Surprise from B&H: Yesterday I received a box from B&H that surprised me. I had recently ordered some software, but wasn't expecting it until Monday next week. Then I thought, it was...

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Yesterday I received a box from B&H that surprised me. I had recently ordered some software, but wasn't expecting it until Monday next week. Then I thought, it was shipping to my office and not my home, but here it was.

So I picked it up and it was heavier than expected for a box with a single software package inside.

Upon opening it, I found a B&H catalog! Now I receive B&H catalogs all the time, but never in a box. Then I notice that the catalog is attached with gift cards... Why am I getting gift cards? I look again and there are 2 $150.00 cards!

I look at the packing slip and there is a page with a note from 2 close friends thanking me for my help with their problem.

Last year on vacation, they accidentally erased the photos from their P&S of the whole vacation plus everything prior to that (as some people treat the sd card as a storage system) They called me in a panic and I told them to get another card to use, keep the erased card safe and untouched for now. I would send them the Recuva info to their email with instructions on what to do when they got home.

So I did and thought all was good. Instead they never used the software and took the card around to any store they thought could help, including Best Buy. The Best Buy people told her that the card was too small to retrieve any information from... not like a hard drive! At that point, she just resigned herself to having lost all her photos.

Last week, we had dinner at their house about an hour away, and I asked if they had ever retrieved the photos. Luckily, she still had the card tucked away, so I took it home and ran the Recuva and lo and behold, there are their photos. They were very thankful and I told them I was happy to do it. If you have used this software, you know it is fast, simple and pretty cheap.

Now what do I do? this is certainly not a $300 job and it isn't cash that I can just return. I doubt they would accept cash anyway.

I also wondered how they knew of B&H, then remembered at dinner I was kidding about going with them on their planned NY trip so I could spend the time at B&H like a kid in a candy store!

My wife says offer to do some PP and printing of their favorite photos, which is probably the best way to accept their generosity we can think of yet.

Thanks to all who have recommended Recuva for retrieving reformatted cards.

Curve_in Loc: Virginia

Have them over for dinner and go wild on the meal. Aged steak, lobster, perfect wine...stuff like that. It will be fun for everyone!

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

I agree with Curve in. Show them a great time and you will all be rewarded.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Curve_in wrote:

Have them over for dinner and go wild on the meal. Aged steak, lobster, perfect wine...stuff like that. It will be fun for everyone!

We thought of that, but their dining goes more towards vegan than 5 star meat courses.

They are part of our dinner invitees for our more lavish dinners now... good friends, good conversation and good food and wine. We have one such dinner for St Patricks Day annually. The next dinner is in June or July.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Nothing says thank you more than a bottle of 18yr old scotch. I suppose a 16 year lagavuin would also work :-)

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Cdouthitt wrote:

Nothing says thank you more than a bottle of 18yr old scotch. I suppose a 16 year lagavuin would also work :-)

That sounds like something I could use, not my friend (who is a recovered AA). What page is 18 yr old scotch on in the B&H catalog?

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Your friends, by way of the gift cards were thanking you profusely for your help with what they thought was a disaster. They are saying they are grateful for your help and think you are wonderful. They just want you to continue being you in return. Thank them kindly and whatever you come up with as a return gesture will also be appreciated. You have some good friends there and they do too.
Walt

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

A sincere "thank you" is enough. Sometimes it's harder to just say thanks than flower them with return-in-kind gifts.

jdubu wrote:

Yesterday I received a box from B&H that surprised me. I had recently ordered some software, but wasn't expecting it until Monday next week. Then I thought, it was shipping to my office and not my home, but here it was.

So I picked it up and it was heavier than expected for a box with a single software package inside.

Upon opening it, I found a B&H catalog! Now I receive B&H catalogs all the time, but never in a box. Then I notice that the catalog is attached with gift cards... Why am I getting gift cards? I look again and there are 2 $150.00 cards!

I look at the packing slip and there is a page with a note from 2 close friends thanking me for my help with their problem.

Last year on vacation, they accidentally erased the photos from their P&S of the whole vacation plus everything prior to that (as some people treat the sd card as a storage system) They called me in a panic and I told them to get another card to use, keep the erased card safe and untouched for now. I would send them the Recuva info to their email with instructions on what to do when they got home.

