Looks like GK doesn't read simple directions! The tab that tells you about free shipping clearly states that if you buy 3 FLINGS you get the free shipping. You can buy what ever quantity of that FLING they offer, but it only counts as one FLING! Read it again gk.

Shipping charges are based on a 24 hour calendar day

Calendar day is based on our server time Eastern Time
If you're not sure what time it is at ThingFling check the footer of the website

The shipping charges are:

* 1st order (Any quantity*): $6.00
* 2nd order (Any quantity*): $4.00
* 3rd order and more (Any quantity*) FREE SHIPPING (Just like the old days!).

Maximum shipping charges per day $10.00

* Maximum quantity per order is specified by ThingFling

We reserve the right to combine multiple orders into a single shipment.

We reserve the right to make changes without notice.

How long does it usually take for these things to ship? I have bought a few things from thingfling, and they are actually decent with their shipping speed (compared to some similar sites).

Maybe I am just getting anxious because I am going on vacation and was looking forward to getting this before then Plus, I don't want "roving" kids in the neighborhood to steal it while I am gone

Back in March, I ordered two of the SRU8010 units. Although somewhat cumbersome in some aspects, I thought they were really nice units and did everything I wanted them to do, so I ordered two more when they came up in the beginning of April.

I worked with the first two that I got and, since I was happy with them, never bothered to even open the package from my second shipment.

Well, the other day it was time to provide a gift to someone in my family, so my wife opened the second package, brought one of the remotes over to me, and asked, "Should I wrap this up?"

At first glance, I could see that the package was opened and had a "Returned" sticker on it. I freaked recalling that the SRU8010 units were advertised as brand new. Obviously, these were refurbs.

When I turned the package over, I saw that it was, in fact, an SRU9600. I looked in the package at the other one and saw that it too was a refurbed SRU9600.

I had seen that the reviews were not as good as they were for the 8010. In addition, they seemed to eat batteries fast. Fianally, giving an open package for a birthday gift is not the coolest thing in the world! Concerned that they might not even work, I popped some batteries in and began to play around with the units. First off, I found that memory was still intact with the info from whoever had programmed it before. So, the reviews of these things losing programming and dropping codes seemed unfounded, at least for the units I received.

I reset the units and programmed them for my TV, DVD, and VCR. I then programmed activities utilizing all three components. The activity programming was far easier on this unit than on the 8010. Both 9600 units seem to work great!

So, one of the 9600 units will be the current birthday gift. I'll just have to tell a partial lie and say that I bought it on-line and needed to make sure it worked rather than let it sit around for two and a half months and not be able to return it. I will also keep the other unopened 8010 as a Christmas gift. That will leave me one 8010 and one 9600.

The 9600 definitely wins for ease of use, especially for programming activities, which are multiple keystrokes stored as one function - often called macros on other units. I thought this was a major drawback for the 8010. With the 8010, you needed to use the original remotes to build the macros. With the 9600, once the device is set up, you can just build the activity using the 9600 itself.

One of the neat things about the 8010 was that you could store a macro with whatever descriptive name you wanted. The 9600 has only a limited number of pre-stored labels that you can use. So, for the one that turns off the DVD player and TV, I have to remember that it is called Activity 2. On the 8010, I could have named it as DVD/TV OFF. So, there is a trade-off.

So, overall, they're both nice units. The 9600 wins on ease of use and setup. The 8010 wins on additional flexibility, even though it is harder to set up initially. Keep in mind, though, that setting up the 8010 for your devices (e.g. TV, DVD, etc.) is as easy as the 9600. It's the extra things to set up, like macros/activities, that are easier on the 9600.

As long as my 9600 unit(s) don't crap out in a short while, as some of the reviews suggest they might, I'll be happy with the purchase. Although I expected new 8010s, I got refurbed 9600s for less than they were actually being sold for.

Thanks, TF!

I'm afraid I have to say the same. Mine is sitting in the remote drawer because after an hour and a half trying to get it to learn the codes from my other remotes, it was only able to learn half of them. I tried fresh batteries - no joy.

Another thing that I found cumbersome about this model (as opposed to the Harmonies) is that it has a certain set of functions that IT thinks should be associated with each device. If you need to program a function that it doesn't think should be part of that device's feature set, there is no way to label the function on the remote. There are plenty of extra buttons on the touchpad, but you can't program them, and you can't label them. The Harmonies, by way of contrast, allow you to program ANY button on the remote for ANY device, and generate a custom label to help you remember what does what.

I also found that this device's touchpad is over-sensitive. I had to try 3 or four times to go to channel 7, for example, because it kept registering "77" or even "777."

As with all things ThingFling, YMMV. But I'd stay away.

Does anyone know if this is Media Center compatible?

Is it just my imagination but is this the first time I've seen an item up on here that is almost identical to that of one that's at another DOD site that rhymes with "Boot.com"???

As for a review on these remotes I got one from here a year+ ago and gave it as a sort-of gift i.e. just something that I had sitting around and wanted to help somebody out with complicated remote issues. It was pretty easy to setup at least for a very basic TV/CABLE/VCR/DVD thing. But I've been told that the batteries wind up getting changed almost once a month. I have no idea if they are cheap, rechargeable or ultra super spiffy batteries but that's just a second hand observation.

I am in for one. If it doesn't work out, grandma gets a new remote!

how long does it take to get delivered.

Soo - about 5 months of use later... this thing has been very good up until now but recently started rebooting whenever i press a button. it'll go blank, and then bring up the philips greeting screen.

I've changed the batteries, so i know its not something simple like that.. I've tried resetting it to factory and then reprogramming it - which actually works... but the minute i go to use any of the functions - the remote reboots itself.

so thingfling - i would love it if you brought back that two pack you were selling a couple of months ago (http://www.thingfling.com/forum/yaf_postst4950_2-TWO-Philips-Touch-Screen-SRU9600-Universal-Remote-Control.aspx) - i have been waiting for it anyways, to get another for the other tv setup... so bring it back please, so i can get that AND some spares! lol.

for the price - the remote is great, and i'm hoping i just got a dud or something. Hell, even if i get 6 months out of each one - i'd still be up on the game over a harmony remote if i burn through 3 or 4 of these at the prices TF has them.. lol.

so anyways - this isn't a complaint.. I actually really liked it.. and am just disappointed that it's gone.