PhotoStick Omni Reviews
The PhotoStick Omni is an update product from the makers of the original PhotoStick. The new version of this gadget makes it possible to use with personal computers, mobile devices, and tablets.
The idea behind this product is simple. The seller wanted to create an easy way for people to quickly get all their photos and videos off any device and onto safe storage.
The seller, Prairie IT, claims that instead of having to spend hours sorting and uploading photos you just plug the PhotoStick in and hit GO.
How Does It Work?
While there are many backup hardware options available, not many are focused on creating offline backups specifically for photos.
This is where The PhotoStick Omni attempts to fill a gap in the marketplace, as some people are wary of using cloud based backups or intimidated by new technologies.
With the PhotoStick Omni, the company claims that all the tech hurdles are removed and you can have a safe backup without having to use any tools or create extra accounts.
The seller states that it works on all operating systems including Windows, Apple, Android, and Apple mobile devices. The device specs state that specifically it can be used on:
- Windows 7 SP1 and newer
- OS 10.13 and newer
- iOS and iPad OS is 13.0 and later
- Android 6.0 and later
Further, their website states that the PhotoStick software can detect a wide variety of photo file types.
The website states that to use the PhotoStick Omni you plug it into your device and follow the prompts. When using it with a phone you will have to download ThePhotoStick Mobile App.
Cost and Price Plans
The price of the Omni Stick depends on its storage capacity. It comes in the following options:
- The PhotoStick Omni 32GB - $59.99
- The PhotoStick Omni 64GB - $79.99
- The PhotoStick Omni 128GB - $99.99
- The PhotoStick Omni 256GB - $149.99
You can choose based on how many files you think you may have, the size of them, and if you have large video files as well.
Customer Support
If you have any issues and need to reach a representative you can do so via their support page at ThePhotoStick.com/pages/support.
The company only lists it contact information as:
Prairie IT LLC
Haxtun, CO 80731-2569
(970) 225-6623
Their website states that The PhotoStick Omni comes with a 60-Day Money Back Guarantee, and that if you’re not happy with your device, contact support to initiate a refund.
You will have to send back your product at your own expense.
Customer Reviews & Complaints
Unfortunately, the original PhotoStick has collected a large number of negative reviews from customers.
Customer complaints range from units not working at all, working for the first few weeks then failing, or having difficulty discerning photos from junk files or erroneous data files and icons.
Other complaints mentioned that download time was excessive and reported the device crashing or not completing its tasks. Further reviews mentioned that at times there would be many copies of the same photo downloaded.
Additionally, some users have expressed concerns about the durability and build quality of the device.
The PhotoStick Omni does not fare much better, receiving mixed to highly negative customer reviews online, inlcuding on Reviewopedia where it receives mostly 1/5 star reviews.
On Amazon, The PhotoStick Omni 64GB gets an average rating of 3.3/5 stars from over 80 customer ratings, while the The PhotoStick Omni 128GB gets an average rating of 3.6/5 stars from over 2600 customer ratings.
The company behind The PhotoStick, Prairie IT LLC, has a B rating from the BBB. However, the company receives just a 1/5 star rating from 14 customer reviews there.
Additionally, Prairie IT LLC has closed 16 complaints closed in the last 12 months and 46 complaints closed in the last 3 years on the BBB website.
The company's other product, Xtra PC, also receives highly negative customer reviews on Reviewopedia.
The PhotoStick software also receives negative reviews from customers, with the companies apps for Android and Apple receiving just 1.7/5 stars and 1.9/5 stars, respectively.
The PhotoStick Omni App for Android receives 1.7/5 stars from over 200 customer reviews
The PhotoStick Omni App at the Apple Store receives just 1.9/5 stars from 92 customer reviews
Competitors and Alternatives
There are many different ways to achieve what The PhotoStick attempts to accomplish. The easiest and most hands off method is to use the cloud based backup service such as Google Photos.
These programs continually run in the background or at scheduled intervals and can easily restore any deleted photos or even transfer files whenever you switch or upgrade devices.
Is The PhotoStick Omni Worth It?
Based on past reviews for the original product it’s hard to believe that much has changed in this newest version.
It seems that the potential for technical problems is even greater now that the device claims to work across a multitude of operating systems and devices.
When judged strictly as flash drive, The PhotoStick Omni is probably overpriced by about 3 to 4 times vs well-known brands of the same memory size.
For example, while the The PhotoStick Omni 128GB sells for $99.99, you can easily find a well-reviewed 128GB flash drive on Amazon in the $30 range.
That means you're paying a premium price to get the PhotoStick software.
Unfortunately, the PhotoStick software gets very negative reviews from customers regarding it's usability, even though it's just a basic software that searches your device for files with extensions used for photos, presumably a very easy task.
For these reasons we'd recommend a different solution for storing your photos, preferably through a reputable hardware & software company with a proven track record.
If you have any experience with The PhotoStick Omni, please leave your reviews below.
PhotoStick Omni Customer Reviews
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This is not the one. Do not buy.
Tried loading multiple times. hard to find on a windows 11 laptop in file explorer. Does not load or install correctly. Was able to run it 2 out of 50 times to get photos. it promptly crashed. It also tried to direct me to a website that was blacklisted as having malicious malware.
