Ben's Bargains

Ben · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 54038

Product: Powermonkey eXplorer
Manufacturer: PowerTraveller
MSRP: $130 [BizRate]
Lowest Historical Price: $10 [History]

Introduction
The PowerMonkey eXplorer is marketed as a backup power supply to give your gadgets an extra boost of battery power. With modern gadgetry placing ever increasing demands for portable power, the PowerMonkey eXplorer Solar Charger comes at just the right time to save you from running out of juice while away from a wall outlet. The standard price is about $110, but when they started offering a whopping $100 rebate on it (bringing the price to $10 AR), I had to pick one up to give it try.

Update: The $100 rebate arrived on 7/21/08.

In The Box
The PM eXplorer comes in a tidy zip case, with everything tightly packed into individual compartments. It also comes with an array of international power adapters. The two main components are the backup battery itself and the folding solar cell, which they call the "solar slave." You'll find a myriad of accessory adapters included that fit almost any portable power application.

Specifications
The specifications claim as follows: 40 hours of battery life for iPods, 96 hours for Mobile Phone

LJW · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 1450

"Click here" link goes to the review... Can these still be had for $10?

Lester · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 268

I guess this will be useful if you often carry all your gadgets away from civilization by foot or by bike.

topcat903 · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 105

Did you get the money for the rebate? $100 rebate for $110 price item has a 99% chance of not going through IMO.

And where did you post the link to this deal again? (Being a deal site and all)

ali_lapointe · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 21

If you click on the "History" link at the top of the page, it shows that Buy.com sold it with the $100 rebate several times in the past. All the old posts (and their rebates) have expired.

Even if they revived this ... a $100 rebate? Not sure you'd want to take that kind of a crapshoot.

nahcyrag · Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 271

click on the HISTORY button you will have your link to the old $10 after MIR price.

mitda · Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 880

Maybe if you're dyslexic, don't know how to fill out a form correctly, and don't keep copies. 99% of $100 rebates should come through just fine.

biggin · Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 492

rebate.. more like bacon challenged
*smirk*

MuchoTumbao · Joined: 17 Apr 2008 Posts: 867

Just one word to consider before you invest $110 in this: Connect3D.

ali_lapointe · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 21

#6 -- "99% of $100 rebates should come through just fine." Thanks for the anecdotal statistic, that's extremely helpful. Feel free to gamble $100 on a device of dubious value by all means. No, I take that back, I guess this would be useful if you're planning to take your PSP to Sierra Leone.

akayzwhiz · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 316

cool...

most_devious · Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 107

Reminds me of the people who were scammed by Cyber Rebate before they went under.

hitanykey · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 17

I purchased this back around May 15th and sent in the rebate a couple of days after. To my surprise on Monday I found the check in the mailbox. I've had a hell of a lot more trouble getting rebates that were significantly less than this.

As for the device I'm pleased with the operation and actual usefulness of it.

Chrisman · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 3284 Location: Belize

two potatoes, salt water, and some copper wire would do the same thing.

wayway2fetch · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 15

This looks amzinggg! Except not sure if carrying this around would be so entertaining now would it?