Spoke Too Soon (and Almost Was Scammed!)

(photo from Cnet)

Okay, I'll admit it. I spoke too soon about TECHON Digital. 

When I made my order and filled out my customer profile, I accidentally mixed up the "a" and "i" in gmail when I typed in my e-mail address. Despite it being frustrating to not be able to "edit my e-mail address" on TECHON's user information page, I didn't think this was a big deal. I did, however, e-mail the customer support e-mail address to ask them to change my e-mail address in their records. I didn't get a response. 

I will also be the first to admit that I sometimes will be tolerable of nuisances if it means I'm getting a really great deal (examples: a poorly organized web site or physical store, bad customer service, etc.). 

Yesterday, while standing in line at the post office, I got a call from a TECHON representative, saying they'd been trying to e-mail me to confirm my order. I said I would be happy to confirm it over the phone—and mentioned that I tried to correct my e-mail address online but their site didn't have the functionality allowing me to do so. The rep tried to upsell me a few different things, including a lifetime battery, but I declined. Then the call was dropped (I believe on their end, not mine).

I called back. The representative to answer the phone could have cared less about my dropped call and said he couldn't help me without my order number. I vowed to call back when I was in front of my computer, which ended up being this morning since their customer service office closed before I made it home yesterday.

The representative who took my call this morning picked up the phone with a rather perturbed-sounding, "Yeah?" I explained my situation (again), only to have him respond that the camera I wanted was out of stock. I thought this was odd, since it sounded like it was in stock yesterday. I mentioned this aloud as well.

I picked out a similar camera and inquired about it. The "gentleman" tried to upsell me with batteries and a nice carrying case. I declined. Then he told me that the camera was out of stock, but I could buy the battery and carrying case but get the camera elsewhere. This was becoming annoying. 

From there, I looked through the online inventory a little more to see if they had any similar cameras in stock. I asked about two different ones, including the exact camera I misplaced/lost/whatever during our travels. When those searches yielded zilch results, I asked, "do you have ANY other cameras in that price range?"

"No, we don't have any cameras in that price range," was the dude's response.

Forget it, TECHON Digital. Seriously?

So, I navigated my way over to Buy Dig and found the same camera we had pre-Italy trip (except in blue, you know, to mix things up a little). That set me/us back $162 but included free shipping. I received a prompt confirmation e-mail... and I'm crossing my fingers this round of camera shopping works out a little better for us. 

UPDATE. Dan e-mailed me the following, so I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint: "Couldn’t add a comment on your page without logging in but here it is - Report them.  A number of others have... "

Also, this link has a slew of other consumers complaining about the company. Several others found that when they declined the fancy battery or add-ons that their cameras were mysteriously "not in stock." Scam! I can't believe they almost got me!

New Camera Ordered!

So, tonight we ordered a new camera to replace the one eaten by Air India.

I did some comparison shopping online and found that the 8MP Canon Powersho SD1100 ELPH camera we had before was $164 on Amazon and $199 on Target. Dan put a good deal of research into choosing that camera, and we enjoyed it for two months or so and during our honeymoon. While looking for a replacement, I found the camera also on TECHON Digital for even less—$139 plus shipping. 

While browsing, I saw that a few other similarly-priced cameras had a few more options (a slightly better zoom and a better preview screen as examples). I'm no pro photographer, but these seemed like fine enough things to buy for just 10 more dollars. I'll pick up an inexpensive case at Target.

So, we purchased this Canon Powershot SD870 digital ELPH camera (also 8MP) for $149 (goes for $216 on Amazon). If you're looking for an electronic for yourself or someone else, I suggest you check out this site. The camera prices seem they would be hard to beat.

Also, I'm not sure how long they'll be running the special for, but Target is offering a Lexar 4GB SD memory card for just $22.99, down from the usual price of $39.99. I used one of our Target gift cards to snag that.

Our new plan is for Dan to eventually get a camera as well so we can both take photographs on trips... and likely not lose both cameras. Also, I've made a very important "note to self" to leave my name, phone number and address in the camera case. 

I look forward to posting my final positive reviews after it arrives!

