Monday, December 7, 2009

Suspected fake ISI marking on LPG Gas Pipe and No manufacturing/expiry date

There is a wide scale misuse of ISI marking. Be in food, drinking water or electrical/home appliances, there are substandard products on which manufacturers place Agmark/ISI mark without getting certification. Some place ISI mark and license number which as per BIS website queries are invalid. Recently got an LPG gas pipe from a well known shop in Bangalore which has an ISI mark on the packaging and cover text says that the product expires and should be replaced after 3 years of manufacture as per date printed on the tube. Surprisingly there is no manufacturing date on the packaging or on the gas tube. The records as per BIS website show that the manufacturer is not one of the certified companies and so does not have ISI marking license under that standard number. License number search shows it is invalid. The company making the product also has placed incomplete address - only company name and city.

Such critical items like gas pipes having poor quality can cause accidents like the one which happened in Bangalore recently. The large retail chains as well as small shops are filled with substandard products from China as well as Indian manufacturers. Consumers need to be alert while shopping for critical every day use products some of which can risk lives and health.

- Neeraj

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Misuse of ISI Marks

I recently came across some products while shopping which had ISI marks on the packaging or product but based on the quality etc. I suspected if they were really certified ISI marked products. So I explored website if India's national standard body - Bureau of Indian Standards website and found that it is possible to know through the website, which products have been certified under specific standard and also we can know the status of licences obtained by companies.

One of the items details I validated found that the license number they put on the product packaging is an invalid one.

Here are some useful links


Also found some recent news items on misuse of ISI markings.

Misuse of ISI markings - Packaged Drinking Water in Bangalore

BIS ropes in pvt agency to check misuse of ISI mark

There is also a link for filing complaints related to BIS certified product(ISI Mark)/Services of BIS

- Neeraj

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Indian telco's never ending price war in voice services. Would like to see tarrifs drop for data services as well.

September - October 2009 again saw telecom operators in India fighting it out with each other on the pricing of call charges. The recent moves by Reliance, Airtel, Aircel etc. on pricing were bit late response to new entrant (in GSM) Tata Docomo's August launch of 1 second billing for local and STD calls. The pricing was placed at 1 paisa per second (Rs 0.01 per second). Till that time all operators only offered 1 minute billing. The Indian market is a predominantly prepaid market and prices in India are already among the lowest in the world. The call charges for local and STD are now around Rs 0.50 to Rs 0.60 per minute (USD 0.011 to USD 0.012) typically without any contact or monthly charges. The telecom minister recently announced that he foresees rate to drop to less than half of that for STDs and one to one fifth of the current charges (Rs 0.25 for STD and Rs 0.10 for local). We may come closer to that once the mobile number portability becomes a reality in coming months, when subscribers will be able to retain their phone number while switching the operators.

The cost of SMS, value added services, Wireless data plans have not dropped any where close to in terms of trend we see in voice services. They have stayed almost the same for quite some time and in some cases may have increased. With widespread availability and usage of smart phones and netbooks it will be good if wireless data access charges like for unlimited internet browsing, email access are also made more attractive to subscribers.

Recent annoucements by Intel, BSNL and HCL are encouraging prospects of wireless broadband access. There are also rumours that Google may also be interested in Wireless internet infrastructure in India. So let us see how things pan up.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Apple Store - Imagine in Forum Mall Bangalore

This is about the Apple store - "Imagine" in Forum Mall Bangalore. I visited this place couple of weeks ago to look for some iPod Touch accessories. The store is not directly managed by Apple and prices are not consistent with Apple's standard prices. They also offer services like SW upgrades etc. (like many people who do not have itunes account in India or credit card for payment online). I also checked about version 3.1.2 upgrade on my iPod. One of the guys said they do not do it. Then another one said they can do it but will charge Rs500+tax. When I told that Apple has reduced price for SW updrade some time back to $4.99 (Rs 250 appx) and it is no longer $9.99 (Rs 500 appx.) , they said "we know but we will charge as per older price if you would like to get it updated". I did not agree to the inflated price and came home and upgraded through my iTune account.

