What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[bugsymike]

Suppose you can't blame them for trying but I feel very sorry for those, probably the majority, who have no idea of the cost of these sort of things. I renewed the blades on Wife's sister's Vauxhall Agila - including the slightly unusual rear blade - for around £20 with bosch products from the local factor Motor Parts Direct. (not a group with any presence up here - we were visiting her down in deepest Devon) They were in an appalling state with most of the actual blade missing! she'd have just paid whatever the garage charged next time she was passing. Although she didn't realize they needed doing - a small miracle the screen wasn't damaged.

It's MPD, Napa and GSF mostly for car spares down here these days.
None of them really know me now I am retired, as all to young, but to the Napa guys I remind them that before they were Napa, they were Mill Autoquip, before that it was Autoguip which was started by a guy called Tony Ellis who bought the first trade outlet from a a guy called Sid Taylor in the very early 70s and that I had been trading with him since around 1969 when he had a lady who could mix paint, reline brake shoes and had a good line in Anglo Saxon swear words, but knew her job 100% and got on well with the trade.
Strangely enough the only guy who recognises me was the other day when I went into a Builders Merchants plumbing division for some cistern valves called out as I walked in the door "Mike the motor mechanic", he used to work for Wadham Kennings in Newton Abbot in the stores there.

 

[StevenRB45]

Suppose you can't blame them for trying but I feel very sorry for those, probably the majority, who have no idea of the cost of these sort of things.

I suppose it falls under "paying for convenience" which I can't really mock people too hard given I'm paying them twice what it costs online to update the sat nav. Although unlike wipers which are a 2 minute job the Sat nav is a bit of a side quest.

So far, I've created an account on the Toyota e-store and logged into that account from the car using my phone as a WiFi bridge and also via 5g tethering. This failed as the car is so out of date the Toyota e-store refuses to connect to it as a security risk. Unfortunately this means I also can't connect it to the e-store to download an update that would allow me to connect to it.

I then downloaded said firmware update to the same memory stick I used for the Citroën firmware update. With difficulty as I'm not allowed to plug USBs into the work laptop and my personal one is so ancient that using it can be a challenge.

Dutifully trotted to the car plugged it in...it didn't acknowledge the existence of the memory stick because the system needs an old and reasonably idiosyncratic format.

Spat my dummy out at that point..I could persevere however I may need to buy a new laptop, memory stick or car and god knows which but given they will do it I will happily pay them to **** about with it and either declare it broken in which case warranty should cover the infotainment or update the damn thing.

 

[porta]

I suppose it falls under "paying for convenience" which I can't really mock people too hard given I'm paying them twice what it costs online to update the sat nav. Although unlike wipers which are a 2 minute job the Sat nav is a bit of a side quest.

So far, I've created an account on the Toyota e-store and logged into that account from the car using my phone as a WiFi bridge and also via 5g tethering. This failed as the car is so out of date the Toyota e-store refuses to connect to it as a security risk. Unfortunately this means I also can't connect it to the e-store to download an update that would allow me to connect to it.

I then downloaded said firmware update to the same memory stick I used for the Citroën firmware update. With difficulty as I'm not allowed to plug USBs into the work laptop and my personal one is so ancient that using it can be a challenge.

Dutifully trotted to the car plugged it in...it didn't acknowledge the existence of the memory stick because the system needs an old and reasonably idiosyncratic format.

Spat my dummy out at that point..I could persevere however I may need to buy a new laptop, memory stick or car and god knows which but given they will do it I will happily pay them to **** about with it and either declare it broken in which case warranty should cover the infotainment or update the damn thing.

Got bored trying to update the U-Connect on wife’s Renegade, as Fiat can’t be arsed with old tech, and having to register at Mopar online, to at least get it to update the last, it took four attempts to recognise the vin, then told me what I already knew ‘no longer supported’…so why the bloody hell is it still accessible on the website?!?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

It's MPD, Napa and GSF mostly for car spares down here these days.
None of them really know me now I am retired, as all to young, but to the Napa guys I remind them that before they were Napa, they were Mill Autoquip, before that it was Autoguip which was started by a guy called Tony Ellis who bought the first trade outlet from a a guy called Sid Taylor in the very early 70s and that I had been trading with him since around 1969 when he had a lady who could mix paint, reline brake shoes and had a good line in Anglo Saxon swear words, but knew her job 100% and got on well with the trade.
Strangely enough the only guy who recognises me was the other day when I went into a Builders Merchants plumbing division for some cistern valves called out as I walked in the door "Mike the motor mechanic", he used to work for Wadham Kennings in Newton Abbot in the stores there.

