Square Off

I received this via email about my Swap: "We would like to inform you that your order#... with the email address - ...  is in process and it will be shipped by 30th May 2023."

I like the word "will".

Square Off also sent me this on 23 June 2022:

"Your board will now be delivered to you by August 30, 2022."

However, to Square Off's credit, they have refunded me my money within 14 days of me making the request by email.  I would suggest that anyone thinking of pulling out to do so now while they are still solvent.

Lol!!! It's the first time they didn't say "estimated" to me.

Seems like they are advertising their other boards pretty hard. Hopefully they're selling them. I'd love to see them succeed.

Guys I need clarification, once I remove the shipping lock screw, am I supposed to put it back especially when I'm traveling with the board? I ask because I keep hearing things moving inside when I tilt my swap board. What is the modus operandi with regard to the lock screw?

Just noting:
We're now at the end of May 2023 and you know what I'm not seeing? A rush of YouTube videos and other customer reviews on social media from people having received their Square Off Neo units. According to Square Off's promises, which have repeatedly slipped, all US units should have been shipped and received for months by now, and units for the rest of the world shipped and a majority by now received.

On Square Off's own website, the Neo and Swap are no longer listed as products - only the Square Off Grand Kingdom and Square Off Pro.

For a device that was supposed to ship 3 years ago I think it's pretty clear that Square Off has not been able to successfully mass manufacture the Neo or Swap. There is no large stock of units stuck somewhere in inventory, and all suggestions that delays were related to logistics are clearly and obviously false.

Square Off may have intended to try to deliver on this product, but they have taken money from their customers, and in my view, have clearly made a commercial decision that (i) they are not going to be releasing the Neo and Swap, and (ii) that they are also not going to declare this openly and transparently and proactively refund people who made orders. My view is that this is unethical and anti-consumer behaviour. Even if Square Off is able to make good technical future products, I definitely will not be supporting this company.

Update: I received my replacement board (my original was defective) and it works well. Once in awhile (not too often) it doesn't register a move, and that screws up the game to the point that I have to resign because I can't move. Other than that, it is working as advertised and I'm quite happy with it. Square Off did the right thing by me in replacing the defective board. Yes, I had to wait quite a few months to receive it, but they came through in the end.

My Neo has developed a bubbled top I am going to have to make a claim. I was also a kickstarter. Also I purchased storage bags for my grand kingdom and two Neos they have not delivered them as yet last I spoke with them they would be here in April and of course we now in June. It is like they rely on us getting tired of waiting and will give up.

What is the current status of Square off products. Do they ship out in time.?

Yes, there is a lock board function in the app to lock the board for travel.

My Swap lasted a few hours of play before imploding. Won't turn on, and the mechanism sounds and feels like it's come loose. I may ask to "Swap" it for the Pro. After experiences the Swap I think I may enjoy that more.

Edit: Squareoff told me how to reset it and it seems to be working fine now!

I had the worse experience with this company, do not purchase from them

At squareoffnow.com I bought a set of wooden pieces and a leather bag for my board. This was in July 2023. In August 2023 I sent an email to ask why it was taking so long, in response they told me that the estimated shipping date is November 2023 and in case of any problem, they will give me another shipping date. Don't buy from squareoffnow.com scam

Square off is good company with great marketting. Unfortunately their products have not been properly QC'ed or release their updates half baked.

I first contacted Square off in June about the playing surface of my Neo bubbling. My ticket was closed a few times, but I continued to contact them. They Sent me a return label in the last part of September. I am about to send it back to them today or tomorrow. I will update when I receive the replacement board. They say to contact them once I have shipped so they can send a replacement. We will see how long that takes. I also had ordered the storage pieces zippered case for the neo chess pieces and storage bags for my Grand Kingdom, 2 neos, 2 storage piece boxes a long long time ago. While I got my 2 Neos last November 2022 the extra items only arrived in September of 2023. I gave one Neo to my son who has yet to open it, because of the issues myself and others have had. Since the one year warranty is up in November we should open it and file for a claim before the deadline. In my opinion the 500 Kickstarter Neo buyers should get there neos repaired beyond the deadline of one year as Squareoff knows of all the defects that have come to light and thier dragging thier feet answering support issues and replacement boards has been pretty bad . It has been about 4 years it seems now I have lost track of time. I know they pulled the Neo and Swap from the market to deal with the manufacturing problems. I really doubt that they have given up on them and they will reappear when those issues are worked out. I still believe the products have great potential, but squareoff starting from scratch is having growing pains with developing such a business from scratch. They have serious issues with support when the products have issues like the Neo and Swap and communication is not that great. They do stick with it though and seem to eventually take care of issues although the timeframe is pretty poor. My grand kingdom works great, and I do enjoy the squareoff pro I own even with some of the software issues from time to time. We knew there could be issues with a kickstarter purchase, I had no idea that it would take so long to get the neos but I am hoping with time they get the issues straighted out and thier business survives.

SO are your issues resolved now?

Square off responded when they received my defective neo. They say a replacement will be sent in November. We will have to see how that date holds up

What are you suppose to do when your square off neo is stuck in the middle of installing updates

Hi all !

I finally received my NEO automated chessboard today ! I live in Paris (France).

I looked into the NEO about 2 months ago and was told through their online chat that they didn't sell the NEO anymore...only the NEO Z. So did you get the NEO or the NEO Z?