Replace 'mode' with 'mood' and ... here we go.

eracode: Buying some plastic outdoor furniture from TradeTested via Trademe. The ad studiously avoids mentioning that the whole thing is self-assembly - and we find this out only when the flat-pack carton is dropped off by the courier. That’s OK because I’m a pretty darn-good DIY’er.

Unpack the parts - no assembly instructions included. Assembly is reasonably complicated because many of the parts look very similar and there’s multiple bolts to be used in hidden places. I’d say many of their customers who have little or no DIY skills would really struggle with this - even with instructions. Without instructions, it’s a complete mystery. Failing to mention self-assembly in the ad is deceptive IMO.

After extensive googling, find the manufacturer’s website in the Netherlands and download the instructions. Things start well but soon get extremely confusing. After a lot of cursing and swearing it is found that one major part is missing and that another very similar part from a completely different model has been thrown in there just to keep things interesting. Also included is one additional component that is not part of this set.

Very unimpressed. Still being resolved.

This would accord with my experience of that retailer.

eracode:

Geektastic:

 

The fact that I am only really realising that there is often quite a difference between performance IRL and performance as described in reviews...! Usually IT/Tech things which get poorer ratings in the reviews turn out to be just fine in real life.

 

Just out of interest - which things/examples?

For example, the LG G7 phone was commonly reviewed as being less than stellar in terms of performance. However, in my real world experience it performs as well as any iPhone or Galaxy I have owned.

Just ordered some black analog voltmeters for the boat and when they arrived they were white digital.  I was replacing digital gauges as they are too dull for sunlight and too bright for night time.  Heading away for two weeks tomorrow so no time to send back

Once I bought a 2 GB external hard drive. They sent me 4 GB instead. When I pointed that out they said just keep it!

Edit: Actually it was 4 TB. D'oh.

I once purchased a PCI wireless card and was sent another more expensive laptop wireless adaptor instead. Drop shipped from a major supplier I won't name. I always insist on a forward replacement as returns don't always go smoothly, and sometimes you get refurbished products to replace DOA items, which is completely unacceptable.

A few months after obtaining the card, without warning, a courier turned up to collect a package from me. I assume it was the card he wanted. Best guess is someone had ordered the item and it wasn't otherwise in stock. Poorly handled IMO, but I've had worse (Dell).

Something small and seemingly inconsequential is the person that gets on the bus at peak time after standing in a queue for a large(ish) number of minutes and then when at the front of the queue, decides then is the right time to begin looking through the rather capacious bag/backpack/suitcase/small urban transporter to find their bus ticket/cash/brain. 

They are usually so self-absorbed that they also don't stand to one side whilst performing said search,  so they hold up the queue behind them, the people already on the bus and the driver who likely has a hectic and impossible schedule to maintain. 

MikeAqua:

 

Just ordered some black analog voltmeters for the boat and when they arrived they were white digital.  I was replacing digital gauges as they are too dull for sunlight and too bright for night time.  Heading away for two weeks tomorrow so no time to send back

 

Curious coincidence, I just re-fitted a digital voltmeter to the boat after rewiring it and fitting a new switchboard etc.  Was purchased on TM, LCD display - back illuminated, only cost about $15.  I removed the back illumination (cut the wire to the backlight LEDs) as it wasn't needed and too bright at night. The display is a little large (about 20mm high digits) and I was going to replace it with something smaller, but all the digital meters on the shelf at the local Jaycar were LED.  Didn't need to be IP rated, it's below decks / under cover.

the neighbours basement door makes a horrendous screeching noise every time they open / close, which is constantly. 

I want to go over and oil the thing. It can only be a matter of time before they destroy the hinges they are so dry. 

Maybe oil the hinges with epoxy resin. The next time the door is opened it will take the doorway with it.

surfisup1000:

 

the neighbours basement door makes a horrendous screeching noise every time they open / close, which is constantly. 

 

 

 

I want to go over and oil the thing. It can only be a matter of time before they destroy the hinges they are so dry. 

 

 

 

Are you sure it's the door?

Baby boomers annoy me.  I was telling my tense boomer best friend about the time I sold a phone on TM and the boomer buyer insisted I ship it on Sunday.  No courier run on Sunday so it would have made no difference so I shipped it at 8am on Monday.  Two days later (overnight courier is never overnight inter island) he was a twitching mess until the courier finally did it's thing and he got the unboxing he paid for.  I was telling my boomer best mate this and he started ranting about how he hates people complaining over small things like that.

I pointed out that he was now complaining about someone complaining about something.

And here I am, complaining about him complaining about someone complaining about something.

landcruiserguy:

 

surfisup1000:

 

the neighbours basement door makes a horrendous screeching noise every time they open / close, which is constantly. 

 

 

 

I want to go over and oil the thing. It can only be a matter of time before they destroy the hinges they are so dry. 

 

 

 

 

Are you sure it's the door?

 

100%

People wishing others a Merry Christmas on an internet based platform weeks out from the actual event.

It's the internet, most people have smartphones and are on-line every day, things happen (pretty much instantaneously), just wait until the actual day.

Christmas Grinches :)

The longer that goodwill among men lasts, the better for everyone it is.