• Woot: Visiontek ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB PCI-E Video Card for $79.99
• Vans: 20% off with coupon code TRUEFAN08
• eBags: Up to 38% off The North Face Backpacks

• Amazon: Canon A590IS 8MP Digital Camera $147 Shipped
• Buy.com: Whistler XTR-140 Radar/Laser Detector $37 Shipped
• Apple Store: Save $300 to $900 off refurbished MacBook Pro Notebooks

• State Taxes: 2008 State Sales Tax Holidays
• Wilsons Leather: Entire site up to 75% off
• Shoplet.com: Up to 60% off back to school supplies

• Kohl's: 80-90% Clearance Sale
• Disney Outlet: Kid's costumes up to 80% off, plus extra 20% off code
• Amazon: Dr. Martens Men's 1914 Cherry Red Size 14 Boots $38

• Tiger Direct: UTStarcom GSM708 Unlocked GSM Phone $20
• Butterfly Photo: Canon Rebel XSi 12MP DSLR & Lens $790 Shipped
• Expedia: Save 30% off Hotels, Cars, Cruises & Other Travel

Earlier this week I ordered a part from Canon USA Service for one of my Canon cameras and it arrived today. I am impressed for the fast shipping but not so much by the efficiency of the packaging.

Canon USA is headquartered in a place called "Lake Success" in New York. Out of curiosity, we checked what UPS would charge to ship a one-pound package, roughly 12"x8"x6" from Lake Success to Los Angeles. Our reader said he was pleased with the fast shipping, so let's say Canon used UPS 3 Day shipping: that would be nearly $20. We then checked how much it would cost to throw the part in an envelope and drop it in the mailbox: that would be 41¢. Well done, Canon.
(Thanks to Dale!)

When I called the main number,I was asked by the computer what product I was called about (Printers), then department (support), and asked the type of printer (pixma).  They said "You are now being transfered to our Virginia based customer service center."

...after a minute, they offered to call *me* back after 3-5 minutes when a agent was available.  Wow.  No listening to hold music.  I can dig that. Three minutes later the phone rang, connected me immediately and a friendly southern gentlemen (perhaps on the veranda with a mint julep) answered and I asked him to describe the markings of the power cable that went in the back of the printer.  He said he wasn't sure, but parts should know. I was transferred to parts and the guy was looking the info up, but coming up short on what the cable would look like.

I figured this could be a lost cause, so I asked how much it was (figuring $10-$15 and getting it resolved quickly).  The guy said "Since we should be able to tell you something simple like that, and we can't, I'll send the cord no charge."

(thanks to Dave!)

The National Press Photographer's Association is having none of it:

After receiving the NFL letter, NPPA Executive Director Jim Straight said, "We reaffirm our dissension on the vest's logos based on our ethical standards, and we hope that our members - with the consultation of their employers - seek out professional and responsible ways to avoid endorsing a corporate product while acting in a journalistic manner."

But, in his e-mail to E&P, Zibluk made clear a boycott would not occur, at least not one organized by his group. "What we're more likely to suggest is that photographers cover the logos or turn them inside out. We'd recommend checking with their management, or clients if they're freelancers, to make sure they have support."

NFL Tells Photog Group: Vests With Ads Will Stay [Editor & Publisher]
(Photo:B & M Photography)

The software that came bundled with my Canon Digital Rebel XT no longer works on the latest version of OS X. No problem, right? I'll just download the update from Canon. But oh ho! They've bundled all the functionality into a new application called "EOS Utility," which is now packaged with cameras newer than mine. And because it's a newer bit of software, Canon's (rather helpful) customer service people want me to pay $20 for a copy of the new software.

I understand not getting free software updates for life, but it's doubly frustrating in this case, because 1) I brought the camera in part because of the functionality promised by their software (functionality I used to have until I upgraded my Mac), and 2) it's stupid that Canon won't just let the users of their cameras download the software in the first place. Even if I had bought a camera that came with the newer "EOS Utility" software, Canon would force me to pay for a new disc if I lost or broke the original. Their rationale? According to the customer service rep: "What if someone bought a Canon from a pawn shop? Then they could have the software for free!" The horror!

I love my Rebel, but I'm extremely put out by Canon's decision to maximize every bit of profit instead of providing a person who purchased their product with the best experience possible.

