Backblaze
IPhone Hotline App Review: BUYERS BEWARE OF BACKBLAZE ONLINE BACKBLAZE ONLINE BACKUP SERVICE - Online Backup Service

I went online and signed-up for Backblaze. I had a choice if paying either ABOUT $5.00 monthly, or a one-time annual fee of ABOUT $50.00 for the first year. I took the annual plan.

I knew I had 872 GB of photographs which represented my lifetime hobby that started when I was in the Fourth Grade and continues this day where I am now 70 years old.

I knew the backup would go slow. To speed things along I kept my Desktop and attached external hard drives on 24/7 for almost an entire month. It wasn't long after that that I checked my Backblaze Account and saw THEIR FIGURES: 872 GB, and everything was completed. I felt safe.

I went away for about 10 days; when I returned I checked my Backblaze Account and was SHOCKED to see their records showing that only 4 GB of photos were backed up.

Backblaze DOES NOT HAVE ANY TELEPHONE CUSTOMER SUPPORT. Everything must be handled BT Email, which causes confusion at the Backblaze Office. For example, at one time I had about four or five technicians writing each one offering a different solution.

Finally backblaze sent me an external hard drive that they claimed had 2tb of photos.

I looked the files over and found that the overwhelming majority of the files WERE EMPTY. Please see the included Screen Shots of my Desktop WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THOSE FILE FOLDERS ARE EMPTY. The charge for the empty hard drive was just under $1,000.00.

In time they became quite rude and even told me that I obviously did not know how to unzip a file. I wrote back an honest reply that I had a Ph. D.in this discipline, 27 years of working in the computer field, and had been a senior scientist with M.I.T. Research & Analysis. With those credentials I clearly knew how to Unzip Files.

Then I asked a TRICK QUESTION, which was "Please Send Me Detailed Instructions"

They got nasty and I finally demanded that my case be turned over to a manager - which they did.

I sent him most of the included Screen Shots - and asked him that same TRICK QUESTION FOR DETAILED " HOW TO INSTRUCTION".

He NEVER COMMENTED IN THE OHITIS WHICH CLEARLY STATE " This File Cannot Be Downloaded because it is EMPTY." HE ALSO NEVER PROVIDED ANY INSTRUCTIONS WHATSOEVER regarding how to Unzip a BACKBLAZE file.

Instead he suggested that Unzipping a Windows File was obviously beyond me and that I should hire a Consultant. His job titled indicated he was not a well experienced Executive Leader, but mere a Technician who was taking his first baby-steps into a minor management role. But, he clearly said "Hire a Consultant". So I did. The Consultant took my computer to his office and carefully looked it over. He came up with the CONCLUSION that the ERRONEOUSLY LABELED ZIP FILES WERE INDEED EMPTY.

I sent the report to the Backblaze Manager, together with the Consultant's bill for $200.00. I felt that was justified because I clearly did not need a Consultant, considering my extensive background. HE was the one who felt he needed a Consultant and therefore asked me to hire ONE FOR HIM; and I did.

No one at BLACKBLAZE ever contacted me again.

My experience with BACKBLAZE is that their Technicians and Entry-Level Managers are poorly qualified and haven't a clue about providing Customer Service.indeed, at times they were downright RUDE!

Their price of almost $1,000.00 to restore my files was akin to highway robbery.

They DO NOT PROVIDE 24/7 Customer OR Technical Support.

Their Email-Based Customer Service System is broken - IF IT EVER EVEN WORKED (WHICH I DOUBT)

I'll end this report in the same way I started - BUYERS BEWARE IF ONLINE BACKUP SERVICES ESPECIALLY BACKBLAZE.

Company: Backblaze
Country: USA

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