When I got home after I bought my camera, I discovered the camera shop's website was advertising my camera and lens kit for $128 less than what I paid.
So I went back the next working day with all the camera stuff and I demanded the difference back or a full refund.
No dice.
They'll give me my memory card but not the difference because what I saw was their "Web only" price.
And they don't give refunds.
I was MEGA ZOOM LENS MAGNIFIED pissed off. Their website doesn't even have an online shop facility and nowhere in the page did they have 'web only price' stated.
I wasn't going to take their BS. I told him to keep his 4Gb 'cause I'll see him in court!! (Small Claims Tribunal).
I was furious like a camera set to 20s blinking away ready to explode. I was so angry I stormed out of the shop.
.
.
.
.
.
Then I had to go back in the shop because I left my camera there.
Totally killed my angry exit. Hehehehe.
Anyways, long story short, I wrote to the owner and he wrote back the same BS story about online shop price. I don't believe anything they say, but I decided to stop pursuing this because I compared their list price with what they sold me and to them it looks like I walked away with $120 discount because they heavily discounted my memory card and camera bag. It was going to be hard to fight this in court (Yes, I'm a pseudo-lawyer too!)
The camera shop is too expensive in the first place! I would have ended paying the same if I bought the camera from Myers. I did get my 8Gb memory card in the end.
Photographers are Snobs
Yup. I said it.
Photographers are snobs. We'll.... a few of them anyways.
I've only been into photography a few weeks so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. But I'm picking up lots of snobbery in my reading of forums.
Its like someone would ask "Should I save my photos in RAW or JPG?" and some super duper photography expert would snarkly remark "You bought a high precision photographic equipment and you choose to throw away detail by saving in a lossy format? You're such a douche!"
Or something along those lines.
And its not just in the forums. Some of the wedding photographers I've met are like super snobbish. Its like you're always talking to their nose because they're always looking down on you. I know of this wedding photographer who didn't talk to anyone except the bride and groom. He completely refused all other picture requests unless the newly weds said so.
And then there was this other wedding photographer who told me off because I was taking a photo of her composition - Yup. My camera-phone was definitely going to reproduce your composition. Sorry. But she could have at least been friendly about it! Seriously, some of these guys need to take a chill pill!
Why all this snobbery? Perhaps its the 'knowledge is power' thing and a lot of photographers get all high and mighty when it comes to their stuff. You gotta do this - you gotta do that - because thats how I do it. And there's an awful lot of super defensive photographers justifying their purchase! The Nikon Vs Canon rivalry is like Xbox Vs PS3 - so many fanbois!
The photographer is using Canon. She obviously doesn't have a clue.
Its the camera body and plastic which is like dark matter which turn normal people to evil snobs.
Because I too momentarily fell for the dark power!!
"Anh, look at all those people taking photos with their box cameras. So stupid. None of them can take good photos".
She looked at me and asked if I was alright.
With its big long black cylindrical lens, a digital SLR makes you feel..... over confident.
:P
But really - like any hobby, there's a few who take it a bit too seriously and these are probably the ones who are spreading the hate.
We should just have the love.
Ebay Stuff
Ebay goodies
I went bananas buying accessories for my camera on eBay. I was told to get a UV filter so that I don't get so much glare in my pictures and so that it protects the lens. I got two lenses for $8 delivered! I also got some cleaning stuff (Giotto blower and Lens pen) for $20 delivered.
But what I though was my biggest bargain was the biggest disappointment. Nikon batteries retail for around $80+? So I got really excited when I saw "Genuine" Nikon batteries for $28.
I got the battery two days ago and it looked real enough. But with careful inspection I discovered its a fake!
I emailed the guy and told him his battery is fake because:
1) Doesn't have proper Nikon indentation on the hologram
2) The label is stuck on crookedly
3) Gap in the middle electrode.
Fake Nikon battery
And sure enough, he sent my money back 5 minutes later. He gave me an extra $1 compensation but cancelled our transaction which prevented me from bad mouthing his ebay account.
Its no wonder I didn't find "fake" in his ebay feedbacks.
Knock-offs are so common in Asia, its the norm. But I'm not kosher with fake batteries because they can really explode if not handled right. You don't want the battery and camera exploding and taking out your eye or finger.
5 comments:
oh will! poor you!! i hope it all works out in the end...
my partner is a photographer so i've learned a few things about photography here and there. photography forums always suck... they're so elite!
not sure what's with the wedding photographers only speaking to the bride and groom though - that's a bit rude.
if you need any camera equipment, i can send you some from malaysia. the real stuff (complete with warranty). there's 2 types of warranties, would you believe - one is called a grey set which is basically a fake and the other one is gold which is real. we have a shop here that's really reputable and most of the pros from commercial studios and even big name wedding photographers use the shop. some of the stuff is way cheaper than buying stuff in australia... and even singapore and thailand :S
Angie is right. Pricing on SLR equipment is cheaper overseas. Althought the good US/AUD rate is helping.
Forums are a weird kettle of fish, some have nice ppl . . some not so nice. Keep at your photography though, it's digital so you won't waste film practising!
that's a nasty experience. s**t happens talaga. glad you know your basic rights as a customer. these shops should not be given the chance of always taking advantage!
hi angie! thanks for explaining about about the warranty types. ill keep that in mind when looking at stuff.
I think once i've graduated from noob photographer status i might look at more camera gear. Although im tempted to splurge on flashes and more lenses lolz!
thanks Sk. will def look overseas for buying camera stuff. and get the gold warranty like angie says. i hope the aussie dollar stays strong until my next overseas trip!
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