This post outlines my e-mail exchange with Mike Brown, CEO of ModBargains.com after my unpleasant experience with a product I bought from them. This is the first time I have bought anything from this online store. From the moment I expressed my disappointment to the last e-mail that ends the chain. Note that I did not edit one word from all the e-mails. I will leave it to my readers on how they would interpret the conversation.

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I usually use WHCC for all my digital photo printing needs (great company, BTW), but having prints for my recent snapshots made it impractical to use them since they charge about 5 times than your usual online photo printing services.  The last time I checked I’m not made of money so I started looking for alternatives. 

SnapFish turned out to be one of the better ones that the internets led me to believe (the free 20 prints for your first order didn’t hurt, either).  I’ve read a number of bad reviews but they’re pretty old (from two years ago)…probably before the time they were acquired by HP.  Costco happens to be using their services, too, for online photo services.  I figured not a lot to lose, since they’re not very expensive.

They have this Active-X based control for uploading photo, while easy enough to use, I can’t help but raise my left eyebrow: I have about 100 images to upload; I started around 9:30PM uploading and the estimator says it would take 18 minutes to upload them…it’s now 11:45PM and it’s still uploading (80% complete).

We’ll see what happens here.

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The “‘can’t-get-that-tune-out-of-my-head” song of the hour: “Put your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae.

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Update 04.25.2007: I got my prints and I think for the price they quality of the print is pretty good.  However, the prints weren’t packaged properly so some of them have creases.  I filed a complaint yesterday through their website and got a response today stating that they will re-send the same order.  I must say I’m…mildly impressed.  We’ll see if the re-sent prints are better (without the creases, that is).

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Update 04.30.2007: I got the new prints.  I must say I am very impressed with the service: I wasn’t charge for the new set of prints AND they shipped it via FedEx.  I am definitely a repeat customer.

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The Playstation Online Store is probably the most tacky, unintuitive online store ever conceived.  

The SIXAXIS controller is the worst OEM controller ever.  Not ergonomic at all…especially the shoulder trigger buttons!  Arggghh!! My wrists hurt.

I think the best way I can describe the game flOw is that…umm…it’s like watching a David Lynch movie.  It’s mesmerizing, and it’s hard to get what the story is all about…and just when you thought you got it…BAM!  you still don’t.  It’s evident that the SIXAXIS tilt control was tacked on.  This would have been so much enjoyable with the analog stick controls.  I still like the game.  Update: GAAH! That’s it?!  I finished the game already?!  I just bought it this morning!!

God of War without rumble takes the way the immersion.  Same with Gran Turismo HD.  Lack of rumble blows.  I can’t wait for the updated SIXAXIS controls with rumble…and Sony while you’re at re-designing the controller…add force feedback!!!  come on!  it can’t be that hard!

As of this writing, I am still upset that Sony hasn’t bundled an HDMI cable with their uber-expensive gaming machine.  I bought “Resistance” and I haven’t opened it because I’m still waiting for the HDMI cable I bought via eBay…for $3…I laugh at people who buy their gold-plated HDMI cables for $50 at their local electronics store.

Folding@Home for the PS3 rocks.

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I finally saw this movie today.  I had very low expectations at the beginning of the movie, but it turned out to be better than most people would care to admit.

The movie is often compared to a lengthy music video and/or videogame.  I think I know why: Like the other Frank Miller comic-turned-movie creation, Sin City, Snyder tried to recreate the aura/atmosphere found in the comic books.  Now I wonder, how come these same reviewers didn’t complain about Sin City–which was MORE “stylish” than 300?  The techno-rock soundtrack is a distraction…and I have the feeling this soundtrack will not age well over time.

One thing I have to mention that was done brilliantly was the fight scene sequences.  In most war/swordfight movies, cinematographers often use the “shaky cam” effect to immerse the audience into the action…which often fails (one exception is Spielberg’s first 20 minutes of “Saving Private Ryan,” but I digress).  In this movie, Snyder/Fong just pans the camera from left to right (or front to back, etc.) and does slow motion as the main character in focus decapitates the enemy.  The slow-mo was overdone on some scenes–and the rock-techno music background makes it annoying, too–but I think it was nicely done.  

I think Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” has influenced some of the movie’s direction, but not too much that it tries to become a copycat…oh no…this still has Snyder’s signature all over it; it echoes the awesomeness that he did on the “Dawn of the Dead” remake.

It’s not Oscar material.  I don’t think the producers intended it to be.  But it is a good movie, nonetheless.

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Quick rant: Seriously, Sony, you did not bundle an HDMI cable at this price?

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In a yet another brilliant effort to support Al Gore’s vision of a “Greener Earth,”  Ikea has started charging a minimum of five cents per bag in their stores starting about a week ago.  As you know, this discourages the use of such vile, non-biodegradable materials that only contributes nothing but pollution.

Although I have not actually inquired about the Ikea corporate management’s motivation for the new practice, I am somewhat sure that this has nothing to do with keeping a huge profit margin.  Ikea should be lauded for spearheading this effort and I am certainly hoping that other huge companies would follow suit.

Customer reaction has been very positive since the new policy has been implemented.  One customer has commented, “I already spent $800 in this store.  What’s a a few cents more for plastic bags that would probably make it more convenient for me to bring all these stuff I just bought?”

In support of Ikea’s bold move towards eco-friendliness.  I have sent them $5 from my own checking account to finance the 100 plastic bags their customers cannot avoid using plastic bags for their purchases.  In addition, I have made a commitment not to buy from Ikea again until this policy is lifted since by not patronizing their products we are saving the raw materials from Mother Earth from being used.

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