Membership Gift Doesn't Work - Power Bank SKU #AARP42944

[NathanNJ]

Update - I found that the device came fully charged, and it didn't need to be charged up.

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Has anyone else received the Power Bank as the free membership gift - and did you get it working?

Mine does not work. The red light never comes on to indicate that it's charging. The instructions are no help.

Wondering if any of you out there have gotten this to work successfully? 

I have tried Googling, calling AARP, and chatting with them. No one has any information on this particular item.

Thanks for any tips you can offer!

 

[davidn336044]

Same here with my new charger.  It will not charge, and the charging port will not hold a charging Micro-USB adapter.  Very poorly made.

[zivaspoppa]

 Received mine yesterday.  I agree, like most instructions from Asian sources, they were next to worthless. I did manage to figure out enough to use one of the adapters to fit my Android phone's charging port (type C), and the back (male) plug on the end of the black cable tucked in at one end.  The LED lit up blue but the battery only took the phone up to 37% and quit.  This morning I took the included white cable Type A to whatever type small connector and plugged that small one into the charging port on the side of the battery.  The A size connector went into a 5-volt charging unit and plugged it into the wall (120 v ac).  The led on the front lit up with an intermittent red light, which turned solid red once the charging finished.  (about 6 hours)  I went from being disgusted to being quit pleased with this unit.

[davidn336044]

Zivaspoppa, you may have solved my problem with the charging.  The instructions should have said to insert the Micro-USB into the side female socket to the RIGHT of the LED Charging Light.  It's now blinking red and I assume charging.  Will try out the phone charger tomorrow.  Thanks, Zivaspoppa!

[p29971h]

Mine does not work either.  Directions are not the best

[AARPConsumerCare]

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with your power bank, @p29971h. Can you send us a private message with your name and mailing address, so we may locate your account and help you with the power bank? Visit https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 for directions on how to enable private messages. You can also visit https://aarp.info/3epCObA to contact us by chat, text, or phone. - Brandon C.

[ChristopherS297796]

I am having the same problem. There is no red light that comes on when you plug it in to charge. However, I plugged it in to my cell phone and a blue light comes on and is charging my phone. I'm wondering if it came already charged. I am going to use it for a full charge and the try again.

[mf65063884]

Did you figure out how to charge up the bank itself? Where the instructions say to plug in..there seems to be nothing there to connect.

[zivaspoppa]

The only port that accepts a connector is the one on the side,  For charging purposes.

[davidn336044]

You were correct zivaspoppa, that the charging port for the battery is located on the side of the unit, next to the hinge of the male plug cable.  The instructions are confusing because the illustration show the unit upside down, so folks were looking for a port to the "left" of the LED light, which is actually where the micro adapter plug is stored.  If you hold the unit like a playing card facing you, with the LED light near the top, then the instructions make sense.  Happy to say this unit does work as designed.

[davidn336044]

The power bank charged up (red blinking LED) in about 5 hours and then charged my cell phone completely in about 2-3 hours (blue solid LED).  Very happy with this little power bank!

[p29971h]

That is what mine did

[AARPConsumerCare]

I understand how frustrating that must be, NathanNJ. Can you send us a private message with your name and mailing address, so we may locate your account to check the specific model you have? Visit https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 for directions on how to enable private messages. - Brandon C.

[RichardS119434]

THERE ARE NO INSTRUCHONS ON HOW TO CONNECT MY PHONE TO POWER BACK UP PLEASE SEND ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CONNECT MY PHONE TO POWER SOURCE

[AARPConsumerCare]

I'm sorry to hear you didn't receive the instructions for the power bank, @RichardS119434. Visit https://aarp.info/3epCObA to contact us by chat, text, or phone, so we may check on the instructions for you. Thanks for being a member! - Brandon C.

[gginsandiego]

The instructions are not helpful.  However, i've figured out how to get the red light charging.  Have a spare part left over (micro to type c adapter) that I don't know what it's for or where it goes.  But, the red light is flashing which according to the instructions, means it's charging.  What I am supposed to do with it after that, is a bit of a mystery but once it's charged (i.e., red light stays on) I'll post an update.  Don't think AARP realized most who received the "free" gift are over the age of 70.  I'm 76.  Husband, aged 80, gave it to me since he couldn't figure it out.

[zivaspoppa]

AARP should be thoughtful about it's audience and not offer items that have not been vetted by someone in our age group.  Too many overseas companies give instruction writing to individuals who think they are good at English.  But obviously, with so many companies failing in this, there is no one else who can actually confirm their skills.  

[ccthirtyeight]

AARP Power Bank Step by Step Visual Instructions.