Online Shopping

This is a salutary record of how we can all fall foul of what are apparently Internet sharks.  Recently I decided to upgrade my ageing camcorder with a newer HD version.  I had planned to use it for interviewing people professionally for a new web project and so decided to splash out on a semi-pro camera.  The first problem you encounter when buying video equipment is the NTSC/PAL issue.  For some reason, probably market protectionism, the different formats still persist.  The first few vendors who had fantastic prices and were presenting the devices as UK, when further questioning was levelled at them, admitted that they were selling NTSC products.  It was not trivial to avoid this trap.  Not wishing to have to research this phenomenon further I decided it would be safer to buy a listed PAL product from the UK and pay a premium.

With an upcoming holiday looming I looked for a supplier who had a product in stock for a reasonable price.  I researched a little about the websites that I found but eventually, evidently without sufficient research, I made the plunge.  

Please see the following email exchange:

----- Original Message -----

From: James McDermott

To: sales@provisualworld.com

Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 3:26 PM

Subject: Order MM09HE20000442

Hi

I ordered a camcorder from you 7 days ago (order number: MM09HE20000442).  Is there anyway I can track the order.  What is its eta.  I am going away at the weekend and expected to have the device for then.

with kind regards

Jim

______________________________________________________________________________________________

On 26 Jul 2011, at 11:05, Pro Visual World wrote:

Hello Jim

Delivery is Tuesday next week

Regards
Pro Visual World


www.provisualworld.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: James McDermott

To: Pro Visual World

Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 11:20 AM

Subject: Re: Order MM09HE20000442

Hi

That is really disappointing, I'm sure the item was listed as "in stock" as this was one of my criteria for choosing your firm.  Would someone be able to call me to discuss.  I shall be out of the country from Saturday 30th July for 2 weeks.  I would like to discuss

1.  Paying for accelerated delivery

2.  Collecting the device

3.  Delivery to a location in France.

kind regards

Jim

Mobile deleted

______________________________________________________________________________________________

On 27 Jul 2011, at 10:16, Pro Visual World wrote:

Hi Jim

We can arrange for delivery to immediately upon your return

Regards
Pro Visual World


www.provisualworld.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: James McDermott

To: Pro Visual World

Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 12:41 PM

Subject: Re: Order MM09HE20000442

Dear Pro Visual World

Thank you for the response.

I am not sure I understand your business model, or why it takes 24 hours to get each response by email.  I'm sure there is a sensible explanation.  On the website it said the product was in stock but there was no mention of how long it would take for the delivery.  In my view there is no reason why an item in stock cannot be dispatched immediately.  I feel very let down by your service as we are about to go on an important holiday and I bought the camera specifically to record it.  Thankfully I can use my old camera that isn't HD but your failure to provide clear information has significantly disadvantaged me.

I have offered 3 reasonable solutions that all involve additional cost to me that I was willing to bear to get the device on time and you haven't even done me the courtesy of responding to them.  Instead you respond with a single sentence that can be misinterpreted.

Do you mean:

1) On my written return you will dispatch the camera to me immediately

2) On my actual return from France you will dispatch the device

If you mean (1) then I apologise sincerely and look forward to receiving the device tomorrow.  If, as I suspect, you meant (2) then I shall be returning on Saturday 13 August.  We have family staying at the house during the 2 weeks but they will be out touring during most days so it would be more convenient if it arrived on or after the 14th.

Sincerely

Jim

______________________________________________________________________________________________

On 28 Jul 2011, at 09:37, Pro Visual World <sales@provisualworld.com> wrote:

Hello James

We will arrange for the order to arrive with you on Monday 15th August

Regards
Pro Visual World


www.provisualworld.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

On 17 Aug 2011, at 12:42, James McDermott wrote:

The product has not been delivered by 12:30 on the 17August. Is there a problem?  Please supply the UPS tracking number

Sent from my iPad

______________________________________________________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: James McDermott

To: Pro Visual World

Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 6:38 PM

Subject: Re: Order MM09HE20000442

No response within 24 hours as promised and no product delivered.  The cash has been taken off my Visa card.

I have called

KamKorda Ltd

1 The Limes,

BURTON-ON-TRENT,

DE15 0NW

Tel : 01283 516630

www.kamkorda.com

but get the message to email this address.