NOPE!
Avoid this company
The features looked great so I ordered it. Downloaded the app as instructed and started reading how to use it. After reading the instructions I never took it out of its package. Instructions were confusing and more involved than believe is "ease of use". Trying to return it now but I'm not optimistic I'll ever see my money again. They make you send them an email to request instructions on how to return. No response yet. Other things I didn't like:
1. They ship DHL to a post office and then the post office delivers it to you. What companies still use DHL? Should have seen this red flag sooner.
2. It took over a week to finally get what I ordered.
3. Be prepared to have your e-mail flooded with spam. I have now unsubscribed from 22 different "companies" all of which originate from Thephotostick.
Don't buy.
Does not live up to the hype
This photostick requires that you download an app in order for it to work. The app is terrible. The photos on the photostick were all corrupted; nothing was transferred over. The return is even worse. They don’t reply to your email after multiple messages and concerns.
The only thing that was positive was it arrived in the mail box within 3 days. There are no phone number to contact for a refund. The one they have is a recording. It’s a great concept but fell short on the promises.
Do not buy this product for it will give you a headache to try to get your money back.
Disappointed,
Thuy Dong
Milton, DE
Don't Buy The Photostick Omni 256gb
Don't buy the photostick Omni, they do not work. I have been trying for 4 days to get them to work. With the special to buy 2, the money exchange to Canadian $,tax, duty at border, they cost me almost $500.00 AND NEITHER ONE WILL WORK ON MY 1 YEAR OLD ACER WITH WINDOWS 11, DON"T BUY!
Just appalling that there are no 'real' phone or email numbers .
If anyone has a verifiable address, please share with me. I have lost a lot of money through this .
Simply put [it does not work] do not buy.
It does not work, returned for refund, hope that this works.
Photostick Customer Service is non-existent
Have tried 4 times to return a non-working Photostick Omni by sending an email to the address on their website. No response to date and so far technical support supplied by Photostick Omni has costed me $55 plus the cost of purchase.
Rogers Holt
Total scam!
Have the PhotoStick mobile. First one didn’t work at all. Was sent a replacement that did work but took hours to download. Now it crashes every time and downloads from the cloud instead of just the phone. Facebook should not allow them to sell on their site. Total piece of junk. The good reviews are fake. Had to give it one star or I couldn’t post but it deserves none.
Will not work on laptop that has S mode
I was very excited about this product until I received it and used it. I used it on a fully charged phone. It had drained my battery 3 times and had not finished downloading my pictures. It takes forever on a phone. It does not store the photos from the phone in folders. It just makes one big folder with the pictures in random order. Big mess.
My laptop is a windows 10 with S mode. It will not work on devices that run on Microsoft S mode. The only plus was it did work well on my PC that had windows 10. It was fairly fast and there is an option to keep the pictures in folders.
I think because I was only happy with the way it worked on one device it is way overpriced Would not buy again. There is a reason they don't have customer reviews on their website. LOL
DON'T BUY IT. Totally worthless. I returned it the next day.
This device is extremely slow. I had it plugged into my iPhone for 1 and 1/2 hours and it was only 16% downloaded and I only had 50GB of photos and videos on my phone. At this rate it would have taken approx. 10 hours to download my photos and videos. Total waste of time. I tried it on both my phone and my wife's phone. Same thing. I returned them the next day. Don't waste your time.
You are lucky that you had a 'return' address. I ordered and paid for and months later it has not arrived. I have no way of contacting them for a return of my money.Sitting here at my desk in Dublin Ireland and realize I was the subject of a bogus sales campaign and misrepresentation - just awful.
Not able to contact company
ordered the photo stick, the type with type with two different ends, one for iPhone and one for computer. receive two orders with two sticks in each order of sticks for computer, did not receive one for iPhone. these were just in a package with no order number.
would like to return both orders for exchange for correct order of a photo stick the has an end for iPhone and computer on one stick.
can't talk directly with company ( no phone number)
They will not respond to my requests for return instructions!!!!
Photo Stick problems.
Total Fraud
Don`t buy one just a rubbish memory stick.
Photostick
I never received it after waiting nearly 2 months
It is a scam! Sally
Eligio Uzzanu
I purchased a Photo Stick on 1st April 2020,paid for
it and to date I haven't received it.
As far as I am concerned it's a fraud.
I WARN EVERYBODY NOT TO BUY IT!
Thank you!
Did you order it from photostick.com? Someone told me you have to do it through them.
I bought mine through Amazon. As soon as I can figure out how to delete the files on the stick, I'll be returning it.
Je pense que je me suis fait AVOIR !!
does not work
I have used other photo backups and they worked the Photo
Stick Mobile I can not get to work,,,,One time it worked but it took 4 plus hours to get to 30% downloaded..soon my phone went dead,,,so I had to start all over and then it would not work, messages saying all kind of different stupid stuff.
It will not work....I am going to try to return it and get a refund,,good luck to me,.,
From now on I will read the reviews before I purchased a product.Very very disappointed.....
Photo Stick Problem
It is a scam!!!!
PIECE OF GARBAGE
Didn't work after first try.
GOOD LUCK on trying to get a refund.