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Archive through November 21, 2009

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: August 2009 ~ December 2009: Free Expressions: The return of The Return of the Gripe Thread: Archive through November 21, 2009 users admin

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Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 8:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    
Escapee, a few years ago this chick showed up at my door with this piece of paper advertising that cleaning three rooms of carpet for $120.00. So I looked around outside and there was no car in front of my house so she must have been walking down the street just trying to get inside someone's home. When I told her I didn't need to have my carpets cleaned, I tried to take the piece of paper away from her and she said I could only have the piece of paper if I agreed to let her in to clean the carpets - which translated means she was only going to give me the piece of paper if I let her in my house so she could rob me blind.

I called the cops on her and they found her on another street trying to get in any house that she could - and her two male accomplices were in a van down the street. The cops got them too!!!!

Texasdeb
Member

05-23-2003

Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 5:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texasdeb a private message Print Post    
The down on their luck folks in the Wal-mart parking lot are the worse. They'll approach you as you're loading your stuff into the trunk with their hard luck story. It's always something like this: "my car ran out of gas & I'm trying to get to (somewhere about 100 miles away) because my father is dieing - could you help." I always tell them that I'm sorry but Wal-mart already got all of my money.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, October 16, 2009 - 4:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
I have a gripe. Why does it cost MORE to get a new release movie in Comcast on-demand than it does to go to Blockbuster and rent the dvd? You would think it would cost less since they don't have a store clerk to pay (or any costs that go to running a store), or have to have physical DVDs. It makes zero sense to me.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Friday, October 16, 2009 - 4:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Because of convenience and because they can. It's more expensive because you can just click click and it's there, you don't have to get into your car, drive across town, and then worry about returning them too.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, October 16, 2009 - 4:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Well then, I truly hate that are basing the price on what they think they are saving us, rather than on their actual cost. It sure isn't for our benefit. It's a place they can take advantage to get a bigger profit.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Friday, October 16, 2009 - 4:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
Bugs me too, Naja. I have only used PPV a couple of times, ever, but DirecTV sent us a letter on our (DirecTV) anniversary saying we get three free PPV movies to watch by the end of the year, no strings. No strings my behind! They charged us the full amount ($4.99 - I could have seen it at the cinema for $6!) and didn't credit it back on the bill. I rang and asked why the credit wasn't on the bill, she said it was processing and might take a few weeks, but just to pay the bill anyway. Not likely. You reminded me I have to ring them again, because it's still marked as owing two bills later. I'm sure they hoped I'd just pay it and forget about it. Hardly something that's going to entice us to watch PPV again.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, October 16, 2009 - 4:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Our new releases are $5.99, Kitt. Ridiculous if you ask me. Once in awhile, they will put one up that is "still in theatres" and that costs $10.99.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Friday, October 16, 2009 - 5:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
$5.99 is outrageous! I think they charge that sort of price in hotels!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Friday, October 16, 2009 - 7:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
The rising price and the fact that I now have to watch DirecTV's movies within 24 hours sent us to Netflix. Haven't been sorry at all. I was bummed at first b/c we've always loved PPV movies, but our schedules rarely let us watch a movie we've just taped. I really like the computer movies available on Netflix, too, and no extra costs.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 4:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
You would think with how the amount of people who subscribe to the daily newspaper is dwindling, that they would treat their customers a little better.

The paper always came at about 4:30 AM. Several months ago, we got a new paper man. He zooms past in his white van at about 45 mph even though the speed limit is 25, and never showed up until about 8:30 AM. DH is up by 5-5:30 AM, so getting the paper at 8:30 when he has already finished his coffee and ready to leave is useless.

After about 5 calls of complaining, he now shows up between 4:30 and 5:30, but now he throws the paper so far under our pickup truck that DH has to bring a broom handle out, to fish it out from under the truck.

Since he throws the paper in almost the same spot every day, last night we thought we would move the pickup truck to the other side of the driveway for a change. Guess what? He still threw it under the truck! I have a whole front lawn and a half of a driveway with no truck, but it's still under the truck.