We'll give our old bossman the same advice we give you: don't stop with Tier 1, escalate! Knowing Joel, he's probably already found a free copy of the new software online somewhere, but if he hasn't, anyone know where he can get it?

Either way, Canon's policy is wack. Why should it matter if Joel traded a newborn child the camera underneath the docks? Successive generations of owners shouldn't have degraded user experiences. — BEN POPKEN

Sage ordered a high-end camera from Dell. When he opened the shrink-wrapped package, inside was the cheap, plastic office supply.

But after reaching Dell and telling his story, a Dell manager apologized profusely and agreed to send a new 5D free of charge with free shipping.

Yay!

Read the whole gory saga here.

However, there are some businesses who go to great lengths to to deal with their faults and smiling customers have, perhaps mistakenly, written in laudatory letters.

Shoutouts to you, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Spring Hill Nursery, Flexcar, Canon, Server Intellect, SBC Yahoo, Hammond Valve, Peapod and Travel Country.

Caveat: lest you think our enthusiasm unmitigated, consider this turn of the screw. Seven out of nine of those businesses are small. It's easier for a small business to deal directly and quickly with a customer service complaint... and far more damaging, in negative word-of-mouth, if they don't.

In the economy of scale that fuels corporations, customer service, being a cost-center, is short-sightedly given short shrift. Neveryoumind the long-term cost of wham-bam, thank you Jan, if you want to reach me talk to my Indian secretary approach currently in vogue.

Corporate greed and consumer benefit, there's a magical love child to be made here, people!

• Dell Home is selling the lust-worthy Canon EOS 5D, a full-frame sensored DSLR with a 12.8-megapixel resolution, for $2,804.15 after using coupon code PCDM6VGSQPH9VZ. Pick one up for us, okay? Discount works on other cameras at Dell Home, too.

• And if you buy the 5D, be sure to head over to the National Geographic store's clearance sale to pick up one of the swanky photographer's shirt. You'll be the best-dressed photog at your kid's soccer game, for sure. [via DealNews]

Highlights from Dealhack

• 80-hour Series 2 Tivo Digital Video Recorder $100 at Amazon
(use Tivo-to-Go and 80 hours of recording to watch when and where you want.)

• Save up to 40% with Great External Disk Drive Deals at Buy.com
(From 160 GB for $100 to 320 GB for only $180—all rebate free.)

• 50 Gifts Under $50 for Valentine's Day at Red Envelope
(Don't get caught without a gift this year.)

• Get up and get out to Banana Republic, where the muted colors are on sale for an additional 20% off the already discounted prices. But if you can't escape from the candy shell that ties you to your chair, the online code BRHOLBB should get you 15% off $125 or more at BananaRepublic.com. (Thanks, Ben!)

• Specialized is selling their 04 Speed Zone 5.0 Elite Bike Computer for just $20, down from $70. Fedex Ground shipping for $5. [via TechBargains]

• $15 off a $75 purchase at Petco. [via Ben's Bargains]

• New customers at iPrint.com can get a free, customized rubber stamp as long as you're willing to pay $3.50 in shipping. Professor Chumblesworth of 1337 Lane here we come. [via Dealnews]

• This deal for a Canon SD450 5-megapixel camera takes a little extra skill, but we think it's time you moved to the next level. Buy the camera from Dell Home, receive an automatic 20% off, then buy a $35 off $300 coupon from eBay to bring your total price to $244 shipped free. Trouble? A little. Worth it? By over $50 off the going rate. [via Slickdeals]

• Today's Woot! is the LG Progressive Scan DVD/Divx Player with HD Upconversion for $65 dollars, shipped. It's a refurb, but that don't scare us none. This one has got all the right features, but sadly we're not up to snuff with the wide world of DVD players. (We use our Xbox Media Center for all DVD playback.)

Highlights from Dealhack

• Save up to 50% off during January Clearance at Wine.com
(Over 125 selections on sale from under $10 to a few $100+)

• Save $25 off Kitchen & Housewares or Bed & Bath at Amazon
(Valid on single items or multiple items in orders of $125 or more.)

• Samsung 56-inch 1080p DLP HDTV + DVD Player & Harmony Remote $2700 at TigerDirect.com