The Juggle Zone: Bargain Blog

Take a Qwest Survey, get a $10 GC.

Posted by dwallach at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I recently got some new information (from FW of course) regarding credit card disputes, and figured I'd share it with you. First, a Consumer Reports article, Credit cards: What’s wrong with this bill?. Second, a link mentioned in that article, for the OCC (The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury).

The CR article:

Feb 2004

Credit cards:
What’s wrong with this bill?

“Pay by credit card” has been a mantra of consumer-finance advice since 1975, when shoppers won the right to dispute charges on their credit-card bills. It’s still wise advice. But a Consumer Reports investigation has found that this landmark consumer protection is less muscular than it appears.

“We get calls all the time from people who just don’t understand their rights,” says Linda Sherry, editorial director of Consumer Action, a California nonprofit advocacy organization. “There’s just a lot of misunderstanding out there by consumers about credit-card billing law.”

How many consumers dispute credit-card charges each year? The number certainly is in the millions, although such data are not publicly available. American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa declined to provide us their figures.

The percentage of cardholders denied a so-called charge-back, or refund, is also unclear. But recent headlines suggest that wrongly denied refunds abound.

Last fall, for example, American Express settled New York State attorney general allegations that it failed to investigate and resolve $3.2 million worth of billing disputes filed by some 10,000 cardholders for 18 months ending in May 2003. Some customers said, among other things, that they never received goods purchased via the Internet using their AmEx cards and PayPal, an online payment facilitator.

In its settlement, American Express agreed to let the aggrieved PayPal customers dispute the charges again; it would then investigate and reimburse those entitled to a refund, as it should have done originally. American Express, which admitted no wrongdoing, also paid an $85,000 fine.

Credit-card issuers say they comply with or exceed the regulations to keep cardholders happy so that they’ll use their cards. Merchants complain that card issuers do so to a fault, granting charge-backs too easily because they can dump the cost on retailers.

Our examination of the regulations and interviews with Federal Reserve attorneys, regulators, card issuers, and consumers found that dispute rules are confusing, card issuers sometimes skirt them, and many consumers misunderstand the rights that they do and don’t have. (See Four myths about your rights.)

The good news is that it’s in a credit-card company’s interest to fix most problems fast. It costs at least $25 to process a dispute, so it’s cheaper simply to credit you for small amounts without an investigation. “It can be very expensive to extend this process,” says David Webster, a Bank One Card Services senior vice president.

For larger disputes, credit-card issuers also probably weigh whether you’ll take the matter to court or cut up your card (it can cost up to $200 to replace you). The higher the disputed amount, the more incentive the issuer has to dig in its heels.

Outdated Safeguards

Paying by credit card provides greater protection than using a debit card, check, or cash because of the federal Fair Credit Billing Act and Federal Reserve System Regulation Z. These 1970s-era safeguards established deadlines for investigating, responding to, and resolving complaints about billing errors. But their protections are far from comprehensive:

• Consumers typically expect a credit refund when they’ve inadvertently bought junk. A Federal Reserve Board handbook suggests they’ll get just that when it says, “The Fair Credit Billing Act allows you to withhold payment on any damaged or poor-quality goods or services purchased with a credit card.” But the regulations don’t consider product-quality disputes to be “billing errors” if the consumer has accepted the goods, so no refund is required. Goods “not delivered as agreed” and not accepted are covered, but poor-quality goods are not. “There is a little bit of a gray area in the regulations about when a dispute is over goods not delivered as agreed as opposed to the quality of those goods,” says Kenneth Dreifach, a New York State assistant attorney general.


• Inflation and a deregulated marketplace have made the penalties for ignoring the dispute regulations meaningless. A card issuer forfeits $50 at most for not responding to a dispute in a timely fashion and risks paying double the finance charge on the disputed amount ($100 minimum, $1,000 maximum), but the consumer has to take the matter to small-claims court and win.


• The regulations haven’t kept pace with regulators. In 1998, the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which had been simply filing and tracking the volume of complaints, began intervening in complaints concerning most of the largest credit-card issuers. The OCC’s Customer Assistance Group (800-613-6743; www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm) is now a de facto appeal avenue for consumers who were denied a refund and still dispute the charge. But many consumers don’t know that. (Different agencies regulate various types of issuers; the OCC says it will direct consumers to the appropriate regulator.)


• More than half of all disputes arise from consumers’ not recognizing a charge. One reason is that merchant identifiers often list a corporate name rather than a more familiar storefront name. Some experts say the problem is caused by a limited number of characters available for such records in the computers that banks use. (That is not the case with American Express.) Better identification would reduce the number of needless disputes.


• Debit cards, while not credit instruments, have evolved into a payment method that is used as easily as credit cards and often bear the Visa or MasterCard logo. But debit-card purchases have much weaker consumer safeguards than do credit-card purchases.

Consumers who seem to have a legitimate claim but have trouble getting charge-backs are not hard to find:

Edward Hug, a retired engineer from New London, Conn., says he lost $575 when AARP First USA Visa refused to correct duplicate billing of cash advances made while he was in Peru in 2001. Bank One, which owns the First USA brand and also issues credit cards under other company labels, says that after Consumer Reports inquired about the matter, it decided to accept Hug’s claim and send a $575 refund.

Rick Miller, a lawyer from Harker Heights, Texas, disputed a $29 charge on his Discover card for “AccountGuard” service that he said he never requested. Discover hit Miller with a $32 finance charge because he paid his balance in full except for the disputed $29, which is his right. Last July, a month and a half after Miller initially complained and after he asked the Texas attorney general to become involved, Discover removed the $61 in charges. Discover says that it never received Miller’s first letter and that the box Miller checked on a form to decline AccountGuard had been misconstrued as initials indicating his acceptance.

Michael Steiner, a Seattle ophthalmologist, kissed $3,500 goodbye when American Express refused to reverse a charge for jewelry he bought in Thailand in 2002 but immediately returned to the merchant. American Express says only that the case is complicated. Steiner had also charged $2,500 of the purchase to his Visa card from Bank of America, which gave him a charge-back with no problem.

How to Fix Simple Errors

Some billing errors can be addressed with a phone call to the credit-card company’s customer-service department. They include these problems:

Unfamiliar charges. Many consumers question their bills because the merchant identifier on the monthly statement shows a merchant’s corporate name rather than the store name. Bank One, which now gets the merchant on the phone with you, says it clears up 86 percent of these cases on the first call without a formal dispute’s being filed.

