Well, now about the "Experience" I have.
Since I go for quality rather than bells and whistles, I choose to go for a Sony Cybershot Digital camera W120 . The plus are 4x optical zoom, Carl Zeiss lens, Optical Antiblur and Optical viewfinder. Sony, because of some strange reason are withdrawing and replacing the good range with some hyped out range of products. Just by increasing the megapixel count, reducing good options like optical zoom and optical viewfinder. So so.., it is their product.
I went to Indiatimes site and ordered W120 for Rs. 7598.00 plus Rs.199.00. On a bit higher side, but since the product is discontinued by Sony recently I thought what the hell. Well within my budget. I placed the order on Teknix(100865) and paid the money by online banking transaction (I had very good experience with eBay and I am not afraid of doing online purchase. Was doing this since 2004 onwards) This unfortunate incident happened on Oct 1, 2009.
2nd was Gandhi Jayanthi, Saturday and Sunday came after that - cool. Weekends and holidays. I checked the site on 5th Monday. The latest update I could see was that of my payment received. In eBay I used to get frequent updates. Checked on Tuesday -same result.
So,Tuesday I called up the customer support. After 10 minutes listening to some chant, finally I could get a CSE. She said deducting the holidays and weekends, it was only three days and as per Indiatimes the shipping would take 6 days. Fine..after all rules are rules. One thing surprising for me was that there was no response from the seller. In eBay, for a high value purchase most of the sellers would communicate to the buyer. Either mail or sms or even phone call. Here that was no existent. No news about seller. In eBay we would get the contact details of the seller. In Indiatimes nothing. Great..!2nd was Gandhi Jayanthi, Saturday and Sunday came after that - cool. Weekends and holidays. I checked the site on 5th Monday. The latest update I could see was that of my payment received. In eBay I used to get frequent updates. Checked on Tuesday -same result.
Finally on Wednesday I could see in "my orders" the status changed to "order shipped" with some courier details.
On Thursday I got the "shipment". Opened the box and bam..! The shock and awe. That
"merchant" has shipped a god damned Sony Cybershot W 180 (The lower end model that Sony can supply - only 3X optical zoom, no Carl Zeiss lens, No optical view finder. In the bill the "merchant" had at first written W120 and then OVERWRITTEN the '2' and made it '8'. So easy right?. This camera was available in all cyber market sites with free 2GB memory card and camera pouch for a tag less than Rs. 8000.
I wish I can just change the number on the god forsaken "camera" and make it the mode I want. Alas, I am no Sony guy.
I contacted the Indiatimes customer support again (god bless them), a girl with a lot of scope for improvement in spoken English picked up the phone (of course after a wait of 10 minutes - the contact number too have changed). But barring that drawback she was very helpful and understanding (good girl - god bless her too). She somehow assured me that "The camera will be picked" up and "I will be get" the actual model. Not less, but within 6 working days. Then they may call me / sms me or send a mail to me.
Waiting for the courier boy now.
I don't know what Indiatimes shopping can do to the "merchant"-nice id he has got
Teknix. The mobile number listed on the "Supplier Warranty Card" was not reachable. No land line number either. No serial number on the camera either. A dream merchant, if you ask me.
Will I buy things from Indiatimes again? You bet ...!
