Hey wanna go for coffee? I asked. This was happily accepted. Preparations were made and down stairs we went, mr wheels and I, ole hoppy.
DISAPPOINTED! I've locked the keys in the car.
A call to NRMA and then wait. Luckily only 45minutes. Tempers didn't have enough time to heat up.
It took the guy about 60 seconds. Would have been quicker if he'd had all his tools in his hand.
Drama over and mr wheels and ole hoppy were on our way.
It's amazing how 30 minutes of shopping for movies and a cup of coffee can relax a person. Not a lot was said. About $60 was spent and both of us felt better.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Friday, November 14, 2008
On Grocery Shopping
I am a frustrated shopper. I live within walking distance of 9 supermarkets. * But to do my weekly shopping I will have to visit at least 2 if not all 9 to fill my grocery list. If I can't do my shopping in one store - where is the convenience? Where are the savings?
I can hear your first question, if you can't find brand X you can always purchase brand Y or Z.
But there is the rub - I've purchased the substitute before and found the substitute wanting. Not in all cases, sometimes I've found that the other brand is preferable. I don't 'collect' brands. And anyway, why should I? I purchase for taste, quality and price. I am willing at times to pay more if I think a product is better than its competitors. Now sometimes, I find the supermarkets’ ‘own’ brand product superior to the ‘name’ (single company) brand equivalent. In other words sometimes, ‘Black & Gold’ brand products are better than, say, ‘International Roast’ brand coffee. Not that I drink instant coffee but, you understand?
However, the big supermarket chains are stocking less and less of their competitors wares because they want you to purchase their product - the 'own' brands. In Woolworths the ‘own’ brands are ‘Select’ & ‘Home’ brand. In Coles and BiLo they are ‘Farmland’, ‘Coles’ & ‘Savings’ brands. The big chains are letting their ‘own’ brands eat progressively more of the shelf space. This means that instead of letting the public make up their own mind, they are trying to force the decision.
The 'own brand' has many advantages over the competing products. The main advantage being that they are cheaper.
This financial advantage is achieved in a number of ways.
The supermarkets cut costs on packaging by adopting simple, plain two or three coloured packages - the only difference being the contents and their description.
The supermarkets also save money on advertising because their 'own' brand products are easily associated with their store - and they tell you that being loyal and shopping with them and purchasing their products will ensure that you save money.
The independent manufacturers have to pay for advertising for each product. Each product requires special packaging - the more eye-catching the better and this adds to their costs. As well, the supermarkets charge slotting fees - the more you pay the more shelf space you get and the better placed your product will be. The 'own' brands don't have this charge added to their price.
Now, general stores have been around for a long time. The store traded in household commodities or groceries. You went in, waited your turn and asked the sales assistant to fill your order for you. But back in 1916, Mr Clarence Saunders of Memphis Tennessee realised he could increase profits by making the customer do all their own order filling, and the first self-service store was born. It was called the Piggly Wiggly. Soon Mr Saunders had a chain of stores and people were copying his idea. As the stores got bigger, they started to be called supermarkets.
And the supermarkets want to monopolise your business.
Here is an example of how I am frustrated by the supermarkets’ sales tactics.
I prefer to buy a specific brand and flavour of tea - Madura Earl Grey. I like this tea because I think it tastes the best and it has a lower caffeine content than most. Also Madura is an Australian company. All 9 of the local supermarkets stock Madura tea. But most of them do not stock Madura Earl Grey which happens to be my favourite. I found I could get Twinings, Tasty and ‘own’ brand Earl Grey, but not the tea I wanted.
Eventually, at store no 7, I found a couple of packets of Madura Earl Grey tea bags. They were the small, 20 bag packets and there were only 5 left on the shelf. I purchased 3 of them. And because I had to purchase the smaller packets, I had to pay the premium price.
My tea bag walk took me from Darlinghurst to the city, down to Chinatown and unbelievably enough, ended in Glebe. That is a long walk for tea. My walk made me so grumpy that as soon as I got near a computer, I contacted Madura via their web-site (www.maduratea.com.au) to ask them what the hell was going on. Had they stopped producing Earl Grey? Or was there a problem with their production facility? A representative from Madura called me within 10 minutes. And the man at the other end wasn't happy.
