Preparing for New York City
So tomorrow I’m off to New York City for business meetings. I have several meetings planned over the course of three days. While I’m not in meetings I’m planning on taking lots of photos. I hear that it is beautiful this time of year in NYC. I can’t wait to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. As I’m thinking most of my meeting will not last longer than two hours each I will have plenty of time to explore and take photos of Christmas in New York. My only worry is that I will get snowed in and unable to return home on time for Christmas with the family.
As each night in New York comes to an end, I hope to post pictures to my flickr account. I am returning home on Friday and will try to upload some of the better photos to my blog. I also hope to blog at least once each day while I’m there because if I wait until I return I will haven’t forgotten all the stories and will have nothing to say.
Have you been to NYC lately? If so, was it for business or pleasure? What did you enjoy most about NYC?
Rotten Apple
I would like to share an Amazon.com customer service story with everyone. Yesterday I received an email from Amazon.com stating that they had received my return item I sent back. The email also stated I was being charged a $212.00 restocking fee. Now, lets step back a minute and let me tell you why I sent the item back to Amazon.com.
I had bought a backup NAS (network attached storage) drive for home to use as a backup for all computers in the house. When I received the item it didn’t work properly. I first contacted the manufactures support and after two hours we decided the drive was indeed not working properly. They had offered an RMA which could take several weeks or I could just send it back to Amazon.com and have them swap the item out. I opted for the quicker way via Amazon.com.
The next day I contacted Amazon.com and informed them that the item didn’t work and that I would like a replacement item sent out. Within two days I had received my replacement item and all was good. I boxed up the item that did not work and was waiting for UPS to pick up the item. Well, over thirty had passed and one day I noticed a $1067.00 charge on my credit card from Amazon.com. I did a little research and found out it was because they didn’t receive the broken item back yet. I contacted Amazon.com and found out that I had to ship the item back versus them placing a call tag with UPS. I apologized to the lady and she said it wasn’t a big deal and that she would have UPS come pick the item up and once they received it back, they would refund the money.
Well a couple days went by and UPS had picked up the broken item. Now we are back to present time. So as I mentioned earlier, I received an email from Amazon.com stating they received the item but I was being charged a $212.00 restocking fee. So after I saw the email I contacted Amazon.com to find out why I was being charged a restocking fee on an item that was not work properly. Here is where the story gets interesting. My phone conversation went like this:
Amazon.com: Hello, how can we help you today.
Me: I’m calling about order #103-5368764-7373058
Amazon.com: Yes, I found your order, what can I do for you.
Me: I was wondering why I was charged a restocking fee on an item that was returned and was not working properly?
Amazon.com: Once second while I look at the notes on the return…….. Ok, I see we received the item back and you would like a refund.
Me: Yes, I would a refund but would like to know why I’m being charged a restocking fee.
Amazon.com: Please hold while I look at this further…… Ok, Sir, to avoid the restocking fee I can send out a replacement item if the item was damaged or not working properly.
Me: I already received my replacement item and the item I sent back was the item not working properly.
Amazon.com: Sir, please hold the line wile I research this further…… Sir, so we charged you $212.00 to your card, I don’t see where we charged you.
Me: No, I received an email stating you were taking $212.00 out of the $1067.00 I was charged for the replacement item.
Amazon: So you received your refund?
Me: No, I haven’t received anything yet. But before I receive my credit I want to make sure it is for the full amount.
Amazon.com: Sir, I’m sorry, I don’t follow.
Me: Ok, say I bought an apple from Amazon.com and the when I got the apple I noticed it was bruised. I called Amazon.com for a replacement and I was told you would send me a replacement but to make sure I sent back the bruised apple or would be charged for the replacement apple. I didn’t send back the bruised apple and now have two apple and have been charged for both apples. I didn’t want to pay for the bruised apple so I sent it back for a refund. Do you follow so far?
Amazon.com: Yes, but why not cut out the bruise on the apple and eat both of them?
Me: Never mind, have a good day.
The funny thing is, the guy was serious. I figured I would try again on Monday.
It’s A Girl
Ronda and I went to the doctor today to find out the sex of our unborn child. We both wanted another girl and we are both very happy that is what we are having in April 2008. We have already picked out a name for her; it will be Penelope Ann Shickles.
Assassins Creed
As I’m getting back into blogging on a normal basis again I want to share some cool shows, and games to play over the holiday break coming soon. One game that is a must have is Assassin’s Creed. It is a third-person stealth game, in which the player primarily controls the assassin Altaïr through computer-rendered memories experienced by Desmond. The primary goal of the game is to use stealth and other tactics to complete nine assassinations, though prior to strike out for the target, the player must perform a minimum number of intelligence missions, whether by eavesdropping, interrogation, or pickpocketing information from a given target. This is a must have for any Xbox 360 owner. Check out the Game Spot video review below.
Tin Man - Part 1
Have you heard about the new Sci-Fi mini series called, Tin Man? Tin Man is a three-part television miniseries reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It gives the story a heavy science fiction/fantasy emphasis and gives only allusive references to most of the original story. I highly suggest you check it out. I unfortunately heard about it a few days to late and missed part 1, but thanks to Hulu I was able to watch part 1 via the Hulu website. If you missed part 1, feel free to visit Hulu or simply watch Tin Man Part 1 below by clicking the play button.
