I bought my wife a Canon XL1 camera for Christmas so I could record her live singing performances on Sunday mornings at church. I ended up finding a used one online on Amazon for half the price and I figured “it’s basically the same thing right.” Boy, was I wrong.
The camera arrived late which wasn’t the end of the world, I have a very understanding wife, but it was a little annoying. When I tested it out, the flipping thing didn’t record! It didn’t capture any video at all. I was pretty furious but figured it was just that particular camera; not systemic. So, I packaged everything back up and returned it - paying $40 out of my own pocket for return shipping and waiting weeks for the refund.
Once I received the refund, I bought a similar used camera from a different vendor this time and tried it out right away to make sure it worked. Thank God, this one did. So, finally, I was able to start recording my wife singing on stage.
Once I used up the first 60 minutes of recording I went to export the data. What? I need a FireWire cable? It didn't come with a FireWire cable. That’s okay I thought, I’ll just swing by a BestBuy and pick one up. What? BestBuy doesn’t sell FireWire cable anymore? How ridiculous is that? Now, I have to order it online for $15 and wait for it to come in the mail.
About a week later I receive the cable. Yes, I can finally download the recordings. I open the package and proceed to plug into my MacBook Air. What? I don’t have a FireWire plug on my MacBook? Oh boy, I thought, this is really starting to become frustrating. So, now I have to order a FireWire to USB cable online for another $15 and wait another week.
It finally arrives; I plug it in and NOTHING. Turns out, you can only download photos through a USB port. What? Now I have to order a Thunderbolt to FireWire converter online for $40. By now, in addition to rotating through 2 different cameras I’ve spent $70 on stupid cables. It’s been two months since I made that first purchase and I have absolutely nothing to show for it.
Look, we all know the saying and we never think it’s going to happen to us….so let me say it another way. You FLIPPIN’ get what you FLIPPIN’ pay for. I’m replacing the word I want to say with FLIPPING because I ultimately don’t know who is going to read this.
Morel of the story – don’t be FLIPPIN’ cheap, maybe that’s why I’ve been a MAC/iPhone guy for years now, and I’m lucky to have such an understanding wife (even for a Jersey girl:-).
The camera arrived late which wasn’t the end of the world, I have a very understanding wife, but it was a little annoying. When I tested it out, the flipping thing didn’t record! It didn’t capture any video at all. I was pretty furious but figured it was just that particular camera; not systemic. So, I packaged everything back up and returned it - paying $40 out of my own pocket for return shipping and waiting weeks for the refund.
Once I received the refund, I bought a similar used camera from a different vendor this time and tried it out right away to make sure it worked. Thank God, this one did. So, finally, I was able to start recording my wife singing on stage.
Once I used up the first 60 minutes of recording I went to export the data. What? I need a FireWire cable? It didn't come with a FireWire cable. That’s okay I thought, I’ll just swing by a BestBuy and pick one up. What? BestBuy doesn’t sell FireWire cable anymore? How ridiculous is that? Now, I have to order it online for $15 and wait for it to come in the mail.
About a week later I receive the cable. Yes, I can finally download the recordings. I open the package and proceed to plug into my MacBook Air. What? I don’t have a FireWire plug on my MacBook? Oh boy, I thought, this is really starting to become frustrating. So, now I have to order a FireWire to USB cable online for another $15 and wait another week.
It finally arrives; I plug it in and NOTHING. Turns out, you can only download photos through a USB port. What? Now I have to order a Thunderbolt to FireWire converter online for $40. By now, in addition to rotating through 2 different cameras I’ve spent $70 on stupid cables. It’s been two months since I made that first purchase and I have absolutely nothing to show for it.
Look, we all know the saying and we never think it’s going to happen to us….so let me say it another way. You FLIPPIN’ get what you FLIPPIN’ pay for. I’m replacing the word I want to say with FLIPPING because I ultimately don’t know who is going to read this.
Morel of the story – don’t be FLIPPIN’ cheap, maybe that’s why I’ve been a MAC/iPhone guy for years now, and I’m lucky to have such an understanding wife (even for a Jersey girl:-).
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