Please respond as requested.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

On 19 Aug 2011, at 06:33, Pro Visual World wrote:

Your order is with PVW at Wakefield James

KK are our Logistics company

We will check your order James and email back today

Regards


Pro Visual World


www.provisualworld.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: James McDermott

To: Pro Visual World

Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2011 3:03 PM

Subject: Re: Order MM09HE20000442

Look.  What is going on?  You have had significant funds deposited to your bank account for a product that was listed as *In stock*  this was over a month ago.  If you are unable to complete this order as advertised please indicate.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/Situationsthatcanchangeyourconsumerrights/DG_183048

This link is to confirm to you that I understand my rights and that I am eligible for a full refund if the product hasn't been delivered within 30 days, as no delivery date was given.  I should also warn you that if I seen no progress on a delivery.  Minimum - Company name, delivery reference and confirmed date.  Then I will be making an official complaint.

Mr J McDermott

______________________________________________________________________________________________

On 21 Aug 2011, at 07:59, Pro Visual World wrote:

Hi James

Your order will be despatched to you this coming week.  The only reason for any delay has been the scarcity of this line currently

Regards

Pro Visual World


www.provisualworld.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: James McDermott

To: Pro Visual World

Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:30 PM

Subject: Re: Order MM09HE20000442

Dear Pro Visual World,

I will take your offer at face value for now.  I earnestly request that you send details to me immediately of the delivery firm but critically, the dispatch number or reference number.

I would point out that under my own interpretation of the Trades Description legislation and the The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) code of practice, your websites are currently breaking the law.

If I do not receive the product or the details I have requested by Monday 22 August 2011, I shall be forced to take further action.  This email will be forwarded to my solicitor and to the Advertising Standards Agency in preparation for that action.  Should you comply with my request I shall withdraw the action.

Yours sincerely

Mr McDermott

______________________________________________________________________________________________

On 22 Aug 2011, at 09:28, Pro Visual World <sales@provisualworld.com> wrote:

James

Your order will arrive with you on Friday.

We will provide tracking on Thursday

Regards


Pro Visual World


www.provisualworld.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: James McDermott

To: Pro Visual World

Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 11:33 AM

Subject: Re: Order MM09HE20000442

Dear Pro Visual World

You have failed to provide evidence that the product will be delivered or the reasonable information I have requested.  I find this suspicious given that it is now 6 weeks since you banked my money.  Having said this, I am prepared to wait until Thursday this week to see if you are good to your word and that you will provide me with details of the delivery firm and the dispatch notification.  I will postpone my notification to the Advertising Standards Authority.  I would note that you still state on your website that you use UPS as a delivery firm.  It is vital that you understand that our premises are difficult to find, only the larger firms that visit regularly know how to find us.  Please confirm that you have provided the mobile phone contact number to them.

Please inform me if you anticipate any changes to your delivery schedule.  I must warn you that should this go to court, I have saved screen shots of your website during my order process and I have stored all communications and the results of my investigations in to your organisation at companies house amongst other sources. I will state quite clearly now that if you are unable to fulfil the order as advertised please refund my money now and save us all the effort of legal action.  If however you are able to provide a Canon XA10 AVCHD HD PAL with a 12 month Canon UK warranty as advertised then please continue.

Yours sincerely

Mr J McDermott

Sent from my iPad

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Begin forwarded message:

From: Pro Visual World

Date: 23 August 2011 08:36:05 GMT+01:00

To: James McDermott

Subject: Re: Order MM09HE20000442

Your order is despatching to you this week and we will supply you with tracking later this week

Regards
Pro Visual World
www.provisualworld.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Anyone like to give me odds that I'll have the camcorder by Friday?

New Year's Revolution

As I have mentioned before the communication challenges that confront us all, with the advent of what is variously called social networking, Cyberspace, the Web, the Internet etc, are numerous and many people are struggling to come to terms with them.  From businesses to the media to private individuals the struggle is evident.  Some businesses can't cope with the onset of viral marketing the vast scale interconnectedness of their consumers.

The news media - in the 24hour constant reporting world - struggle to balance relevance and source verified factually correct reporting.

Finally the general public are swamped by the accelerating and rapid upgrading and introduction of new tools with which to communicate. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn are my current trio there are many more brands from which we can choose. 