He told me that ALL Woolworths stores should have stocks and that Coles had just downgraded their product to only stocking it if there were 6 bays or more of shelf space. He also asked me to fill in the "how can we help you further" questionnaires at the checkouts to complain and ask these companies to stock the products I want. He is also sending me a packet of tea.
Since my email on Friday I have found some Madura Earl Grey tea - in a supermarket one hours drive away from my home. I was en route to my father's house - I shop for him once a fortnight and break my journey half way to do the grocery shopping. While I was there I found the tea.
But I couldn't purchase a pastry flan. If they have any they are 'own' brand and usually broken - they put them on the highest shelf and I think they throw them up there. I had to go to two more shopping centres and three supermarkets before I could find two unbroken Pastry Flans and I was lucky enough to find the brand I wanted. And yes, this happens about once every 6 weeks.
So if you are a frustrated shopper like me, start complaining. Take the advice of the Madura Tea spokesman and fill in the forms with your suggestions how the supermarkets can improve your shopping experience. Stop simply accepting whatever the big chains want to foist on you and accepting their so called 'savings'. Start demanding the products you want to buy.
The tea from Madura arrived today. 4 packets! Time for a cuppa.
(* 2 Coles Express, 2 Woolworths, 2 Coles, 2 IGA and 1 BiLo)
I can hear your first question, if you can't find brand X you can always purchase brand Y or Z.
But there is the rub - I've purchased the substitute before and found the substitute wanting. Not in all cases, sometimes I've found that the other brand is preferable. I don't 'collect' brands. And anyway, why should I? I purchase for taste, quality and price. I am willing at times to pay more if I think a product is better than its competitors. Now sometimes, I find the supermarkets’ ‘own’ brand product superior to the ‘name’ (single company) brand equivalent. In other words sometimes, ‘Black & Gold’ brand products are better than, say, ‘International Roast’ brand coffee. Not that I drink instant coffee but, you understand?
However, the big supermarket chains are stocking less and less of their competitors wares because they want you to purchase their product - the 'own' brands. In Woolworths the ‘own’ brands are ‘Select’ & ‘Home’ brand. In Coles and BiLo they are ‘Farmland’, ‘Coles’ & ‘Savings’ brands. The big chains are letting their ‘own’ brands eat progressively more of the shelf space. This means that instead of letting the public make up their own mind, they are trying to force the decision.
The 'own brand' has many advantages over the competing products. The main advantage being that they are cheaper.
This financial advantage is achieved in a number of ways.
The supermarkets cut costs on packaging by adopting simple, plain two or three coloured packages - the only difference being the contents and their description.
The supermarkets also save money on advertising because their 'own' brand products are easily associated with their store - and they tell you that being loyal and shopping with them and purchasing their products will ensure that you save money.
The independent manufacturers have to pay for advertising for each product. Each product requires special packaging - the more eye-catching the better and this adds to their costs. As well, the supermarkets charge slotting fees - the more you pay the more shelf space you get and the better placed your product will be. The 'own' brands don't have this charge added to their price.
Now, general stores have been around for a long time. The store traded in household commodities or groceries. You went in, waited your turn and asked the sales assistant to fill your order for you. But back in 1916, Mr Clarence Saunders of Memphis Tennessee realised he could increase profits by making the customer do all their own order filling, and the first self-service store was born. It was called the Piggly Wiggly. Soon Mr Saunders had a chain of stores and people were copying his idea. As the stores got bigger, they started to be called supermarkets.
And the supermarkets want to monopolise your business.
Here is an example of how I am frustrated by the supermarkets’ sales tactics.
I prefer to buy a specific brand and flavour of tea - Madura Earl Grey. I like this tea because I think it tastes the best and it has a lower caffeine content than most. Also Madura is an Australian company. All 9 of the local supermarkets stock Madura tea. But most of them do not stock Madura Earl Grey which happens to be my favourite. I found I could get Twinings, Tasty and ‘own’ brand Earl Grey, but not the tea I wanted.
Eventually, at store no 7, I found a couple of packets of Madura Earl Grey tea bags. They were the small, 20 bag packets and there were only 5 left on the shelf. I purchased 3 of them. And because I had to purchase the smaller packets, I had to pay the premium price.