As far as the service goes, I was not impressed with their attitude in general. Huge difference between the Apple stores in USA and these kind of stores in India. The stores like Croma or Reliance Digital are far better choice for shopping Apple products in Bangalore.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

What you got served at a restaurant - part 3

Go Veg Restaurant
(Near Wipro Park towards Sarjapur Road on first floor)

Near Devi Eye Clinic, Koramangala 6th Block
425, 80 feet road, Bangalore, Karnataka

This is rebranded Mast Kalandar with change in management of some sort that happened couple of months ago. The food quality, taste and pricing is almost identical as earlier. OK so what new about this one? Earlier in one of the Mast Kalandar I had got a piece of cloth inside their Amritsari stuffed Kulcha/Prantha. I was second time unlucky today with this one. Today went to this Go Veg place in 6th block and there was a piece of metal wire in the Punjabi Combo I ordered.

The metal piece was in my mouth and while chewing the food I felt some thing metallic. As per the restaurant manager it is nothing but a piece of metal scrubber used for cleaning utensils, they are sorry about it. As I was with my daughter, was not in a fighting mood and did not want to create a scene there I just finished eating and walked out. Towards the end one of the person serving food brought one piece of Gulab jamun as apology! for two of us to share. No offer for any refund or any thing. I enjoyed the place and food till the metal piece was found.

We were lucky that the metal came in my piece not the one which my daughter was eating as it could have been a major problem had it caused a cut in mouth or had it got into stomach of either of us. I do not understand one after the another as you would see one restaurant serves flies in food, another one a piece of cloth and now metal pieces.

These are just recent incidents earlier also various objects have been found in food while eating out or even in office cafeterias from any where insects to used chewing gums. These make me and my family more and more reluctant to eat out but this can not be fully avoided. All restaurants specially these new entrepreneurs starting new restaurant businesses should some serious incident happens like the ones reported recently for government's mid day meal scheme across India where many objects, insects and animals have been cooked and served along with meals causing serious illnesses to hundreds of school children.

- Neeraj Sharma

Related Posts -

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Link to a post on Bad service and cheating by Skoda Auto dealership

Came across this really bad experience for a Skoda Octavia customer in which case the Skoda Dealer swapped parts in the car with duplicate ones and charged for origionals.. Following in the case a lot of trouble for the customer and Car is lying with another dealer and is not being returned by them in a YEAR! 




- Neeraj

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Sonakshi Sharma's Restaurant Koramangala Bangalore - Frequent Wrong Billing

I visit this restaurant often. It is a small little restaurant in Koramangala near Wipro Koramangala - 2 / Wipro Park / Raheja Residency. Cost is reasonable and quality of food is good mostly. Only problem or an irritant is frequent wrong billing in the restaurant (first floor). It has happened 3 times in last around 8-9 visits. The rates in bill are often put higher than what is quoted in the menu and some times different items are added on the bills than what you ordered. On pointed out they (gentleman sitting on the first floor) will fix the bill. So watch out if you don't want to be overcharged. 

Have a nice day.

- Neeraj

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Reliance CDMA USB Data Card Connection - Huawei EC121

Recently started using this Reliance Data card connection service (USB version with Huawei EC-121 card) and thought of posting my experience after around a week of experience. 

In part I have used Reliance data connection using their WLL phone many years ago and it was reasonably good at that time. Otherwise I have tried various other  ISP connections in India including Airtel, Tata Indicom and BSNL. My main connection stays as BSNL broadband which is quite good and this new Reliance connection is a backup or for use when I am not in office or home. 

First impression on this new connection - Very Bad, highly unreliable connection, Many times zero traffic rate even in areas where Reliance network signal strength is very good. It connects atmost every time with the network but you literally have to beg for each packet to arrive.. 

On a Saturday or Sunday evening a non working day when you would expect traffic speed to be really good, even that time almost no traffic. Sites like google are also not opening which are supposed to be really fast to open. Keep trying and trying once in a while some page opens. Looks like a major problem in their data network or DNS servers. Let me see if it is once a while problem or if it stays like this probably will have to try some thing else. 

Will update if I see any improvement.

