I have posted here mostly for traffic. Name changed for this because I've posted on the NowTV community forum with my real name 😁
I'm going round in circles. I need a replacement NowTV Smart Stick remote as it has been lost by my ADHD DS. I haven't said this to anyone, not looking for special treatment etc, just pointing out the reason I am trying so hard to get a new one. I have been using the roku app on my phone but it's a nightmare when DS is watching tv (usually youtube...) as I have to keep switching between apps which is so inconvenient especially when I'm working.
I have contacted NowTV live chat as advised on this page help.nowtv.com/article/buy-replacement-accessories-for-now-tv-box-stick to be told they are out of stock in the NowTV store but I can get one elsewhere. The first advisor gave me a list of 10 retailers that sell them so I asked them if they have a link to one that is compatible with the stick as I had tried multiple retailers on the list already and could not find one. Amazon have lots but they are only compatible with the NowTV Boxes, not the HDMI sticks, and they linked me to one which literally says in the description 'not compatible with NowTV Smart Sticks BOX ONLY' but the advisor kept insisting I buy it! They then cut off the chat. I thought I would check the other retailers rather than go back onto the chat, but after spending a while searching not a single one of the retailers sell them. Not out of stock, just don't sell them, at all.
I went back to live chat and the second advisor told me I could get one from sky store at this link accessories.sky.com/catalogue/products/now-tv-smart-stick-wi-fi-remote?section=now-tv&category=all?section=now-tv&category=all - it is currently closed for online ordering presumably due to covid, so I called and waited for aaaages to be told that Sky don't sell them at all. The guy pretty much had no idea what I was talking about - he knew that Sky own NowTV but there wasn't an option for him to order one as they don't and never have sold NowTV accessories, he also talked to his supervisor and confirmed he only way to get one is through NowTV directly.
I went back to the NowTV live chat and the third advisor linked me to an ebay listing - not one of their authorised retailers, just a person selling one - which was £18!! Then said there is nothing more they can do, I will have to wait until they are back in stock and cut off the chat when I asked if someone could let me know when they are back in stock (assuming that's a no)!
Does anyone please please know where I can get one that is compatible with the smart stick without paying triple the price for a secondhand one that is not guaranteed to work for no reason other than they don't know anything about their own product?! I've emailed NowTV as well but could be weeks before I get a response. Somebody somewhere - NowTV or Sky - should know about this surely? It's ridiculous I have to go through all of this rigmarole just to buy an £8 remote... right?