Customer Complaint
So, I wrote a customer complaint to a major footwear chain - Woodland. This is the first time I gave feedback to a company whose products I consume. And it turned out to be a hilarious exercise! There was no feeback book available at the store and I wondered if I should email them. And then my friend Sushmit inspired me, by calling the company’s lapse as "Sexist Capitalism!"
Here is what transpired:-
from Harmanpreet Kaur <harmankaur.82@gmail.com>
tocare@woodlandworldwide.com
ccsales@woodlandworldwide.net
date Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:35 AM
subject Customer Complaint
Hi,
As a resident of New Delhi, India and a regular shopper at the Woodland stores, I'd like to complain regarding the availability of trekking shoes in the women's range. Why are trekking shoes for women unavailable in India? Doesn't the company manufacture them? Or are they just not stocked or sold in India?
As a woman who frequently likes to be outdoors, I would really appreciate if Woodland launched a few interesting designs for women in the trekking range. Woodland has such a wide variety for men's trekking shoes. Does the company feel that women in this country do not like the rugged outdoors like their male counterparts?
The designs that are available in the shoes range, are not made for the purpose of trekking. Women only buy them to keep their feet warm in the winter season. They are quite boring actually.
There is a market for a whole lot of women in this country who have started to travel and explore. It would be profitable if you would cater to their demand. There is also no other brand in this nation that caters to the demand of outdoor shoes like Woodland does. If a woman wanted to go a trek in the mountains, she would not buy sports shoes from Nike/Reebok/Adidas. She would buy them from your store, BUT you do not manufacture it for her! It's a clear gender bias.
As a customer of Woodland since it launched in the early 90's, I remember purchasing the women's trek shoe (olive and brown) with leather laces when I was a teenager! Please resume that style or launch new ones!
Rgds
Harmanpreet Kaur
from Harkirat Singh <harkiratsingh@woodlandworldwide.com>
toHarmanpreet Kaur <harmankaur.82@gmail.com>, pksharma@woodlandworldwide.net
mailto:ccchamanlal64@hotmail.com
date Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 12:39 PM
subject Re: Customer Complaint
Dear Ms.Kaur,
We will certainly look into the issue and develop certain models for trekking and outdoors for women.Pls let us know your foot size and we will try to arrange something for you sooner.Thanks for your valuable comments.
Regards,
Harkirat Singh.
from Harmanpreet Kaur <harmankaur.82@gmail.com>
to Harkirat Singh <harkiratsingh@woodlandworldwide.com>
ccpksharma@woodlandworldwide.net,chamanlal64@hotmail.com
date Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 1:58 PM
subject Re: Customer Complaint
Thanks for your response! My foot size is 5.
Rgds
Now, I still don’t believe I wrote this, but I did – my emotional agitation was deep, and I was feeling sarcastically comical.
Ha! And I’ve just realized that my friend Anjali in Aberdeen shares similar grievances!! She read my email complaint and tells me that she too has been unable to locate good trekking shoes under various brands online! In her words, "I found funny baby blues and shiny pinks and NOTHING AT ALL SUITABLE."
The situation of women’s trekking shoes is abysmal in this world! I demand the same shoes that women wear on Nat Geo/Globe Trekker.
But, I do feel like an empowered consumer. And as my friend suggests, I hope I’m in for a free pair of boots here.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, July 04, 2009
The Importance of being Idle - Part 2
Idleness can be rewarding. Idleness can drive me crazy. It can clear my mind. It can jumble it more than ever.
I hurt my foot (a deep cut at the base) which had to kept bandaged and upright for almost more than a week. And I spent my time slobbing away to nothingness.
I read, cooked, watched a whole lot of television, films and wimbledon matches. I sat out watching the rain and staying blank. I sat staring up into the sky thinking a thousand things from apocalyptic conditions and futility of human life to the immense beauty of this universe, power of all the art created by us, why we indulge in art at all, and whether we are a lonely species.
