Have you ever bought a “mystery box” said to worth a lot more than you paid?

Wednesday, December 2^nd, 2009 Netcast 973

This is the remote thermostat control. But I have no thermostat!Okay, so I like X10 stuff. And I like bargains. First a little background: X10 sells remote control devices to turn lights, appliances, and even security systems on & off. With some of the modules, you can dim lights, or increase their brightness. And they make a computer program so you can computerize your entire house. On the Daily Giz Wiz, I did a show about their TV remote control that not only controls 5 devices, but with the push of the X10 button, it can also control the lights and anything plugged into the remote modules: www.twit.tv/dgw904  So when I received an email saying that I could get more than $60 worth of X10 stuff for $19.95, plus $6 shipping, I thought, “this sounds good. I'll buy it!” The box arrived and I saved it so I could open it and unpack my goodies right on the Daily Giz Wiz. At first I thought it was a windfall, when I saw a beautiful controller pictured on the box. But alas, the picture was something I needed to  buy to connect my remote control thermostat to. But I don’t have anything in my apartment that needs controlling. The building provides the heat. (That gizmo sells for $20) And then there was an on/off remote modules--- and another one, and another one --- 3 in all.  (They sell for about $13 each) So the mystery box was worth just about $59, but really nothing I would have bought on my own, so it was a disappointment. (Actually as I write this - a BIG disappointment.)  I guess Leo summed it up best when talking about buying "mystery boxes": You expect some real goodies – but basically they’re just going to send you a box of stuff that doesn’t sell! Need an X10 thermostat control and some lamp modules – cheap?

www.x10.com

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw973