I also have contact with literally hundreds of thousands of people through the Internet, and literally MILLIONS when I make national and international radio appearances speaking about my specialty, brain and behavior science.
Needless to say, I have contact with all kinds of people. For the most part, people act respectfully, even when they disagree with one's point of view. In my sales, I enjoy and extremely low rate of returns by customers dissatisfied with either the content or quality of books, music, or other goods. My basic philosophy of trade is that I need to be more than fair- and give people more energy/goods/information for their money than they can get anywhere else, and to be completely honest and fair to the buyer, while still respecting my own rights as seller, and not to be taken advantage of. I mean, come on, any intelligent person understands why this makes the most sense on all levels.
Extremely rarely I get complaints from persons who feel that they have gotten the short end of the stick from a sale. Similarly, I very very rarely get negative feedback from web site visitors- and this is even a bit of a surprise, considering the volume of visitors coming through my site, which, last time I checked was about a half million. In the past five years, I can't say that I've heard from more than a dozen nut cases. Pretty good numbers.
But it happens. No matter how fair, how rational, how much you bust your ass for some people- certain individuals do not have brains that are properly connected.
Below is a fine example of a deal gone sour, communication breakdown. Despite my best attempts to resolve the matter in a fair, equitable, and timely manner-it was to no avail.
You cannot rationalize with an irrational person.
The ego of a person that has been caught telling a lie/manipulating the truth will not allow them to admit either error, wrong doing, lack of judgement, etc. And this is no surprise. Such a person operates from such an infantile mind set that allowed lie/manipulation to occur in the first place.
It is the three year old's lie/cheat in an adult body. Morality and the lessons/advantages of 100% honesty have not yet been learned. An encounter with such a cheater adult is the equivalent of catching a three year old child with his hand in the cookie jar......"Not Me! Not Me!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The more one confronts such an adult with the morals of an infant, the more they protest, the more the insist "NOT ME!!!!!!!!" No matter the rock solid evidence.
Even at Nuremburg, the murderers claimed "NOT GUILTY!"
But beware-when the chips are down, when there is a subtle break in the confidence and cooperative circuits in the cortex even the most polite, trustworthy good neighbor can turn into a Neocheater.
Its that amygdala clicking backwards into the ME ME ME reptile brain circuits in the last instant.
The wolf in grandma's bed whom you never would have suspected.
Your brain radar will alert you that "All is not right here.... Careful"
You will not get caught with your pants down.
Read and learn............
Comment placed on a telescope/camera trading web site in regards to a camera sale transaction between myself and a buyer of a camera I sold. The camera was an extra camcorder I purchased three months earlier, virtually unused, and thus I decided to sell at about 2/3 the price paid. It was used certainly under ten hours, and in fact I tested the operation of the camera before sending it out.
The camera tested out perfectly as expected, both video and audio. As I am a professional audio engineer, as well as an experienced video and still image photgrapher, any defect no matter how small would be immediately obvious to me- and there was absolutely none. I further was able to test the camera sold against both a higher quality consumer camcorder, as well as a professional quality camcorder, both which I also own. The Sony TR818 (the sold camera) certainly held its own in audio quality against these much more expensive cameras, and exhibited exceptional video quality for its price range against the much more expensive cameras.
Reading the actual complete emails regarding the transaction, one will see the eventual downward spiral of logic, rationale, and the increasing paranoia and lack of common sense and trust of the buyer, Mr. Rasmussen.
Despite my best attempts at a fair resolution, no proof of defective functioning was ever supplied to me, beyond unsupported claims.
I offered a complete and full refund upon receipt of the returned camera, providing it arrived as sent with the exception of the described malfunction. No feedback from a qualified technician was ever supplied.
I was never given an opportunity to re-examine the camera for problems.
The camera was never returned.
To this day, Mr. Rasmussen pleads "NOT ME!! NOT ME!!"
CORRESPONDENCE:
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From:
* ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Neil Slade" neill@xlslade.com
> To:
* > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Neil Slade" neill@xlslade.com
> > > > > To: "Pete Rasmussen"
* > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Pete Rasmussen" Thanks for packing well.