Rest Later. Have a nice day

- Neeraj

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Tata Sky Power Adaptor Replacement

My around a year Tata Sky (legacy not the Tata Sky +) set top box did not power up today and I debugged the cause to be bad power adaptor. I did some google search and found many people have problems with Tata Sky power adaptors and were looking for replacement options. There are posts which say that Tata Sky's sevice agents charge anywhere from couple of hundred rupees to six hundred rupees for a replacement (that too some times an old used power adaptor) which is too much. Even there are cases when Tata Sky agents have refused to replace the power adaptor which they claim is not covered under warranty.

So in case you are looking for a power adaptor and go to market for a replacement just keep in mind to buy a good adaptor with 12V output and a minimum output current rating equal to the original adaptor's rating which is 1.5A (ampere). So when shopping just look for a compatible plug and rating 12V and minimum 1.5A (or minimum 12V, 18W). 

Voltage x Current = Power (volt x ampere = watt) 
12V x 1.5A = 18W  

I had a 12V 2A adaptor handy at home from another product not in use so I am able to use it without any problem. There is one customer online from Qatar who reported that his replacement adaptor overheated and died within an hour of operation. That most likely happened because of a lower wattage adaptor 12V and less than 1.5A rating. 

So just keep the voltage and current rating in mind when you use a replacement.  

- Neeraj. 

Post any questions that you may have.

Tata Sky Power Adaptor Replacement

My around a year Tata Sky (legacy not the Tata Sky +) set top box did not power up today and I debugged the cause to be bad power adaptor. I did some google search and found many people have problems with Tata Sky power adaptors and were looking for replacement options. There are posts which say that Tata Sky's sevice agents charge anywhere from couple of hundred rupees to six hundred rupees for a replacement (that too some times an old used power adaptor) which is too much. Even there are cases when Tata Sky agents have refused to replace the power adaptor which they claim is not covered under warranty.

So in case you are looking for a power adaptor and go to market for a replacement just keep in mind to buy a good adaptor with 12V output and a minimum output current rating equal to the original adaptor's rating which is 1.5A (ampere). So when shopping just look for a compatible plug and rating 12V and minimum 1.5A (or minimum 12V, 18W). 

Voltage x Current = Power (volt x ampere = watt) 
12V x 1.5A = 18W  

I had a 12V 2A adaptor handy at home from another product not in use so I am able to use it without any problem. There is one customer online from Qatar who reported that his replacement adaptor overheated and died within an hour of operation. That most likely happened because of a lower wattage adaptor 12V and less than 1.5A rating. 

So just keep the voltage and current rating in mind when you use a replacement.  

- Neeraj. 

Post any questions that you may have.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

New sub Rs20K 10" Netbook from Wipro.

Wipro has launched a new netbook e.go 7F3800 with a 10-inch screen size. This netbook is powered by an Intel Atom 270 CPU, has an impressive 2GB RAM and preloaded with Windows XP Home edition. Other features include a 1.3MP webcam, stereo speakers, 120GB hard disk, 3 USB ports, a 3hour battery life and weight around 1.25 kg. Launch price is Rs. 19,990, including tax.. At launch these are planned to be sold through Reliance Digital, E-Zone and Next stores. 

Price point is appealing given the specs.

- Neeraj

New sub Rs20K 10" Netbook from Wipro.

Wipro has launched a new netbook e.go 7F3800 with a 10-inch screen size. This netbook is powered by an Intel Atom 270 CPU, has an impressive 2GB RAM and preloaded with Windows XP Home edition. Other features include a 1.3MP webcam, stereo speakers, 120GB hard disk, 3 USB ports, a 3hour battery life and weight around 1.25 kg. Launch price is Rs. 19,990, including tax.. At launch these are planned to be sold through Reliance Digital, E-Zone and Next stores. 

Price point is appealing given the specs.

- Neeraj

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Interesting conversation between Verizon agent and a customer

Hi. Here on you tube you can find an interesting conversation between Verizon service agent and a customer. Debate is if there is a difference between $0.002 (dollars) and 0.002c (cents)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ3Oz5JVKs

Enjoy.
- Neeraj

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Airtel Mobile- Bangalore - Quality of Service





I have been using Airtel Mobile (postpaid, personal connection under corporate scheme) for many years now and as their customer base has increased, the quality of service has taken a major hit. In last 1-2 years it has gone from being bad to worst. 

