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

[PuntoHowTo]

My flying club operated off what was once part of a much bigger B24 base. We had part of a taxiway and about 800 feet of the original runway which was massively wide for a Cessna so there was a narrow strip of new tarmac laid on top of the old much wider runway

Satnav would always try and take you to a dirt track leading into a farm yard but with no actual access to the airfield. We did at least have some buildings and a post code even if satnav did get it wrong. If it was a field just used to launch gliders, does it even have a recognised address/postcode that you could put into satnav?

I can appreciate the issue with trying to direct someone to a field in the middle of other fields though

 

[StevenRB45]

My flying club operated off what was once part of a much bigger B24 base. We had part of a taxiway and about 800 feet of the original runway which was massively wide for a Cessna so there was a narrow strip of new tarmac laid on top of the old much wider runway

Satnav would always try and take you to a dirt track leading into a farm yard but with no actual access to the airfield. We did at least have some buildings and a post code even if satnav did get it wrong. If it was a field just used to launch gliders, does it even have a recognised address/postcode that you could put into satnav?

I can appreciate the issue with trying to direct someone to a field in the middle of other fields though

Oh yes, a postcode and a website...we have the internet up here these days

Northumbria Gliding Club – The UK's Friendliest Gliding Club

I am tempted to pay them for an aero towed launch...

 

[portland_bill]

I try and avoid the retailer that starts Am.... but I'm on a free trial of Pr.... right now that I picked up when I bought a couple of books recently

So Saturday I bought a Bosch GSR12V driver , arrived today , excellent little thing (it took 15 years to wear the predecessor out)

Just now I happened to be looking at other stuff, and spotted my Bosch had gone up slightly and was now being offered with an £11 voucher, making it about a £6 cheaper than what I paid two days ago...

I requested a call-back... explained how I've literally just received it today and the price has gone down ...... not a huge amount but it's the principle of the thing...

So Mr Zaphod, we can't offer retro discounts but what I can do is arrange a return for the item and you can buy it again with the voucher applied

So they'd rather waste (their) money on paying for a return and subsequent processing than just give me a partial refund of £6

Well Ama.... if you want to **** about I'll go along with it , return arranged and another one ordered , absolute insanity

Absolute insanity !!

The discount offer is probably manufacturer driven, and Am.. will only get the discounts for sales after a due date. So they can't give a partial refund, as that comes from their own pocket. A return will go back into stock, and then its sale will get the discount form the manufacturer. As they have vans passing your door daily, the cost of return is insignificant.

 

[ZaphodB]

The discount offer is probably manufacturer driven, and Am.. will only get the discounts for sales after a due date. So they can't give a partial refund, as that comes from their own pocket. A return will go back into stock, and then its sale will get the discount form the manufacturer. As they have vans passing your door daily, the cost of return is insignificant.

It went back royal mail , although they probably get a good discount , it cost them.

They drive me mad almost every day , which is partly why I try not to use them.

For instance I had a belgian beer on subscription (they send a box each month) back in april , got my first box and as I got some other belgian beer from somewhere else , I cancelled the subscription otherwise I'd be swimming in the stuff.
Then a couple of months later I started the subscription up again... a week later two boxes arrived !?!

One at £14 and the other at £12 (exact same beer), so I rang up to say why did I get two boxes ? (I only had one subscription running _ I'd confirmed this before calling .... and also why are they two different prices ?
and also why is the current price on amazon even lower (at £11 !!) ?!?!?

Oh sorry, I don't know why the earlier subscription sent you one out, you do only have one subscription live right now... what we can do is we'll give you a refund for the £14 one ... and you don't need to return that box !!

I'll take that I said, then cancelled ALL subscriptions and started a new one at the £11 price ....

Sadly the price isn't guaranteed on subsequent deliveries in that subscription....

So yeah , ama... drive me flipping bonkers sometimes....

 

[portland_bill]

I use Amazon only as a last resort. And only brand names, although care need to be taken to avoid copies.

When they launched here, the products were mostly brand names, at discounted prices. Delivery costs were clearly displayed.
Now, they push Prime, which as a subscription, only makes sense if I'm buying regularly, or want the TV stuff. Delivery costs are well hidden, often only visible at the finalising of an order. At that point, the item often becomes more expensive than elsewhere.