I also pondered over different ways to cook potatoes. I tried making them with butter and garlic. It turned out to be a rather heavy affair.
I just saw a documentary on BBC World on Madeline Murray today. She'd founded and headed the American Atheist Association. Whether one agrees with her views or not, I realise this - that there are, were and will continue to be deviants in society. I heart this dynamism. Also another documentary on HBO, U.S vs John Lennon, was revelatory when it came to the same observation. Also the media was fascinated by them, not because they understood what they were saying, and what it held for society, but because they both spoke brilliantly and attracted eyeballs. Both Murray and Lennon were murdered by people with a past criminal or psychiatric record.
I wonder that if one remains idle for a sufficiently long time, if it will drive him/her to insanity? But then people go insane working in harsh environments. Sometimes people go insane with boredom of working in a safe montonous environment. Sometimes insanity seems sane.
So, I conclude that I'd like to be idle in Paris, or Roma, or Seychelles, or Spiti!!
Idleness can be rewarding. Idleness can drive me crazy. It can clear my mind. It can jumble it more than ever.
I hurt my foot (a deep cut at the base) which had to kept bandaged and upright for almost more than a week. And I spent my time slobbing away to nothingness.
I read, cooked, watched a whole lot of television, films and wimbledon matches. I sat out watching the rain and staying blank. I sat staring up into the sky thinking a thousand things from apocalyptic conditions and futility of human life to the immense beauty of this universe, power of all the art created by us, why we indulge in art at all, and whether we are a lonely species.
I also pondered over different ways to cook potatoes. I tried making them with butter and garlic. It turned out to be a rather heavy affair.
I just saw a documentary on BBC World on Madeline Murray today. She'd founded and headed the American Atheist Association. Whether one agrees with her views or not, I realise this - that there are, were and will continue to be deviants in society. I heart this dynamism. Also another documentary on HBO, U.S vs John Lennon, was revelatory when it came to the same observation. Also the media was fascinated by them, not because they understood what they were saying, and what it held for society, but because they both spoke brilliantly and attracted eyeballs. Both Murray and Lennon were murdered by people with a past criminal or psychiatric record.
I wonder that if one remains idle for a sufficiently long time, if it will drive him/her to insanity? But then people go insane working in harsh environments. Sometimes people go insane with boredom of working in a safe montonous environment. Sometimes insanity seems sane.
So, I conclude that I'd like to be idle in Paris, or Roma, or Seychelles, or Spiti!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Within You Without You
Writer: George Harrison
Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band (1967)
We were talking - about the space between us all
And the people -who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion
Never glimpse the truth -then it's far too late -when they pass away.
We were talking-about the love we all could share - when we find it
To try our best to hold it there - with our love
With our love - we could save the world - if they only knew.
Try to realize it's all within yourself
No-one else can make you change
And to see you're really only very small,
And life flows ON within you and without you.
We were talking-about the love that's gone so cold and the people,
Who gain the world and lose their soul - They don't know-they can't see-are you one of them?When you've seen beyond yourself - then you may find, peace of mind,
Is waiting there - And the time will come when you see we're all one,
and life flows on within you and without you.
This is one of my favourite songs of The Beatles. The lyrics are transcending, and the song never fails to lift me to ascension every time! And then I wish I could shmoke one up for them fellas!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
by Cat Stevens
Don't be shy just let your feelings roll on by
Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there
Just lift your head, and let your feelings out instead
And don't be shy, just let your feeling roll on by
On by
You know love is better than a song
Love is where all of us belong
So don't be shy just let your feelings roll on by
Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there
You're there
Don't be shy just let your feelings roll on by
Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there
Just lift your head, and let your feelings out instead
And don't be shy, just let your feeling roll on by
On by, on by, on by, on by.....