Clerical errors. Many are easily handled with a call to customer service.

Fraud. These errors tend to be fixed quickly because card issuers want to maintain your faith in the security of their cards. Besides, you pay for fraud in your finance charges and annual fees. If you suspect fraud, call customer service immediately, have your account closed, and open a new one. Follow up with a letter. (For more about ID theft, see our October 2003 report.)

How to Fix Other Errors

For other problems, you’ll need to write a dispute letter to your credit-card issuer. (For sample letters you can customize, print, and send, see Sample dispute letters.) The letter preserves your right to dispute errors; a phone call may not. The credit-card issuer must receive your letter within 60 days from the statement date. Don’t send it with your bill, but rather to the address for disputes on the monthly statement. Include copies (not originals) of all documents supporting your claim. The card issuer should acknowledge your letter within 30 days of receipt.

Write a dispute letter if you have one of the following problems:

Unauthorized charges. These include automatic charges you authorized when you signed up with, say, an Internet service provider but have since canceled. Create a paper trail by telling such companies in writing that you’re canceling your service and immediately withdrawing authorization for further charges. Include a copy with your dispute letter to your credit-card company.

Cramming. This involves charges the credit-card issuer tacks on for insurance or other services it sells. In some cases, you “accept” the charge by not signing a fine-print refusal or bill stuffer. Immediately send a dispute letter telling the card issuer to refund the entire amount, not to prorate charges for the partial month during which you supposedly enjoyed the service.

Goods not delivered. In your letter, request proof from the card issuer that the item was delivered--something with your signature of receipt, not just a computer-generated delivery confirmation.

Failure to credit returned items. Sometimes merchants forget to credit you for returns. Get a receipt whenever you return something, so that you can send a copy of it along with your dispute.

Poor-quality merchandise. First, try to convince the merchant to exchange or take back the item. If it will take it back, get a signed receipt and ask that the purchase be credited to your card. If the merchant won’t, write a letter to the business via certified mail, return receipt requested, rejecting the item and stating when and where you tried to return it. Include a copy when you write your dispute letter to the card issuer. The regulations don’t provide much protection against poor-quality goods, so you should make a case that the item was not delivered as agreed and not accepted by you.

If your dispute letter is not getting you anywhere,consider writing to the card issuer's president, asking that your dispute be escalated. “Most companies have a section called ’escalations,’” says Dreifach, the New York assistant attorney general. A complaint to a state attorney or to the OCC may help.

If all else fails, you can pursue a refund in small-claims court. Most billing disputes qualify. For amounts that exceed the limits of small-claims court (limits vary by area), many big credit-card issuersrequire arbitration. There, the rules of allowable evidence may be set by an arbitrator paid in part by the credit-card issuer. You usually have no right to appeal an unfavorable ruling. Although arbitration is pitched as less formal than a regular court contest, you may be up against a lawyer for the credit-card issuer, so it's advisable to have your own attorney, too.

Toward Better Protection

The Federal Reserve Board is reviewing billing-dispute rules. Share your comments at www.federalreserve.gov/feedback.cfm. CU recommends these changes:

• Explicitly define or interpret disputes about quality as “billing errors.”


• Require card issuers that deny errors to notify consumers that they can complain about the decision to bank regulators, and include an address.


• Add a meaningful dollar penalty for credit-card issuers that fail to comply with the regulations if the consumer is forced to go to court and wins.


• Require that credit-card statements identify the merchant name in a manner easily recognizable to the consumer.


• Extend to debit cards all protections that cover credit cards.

CR Quick Take

A CR investigation found that credit-card issuers sometimes erroneously deny billing errors, leaving consumers to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in bogus charges.

To protect yourself:

• Know your rights. What you can and cannot dispute may surprise you. Learn about your billing rights.


• Get help. Are you getting nowhere with a legitimate dispute? Consumers who complain to bank regulators and state attorneys often get results.

Posted by dwallach at 5:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I previously posted about my drill battery charger problems, and responded to a comment indicating a future post, which I never actually came through with. I still don't have time to write that post, but I do have some new, interesting information to share. Instead of rebuilding the battery myself, I found a place that does it fairly cheap. Voltman Batteries looks interesting, but it would be $35 (plus the cost of shipping the battery to them), so I'm not going to rush into it.

Posted by dwallach at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While I'm proud to still own (and play with) some of my favorite toys (e.g. original Slinky, silly putty, Lego, etc.), it's not often that I find new toys worthy of being added to my collection. However, on a recent getaway to New Hampshire, I found a great little toy store (Treehouse Toys, Ltd.) that had a toy called Magz. The toy consists of metal balls and plastic sticks with magnets at each end.

The set I bought (Mega Magz - 130 pieces) was $36 (no tax in NH). As I was walking out of the store I realized that I should have charged it on my Chase card (with LPG), and spent a few free moments during the rest of the trip wondering how much I could have "saved" with LPG. Now that I'm back, I was able to find out. After a quick look, I could have saved at least $8. Oh well.

Posted by dwallach at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

freeiPods.com has added a new (free) offer option. If you sign up for the Infone offer, you get a $10 Amazon GC!

Posted by dwallach at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

More email, but unlike last time, good news! The typo is their's.

freeiPods.com

Thanks,
http://www.freeiPods.com

Posted by dwallach at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Having registered for both freeiPods.com and the AOL offer last Thursday, I was a bit concerned that no credit was showing for my completion of the AOL offer (today is the 4th day since then, and the credit is supposed to show in 1-3 days). However, it seems that it may have been "my" fault. I didn't have AOL on my computer, and wasn't able to download at the time of registration. When I did proceed with registration, it seems there was no link to my original registration, so while I did create an account, it wasn't linked to freeiPods.com. The only reason I figured this out was because I got an email today asking that I "Complete [my] free trial registration with AOL." I guess I have another few days to wait, maybe. On the plus side, it only took Shaya's completion about 1 day to show up.

Posted by dwallach at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You may have heard a lot about freeiPods.com - I know I have. When I first heard about it, I laughed. It sounded like a scam, so I never pursued it. (The old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," kept running through my head.) However, a friend of mine recently sent me a link to Making Free IPods Pay Off, an article in Wired Magazine describing the legitimacy of the company. So, I bit. I decided to join in on the fun.

