Comments for Off Topic http://www.sandyofftopic.com Middle-aged feminist engineer talks about everything not about BPM Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:58:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Rebuffing the Skype stalkers by Sandy Kemsley http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/02/13/rebuffing-the-skype-stalkers/#comment-559 Sandy Kemsley Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:58:49 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/02/rebuffing-the-skype-stalkers/#comment-559 Ann, thanks for sharing your story. I think that it's important to not get too freaked out about this, but to be careful about who you give information to. A healthy dose of skepticism when someone blindly contacts you is always a good idea. I hope that by "outing" some of my worst offenders here (and there have been many other on the intervening years), at least a few people have realized that it's not okay to harass women online. Ann, thanks for sharing your story. I think that it’s important to not get too freaked out about this, but to be careful about who you give information to. A healthy dose of skepticism when someone blindly contacts you is always a good idea. I hope that by “outing” some of my worst offenders here (and there have been many other on the intervening years), at least a few people have realized that it’s not okay to harass women online.

]]> Comment on Rebuffing the Skype stalkers by Ann http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/02/13/rebuffing-the-skype-stalkers/#comment-558 Ann Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:32:07 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/02/rebuffing-the-skype-stalkers/#comment-558 Thank you so much for posting this. I'm new to skype, living and working in China, we use it here for communicating back and forth with other ESL teachers at our school. I started getting all these weird requests from men I didn't know. And I stupidly said yes to one request that, seemingly, seems to be from the same city I live in at the moment. And of course I had put my cell number on the site, not even considering people could get it and harass me. So-- this guy, who I thought was someone I had met before, a friend of a friend type of thing, turns out to be a stranger, very vague about what he's doing here in Asia, won't reveal where he's from, wants to know how old I am...as I did not put my real birthday on skype. And then starts calling me, texting me, looking for me online and oh yes, asking me out. He does this within minutes of me stupidly, oh so stupidly, accepting his request. I, too, am way too polite and nice, instead of being-- get the blurb away from me, you puppy-killing clown. I hate that I FEEL I have to turn invisible to avoid this smothering, unwanted, scary as all get out attention from someone I don't know and don't want to know. I'm avoiding dealing with him as I should so will steel myself to tell him not interested, and to stop bothering me. Thank you so much for posting this. I’m new to skype, living and working in China, we use it here for communicating back and forth with other ESL teachers at our school. I started getting all these weird requests from men I didn’t know. And I stupidly said yes to one request that, seemingly, seems to be from the same city I live in at the moment. And of course I had put my cell number on the site, not even considering people could get it and harass me. So– this guy, who I thought was someone I had met before, a friend of a friend type of thing, turns out to be a stranger, very vague about what he’s doing here in Asia, won’t reveal where he’s from, wants to know how old I am…as I did not put my real birthday on skype. And then starts calling me, texting me, looking for me online and oh yes, asking me out. He does this within minutes of me stupidly, oh so stupidly, accepting his request. I, too, am way too polite and nice, instead of being– get the blurb away from me, you puppy-killing clown. I hate that I FEEL I have to turn invisible to avoid this smothering, unwanted, scary as all get out attention from someone I don’t know and don’t want to know. I’m avoiding dealing with him as I should so will steel myself to tell him not interested, and to stop bothering me.

]]> Comment on Zipcar: a mostly good experience by dave http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/05/13/zipcar-a-mostly-good-experience/#comment-309 dave Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:06:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/05/zipcar-a-mostly-good-experience/#comment-309 Its good when it works but they have the worst customer service imaginable. I am sitting typing this as I have spent one hour forty minutes on hold trying to get through to cancel my card. Its good when it works but they have the worst customer service imaginable.
I am sitting typing this as I have spent one hour forty minutes on hold trying to get through to cancel my card.

]]> Comment on Experiences – Good and Bad – With Online Group Coupons by Sandy Kemsley http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2011/12/14/experiences-good-and-bad-with-online-group-coupons/#comment-550 Sandy Kemsley Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:10:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/?p=511#comment-550 Eric, I've found that probably any of them will give you a refund, even if it's outside their refund policy, because they can't afford the bad press -- so much of this business is word-of-mouth (or word-of-tweet). Sometimes, you have to get a bit firm with them, but they will pay up eventually. Eric, I’ve found that probably any of them will give you a refund, even if it’s outside their refund policy, because they can’t afford the bad press — so much of this business is word-of-mouth (or word-of-tweet). Sometimes, you have to get a bit firm with them, but they will pay up eventually.

]]> Comment on Experiences – Good and Bad – With Online Group Coupons by Eric http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2011/12/14/experiences-good-and-bad-with-online-group-coupons/#comment-549 Eric Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/?p=511#comment-549 I had a bad experience with a vendor (ended up being some individual offering a service) which was pretty quickly fixed by Dealfind. I purchased a photo session with a photographer last year and when it was time to book "he was busy" so the date we reserved ended up being pretty far in the future. When the time came close, I recontacted the person to confirm the session to simply be ignored. Not that the "business" was closed or anything, the web site is still up, e-mails probably work, and phone messages were left unanswered. I had basically given up on the whole thing, the dates for refunds and such had passed so I just sent a courtesy e-mail to Dealfind (it was GroupClick when I had bought the coupon) to let them know that they should be aware that this vendor was basically not honoring coupons. To my surprise Dealfind looked into it fairly quickly and refunded my money (they offered a refund or a credit with a bonus 10%, I chose the refund) also in a short amount of time. So Dealfind did go up in my esteem at that point. They really stand behind their policy and the coupons they offer. I had a bad experience with a vendor (ended up being some individual offering a service) which was pretty quickly fixed by Dealfind. I purchased a photo session with a photographer last year and when it was time to book “he was busy” so the date we reserved ended up being pretty far in the future. When the time came close, I recontacted the person to confirm the session to simply be ignored. Not that the “business” was closed or anything, the web site is still up, e-mails probably work, and phone messages were left unanswered. I had basically given up on the whole thing, the dates for refunds and such had passed so I just sent a courtesy e-mail to Dealfind (it was GroupClick when I had bought the coupon) to let them know that they should be aware that this vendor was basically not honoring coupons.

