Canon "Crap" Service Center in Irvine, CA

UPDATE: Canon has finally repaired my camera after 3 TRIPS to the repair center. Read this article to find out what happened.

I would like to tell you about Canon's "Crap" Service Center in Irvine, CA. As you guys know that a while back I told you that the self cleaning unit on my Canon EOS 5D Mark III is most likely malfunctioning and that my sensor got dirty fast as it isn't shaking any dust off. So I went ahead, contacted Canon about it and they told me to ship it into their service center so they can have a look. While at it, I also told them about the under exposure issue I was having with the camera. Once I got it back, they told me they have adjusted the meter system which was slightly off. Also they said that they did check and adjust my self cleaning unit (pretty much admitting it was malfunctioning) and that they also gave me a sensor clean. Note that the only reason the sensor got so dirty that I had to get it cleaned was because the self cleaning unit was malfunctioning. So I got it back and noticed that their technician left some residue on my lens. I told Canon about it, and they were nice enough to give me a free shipping label to get my camera back in for a reclean, something they didn't do adequately the first time it was in there. I was happy and I sent it back in for a reclean. Funny thing. Once I got it back, not only was my sensor dirtier than when I sent it in (I have photos to prove this), there was also a deep scratch across the Canon logo on the back of the camera, and if it wasn't for my screen protector on the LCD, they would have left a small but deep mark on my LCD too! What kind of "professional service" is this? More like "we have workers who don't give a shit about you". If you need your camera repaired do not ship your camera to the service center in Irvine, CA. It's a joke. Let this be a warning. Do not trust your camera to the service center in Irvine, CA. I have contacted Canon customer support about this. Will update you guys if anything turns up.

Update 6-27-2013:
I got an email back from Canon saying:
"Dear Eric Wu:

We appreciate your continued correspondence regarding EOS 5D Mark III.

I'm sorry to hear the problems you are having with our service center. If you would reply to this email with the previous repair number I will get you a shipping label to get the camera back to us, so we can correct this for you. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause having to send it back in, buy we will get this taken care of for you.

We look forward to your reply with the information we have requested regarding your EOS 5D Mark III. Thank you for choosing Canon.

Sincerely,

[Name Removed For Privacy]
Technical Support Representative"

Here is what I have to say to that. Do you not hear me of the condition I got my camera back in? You expect me to trust and to ship my camera back to the same service center that "corrected this for you [me]" the first time? How exactly are they going to "correct this for you"? By making another scratch on my camera? Come on Canon, you better have a better solution or I will be spreading this everywhere on the internet.

Update 7-1-2013:
Canon has provided me with a shipping label to get it back to the service center and I just dropped it off at my local UPS store today. The customer support supervisor has also promised that he will request the service center to have a "senior" technician work on my camera and a more thorough quality control check after the repairs before they send it back to me. This has made me feel slightly more reassured which is why I have sent it back. Canon if you are reading this, if you screw up my camera again, you are loosing a customer for good, and I will also be spreading this repair story everywhere on the internet. Don't disappoint me. My blog may look small but I have many many followers elsewhere plus I teach photography. If you guys disappoint me again, I'll be sure to spread this story!

Update 7-8-2013:
Just got an update from Canon's service center. They will spare me a labor charge however wants me to pay $236.62 + tax for replacement parts (most likely due to the scratches) and $15 for shipping. This brings the total charge to $273.18. Are you serious Canon? Your service center put those scratches on my camera! Not me! Definitely will complain and work things out with the customer support because there seems to be no email contact for the service center. This is very unprofessional and unethical Canon!

Update 7-9-2013:
After posting my repair story on Canon's Facebook page yesterday, they removed the post immediately. This morning, Canon private messaged me on Facebook saying that they have readjusted the estimate and removed the charges. I checked the new estimate and it says it will be a free in-warranty repair. Several hours later at 4:22 PM, they have said they have shipped the camera back to me. Canon, if you screwed up my camera again, I will be updating my review on this camera on sites including Amazon and Adorama stating how you guys screwed up my repair a 3rd time. The 2 websites everyone goes to look before they make a purchase. If my camera comes back satisfied, I will be raising my ratings and updating those reviews.  Let's see how it turns out.