Looks
> > real
> > > > > nice. Will try to complete my look-over this evening if possible.
> > Will
> > > > add
> > > > > to your rating asap thereafter.
> > > > >
> > > > > Enjoying some great music today :)
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks also for the Hi-8 tapes!
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > > Pete
* > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Neil Slade" neill@xlslade.com
> > > To: "Pete Rasmussen"
* > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Pete Rasmussen" Otherwise I'd like to please send it back.
> > >
> > > I'm sorry in having to bring this to your attention. It otherwise has
> > been
> > > such a pleasure dealing with you.
> > >
> > > Sincerely yours,
> > >
> > > Pete
* ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Neil Slade" neill@xlslade.com
> To: "Pete Rasmussen" If it turns out the camera truly is messed up
> (and
> > you haven't dropped it yourself) I will certainly take it back, but it
> left
> > here in perfect condition.
> >
> > Please CALL ME- and we'll figure this out-- or read below first, you may
> > solve it on your own.
> > 303-399-0418
> >
> > Please send a DETAILED description of the problem and I will help you
> figure
> > out what you are doing wrong. Its not uncommon to get a new piece of gear,
> > and not have it properly connected and think it is the equipment.
> >
> > What you need to do is isolate the source by a process of elimination.
> >
> > There are several possibilities that come to mind
> >
> > 1) Make a test recording with the camera- anything will do. Use the
> INTERNAL
> > MIKE-- your own external mike may very well have a problem.
> >
> > 2) Play the tape back, and listen with a pair of headphones plugged into
> the
> > headphone jack. This would tell you that the camera audio pathway is
> working
> > properly.
> > The headphones should play back a MONO audio track. You should not hear a
> > buzz.
> >
> > 3) The camera has a MONO recording capability-- the Y cord has a stereo
> 1/8"
> > jack on one end-- which is NOT a stereo AUDIO plug. One sleeve is for the
> > video, the other is for the audio.
> > If you plug the recorder into a TV or PC card, and you get them switched,
> > you will get no picture and a terrible hum. Plug directly into a TV with
> > video RCA jacks and switch if it doesn't work one way. If the camera plays
> > back audio and video on the TV-- the problem is not the camera, obviously.
> >
> > 4) Make sure you have pushed the 1/8" plug into the camera ALL THE WAY
> in--
> > common error.
> >
> > 5) Try another Y connecting cord-- obtainable just about everywhere-- even
> > hardware stores carry these things now, Radio Shack, Sears, its a standard
> > 1/8" stereo plug on one end, that Y's into two RCA plugs on the other. I
> > will credit your card for this purchase if the above does not clear your
> > problem.
> >
> > 6) If it sounds fine on the TV, then both the cord and the camera are
> okay-
> > it means your garage sale SNAPPY is messed up.
> >
> > Let me know
> > Neil
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Rasmussen" I sure appreciate your
> detailed expression of concern in determining what may be the problem for
> me.
Please let me offer some comments that should help further.
>
> First of all, believe me when I say I did not drop or mishandle this
> camcorder at anytime. Please know that I am extremely meticulous and
> careful with special equipment within my possession. I'm actually rather
> fanatical in this regard. I also did carefully read the entire manual
> before attempting to use it even though I am already with good general
> understanding of camcorder use and care.
>
> What I did to help me determine data about the unit was to use a Sony Hi-8
> tape back and forth in sequence between it and my own camcorder. I
> carefully did this procedure several times late last night. This way I was
> able to glean similarities and differences in types of images, etc. This
> procedure allowed for a direct and accurate comparison. Everything checked
> out well visually and mechanically and I was pleased with what I found
> against my Canon. It beat the Canon somewhat in every respect visually and
> for mechanical user-friendliness.
>
> The problem shown at audio playback was discovered when I viewed and
> listened to the tape from my Sony TV. I hooked everything up correctly and,
> of course, the tape itself eliminated any potential bias. At normal and
> even lower volume levels, the hum was very apparent from off the Sony
> camcorder playback, and virtually nothing at all was heard from the Canon.