I'm happier to spend more, on the same item, elsewhere, if the seller seems more open and honest.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I use Amazon only as a last resort. And only brand names, although care need to be taken to avoid copies.

When they launched here, the products were mostly brand names, at discounted prices. Delivery costs were clearly displayed.
Now, they push Prime, which as a subscription, only makes sense if I'm buying regularly, or want the TV stuff. Delivery costs are well hidden, often only visible at the finalising of an order. At that point, the item often becomes more expensive than elsewhere.

I'm happier to spend more, on the same item, elsewhere, if the seller seems more open and honest.

I do agree. although you need to be careful, I find Ebay is generally more open and obvious

 

[The Panda Nut]

An older gent pulled over and asked for directions to the local Gliding club (doesn't everyone have one?).

Bit of a challenge as it's only 10 mins away but also in the Back Of beyond in terms landmarks very much turn "left at the field if you see cows you've gone too far".

While chatting I couldn't help but notice the large screen in the centre of his VW Tiguans dash that I am absolutely sure would have had sat nav.

I suppose the question is it bad manners to offer to set someone's sat nav for them? Will say I didn't..and hopefully he got there..

How do you think he got lost in the first place.....

 

[The Panda Nut]

I use Amazon only as a last resort. And only brand names, although care need to be taken to avoid copies.

When they launched here, the products were mostly brand names, at discounted prices. Delivery costs were clearly displayed.
Now, they push Prime, which as a subscription, only makes sense if I'm buying regularly, or want the TV stuff. Delivery costs are well hidden, often only visible at the finalising of an order. At that point, the item often becomes more expensive than elsewhere.

I'm happier to spend more, on the same item, elsewhere, if the seller seems more open and honest.

They did that to me once to often two months back. I no longer have an account. I will pay more to keep money local and to not be annoyed by Amazons sharp practices. Life is too short to waste it dealing with thinly veiled cons and reading micro print.

 

[StevenRB45]

How do you think he got lost in the first place.....

It was set to show an Analog clock? So perhaps he also had a sextant, and was using dead reckoning having taken a measurement when he left the house?

He may have failed to account for the prevailing wind and got blown off course.

 

[The Panda Nut]

It was set to show an Analog clock? So perhaps he also had a sextant, and was using dead reckoning having taken a measurement when he left the house?

He may have failed to account for the prevailing wind and got blown off course.

Well he should have got himself Lucky Jack 's Panda

 

[portland_bill]

It was set to show an Analog clock? So perhaps he also had a sextant, and was using dead reckoning having taken a measurement when he left the house?

He may have failed to account for the prevailing wind and got blown off course.

The analog clock is displayed when the system is turned off, usually with the date below it. It can be set to a digital clock.

A digital clock tells you the time. Clear, functional, accurate.

An analog clock shows you the time, and so much more. It is a representation of the day. The hands do not just show the time, but mark a position in the day, so we instantly can see how much of the day has passed, how much more is still to go, how close we are to dinner, or how late we are for that important appointment.
So many people, having grown up on digital clocks, are missing this.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The analog clock is displayed when the system is turned off, usually with the date below it. It can be set to a digital clock.

A digital clock tells you the time. Clear, functional, accurate.

An analog clock shows you the time, and so much more. It is a representation of the day. The hands do not just show the time, but mark a position in the day, so we instantly can see how much of the day has passed, how much more is still to go, how close we are to dinner, or how late we are for that important appointment.
So many people, having grown up on digital clocks, are missing this.

Absolutely. Same principle with an analogue speedometer, which I much prefer to digital.

 

[portland_bill]

Yesterday, I saw a caravan being towed by a Tesla Model Y. (That's the small SUV) Caused me to ponder.
The few 'road tests' I've seen using EVs to tow all say they are very good, due to the instant torque from standstill, but that is countered by a significant loss of range.
So this guy's holiday is either only a short distance from home, or will require frequent lengthy stops. A touring holiday will restrict distances travelled.
On the upside, he has somewhere to sit comfortably, and have a cup of tea, while the car charges, regardless of weather.
A downside, is that the charging port on the car is at the rear, meaning he has to detach the caravan to charge. Will he park it on another charging point, hoping it will not be needed, or will he have to find somewhere to park it not too far away? Might make the choice of charging point more difficult.