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Love
by John Lennon
Love is real , real is love
Love is feeling , feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved
Love is touch, touch is love
Love is reaching, reaching love
Love is asking to be loved
Love is you
You and me
Love is knowing we can be
Love is free, free is love
Love is living, living love
Love is needed to be loved
by John Lennon
Love is real , real is love
Love is feeling , feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved
Love is touch, touch is love
Love is reaching, reaching love
Love is asking to be loved
Love is you
You and me
Love is knowing we can be
Love is free, free is love
Love is living, living love
Love is needed to be loved
Monday, June 01, 2009
Jack Kerouac
“What’s in store for me in the direction I don’t take?”
“No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength.”
“Write in recollection and amazement for yourself”
“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
“No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength.”
“Write in recollection and amazement for yourself”
“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Class Act
I saw two films today that I'd like to write about. The first is Entre Les Murs or The Class, the french film that won at the Cannes last year. I had read so much about it, and heard so much, that it was a real treat watching it finally!
Education. Students. Teachers. The system. We like to stick it to the man starting from a young age. It was very interesting to see both sides of the system in close interaction here and to realise that sometimes students are liable to question their teacher's authority and not, how teachers exercise so much patience with young minds and lose it with them as well. I tried to look at those students and spot myself as a character there. I tried to cast back to my schooldays to find out if I was rebellious or understanding of authority. None actually. I just wanted to learn, ignore teachers that I didn't understand, and go with the flow. Maybe children have evolved. Or was I passive?
The second film, is the 2003 Canadian documentary, The Corporation. I liked it a lot, loved it....it has extensive research and we get to hear a good balance of either sides, the owners of big corporations in the U.S and thinkers/activists who consider them to be new-age psychopaths. Which makes me link my observations of Entre Les Murs with The Corporation - "The system's got too much control". There is a part of the documentary that films a public discussion in a small town of America that is opposing the entry of corporation chains to set-up base in their town. I was struck when a woman says, "So, we'll figure it out what we can do apart from jobs in this sector. We are creative people."
Narrator: "Some of the best creative minds are employed to assure our faith in the corporate world view. They seduce us with beguiling illusions. Designed to divert our minds and manufacture our consent."
So are we passive?
I saw two films today that I'd like to write about. The first is Entre Les Murs or The Class, the french film that won at the Cannes last year. I had read so much about it, and heard so much, that it was a real treat watching it finally!
Education. Students. Teachers. The system. We like to stick it to the man starting from a young age. It was very interesting to see both sides of the system in close interaction here and to realise that sometimes students are liable to question their teacher's authority and not, how teachers exercise so much patience with young minds and lose it with them as well. I tried to look at those students and spot myself as a character there. I tried to cast back to my schooldays to find out if I was rebellious or understanding of authority. None actually. I just wanted to learn, ignore teachers that I didn't understand, and go with the flow. Maybe children have evolved. Or was I passive?
The second film, is the 2003 Canadian documentary, The Corporation. I liked it a lot, loved it....it has extensive research and we get to hear a good balance of either sides, the owners of big corporations in the U.S and thinkers/activists who consider them to be new-age psychopaths. Which makes me link my observations of Entre Les Murs with The Corporation - "The system's got too much control". There is a part of the documentary that films a public discussion in a small town of America that is opposing the entry of corporation chains to set-up base in their town. I was struck when a woman says, "So, we'll figure it out what we can do apart from jobs in this sector. We are creative people."
Narrator: "Some of the best creative minds are employed to assure our faith in the corporate world view. They seduce us with beguiling illusions. Designed to divert our minds and manufacture our consent."
So are we passive?
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Call me the Breeze
J J Cale
They call me the breeze, I keep blowin' down the road
Well now, they call me the breeze, I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody, I don't carry me no load
Ain't no change in the weather, ain't no changes in me
Well, there ain't no change in the weather, ain't no changes in me
And I ain't hidin' from nobody, nobody's hidin' from me
Well I got that green light, baby, I got to keep movin' on
Well I got that green light, baby, I got to keep movin' on
Well, I might go out to California, might go down to Georgia, I don't know
Well now, they call me the breeze, I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody, I don't carry me no load
Ain't no change in the weather, ain't no changes in me
Well, there ain't no change in the weather, ain't no changes in me
And I ain't hidin' from nobody, nobody's hidin' from me
Well I got that green light, baby, I got to keep movin' on
Well I got that green light, baby, I got to keep movin' on
Well, I might go out to California, might go down to Georgia, I don't know
Thanks to my friend, Anand in Pune for sharing this song with me!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Byrds
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to mend, a time to sow
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear its not too late
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to mend, a time to sow
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear its not too late
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Love, Love is a verb....