> I understand what you say about tape shuttle mechanism noise. The audible
> hum on playback clips varied slightly in volume for this specific noise
> heard. Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that would suggest an electronic
> discrepancy.
>
> I'm relatively confident I have a reasonable expectation of what would be
> normal vs. something abnormal introduced from the electronics themselves.
> This is at least from my current level of understanding and use of a few
> camcorders to date. What I found truly seemed on the excessive side in
> nature. It sounded similar (but obviously not as loud) to what those old
> test patterns on TV sounded like. It was distractive to me and I believe to
> that of a standard recording as well.
>
> Neil, If you feel it useful for me to call you tomorrow evening I certainly
> will do so. I want you to know I'm an honest fellow always with good
> intentions. I have a tremendous reference history file about me to back
> this up. I would also happily send you the Hi-8 tape I made for the test to
> add proof to this issue. It should also indicate how I was a careful user
> of the equipment as well. I wish the Sony didn't have the hum so I could
> keep it. That was why I asked about potential repair service. OTOH, it
> might be best for me to just return it to you for a refund minus the
> shipping and minus full cost of the two music CDs. Whatever would be fair
> is what I want to do. And so you know, I don't believe for a minute you
> knowingly sent me a defective product.
>
> Again, I'm sorry for all the trouble this is for both of us.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Slade
To: Pete Rasmussen
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 12:38 AM
Subject: Re: ASTROMART - Response to ad #122264
Well, this is what has me totally puzzled- and thinking there is something else going on besides an electronic or mechanical
problem-- I think we'll figure this out....
First , tapes are NOT necesarily successfully interchangable from one manufacturer to the next- and even one camera to another - analog tape heads must be precisely aligned, and two cameras may have audio tape stripes out of alignment from one camera to the next.
You would think so, but this is not always the case-- I have occassionally had problems going from Sony to Canon or vice versa- can't remember which cause I usually don't do it.
If you are shooting a tape with the Canon, then playing it back in the Sony- this could be problematic.
Shoot a tape with the Sony and play back in the Sony. It should be perfecto.
I would keep doing some detective work before you send back if you like the camera, as I mentioned in one of my emails-- I have the video shot when I made the stills for you- the camera is totally quiet, zero hum or anything problematic at all and this was with the auto volume gain being very high since I wasn't talking or anything. You can practically hear me breath.
This is very strange that you are having a problem- truly bizarre puzzle. In addition to this, I dubbed the only 2 HiBand tapes I have in my possesion immediately before sending, running the TR818 into my digital camcorder-- absolutely quiet, no hum, zip, perfect dubs.
So, I did both a live shoot and a dub- perfect audio for both. That's what has me stumped in this case and leads me to believe something is just sneaking by your
conciousness observation.
???
#1) Just plug the Y connector cord from the Sony into the TV and monitor the camera live. Talk so you have an audio signal being generated.
You will not be able to turn the volume WAY up because of feedback. Any problem should be obvious. Better yet, plug headphones into
the camera (Using the headphone jack) and monitor--- hear any noise? You shouldn't.
Then plug into the TV and monitor the TV with phones. Shouldn't be any noise.
Again, you are using the A/V jack in the front near the lens and have the cord plugged all the way in?
Note- if the TV is stereo-- you may have to make adjustment for the channel which is getting no input perhaps.??
#2) Substitute the cord. It could be that when I packed the cord I twisted something and destroyed the sheilding. I have seen this happen.
#3) However, try first and make sure and use the cord I sent-- It is a audio/video cord-- tip and two sleeves. Make sure it is plugged all the way into the camera into the A/V output jack in the front of the camera.
If you are placing the camera ON TOP OF THE TV or another device that would cause electronic interference-- you could create hum that way.
Get back to me or call again- I'm around a lot- or leave a message when I can get through to you.
----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Slade
To: Pete Rasmussen
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 1:56 AM
Subject: Accurate test
A more accurate test would be to put the two cameras next to each other and shoot the same visual and AUDIO signal- like music playing and/or someone talking- SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Then play back the two tapes using the tape IN THE CAMERA THAT SHOT THE TAPE. Don't a