One of these days, my head would explode and these fkers around me would be blown into bits.
Cheers.
Thursday, 9 April 2015
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
iFeelstupid
Buying second hand stuff, especially electronic goods, is a tricky affair.
I finally found an ad for an iPhone 5. Unlike the seller in the previous post, this one was prompt and swift in response. I closed the deal within a night. That was nice, but from there on, it went downhill and I was stupid not to pull the handbrake lever before we arrived to the point of no return.
The initial price was RM1000. I haggled a bit and he put it firm at RM950. We then agreed to meet 3 days later since he said he was out of the area and would only be available after the 3 days. He said that he would let me take a proper look at the phone first before proceeding with the purchase and that he wouldn't mind if I don't go through should I find the phone in an unsatisfactory condition.
So we met at the agreed place and time. After the usual formalities, he took out the iPhone and told the background story. The iPhone wasn't his, it belonged to a lady friend, was purchased at Maxis, and he just helped to sell it on her behalf. And, he had no box, which he said in the ad at Mudah, should come along with the phone as a package. He said that he forgot to take the box along. Red flag #1.
He's got a cable but it didn't charge when connected to the powerbank so obviously it was fake. At RM950, no box, no original cable? Ambitious, I thought. Red flag #2.
I went on the whole drill to check and test the phone and found everything in good order, except a major exterior defect that was a prelude of a bigger problem. The iPhone had a ding on the upper right side close to the sleep/wake button. Red flag #3. In hindsight, I should've pulled out of the deal at this point. First of all, he didn't mention the ding in the ad. Second, a ding that bad was a clear sign the phone has had quite a drop, which meant there should be effects to the phone itself. Heck, the touchscreen could've been cracked too and been replaced. And indeed, it was a prelude to a more serious problem.
*heavy breathing*
Instead of cancelling the deal, I did the opposite. I used the findings to push him to lower the price. Eventually, we settled at RM920. Basically, for just the phone. No cable, no case, heck even no screen protector. Eventhough, I did take the cable anyway which I found out later to function well albeit slower with home power sockets and I did take the USB plug adapter. After a handshake, we parted ways. Yes, I am now an iPhone owner.
*heavier breathing*
I just found out that the camera is faulty. The ding obviously had something to do with it. The camera can't focus on close up objects. I found out a solution tho, slapping the phone to my palm a couple times. Even then, it still can't focus fully as an iPhone 5 should.
Also, the ding itself is a sore sight. It really f*cks up the beautiful looks of the phone.
More importantly, I failed as a consumer. I should've not agreed to buy a defective product, and I should've never settled for less. I didn't know what clouded my judgment that time. Maybe it was the excitement to buy an iPhone after so long putting up with a non-iOS phone and its shortcomings. Or maybe it was the perceived integrity I felt in the seller. Maybe he was honest, that he didn't know it was defective, since after all he was just a middleman. Also, that sinking feeling after spending a bulk of money on something I was later disapppointed in.
Overall though, the lesson is obvious. Juicy second hand deals are a lot like bets. You don't know what cards you get. And, next time hopefully, I stick by my logical judgment, unclouded by emotions.
I finally found an ad for an iPhone 5. Unlike the seller in the previous post, this one was prompt and swift in response. I closed the deal within a night. That was nice, but from there on, it went downhill and I was stupid not to pull the handbrake lever before we arrived to the point of no return.
The initial price was RM1000. I haggled a bit and he put it firm at RM950. We then agreed to meet 3 days later since he said he was out of the area and would only be available after the 3 days. He said that he would let me take a proper look at the phone first before proceeding with the purchase and that he wouldn't mind if I don't go through should I find the phone in an unsatisfactory condition.
So we met at the agreed place and time. After the usual formalities, he took out the iPhone and told the background story. The iPhone wasn't his, it belonged to a lady friend, was purchased at Maxis, and he just helped to sell it on her behalf. And, he had no box, which he said in the ad at Mudah, should come along with the phone as a package. He said that he forgot to take the box along. Red flag #1.
He's got a cable but it didn't charge when connected to the powerbank so obviously it was fake. At RM950, no box, no original cable? Ambitious, I thought. Red flag #2.
I went on the whole drill to check and test the phone and found everything in good order, except a major exterior defect that was a prelude of a bigger problem. The iPhone had a ding on the upper right side close to the sleep/wake button. Red flag #3. In hindsight, I should've pulled out of the deal at this point. First of all, he didn't mention the ding in the ad. Second, a ding that bad was a clear sign the phone has had quite a drop, which meant there should be effects to the phone itself. Heck, the touchscreen could've been cracked too and been replaced. And indeed, it was a prelude to a more serious problem.
