery was low. Both of these options, which you can select upon setup, use the cellular portion of the unit. Another function that uses the cellular portion in combination with the GPS is the mobile locate function capability. It worked fairly well.

Now for the problems I experienced. After repeatedly setting up Safety Zones per the instructions that came with the unit, per the information I found on the Zoombak Website and finally the instructions I received from the Zoombak Technical staff I could not get the GPS side of the unit to recognize that the unit had left the Safety Zones I had established. I tested the unit by placing it on the windshied of my car where I normally place my other GPS units and leaving the established Safety Zone for a minimum of 15 minutes. Most time I stayed out of the Zone for 30 minutes or longer. On 3 occassions I called the Zoombak Technical Support Staff to verify that the unit was operating properly. They assured me that it was. On one occassion they had to re-sync the unit. At their instructions I increased the radius of my safety Zone. The minimum Safety Zone is 110 yds. I increased it 4 times out to a radius of 700 yds. the maximum I would would accept. On all 4 tests at these distances I received no mobile of E-mail alerts that the unit had left the zone.

I own 2 Garmin GPS units and both of them work perfectly up to 10 ft of my home so I see no reason why the GPS unit packaged in the Zoombak couldn't lock onto the require 3 GPS satellites and recognize that it had left or re-entered the safety zone. On one occassion I had the unit in an open area 20 miles from my home and received no alerts.

Given that Zoombak assured me that my unit was working perfectly I can only assume that they are either using an unreliable GPS Receiver in the unit or that the software program they are using to provide the alerts is not perfected.

A couple of other observations. If you watch the Zoombak video or the Martha Stewart Show video clip you might get the impression, as I did, that once your dog leaves your yard or premises you'll get an immediate notification that it has left. This is not the case. Your dog must physically leave your established Safety Zone and stay out of that zone for 15 minutes. If it wanders back in and out of the Safety Zone within the 15 minutes you get no alerts. I was concerned that my dog would be long gone before I knew about it. My other concern was that if someone took my dog and placed it in a car I would not be able to track it.The GPS instruction that accompany the unit clearly state that the Zoombak unit must have a clear line of sight to the GPS satellites in order to track it. This is the case with most GPS units. Unless you can train your dog to sit in the front seat you might have problems.

The bottom line folks is that if you love and care as much as we do about our dogs you should be wary of this product at this time. It's a great idea but not one that I want to be a Beta tester for especially with the cost of the unit, monthly service charges and concerns for my dogs. If you purchase it I stongly suggest that you test it extensively within the 30 day risk free period and by all means before you place it on your dog. Good Luck.

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