To me, he's adding a lot of stress to what should be a holiday, but it would be silly to have an extra vehicle just for the caravan.

Then the silliest thought. Some people have touring holidays, visiting particular points of interest, such as types of beaches, mountains, etc. This guy will haev a series of snapshots of charging stations for his scrapbook.

 

[StevenRB45]

The analog clock is displayed when the system is turned off, usually with the date below it. It can be set to a digital clock.

A digital clock tells you the time. Clear, functional, accurate.

An analog clock shows you the time, and so much more. It is a representation of the day. The hands do not just show the time, but mark a position in the day, so we instantly can see how much of the day has passed, how much more is still to go, how close we are to dinner, or how late we are for that important appointment.
So many people, having grown up on digital clocks, are missing this.

Funny you should mention this...

My smart watch was cause of consternation among some peers the other day as they find this absolutely baffling.

Personally I like an Analogue clock..I find digital rather garish.

Wasn't mocking the clock itself...it was just perhaps the screen could have been more gainfully employed.

 

[porta]

Yesterday, I saw a caravan being towed by a Tesla Model Y. (That's the small SUV) Caused me to ponder.
The few 'road tests' I've seen using EVs to tow all say they are very good, due to the instant torque from standstill, but that is countered by a significant loss of range.
So this guy's holiday is either only a short distance from home, or will require frequent lengthy stops. A touring holiday will restrict distances travelled.
On the upside, he has somewhere to sit comfortably, and have a cup of tea, while the car charges, regardless of weather.
A downside, is that the charging port on the car is at the rear, meaning he has to detach the caravan to charge. Will he park it on another charging point, hoping it will not be needed, or will he have to find somewhere to park it not too far away? Might make the choice of charging point more difficult.

To me, he's adding a lot of stress to what should be a holiday, but it would be silly to have an extra vehicle just for the caravan.

Then the silliest thought. Some people have touring holidays, visiting particular points of interest, such as types of beaches, mountains, etc. This guy will haev a series of snapshots of charging stations for his scrapbook.

The towing limit is severely curtailed as well…although the last and present g’ments have promised (unwisely) to up them, presently they are generally a third of an equivalent diesel motor. The manufacturers have given them a low tow weight for a reason, and range is not it!

 

[The Panda Nut]

The towing limit is severely curtailed as well…although the last and present g’ments have promised (unwisely) to up them, presently they are generally a third of an equivalent diesel motor. The manufacturers have given them a low tow weight for a reason, and range is not it!

Heat generated by the extra load is substantial. Lets see how long it takes for him to catch fire. No as long as it will take to put the fire out I think. I would want a good enginerring company to look at cooling before trying this. Its a prime example of why we need a mix of energy sources. Towing is not yet something EV's are good at and probably wont be until they draw power direct from mains in some manner.

 

[bugsymike]

Yesterday, I saw a caravan being towed by a Tesla Model Y. (That's the small SUV) Caused me to ponder.
The few 'road tests' I've seen using EVs to tow all say they are very good, due to the instant torque from standstill, but that is countered by a significant loss of range.
So this guy's holiday is either only a short distance from home, or will require frequent lengthy stops. A touring holiday will restrict distances travelled.
On the upside, he has somewhere to sit comfortably, and have a cup of tea, while the car charges, regardless of weather.
A downside, is that the charging port on the car is at the rear, meaning he has to detach the caravan to charge. Will he park it on another charging point, hoping it will not be needed, or will he have to find somewhere to park it not too far away? Might make the choice of charging point more difficult.

To me, he's adding a lot of stress to what should be a holiday, but it would be silly to have an extra vehicle just for the caravan.

Then the silliest thought. Some people have touring holidays, visiting particular points of interest, such as types of beaches, mountains, etc. This guy will haev a series of snapshots of charging stations for his scrapbook.

He probably has a wacking great generator inside his caravan, either that or after spending on his EV he can't afford to go abroad.

 

[The Panda Nut]

He probably has a wacking great generator inside his caravan, either that or after spending on his EV he can't afford to go abroad.

and a donkey ice engine on the draw bar powering a cooling plant for the motors.