Strange Business Practices

Branislav Bokan

Over the years I did a lot of projects for Credit Suisse and had glowing references, and one of the several high profile projects I ran was even featured in the company's newsletter as a big success and we received glowing praise. My professional references are available here: https://www.rezamusic.com/testimonials/professional-and-academic-references

The last gig I had at CS I encountered a very strange guy, Branislav Bokan. I was an interim program manager when he went through an internal move to take over as the PgM (they wanted an internal person in that role). That was always my understanding and had absolutely no issue with it. So he comes in and as orientation we meet in the cafeteria. Introducing himself, one of the first sentences he told me was "I don't have a problem to tell people to fuck off". I thought congratulations, what a thing to be proud of.

My role eventually came to an end and I moved to a different group as a project manager, managing a bunch of different projects, and again, as usual, with much success, and received a lot of complements. At some point Branislav's role was expanded and he also was now overseeing that unit! Oh no! :-) --- when my contract was coming to an end I met him in his office and we chatted. At the end, he grabbed my cell phone, without my permission!! What the hell! I couldn't believe my eyes. He was checking it out and I took it back from him, and he brought some excuse about wanting to know what brand it is or something stupid like that. The real reason I think it was because he was insecure and was wondering if I was recording it -- which he couldn't find out anyway even if I were because the phone was locked! And I had no desire or need to record him because I didn't like his stiff way and the way he talked! I was so relieved when I no longer had to work for him, and those few weeks of reporting to him was more than enough.

An ex-military officer in Serbia, he still ran his "ship" with the same heavy-handed style which was the worst I ever saw in all my years of professional IT engagements. I never ran any of my many teams like he did, and I had huge successes in the past. His style may work -- I'm not putting him down -- but it was not for me, and I never needed to tell anyone to fuck off, in my professional life.

My agent confirmed that I received a glowing reference and 5 star rating in every category for that last contract, which I appreciated.

Cafe Gratitude: Tiny Food For Huge Price

I've eaten at CG many times and love the food. Takeaway that night was a scam. Portions were half the usual but cost the same!

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We ordered two main dishes tonight just before you close.

The portions were extremely small. I have pictures. Was the chef sleepy? Did you run out of food? Or are you trying to help your clients lose fat (and money)? Or is it because we didn't give a tip for a to-go order on a meal that should have service included at a whopping cost of $46 for two appetizer sized tiny dishes. And one of the dishes was very bitter.

I have eaten at Cafe Gratitude many times and never had such a disappointing experience.


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I brought it to the management's attention and they apologized...


Toxic Spray in Car


Dear Mr. Flynn, Mr. Paul Heffernan (BUDGET RENTAL IRELAND AIRPORT)

Would you use INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH air "freshner" (more like toxic destroyed of lungs) in your own cars?

I don't think so.

So why do you use it in your rental cars.

These are not industrial cars.

These are driven by people.

Please have mercy for your customers. That shit is nasty and toxic. I was dizzy after a minute of driving. All your cars have it.

Please stop this practice and only put spray if someone barfed or smoked.

Thanks & Regards

Reza Ganjavi

A suffocating customer

Opatra Zurich Scam Price

A friend bought an item from Opatra shop in Zurich for 180 Francs (about 180 Dollars). She was told that the price is 995. In reality it's widely available between 85 and 125 Francs. I wrote to the CEO of the company, Mr. Dimitri Lukatsky who agreed to give my friend a refund.

dimitri.lukatsky@mdgroupswiss.ch

Dear Mr. Lukatsky

Your Opatra shop on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, Switzerland makes some customers believe that your "Vine Vera Resveratrol Shiraz Intensic Non-Surgical Syringe" is worth around 995 Swiss Francs by directing them to your web page: https://www.vinevera.com/product/resveratrol-shiraz-instentic-non-surgical-syringe/

And then charging 180 Francs for the product which in reality is widely available between 85 and 125 Swiss Francs. Even in another branch of your own shop it's sold for far less than 995. So that 995 price seems to be there only to manipulate people to falsely think the inflated price you're selling it for is a good deal.

This practice in Switzerland is potentially unlawful. You probably couldn't get away with this unfair practice in the United States either, in particular California, which has strict consumer protection and fair business practices laws. But I believe this practice is unethical, and hope that you revisit and stop this manipulative practice.

Regards

Reza Ganjavi

Consumer & Ethics Advocate


PC-Ostschweiz Selling Used Product As New

PC-Oestschweiz, a retailer in Switzerland, sold me a purportedly new external hard disk but when it arrive it was clearly open and apparently had been used before, the cable had been opened, and so was the plastic for the unit. And they had taped the box so as to disguise that fact and make it look new. When it comes to hard disks especially, a clearly opened box can be very problematic as some scammers replace the inside of the disk and sell it as new! So no way would I trust my data on a disk that's been compromised.