My tea bag walk took me from Darlinghurst to the city, down to Chinatown and unbelievably enough, ended in Glebe. That is a long walk for tea. My walk made me so grumpy that as soon as I got near a computer, I contacted Madura via their web-site (www.maduratea.com.au) to ask them what the hell was going on. Had they stopped producing Earl Grey? Or was there a problem with their production facility? A representative from Madura called me within 10 minutes. And the man at the other end wasn't happy.
He told me that ALL Woolworths stores should have stocks and that Coles had just downgraded their product to only stocking it if there were 6 bays or more of shelf space. He also asked me to fill in the "how can we help you further" questionnaires at the checkouts to complain and ask these companies to stock the products I want. He is also sending me a packet of tea.
Since my email on Friday I have found some Madura Earl Grey tea - in a supermarket one hours drive away from my home. I was en route to my father's house - I shop for him once a fortnight and break my journey half way to do the grocery shopping. While I was there I found the tea.
But I couldn't purchase a pastry flan. If they have any they are 'own' brand and usually broken - they put them on the highest shelf and I think they throw them up there. I had to go to two more shopping centres and three supermarkets before I could find two unbroken Pastry Flans and I was lucky enough to find the brand I wanted. And yes, this happens about once every 6 weeks.
So if you are a frustrated shopper like me, start complaining. Take the advice of the Madura Tea spokesman and fill in the forms with your suggestions how the supermarkets can improve your shopping experience. Stop simply accepting whatever the big chains want to foist on you and accepting their so called 'savings'. Start demanding the products you want to buy.
The tea from Madura arrived today. 4 packets! Time for a cuppa.
(* 2 Coles Express, 2 Woolworths, 2 Coles, 2 IGA and 1 BiLo)
Thursday, January 06, 2005
passenger
Unexpected Passenger
I got a new car recently. Its very nice and a little on the large size (compared to my late lamented Ruby). A stationwagon. Very handy for carrying things. Cement, pot plants, tiki torches and camping chairs. Its also has enough room to carry 3 large garbage bags full of unwanted clothing up to the charity bins.
On Monday this was just what I was going to use it for. My partner was giving me a hand and had taken out two of the bags and his keys and already had the back open when I hit the street.
"Get some bug killer or a jar. And get some gloves as well; and a camera. We''ve got a passenger."
I promptly put the bag down and followed instructions. When Chemical Alex asks for bug killer I know he's found something nasty/dangerous.
I found some bug killer (well flea zapper) and the gloves and my camera. He wasn't happy with the flea zapper so he left me alone with the passenger and my camera. He went inside to get a jar.
He came out with a plastic air tight 'cookie' jar and promptly told me "not to touch the passenger." As if I would. A little deft handling of the cookie jar and lid and our passenger was sealed in his new carry box.
The passenger was very lucky he decided to hitch a ride in my car. After the bags were dropped off, the new cement and chairs and tiki torches were purchased and my partner and I re attired in our cycling gear, the passenger got a ride he wasn't expecting. We took him to the nearest stand of bush that we could find and released him into the wild.
Here is a picture of our passenger. He's been running across my windscreen (on the outside) for a couple of weeks. He is a Huntsman spider and though rarely lethal would make an adult quite sick.
I got a new car recently. Its very nice and a little on the large size (compared to my late lamented Ruby). A stationwagon. Very handy for carrying things. Cement, pot plants, tiki torches and camping chairs. Its also has enough room to carry 3 large garbage bags full of unwanted clothing up to the charity bins.
On Monday this was just what I was going to use it for. My partner was giving me a hand and had taken out two of the bags and his keys and already had the back open when I hit the street.
"Get some bug killer or a jar. And get some gloves as well; and a camera. We''ve got a passenger."
I promptly put the bag down and followed instructions. When Chemical Alex asks for bug killer I know he's found something nasty/dangerous.
I found some bug killer (well flea zapper) and the gloves and my camera. He wasn't happy with the flea zapper so he left me alone with the passenger and my camera. He went inside to get a jar.
He came out with a plastic air tight 'cookie' jar and promptly told me "not to touch the passenger." As if I would. A little deft handling of the cookie jar and lid and our passenger was sealed in his new carry box.
The passenger was very lucky he decided to hitch a ride in my car. After the bags were dropped off, the new cement and chairs and tiki torches were purchased and my partner and I re attired in our cycling gear, the passenger got a ride he wasn't expecting. We took him to the nearest stand of bush that we could find and released him into the wild.
