Random Irritations

[Fade and Die]

wanted to hack some Ikea furniture to create a built-in storage and bookshelves in the home office. I could design it but dont have the skills to build it. So I found a apprentice chippy, who agreed to do it over a weekend - he works on site for a construction co. He was going on a holiday and needed the money.

So he turned up at 8 on Sat and Sun and powered thru it. As I realised he was more keen than skilled. Towards Sunday evening, he was in a rush and made some mistakes. Anyways, I paid up in full. Then i took it apart to paint it and I could see plenty of examples where he could have made it 'great rather than good enough'. There are trailing glue stains which i had to sand a fair bit. There are alignments that are a bit off. It has taken me two weeks of evening sanding, painting etc. to get it to look right. Also had to refit a drawer (which was done on Sunday evening) and align it. The end product is pretty good (but i am biased).

I sent him some pics of the finished product and now it is on his Instagram. I would be less irritated if i had not paid him as much as I did. But my other gripe about a young tradesman is... why dont they want to get better at their craft. All it needs is a bit of thinking and a bit of effort.

I don't understand this, you said he was an apprentice chippy?... This means you know he is not fully qualified and he lacks experience, but he is in training.

What sort of job did you expect from a partly trained lad? The expression Rolls Royce for the price of a Mini springs to mind.

 

[Mudball]

I don't understand this, you said he was an apprentice chippy?... This means you know he is not fully qualified and he lacks experience, but he is in training.

What sort of job did you expect from a partly trained lad? The expression Rolls Royce for the price of a Mini springs to mind.

sorry.. i call him an apprentice, because he used to be one when i first met him couple of years ago. I cant kick his work ethics. Even in those days, he was always looking for weekend jobs to learn.
I think he is now a full chippy. He does put in the effort, but he could easily been a great chippy. BTW, he was not Mini prices either nowadays.

As my architect tells me... Tradesmen are 'paid to do, not think.... Thinking costs extra'..

 

[Fade and Die]

sorry.. i call him an apprentice, because he used to be one when i first met him couple of years ago. I cant kick his work ethics. Even in those days, he was always looking for weekend jobs to learn.
I think he is now a full chippy. He does put in the effort, but he could easily been a great chippy. BTW, he was not Mini prices either nowadays.

As my architect tells me... Tradesmen are 'paid to do, not think.... Thinking costs extra'..

The Architect tells you what you want and the Tradesman tells you what you can afford.

If he works for a "Construction Co" maybe he has just not had any experience in cabinet making, Maybe he just hangs doors and fits skirting Mon-Fri?

Its a good idea though to re-use your Ikea wardrobes, when we had our loft done the chippy re-used all the drawers and runners when building the under-eave storage.

 

[Beezerk]

The Architect tells you what you want and the Tradesman tells you what you can afford.

If he works for a "Construction Co" maybe he has just not had any experience in cabinet making, Maybe he just hangs doors and fits skirting Mon-Fri?

Its a good idea though to re-use your Ikea wardrobes, when we had our loft done the chippy re-used all the drawers and runners when building the under-eave storage.

I follow a Reddit group called Ikea Hacks, there are some crazy ideas on there from time to time

 

[Oddsocks]

EBay sellers adverting with a buyitnow price or best offer.

You make an offer 10% below listing - refused no reasons.
You make a second offer 5% below listing - refused no reasons.

Ask and email what offer they’d accept?
- the listing price mate.

Right, for being a Richard I’ve reported the add as incorrectly listed…. Clearly he isn’t accepting offers so the add is wrong!

 

[PJ87]

3 people have asked how I'm coping with the kids whilst the wife is away.
Do you think she gets asked when I'm off on my jollies?

It's ridiculous

Tesco came the other day when I had all 3 with me helping

Man was like

got your hands full today.. how long you baby sitting for

Well what at least another 10 years before I can leave them on their own?

 

[GreiginFife]

Gorilla epoxy. Horrible, crap stuff. Just had it fail on a repair to a machine. Other side of the machine also split about 9 months ago but I used Araldite on that, not an issue. Couldn't get my hands on Araldite so got Gorilla. Lesson learned.

