I signed up to this company this afternoon, as I had to send a couple of faxes this month, and I didn’t want to go to the the post-office. They had a “1 month FREE use” thing, if you entered your financials, and agreed to have a monthly subscription for $9.95 afterwards – which you could cancel at anytime. Being that I would have paid to send the faxes, since it was not only saving me a trip out of the house, but to also, to Australia Post, I thought that this was fairly reasonable.
Buying shoes online – don’t do it to yourself
I have been banned from buying shoes online by the resident Frenchman. Why? Because I have had to return 5 pairs over the years, because they NEVER EVER FIT. And then I end up paying extra for postage and more recently, experience anxiety because I worry that they won’t fit.
Continue reading Buying shoes online – don’t do it to yourself
KitchenAid Food Chopper: This really should be called the “Pestomancer 3000”
Product: KitchenAid Food Chopper
I basically wanted something that made pesto but without the bulk of a food processor, mostly due to not wanting to lug something giant out of the cupboard every time I needed it. I came across the food chopper and thought I’d try it and for $139, it was more affordable than a lot of the bigger food processors.
Anyway, it does a great job with pesto, though, you should probably buy pre-grated Parmesan, and it wasn’t overly happy with the giant chunk that I put in there to begin with. I also tried grating cheddar in it, and it kind of turned it into a gross paste that might come out of a can in the US.
Update 2020-04-12: Despite great success using this device while it lasted, the blade’s socket, made of plastic, ultimately wore out, and started slipping in the driving socket. Or maybe it was the engine that lost its grunt. Anyway, it didn’t last the distance as much as we’d hoped. Removing the post from the “Good experience” category…
Continue reading KitchenAid Food Chopper: This really should be called the “Pestomancer 3000”
Book Depository: too much security, not enough communication
Christmas time. I decided to order books as presents from the Book Depository, and have them delivered to my son and his family in Australia. It has always worked in the past, with any other provider. Probably even with the Book Depository, but not this time.
When the parcel was not showing up much after the stated delivery date, I started enquiring, but nothing helpful was forthcoming. “[D]ue to security reasons [they] are unable to disclose”, the order was cancelled. No notice was ever sent that this had happened, and particularly not why.
Continue reading Book Depository: too much security, not enough communication
Europcar Car Rental Cork Airport: Disappointment, Promises, and More Disappointment
On a trip to Ireland in October, we had to rent a car to see ourselves around. We booked the car online from a website called “Irish car rentals”, but it turns out to be a front for europcar.ie.
We had been warned about hidden charges for additional collision insurances (Collision Damage Waiver, CDW), and that one way to avoid those charges was to pay with a credit card offering some sort of coverage.
So we had this covered, but the pain did not stop here.
Continue reading Europcar Car Rental Cork Airport: Disappointment, Promises, and More Disappointment
Australia Post’s consistent performance
A few hours ago, I had to look up the details of an Australia Post outlet, on my phone. Fortunately, Australia Post has a rather slick and to-the-point mobile website.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work…
Stinky Storage Cube: Kmart
Hi,
A couple of days ago, I bought a 3-pack of small, dark blue, collapsible storage cubes from the kid’s section at Ashfield Kmart. Since opening them, a god-awful smell has been emanating from them – stinking up the areas of the house where they are. Continue reading Stinky Storage Cube: Kmart
More Australia Post goodness
I logged into Auspost and saw that the ‘Customer Enquiry’ I had lodged on Monday had been marked ‘resolved’ by someone on their end. So I disputed that it had been resolved and was given the opportunity to ‘update’ them. The space was limited so I had to heavily edit my rant. I’ve pasted it below. I tried to be polite, and I think I mostly succeeded. I just hope they don’t start shitting in our letterbox.
Some back story: I signed up for the parcel lockers in November this year. I verified my identification and soon after received a ‘MyPost’ card in the mail. The most recent parcel I picked up from the parcel lockers was on Thursday 15th December. End back story.
In relation to this parcel that was taken to Campsie PO instead of the parcel locker – I authorised an agent to go to Campsie PO and collect the package which he did so yesterday. When the parcel was finally located, my agent was lectured at by an Auspost staff member who said that it was my fault I didn’t receive the parcel earlier because I didn’t have any contact details on my Auspost account. This parcel, according to the tracking, has been sitting at Campsie PO since Tuesday 13th December. Two full days before I last collected a parcel FROM THE PARCEL LOCKERS. I’m not sure how my contact details were missing on the 13th of December and then suddenly reappeared on the 15th of December, just in time for me to be notified about my most recent parcel locker pick up. So strange!
Australia Post: Different Outlet, Same Service
After another mind-numbing Australia Post experience, I noticed that the receipts were saying, in friendly capital letters:
PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON TODAY’S VISIT AT AUSPOST.COM.AU/MYVISIT
So I did.
There was also a free-text entry for me to explain why, on a scale from 0 to 10, I marked my likelihood to recommend AustPost to friend, family or colleague to be 0. I’m not even sure I’d recommend it to somebody I disliked.
Continue reading Australia Post: Different Outlet, Same Service
Bonds Wondersuits: Cotton/Polyester
Item: Bonds “Zippy” Wondersuits
Purpose: All-in-one pyjamas