Here is a picture of our passenger. He's been running across my windscreen (on the outside) for a couple of weeks. He is a Huntsman spider and though rarely lethal would make an adult quite sick.
Friday, October 29, 2004
A Conversation
Riiing
"Hello can I help you?"
"Silk?"
"Hi Dad, how are you?"
"Same as the weekend. What is the difference between a DVD and a videotape?"
"A dvd is a disc. Videotape is what you have. Like your Benny Hill tape."'
"So I don't have a dvd."
"No. You have a video player. A dvd is one of those discs that I put into my computer."
"Ok. I want a videotape. Good bye."
"bye"
Clunk.
"Hello can I help you?"
"Silk?"
"Hi Dad, how are you?"
"Same as the weekend. What is the difference between a DVD and a videotape?"
"A dvd is a disc. Videotape is what you have. Like your Benny Hill tape."'
"So I don't have a dvd."
"No. You have a video player. A dvd is one of those discs that I put into my computer."
"Ok. I want a videotape. Good bye."
"bye"
Clunk.
Driving Drama
I rejoined the car owners club in 2001. My Dad was in his late 70's at the time and had already had a heart attack. 2 hours one way on the train followed by a 15 minute cab ride was just a little too much every couple of weeks. So Ruby joined the family.
I like my car. She didn't cost very much, just $1800.00. I found her in a tiny little lot about half way to the airport. The sales people had a good line of patter - they tried getting $2500. My friend and I stuck to our guns - they'd advertised her at $1800. We paid cash and drove her home.
I wasn't able to get an inspection on the lot because I hadn't joined NRMA yet. After I joined I took her in. I found out that she'd survived a flood. The inspector suggested that I didn't purchase her. I didn't let it worry me too much. A bit of minor heart failure and a sweat or two and then I just got on with it. She was mine and she'd survived a flood. That explained the mud. The mud also pointed to a fresh water swim - so corrosion would be at a minimum.
Ruby and I have been doing the 160 km round trip every couple of weeks for about two years. And at least half of each journey at 110 kph. And there were the regular 50-60 km trips to the beach for the last two summers at least 5 times a week (Daylight saving is wonderful). And the shops and the occasional party trips. Ruby has worked very hard for me.
And then last Sunday night she stopped. Dead. In traffic. In the rain. I was on the return leg of one of my Dad trips. It was dark and wet and the traffic was bumper to bumper. (normally that bit of road is 110 and free driving). One minute I was sitting in traffic and when I put my foot on the accelerator - gznt. That was it. Nothing more.
I was on a slight incline so I was unable to get her off the road by myself. Luckily not all the other drivers were like the guy that blew his horn and then drove by me with undue haste. Two guys pushed as I pulled into the lay by. Lucky for all of us that she stopped when she did. I was off the road in about two minutes. My good samaritans made sure I had a phone and all the right numbers before they went on their way.
I called the local road service (NRMA) and my friend and then I waited. I played games on my mobile phone - there wasn't enough light to read and all I had was the street directory anyway. I am getting really good a "Opposite" (a simplified version of Reversi).
The NRMA guy was there within 40 minutes - very good time seeing as it was a wet Sunday night. He was approx 45-55, about 5' 9" (I don't do height in cms) and of medium build. Glasses. Reminded me of a social studies teacher. He was wearing the uniform - blue king gee shorts, long socks, short sleeved blue shirt and the reflective windbreaker. And the steel capped work boots.
"What happened?"
"I was stuck in traffic and when I put my foot to the accelerator - gznt."
"Was it running hot?"
"No. There was ...."
"Turn it over now."
"Uh um it ..."
"Turn it over. Now."
So I turned it over.
Gznt.
"And Again"
Gznt.
"OK. Stop"
I get out of the car and say,
"The oil light had started flickering. I'd checked the oil before I left and it was ok."
"Why didn't you say so? Turn it over again"
"I .."
So I turned it over.
Gznt.
"The motor's seized. You should have stopped as soon as the light went on."
"I'd checked the oil."
"It doesn't matter how much oil is in the sump if you've lost pressure. There's nothing I can do except book a tow for you"
And so, after checking my membership details to find out how many free kms I had (20) he booked the tow truck.
