Pet Peeves IV

[Pretty Boy]

Supermarkets.

They are just places where hope goes to die.

I usually go to Asda and there are almost never any trolleys at the door so you have to walk back to a trolley bay in the car park to get one. Said trolley is always filthy (remember during COVID when supermarkets actually cleaned trolleys and baskets for a few months). The stores themselves are always a bit grotty looking as well. You start at the fruit and veg which is always really sad looking. Going around it seems the main aim is pushing people towards buying high margin junk food with said items dominating prominent positions and always with deals trying to push you towards it. Stock availability seems increasingly crap (as an example last night Asda had no fresh carrots. Not loose, not the cheap bags, not the bigger bags and not the expensive organic ones, literally not a single fresh carrot to be had). You have a choice of scanning as you go or self scanning at the checkout, if you are lucky you might get 1 or 2 checkouts open but employing actual humans seems an inconvenience for most stores. You come out and when going to return your trolley inevitably the first 2 or 3 bays you go to will be rammed full because employing enough people to collect them in good time means slightly lower profits and most people are decent enough to keep going until they find a bay they can squeeze their trolley in so they don't bother.

The worst part is I know there is a choice. I can take a bit longer and spend a bit more and shop in nice local shops with real people, local food and higher quality but I choose convenience and that's why they get away with it.

[Hiber-nation]

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Supermarkets.

They are just places where hope goes to die.

I usually go to Asda and there are almost never any trolleys at the door so you have to walk back to a trolley bay in the car park to get one. Said trolley is always filthy (remember during COVID when supermarkets actually cleaned trolleys and baskets for a few months). The stores themselves are always a bit grotty looking as well. You start at the fruit and veg which is always really sad looking. Going around it seems the main aim is pushing people towards buying high margin junk food with said items dominating prominent positions and always with deals trying to push you towards it. Stock availability seems increasingly crap (as an example last night Asda had no fresh carrots. Not loose, not the cheap bags, not the bigger bags and not the expensive organic ones, literally not a single fresh carrot to be had). You have a choice of scanning as you go or self scanning at the checkout, if you are lucky you might get 1 or 2 checkouts open but employing actual humans seems an inconvenience for most stores. You come out and when going to return your trolley inevitably the first 2 or 3 bays you go to will be rammed full because employing enough people to collect them in good time means slightly lower profits and most people are decent enough to keep going until they find a bay they can squeeze their trolley in so they don't bother.

The worst part is I know there is a choice. I can take a bit longer and spend a bit more and shop in nice local shops with real people, local food and higher quality but I choose convenience and that's why they get away with it.

The Asda at the Jewel is one of the most depressing places on earth. Apart from all your justified peeves it's just dimly lit and gloomy. Used to go there for crusty rolls if I was in the post office but even they're crap now.

[Pretty Boy]

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The Asda at the Jewel is one of the most depressing places on earth. Apart from all your justified peeves it's just dimly lit and gloomy. Used to go there for crusty rolls if I was in the post office but even they're crap now.

That's my usual one and you're right. I feel genuinely gloomy and irritable for ages after having go in.

My wife works there for 20 hours a week and I honestly don't know how she does it. It's like the land that light and happiness forgot.

[Smartie]

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Supermarkets.

They are just places where hope goes to die.

I usually go to Asda and there are almost never any trolleys at the door so you have to walk back to a trolley bay in the car park to get one. Said trolley is always filthy (remember during COVID when supermarkets actually cleaned trolleys and baskets for a few months). The stores themselves are always a bit grotty looking as well. You start at the fruit and veg which is always really sad looking. Going around it seems the main aim is pushing people towards buying high margin junk food with said items dominating prominent positions and always with deals trying to push you towards it. Stock availability seems increasingly crap (as an example last night Asda had no fresh carrots. Not loose, not the cheap bags, not the bigger bags and not the expensive organic ones, literally not a single fresh carrot to be had). You have a choice of scanning as you go or self scanning at the checkout, if you are lucky you might get 1 or 2 checkouts open but employing actual humans seems an inconvenience for most stores. You come out and when going to return your trolley inevitably the first 2 or 3 bays you go to will be rammed full because employing enough people to collect them in good time means slightly lower profits and most people are decent enough to keep going until they find a bay they can squeeze their trolley in so they don't bother.