Here's how it works: To earn a free iPod, you have to sign up for a freeiPods.com account, then sign up for one of several free/cheap offers/trials (such as trying AOL for 50 days). The next step is to get 5 friends to sign up for accounts and offers/trials, too. When you and 5 referrals have signed up for freeiPods.com and each completed one of the offers, you are validated, and your iPod sent.

I've now signed up, and I'm looking for others interested in joining in the fun. If you are, click here to register! To show my gratitude, after I earn my free iPod, I'll update the referral links to the referral links of the people who helped me earn mine, if they let me know their links.

UPDATE (8/25): Making the offer even better, one of the new offer choices is Infone, and if you signup for that offer, you get a free $10 GC to Amazon.com!

I've included a copy of the Wired Magazine article below:

Making Free IPods Pay Off

By Leander Kahney
02:00 AM Aug. 18, 2004 PT

Unless you're extremely gullible, the promise of getting a free iPod from FreeiPods.com looks extremely dubious.

But surprisingly, the site appears to be legitimate. The program almost certainly isn't a dodgy pyramid scheme; it's a new form of online marketing supported by companies like eBay, AOL and Columbia House.

And while lots of happy customers are popping up all over the internet brandishing new iPods, analysts are skeptical of the economics.

Here's how it works: FreeiPods.com promises an iPod or a $250 gift certificate to anyone who signs up for various online promotions and persuades five other people to participate.

Subscribers are given a choice of 10 different offers, including a 45-day trial of AOL and a two-week trial of Ancestry.com's genealogy service. Typically, the offers are free and easily canceled.

Once the trials are over -- for both the main subscriber and the referrals -- the free iPod is dispatched.

"Of course I was skeptical, but I didn't see any harm in trying," said Collin Grady, 22, from Salem, Oregon, who received his free iPod earlier this month and wrote about it on his blog.

"They never once asked for a credit card number and I didn't have to pay shipping," he said. "I just told them where to send it.... All in all, a very painless process."

Indeed, some customers are so delighted that they've set up affiliate websites, called "conga lines," to persuade others the program isn't a swindle.

"So many people on the web think FreeiPods.com is a scam; I just wanted to prove them wrong," said John Sauer, a 19-year-old student at Boston's Berklee College of Music, who runs Free iPods and FlatScreens.com.

Another site, 17-year-old Tyler Derheim's FreeiPodGuide, features pictures of the delivery truck outside his house, his receipt and, of course, his new iPod.

FreeiPods is one of several websites run by Gratis Internet, a Washington, D.C., "customer acquisition" company owned by Peter Martin and Rob Jewell.

"I can definitely understand the skepticism," said Martin. "A lot of people believe there's no free lunch, but it's definitely not a scam. It's 100 percent legitimate. We're shipping (iPods) every day."

In a joint interview, Martin and Jewell denied the site is a pyramid scheme, like the myriad matrix schemes advertised on eBay, which also promise free iPods.

Instead, they explained, Gratis Internet is paid a bounty for sending potential customers to sites like AOL, eBay or RealNetworks.

"We're a marketing firm," said Jewell. "We're sending these people to our advertisers. We cringe when we hear 'pyramid' or 'scheme.' We're more closely associated with viral marketing, with the subservient chicken, than Amway."

They declined to specify the bounty, and said the firm doesn't deal directly with the companies involved. Rather, Gratis Internet is commissioned by third-party marketing agencies, such as San Francisco's Adteractive.

For the last four years, Gratis Internet has operated customer-acquisition programs through FreeCDs.com, FreeDVDs.com, FreeVideoGames.com and FreeCondoms.com.

The company has sent out more than $3 million worth of free merchandise, Martin said, including 5 million to 6 million condoms.

Since the launch of FreeiPods.com in June, the site has dispatched more than 2,500 iPods, Martin said, worth more than $1 million.

But in the last few weeks traffic has exploded. Martin claimed nearly 1 million people have recently enrolled in the program, though he said the majority are using phony names and/or addresses.

Martin said about 200,000 are using "confirmed identities," and are in the process of receiving their free iPods. The process takes between six and eight weeks, Martin said. If all are redeemed, the company will be giving away $50 million worth of iPods.

Jewell insisted FreeiPods.com would be able to keep up with demand.

"Its really important people trust us and get their iPods," Jewell said. "We want people to get their iPods because it helps our legitimacy. We count on our users to validate us."

Diego Canoso, Adteractive's vice president of sales, said FreeiPods.com is a lawful and well-run customer-acquisition program.

"We've been working with these guys for more than three years," said Canoso. "They are very good at what they do."

Canoso also declined to specify the advertisers' bounties, but said they can range between $25 and $90, depending on the program and the kind of customer it attracts.

"The money we give these guys (Gratis Internet) is enough to fulfill the promise that the customers come in for," Canoso said.

Canoso said while $90 seems like a lot, it is peanuts compared to the millions spent on TV and magazine ads, which don't guarantee new customers.

"Companies like Columbia House (and) credit card companies, they're happy to pay for customers," Canoso said. "They're happy to send out iPods because they're getting customers in return. Capture is expensive, and they're paying after they've acquired the customer."

And while a lot of customers cancel after the free trial, enough don't to make it worthwhile, Canoso said.

Gary Stein, an analyst with Jupiter Research who follows online marketing, said he was skeptical of the program's economics.

"It seems too good to be true," he said. "You can imagine getting a free CD, but a free iPod is a really big break."

However, Stein said the program is lent some legitimacy by the involvement of Adteractive.

"Adteractive is reputable, without a doubt," Stein said. "It would be a lot more questionable if they were working on their own."

Stein said affiliate marketing has typically been associated with "bottom feeders," but has become more respectable, and profitable, since eBay started paying bounties for new, registered users.

"Affiliate marketing is really taking off," Stein said. "EBay has given it legitimacy.... There's definitely still scoundrels ... but there's tens of thousands of people involved. It's backyard entrepreneurial."

Adteractive's Canoso said FreeiPods.com is at the forefront of performance-based marketing.

"The model is beautiful," he said. "(The companies) are paying for a specific customer after acquiring the customer. It's not branding. It's not non-responsive advertising.... It's low-risk marketing. It's a very efficient system."