DH is pretty much ready to cancel the paper after getting it daily for 15 years. (he's not a computer person in any way, so his paper is a big deal to him)

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 5:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Whoami a private message Print Post    
I wouldn't blame your DH one bit for cancelling the paper. Sometimes that's the only thing that will get their attention.

I'm surprised it "only" took five calls to have the paper show up at the earlier time. I had a paper carrier who drove the wrong way down what was basically a one-way street (the two directions of traffic are separated by a parkway/median strip. I called and complained several times, as she often came to near collisions with my neighbor. With each call, I got excuses and the whole, "we don't allow our carriers to break the law" crap. In other words, I must have been seeing things or lying to them (in their eyes). Finally, one morning she blocked my mom's path as Mom was attempting to get out of the driveway, then proceeded to scream at my Mom to get out of the way cause she had a paper to deliver there. I called immediately and cancelled our subscription, and told them not to bother calling me with any pleas and "wonderful deals" to start up a new subscription, cause I was never going to have anything to do with their paper again.

Actually, what was even more disappointing was when I called the police station, and told them how the carrier drove down the wrong way (above the speed limit too) on a daily basis, and could they possibly get a patrol car to be in the area to put a stop to it sometime. The person I talked to said they couldn't do that, and that I should just get a license plate number. Unfortunately the only way I could do that would be to stand in the street and hope she stopped long enough for me to get the plate number, since otherwise she drove by too fast for me to get it.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 7:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Wow, that's unreal. The wrong way on a street inexcusable.

I left out one thing from this morning. While DH was outside getting the paper this morning, the paper man zoomed back down our street going the other way. As he was zooming past DH, DH with his big broom handle stood there and looked right at him and pointed toward under the truck. DH said the guy looked right at him as he zoomed by.

We'll see if things change for tomorrow morning. DH said there is no way the guy didn't know what he meant.

Grooch
Member

06-16-2006

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 9:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grooch a private message Print Post    
I could never imagine being a newspaper delivery man.

I used to help my friend deliver papers back in the early 80's when we were kids. A lot of work goes into it and very unerewarded. She even had to do bill collection.

In today's world, I can't imagine what time they have to get up, pick up the papers, put them together and then get them delivered by 5 am., using their own cars, on their way to their "regular" job to make it on time.

I'd just make sure they get a good tip once in a while and I am sure you will get better service.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 9:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
Why should they tip someone who had repeatedly and apparently on purpose thrown the paper under their truck?

Couchtomato
Member

09-09-2008

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 9:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Couchtomato a private message Print Post    
I don't think tips work, at least not for our paper carriers. For years we've given a generous tip at Christmas only to have: Missed papers, papers missing sections, torn, wet, and/or wrinkled papers. Sometimes they don't even bother to put it in the paper box. Getting credit only extends the subscription, so getting that extra paper on Tuesday doesn't quite make up for missing Sunday's paper with all the local goings-on, store circulars and coupons. And.....never once got a 'thanks for the tip'!

Grooch
Member

06-16-2006

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 9:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grooch a private message Print Post    
If they believe they will get a tip, they usually will take more care in what they do.

If they realize they will never get one, then you are on the bottom of their list and you will get the papers that are missing sections, torn, wet, etc. You get the bottom of the barrell of what they have to deliver. And if they were not supplied enough, for the day, than you will not be the one getting a paper. The people who take care of them will get it all.

Not a fair world, but it is what it is.
In other words, why do I need to tip a waitress in a restaurant? She should be doing her job regardless.

If Naja takes my advise, it may help and it may not. I'm just trying to point something out that might help. Maybe jumping in the middle of the street and stopping the delivery person and having a one on one discssion with him might help. Or maybe discuss this with other people getting deliveries on the same street and try and work something out together.

Just trying to help.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 10:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
I guess I just have a different view on the purpose of tipping. I see it as a reward for good service, not a bribe to get the minimum service needed in the future. Throwing the paper anywhere on the lawn rather than under the truck is minimum. Throwing it under the truck is unacceptable and should not be rewarded while throwing it on the porch within easy reach of the door is exceptional and should be.