What all problems I have faced and keep facing? Here are some, some recent ones and some in past - not in any specific order. Similar issues have been reported by many friends and colleagues.

1. Dropped calls when in conversation (even when you are not moving and in good signal quality area.

2. Frequent one gets Network busy and calls not getting connected both mobile to mobile and mobile to land line (local as well as STD) 

3. Calls not getting disconnected when you press call disconnect button. (it is not a phone problem but network problem as it happens on any handset one uses). Many times the phone keeps showing continuation of the call even after multiple attempts. One is on mercy of the network and it some times takes anywhere from 30 seconds to more than a minute for call to get disconnected. Looks like a very smart way of Airtel to increase billing from customer as I have seen in detailed billing specially those calls which got disconnected after a delay.

Any one recalls those BSNL/DOT PCO days when you used to disconnect  a call and your STD meter used to jump and show a higher reading.. I see a similarity here, trying to cheat customers, may be.

4. You call customer care about any billing issue or for acomplaint, more than 7 out of 10 times answer is - Sir system is down or we are facing some problems - can you call later.. Many times they do not issue a complaint number. One way to get rid of customer - Sir, I will SMS you the complaint/Case number in some time.. that some time never comes.. So one tried once or twice and then seeing their attitude and in interest of our time, one just lives with the problem or just pays whatever you are billed for.

5. Wrong billing for data services. Once when I was on a weekly unlimited data plan, there was a time when I was charged twice in a week and for many times charged when network had issues and no data services were available. Once you get billed you remain on mercy of the operator and call center agents in case you want to get your billing fixed.

6. Non responsiveness to the DO NOT CALL registry related complaints.. In fact Airtel folks  themselves call and send unwanted marketing messages.

And why the hell I am staying with Airtel? Do not have mobile number portability yet.. so in order to retain my number I have to stay with the operator. 

Share your views.

Thanks.. Have a nice day.
Neeraj

Airtel Mobile- Bangalore - Quality of Service



I have been using Airtel Mobile (postpaid, personal connection under corporate scheme) for many years now and as their customer base has increased, the quality of service has taken a major hit. In last 1-2 years it has gone from being bad to worst. 

What all problems I have faced and keep facing? Here are some, some recent ones and some in past - not in any specific order. Similar issues have been reported by many friends and colleagues.

1. Dropped calls when in conversation (even when you are not moving and in good signal quality area.

2. Frequent one gets Network busy and calls not getting connected both mobile to mobile and mobile to land line (local as well as STD) 

3. Calls not getting disconnected when you press call disconnect button. (it is not a phone problem but network problem as it happens on any handset one uses). Many times the phone keeps showing continuation of the call even after multiple attempts. One is on mercy of the network and it some times takes anywhere from 30 seconds to more than a minute for call to get disconnected. Looks like a very smart way of Airtel to increase billing from customer as I have seen in detailed billing specially those calls which got disconnected after a delay.

Any one recalls those BSNL/DOT PCO days when you used to disconnect  a call and your STD meter used to jump and show a higher reading.. I see a similarity here, trying to cheat customers, may be.

4. You call customer care about any billing issue or for a complaint, more than 7 out of 10 times answer is - Sir system is down or we are facing some problems - can you call later.. Many times they do not issue a complaint number. One way to get rid of customer - Sir, I will SMS you the complaint/Case number in some time.. that some time never comes.. So one tried once or twice and then seeing their attitude and in interest of our time, one just lives with the problem or just pays whatever you are billed for.

5. Wrong billing for data services. Once when I was on a weekly unlimited data plan, there was a time when I was charged twice in a week and for many times charged when network had issues and no data services were available. Once you get billed you remain on mercy of the operator and call center agents in case you want to get your billing fixed.

6. Non responsiveness to the DO NOT CALL registry related complaints.. In fact Airtel folks  themselves call and send unwanted marketing messages.

And why the hell I am staying with Airtel? Do not have mobile number portability yet.. so in order to retain my number I have to stay with the operator. 