NAPA are a big noise up here now. They've come from "nowhere" in a very few years by buying out some quite big groups including my local SRS. Euro car parts too but their nearest branch is too far away for me to be useful except when they've got something the other's haven't. Dingbro is very much in evidence but they are very strictly trade only.

Like you Mike, my face is not so well known now and the guy's behind the front desk are young and some of them don't know me. Have to say though the prices NAPA, previously SRS, give me are still very good.

 

[StevenRB45]

Got bored trying to update the U-Connect on wife’s Renegade, as Fiat can’t be arsed with old tech, and having to register at Mopar online, to at least get it to update the last, it took four attempts to recognise the vin, then told me what I already knew ‘no longer supported’…so why the bloody hell is it still accessible on the website?!?

This is at least still supported and you can get maps updated up to a month ago...but due to the Firmware needing an update it's like nutting a wall.

 

[StevenRB45]

MOT day, started well with them saying my key for the sat nav had not arrived. Good going for something available digitally...anywho.

We have the cursed object..

It's erm an experience..it is apparently efficient with 60% of my admittedly traffic ridden commute as I was late in after the drop off in EV mode and 60mpg. But otherwise...hmm I was thinking next car would be a hybrid but this would make me think twice.

1mm too much throttle to strike up the very audible 3 cylinder with a lurch...also turns the engine on and off like a toddler with a light switch. Also regen is foxed by downhill motorway hills, if you keep a steady throttle..it speeds, lift off and regen kicks in with a lurch. Combined with the electric handbrake the whole experience is kinda like one of those fun fair cars or maybe a rage buggy.

Quite nippy though, although it should be as it makes the C3 and Auris feel like they were hewn from solid. Panels if tapped have a hollow ring, interior is made of low grade plastic, reversing camera is of worse quality than the one in the Auris and C3, the trim for the boot handle creaks when you touch it and the door is too light so if you drop it to shut it bounces.

 

[bugsymike]

Just had the usual telephone call from "Microsoft", I asked the lady if her family know she lies for a living, to which she replied "Yes they do!" as I pressed the block on my phone.
My question is with all the powers of the internet and phone service providers is it really beyond the wit of them to protect their customers from scammers?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Just had the usual telephone call from "Microsoft", I asked the lady if her family know she lies for a living, to which she replied "Yes they do!" as I pressed the block on my phone.
My question is with all the powers of the internet and phone service providers is it really beyond the wit of them to protect their customers from scammers?

I feel sure there's a great deal could be done but it would cost them money so they don't do it. I really do think an awful lot of the on line stuff, to do with financial stuff especially, quite simply isn't fit for purpose. It all needs a very big shake up and I'm fed up with the way it facilitates all these criminals.

 

[portland_bill]

Just had the usual telephone call from "Microsoft", I asked the lady if her family know she lies for a living, to which she replied "Yes they do!" as I pressed the block on my phone.
My question is with all the powers of the internet and phone service providers is it really beyond the wit of them to protect their customers from scammers?

The phone providers get revenue from the scammers, so, no, they are not interested in blocking them.

Many of these callers speak English, but do not necessarily understand much, working from a script, and any deviation causes them problems. I had several such calls claiming to be from "The Microsoft". My reply, "That's a bit pretentious, isn't it?". That flummoxed them, as theyhad no idea what I'd jsut said to them. My next question would be to ask them the address of the Microsoft office they are calling from, which has so far always caused them to end the call.

 

[bugsymike]

The phone providers get revenue from the scammers, so, no, they are not interested in blocking them.

Many of these callers speak English, but do not necessarily understand much, working from a script, and any deviation causes them problems. I had several such calls claiming to be from "The Microsoft". My reply, "That's a bit pretentious, isn't it?". That flummoxed them, as theyhad no idea what I'd jsut said to them. My next question would be to ask them the address of the Microsoft office they are calling from, which has so far always caused them to end the call.