There is a record of a resolved complaint against Gratis Internet at the Washington, D.C., Better Business Bureau.

The complaint doesn't specify the grievance, or grievances, and the bureau's director said she couldn't elaborate. Martin and Jewell said they had no idea what the issue was. It was likely a minor "glitch," they said.

FreeiPods.com is certified by Truste, which means the site adheres to the organization's privacy standards. It does not mean the site can be trusted to send out free iPods.

AOL and Ancestry.com didn't respond to requests for comment. The Federal Trade Commission said it doesn't talk about individual companies unless the company is being prosecuted.

Posted by dwallach at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Frank has been a bit slow about doing anything. I tend to call him once every day or two, to find out where things stand. Every time I call, he doesn't recognize my voice, but when I identify myself, he says, "Oh, hey, Dave!" as if he's my best friend. Yesterday he finally got around to preparing a release that he faxed to me. He says they'll only give me the money if I have it notarized and send it back. I'll get around to it one of these days.

Posted by dwallach at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Sunday we went to Tanger Outlets Mall with three other couples, and their children (1 each). We met at the office to redeem our vouchers for coupon books. One of the fathers, E., had to return to his car to retrieve something from the trunk, and returned with a story. While closing the trunk he had somehow managed to drop his keys into the trunk, and they were now locked inside.

E. called AAA, who informed him that a locksmith would come within an hour. AAA called back a little while later to report that they were having difficulty contacting the locksmith, but would keep trying. We decided to start going through the mall, and sometimes broke into groups depending on who wanted to see what. When we did, we were able to stay in contact using my collection of FRS radios. Two were bought (one at a time) from OM, FAR (or better with coupons), and the other two were bought as a set from Radio Shack, for $13 - $20 MIR. They were powered by the Energizer NIMH AAA batteries that I bought at Walmart about a year ago.

At one point an announcement came over the PA system, and as I was about to make fun of it ("Will the owner of the silver Toyota, license XXX-XXXX please go to his car."), the license plate that was being described sounded all too familiar. Indeed, they were talking about my car, but the annoucement was very strange. It didn't sound like my lights were left on (and would be unlikely since they go off automatically). Regardless, I left the group to go to my car, wondering if it was either broken into or hit by another car. (Afterall, what else would necessitate my returning to my car? It's not like it missed me.) When I arrived, no one was there, no glass was broken, nothing seemed wrong, except the backdoor was open. Wide open. Apparently, in our haste, no one had closed the door. On the plus side, nothing appeared to be missing from the car.

At one point we encounter a mall cop who was willing to attempt a break-in to retrieve the keys. E. went back to his car with the cop, who worked on the car while we continued shopping. We heard via walkie talkie that they got into the car, and later that they retrieved the keys. However, we didn't get the full story until E. returned. When he did, we found out that when they "broke in," the alarm disabled all of the electrical systems, including the trunk release. Therefore they had to gain access via the backseat. The cop was able to pull the backseat out, and they retrieved the keys, but he couldn't get the seat back in. Therefore, E's wife and son had to find another ride. (They came home with us.)

During the process of group shopping, it became clear to me that working in a group is definitely slower, but yes has its advantages. One such advantage is coupon sharing, and another is the ability to combine purchases. (Many coupons had were a percentage off of a minimum purchase. Though no individual party was buying enough to qualify for using a coupon, by buying together, we were able to use coupons more frequently.)

Near the end of the trip we stopped at KB Toys. They had a bunch of junk, as usual, but we did find one toy we wanted. While checking out I noticed a package of 20 AAA batteries for $4.99 with a $5 MIR. Works for me.

Posted by dwallach at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ofoto has a 40% off coupon (GET40) valid through 8/20. Sale Prices:
4 x 6" = 29¢ 17¢
5 x 7" = 99¢ 59¢
8 x 10" = $3.99 $2.39
16 x 30" = $17.99 $10.79
20 x 30" = $22.99 $13.79
wallet-size = $1.79 $1.07

With shipping, however, their prices still don't beat Winkflash's.
1 - 10 prints $1.49
11 - 19 prints $1.79
20 - 49 prints $2.49
50 - 75 prints $3.99
76 - 99 prints $4.99
100 - 149 prints $7.49
150 - 199 prints $9.99
200 - 249 prints $12.49
250 - 299 prints $14.99

Posted by dwallach at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A cox.net user at 68.102.53.107 was hit #10,000! Thanks to all my readers - regular and infrequent.

Posted by dwallach at 2:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You no longer need to complete a survey - just a simple form - to get the voucher for the free coupon book. We're planning a trip to Tanger Outlets with several of our friends, so I requested one voucher for each couple.

Posted by dwallach at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I sent in the last of the rebates today. The two rebates for the 512 MB CF were held up because of copier problems.

Posted by dwallach at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Published on July 25, 2004, Page A02, Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)

1,000 flavors and a little romance
A kosher ice cream parlor's fare: Vanilla, garic, lox - and dates.

By Miriam Hill
Inquirer Staff Writer

KEW GARDENS HILLS, N.Y. - Surely it was something in the heavens that brought Max and Mina together in the midst of the Great Depression.

But lox and ice cream? Now that required a human matchmaker.

It came in the form of Max and Mina's grandsons, Bruce and Mark Becker, two guys from Lawrence, on Long Island, with a taste for - well, this year's hot pick is babka ice cream. Other flavors of the Beckers include lox, garlic, sweet corn, gefilte fish and ketchup, along with chocolate, vanilla, and other more conventional choices at Max & Mina's ice cream parlor in Queens.

Since the brothers opened Max & Mina's in 1997 in a shopping strip next to Shimon's Pizza Falafel Dairy Restaurant, they have spawned 1,000 flavors and more than a few romantic relationships.

(They count generously; cookie dough and cookie batter are two different flavors.)

In the heart of an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood bursting with women in long skirts and head coverings and men in black hats or gray fedoras, Max & Mina's is the place to cozy up with your bubele after Sabbath.

"It's ice cream, it's kosher and it's fun," David Wallach, 25, said as he stood in a line 10 people deep.

Elina Badalbayev and Igor Sattakhov melted for each other while scooping ice cream at Max & Mina's.

"We were working and talking and one thing led to another," said Badalbayev, 19, a rosy-cheeked, dark-haired education major at Queens College.

