What Irked You Today?

[redneckrigger]

It's not a difficult repair if you prepare the areas properly. When I ran my garage/body shop, we were in a rather depressed area..........had to do  that a few times just to keep the good old boys working. Your excellent description brought back good memories! Thanks for the well thought out post!

Edited January 25, 2016 by redneckrigger

[Joe Handley]

Been working on some of my R/C stuff and half of the zip ties I've used broke off at the head when pulled tight, usually when tying wires to each other. Not sure if Lowes had a bad batch, if they're junk no matter what, or if the plastic has become brittle over  the last couple years.

[High octane]

Been working on some of my R/C stuff and half of the zip ties I've used broke off at the head when pulled tight, usually when tying wires to each other. Not sure if Lowes had a bad batch, if they're junk no matter what, or if the plastic has become brittle over  the last couple years.

I've used zip ties for many years, and if you store them outside and they're cold, they can be more prone to break.

[Joe Handley]

I've used zip ties for many years, and if you store them outside and they're cold, they can be more prone to break.

That's the weird part, they,ve been in an ammo box (with an air tight seal), tool box or just sitting in my bedroom and covered in some way and they haven't been outside in the cold since last winter.

[Ace-Garageguy]

That's the weird part, they,ve been in an ammo box (with an air tight seal), tool box or just sitting in my bedroom and covered in some way and they haven't been outside in the cold since last winter.

I do a lot of 1:1 vehicle electrical work, and I've been having problems with the Lowes / hardware store / Home Depot / Harbor Freight etc. zip ties becoming Chinese-made, not-to-spec, garbage-plastic useless trash. I don't even bother with them any more, and only use the ones from electronics supply houses.

[Harry P.]

http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/extreme-temperature-ties.php

[Ace-Garageguy]

http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/extreme-temperature-ties.php

Lots of really GOOD stuff on that site. 

[Harry P.]

OK... I know that printer manufacturers make their real money on replacement ink cartridges, not on the printer itself. I know.

But this is insanity: I have a small Canon printer/scanner all-in-one. Bought it at Walmart, the thing cost less than $40. And it works great. But the black ink is empty, so I go online to see how much a replacement cartridge goes for. And while I'm at it, I might as well get the color cartridge, too, since it can't be too far from empty either. It turns out the price for a black/color "combo pack" ink cartidges is more than what I paid for the printer in the first place! So it would literally be cheaper for me to buy a brand new printer (which comes with full ink cartridges) every time the ink runs out rather than buy replacement ink!!!

[Danno]

OK... I know that printer manufacturers make their real money on replacement ink cartridges, not on the printer itself. I know.

But this is insanity: I have a small Canon printer/scanner all-in-one. Bought it at Walmart, the thing cost less than $40. And it works great. But the black ink is empty, so I go online to see how much a replacement cartridge goes for. And while I'm at it, I might as well get the color cartridge, too, since it can't be too far from empty either. It turns out the price for a black/color "combo pack" ink cartidges is more than what I paid for the printer in the first place! So it would literally be cheaper for me to buy a brand new printer (which comes with full ink cartridges) every time the ink runs out rather than buy replacement ink!!!

 

Yep.  Fact.

AND, another thing!  

For years I used refilled/recycled ink cartridges without a problem.  A year ago, my name-brand printer (which cost less than a package of ink cartridges, BTW) received a software update 'push' overnight.  Next time an ink cartridge went dry, I replaced it with one of my trusty Cartridge World cartridges.  

Guess what?  Brand-new, never-before pop-up warned that the printer could not operate due to "bad cartridge" and it identified the one I just replaced.  I put another in & got the same "error message."  Investigation revealed the software update was new programming that froze the printer UNLESS a replacement ink cartridge was a brand new unit of its own brand-name.  

If one tried to use a generic brand or tried to refill one of that brand's own cartridges, the printer detects it and shuts down.  

I would call that anti-trust, but who has the money to press a class action lawsuit over a printer cartridge?  

Like Harry says, it's even cheaper to buy a new printer each time your cartridge(s) runs out.

PPFfffffffffffffffbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbtttttttttttt!!!  

 

Edited February 1, 2016 by Danno

[Earl Marischal]

Learning that my all time favourite band, Status Quo, are having to give up touring their live electric show after this year. 

Their winter tour was always the highlight of my gigging year. So it looks like 2016 will be my 37th and last Quo concert.

steve:-(

[Harry P.]

...it's even cheaper to buy a new printer each time your cartridge(s) runs out...

It's insane! Imagine if a new set of spark plugs cost $40,000, but you could buy a whole new car for $35K!

I'm seriously thinking of saving a few bucks and buying a whole new printer instead of the replacement ink!

[cobraman]

With all the printers we have purchased over the years I don't believe we ever got one that came with a full cartridge just a partial.

[Joe Handley]

I do a lot of 1:1 vehicle electrical work, and I've been having problems with the Lowes / hardware store / Home Depot / Harbor Freight etc. zip ties becoming Chinese-made, not-to-spec, garbage-plastic useless trash. I don't even bother with them any more, and only use the ones from electronics supply houses.

I mentioned it to my boss today, he suggested using ones that are labeled as "chemical resistant", apparently he has no issues with them on the saltwater aquarium  he has in the back of the store.

