May/June View Camera

[QT Luong]

May/June? I'm still waiting for the previous issue. In march I used my Visa Card to statr a subscription. About the first week of June I sent an email asking where my subscription was. Their email answer was "We never heard of you and you are not in my files. They told me I needed to present them with a Paypal reciept. Since I had paid through my Visa card, not my Paypal acoount I had no PP reciept. I was told I could not have gotten a subscrciption unless I used Paypal.

Later I returned to my office in California and their on my computer was a statement showing that my Vias card had indeed paid their PP account. I sent a copy of this to them and thus far have heard nothing no magazine , no refund, nothing.

So in answer to your question No! I have not recieved my May/June issue.
Sid

I think you were confused by the payment method. Paypal can act as a "pure" credit card processor, which means that no account is involved in such a Paypal transaction, only a credit card. The misunderstanding may have contributed to a heated conversation, which never helps.

I received a phone call from Steve Simmons of View Camera Magazine, in which he stated unambiguously that (a) he has never received any proof of payment from you (b) he doesn't know who you are, and has no means to contact you.

I suggest that you try to recontact him by phone or email at Largformat@aol.com. I will also provide him with your email address. Hopefully you two can get that sorted out.

[Charles Hohenstein]

The current issue is the best that I have seen for a long time. According to my taste, anyway. And there are no articles on scanning or PhotoShop, for which I am grateful.

[sidmac]

Mr Simmons Recieved a paper copy of my reciept in Mid June. It was on my office computer in California and is off line. I sent a snail mail copy to the view camera office in Corrales NM. He insists they have no record of me even today. After subscribing with a Visa card, Email inquires and mailed reciept copies I am tired of the whole process.
I subscribed to View Camera years ago and still have about 4 years of back issues. I liked the publication then and was hpoing to get a new subscription as I am getting back into LF. But this whole experience has left a very bad taste in my mouth. Sorry to drag the forum into this but I was looking for people with similar problems.
Sid

[QT Luong]

Mr Simmons Recieved a paper copy of my reciept in Mid June.
... I sent a snail mail copy to the view camera office in Corrales NM.

Those two propositions are not necessarily equivalent. In other words, things get lost in the mail. Over the past year, *six* separate books that I ordered, including a signed limited edition, did not arrive. Except for a cheap book for which I didn't bother, the booksellers refunded me. That's why many businesses (including my small photography operation) pay a premium for Fedex or similar. However, in my experience, it is still highly unusual for a customer to have to send receipts to verify a purchase (esp. for something low cost like a mag subscription), since well-organized businesses tend to be able to find those records.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Those two propositions are not necessarily equivalent. In other words, things get lost in the mail. Over the past year, *six* separate books that I ordered, including a signed limited edition, did not arrive. Except for a cheap book for which I didn't bother, the booksellers refunded me. That's why many businesses (including my small photography operation) pay a premium for Fedex or similar. However, in my experience, it is still highly unusual for a customer to have to send receipts to verify a purchase (esp. for something low cost like a mag subscription), since well-organized businesses tend to be able to find those records.

QT - are you part of Steve's staff? Are you an employee of ViewCamera? You seem to be taking VC's side... which is... interesting.

[BrianShaw]

QT - are you part of Steve's staff? Are you an employee of ViewCamera? You seem to be taking VC's side... which is... interesting.

Ha ha... that's funny. I was thinking the same thing about you. You got some great "product placement" in the last issue... or is that another David Spivak that the rabbi was talking about.

[QT Luong]

QT - are you part of Steve's staff? Are you an employee of ViewCamera? You seem to be taking VC's side... which is... interesting.

At least you are understanding that I am trying to be helpful, unlike a certain person (whom I will not name) who sees my post as a "cheap shot" and "out of the line" that shows that I "continually pick the wrong side" and exhibit "bad judgement in character" :-)

[sidmac]

Please, let's let it drop. I will take care of this matter in a gentlemanly fashion in a couple of weeks. I an niether aliar, nor a trouble maker, nor a warrior of any kind. Just let it all drop.
Sid

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Ha ha... that's funny. I was thinking the same thing about you. You got some great "product placement" in the last issue... or is that another David Spivak that the rabbi was talking about.

According to Steve Simmons, Publisher of View Camera Magazine, I am not mentioned at all in the article in the latest issue of View Camera Magazine. Of course I haven't seen an issue, yet. Simmons has promised me a copy - but I have yet to see it. So does the Barnes & Noble in Union Square, New York City, the largest B&N in all of Manhattan and two of my local bookstores near me in Brooklyn.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

At least you are understanding that I am trying to be helpful, unlike a certain person (whom I will not name) who sees my post as a "cheap shot" and "out of the line" that shows that I "continually pick the wrong side" and exhibit "bad judgement in character" :-)

There's two types of realities in this world: The reality one sees and the reality everyone else sees.

If I was actually mentioned by Rabbi Sinclair in the article, I should have been sent a magazine or two. When you posted a review of the Rabbi's book, I sent everyone and their mother a link to your blog and posted it several times on my facebook page. I would've encouraged many people to go out and purchase the latest issue of VC had I been dealt with in a professional manner.

I wish Steve the best... honestly I do. He is publishing the ONLY print magazine for large format photography in the country (world?) right now. And believe me, I know what it's like to be on the wrong end of customer service... I'm learning, I'm learning. But once I realize I'm wrong, I do everything I can to rectify the situation. Steve refused to admit he had any wrong doing in this at all... ok. Whatever. I'm past it. I wish him luck.

I have been told that Brooks Jensen will be publishing Rabbi Sinclair's work in a later issue this year. With the new curves LW is using and their amazing reproduction, Rabbi Sinclair's work is going to look amazing. I'll have to buy 50 or so copies.