"It's a very small environment," she explained. "Everyone's Jewish, and Max & Mina's is in the center of Main Street."

Family members or friends help Orthodox singles find a shidduch, or match.

"Guys would meet girls, girls would meet guys," she said. "I've seen people who've come in with their fiancees, and now, two years later, they're married with kids."

One man proposed to the woman who became his wife by combining her favorite flavors, mint Oreo and mint chip, and dubbing it "EngageMint."

The ultimate pair behind Max & Mina's is the Beckers. Two years ago, People magazine put them on its list of most eligible bachelors. A crush of female attention followed. One adventuress sent them a thong in a cone. Mark, 30, is still looking, but Bruce, 36, married last year.

"I'm gone," Bruce said. He has whipped up a new flavor, named for his wife. "Dalia's Choice" is vanilla ice cream with whiskey, caramel, pralines and butterscotch chips.

The brothers turned to frozen fantasies when, simultaneously, Mark finished his business degree at Queens College and Bruce decided he'd had enough of Wall Street and quit his job. With both looking for a new pursuit, the lifelong ice-cream lovers decided to take the plunge.

"It's like an instinctive thing from our childhoods," Bruce said. "Our parents always took us all over the country, tasting different things."

They had held on to the recipes of their maternal grandfather, Bronx chemist Max Sockloff, for everything from toothpaste to ice cream. They soon added their own concoctions to Max's ice cream list - horseradish, jalapeno, pizza, and such seasonal choices as watermelon for summer and candy corn for Halloween.

The Beckers make their product with at least 16 percent butterfat, putting it in the gourmet category. A mouthful melts luxuriously on the tongue, infusing taste buds with the chosen flavor. "That's a Garlic" packs real chunks of the stinky stuff, and beet ice cream - glowing pinkish red - is as sweet as the cotton candy flavor.

All Max & Mina's ice creams are kosher, but some flavors adhere to stricter dairy guidelines called cholov yisroel.

The shop's decor features an array of Wacky Packages bubble-gum stickers, an etching of Jerry Garcia, and old-fashioned signs with sayings such as "Hippies Use Side Door."

The Beckers won't disclose sales figures, but in addition to the shop, they have a healthy wholesale business. Gourmet restaurants also order from them, and their catering jobs have included tobacco ice cream for cigar-lovers.

"Most of the time, when you see an unusual flavor - a red pepper, a corn, a caramel - on a menu, nine out of 10 times, that's us," Mark Becker said.

The Beckers hope to start selling in New York City food stores this summer. For now, getting a taste of Max & Mina's is a chore for anyone who doesn't live nearby - 30 minutes on the F train from Manhattan to Queens, then a quick bus ride.

A few hours after sundown on Saturdays, the devoutly quiet Sabbath streets come to life and fill with people heading to Max & Mina's.

Most customers stick to traditional flavors, but Breakfast Bash, which includes French toast, waffles and pancakes, currently is very popular.

On one recent evening, Meir London, 10, who comes to the shop at least three times a week with his father, Howard, and twin sister, Aviya, dared, for the first time, to try lox ice cream.

A lick. A grimace.

"Terrible," he said. He ordered chocolate instead.

Posted by dwallach at 8:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The 512 MB CF card was delivered today.

I also checked the status of the rebates, as there were posts of validated rebates on FW, and in fact two of my chair rebates are showing as valid (the others are invalid - they just haven't been entered yet).

Posted by dwallach at 10:19 PM | Permalink

From my friend Jack comes a link to Make: Technology on Your Time, the self proclaimed "First Magazine for Technology Projects." So, I took a look. Some of the projects were a little far-fetched, such as M16 rifle converted to hi-range Wi-Fi antenna, but another caught my eye. Bottlecap tripod described a DIY version of the original

Original	DIY Version

Posted by dwallach at 1:02 AM | Permalink

I'm one step closer to getting my money back from the trucking company. I spoke to Frank in the Safety Department, and he wanted to see the invoice from the car repairs and the police report. I faxed them to him, and he said I should hear back from him tomorrow. The only question is whether I can get any money to cover any of the collateral expenses (e.g. potential increases in insurance rates, my time, etc.).

Through this process I have discovered some interesting pieces of information about auto insurance. First, different insurance companies count things differently. Specifically, when I called Geico for an insurance quote last night, they actually took into account the Hit & Run, even though they understood it wasn't my fault. Out of curiosity, I asked for a quote without counting that accident, and the cost for 6 months insurance was around $150 cheaper!

I also called Progressive, the company that heavily advertises about how they give quotes for themselves and their competitors. Their quote was higher than my current insurance (Allstate) even though they said that the recent accident didn't affect the quote. When they proceeded to give me a quote for "other insurance companies," they couldn't do an apples to apples comparison, because they work off of generic information that the other companies publish. The other companies turned out to be some last chance insurance (for people with really bad driving records), which was roughly 4 (four!) times as much as my current rate, and Allstate for whom they wouldn't give a quote, probably because they didn't want me to notice how far off their estimates of other companies rates are.

Meanwhile, as near as I can tell, Allstate doesn't care about the accident, just so long as they don't need to get involved (e.g. if I go after the trucking company for the money myself). It kind of makes me wonder why I'm paying them all this money, but at the same time, I'd rather my rates not go up, even if for a ridiculous reason.

Posted by dwallach at 11:14 PM | Permalink

A new site for finding filler (to pad orders for coupon or free shipping purposes) can be found here.

Posted by dwallach at 8:43 PM | Permalink

Last night, we had the most unbelievably delicious dinner. BBQ'd Meatballs and spaghetti. On Sunday, while barbecuing, I threw on about one pound worth of meatballs. After they were cooked, I put them in tomato sauce overnight. Last night, I heated them up, and we enjoyed the absolutely wonderful, smoky taste of barbecued meatballs.

Posted by dwallach at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For a free Army travel mug and more information, visit GOARMY.COM/dm/401 or call 1-866-304-8054.

Offer expires October 31, 2004. You must be 16-34, a legal U.S. resident and complete all the information requested to receive your free gift. Other conditions apply. Limit one per person, while supplies last.

Posted by dwallach at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm one step closer to being the proud owner of a 512 MB CF card. The status has changed from OPN (in stock and transmitting for fulfillment) to DLV (being delivered).

