World’s Stickiest Radio

Behold the Tivoli Audio SongBook clock-radio: nice sound, cool interface, the world’s stickiest case. That piece of paper is literally stuck there like a Sticky Note:

Surely there’s some fetishist out there who would enjoy the hairy radio vibe, but I ain’t quite that kinky.

I just sent off a letter to Tivoli Audio to see if they’ll do the right thing. I’ll keep you posted.

Tom DeVesto, Chairman and CEO
Tivoli Audio. LLC
Seaport Center
70 Fargo Street
Suite 901
Boston, MA 02210

Re: Defective SongBook Clock-Radio

Dear Mr. DeVesto:

I am a big fan of your products and own several of them. I am, however, extremely disappointed in your SongBook and—more importantly—to your company’s lack of responsiveness about what is clearly a systemic product failure.

I have repeatedly contacted Customer Service via your website but have received no reply whatsoever to my queries.

I am enclosing a blue SongBook clock-radio that I have owned for several years. It is, needless to say, out of warranty. It is also melting.

First the plastic casing became sticky. Then it became stickier. Now it’s so sticky that you it is covered with dust and hair. It works great otherwise. But the casing is so disgusting that—well, you’ll see. Take a look.

I am not alone. Others have obviously had this problem:

http://reviews.cnet.com/radios/tivoli-audio-songbook-black/4864-7875_7-31605044-3.html

http://alatest.com/reviews/portable-radio-reviews/tivoli-audio-songbook/po3-32479072,7/

I wish I had read these reviews before purchasing.

Anyway, this is obviously a design error. A company—especially a company like Tivoli, for whom good design is central to your business—should step up and replace or refund its design errors, not ignore queries to its website.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you very much in advance for your attention to this matter.

Very truly yours,

Ted Rall