iControl midi-controller from Sinamex

[BlackMoo]

Just give the guy his freakin money back la. Case closed.

 

[thor666]

i don't get it. Sinamex basically says it's not their problem because the guy bought after the store closed. but Sinamex sold it to them despite the store being closed, so isn't Sinamex still accountable to an extent?

i don't think that's what they meant. what they meant was that basically the thread starter did not verify any company policy or the specifics of the product.

 

[Lifehouse]

What Sinamex does is legally within their boundries and policies but I feel it would generate alot of goodwill if in this case, refund the buyer his money or maybe offer an exchange of a similar product.

Well, this is after all Singapore largest forum. An act of goodwill will probably be remembered for a long time.

Anyway, try not to get anything when a shop is about to close. Last time I got a haircut when a saloon was about to close, it turned out to be the worst haircut I had ever had. :smt003

 

[teraslasch]

I think sinamex is in no wrong .. the consumer should check his products thouroughly b4 buying it.
The buyer could try selling it on the forums or to anyone else who might need it at almost but cheaper than retail price. (Better than nothing rite? )...

 

[Cheez]

I think Sinamex has explained their side of the story sufficiently. I think I can accept it.

However, I saw Remix mag's site and quoting from them:

"By far the nicest surprise on the iControl is the MIDI Input, which has been basically unadvertised. It's pretty much a free one-input MIDI interface for your Mac. Connect a MIDI synthesizer or other device from its MIDI Out to the iControl's MIDI In, and the Mac will recognize the device. The iControl does not manipulate the device in any way; it simply passes through the signal. I tested this with Ableton Live 4, which recognized the iControl MIDI In with no problem."

Unless I misunderstood, what it says is simply that iControl provides a midi in for an external midi device. That means - connect an external midi device via iControl and other apps like Ableton will recognise that midi device as midi in. It simply acts as a conduit, iControl doesn't control anything. iControl does nothing else in Ableton live and is hardly a controller for it. So M-audio's point stands - iControl is ONLY for Garageband.

Well, in this case, it sounds like the buyer did not really ask Sinamex the questions - from Sinamex's point of view. My suggestion is still the same: do proper and thorough research on a product before buying it. Before I take the plunge, I usually take at least a few weeks to months to decide. If the manufacturer isn't clear on one point, I would communicate directly with the manufacturer. Any product that's fresh/new out in the market, I usually stay away from them until enough users have given their comments in forums.

 

[Tripper]

Hi,

If you refer to one of the previous messages, we included a review from a magazine that says it does work with other applications. Here it is again:
http://www.remixmag.com/mag/remix_maudio_icontrol/index.html
In essence, we did not inform anything. The customer request to buy after we have closed, switched off all lights. Told us what he would do. We said ok, no problem. It took one minute.

Thanks
Sinamex
www.sinamex.com

i must be missing something... read the review a couple of times, it states very clearly it works ONLY with garageband.

huh?

 

[Lifehouse]

Yup read the same thing. Hope I didnt miss anything out. Last paragraph.

Cons: No assignable controls; all settings fixed. Works only with Apple GarageBand 2. GB2 can't always keep up with iControl's movements when CPU is taxed.

 

[Cheez]

Yes, it works only with GB2. I think Sinamex misunderstood from one paragraph quote from Remix Mag. But it's OK, no one is perfect.

I guess the point is that Sinamex didn't inform the buyer anything. It may be a good thing they didn't - if they did based on that info, they probably will have to refund.

 

[hifi_killer]

It seems to me you are saying that he made a wrong decision because the lights are turned off and that he came in at the last minute, it doesnt really make sense, at least to me.. BUt even so, i dont see why you couldnt extend your opening hours for a little while longer, unless of course you are in a dead hurry.

You were saying you appreciate the feedback from the soft community. Well then show the appreciation in your actions not just words. Action speaks louder than words.

 

[thor666]

that's if the thread starter goes to Small claims tribunal. Or file a lawsuit (which is seriously too far fetched for a small issue).

and no, CASE cannot enforce, contrary to popular opinion.

 

[Relac]

Buyers Beware of Sinamex

Hmm, what think that, both parties are at some fault. As a customer, u should not rush into buying things maybe take more time to look into a product u are buying, maybe even test it out. As a seller, u should not rush a customer in buying things, even though ur shop is closing, u should still explain the full details to customers, besides no harm in knocking off 30mins later. Anyway we are all humans, we make mistakes.. Btw, maybe the tread starter should not name the tread as 'Buyers Beware of Sinamax' it is very unfair to Sinamax, as if u want ppl to stop going to Sinamax. And u should not have started a poll too..

 

[Cheez]

I think it's time to close this thread (hint, James...). We have ascertained one important thing - perhaps the most important thing from this thread, that is: iControl works only with GB2.

According to Sinamex, the entire episode lasted only 1 minute. So we cannot judge anything based on that; furthermore none of us were there to see the incident or hear the conversations that transpired. And since the thread-starter has not responded at all, I think there's no point in pointing fingers. Let the buyer and retailer settle it themselves.

 

[jumbofret]

Haste makes waste.

 

[popeye]

Sinamex,

I think the whole point about service culture or lack thereof is moot. The fact is the guy asked your staff 2 direct questions and the staff gave factually wrong answers. Now if the answers were intentional then wouldn't it be cheating?

maybe it's the shop's "culture" to give false information. who knows? :roll:

Because of $260 and they lost a lot of potential customers... good luck to their business.

 

[hullabalooeeks]

wahaha. lets learn from it and move on.

 

[fibredrive]

as they say, Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware.
but then again, also caveat venditor too! heh.

ah vell, since claimant has vanished, maybe we can put a close to this chapter too.

 

[l00p3rm4n]

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for the overwhelming response. Sorry I only reply now, I did not expect the thread to generate so much traffic so soon

It is obvious from Sinamex's replies that I will be stuck with this product, I just hope the thread can serve as a useful warning to anyone else in future.

Honestly, those were statements by the customer on what he will do. Not questions. The customer came in and bought within a minute. There was no time for any meaningful Q&A. Processing the sale already took half the time. If it is really a valid case of return, we would have done it. It would have been very silly of us not to.

Just to clarify this: My questions were definitely posed as questions, not statements. And I did the purchase as quickly as possible as courtesy to the retailer, who was about to close shop.

I'll learn from this and do proper research next time, and not pose any questions to the retailer. (when I can afford something again :? )

With that I'll rest my case

(Maybe I can salvage the pots & switches :wink: )

 

[Tripper]

I'll learn from this and do proper research next time, and not pose any questions to the retailer. (when I can afford something again :? )

so i suppose the end result from all of this is common sense. Check out what you want to buy carefully and assume you know better then the retailer.. dont bother asking as you might get the wrong answer anyways.

i suppose thats another 'cultural' trait, retailers not knowing what they are selling.

 

[3notesAbar]

i suppose thats another 'cultural' trait, retailers not knowing what they are selling.

I guess thats singapore for us. But still we cannot stereotype all retailers, bet you already know that.

 

[Cheez]

l00p3rm4n, hope you will be able to sell it at near the original price. Maybe somebody in SOFT can help out. Perhaps somebody is looking for iControl here.