It’s a sad sad day my very FIRST ebay experience went into the pits even though I made sure the seller (DigitalRev) had good reviews!! It started to go downhill when DHL apparently dropped off the parcel (whilst I was doing my exam) but never left a card or contact number! Thankfully I checked online and went to pick up the parcel yesterday!! (else I would have had to wait until Monday)

I couldn’t help myself, I started opening the parcel in the car. The box condition wasn’t encouraging, but who cares about the box! I wanted to get my hands on the camera!
When I picked it up though, something didn’t feel right, something was missing. It didn’t feel NEW! What happened to the typical sticky cover you get on a new product? the bag itself wasn’t sealed? And then I finally saw something that gave me that heavy feeling in my gut, the bitter feeling of disappointment. Scuff marks!

I couldn’t believe there were such obvious signs that the camera was pre-used!! If I knew I was getting a 2nd hand camera, I wouldn’t have bought all those crappy extras! And who knows what else is wrong with the digital camera??!

Everyone knows that the extras aren’t worth much (especially if it’s from HK, who get their stuff from Shenzhen in China anyway!). I could just as easily go back to China to get them, or even ask my friend who is going to HK this Christmas!!

Why didn’t I?? Because I wanted the camera ASAP! I wanted to have it FOR Christmas!!

*sigh* I should have just stuck with the basics, I could have spent 290 for just the camera at: citiwide-online.com. Instead I got jipped with all those extras and free postage

ah… I’m actually not a fussy one, I don’t even mind having 2nd hand stuff. What I don’t like is to be mislead and be completely & utterly disappointed…

I’ve lodged a complaint with DigitalRev yesterday (Friday), and won’t be expected to hear any news until Monday.

Will keep this updated

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[Edit 24th November 2008]

I’m really happy with how quickly the customer service guys at DigitalRev responded to my complaint. I spent my afternoon today, running around repackaging up the digital camera and sending it back to DigitalRev!

The Post Office was really busy all four times I went to the counter. Yeah, I had to keep going back because:
- I forgot the address
- filling in the wrong form!
(Who knew there were so many types of ‘tracking’ systems?)

Anyways, DigitalRev agreed to cover the postage cost of returning the digital camera ($61.05 plus insurance) and will be sending out a *NEW* Panasonic Lumix FX36 digital camera (plus the extras)! I can’t wait!!

I’ve been extremely starved of a digital camera lately, my jie even offered their Canon IXUS 950 because of how much I love having a digital camera around (even though I lost the Canon IXUS 800 they gave me). I might have even taken her up on it if my mobile phone (previously owned by jie) didn’t have a decent camera in it!

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[Edit 25th November 2008]

YAY!! DigitalRev was super-fast and they’ve refunded me the cost of returning the digital camera as well as sent out the ACTUAL Panasonic lumix fx36 I was meant to get in the first place… I’m definitely more impressed by DigitalRev’s customer service than the TPG one, you can’t even compare!!!

Now my next worry is whether the digital camera will make it in time for this weekend. AND *cross fingers* I hope that DigitalRev actually did send me a *NEW* Panasonic lumix fx36 and not a better looking dud …

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[Edit 27th November 2008]

The parcel for the *NEW* Panasonic Lumix FX36 arrived this morning!! I even made mum skip tai chi so that she could sign for it =) And there was such a big difference in the packaging, it even smelt new! DigitalRev changed my ‘gifts’ which I was a bit surprised with but I’m pretty happy about it. I’m SO relieved that it’s arrived so quickly, the return parcel I sent via Australia Post (Express Post International) only just arrived in HK today even though I sent it out a day earlier!

Now on the not so happy news… They forgot to give me the 4GB SD card, extra Battery and warranty card =( I’m going to have to keep chasing this until the FULL transaction is complete. Thankfully I’ve learnt from the TPG experience that I only need to persevere!! JIA YOU! GANBATTE! FIGHTING! 加油！

Anyway, the amazing speed of their service has made me partially forgive their mistakes. It would have been much better if there was no mistake to start with though~

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[Edit 30th November 2008]

I got the opportunity to actually take the camera out on Saturday. Click to read feedback.

DigitalRev has apoligised for the missing items and I expect the 4gb SD, battery and warranty to arrive tomorrow. I felt a bit guilty for them needing to send it out to me, but at the end of the day, this wouldn’t have happened if they didn’t mess up in the first place. Their service still kicks ass though! =)

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[Edit 1st December 2008]

Everything is fantastic! As expected, DigitalRev sent the Warranty, 4GB SD and Battery which arrived yesterday. I don’t think the battery is original and the SD is from Taiwan, but hey, I cbs being all uptight about that. I can still remember the “Canon” battery I bought in Beijing which looked and felt the same but was so obviously a FAKE! >=( It cost me like 100Yuan (~$15AUD at that time).. that’s equivalent to two totally amazing meals in Beijing!!

DigitalRev also gave me those “gifts”, of which I’ve put on the screen protector but besides that, I think I’ll only use the mini tripod stand, and lint cloth… My boss has been looking around for a new digital camera so I gave him the DigitalRev voucher, he’s even looking at getting a Lumix too because of my rants =P