Grooch
Member

06-16-2006

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 10:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grooch a private message Print Post    
I agree with you. But, unfortunetly, sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.

Not saying in this instance that this is the case. This guy might just be an out and out a-hole and nothing will work.

Tips are a tricky thing. Should someone take a job expecting them, and should a customer be expected to pay them? (Leaving restaurants out of this discussion.)

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 10:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Whoami a private message Print Post    
I see what you're saying Grooch. But if someone is going to hold minimal service hostage from me until they see the way I tip, then I'm not going to be giving them my business, and I'm gonna darn well let the higher ups know exactly why I won't be their customer in the future.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 11:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
ITA Whoami. I don't tip unless it's earned. And by earned I mean even in a restaurant. I've had the shoddiest service, to the point where I ordered food, a waitress didn't bring my meal (brought others) and when I questioned it she said "well, you weren't charged for it." .
OK, but I still came here to eat. No tip for that. She's still getting her hourly pay.

I also have STRONG reservations about being forced to tip. Forced gratuities (added to the bill) are not tips, they are additional charges. That bugs me so bad.

They are getting paid for a service that I am paying for. If I FEEL a tip is necessary, I will decide if and how my money is spent. A tip should be for a job well done, not for doing their job.

Rissa
Member

03-20-2006

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 11:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rissa a private message Print Post    
ITA as well. You get a salary for doing a job WELL. The tip is for doing the job VERY WELL. You certainly don't get a tip for substandard service, for that you get fired. If I ruled the world, employers would just pay what the job is worth and tips would be gone.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 12:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
I can honestly say that in the few short months this guy has been our carrier, we have never gone 3 straight days without at least one of these:

1. Late paper
2. No paper at all and we call at around 10-11 AM for a replacement paper.
3. Paper under the truck.

If I am expected to tip him for this, I would rather cancel the paper. I know it sounds like an exaggeration, and even my mom said I had to be blowing it up because it can't be that bad. It is that bad. If he can go 1 week between screw-ups during this holiday season, I will consider a Christmas Tip.

One thing that is a little silly is we are trying to teach our 6 mo lab mix to get the paper. She already runs out the front door and grabs it when it's in plain site and brings it in :-) (I tried to film it, but it was too dark for my camera to show anything but the sound at that time of the morning) Since we don't want her to get in any kind of habit of going under trucks for any reason, we don't let her get it in that case. Sometimes DH gets it out from under the truck and throws it on the lawn just keep her training up. I think DH is looking forward to not having to trudge through the fresh morning snow in the coming months...LOL (if we keep the paper)

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 1:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
One more thing. Since he has only been our carrier during warm months so far, I really don't have high hopes for snow season. We are having an unusually warm November here near KC. It's about 55 today.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, November 20, 2009 - 3:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
bummer Naja. I would miss my paper, I know my guy/gal comes around 4:30-5ish because the car door screechs open when they get out to throw the paper onto my porch (I am on the second floor). The funniest thing was one day I went out and the paper had sailed perfectly up onto the porch and into my watering pail, LOL, it had totally soaked up all the water in the pail. Needless to say I left the paper drying on my porch when I went to work. It hasn't ever happened again, and was just a fluke but I was amazed that it was even possible, LOL.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 8:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Well, it's after 9 AM and no one on our street has gotten the paper yet. I had looked outside around 6:15 and DH was laying on the driveway next to the truck searching for it.

I also found out the people across the street called and complained last Sunday because they didn't get their Sunday paper (we did). They pretty much are having the same problems, except they don't park any of their vehicles in the driveway overnight, so they don't have to go fishing with a broom handle.

Yeah, this guy should get a tip.

DH said when he called the main distribution number a few minutes ago that he got the impression that we certainly aren't the only ones complaining from our area. I laughed because he talked to a lady named "Candy", and that's our dog's name that we are trying to teach to get the paper...LOL

Now DH is out front with the neighbor guy, both with mugs of coffee in hand, complaining about the paper...LOL

I'm telling you, the morning paper truly is a big deal for non-computer people. I imagine it feels the same as when I sit on front of my computer in the morning and realize the internet is down.