Posted by dwallach at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I happened to notice a thread at FW talking about a cheap price on Kingston 512 MB CF. So, just for fun, I called OM to pricematch the card I ordered last week, which they have yet to ship. The CSR who answered sounded cheerful and friendly, but after I made my request, she informed me that OM doesn't PM Fry's Electronics, explaining that it isn't on their list. I proceeded to comment on how silly a policy that is, when she mentioned that it's a long list of 20 stores, then emphasized that the list includes 4 stores that they pricematch 115%, and she actually said "that's a lot." Oh, really? Is that so? Thanks for letting me know. I suggested they publish their list of 20 stores, but she didn't seem interested.

Posted by dwallach at 3:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The BBB responded that they heard back from OM regarding my complaint ... and the news isn't good. OM continues to spread lies. OM claims that I "did not receive the refund [I] was expecting is that [I] was attempting to use a combination of price match and special discount coupon. As per policy online refused." The only problem is I wasn't price matching. I was having an incorrect price corrected. And I was explicitly told that I would be getting the refund. The BBB does say that they "strive to aid consumers and businesses to resolve their difference with mutually satisfying results, we would like to give you the opportunity to review this response..." and "...send a written rebuttal."

They should expect to receive my letter (below) any day.

August 8, 2004

XXXXX XXXXXXX, Arbitration Manager
Better Business Bureau
XXXX XXXXXXXX St.
Cleveland, OH XXXXX

RE: #XXXXXXXX – OfficeMax Inc.

Dear Ms. XXXXXXX,

I received your letter with OfficeMax’s response attached. I would like to take this opportunity to correct an inaccurate claim made by Ms. Fuentes and reiterate another important issue, which she ignored.

First, I was not “attempting to use a combination of price match and special discount coupon,” as Ms. Fuentes claimed. I called up to have the price charged by OfficeMax’s website corrected because the online price was wrong – it did not match OfficeMax’s own, published, advertisement. As proof of the acceptability of the combination of the price from OfficeMax’s weekly circular and a coupon, I have included a copy of a friend’s packing slip, on which both the lower price was charged and a coupon was used.

The second issue, which I find very disturbing, was completely ignored by Ms. Fuentes in her letter. When I originally called OfficeMax and spoke to a Customer Service Representative regarding the price correction, I was told that I would be getting the refund. That OfficeMax later decided to renege on their promise is unethical. Furthermore, they never informed me of the change in decision, ruining my opportunity to return the printer before using it, forcing me to accept the higher price.

Sincerely,
David Wallach

Posted by dwallach at 1:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The status of the 512 MB CF has changed back to OPN (in stock and transmitting for fulfillment) from CBO (on backorder). Will it come?

Posted by dwallach at 12:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I don't know how good a job they do, but I've discovered a new price comparison site for memory: http://dealram.com/.

Posted by dwallach at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The car was fixed yesterday (Thursday). The total for repairs came to $206.62. I also called the trucking company yesterday, but didn't reach a human being. I'll try again during working hours, today.

Meanwhile, a story: While driving home from work on Wednesday, I heard a siren, looked around, only to discover a police car with lights flashing immediately behind me. Fearing the worst, my mind raced to figure out what I might have done wrong. Besides for the broken mirror, I could think of nothing. While I would have pulled over immediately, there was no shoulder, so I began to contemplate my options. As I was doing so, I noticed one of the police officers in the car reaching for the loudspeaker. He said, and I quote, "mntlfluf over!" I'm still not sure how I understood that they seemed to want me to move over - to the left. I did, and they flew by me on the right.

While I can't be certain, my guess is that their blood sugar was low, so they were trying to avoid unnecessary exertion, such as changing lanes. With sirens blaring and lights flashing, it was clear that they could be involved in only one thing - a high-speed donut run!

Posted by dwallach at 1:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the rebates related to the recent OM orders, I have surpassed both the 200 mark and the $4,000 mark, in rebates.

Posted by dwallach at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Most of Order #2 (everything but the 512 MB CF) was delivered today. Rebates are prepared, and will be mailed out tomorrow.

Posted by dwallach at 12:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You win some...
Whenever I'm in Rite Aid, I check to see if they have any FAR deals. This week, they had Krazy glue ($2 rebate) and a calculator ($3 rebate). I bought both, and was excited to see that the calculator rang up for only $2.50! Small bonus!

You lose some...
I have yet to have any success in reaching anyone related to the missing $3 on the Guinness Draught rebate that I sent in. I'm close to giving up.

Posted by dwallach at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spooky!

Posted by dwallach at 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All rebates for Order #1 have gone out, but none for Order #2, since it still hasn't arrived. But I now know why. Well, supposedly why. OM called yesterday to say there was a problem with that order. When I called back, they tossed me around and I finally ended up speaking to someone in their credit processing group, who informed me that my credit card was denied. Well, I told them to try again, and it still didn't go through, so I gave them another one-time-use credit card number, which they told me was also being denied, for address problems. They said the zip code matched, but the address was being rejected. (All this despite the fact that my prior order went through with the same info, with no problems.) I reiterated my address, they put it through again, and it worked.

A short while later I got an email from OM that the order was being sent to the delivery center, and then a short while after that I got another email, stating that the 512 MB CF was back-ordered. If it ends up not coming, I'll end up making about $36 on Order #2. Oh, darn.

As I was completing this post, I got another email from OM, that the 4 non-back-ordered items are en route.

Posted by dwallach at 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s the Law:
Did you know the Department of Sanitation has an Illegal Dumping Tip Program? If you see any illegal dumping you may be entitled to up to 50% of the amount collected as an award. After you file an Illegal Dumping Tip form, Sanitation Police will monitor the location for several weeks in an attempt to catch the dumper. When the dumper you reported is apprehended, you will be eligible to receive up to 50% of any fine collected or $500 if there is a criminal conviction and no fine is paid. Community Board 8 has the applications in the office.

Posted by dwallach at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Due to spam, dwallach-wp@yucs.org is now disabled. If you need to reach me, throw in a "2" between the "wp" and the "@"

Posted by dwallach at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After the accident, I contacted my insurance company. For a reason that is unclear to me, if, after paying them thousands of dollars, I were to ask them to take care of this claim, they'd raise my rates. However, if I deal with it myself, no rate change. Crazy! Anyways, out of the kindness of their tiny hearts, they offered to convert the insurance company 3-digit code on the accident report to an insurance company name, so that I can go after them. Therefore, I pursued getting the accident report.