Then another NRMA guy turned up. So my guy went to talk to the other guy (who never got out of his van) and left me feeling silly. You know how you can get paranoid? Well I felt that they were hanging out in the van and ridiculing me. They were probably discussing the cricket or setting up a date but paranoia is like that.
After about 5 minutes he came back and told me the towie would be "here within the hour". Then he left.
I suspect if I'd been a guy the above conversation would have been different. If my friend had been around the NRMA guy would have ignored me and spoken to him. Not that my friend knows much about cars - not his thing, he doesn't even drive.
So I got to sit in my car in the dark some more. I got to feel the trucks speeding past. Some of them were speeding. The car rocked in the slipstream. I think some of them put on an extra burst of juice while they are on the bridge so they don't slow down too much on the hill.
The tow truck driver disagreed with me - he said they didn't speed - it was a hill. But it was the start of the incline and momentum is a wonderful thing.
The Tow Truck Guy arrived about 30 minutes after NRMA left. I got to see my car dragged onto the back of a truck. I had 20 free km. The journey would be about 40. So I would be charged $3.85 per km after the 20. What did I want to do?
I had two choices - an unknown mechanic in Hornsby followed by a taxi ride home (about $80 at that time of night) or a rail bus (about 90 mins from Hornsby OR a tow all the way home to the mechanic I know. It was 8.30 pm - I went for the whole tow.
Its 43 km from the south side of the Brooklyn Bridge to Surry Hills. It cost $107.00. I would have saved about $30 dollars the other way but I would have gotten home around midnight AND had to go back to Hornsby the following day.
So Ruby got seen by dr john. He got her started again. Flushed her out twice, gave her a full service and replaced the ball joint. The ball joint was a bit of a surprise - but if the one he showed me WAS in Ruby (and I have no reason to suspect otherwise - he's not added weird crap in the past) I'm very glad he replaced it. I don't want to be roadkill. All up the service cost another $440.00.
So I still belong to the car club but I suspect Ruby's days are numbered. But her repair costs have almost equaled her purchase price. Time for a trade in.
I like my car. She didn't cost very much, just $1800.00. I found her in a tiny little lot about half way to the airport. The sales people had a good line of patter - they tried getting $2500. My friend and I stuck to our guns - they'd advertised her at $1800. We paid cash and drove her home.
I wasn't able to get an inspection on the lot because I hadn't joined NRMA yet. After I joined I took her in. I found out that she'd survived a flood. The inspector suggested that I didn't purchase her. I didn't let it worry me too much. A bit of minor heart failure and a sweat or two and then I just got on with it. She was mine and she'd survived a flood. That explained the mud. The mud also pointed to a fresh water swim - so corrosion would be at a minimum.
Ruby and I have been doing the 160 km round trip every couple of weeks for about two years. And at least half of each journey at 110 kph. And there were the regular 50-60 km trips to the beach for the last two summers at least 5 times a week (Daylight saving is wonderful). And the shops and the occasional party trips. Ruby has worked very hard for me.
And then last Sunday night she stopped. Dead. In traffic. In the rain. I was on the return leg of one of my Dad trips. It was dark and wet and the traffic was bumper to bumper. (normally that bit of road is 110 and free driving). One minute I was sitting in traffic and when I put my foot on the accelerator - gznt. That was it. Nothing more.
I was on a slight incline so I was unable to get her off the road by myself. Luckily not all the other drivers were like the guy that blew his horn and then drove by me with undue haste. Two guys pushed as I pulled into the lay by. Lucky for all of us that she stopped when she did. I was off the road in about two minutes. My good samaritans made sure I had a phone and all the right numbers before they went on their way.
I called the local road service (NRMA) and my friend and then I waited. I played games on my mobile phone - there wasn't enough light to read and all I had was the street directory anyway. I am getting really good a "Opposite" (a simplified version of Reversi).
The NRMA guy was there within 40 minutes - very good time seeing as it was a wet Sunday night. He was approx 45-55, about 5' 9" (I don't do height in cms) and of medium build. Glasses. Reminded me of a social studies teacher. He was wearing the uniform - blue king gee shorts, long socks, short sleeved blue shirt and the reflective windbreaker. And the steel capped work boots.
"What happened?"
