Grumble Thread

[teamsaint]

More modern times - yuk! I can pre-order the Kindle version of the Proms brochure and also the printed version.

I prefer the printed versions - but they won't be delivered until weeks after the Kindle versions are available.

That's really poor.

I appreciate the efforts to save the trees, but sometimes it's just much more efficient and sensible to use paper printing.

Dave , I think this is an Amazon issue that will resolve itself.
we often see delivery dates for our print titles that are well beyond the publication date, before stock has been booked into or arrived at their distribution centres. They tend to start placing orders around a month before publication on our books, and we use one of the best distributors in the country.
I would suggest that if you order it , you’ll get it on publication date.

[Dave2002]

Dave , I think this is an Amazon issue that will resolve itself.
we often see delivery dates for our print titles that are well beyond the publication date, before stock has been booked into or arrived at their distribution centres. They tend to start placing orders around a month before publication on our books, and we use one of the best distributors in the country.
I would suggest that if you order it , you’ll get it on publication date.

OK - thanks for the clarification.

I've never had that problem before. I'll reserve my copy.

[Old Grumpy]

You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment.

Just for clarification...


... some pay barrier entry premises have CCTV surveillance on the barrier.

[cloughie]

It seems like Healthy plant based food is catching on to the the extent that shortages are cropping up on supermarket shelves. Last weekend mushrooms were in short supply by Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Today at the Big Tesco in Pool the ‘pulses’ shelf was almost bare with few types of beans available.

[Dave2002]

Just for clarification...


... some pay barrier entry premises have CCTV surveillance on the barrier.

Oh great - so I suppose they have floodlights and cameras at the back of the building too.

Thanks for the warning.

Maybe I'm glad I live in rural parts now - plenty of trees ....

[french frank]

It seems like Healthy plant based food is catching on to the the extent that shortages are cropping up on supermarket shelves.

Might be that. Might be that the growers can't get the workers needed to harvest them <grumble grumble Br*x*t > ......

[Pulcinella]

As part of a much more general grumble about being asked to give customer feedback for just about every purchase or interaction with another person (which in general you know will be ignored), this latest, from Presto (who I really would not wish to criticise) is a little bewildering.

Thank you so much from all of us at Presto Music for your recent order, we really hope you are enjoying it.

Your feedback means so much to us. By leaving a product review, you’re not only sharing your thoughts, but also helping other music lovers discover recordings and products they'll enjoy. Your insights make a big difference in shaping the Presto Music community, guiding others to find something they’ll love.

Thank you and we hope to see you again soon.

I'm asked to rate it (1 to 5) and there is an opportunity to add a review.

The product in question is the pocket score edition of Britten's Cello Symphony.

I'm tempted to write: As far as I can tell, it contains all the right notes, in the right order.


But seriously, what do they expect? I suppose I could say it was quite expensive (not their fault).
Interestingly, though, had they chosen to ask me about the other part of the order, the piano duet parts for Ravel's Mother Goose, I could have been much more positive: nice clear edition, easy to play from, etc!

[Petrushka]

As part of a much more general grumble about being asked to give customer feedback for just about every purchase or interaction with another person (which in general you know will be ignored), this latest, from Presto (who I really would not wish to criticise) is a little bewildering.


I'm asked to rate it (1 to 5) and there is an opportunity to add a review.

The product in question is the pocket score edition of Britten's Cello Symphony.

I'm tempted to write: As far as I can tell, it contains all the right notes, in the right order.


But seriously, what do they expect? I suppose I could say it was quite expensive (not their fault).
Interestingly, though, had they chosen to ask me about the other part of the order, the piano duet parts for Ravel's Mother Goose, I could have been much more positive: nice clear edition, easy to play from, etc!

My policy on these customer surveys is simple: I ignore the lot!

[oddoneout]

It seems like Healthy plant based food is catching on to the the extent that shortages are cropping up on supermarket shelves. Last weekend mushrooms were in short supply by Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Today at the Big Tesco in Pool the ‘pulses’ shelf was almost bare with few types of beans available.

There can be many reasons for shortages occurring, but relying on imports and the 'just in time' model of supply means it doesn't take much to create them.

[kernelbogey]

My GP Surgery asks for feedback after any contact I have with them. E.g. 'Would you recommend the Surgery to friends...?' I suppose I should write 'Only in case of illness'.

[eighthobstruction]

My GP Surgery asks for feedback after any contact I have with them. E.g. 'Would you recommend the Surgery to friends...?' I suppose I should write 'Only in case of illness'.

....I always feel that answering leads to an invisible 'tramps mark' is placed on the cyber cloud files and you immediately invite more sources to contact you....I feel the same about Privacy/Cookie Policy when entering websites....generally I 'virtually' turn on my heels and virtually walk away....(as I am sure many of you do)

[Serial_Apologist]

....I always feel that answering leads to an invisible 'tramps mark' is placed on the cyber cloud files and you immediately invite more sources to contact you....I feel the same about Privacy/Cookie Policy when entering websites....generally I 'virtually' turn on my heels and virtually walk away....(as I am sure many of you do)

Especially irksome has been receivng an email requesting me to take not more than 20 minutes answering the following approval questions over service recently provided. Each answer had to be graded 1-10 from extremely dissatisfied to extremely the opposite, and would I recommend BG to a friend, relative, God etc. That "service" consisted in me getting in touch with British Gas to arrange an annual service visit by email, and them then answering confirming a date, thanking me for contacting them.

[Pulcinella]

Quite often too the questionnaire refers to your experience with the call centre personnel (usually good) but gives no opportunity to say whether or not what you called about got resolved.

I get one every time I visit the barber (happily called Sam!), but it relates more to the ease of booking the appointment than the quality of the haircut!

[Serial_Apologist]

Quite often too the questionnaire refers to your experience with the call centre personnel (usually good) but gives no opportunity to say whether or not what you called about got resolved.

I get one every time I visit the barber (happily called Sam!), but it relates more to the ease of booking the appointment than the quality of the haircut!

Such questionnaires make me worry that unless I fill them in I might get downgraded in their aftercare services. In the case of the British Gas one I decided to answer all the questions by ticking all the midpoints between satisfied and dissatisfied, thinking that even if it is binned without being read at least they will have had it and maybe registered me.

[Roger Webb]

I've just done a 'Trustpilot' review for a 'family' plumbing company from whom I requested a plumber to call at my disabled sister's flat - she lives 60 miles from me - as the management had said her outside overflow pipe had a constant trickle. I was charged £42 callout fee for a same-day service...of course they failed to turn up! When they did (next day), they failed to find the source of the leak. Worse, I found out afterwards they charged £210/hour.....not to find a leak!

Worse still, eventually the manager of the flats gained entry and traced the leak to the lavatory cistern overflow due to faulty ballcock...he did this in five minutes!!!.....despite having no degree in plumbing!

Guess what star rating I gave in the Trustpilot review?