 

[Mudball]

I follow a Reddit group called Ikea Hacks, there are some crazy ideas on there from time to time

INDEED.... i have spent 2 months painting some Billy Bookcase and Bestas... it is difficult task. I wont recommend it. However, if you want to use it in the same colour as it is shipped in, then hacking ikea is amazing and satisfying

 

[Patster1969]

Just seen an advert for a new programme coming on Discovery. "Meet the Rees-Moggs". My missus heard my "Oh for f@@@s sake!" comment from upstairs.

Nothing random about this irritation!

 

[Beezerk]

EBay sellers adverting with a buyitnow price or best offer.

You make an offer 10% below listing - refused no reasons.
You make a second offer 5% below listing - refused no reasons.

Ask and email what offer they’d accept?
- the listing price mate.

Right, for being a Richard I’ve reported the add as incorrectly listed…. Clearly he isn’t accepting offers so the add is wrong!

Maybe they forgot to untick the “best offer” box?

 

[Oddsocks]

Maybe they forgot to untick the “best offer” box?

They can remember when they relist it.

 

[Imurg]

It's the AI descriptions that get my back up.....
Completely useless and tell you nothing.....
Anyone uses them and I'm not buying......

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Some genius blames the ‘church’ for obesity in the UK as it isn’t doing enough to make us all more spiritual - and because most folks aren’t showing much in the way of spiritual well-being they are choosing to eat too much rubbish too much of the time. Yup…obesity in the UK is the fault of the church

 

[Mudball]

Some genius blames the ‘church’ for obesity in the UK as it isn’t doing enough to make us all more spiritual - and because most folks aren’t showing much in the way of spiritual well-being they are choosing to eat too much rubbish too much of the time. Yup…obesity in the UK is the fault of the church

looks like they had a blamestorming meeting to see who is will have to carry the cross for national obesity.

 

[GreiginFife]

Lying Amazon delivery drivers. My docking station I use for work packed in so ordered another for delivery today. Should have expected the worst when the delivery time window kept slipping.

But 5 mins ago it was marked as delivered to letterbox, no photographic evidence (as you’d expect) and you guessed it, not delivered.

Why? Why do they do it? Its not like a customer isn’t going to report it pretty much straight away.

And Amazon themselves? Need to give 48 hours for “ME” to find it. Not sure where they think I’m going to magically make it appear from.

 

[Mudball]

Lots of '0% balance transfer' cards being offered... What I would love is someone who offers to transfer an unsecured loan. Say I took a personal loan from post office for 10k for 4%. Why cant i shift it to 0% card card. I will still paying the loan, but not at the interest. Not sure why such a product does not exist.

 

[chico]

Lying Amazon delivery drivers. My docking station I use for work packed in so ordered another for delivery today. Should have expected the worst when the delivery time window kept slipping.

But 5 mins ago it was marked as delivered to letterbox, no photographic evidence (as you’d expect) and you guessed it, not delivered.

Why? Why do they do it? Its not like a customer isn’t going to report it pretty much straight away.

And Amazon themselves? Need to give 48 hours for “ME” to find it. Not sure where they think I’m going to magically make it appear from.

Amazon are pretty strict on their drivers. They'll ultimately take your side. As for the delivery driver, too many complaints and they're out.

 

[GreiginFife]

Lots of '0% balance transfer' cards being offered... What I would love is someone who offers to transfer an unsecured loan. Say I took a personal loan from post office for 10k for 4%. Why cant i shift it to 0% card card. I will still paying the loan, but not at the interest. Not sure why such a product does not exist.

Two different borrowing structures governed by very different regulations.

 

[chico]

Lots of '0% balance transfer' cards being offered... What I would love is someone who offers to transfer an unsecured loan. Say I took a personal loan from post office for 10k for 4%. Why cant i shift it to 0% card card. I will still paying the loan, but not at the interest. Not sure why such a product does not exist.

Probably not worth it, most of them charge a % of the amount you’d transfer as a fee. Possibly save you half a percent or so.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Lying Amazon delivery drivers. My docking station I use for work packed in so ordered another for delivery today. Should have expected the worst when the delivery time window kept slipping.

But 5 mins ago it was marked as delivered to letterbox, no photographic evidence (as you’d expect) and you guessed it, not delivered.

Why? Why do they do it? Its not like a customer isn’t going to report it pretty much straight away.

And Amazon themselves? Need to give 48 hours for “ME” to find it. Not sure where they think I’m going to magically make it appear from.

What about your alternative "safe place" options - neighbour, behind wheelie bins etc?