[Mark]

The last couple of printers I bought only had "starter" cartridges.  People would do just what has been mentioned (buy a new printer instead of the cartridges), except they would often take the new cartridges out, replace them with their used-up units, then return the printer to the store for a refund.

[Harry P.]

People would do just what has been mentioned (buy a new printer instead of the cartridges), except they would often take the new cartridges out, replace them with their used-up units, then return the printer to the store for a refund.

Hmmm... how delightfully devious! Unfortunately, I'm too honest to do that... my conscience would bother me.

[Ace-Garageguy]

The last couple of printers I bought only had "starter" cartridges.  People would do just what has been mentioned (buy a new printer instead of the cartridges), except they would often take the new cartridges out, replace them with their used-up units, then return the printer to the store for a refund.

Nice. Some people really need to have the snot slapped out of them.

[Harry P.]

My son used to work at one of those big home center stores when he was younger. Sometimes he manned the returns desk. He told me people would bring back all sorts of stuff that obviously had been used...like a snowblower a few days after a big snowfall...and demand a refund because the product "didn't work." The store policy was to issue the refund, even if it was obvious the customer was scamming them. My son said he couldn't believe the audacity of some people!

[cobraman]

Same thing happened when I worked at Petco with the dog clippers. I would say at least 7 out of 10 were returned a couple days after the sale. It didn't work they would say. I tested them all and they always worked and were full of dog hair. Takes all kinds I guess.

[Joe Handley]

I had that position at Toy's "R" Us for some of the time I was there Harry.............and I HATED, HATED!!!!!!!, working service desk!  The people that would lie to your face, or expect to return stuff from Target or Wal-Mart (with those stores' tags still on the product!) was unbelievable, and then, so long as we carried it, I would be told by a manager to just take it back!  I had no problems going out and collecting stinky garbage bags, sweeping goose dropping out of the parking lot, cleaning the bathrooms, unloading trucks, stocking shelves, ect, but I hated the service desk with a fiery passion!

[blunc]

there used to be devices that would reset the chips on ink and toner cartridges... I'm guessing the companies that made/sold those were either bought up or sued by printer companies till the little guys gave up.

kind of goes along with the trend of software lately that allows you to purchase the rights to use the software for a specified period of time (one year), then you have to pay again to use the program...whether you used it or not.

(a guy comes up to you, whispers "want to score some Photoshop, it's premium, grade A, no trojans, makes GREAT pictures...". A month or a year later, a message appears when you launch the program, "Your one month/one year license has expired, click here to purchase additional time.") Keep in mind that you needed no assistance nor technical support that would justify being charged for help.

I'm not knocking the guys with the skills to write programs, I'm just saying that what used to be a license to use one copy of software on one computer is no longer what it used to be.

[Ace-Garageguy]

there used to be devices that would reset the chips on ink and toner cartridges... I'm guessing the companies that made/sold those were either bought up or sued by printer companies till the little guys gave up.

kind of goes along with the trend of software lately that allows you to purchase the rights to use the software for a specified period of time (one year), then you have to pay again to use the program...whether you used it or not.

(a guy comes up to you, whispers "want to score some Photoshop, it's premium, grade A, no trojans, makes GREAT pictures...". A month or a year later, a message appears when you launch the program, "Your one month/one year license has expired, click here to purchase additional time.") Keep in mind that you needed no assistance nor technical support that would justify being charged for help.

I'm not knocking the guys with the skills to write programs, I'm just saying that what used to be a license to use one copy of software on one computer is no longer what it used to be.

When the MBAs realized they had software users firmly grasped by the dangly bits, it became open season on users. Expect it to get worse. If you want to play, you're gonna have to pay...more and more frequently.

When you depend on software to make a living or do business, you don't have any choice but to go along with the extortion. Just like utilities and phone / internet services, you have to pay or get shut down.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[crazyjim]

I worked at a Sears Hardware store in Carol Stream, Fl for a few years.  One April a guy came in bought the most expensive lawn tractor we had.  Late October he came in again to return the tractor saying he didn't like it.  He was given the cash  and went to the back of the store and bought the most expensive snow blower we had.  Come April he returned it and bought another tractor.  This went on for several years that I was there.  Sears had a huge banner above the exit door - SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK.

[Crazy Ed]

    Jim I had an Uncle that went to Sears back ~60 or so and bought the Biggest Pro Tool set with Roll around and piggyback they had at the time. Rebuilt the Engine on his Car and hauled it all back when he was done. My Dad and him didn't get along very well from then on..............

[Ace-Garageguy]

I worked at a Sears Hardware store in Carol Stream, Fl for a few years.  One April a guy came in bought the most expensive lawn tractor we had.  Late October he came in again to return the tractor saying he didn't like it.  He was given the cash  and went to the back of the store and bought the most expensive snow blower we had.  Come April he returned it and bought another tractor.  This went on for several years that I was there.  Sears had a huge banner above the exit door - SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK.

The sign should have read "SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK", with small print under it that said "...unless you're a lying, thieving, scamming little POS, in which case you'll be taken out back and shot".

[dieseldawg142]

...

Edited May 11, 2018 by dieseldawg142