My other concern is with the advent of AI , giving a long voice print could be used detrimentally in the future.
I am not referring to my outstanding singing career.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

My other concern is with the advent of AI , giving a long voice print could be used detrimentally in the future.
I am not referring to my outstanding singing career.

Yes Mike. I think the best thing to do is just put the phone down. Some time ago, if I didn't have better stuff to do, I would engage in a conversation asking perhaps where they were calling from or what their name is. I'd then follow up by saying "Oh, go on, your name isn't really Keith or Michael, or whatever - go on do tell me your real name". I also liked asking where they were calling from and then claiming to know the area well and did they use the tobaconist nearby etc. Then I'd ask if their Mum and/or Dad knows what they do for a living and that was often where they broke off. I think now, with the introduction of AI, that you make a very good point and putting the phone down is what's best.

We did have the telephone preference service which was pretty ineffective however, having said that, since we got our internet provider's call blocker, we now get virtually no nuisance calls on our land line at all! I still get quite a lot of silly rubbish and fishing calls on my windows laptop - but it is very good at putting them automatically into my spam - whereas Mrs J gets almost nothing like that on her apple device at all.

 

[irc]

Maybe there's a market out there for an AI-powered answerphone which you could program to engage in long random conversations with incoming spam calls?

 

[StevenRB45]

Maybe there's a market out there for an AI-powered answerphone which you could program to engage in long random conversations with incoming spam calls?

I know this is a joke but you'd be surprised how well the call screening on a pixel works.

On recieving a call from an unknown number you press "screen call" and rather than a long random conversation an AI voice asks them who they are and why they are calling. If they answer voice to text to displays this on the screen...99.9% of the time a scammer will hang up immediately while someone with a reason to get in touch will usually say something like "Hi it's so and so from X" at which point you answer it if you're expecting the call.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I know this is a joke but you'd be surprised how well the call screening on a pixel works.

On recieving a call from an unknown number you press "screen call" and rather than a long random conversation an AI voice asks them who they are and why they are calling. If they answer voice to text to displays this on the screen...99.9% of the time a scammer will hang up immediately while someone with a reason to get in touch will usually say something like "Hi it's so and so from X" at which point you answer it if you're expecting the call.

That's very interesting to know as I will be buying a Google Pixel 8 before the summer is done - it'll be my first smart phone so a big learning experience for me! Mrs J is about 2 months into owning her iPhone and struggling with some aspects of it.

 

[porta]

I know this is a joke but you'd be surprised how well the call screening on a pixel works.

On recieving a call from an unknown number you press "screen call" and rather than a long random conversation an AI voice asks them who they are and why they are calling. If they answer voice to text to displays this on the screen...99.9% of the time a scammer will hang up immediately while someone with a reason to get in touch will usually say something like "Hi it's so and so from X" at which point you answer it if you're expecting the call.

You get that with apple as well
I tend to answer the phone and just leave it on speaker till they stop saying hello and hang up, then I block the number

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

You get that with apple as well
I tend to answer the phone and just leave it on speaker till they stop saying hello and hang up, then I block the number

I'll tell Mrs J. maybe she can find out how to do it.

 

[porta]

I'll tell Mrs J. maybe she can find out how to do it.

I think it’s automatic on iPhones, wehn it rings, above the displayed number is a message saying ‘probable nuisance call’

 

[StevenRB45]

I think it’s automatic on iPhones, wehn it rings, above the displayed number is a message saying ‘probable nuisance call’

Most phones do that these days, usually it checks the net and see's if it corresponds to a known number for either a business or a spammer.

Of course if someone is ringing you from their desk on a withheld number or one that's not publicly available then them getting barred automatically can be a pain in the arse.

Lots of NHS calls are from withheld numbers which my wife never answers so screening does at least mean she can check it's not a health visitor or something before hanging up.

 

[sandeel999]

I tend to never answer calls on my mobile unless it's from a programmed in number I know. Any others would leave a message if it is important.
Same with emails unless I know them, I just delete without looking. They'll send a letter if it's important.
My mum used to answer calls to her landline and then say there's someone at the door, put the phone down and ignore it and carry on doing what she was doing.
The new thing is calls from a mobile number they seem to have hijacked and when people miss the call they ring the number back saying you called them. Id caller Spoofing