I found it so amusing. Is this graffiti vandalism or a celebration of love/a relationship? I have always found it funny the way, hearts are scratched on tree trunks, bare walls or arches and alcoves in historical monuments. Even disgusted.
But now, I am looking at it as a certain kind of expression. Maybe you won't consider it art, but it is certainly one or two persons dire need to tell the world about themselves...and their relationship status! Heart-broken, single and yearning, lost in love....statuses long before facebook came on.....
Whatever their reasons....it's encouraging to see some public spaces vandalised.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Wall-art in Mcleodganj
Spotted two places with wonderful wall paintings in Mceodganj this time around. One was a shop selling coffee, handicrafts and interesting crunchy blocks of cornflakes bathed in chocloate sauce.
The other a quaint tea and food place set in a garage of sorts, whose name I didn't notice or probabaly wasn't there. I was attracted to the art on its walls, and it was the most revelatory excited awe feeling to look up at its ceiling, to notice a map of Tibet or probably a way into the homeland, painted up there. That was my moment...another moment of nirvana. To sit in absolute silence sipping tea, admiring the ceiling and feeling the presence of two more individuals - a tibetan guy staring outside and a foreign lady deep in her book....each of us in our own spaces of mind.
It's all in the mind.......
I met these two nuns at the Dalai Lama monastery in Mcelodganj. I asked them to explain me a tibetan quote painted across the door of the monastery. Despite the language problems, they explained to me that if one lets go of all suffering from the mind, it can free you. Their faces are peace and joy personified.
Buddhism is so simple. I've been facinated with it for some time now, and the peace that one can observe in dharamsala on the faces of tibetans and monks alike, makes me wonder why we lead such convoluted agitated lives sometimes.
It's not easy to let go of pain, but if one really thinks about the simplicity of it all, it's easy to emancipate the mind.
I've always felt that life is about balance. And Buddha felt that the middle-way is the best way. All the excesses of life in a palace left him dissatisfied. When he stepped out into the world and saw suffering, he realised pain. When he penanced without water, food and even air, it left him feeling ill. The middle path--within neither extremes, was the way to live a life of happiness, he felt.
Is that tough to practice?
I feel it is not about "letting go of desires"...as I assumed it. If one reads the buddhist philosophy, you realise it's all about knowing yourself, crystal clear.
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
---Buddha
[Photo Credit: Harmanpreet Kaur]
I met these two nuns at the Dalai Lama monastery in Mcelodganj. I asked them to explain me a tibetan quote painted across the door of the monastery. Despite the language problems, they explained to me that if one lets go of all suffering from the mind, it can free you. Their faces are peace and joy personified.
Buddhism is so simple. I've been facinated with it for some time now, and the peace that one can observe in dharamsala on the faces of tibetans and monks alike, makes me wonder why we lead such convoluted agitated lives sometimes.
It's not easy to let go of pain, but if one really thinks about the simplicity of it all, it's easy to emancipate the mind.
I've always felt that life is about balance. And Buddha felt that the middle-way is the best way. All the excesses of life in a palace left him dissatisfied. When he stepped out into the world and saw suffering, he realised pain. When he penanced without water, food and even air, it left him feeling ill. The middle path--within neither extremes, was the way to live a life of happiness, he felt.
Is that tough to practice?
I feel it is not about "letting go of desires"...as I assumed it. If one reads the buddhist philosophy, you realise it's all about knowing yourself, crystal clear.
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
---Buddha
[Photo Credit: Harmanpreet Kaur]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)