PC-Ostschweiz.ch / PCP.CH AG

Ernst-Müller-Strasse 8

8207 Schaffhausen

Handelsregister: CHE-111.714.400, Schaffhausen

https://www.pc-ostschweiz.ch/

RECEIVING COMPROMISED PRODUCT AS “NEW” PRODUCT FROM EP/PC-Ostschweiz

PCP.COM , PCP.CH , steg-electronics.ch , ep-online.ch , PC-Ostschweiz.ch , Ernst Müller-Strasse 8, 8207 Schaffhausen , 052 560 31 00 , Sebastian Paladin from PC-Ostschweiz (customer service) , Guido Strinkart

NEVER AGAIN will I buy from this shop with a lousy dishonest business practice of advertising a NEW unit but sending me a unit that looks used. The box is not sealed. The cable is not in the original wrap. The unit was clearly opened and used.

I call and first, Mr. Sebastian Paladin who was a nice man, told me that their supplied (ep-online / EP) opens the boxes because they come from EU and they want to make sure they have a Swiss plug.

The box was damaged when it arrived (I have picture / video) and the cable was open and box was not sealed. After the call I look again. I noticed the cable was also opened and re-closed which means the story that they opened to check the adaptor type is FALSE. Why would they open the cable to check the adaptor plug type? So they’re not telling the whole story. It seems that the unit was used and is being sold as new.

I called again — manager Mr. Guido Strinkart answered. I explained again and I said I want a full refund and if you want your unit you can ask post or courier to come and get it - I’m not going to Post office for you - already spent a lot of time on this stupid case which is the company’s fault.

His answer was not so favorable. He said “send us a picture blah blah”. I said NO — your colleague already admitted you open boxes so I don’t need to prove the box is open.

That “we will check with supplied and if he says it’s new blah blah”. I said I don’t I don't care what they say I cannot trust you I don't want to do business with you. It's finished. If you cannot handle it give me the phone number for Lorenz Weber (CEO). And if you want to go the route of the return policy blah blah, if you want to fight this, we can go to court. You will lose and it will cost you a lot more money. So don’t put the ball back in my court. You sent me a used product as a new product, I don’t want it, give me a full refund, and come take it if you want.

He agreed to send post to pick it up.

I can’t believe despite knowing the facts, he was still trying to put the ball in my court: send us a picture and we’ll see. Fuck that!!

This experience is why I will never do business with PC-Ostschweiz. I cannot trust 14 TB of my personal data to a disk that can be compromised. I’ve read online, even on Amazon, people who bought WD disks and it broke and WD said in some cases the drive was compromised. I’ll buy it from a reliable dealer instead.

[I eventually got a refund after escalating to the CEO.]

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My answers to their cover-up emails. Imagine the shit I had to go through to return a hard disk that arrived clearly pre-opened!!

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What is your phone number.

The unit I just received is NOT new.

That is NOT COOL.

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I don't believe you. The package was opened for another reason. If to check the plug, why does it have a UK plug on it ? Why was the cable opened? I do NOT TRUST YOU AND I AM ANGRY THAT YOU WASTED MY TIME -- AND NOW YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE TO TAKE YOUR COMPROMISED PACKAGE. SORRY THAT'S YOUR FAULT. YOU CAN COME AND PICK IT UP.

LET ME KNOW WHEN SOMEONE WILL COME TO PICK IT UP.

AND I NEED A FULL REFUND IMMEDIATELY.

THIS IS A COMPROMISED, USED UNIT. THIS IS A DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICE AND IS AGAINST THE LAW TO FALSELY ADVERTISE.

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I RECEIVED A SECOND HAND UNIT SOLD TO ME AS A NEW UNIT. THAT IS VERY UNCOOL. I NEED A FULL REFUND IMMEDIATELY. AND IF YOU WANT YOUR USED COMPROMISED UNIT YOU CAN SEND SOMEONE TO COME AND GET IT.

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You told me they wanted to check the adapter to see if it's Swiss kind.

Lies are inconsistent. First it was adapter - now it's cable - next it's a fake hard disk inside

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BE VERY CLEAR: I do NOT care about your supplier. I do NOT care what they say. It's IRRELEVANT TO ME. I need a refund IMMEDIATELY and now while you wait for an answer from supplier.

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I bought a new product. When a factory sealed box is opened and things are clearly used, it compromises the quality. End of story. Your relationship with your supplier is not my business.

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Finally got a refund after escalating to the CEO.

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Hello. Please issue REFUND not CREDIT NOTE.

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HELLO. I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES TO BE REMOVED FROM THIS MAILING LIST BUT IT'S NOT BEING RESPECTED.