After considerable research – reading consumer reports and calling anyone and everyone I knew who was knowledgeable on the topic, I purchased what I consider to be a rather high-end video camcorder last week from Butterfly.com.
I specifically asked if it was easy to use, because – really and truly – I am not good at reading and following instructions. The salesman assured me that all I would have to do was hit record and then, after my cinematographic masterpiece was complete, I could easily connect my camera to my computer via wire and the video would miraculously pop up on i-movie.
Needless to say, the instruction book is impossible to follow. And after hours and hours and hours - even days of failure, I called Butterfly.com to make arrangements to return it. I was exhausted. The frustration was sending me over the edge; closer and closer to the refrigerator. I almost ate cake! No kidding.
The person on the other end of the phone said that I could return it, but asked me first to please call Canon, the makers of this easy to use camera, and see if they could guide me through it over the phone. So. I did.
And this is what I found out. The camera does not come with the right cord to simply transfer the video. There was a cord in the box, the one I was using, but that’s for snapshots, not video. You have to buy the video firewall cord separately. IT’S NOT INCLUDED.
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Why, for goodness sake” I inquired, “would you sell a product without the proper firewall cord? How could you charge so much money and not include the bloody cord?” I was so crazed (in a nice way – after all, he wasn’t the person who sold me the camera) that he sent me the cord overnight, no charge. It wasn’t an omission. They don’t sell the camera with the cord.
I don’t get it. I DON’T GET IT! Yes, I’m yelling … I’m frustrated and angry all over again. Why would a company charge a ridiculous amount of money, tell you that their product is easy to use, and then test your patience, intelligence and pocketbook by not including the firewall wire?
After I successfully transferred the video to the camera, I realized that the sound is off, and I’m betting that I need to order some kind of extra sound boom thing. If this is the case, I promise you, I’m calling the president of Canon and this loose cannon is letting loose!
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