Apparently the sale at Dunkin' Donuts was still going on today. I determined that the exact number of rings until being disconnected is 21. I had no success in finding out the Complaint Report Number, but went to the precinct anyways, assuming I'd get it there while picking up the accident report.

When I got there, I had to pay for muni-meter parking in a lot. I figured it'd take 1/2 an hour, so I paid for an hour. I went in, to the main desk, and was sent to a back room. In the room, there were lots of people. Some seated in a waiting area, others standing in a crooked line. I got in the line, and was called on shortly thereafter. When asked for my accident report number, I provided it, and was told that no accident number starts with a "0," even though mine did. Because it was ruled invalid by the two "cops" (they weren't in uniform, so they may have been plain old civil servants), I had to go across the station to another area, and wait for a guy at a computer to figure out how to work it, and look up the "right" accident report number. While he was at it, I asked for the Complaint Report Number, which he eventually managed to provide for me.

Correct accident report number in hand, I headed back to the accident report room, and provided "Cop #1" with the number, which he added to a list, then told me to sit. I waited, and watched. It seemed that the process was that Cop #1 would call individuals from his list, ask for their driver's licenses, copy them, staple the copies to what turned out to be the accident report, then have them return to their seat. For your reference, the accident report was a single sheet of double sided paper. The papers would go in a pile, which were pulled by Cop #2. Cop #2 would provide the individuals with a short form to fill out, and collect payment. Collect payment! No one told me about payment. No biggie, I've got cash. But everyone else in the room had $15 money orders. Weird. Nothing I could do about it anyways. But what a ripoff! $15 for a piece of paper?! They could set up an automated system that would mail a copy of the report to each party in each accident, for free, and it would probably cost less than this monkey operation!

Eventually Cop #1 called me, and the procedure went as expected. He returned my license, and I returned to sitting and waiting. Eventually Cop #2 called me, and the procedure began as expected. The form was extremely short, and I completed it very quickly. Then came the dreaded request for a $15 money order - they take no cash, personal checks, or credit cards. Well, since I didn't have one, I made it clear that I had not been informed of any fee. Having clearly dealt with this problem in the past, Cop #2 informed me that there money orders were available at a "nearby" pharmacy, which was apparently no more than a few blocks away.

With no choice, I began to leave. As I left the building, with only minutes left in the "meter," I debated between driving to the pharmacy, or leaving the car and walking. As I debated, Cop #1, who was smoking outside, asked me if everything was all set. That was my cue to complain about my lack of money order. To my surprise, he said he'd take care of it, just to wait a minute. I glanced at my watch, determined I had enough time left to give him a chance, and waited for him to finish his smoke.

When he finished, he waved me back inside, and I followed him into the accident report room, where he asked Cop #2 for my accident report. She commented on my lack of money order, he said he knew, and told her to hand it over. He took it from her, and gave it to me. Wow! He saved me $15+, time, and made a very painfully slow process a little smoother. Kudos to him!

However, as I was leaving, I realized that the information the insurance company told me I needed - the sole reason I went through this tribulation - wasn't on the report! After speaking to my Dad, he suggested my two remaining options were to either pursue getting the information from the DMV - the Maine, out-of-state, DMV using the license plate, or from the DOT, using the US DOT Number that I had copied from the side of the cab. I had a little more faith in the later, so I looked into it online.

With some help from Frisch, I discovered Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website, which among other things, allows one to lookup a "Carrier Snapshot" and "Company Profile" using a DOT number. I now have the truck's company name and number, plus their insurance company's name and number.

Needless to say, I'll be making a few calls tomorrow.

Posted by dwallach at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Order #1, which the website reported as unable to process, was delivered today, and most of the rebates have been sent out (I ran out of envelopes, so one will have to wait). UPCs remain intact on the chair and phone, only the CD cases original was required (and only for one of the rebates). Let the waiting begin!

No word yet on Order #2.

Posted by dwallach at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by dwallach at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How ironic that this was Sunday's Mutts.

Posted by dwallach at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At the completion of my order, OM's site reported that the order encountered a problem. Supporting this was my test a few hours later of the one time use coupon, which showed that it was still valid (indicating that it had not been used). Contradicting it was the temporary charge to my credit card for $83.52 and the presence in the OM system of a record of the order and an email confirmation of the order.

Due to the doubt, I placed a second order, but modified it slightly, adding two CF cards:
20758734 - 256MB Compact Flash Kingston: $54.98
20758841 - 512MB Compact Flash Kingston: $99.98
to the base order of:
20082303 - Leather High-Back Manager's Chair: $79.98
20332089 - 13 Memory Speaker Phone: $10
20161502 - Khypermedia 100-Pack Black Slim Jewel Cases: $10
Subtotal: $256.94
Email coupon: $50.00 off $250+
Tax: $17.59
Total: $224.53

Then begins the rebate fun:
CF 256: $20, $15
CF 512: $20, $20
Chair: $40, $40, $30
Phone: $10
CD Cases: $10, $7

Final cost of 3 things I really don't need, and 2 things I don't really need: $12.53
Feeling of getting back at OM: Priceless!

When I completed this order, I did not get an error, however no temporary charge has shown up yet. Weird. I'll just have to wait and see if either order goes through.

Posted by dwallach at 1:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm not a big drinker, and certainly not a fan of hard liquor. But given the chance to try the famed Johnnie Walker Blue Label at an engagement reception, I bit (well, drank). Yes, it was smooth, real smooth. But it still tasted like scotch - ick. To each his own.

Posted by dwallach at 1:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As you know, I hate OM. I pretty much had plans to never shop there again. But I figured if there were any deals that would screw OM, I'd go for it. Case in point:

20082303 - Leather High-Back Manager's Chair: $79.98
20332089 - 13 Memory Speaker Phone: $10
20161502 - Khypermedia 100-Pack Black Slim Jewel Cases: $10
Subtotal: $101.98
One time use coupon: $25 off $100+
Tax: $6.54
Total: $83.52

Rebates:
Chair: $40, $40, $30
Phone: $10
CD Cases: $10, $7

Final cost of 3 things I don't need: -$53.48
Feeling of getting back at OM: Priceless!

Posted by dwallach at 2:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I use a number of online banking sites. One is Chase's. I hate it because it times out after a very short time. And there doesn't seem to be a way to change it.

