Warning about working with Charles Pond.
- From: Cj Sampson <cs78@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 12:38:43 -0700
Hello list,
I am happy to produce all the emails between us below so you can judge rather
than to tell you how to judge. It is interesting that Charles has complained to
the list only one day after receiving the optacon. Again, this is a very rash
judgement. I am doing all I can, but Charles has made it very difficult for me
to do anything to help him. I am not sure why, but one thing may be that he is a
competitor in selling optacons. You may want to take that into account. But you
can read all the the below emails before making judgement. The vast majority of
people I have helped find used equipment for have had a wonderful experience. I
am not saying I am perfect or every trasaction with me ends up a perfect deal
for the person who gets the equipment. I can only do my best, and that has
resulted in a lot of good done. Thank you for taking the time to get
understanding. cj sampson
> Hello List. Don has given permission to post a warning about buying
> access equipment from Mr. CJ Sampson. This includes his optacons. There
> are at least .. reasons to consider not doing business with CJ Sampson:
>
> 1. Although CJ advertises his equipment for sale as fully working and in
> order, it all-too-often is not. The equipment can be damaged with parts
> missing;
-cj there were no parts missing in my dealings with Charles, and he knows this.
This topic is brough up below, and Charles did not want to address it for some
reason.
it might not work properly; or, it might not work at all.
> Sometimes it does work.
-cj yes charles, if I tested it to the best of my ability, and it works, I tell
you that, and this was the case with both of my transactions with you.
> 2. Although CJ offers a refund guarantee, he does everything to avoid it.
> He does not honour his refund statement.
-cj What refund guarantee? I never offered you a refund guarantee. What are you
talking about Charles? This optacon was "as is". It is a used item and I am not
a business who manufactures or fixes them or anythign like that. I only help
people find them. Then I tet them to the best of my ability and this one worked
great for hours (a full batery charge). That is the best I can do. I will refund
if I do not test it myself and have it sent to you directly from the place I got
it and they said it worked and it doesn't work when you get it. I have had to do
this 3 times out of about 125 instances. But this was not the case with you.
> 3. The complaints cited here are not uncommon. They are consistent. An
> increasing number of disgruntled customers of CJ Sampson have begun to
> speak up about their bad experiences doing business with him.
-cj It is not a busiess, but it has been increasing in the number of
transactions, and whenever you do more you are more complained about and more
praised at the same time. Just because more complaints come, I am not goig to
stop doing more good. You are making the classic mistake of throwing out the
baby with the bathwater.
> Case in point: Recently, several optacons were sold by CJ in Ottawa. With one
> R1D optacon, the battery was dead and beginning to dammage the insides of the
> optacon and even the tactile display. The unit needs a new display, or at
> least new display driver chips. With the other Optacon II, the
> unit worked intermittently at best, mostly not at all. The battery was
> completely dead, and several accessories were missing: camera holder,
> external charger/cradle, cover to replace battery when not connected, and
> soft pouch. CJ Sampson stated that the battery was fine, and that the
> Optacon II worked just fine. These two examples are simply representative.
-cj Who are these other people I have helped find equipmetn for Charles? It
sound like it is just you. Why don't you just tell us who they are? I think you
are trying to mislead people to make yourself look good.
> CJ has also sold equipment which belonged to an institute, and which was not
> authorized for sale. The equipment was eventually returned to the
> institute, but the innocent buyer did not receive a full refund from CJ
> Sampson.
-cj Wooooow, Charles, where do you get this stuff from? You are talking about an
innocent lady (although rash in her judgement too), who had a $100 tape recorder
break in the mail. It also turned out to be some kind of a government owned tape
player issued by the government. It was picked up legitamately by an asset
recover company that I got it from. Please fin out for yourself, here is their
email, tiffer222222@xxxxxxxx Theyh did not know they could not buyit or sell it,
either did I. I talked directly to the lady who worked at the institute who owed
it and she said "you did not do anything wrong". Please find out for yourself by
calling her at 334 213
3906. And why do you say she did not get a full refund. I sen her the money for
it in full. Charles, have you lost it? Once agian, I have presented the evidence
and you can judge. I am not just casting aversions.