The worst part is I know there is a choice. I can take a bit longer and spend a bit more and shop in nice local shops with real people, local food and higher quality but I choose convenience and that's why they get away with it.

I remember visiting hypermarkets in France growing up and they felt like the opposite of all that.

The drive to remove human interaction from our lives in the name of profit is something I think we all need to be concerned about but that's probably a conversation for another thread.

[Green Man]

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Supermarkets.

They are just places where hope goes to die.

I usually go to Asda and there are almost never any trolleys at the door so you have to walk back to a trolley bay in the car park to get one. Said trolley is always filthy (remember during COVID when supermarkets actually cleaned trolleys and baskets for a few months). The stores themselves are always a bit grotty looking as well. You start at the fruit and veg which is always really sad looking. Going around it seems the main aim is pushing people towards buying high margin junk food with said items dominating prominent positions and always with deals trying to push you towards it. Stock availability seems increasingly crap (as an example last night Asda had no fresh carrots. Not loose, not the cheap bags, not the bigger bags and not the expensive organic ones, literally not a single fresh carrot to be had). You have a choice of scanning as you go or self scanning at the checkout, if you are lucky you might get 1 or 2 checkouts open but employing actual humans seems an inconvenience for most stores. You come out and when going to return your trolley inevitably the first 2 or 3 bays you go to will be rammed full because employing enough people to collect them in good time means slightly lower profits and most people are decent enough to keep going until they find a bay they can squeeze their trolley in so they don't bother.

The worst part is I know there is a choice. I can take a bit longer and spend a bit more and shop in nice local shops with real people, local food and higher quality but I choose convenience and that's why they get away with it.

I was in Asda in Livi yesterday for the first time in years. Hopefully it’s years before I’m back again, it was grim.

[pollution]

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I was in Asda in Livi yesterday for the first time in years. Hopefully it’s years before I’m back again, it was grim.

All Asdas are grim: cheap prices, cheap decor.

[McD]

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I was in Asda in Livi yesterday for the first time in years. Hopefully it’s years before I’m back again, it was grim.

dunno if it’s the livi Asda specifically, or more generic, but the amount of empty shelves around the store, with very few staff restocking, whilst there’s always 20-30 minimum (no exaggeration) staff going about picking online orders.

not a criticism of the staff, but of the management and their attitude to getting the shelves stocked

[brianmc]

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dunno if it’s the livi Asda specifically, or more generic, but the amount of empty shelves around the store, with very few staff restocking, whilst there’s always 20-30 minimum (no exaggeration) staff going about picking online orders.

not a criticism of the staff, but of the management and their attitude to getting the shelves stocked

I'm in Livi Asda on a daily basis (often morning and afternoon).

My advice would be: if you're looking for a plentiful choice of fresh fruit, veg and other short shelflife stuff like chilled meats etc go in the morning.

They fully restock the shelves on the Nightshift.
If you're after standard tinned, packaged or non foodstuffs - or in my case a post work bottle of wine - then you should find it okay in the afternoon.

As mentioned above most of the staff seem to be fulfilling online orders - so if you aren't able to pop in as frequently as I do AND you hate the whole experience maybe ordering online would be better...?

*Not aimed specifically at you MCD.

[silverhibee]

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From a wildlife point of view hedges shouldn't be cut during nesting season. August at the earliest.

My neighbour hasn’t cut there hedge or grass front and back since last year, going down the path is a nightmare, I have said something but nothing has been done, my missus uses a wheelchair so not very nice getting cobwebs in your face, it is practically grown to my side of pathway, I’m 4 in a block and I’m the only one to cut my grass and hedge the others are rented, students, family from abroad and a crazy family, don’t know if it’s worthwhile getting in touch with the council about it.

[McD]

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I'm in Livi Asda on a daily basis (often morning and afternoon).

