Monday, April 18, 2011

Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts Official Video

I've been trying to find out who does this song and now I know and so do you! If this doesn't look right then click here!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Simply Electronics, Simply Disgusting

I posted earlier on my quest for a 500mm Sony lens. This has turned into much more than a simple shopping trip on the web. Its turned into a horrible experience that I wouldn't wish on anybody. Here's a rundown of what led up to this situation:
  1. I wanted a lens that I knew was discontinued
  2. I felt that even though it was discontinued, it may still be available
  3. I searched for and found the lens on multiple sites
  4. I clicked through to sites and right off the bat, was told that its out of stock
  5. One site, Dells, indicated it was indeed in stock
  6. It was indeed, not in stock at Dells, one of the largest computer companies in the world, who doesn't grasp the concept of inventory
  7. I ordered the lens
  8. Oops, Dell says "We don't have it"
  9. My account gets the money back
  10. I then found the lens on the website of the villain of this story, Simply Electronics (look it up, I won't link to them)
  11. They had 2 in stock
  12. Then they had one
  13. I ordered on the 28th of March, 2011
  14. Let the games begin
  15. Did I mention that I used Google Checkout? An outstanding service that appears to stand for nothing!
  16. Simply Electronics soon found that, and I quote:
    "Upon packing your order, we had discovered that our shipment of Sony SAL-500 500mm F8 Reflex Super Telephoto Lens was damaged, and therefore had to be returned.
    Unfortunately, the replacements are not expected to arrive within any short period of time.
    We apologise for any inconveniences caused, however in this unfortunate event, we would like to ask if there are any other similarly priced products listed on our site that may be suitable as a replacement? Should the price be slightly higher, we can perhaps waive this as a gesture of goodwill (please note we can only do this usually for minor differences).
    Likewise, if the price is lower, we can have this reimbursed to your account.
    Kindly let us know by reply and we will do our best to expedite this for you. Otherwise, kindly advise on how we should proceed.
    Looking forward to your response, thank you.

    Kind Regards,
    Tobias
    Customer Service Executive"
  17. For the folks playing at home, it was never in stock. They must have an excuse box next to the phone and they pulled damaged! Trust me, it was never in stock
  18. I get it! I'm looking for a discontinued lens! So, cancel and give me my money back, right? Wrong!
  19. Emails, phone calls, yea, yea, yea! I'm getting nowhere
  20. Simply Electronics is based in Hong Kong, 
  21. I think that translates to "bye, bye gringo money"
  22. That was a joke
  23. This blog is hosted on Blogger, a Google company
  24. Google Checkout is another Google company
  25. I participate in the Google Adsense program
  26. I can't rip you off like Simply Electronics can with Googles blessing
  27. Google might say that I didn't go through the dispute process
  28. My bank has a dispute process
  29. The local branch of my bank disputes what the phone people from the bank say
  30. If you click on an ad on my sites, I get $.0001 (or less, not sure) and if I buy from Simply Electronics they keep all my money
  31. I ordered something, never received anything, yet my bank says I could lose the money I paid for nothing!
  32. There's no such thing as a free lunch! That used to be an old saying. 
  33. Don't mind paying for something you never receive! April 5, 2011! Our banks, our government, us consumers!
  34. My headaches almost gone and the knots are almost out of my neck! I don't know, do you think they'll try to charge me for therapy?
UPDATE: We finally got our money back on April 18, 2011! We feel lucky! I finally found a way to raise a dispute about this with Google. It wasn't in plain site and I'll try to find it and post it. I'm not sure if it was that Google got after them or my bank or the combination of the two. Again, after waiting nearly three weeks I did get my money and I feel relieved, but the process was terrible to go through and I wouldn't wish it on anybody.