*heavy breathing*
Instead of cancelling the deal, I did the opposite. I used the findings to push him to lower the price. Eventually, we settled at RM920. Basically, for just the phone. No cable, no case, heck even no screen protector. Eventhough, I did take the cable anyway which I found out later to function well albeit slower with home power sockets and I did take the USB plug adapter. After a handshake, we parted ways. Yes, I am now an iPhone owner.
*heavier breathing*
I just found out that the camera is faulty. The ding obviously had something to do with it. The camera can't focus on close up objects. I found out a solution tho, slapping the phone to my palm a couple times. Even then, it still can't focus fully as an iPhone 5 should.
Also, the ding itself is a sore sight. It really f*cks up the beautiful looks of the phone.
More importantly, I failed as a consumer. I should've not agreed to buy a defective product, and I should've never settled for less. I didn't know what clouded my judgment that time. Maybe it was the excitement to buy an iPhone after so long putting up with a non-iOS phone and its shortcomings. Or maybe it was the perceived integrity I felt in the seller. Maybe he was honest, that he didn't know it was defective, since after all he was just a middleman. Also, that sinking feeling after spending a bulk of money on something I was later disapppointed in.
Overall though, the lesson is obvious. Juicy second hand deals are a lot like bets. You don't know what cards you get. And, next time hopefully, I stick by my logical judgment, unclouded by emotions.
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Hardly Selling
I was looking for a new phone, since my Lumia was starting to have problems with staying on. Naturally, I would like to invest in an iPhone since I'm growing more accustomed to iOS on my iPad, and especially with the ongoing troubles with the OS on my WinPhone, and Android is just a lot of meh.
More on that later. Anyways, I found an ad on Mudah for an iPhone 5, 16GB, black. Exactly the specs I was looking for. Moreover, the owner lives not too far from our house so COD shouldn't be a problem, otherwise I'd have to ride on my trusty but grumpy Honda Wave to wherever part of Selangor just to collect the iPhone. Oh, I can feel my butts numb already!
So I contacted the seller thru Whatsapp. Our exchange was as follows:
1/17/2015 9:38:55 PM: Junid(me): Hi the iPhone still available?
1/18/2015 1:26:00 AM: The seller: Ya
1/18/2015 2:06:27 AM: Junid: You got any more pics since there's only one in Mudah?
1/18/2015 3:36:00 PM: Junid: No other pics?
1/19/2015 7:55:37 PM: Junid: Original usb cable and adapter?
1/18/2015 11:47:05 AM: The seller: Physical condition tiptop
1/18/2015 11:47:17 AM: The seller: No scratch, never dropped
1/18/2015 3:36:08 PM: Junid: Can nego a bit?
1/19/2015 3:21:05 PM: The seller: Rm1000, it's yours
(The seller never replied until today)
Look at the timestamp. The response time was between 4 hours and 12 hours. How hard could it be to reply to such simple questions? Not that I was asking him some existential questions. The seller put 3 identical ads on Mudah, only about 2 days apart between each other. I thought he was keen to sell so I was prepared to do quick business since I was a little bit in urgency myself. My last question, he didn't even have the courtesy to reply to, let alone let me know if he's selling to me or not.
Honestly when he failed to show other photos apart from the sole one he put up on Mudah.my, I started to have qualms over this guy. What could be the reason he couldn't show some more photos? Is there a major scratch or dent with the phone that he wouldn't let people see? After all, it's a legit request,right? I mean, if he took the trouble to come over to do COD and I found the physical condition not as stated, I wouldn't go through with the purchase even if he would fume for being made to look like a fool. The photo request was supposed to avoid that awkward situation. He gave it a 'tip top' rating - I didn't care if he said it's tip top or mint, I still wanted to see it physically (thru photos) and assess the condition myself. Then only I was supposed to decide to proceed or call it off.
Actually, I'm in a bit of ethical pickle here. Wasn't the seller supposed to show some professionalism? Wasn't a mere sale and purchase a business already? Or because the seller is not a business entity ie company/shop then he's not subjected to being professional?
More on that later. Anyways, I found an ad on Mudah for an iPhone 5, 16GB, black. Exactly the specs I was looking for. Moreover, the owner lives not too far from our house so COD shouldn't be a problem, otherwise I'd have to ride on my trusty but grumpy Honda Wave to wherever part of Selangor just to collect the iPhone. Oh, I can feel my butts numb already!
So I contacted the seller thru Whatsapp. Our exchange was as follows:
1/17/2015 9:38:55 PM: Junid(me): Hi the iPhone still available?
1/18/2015 1:26:00 AM: The seller: Ya
1/18/2015 2:06:27 AM: Junid: You got any more pics since there's only one in Mudah?
1/18/2015 3:36:00 PM: Junid: No other pics?
1/19/2015 7:55:37 PM: Junid: Original usb cable and adapter?
1/18/2015 11:47:05 AM: The seller: Physical condition tiptop
1/18/2015 11:47:17 AM: The seller: No scratch, never dropped
1/18/2015 3:36:08 PM: Junid: Can nego a bit?
