At least someone had the sense to ensure Nespresso capsules were essential from day one! 😁

antonknee: [snip]  From a transactional point of view, we have to go right down to an individual item level to do it - can’t just be set for a group of items based on a category like ‘cellphones’.

@antonknee why is this? Using the example I noticed above where some models of iphone at JB HiFi are essential and others aren't, I would have thought that any cellphone (regardless of brand, OS etc) would reasonably be classified as essential. It would be interesting to know how you determine what is and isn't.

RunningMan:

antonknee: [snip]  From a transactional point of view, we have to go right down to an individual item level to do it - can’t just be set for a group of items based on a category like ‘cellphones’.

@antonknee why is this? Using the example I noticed above where some models of iphone at JB HiFi are essential and others aren't, I would have thought that any cellphone (regardless of brand, OS etc) would reasonably be classified as essential. It would be interesting to know how you determine what is and isn't.

Luckily fags have been declared an essential item during lockdown.

DarthKermit:

 

Luckily fags have been declared an essential item during lockdown.

 

That and vaping. I think if either of those were unable to be purchased we may see an increase in murder statistics!

Recently discovered that AA will replace a car battery as an essential item.  Wait time and price both slightly over the odds but better than being permanently stranded.

Which leads me to wonder - how long will cars survive being used once or twice per week for 1-3km trip to the supermarket and back before batteries die or worse problems happen?  I may invest in a small solar panel and controller once the current lockdown is over - I'm thinking even a 50w panel would be enough to keep two car batteries in good condition if alternated on a daily basis

I have been wanting to get a few things, cheap pod coffee machine died just before the lockdown, so having been having French press instead. And I'd also like a decent microphone for the laptop, but ideally one for my camera as I want my stills camera as the webcam (my Dell webcam which I'd never used before, is located just above the keyboard), so I thought I'd be cheeky and ask PBTech if I could get the Rode one I wanted. The online chat person very helpfully pointed an essential microphone which was a USB plug in version. So I'll hold off in the meantime :)

shk292:

 

Recently discovered that AA will replace a car battery as an essential item.  Wait time and price both slightly over the odds but better than being permanently stranded.

 

Which leads me to wonder - how long will cars survive being used once or twice per week for 1-3km trip to the supermarket and back before batteries die or worse problems happen?  I may invest in a small solar panel and controller once the current lockdown is over - I'm thinking even a 50w panel would be enough to keep two car batteries in good condition if alternated on a daily basis

 

I've been running the engine for 15 minutes or so after each supermarket visit, & doing a few laps around the block.  Another thing to think of is not to let your petrol go stale.

I’ve got my cars on a CTEK trickle charger. The dance to swap cars around is pretty amusing (three cars, one charger).

shk292:

 

Recently discovered that AA will replace a car battery as an essential item.  Wait time and price both slightly over the odds but better than being permanently stranded.

 

Which leads me to wonder - how long will cars survive being used once or twice per week for 1-3km trip to the supermarket and back before batteries die or worse problems happen?  I may invest in a small solar panel and controller once the current lockdown is over - I'm thinking even a 50w panel would be enough to keep two car batteries in good condition if alternated on a daily basis

 

Just take the neg terminal off the battery when you arent using it for extended periods of time. You don't want to not drive it for a long long time if it's outside, though - things like brakes will seize up and cost some unnecessary coin to repair

snnet:

 

Just take the neg terminal off the battery when you arent using it for extended periods of time. You don't want to not drive it for a long long time if it's outside, though - things like brakes will seize up and cost some unnecessary coin to repair

 

I'd rather not disconnect because past experience shows that can trigger anti-theft devices in stereos etc.  Not talking months at a time here, just a reduction in use like we're currently seeing.  Will give it a good blowout on the motorway on the way to the supermarket today

shk292:

 

Recently discovered that AA will replace a car battery as an essential item.  Wait time and price both slightly over the odds but better than being permanently stranded.

 

Which leads me to wonder - how long will cars survive being used once or twice per week for 1-3km trip to the supermarket and back before batteries die or worse problems happen?  I may invest in a small solar panel and controller once the current lockdown is over - I'm thinking even a 50w panel would be enough to keep two car batteries in good condition if alternated on a daily basis

 

Had that problem today car normally runs all week, couldn’t start it had to take battery out and put it on charge . I have to leave it on street now to get our newer car out the garage. AA has done 2 other call outs in the street today as well