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Do things which have been given free of charge but which you had offered to pay for, count in this thread?
I'll assume yes for now and so here are 3 things I've been given today:
^ Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB eSATA HD
Creating music results in lots of HD space being needed - Not just for Logic projects storage but the huge sample and instrument libraries which Logic can access. I've got two Thunderbolt ports going begging on my Mac but there's a shortage of external drives and they still cost megabucks. My local computer shop advised that buying a separate eSATA HD and casing would be a good solution and get around the current world shortage and hence high pricings. So I asked him over a week ago to get me a price for either a Seagate or Western Digital and said that even if his price was more than online, providing the price difference wasn't huge I would buy from him.
As I wasn't impressed about not hearing from him for nearly 10 days (he has my email) and went into the shop yesterday morning and expressed my disappointment sternly but without being rude. Unfortunately he took offence and said he didn't like being spoken to in such a manner and I said that he would do well to remember I was a customer who was just being honest about how I felt and that other customers would surely also feel the same though most would vote with their feet rather than give him the feedback. When I apologised and suggested we start our conversation again he said no! And that he didn't want to ever sell me anything in the future! I was so flabbergasted I remained routed to the spot. I eventually left the shop calmly but saying that it really wasn't the way for any shopkeeper to conduct business.
In the evening, after shop hours, I received a profuse apology from him (he's the shop owner) and would I please drop by the shop later today because he had something he wanted to give me by way of apology. He obviously calmed down and had realised that this is a small town and I know a very diverse and large number of people here indeed - Word of mouth can be powerful.
Anyway when I went in today he handed me a very heavy jiffy bag and inside was the Samsung Spinpoint HD.... As a gift! He said he had been given it as a christmas gift by a supplier he buys lots of laptops from and he didn't want to put it through his books and it coincided with my need.
He can't supply me the case I want (being a Mac enthusiast hardwired into eye-candy) so I'll buy that online - FireWire 800 for now.
The other freebie was a bottle of Castrol oil to top up my car from my VW dealer.
Another indirect freebie I was offered today and have accepted is a new version of a Logic App for my iPad - Would I be a tester for the beta version and be given the final version free? Of course! I already know the developer and he's a very established professional in California with a well established reputation and highly rated music rack hardware products.
Christmas has come early!