"I was stuck in traffic and when I put my foot to the accelerator - gznt."
"Was it running hot?"
"No. There was ...."
"Turn it over now."
"Uh um it ..."
"Turn it over. Now."
So I turned it over.
Gznt.
"And Again"
Gznt.
"OK. Stop"
I get out of the car and say,
"The oil light had started flickering. I'd checked the oil before I left and it was ok."
"Why didn't you say so? Turn it over again"
"I .."
So I turned it over.
Gznt.
"The motor's seized. You should have stopped as soon as the light went on."
"I'd checked the oil."
"It doesn't matter how much oil is in the sump if you've lost pressure. There's nothing I can do except book a tow for you"
And so, after checking my membership details to find out how many free kms I had (20) he booked the tow truck.
Then another NRMA guy turned up. So my guy went to talk to the other guy (who never got out of his van) and left me feeling silly. You know how you can get paranoid? Well I felt that they were hanging out in the van and ridiculing me. They were probably discussing the cricket or setting up a date but paranoia is like that.
After about 5 minutes he came back and told me the towie would be "here within the hour". Then he left.
I suspect if I'd been a guy the above conversation would have been different. If my friend had been around the NRMA guy would have ignored me and spoken to him. Not that my friend knows much about cars - not his thing, he doesn't even drive.
So I got to sit in my car in the dark some more. I got to feel the trucks speeding past. Some of them were speeding. The car rocked in the slipstream. I think some of them put on an extra burst of juice while they are on the bridge so they don't slow down too much on the hill.
The tow truck driver disagreed with me - he said they didn't speed - it was a hill. But it was the start of the incline and momentum is a wonderful thing.
The Tow Truck Guy arrived about 30 minutes after NRMA left. I got to see my car dragged onto the back of a truck. I had 20 free km. The journey would be about 40. So I would be charged $3.85 per km after the 20. What did I want to do?
I had two choices - an unknown mechanic in Hornsby followed by a taxi ride home (about $80 at that time of night) or a rail bus (about 90 mins from Hornsby OR a tow all the way home to the mechanic I know. It was 8.30 pm - I went for the whole tow.
Its 43 km from the south side of the Brooklyn Bridge to Surry Hills. It cost $107.00. I would have saved about $30 dollars the other way but I would have gotten home around midnight AND had to go back to Hornsby the following day.
So Ruby got seen by dr john. He got her started again. Flushed her out twice, gave her a full service and replaced the ball joint. The ball joint was a bit of a surprise - but if the one he showed me WAS in Ruby (and I have no reason to suspect otherwise - he's not added weird crap in the past) I'm very glad he replaced it. I don't want to be roadkill. All up the service cost another $440.00.
So I still belong to the car club but I suspect Ruby's days are numbered. But her repair costs have almost equaled her purchase price. Time for a trade in.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Just for fun ...
Hello again. If you are into members of the feline persuasion then I suggest you visit Rate My Kitten.
I visit Rate my Kitten regularly when I am feeling blue. Morgana Risotto, a very dearly missed member of my family has her picture there.
My blogging wings are still not dry enough yet, but soon I will fly.
Silkchord
I visit Rate my Kitten regularly when I am feeling blue. Morgana Risotto, a very dearly missed member of my family has her picture there.
My blogging wings are still not dry enough yet, but soon I will fly.
Silkchord
Silk Swaddling
Well here I am a blogger. Blog used to mean something nasty (taking a s#!*) when I was growing up and now it is common parlance among the denizens of the iternet. How things change.
I decided to start my blog today because I don't want to remain a member of the silent majority. I want to put my words and thoughts out into the wider universe.
I don't like what the politicians are doing to this country. I don't like what they are doing to the world - so I am adding my voice. I have done the protests and signed the petitions and now I write the blog. (sounds like a song from the seventies - showing my age there - I remember Barry Manilow!)
I will write more but this is my baby step.
Silkchord
I decided to start my blog today because I don't want to remain a member of the silent majority. I want to put my words and thoughts out into the wider universe.
I don't like what the politicians are doing to this country. I don't like what they are doing to the world - so I am adding my voice. I have done the protests and signed the petitions and now I write the blog. (sounds like a song from the seventies - showing my age there - I remember Barry Manilow!)
I will write more but this is my baby step.
Silkchord
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