SweetMarias was asked to include full operations details w/ instructions obviously they aren't, I'll rectify today... (edit.. just addressed)
Now as to the being annoyed by the new feature.. here is a response I wrote some weeks ago that for the most part sums it up.
Duane.. since you decided to follow through on the threats you made in the email to us I kind of figure a public response is OK...you want to know annoying, here's annoying:
A person starts 1/2 pound roast in his basement then goes upstairs to have lunch, forgets he's roasting. You guessed it smoky roast, no bean ignition, the roaster wasn't even damaged from pictures we were provided, just bunch of smoke and the wife gets pissed off at the husband has "cleaners" in to remove the "odor" from her curtains, all bedding, all clothes* because by the time she arrived home an hour later the smoke was gone, but some odor wasn't. She then turns it over to insurance. Insurance sends me a bill, OK threat for $10,000 and in docs supplied admits client ignored instructions, that they have no legal basis for demands in subsequent letters but don't care- they want $$$$ because they are a big, badass insurance company. Almost $10,000 in lawyers fees later, despite the pressure we tell them to FO we won't be extorted. *The people who advised them they should have the whole house cleaned, were the cleaners who had a vested interest in getting a $10,000 job- ya think they were slightly biased, err motivated in their conclusion?
or
The paramedic who admits walking from a roaster and when we see he's torched it, offer him a like new unit FREE, we asked he only pay shipping of $29 (its sort of asking him to accept/ bear some responsibility) and instead of being grateful he threatens us with having the roaster investigated for safety by the fire department he works for if he doesn't get a new one free. I later learned this was a federal crime but I moved on. And something to ponder.. if unsafe why would he want another.. an "e" word comes to mind.
or
the engineer who admits to not following instructions, admits he screwed up but hey I'm (his position) smarter than you and when we made the same offer as above he flips out but finally says OK, so before sending it out Bob tests it to be 100% sure and when it arrives with a few bits of chaff still in it (Bob did get lectured for not fully cleaning out the few bits- he'd cleaned but missed a few) from the test, he flips out again, then contacts the BBB.. when told of what occurred they laughed at the man's insolent nature and allowed my full unedited response to be published.
or
the ph'd who walked and again smoky roast who lectured us about no other safety feature to prevent their walking away from the roaster and having a problem- she meant dead man switch. They'd had the roaster for almost 2 years but when the good doctor walked.. it was out fault.
or
the person who admitted roasting in a old storage shed with the roaster on pine wood, up against a wall next to (drum roll) a can of paint thinner.. then walking. In his case he got back in time but still.
or
the attorney who went inside to read a book.. oops his fault, admits it's his fault to others and found to be his fault because he mis-wired his garage but insurance companies don't give a shit and rates go up 300% for SIX.. yes 6 years all without any claim
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And talking to owners/ reps of our competitors, they have experienced the same and in one case it was an attorney who let them know his time was free to pursue them. And trust me none of us are getting rich.. we love what we do so we go forward
So while I can appreciate your concern over maybe losing $4-7 in green beans or WADR having to actually stay with the roaster or get back to it early. You wanna be pissed, annoyed and/or angry try being in my shoes for a month- you'd be ready to go ape shit crazy if those things annoy/ anger you, so please keep things in perspective. And as was highlighted by others elsewhere, the whole idea was to give the user more control which to utilize requires one be in attendance and at 75% (based only/soley on default times, example 1lb default 18:00 = unattended always begins w/ 4:30 left) into a roast you are at the edge of 1C !
We aren't perfect and do our best to assist even when we aren't in anyway at fault because we understand mistakes happen but we build this equipment for everyone's pleasure and we are required morally, ethically and legally to have it built safely and to meet standards provided to us so it can be assembled, insured, and safety certified etc to protect all involved. We won't ship something uncertified that can't meet safety house requirements and claim it's too expensive to do so- your safety and our (OK mine) peace of mind demands we do all that is right and to meet all standards.
As to a beeper.. again all sounds easy but guess what it isn't. That would have required 2 full/ complete boards redesigns, more certifications, more difficult to install, longer design cycle AND about 2-300% increase in costs which would have negated the upgrade for many. Further then people would walk away and rely on the "beep" and if the beeper failed more cause for people to find reason to complain.
If the decision were left to me and given my "take personal responsibility" beliefs I'd leave it to your own devices but as I know with 100% certainty that doesn't fly in today's litigious society I'm forced to put safety features in some of you may feel are useless or simply annoying but those with final say disagree.. those being assembly houses, lawyers, insurance companies, safety houses etc.
If what I wrote offended anyone, my apologies but it's easy to sit in your chair and throw stones without ever considering what we see from our chairs, all while trying please all parties.