Update 7-11-2013:
Just got my camera back from the repair center today (it was the Irvine repair center for all 3 repairs). My camera was wrapped in a bag that said CPS, so Canon Professional Services probably took on this repair as I am a member. While the sensor is not 100% clean, it meets my expectations. The few dust spots left on the sensor are not very visible (from my test shot) until I boosted up the Clarity in Camera RAW. They have also replaced the parts of the camera that they have scratched up free of charge. Now I just have to go replace the screen protector the removed to replace the parts. No biggy, only cost me a few cents anyways. Thank you Canon for fixing my camera up. While having to send my camera into the repair center 3 times is a quite ridiculous, I am happy my camera is finally fixed and can be used again. I can finally go on vacation soon which I had to delay because the camera was in the repair center. Will update here if anything comes up, if not, you will see more photos I take with this camera up on my photography blog. :)

Paragon Outlets in Livermore, CA is a SCAM

I went to go clothes shopping at Paragon Outlets in Livermore, CA, and all I have to say is the stores there are a SCAM! Why? They use deception to try to get you to buy stuff and tell you about "discounts" that they will not give you at check out. So here is what happened.

The first store I encountered this problem is the GAP Outlet Store. When I first went to the store, they had a sign saying "Entire Store 50% Off" and an employee also told me that when I walked in the door. I was like, okay, that's great! So I went ahead and looked through the discount racks and found some stuff I liked. When I went to go check out, they told me that the 50% discount did not apply to the discounted items! I was like that is not what your employee told me at the beginning. Then they said, well it doesn't matter, it isn't included in our 50% discount. The sign says "Entire Store 50% Off", it didn't even label excluded items. They are using deception to get you to by things. I still bought the items because even without the discount, they were still a pretty good deal, but still, I do not condone such practices. This is not the worst deception anyways. Let me tell you about the next store I went to.

The next store I went to was American Eagle Outfitters. This store was even worse, but let me make it clear it is just the Paragon Outlets store only and does not apply to the store at the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton, CA. So pretty much, let me begin with yesterday. I went to the Stoneridge Mall American Eagle Outfitters store yesterday because I had a 20% off coupon that was about to expire today. I didn't find anything I like there so I didn't end up not spending any money, but they didn't try to cheat you there. At that store, they clearly labeled the racks that had the 40% discount and did not put that sign on any rack that did not have the discount. Today, at the Paragon Outlets American Eagle Store, when I walked in, they told me that they had a 40% discount and the stuck the sign on EVERY rack including the ones that does not have the discount (of course no one told me until I tried to check out). Even though they labeled "Select Styles Only" on every sign, it is very deceptive to put it on EVERY rack even the ones that DOES NOT have the discount! When I found the stuff I wanted and went to check out, they told me that it was not included with the 40% off discount, which brought me up to $20 for a t shirt that wasn't even made from cotton and the material did not even feel that high quality. This was very deceptive. They put the sign and labeled every rack 40% off and it is not like the customer misplaced their clothes or anything because the racks were very organized and the same styles are all grouped together. This means the employees purposely put the signs on the racks to deceive the customers. I do not recommend you shop there.

So that is pretty much my little rant on Paragon Outlets in Livermore, CA. While I have seen some bad reviews on the Forever21 in the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton, CA, it is still a way better mall than the Paragon Outlets. This was 2 stores that was using deception trying to get you to buy stuff at the Paragon Outlets and I bet there were other stores also using this method and I just didn't shop at them. If you are planning to go shopping at the Paragon Outlets in Livermore, CA, just forget it because they are obviously trying to scam and cheat you.

Christian Influence in North Korea

I was very surprised to learn that North Korea's eternal leader, Kim Il Sung was Christian, and if you think about it, the country has very high Christian influence right now.

1. Jesus died, but you are to worship him as your eternal savior. Kim Il Sung died, but North Koreans are to worship him as their eternal savior/leader. 
2. Jesus performed miracles and healed people. North Korea claims Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un performs miracles and have magical powers. It has even been claimed that Kim Jong Il has hit several holes in ones in golf in one day, and apparently is so magical he does not need to go poop or pee. 
3. Christians are to thank Jesus before every meal and for every blessing. North Koreans are taught to say "Thank you Dear Leader" before every meal and every blessing. 

Just putting it out there, if Kim Il Sung never had the Christian influence, the country would probably be better off right now...