Share your views.

Thanks.. Have a nice day.
Neeraj

Using US/110V Wii in India - Voltage Conversion



If you plan to use USA Wii in India, most important thing to note is the AC power voltage, which in India is 220V compared to half i.e. 110V. Never plug in a USA power adaptor into an Indian power socket as it will burn the power adaptor. 

So ensure that either you have a universal (110V to 220/240V range) Wii power adaptor like the onces available in many shops and online through Amazon and other internet shopping sites. convertor or a 220V version adaptor. 

One option is to use a voltage convertor (220V to 110V) which are used to power US appliances in India. 

Another point to note is the difference between a voltage convertor and a socket/plug adaptor. Socket/plug adaptors as shown below do not convert the voltage they just change the pin type.  Below ones can be used if you have a 220V input compatible power adaptor.



If you just use these with a US Wii power adaptor in India then also the power adaptor will go bad and you will not be able to use Wii.

You need one of the following options. to connect a USA Wii power adaptor.




Rest Later. Have a good day.

- Neeraj

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

What you got served at a restaurant - part 2


This is at Bhartiyam restaurant (Bharatiyam Indian Bites) in BDA complex HSR Layout Bangalore. I used to be a frequent visitor there with my family and was mostly satisfied. But one fine day, one of the items we ordered was their Grilled Platter, which includes grilled cheese also and we found a dead house fly. Here are the pictures. Lucky that by chance I broke this cheese piece to before putting in my mouth.






On showing this to the staff they acted as if it was my fault that I found this.. When I asked for manager, they said he is not around.. then on insisting they said we can introduce to one of the relatives of the manager.. then the manager came. Then the story started on this is not our fault, it is fault of who ever supplied the raw material i.e. cheese and we can not do any thing about it.. Then trying to convince me and then scare me - why you took picture of your plate? You have to delete this.. In return we will give you another plate or will offer you free Kulfi (ice cream), will give you discount next time etc. etc... I deleted few of the pictures in front of them to show that these are gone now but in meanwhile had transferred two of these in my pocket PC. This happened many months ago and now that I started blogging thought of sharing my experience with you all.

Over all my view on feedback on quality of food was reasonable, before this incident. After this I have not personally visited this place. Prices are inflated and on higher side. Feedback from friends and others who frequent the place have been negative as once in a while they have found problems like hair, insects etc etc.. New customers are often impressed by variety and taste to start but in frequent visits the hype dies down and with such incidents, they are not able to retain customers for long, now that there are so many other options for food and restaurants in HSR Layout, Koramangala and Sarjapur Road in Bangalore.

You are welcome to share your views.

Have a nice day..
- Neeraj

Related Posts

Monday, February 16, 2009

What you got served at a restaurant?

I have been living in Bangalore for close to ten years now and it has been a mixed bag of experiences, when it comes to restaurant food and quality of service. Let me start by sharing some experiences. I have been served many things in restaurant foods from pieces of cloth to insects. At one of the restaurants Mast Kalandar in Koramangala (on 80 ft road when you go from Sony World towards new Passport office), I got this piece of cloth inside their Amritsari stuffed Kulcha/Prantha. Thanks to widely available cameras which are now virtually everywhere in phones, one can now record what you get served.


Here is a zoomed view!




The manager was in a don't care kind of mood and one of cooks told me that some times the cloths used for cooking and cleaning may go into the dough and this would have just happened. The manager on after some discussion offered me to serve me a free single Kulcha. I was told they can not serve a full plate as there was a problem with only one piece! As if they were doing some charity. Because of their attitude, I did not go to that place again. They have few branches around Bangalore quality of food and service varies quite a lot.

Rest Later,
- Neeraj

Related Posts

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Where to buy Nintendo Wii in India? Few options listed.

As of now mid of Feb 2009, official launch of Nintendo Wii has not happened in India. I hope that happens soon. I see many inquires on net and otherwise, on where to buy a Wii in India so thought of summarizing some options here.  

All of the systems available in India are imported, brought into India by friends and family members or in so called grey market. These come from various countries and are so country locked mostly unless hacked and modded. 