Two of My Loves in One

Halloween (love it) meets Goodwill (love it).

Agency: The Miller Group, Los Angeles

Executive Creative Director: Renee Miller

Creative Director: Greg Collins

Art Director: Shin Kawase

Copywriter: Greg Collins

Illustrator: Andy Mueller

Thanks to Steve at my office for sharing this amazing feat of illustration and design.

Fashionable (and Affordable!) Cold Weather Accessory

When my wonderful girlfriend Kate came over for dinner Tuesday night, she had on the chocolate brown pashmina I gifted her with earlier this month. The lightweight cashmere/wool blend scarf was part of my thank you to her for serving as one of my bridesmaids.

 Knowing I couldn't possibly (and shouldn't) pick one color for all eight girls, I chose different solid colors and patterns that I felt complemented their personalities. Because a lot of Kate's wardrobe is natural or neutral colors, I thought the brown would be perfect. So, I was pleased to see her wearing it the other night.

 What is my point? I was reminded to post something about the eBay vendor I used for the scarves. The seller's user ID is epashion — and he/she currently has just over 500 scarves up for bidding. They're very reasonably priced, not to mention there's a great variety of colors and patterns available. I highly recommend these for birthday, Christmas, whatever gifts — and keep in mind that shipping is less when you combine items. Stock up for yourself or friends!

Link to eBay here. Search sellers for "epashion."

Facial Bargain

After nine days honeymooning in Europe with no washcloth to use to exfoliate my face (we were only provided with bath towels at our lodging locations), my complexion has not fared well. I should also admit that an Italian diet of gelato, meat, pasta, bread and oils likely didn't help either.

So not long after our arrival back in the states at 2am today, I decided a facial was in order. I've only had two in my life, the last being about three weeks before Dan and I tied the knot. Remembering that a popular little Indian-run salon I frequent for eyebrow threading had affordable facials, I called up Natural Identity in Decatur. They had an opening for 4:30.

I enjoyed one hour's worth of facial, arm and chest massage as well as your typical masks, steaming, extractions, toners and moisturizers (not necessarily in that order). My technician used most all the same tools and creams one finds at a fancy spa, though this experience was sans the pushy product selling, cushy facility and robe (I think the pared-down room and wrap-around towel did the job just fine though). 

Some people get facials for the relaxation element. To me, that's part of it but only a small piece. I'd rather feel that my skin is clean and free of gunk in my pores.  Don't get me wrong though, my technician used great massage techniques and gave solid skin advice—the atmosphere just wasn't that of a Spa Sydell or Natural Beauty. I felt better about the clean pores aspect following my Natural Identity experience than I did with my posh $120* Intercontinental Hotel Spa experience from just six weeks earlier—this time for a banging $40.

While I was in the shop, I had my eyebrows threaded ($4) and didn't miss the expensive valet parking of the Intercontinental ($15). 

Natural Identity Beauty Architects

1707 Church Street #C3

Decatur, GA 30033

(404) 292-6230

*Note: I wouldn't have usually gone for this expensive pampering. I happened to have a $120 Intercontinental gift certificate given to me over a year ago. 

Lipstick that Stays Put

The Mission: find a lipstick that won't wear off within 30 minutes that also didn't break the wedding budget.

Solution: Maybelline Superstay Gloss.

I'm usually more of a Chapstick gal than I am a lipstick maven, so I was a little handicapped when I began my hunt. I wasn't impressed with staying power of the Loreal Infallible lip color I'd picked up about a month and a half ago—but since I did like the color, I brought the tube with me to Target for color comparison purposes.

I tested this "superstay" gloss for about a week leading up to our wedding this past Saturday. I officially marked it with my stamp of approval and wore it on the big day, maybe applying only three or four times (just for good measure) across a seven hour period.

And at about $8 at Target (less at some other retailers), it didn't set our wedding budget back too much at all!

Hiatus!

Forgive me for not blogging much on this new blog. Until our wedding has wrapped (that will be this weekend) and we return from our honeymoon, I probably won't be posting much here.

I will, however, be putting up little snippets on my original blog about wedding stuff. Check them if you'd like!

http://katystreamsherconsciousness.blogspot.com/