1/19/2015 3:21:05 PM: The seller: Rm1000, it's yours
(The seller never replied until today)
Look at the timestamp. The response time was between 4 hours and 12 hours. How hard could it be to reply to such simple questions? Not that I was asking him some existential questions. The seller put 3 identical ads on Mudah, only about 2 days apart between each other. I thought he was keen to sell so I was prepared to do quick business since I was a little bit in urgency myself. My last question, he didn't even have the courtesy to reply to, let alone let me know if he's selling to me or not.
Honestly when he failed to show other photos apart from the sole one he put up on Mudah.my, I started to have qualms over this guy. What could be the reason he couldn't show some more photos? Is there a major scratch or dent with the phone that he wouldn't let people see? After all, it's a legit request,right? I mean, if he took the trouble to come over to do COD and I found the physical condition not as stated, I wouldn't go through with the purchase even if he would fume for being made to look like a fool. The photo request was supposed to avoid that awkward situation. He gave it a 'tip top' rating - I didn't care if he said it's tip top or mint, I still wanted to see it physically (thru photos) and assess the condition myself. Then only I was supposed to decide to proceed or call it off.
Actually, I'm in a bit of ethical pickle here. Wasn't the seller supposed to show some professionalism? Wasn't a mere sale and purchase a business already? Or because the seller is not a business entity ie company/shop then he's not subjected to being professional?
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Supersucker
I just found Kings of Leon. Someone introduced me to Supersoaker, and I ended up adding the whole Mechanical Bull album to my Spotify playlist. Yeah, thank God muchos for Spotify, perhaps the best invention so far since internet and youtube.
Anyways, Happy New Year. Cue horns and claps. My resolutions this year are to lose some weight and gain more money. The second part is not optional like the first, it is compulsory for me to start making real money because sometime in the year, I'll be severed of my study allowance and it would be better if I'm working and have a salary by then.
Yes people, I'm supposed to graduate and get a job this very year.
It's not easy. In fact, it's very difficult. At the rate I'm at, and with current progress, that borders upon impossibility. I fully realise that. I try to make a breakthrough every now and then, but something will always come up and distract me. I just found out I my have a short attention span after all. I have at least 5 books on the shelf, some from 2011, some from 2012, that are collecting dust, and I haven't finished any! And that's the total of books I've purchased over the years. I make do with articles and journals, though. Still, I think I should cultivate the reading habit. Apart from the knowledge, maybe I could improve my attention span as well? Or I'm putting that in reverse?
Anyways, this whole thing is making me effin stressed. Last night (I was on the night shift), I was told that my superior was onto me for something, and it was something that I did because of peer pressure, and thinking how this stupid thing wouldn't be my problem if I stuck by my own judgement. That, added to my already high stress level, almost knocked me off my conscience. I suddenly started breathing heavily and my head felt light as feather and I couldn't focus my vision on a thing. I thought I was having a panic attack. Luckily I didn't pass out. I had to sit and tried to catch my breath for next 20 minutes or so. Maybe it was nothing, maybe I was just feeling the heat and intense pressure. But the point is made, it is a huge mental burden.
"At least a broken clock is right twice a day" - Tony Soprano
Anyways, Happy New Year. Cue horns and claps. My resolutions this year are to lose some weight and gain more money. The second part is not optional like the first, it is compulsory for me to start making real money because sometime in the year, I'll be severed of my study allowance and it would be better if I'm working and have a salary by then.
Yes people, I'm supposed to graduate and get a job this very year.
It's not easy. In fact, it's very difficult. At the rate I'm at, and with current progress, that borders upon impossibility. I fully realise that. I try to make a breakthrough every now and then, but something will always come up and distract me. I just found out I my have a short attention span after all. I have at least 5 books on the shelf, some from 2011, some from 2012, that are collecting dust, and I haven't finished any! And that's the total of books I've purchased over the years. I make do with articles and journals, though. Still, I think I should cultivate the reading habit. Apart from the knowledge, maybe I could improve my attention span as well? Or I'm putting that in reverse?
Anyways, this whole thing is making me effin stressed. Last night (I was on the night shift), I was told that my superior was onto me for something, and it was something that I did because of peer pressure, and thinking how this stupid thing wouldn't be my problem if I stuck by my own judgement. That, added to my already high stress level, almost knocked me off my conscience. I suddenly started breathing heavily and my head felt light as feather and I couldn't focus my vision on a thing. I thought I was having a panic attack. Luckily I didn't pass out. I had to sit and tried to catch my breath for next 20 minutes or so. Maybe it was nothing, maybe I was just feeling the heat and intense pressure. But the point is made, it is a huge mental burden.
"At least a broken clock is right twice a day" - Tony Soprano
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)