> I cannot say to folks not to buy from CJ Sampson. Bowever, I can relate to
> you a growing online awareness backed by examples of his bad business. I am
> simply passing on what I know, and what I have experienced with CJ Sampson.
-cj but charles, you have already said not to buy from me, you can't take that
back now. I understand you want to let the list know about a less than perfect
transaction, I encourage that kind of open communication, but not this
unreasonable rash stuff without finding out for yourself or leaving the
possiblility of good faith. Actually, to think of it, even the rash stuff may
help others on the list who may need to learn something.
>
> Charles
Hello Charles,
Why have you not admited that we agreed upon what came with the unit before you
made the offer? I can only be left to believe you are trying to cover your
mistakes with accusations of me. I have seen this before. Please answer the
questions I ahve posed.I think it wil be revealing to your own mind if you are
being self deceiving and to others.
Sorry, I thought I was clear, but looks like I should have spelled it out. At
this point I will not just give a refund on the face of it without reason. We
are sill getting to the bottom of it, or at least, I am trying to. But you have
not yet discussed it, just made ultimatums without good reason, just rash
judgement. Please answer the questions and we can go from there. I did state
that the unit worked very well when I sent it off as far as I could test it. For
someone who does asset recovery (not refurbishing or expert analysis or
guarantees or warranties or manufacturing or retail or anything like that that
businesses do-and I am not any kind of business), I tested it to the best of my
ability. The expertise is done by people like you who purchase it. I am the
finder, you are the expert. I used to just find it and give it ot the buyer, but
then one time a little Braille display I sent to someone did not work when it
got there and I had not tested it but the place3 I got it form said it worked.
So I had to take it back and get it fixed. So I started testing the to the best
of my ability. Once I send it off, I cannot be responsible for what others do to
it from there. In the asset recomver sense, it is an "as is" item ultimately.
But, I do test it to the best of my ability and try to find out abou the history
of it. And the vast majority of the time used items work out wonderfully for the
person who eventually gets it.
Here is the rest of the conversation below for you to respond to again.
> I did receive your e-mail from last evening. The bottom line, regardless
> of missing optacon parts, and regardless of your evasive rhetoric is that you
> have sent me a nonworking optacon.
> It simply doesn't work. I see by your present e-mail that you avoid
> answering directly my question: will you or will you not refund? Will you
> partially refund me to compensate me for sending me a dud unit, or will
> you fully refund me and I return the optacon to you? It is a simple
> question. Because you have not answered me, but have tried to muddy the
> waters, and avoid the direct issue, I will commence actions against you.
> Even if you lose two customers, you lose more than you gain by not doing
> honest business with me. You have made your choice.
>
> Charles
>
> ---
>
> >Hello Charles,
> >
> >It is still morning here and you have already sent two emials. The second one
> >you said that you have "still" not heard a response. I sent you one last
> >night,
> >did you get that? I also asked you a few questions in that email, if you got
> >those questions, will you also answer those? If you got the email, why do you
> >sound like I ahve been slow in getting back to you? I do not hover over my
> >computer waiting for emails. I have a life. I check emails usually once a
> >day or
> >once a couple of days. Sometimes it takes 4 days if it is the weekend.
> >Please do
> >not be impatient. I have seen this menatlity with some other people.
> >
> >It kind of sounds like you did not get my email last night, so I will paste
> >it
> >again here, then I will add to it:
> >
> >Hello Charles,
> >
> >See responsed below in your message.
> >
> >> Hi CJ. Was happpy to receive the Ooptacon II today. There are two
> >> sets of problems which require our attention:
> >>
> >> A) The Optacon II works intermittently. Most of the time, it will not
> >> turn on, even though I reset the unit, and test the external connections.
> >> When it does work, it works fine. Mostly intermittently, however. I've
> >> briefly examined the circuits, and have determined that more electrical
> >> tests are needed in order to find anf fix the problems.