Posted by dwallach at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Welcome to the Canon E18 Error: Repair Instructions Page

PLEASE POST YOUR EXPERIENCE BELOW! IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD AS LARGE A LIST OF STORIES OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING E18 ERRORS!!!

Introduction (Added 7/30/06): Having read the hundreds of posts from camera owners with the E18, I have come to the following conclusion. "E18" seems to be a code related to and barrel extension problems. I have broken down these problems into three categories which explain the variety of causes (or lack thereof) and solutions that people have reported. The solutions are referred to in the numbered paragraphs below, and then described in detail afterward. The three categories are:

1. Batteries that run out of juice mid-extension. Problems such as these appear to be reset-able through either powering off and on or the A/V cable connection method.


2. Physical obstructions preventing the full extension/retraction of the lens. These can include things like dust or sand in the mechanism. As the case (and lens barrel) are by no means impervious to the introduction of foreign matter, even if you are very careful with your camera, contamination is possible. Depending on the size of the obstruction, and how sticky it is, it may be dislodged by blowing air on it or tapping on the camera.


3. Mis-alignment of the lens can also cause the E18. The cause of the alignment problem can be either blunt force (dropping) or substantial grime in the mechanism. These types of problems can sometimes be fixed by pushing the mechanism back into alignment, sometimes in combination with a cleaning method.

Thankfully I haven't encountered the dreaded E18 error with either of my Canon cameras (the A70 and A75), but if you did, I have several pieces of information that can help. Before you try any of the suggestions below, make sure the camera has fresh batteries and that it is in picture taking mode.

First, try hooking your camera up to the TV with the included A/V cable. Rumor has it that this resets the E18 error! (Thanks SLF)

Second, try compressed air. With a fine tip blow off gun and dry compressed air (20 lbs) set the tip between the lens turret and the camera body and turn on the air while moving the tip around the lens. It should remove all sand and dust. Turn the camera on and it should function fine. (Thanks Sprocket)

Third, try the tap method. Tap the padded USB cover part on a hard surface (e.g. a desk). (Thanks Tania, et al)

Fourth, try forcing the lens.

Version #1:
This error occurs when the lens is "stuck" or not extending "straight". The error can happen in 3 ways: either when the lens wont "come out", or "comes out" and then retracts, or does not retract at all. 1) If the lens doesn't extend at all or it extends, but then retracts again, do as follow: Turn the camera off. Place the camera on it's back with the lens facing up and have a look at the "spacing" between the lens and the lens housing. You'll probably notice that the gap is NOT EVEN all the way around. To fix this, simply -VERY GENTLY- press down on the side where the gap is the biggest. You will hear a "click" as it pops back in place. Try powering it back on. 2) If the lens is extended all the time and won't retract at all, do as follow: Turn the camera off. Take the camera in one hand and with the other gently, in turn, take the two part of the lens and gently move it round in a circular movement. Do so with both sections of the lens. You will hear a "click" as it pops back in place. Power the camera on. (Thanks Mike Scher)

Version #2:
Pull and twist on the largest ring of the lens while turning the camera on. Listen for a "click". If at first the focus seems to be off, turn the camera on and off and take lots of pictures, close ups and distance. You may find that the focus seems to improve. (Thanks Jeff Kishiyama)

If that doesn't work, there are a few online guides for repairing it yourself. (NOTE: This route is only worth trying if your camera is no longer under warranty!):
IXUS (similar to an Elph) dissection (English)
A70 dissection (Bulgarian)
A70 dissection (Estonian?)

If you have this problem, feel free to post below about how it happened, and what you've done about it.

UPDATE (1/25/05): For those who decide to pursue the dissection route, I found a website with step-by-step photos of the dissection of an A70 (presumably the process would be nearly for the A75 and others in the series). Of course, that the captions are in Bulgarian isn't too helpful.

UPDATE (2/21/05): Based on the popularity of this page, it is obvious to me that this issue affects many people out there. If you could post the following information, I think it would be helpful in getting an idea of just how wide-spread the issue is.
1) Camera model (e.g. A75)
2) When you bought your camera (e.g. June 2003)
3) When or how long after you bought it before the error occurred (e.g. July 2003 or 6 months)

UPDATE (4/18/04): On Canon's website, I found an official explanation of the E18 error:

Error Code "E18" (Lens unit/Lens cover error)

When a camera error occurs, an error code like "Exx" will be displayed, where the x's represent numbers.
The "E18" error code indicates an error that involves the lens unit or lens cover. Or it may appear if you apply pressure to the area surrounding the lens while handling the camera.

Solution

Check the following when you operate the camera to avoid applying pressure to the lens and surrounding area:

- Hold the camera so that your fingers do not touch the lens unit when you are shooting.
- Make sure the camera is off before you put it back in the case.

If you cannot clear the error code by turning the camera off and then on again, or if the error code is displayed frequently, a camera malfunction may have occurred.
Please contact the retailer where you purchased the camera or the nearest Canon service center.

UPDATE (4/18/04): Due to the MANY comments I've received from Canon customers who have encountered the infamous E18 error, I decided to contact them regarding the problem, seeking an official explanation/response. The email dialog, as it unfolds, will be posted below.

UPDATE (6/23/05): This page keeps getting lots of hits, but on the positive side, many posts are from people who are able to fix their camera themselves. I have added a new link to another foreign language description (with LOTS of pictures of taking apart a Canon Powershot A70.

UPDATE (7/3/05): The law firm of Girard Gibbs & De Bartolomeo LLP is investigating consumer complaints concerning Canon PowerShot digital cameras. Consumers complain that the lens unit of the camera freezes, "E18" appears on the camera's screen, and that the camera ceases to function.
If you've experienced these or similar problems and you are interested in helping us in our investigation, please fill out the form here.

UPDATE (2/21/06): PC World magazine has an article on the E18 problem, Digital Camera Disasters: Will Yours Get Fixed?, and they mentioned my blog!

At this point Canon sent me a survey claiming that "At Canon USA, customer service is our number-one priority, and we take great pride in providing you with the best service possible. It is our goal to make your Canon ownership experience enjoyable." Yeah right! For your reading pleasure, I have reproduced the survey (and my answers). I'll let you know if they actually get back to me.

Posted by dwallach at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (727) | TrackBacks (3)