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JB-HI Fi Lesson on Chinglish

Maid in China

Products made in China are, on average, cheaper. I can’t deny it. In a straight price comparison there is no way that products built in most countries can compete.

But at the same time the flood of cheap knockoffs often do themselves a huge injustice. The parts are often substandard, the quality is lacking, the consistency of end result is bad, and sometimes the product just isn’t fit for purpose.

At other times the product is great, but it’s the incidentals that let it down. For temperature loggers, it’s often the poor quality software and instructions that mean I just can’t sell it or support it because I would have a flood of support calls. I want a product that is easy to use, reliable and robust.

And the one that amazes me is the poor quality instructions that come within the box. Nothing screams “made in China” more than poorly written instructions (and yes, the “Maid in China” was a deliberate typo)

The JB Hi-Fi Claim – Unlimited internet access from your car

So when I was at JB Hi-Fi yesterday I was amazed to find this written on the back of an item:

“This fascinating car accessory is designed to existence charging for the DC12V and DC5V device. These sockets provide the power to 3 applications at the same time. But the most important application is USB. The USB offer the power to ipod, iphone, cell phone, GPS and PSP when you are travelling. The power is a problem no longer. Whenever you see the car, you still online.”

It’s a “car socket with USB”.

So does this also provide some magical GSM connectivity via wi-fi bouncing off my car? How can any product say “whenever you see the car, you still online”. Mate, I want one of these and at $18 that’s a bargain.

The JB Hi-Fi Lesson on Engwish

This product really begs some simple questions?

1. Why didn’t the manufacturer pay a couple of dollars to get a better translation? Why not just use Fiverr!!!!

2. Why didn’t the importer check the quality of the product and documentation before importing. Surely they could give free advice to the manufacturer on what should have been written.

3. Why is JB Hi-Fi selling a product that can’t even get the back cover right? What does it say about the quality of the content.

I was tossing up whether to buy it or not. When I read the back I was ready to put it back and walk away. The fact that I could write a blog about it meant I kept it.

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So the JB Hi-Fi Lesson on Chinglish is:

“People use what they know to judge what they don’t know“.

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I know the quality of the English is bad. I know no one bothered to fix it. I know JB Hi-Fi are prepared to cut corners on quality to keep the price down. I can’t see the product and I don’t know what the quality will be like.

 

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What is covered with our shipping insurance?

Our normal terms and conditions (like most businesses) is that you take possession the moment an order ships. If the order is lost or damaged in transit then, in theory, it’s your problem. In reality we will have a conversation and try to work out a good way to resolve the issue where we are both happy (or not too upset).

Shipping insurance is there to remove the drama. If an order is lost or damaged in transit, we will simply send out a replacement, and we will then deal with the courier directly to resolve the original problem.

Our shipping insurance also means that if an order is delayed beyond what is normal and reasonable then we will send you another shipment (stock levels permitting). Then you should receive one of them sooner, and when the second one arrives you simply Return To Sender.

How much is shipping insurance?

Shipping insurance is 5% of the cost of the goods.

Is it worth it? Practically we have had far less than 5% of shipments have problems. It is, however, what Australia Post and other couriers charge. Ultimately insurance is about peace of mind and less hassle when something does go wrong.

Shipping insurance as an option

Shipping insurance is offered as an option on all our web sites. You can select it at the checkout.

For large orders our staff may also ask if you would like shipping insurance.

If you would like shipping insurance on an order you are placing with us, just ask.

Mandatory shipping insurance

Unfortunately we have had a couple of large orders not make it and then the customer refused to pay. A friend suggested that the easy way to avoid the dispute is to insure any shipments where we have a significant risk.

If you would like an immediate line of credit (30 days to pay) and have the goods ship immediately (no credit check delays) and are purchasing over $500 then we will add shipping insurance to your order.

The shipping insurance can be waived if the order is between $500 and $2,000 and you provide us with a formal confirmation that you accept responsibility of the goods once they ship.

Alternatively you can prepay by direct deposit or credit card.

What is not covered?

If there is a clear proof of delivery to the shipping address provided then we class that as delivered. Unfortunately there are cases where it is lost somewhere between the loading dock or receptionist and ending up in your hands. But we also know that a photo of the bag against a generic grey background is not proof of delivery, it is just proof of existence! It needs to be a reasonable proof of delivery.

It also doesn’t cover the expectation of overnight delivery. For example, if we were to ship to Melbourne (we are in Sydney) then we would expect it to be delivered within about 3 days. Most of the time it is overnight, but there are enough floods and other issues that regularly cause minor delays. Sending a second order the next day tends to not fix the problem. If it is super urgent, talk to us about how we can minimise the risk.

For damage claims we ask that you contact us immediately and we will probably ask for photos or some proof. The shipping insurance doesn’t cover claims weeks later. We do have warranty covering our items, but it excludes physical damage (e.g. being dropped). If the goods are damaged in transit then please let us know ASAP so we can cover it under the shipping insurance.