Issue with country specific systems is that you need to check the voltage compatibility and also need to get games from the same country. The accessories like Remote/Controller and Nunchuk can be purchased from any country and are region free.

In Bangalore I saw systems available in Landmark in The Forum Mall last month and all these were imported from Dubai and appeard to be European region machines. 

Reliance digital also carries few machines ones in a while so you can check for availability in your region. They mostly have USA versions for which we need to pay extra for 220V power adaptor (Nintendo sells machines with AC voltage adaptors meant for specific country (no universal power adaptor). So need to invest in 220V to 110 V convertor along with the console.

Online Ebay India has many listing for consoles mostly USA versions again and few Asian PAL versions some time. Recently few Australian and Korean versions have also appeared (priced any where from ~ Rs17000 onwards. Ebay India prices for consoles have come down by couple of thosand rupees recently but please check for sellers reputation and feedback before placing any order on Ebay.

JJ Mehta, the Mumbai Photo store which also sells through Internet (search google for a link) carries USA versions and sells for Rs21990 and 220V adaptor an extra Rs2000. This is on an expensive side. 

If you are bringing a system from USA/Canada, please ensure that you but a good quality 220V to 110V convertor and DO NOT directly connect a USA version console into an Indian power socket. 

Best wishes.

Update 19 Feb 2009.
Last years press release had listed HCL Infosystems (same company of HCL computers fame) as one of the two distributors for Wii in India. Also HCL's website lists them as Nintendo's official partner in India. I had not seen any Wii's through official channels in India so far, so requested a response from HCL. In email response they confirmed that "Yes Nintendo Wii is available for sales in India through HCL retail channel partners." But they did not confirm when these will be available off the shelf but one can give it a try contacting HCL dealers and requesting for a quote.

Some reference links 


- Neeraj

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Wii Sports Tennis - Score Update


Managed to play for some more time.. My current score has crossed 2050 now.  At these levels it becomes more difficult to beat the Wii game's internal players. 
I will also be getting a second set of remotes soon, so will be able to play with others as well. 

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Wii Sports Scores


I will be posting my Wii Sports gaming progress here and possibly some clips here soon.. Individuals from India playing Wii sports can also add their high scores and comments here.

I started playing Wii Sports around mid of December 2008. Here is a snapshot of my game score (1576) as on 15th Jan 2009. My current ranking score in Wii Sports Tennis is 1850.

Have a good day. 



Sunday, January 11, 2009

Music SW from Microsoft - Songsmith

Microsoft has launched a Music SW called Songsmith that can help you create your own songs and music without any knowledge of music and for whatever you sing or talk! It promises to create matching music to whatever way or style in which you sing.

As per official site it you can create your own songs, using just your voice! Songsmith helps you create songs using just your voice, by choosing musical accompaniments to match whatever you sing.

Do few settings on type of music you want, and sing. Immediately, Songsmith will create music to back up your voice.

songsmith MS Research link

Software retails for $29.95 or appx. Indian Rs 1500 on Microsoft website.
Here is a link for Free Trial Download

- Neeraj

Music SW from Microsoft - Songsmith

Microsoft has launched a Music SW called Songsmith that can help you create your own songs and music without any knowledge of music and for whatever you sing or talk! It promises to create matching music to whatever way or style in which you sing.

As per official site it you can create your own songs, using just your voice! Songsmith helps you create songs using just your voice, by choosing musical accompaniments to match whatever you sing.

Do few settings on type of music you want, and sing. Immediately, Songsmith will create music to back up your voice.

songsmith MS Research link

Software retails for $29.95 or appx. Indian Rs 1500 on Microsoft website.
Here is a link for Free Trial Download

- Neeraj

Nintendo - Wii - Not around yet in India

Even after launch annouced in India in September 2008, Wii's are no where to be seen in India through official channel. It appears that Christmas and Holiday season demand in US, Europe and other markets did not allow Nintendo to have enough units for an Indian launch. Most units are being imported into India from various countries and are being sold through some electronics stores and also ebay India (mostly USA versions).

The kind of experience Wii gaming offers, I believe that there is a large market of the product in India. Is Nintendo listening?

- Neeraj