> >
> >-cj I am no expert on Optacons, only good at finding them. You are the
> >expert in
> >fixing them I thought. That is what I do,
> >
> >help people find them. But, I did let it go for a full battery charge and it
> >worked perfectly for many hours. Have you fully
> >
> >charged it up? And aren't you the guy that does the fixing of these so as to
> >find an end user for them.?
> >
> >>
> >> B) You are missing four components of the Optacon II which always come
> >> with it.
> >
> >-cj I just find them from wherever I can, and this is what came with it.
> >What do
> >you mean "always". When I find optacons,
> >
> >they come in varying condition and with a big variety of accessories. I
> >guess it
> >just depends on where it cam from. Since
> >
> >they don't make these anymore, these have been through the hands of others,
> >I am
> >not getting them from the manufacturer.
> >
> >These are:
> >> 1. the camera holder (also used to cover the display when the Optacon II is
> >> opened);
> >>
> >> 2. the plastic cover placed over the battery receptacle on the optacon when
> >> the battery is not installed;
> >>
> >> 3. the external battery charger/cradle;
> >>
> >> 4. the soft carrying pouch for the Optacon and accessories.
> >>
> >> You should certainly not have neglected to send these items which always
> >> come with this Optacon, especially for the price of $650. They are not
> >> extras. So, since the status quo is not suitable, you have three options:
> >>
> >> 1. You can send me a partial compensation/refund amount of $360 U.S..
> >> This
> >> amount will go toward covering repair costs so that the Optacon II will
> >> actually wrok reliably. This amount will also compensate me for the
> >> four parts which you did not deliver with the unit, which should have been
> >> included.
> >>
> >> 2. You can send me a complete refund of $670 U.S. plus my cost of
> >> shippping the Optacon II back to you which is $20 U.S. Upon receipt of
> >> the refund of $690 U.S. ($670 + $20), I shall send you the Optacon II.
> >>
> >> 3. If you resist, in any way, efforts to find an equitable solution, we
> >> can
> >> always take the matter to the public and to other levels of appeal
> >> (internet lists, public buy and sell forums, your local authotities,
> >> blindness agencies from where these gadgets come). I think you understand.
> >>
> >> My advice for you is to send me a partial refund of $360, and here's why I
> >> suggest this:
> >>
> >> 1. If you totally refund me and I send you the Optacon II, you will not
> >> be able to sell it in its present unstable condition, and lacking the
> >> several components which I have described. You'll still have to get it
> >> fixed up. If you can't sell it as it is, then you might as well retain
> >> some money from me rather than making none from someone else.
> >>
> >> 2. A dead or nearly dead Optacon is good for no one. It won't be sold
> >> successfully, but probably thrown away.
> >>
> >> 3. If you do receive the Optacon II back from me, you will have to spend
> >> money to fix the Optacon and get it working so it is saleable. You might
> >> as well simply send me a partial refund, rather than going through the
> >> personal fuss and expense of getting it fixed.
> >>
> >> 4. If you decide not to co-operate, these things have a way of affecting
> >> one's future business successes.
> >>
> >> I just received a message from Mr. John Lynch. He is asking me for a
> >> reference for you. What should I write to him?
> >>
> >> Looking forward to hearing from you promptly,
> >
> >-cj I am sorry. You sound upset. I think you may be getting carried away,
> >because you asked me specifically in your emial
> >
> >before purchasing the unit what came with the unit. If I remember right you
> >asked if it came with the camera and cord that
> >
> >goes to the camera, the unit, how many batteries, a charger, a carrying case
> >and
> >stap. I responded specifically that it came to
> >
> >me with one battery, a carrying case for the unit, and a carrying case for
> >the
> >camera that was attached to the strap. I noted
> >
> >that it also came with the charger. You then emailed me back with an offer. I
> >then emailed you back after I had talked to the
> >
> >other person who gave me an offer and said how much your offer would have to
> >be,
> >then you sent back an email with a
> >
> >offer and I said you could have it. I thought I was being really gnerous
> >since
> >the last one I found for a guy I gave it to him for
> >
> >1000. And it is so difficult to find these Optacon 2s. I have only ever
> >found 2
> >of them in years. I thought I was quite specific
> >
> >as to what came with it. Am I wrong? I wish I would have saved that email
> >now.