In all of these sites I am finding an increasing discomfort. It has been clear to me for some time that we are someone's product but the escalation of the disdain with which our information security and privacy are being handled I find increasingly frustrating.  There must be a business model that supports a more safe, secure and open relationship with the provider.  If so many people desire this type of facility I'm sure it can be provided as a low-cost fee for service type deal.  I have started sketching out a business plan, not sure how to fund it? My New Years Resolution is to complete the plan and if it looks sensible to get it funded and build an alternative, who's with me? Comrade Jimbo, leader of the people's popular affront. 

Big Brother is watching you

The ubiquitous reference to an authoritarian regime is perhaps overkill for this blog entry but I do feel kind of guilty.  It is apparent, from most people that I talk to, that in general users of the internet are not aware of the level of information that is routinely collected on them and stored for posterity.  Well, maybe we're all aware we just, in that typically human way, manage to ignore it somehow.  We can switch off that conscious part of the brain and hide from big topics like death, homework, tax returns and in my case the dishwasher.  My original intention for this blog was not an attempt to generate followers or readers but it does tickle me to think that others read it and I often look to see who has.  Recently I had my first Hawaiian IP address.  You can see on the map above there is a dot.  I can zoom into this and show the detail, this map shows the last 100 unique IP addresses that viewed my site.  If I paid money, there would be more detailed information available, so advertisers and others may well be getting significantly more info from each of us than this.  I have had a different - and less user friendly - counter running since the launch of my site.  Thanks to a tip from Simon. Currently, there have been 1066 unique hits and 1063 visitors to my site - excluding the IP addresses that I usually connect from.

The simple screen dump of info from the Sitemeter site looks like this:

This hawaiian visitor was on a peak day..... (UTC -11hrs = 08:08:22 am Mar 31st)

Lest you misunderstand my motives here, I should probably add that what I am attempting to do in "broadcast mode" is what I have been doing to certain individuals on a 1:1 basis.  Namely, inform them about the quantity, nature and automation of the data that is available on all of us.  So there you go.

You have a little peek at me and I'm peeking back through the curtains ;-)

TINSTAAFL?

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

The concept here could be, if someone pays for your lunch then there is an implied obligation to pay them back, clearly this is based upon the paradigm of value being some transferable commodity that can be encapsulated in notes or coinage of some sort or more accurately in today's world, digitised bank records and can be passed from one person to another.  But, couldn't I buy you lunch and not expect you to pay me money back in return?

The concept could be broader and the obligation could be to give some value back in another form (you scratch my back, I'll buy you lunch)  -- this mixed-metaphor still describes "no free lunch".  But I would still maintain that I could buy you lunch and not expect my back scratched.  I guess I should've put that in quotes!

It could be argued that nothing is free and that ultimately someone is paying for it, whoever pays me sufficient money such that I can make my magnanimous gesture of a free lunch, ultimately paid for your lunch.  I don't hold with this -- there are some natural resources that are in such abundance and are not (or should not) be under the control of an assumed authority to meter out.  Resources that could be considered to be free for all.  However this then brings us to The Tragedy of the commons, which argues that free access and unrestricted demand results in depleted resources through over exploitation, probably permanently.

The suggestion is that each individual realises that grabbing what they can for themselves, even when they know it will damage the whole supply, is in their personal best interest and so they cannot help themselves.  In the modern solutions section of the graffiti-pedia page it starts its description as "in the absence of enlightened self interest....".  This is the tragedy! Our default start position is,  "absence of enlightened self interest".  We assume that as individuals, governments, corporations and society we cannot take only what we need, we have to grab it all quick before it goes - bugger the rest of you.  We cannot see that if we take what we need, dare I say it - take nothing if we don't really need to and leave it for someone else, that this is actually in our own best interest.

No one owns the internet.  Ok, people charge us to get to it but eventually - as is starting to happen with telephone lines, that capital expenditure is written off and there is no need for the owner to generate income simply from using it.  There is a continuous hum about free internet sites starting to charge, that commercialisation of the internet is expected, we naturally assume it has to make money.  I don't.  I hope the components that are free,  remain free and that many other aspects become free.  That corporations, governments and society realise that there is a phenomenal possibility for enlightened self interest in the whole world creating and maintaining free and open global dialogue.