To my surprise Dealfind looked into it fairly quickly and refunded my money (they offered a refund or a credit with a bonus 10%, I chose the refund) also in a short amount of time.

So Dealfind did go up in my esteem at that point. They really stand behind their policy and the coupons they offer.

]]> Comment on Rogers and phone unlocking by Sandy Kemsley http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/16/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-169 Sandy Kemsley Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:54:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-169 Thanks for the update! Thanks for the update!

]]> Comment on Rogers and phone unlocking by Mike R. http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/16/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-168 Mike R. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:47:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-168 Hi Sandy, It's me again.  I decided to go with MobileInCanada and I'm happy to say that they were able to unlock my phone in a relatively short period of time. Great customer support too! I highly recommend them.  Just for the record, I wish to state that I do not work for them nor am I affiliated in any way. I'm just a satisfied customer. Regards, Mike R. Hi Sandy,

It’s me again. 
I decided to go with MobileInCanada and I’m happy to say that they were able to unlock my phone in a relatively short period of time. Great customer support too! I highly recommend them. 

Just for the record, I wish to state that I do not work for them nor am I affiliated in any way. I’m just a satisfied customer.

Regards,
Mike R.

]]> Comment on Experiences – Good and Bad – With Online Group Coupons by Tania Samsonova http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2011/12/14/experiences-good-and-bad-with-online-group-coupons/#comment-548 Tania Samsonova Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:51:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/?p=511#comment-548 I had an interesting experience with WagJag - bought $100 worth of frozen salmon from The Village Butcher through them, and did not notice that the coupon was expiring in five days. I only saw that when it actually expired. $100 is a lot of money. I e-mailed WagJag customer service asking them if I can get a refund, and I called the Village Butcher who very graciously assured me that my salmon is still waiting for me. I picked it up a couple of days later, was happy and wrote to WagJag notifying them that my issue has been resolved. Only a week or so later I received a response from WagJag saying that they are looking into my problem and will get back to me ASAP! So, The Village Butcher 1, WagJag 0. I had an interesting experience with WagJag – bought $100 worth of frozen salmon from The Village Butcher through them, and did not notice that the coupon was expiring in five days. I only saw that when it actually expired. $100 is a lot of money. I e-mailed WagJag customer service asking them if I can get a refund, and I called the Village Butcher who very graciously assured me that my salmon is still waiting for me. I picked it up a couple of days later, was happy and wrote to WagJag notifying them that my issue has been resolved. Only a week or so later I received a response from WagJag saying that they are looking into my problem and will get back to me ASAP! So, The Village Butcher 1, WagJag 0.

]]> Comment on Rogers and phone unlocking by Mike R. http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/16/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-167 Mike R. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:03:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-167 Hi Sandy. I understand. I'll choose one and let you know how it went. Thanks for your feedback. Mike. Hi Sandy.
I understand. I’ll choose one and let you know how it went.
Thanks for your feedback.
Mike.

]]> Comment on Rogers and phone unlocking by Sandy Kemsley http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/16/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-166 Sandy Kemsley Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:58:00 +0000 http://www.sandyofftopic.com/2007/01/rogers-and-phone-unlocking/#comment-166 Hi Mike, The blackberry that I had at the time that I wrote this article went to my husband, and he unlocked it with blackberryfreedom.com - not an option for your Nokia phone. Since then, I bought an iPhone (locked to Fido) and suffered with that for two years, but got by because of the availability of wifi in most of the hotels and conferences that I went to outside Canada, with the addition of the Skype app for calls over wifi. I've just bought my second iPhone, factory-unlocked from Apple, so that I don't have to worry about unlocking again in the future. Obviously, I can't vouch for any of the companies (or spammy affiliates) that posted comments here - I approved most of them because I didn't want to censor out any legit ones, and I wasn't in a position to decide what was legit. Unfortunately, you're on your own with this one. Hi Mike,
The blackberry that I had at the time that I wrote this article went to my husband, and he unlocked it with blackberryfreedom.com - not an option for your Nokia phone. Since then, I bought an iPhone (locked to Fido) and suffered with that for two years, but got by because of the availability of wifi in most of the hotels and conferences that I went to outside Canada, with the addition of the Skype app for calls over wifi. I’ve just bought my second iPhone, factory-unlocked from Apple, so that I don’t have to worry about unlocking again in the future.

Obviously, I can’t vouch for any of the companies (or spammy affiliates) that posted comments here – I approved most of them because I didn’t want to censor out any legit ones, and I wasn’t in a position to decide what was legit. Unfortunately, you’re on your own with this one.

]]>