> >Do you have it? Do you have the email that
> >
> >yo sent me asking what came with it? I rememer it very well, it was not long
> >ago. Let me know. cj
> >
> >
> >> Charles
> >
> >Plese respond to te questions I posed above. They are important. If you want,
> >just put them in between the email. I find it keeps things clear.
> >
> >I ahve a very dificult time finding optacons for everyone that wants them,
> >especially optacon 2s. But I may be able to find some parts you are looking
> >for
> >easier. Let me send out some messages. I can only do with what is out there.
> >And
> >I just do this on the side to help people find equipment because it has done
> >so
> >with success. I am not a business, but yo keep saying that.
> >
> >Please read below through my responses you can understand.
> >
> >> Hello CJ. I have still not heard from you regarding this faulty Optacon II
> >> which you sold to me, and claimed that it worked. To reiterate:
> >
> >-cj what do you mean still? I got back to you within a couple of hours. Why
> >do
> >you make it sound like I am not communicating with you? Please anser this
> >question. It may be helpful to understand what is going on here. The optacon
> >turned on and displayed the letters on the display for hours when I pulled it
> >out of the box. I can't spend any more time testing it thatn that, that is
> >left
> >for you optacon experts to do. What else can I do, I just find the units.
> >That
> >is what I do to help. That is my part in the process.
> >
> >> 1. you can either send me a partial refund of $360 U.S. as compensation
> >> for getting the defective Optacon II fixed (and replace missing parts).
> >
> >-cj I went over this above, what parts did I not send you that I said I would
> >send you? Please answer.Do you have the emails? Please answer.
> >
> >> 2. You can send me a complete refund of $670 U.S. plus $20 for shipping.
> >>
> >> If you refuse, I shall publicize your business dishonesty everywhere. In
> >> addition, a number of people have had simular complaints against you for
> >> your kind of sales practices, and your avoidance of your responsibilities
> >> toward your customers. We, collectively, will not hesitate to take action
> >> against you, CJ. Your local authorites will also be contacted, and
> >> complaints made against you. What is your choice? Do not try to make
> >> excuses, or avoid paying, or trying to talk your way out of your
> >> obligations.
> >
> >-cj I do not have customers, I am not a business, I am just a guy that helps
> >people find equipmnet for people and organizations for far less than half the
> >cost becausde I know a lot of people who need to find it and a lot of people
> >that need to sell their used equipment.
> >
> >Now, I have heard this thing before that I have a lot of people out there who
> >have complaints. Who are these people? They are imaginary, or are not people
> >I
> >have helped find equipment for. You must understand that there are a lot of
> >people out there, especially people out there that are on email lists (the
> >kind
> >who hover over their computers all day because they don't have jobs and
> >nothing
> >better to do, and live off the government), and they just criticize without
> >knowing what is going on. And lets be honest, they get jealous, because they
> >haven't put in the work necessary to get things done. Charles, who else has
> >helped as many peoople find equipment they need for less than I have
> >provided it
> >for? Who else? Please anser. I could shoe you a long long list of hndreds of
> >people who desparately needed equipment but could not pay the thousands and
> >thousands it cost to buy it new. And there are so many great used items out
> >there that make it possible for them to go back to work or start looking for
> >work or go back to school or continue their business or do whatever their
> >dreams
> >are. They need this equipment. I can only spend a little bit of time each day
> >helping in this regard, but I do the best I can.
> >
> >> You have until 7 p.m. this evening to make a positive response--this day
> >> being November 17.
> >>
> >> What is your choice, CJ?
> >
> >-cj now Charles, please don't take htis the wrong way, but ultimatums are a
> >sign
> >of impatience and childnessness. Especially since you have not answered my
> >emial
> >questions. let us get to the bottom of it, by making it a two-way
> >conversation.
> >
> >> Charles Pond
> >> Ottawa, Canada
> >
> >
> >
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