So I did and thought all was good. Instead they never used the software and took the card around to any store they thought could help, including Best Buy. The Best Buy people told her that the card was too small to retrieve any information from... not like a hard drive! At that point, she just resigned herself to having lost all her photos.

Last week, we had dinner at their house about an hour away, and I asked if they had ever retrieved the photos. Luckily, she still had the card tucked away, so I took it home and ran the Recuva and lo and behold, there are their photos. They were very thankful and I told them I was happy to do it. If you have used this software, you know it is fast, simple and pretty cheap.

Now what do I do? this is certainly not a $300 job and it isn't cash that I can just return. I doubt they would accept cash anyway.

I also wondered how they knew of B&H, then remembered at dinner I was kidding about going with them on their planned NY trip so I could spend the time at B&H like a kid in a candy store!

My wife says offer to do some PP and printing of their favorite photos, which is probably the best way to accept their generosity we can think of yet.

Thanks to all who have recommended Recuva for retrieving reformatted cards.

Yesterday I received a box from B&H that surpr... (show quote)

amehta Loc: Boston

I agree with Whuff and DavidPine. You did something for them which is essentially priceless, and they are showing their gratitude. If you express your appreciation, and tell them the cool thing you got with the gift cards, they will be happy.

hb3 Loc: Texas

Curve_in wrote:

Have them over for dinner and go wild on the meal. Aged steak, lobster, perfect wine...stuff like that. It will be fun for everyone!

:thumbup:

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Nothing else is needed on your part, just a "thank you very much" in a written card should suffice. Just keep on being helpful and friendly to all and you've done your part in the scheme of things.

GKarl Loc: Northern New Hampshire

Your friends obviously thought this through. Accept the gesture and tell them to "Pass it forward" if the opportunity comes up. You are a great friend, thank you for being you.

anotherview Loc: California

You have done them a service impossible to measure given the value that accrues over time to some photographs, in addition to their present value.

In fact, the responsibility of a photographer to take good photographs arises in part from this known and unknown value of a given photograph.

IMHO, you only have to thank your friends for their gifts. That will suffice.

jdubu wrote:

Yesterday I received a box from B&H that surprised me. I had recently ordered some software, but wasn't expecting it until Monday next week. Then I thought, it was shipping to my office and not my home, but here it was.

So I picked it up and it was heavier than expected for a box with a single software package inside.

Upon opening it, I found a B&H catalog! Now I receive B&H catalogs all the time, but never in a box. Then I notice that the catalog is attached with gift cards... Why am I getting gift cards? I look again and there are 2 $150.00 cards!

I look at the packing slip and there is a page with a note from 2 close friends thanking me for my help with their problem.

Last year on vacation, they accidentally erased the photos from their P&S of the whole vacation plus everything prior to that (as some people treat the sd card as a storage system) They called me in a panic and I told them to get another card to use, keep the erased card safe and untouched for now. I would send them the Recuva info to their email with instructions on what to do when they got home.

So I did and thought all was good. Instead they never used the software and took the card around to any store they thought could help, including Best Buy. The Best Buy people told her that the card was too small to retrieve any information from... not like a hard drive! At that point, she just resigned herself to having lost all her photos.

Last week, we had dinner at their house about an hour away, and I asked if they had ever retrieved the photos. Luckily, she still had the card tucked away, so I took it home and ran the Recuva and lo and behold, there are their photos. They were very thankful and I told them I was happy to do it. If you have used this software, you know it is fast, simple and pretty cheap.

Now what do I do? this is certainly not a $300 job and it isn't cash that I can just return. I doubt they would accept cash anyway.

I also wondered how they knew of B&H, then remembered at dinner I was kidding about going with them on their planned NY trip so I could spend the time at B&H like a kid in a candy store!

My wife says offer to do some PP and printing of their favorite photos, which is probably the best way to accept their generosity we can think of yet.

Thanks to all who have recommended Recuva for retrieving reformatted cards.

Yesterday I received a box from B&H that surpr... (show quote)

OviedoPhotos

The photos had value to them and recovering them was important. Accept the gift and include them in celebrating with dinner.

Jack47 Loc: Ontario

DavidPine wrote:

A sincere "thank you" is enough. Sometimes it's harder to just say thanks than flower them with return-in-kind gifts.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: