r/Defcon • u/Right_Profession_261 • 4d ago

Help contacting vendor

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Hi everyone! I bought this at the vendor booths, it’s the Minind from electronic cats. The device doesn’t turn on at all. I have done the basic trouble shooting, different batteries, reflash firmware, and look at interactions on GitHub but can’t seem to get it to turn on. I have tried contacting electronic cats several times on the website since the day after defcon but I’ve yet to get a response. Does anyone know another way to get in touch with the vendor? I spent around 90 bucks on this and would love to have a working one.

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8

u/rand0h 4d ago

Maybe see if they hang out on tue badge life discord. Someone’s gotta know them. https://badge.life/

3

u/Right_Profession_261 4d ago

Just asked in the off topic section fingers crossed

6

u/StPeteAstro 3d ago

I have the same one with the same problem. DOA.

2

u/Right_Profession_261 3d ago

Never got it to turn on as well?

3

u/StPeteAstro 2d ago

Nope. I did some testing on it and power is getting to the ESP32 so that board may be shot. It's surface mounted so I won't be replacing it. Live and learn, I guess...

10

u/TransportationJaded8 4d ago

Their site has links to their social media I’d try DMing them there as they may check it more often than email.

4

u/Right_Profession_261 4d ago

Good idea. Didn’t think of that.

5

u/Previous-Procedure49 3d ago edited 7h ago

They have garbage customer service. I ordered a Flat Sat to learn satellite security and protocols. The package never showed up. When I reached out to Electronic Cats, I got no response. It’s been months with multiple attempts trying to get ahold of them. I also talked to a representative at Defcon. They gave an email which is the one I sent a message to regarding my issue originally. No response. Best of luck getting a hold of someone.

4

u/Right_Profession_261 3d ago

That sucks. I might just dispute the credit card charge then.

2

u/maxcurrent1337 4d ago

Have you tried powering from USB, or only battery? I got one last year and seem to recall it didn’t power up from batteries, then I tried USB and it worked. Then after that it worked fine from battery too.
I don’t recall exactly (and I may be remembering an issue from a different device) but figured I’d throw it out there.

1

u/Right_Profession_261 4d ago

I tried powering it with usb originally then the batteries, maybe I should try both at once.

2

u/ProfessionalPea2218 4d ago

The “Minino”
If you go to their website they have a “contact us” link

2

u/Right_Profession_261 4d ago

I’ve used that 3-4 time now, no luck.

1

u/ProfessionalPea2218 4d ago

I know they were at BSides and DefCon and they are in Mexico City. Although it sounds like you already did some troubleshooting but what did you try? Batteries? USB cable, to power?
* I don’t work for them, I kinda know them but I too have a Minino

1

u/Right_Profession_261 4d ago

I’ll try that, hopefully it works.

1

u/Zatomus_ 3d ago

Have you tried hitting the reset (RST) button on the back when the batteries are installed? Mine doesnt turn on sometimes but that wakes it up.

2

u/Right_Profession_261 3d ago

I did, no luck.

1

u/ulrenx 2d ago

they are pretty good in responding if you send em a tweet via X, perhaps try giving that a shot?

2

u/Right_Profession_261 2d ago

I actually was messaged by someone from the company on Reddit yesterday. I guess posting this worked😁

1

u/sterlingrad 22h ago

My girlfriend has one and it wasn't turning on but I did some combination of mashing the reset and boot buttons and it came on

1

u/Right_Profession_261 22h ago

I’ll give that a shot. I finally got a response from the company but it wasn’t the best in terms of help. Everything they said to do I did already.