My advice would be: if you're looking for a plentiful choice of fresh fruit, veg and other short shelflife stuff like chilled meats etc go in the morning.

They fully restock the shelves on the Nightshift.
If you're after standard tinned, packaged or non foodstuffs - or in my case a post work bottle of wine - then you should find it okay in the afternoon.

As mentioned above most of the staff seem to be fulfilling online orders - so if you aren't able to pop in as frequently as I do AND you hate the whole experience maybe ordering online would be better...?

*Not aimed specifically at you MCD.

good to know Brian, cheers

it’s not the experience that bothers me as much as not being able to get what I’m looking for

[Jones28]

Agree with the sentiment PB, I’ve got a couple of decent Lidls that are reasonably new and they’re at least nice, clean, bright places to be.

But the whole supermarket shopping experience in the general is ****. Produce has slipped massively and I’m finding Lidls fruit and veg in particular is often disappointing, but I don’t think it’s as bad as it was.

We ordered online during covid and found it really liberating initially but the swaps became a real irritation.

[Moulin Yarns]

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My neighbour hasn’t cut there hedge or grass front and back since last year, going down the path is a nightmare, I have said something but nothing has been done, my missus uses a wheelchair so not very nice getting cobwebs in your face, it is practically grown to my side of pathway, I’m 4 in a block and I’m the only one to cut my grass and hedge the others are rented, students, family from abroad and a crazy family, don’t know if it’s worthwhile getting in touch with the council about it.

To be honest I would. Sounds like you have problem neighbours. My reference to nesting birds is easily solved but they all sound lazy beggars.

[Green Man]

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I'm in Livi Asda on a daily basis (often morning and afternoon).

My advice would be: if you're looking for a plentiful choice of fresh fruit, veg and other short shelflife stuff like chilled meats etc go in the morning.

They fully restock the shelves on the Nightshift.
If you're after standard tinned, packaged or non foodstuffs - or in my case a post work bottle of wine - then you should find it okay in the afternoon.

As mentioned above most of the staff seem to be fulfilling online orders - so if you aren't able to pop in as frequently as I do AND you hate the whole experience maybe ordering online would be better...?

*Not aimed specifically at you MCD.

Good point about online orders. That’s another of my pet peeves, being in a restaurant or takeaway and your food taking forever because they’re doing tons of orders for Deliveroo or whatever.

[Just Alf]

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My neighbour hasn’t cut there hedge or grass front and back since last year, going down the path is a nightmare, I have said something but nothing has been done, my missus uses a wheelchair so not very nice getting cobwebs in your face, it is practically grown to my side of pathway, I’m 4 in a block and I’m the only one to cut my grass and hedge the others are rented, students, family from abroad and a crazy family, don’t know if it’s worthwhile getting in touch with the council about it.

If they're rented through an agency it's well worth contacting them, in vast majority of cases tenants need to keep the place tidy as part of the let.
If a Landlord gets wind of the situation they'd also push for something to be done, otherwise they'll be left paying for a gardener at the end of the tenancy (deposit only stretches so far!)

[overdrive]

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My neighbour hasn’t cut there hedge or grass front and back since last year, going down the path is a nightmare, I have said something but nothing has been done, my missus uses a wheelchair so not very nice getting cobwebs in your face, it is practically grown to my side of pathway, I’m 4 in a block and I’m the only one to cut my grass and hedge the others are rented, students, family from abroad and a crazy family, don’t know if it’s worthwhile getting in touch with the council about it.

I didn’t really take notice of a lot of things until I met my wife. Her sister uses a wheelchair and it is a nightmare when you are out with her between the hedges not being cut back, trees not being cut back, cars parked on the kerb, cars parked in awkward places (like over the end of a pedestrian zone so you can’t get out), cars parked over the dipped kerbs, street furniture, etc.

[lapsedhibee]

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I didn’t really take notice of a lot of things until I met my wife. Her sister uses a wheelchair and it is a nightmare when you are out with her between the hedges not being cut back, trees not being cut back, cars parked on the kerb, cars parked in awkward places (like over the end of a pedestrian zone so you can’t get out), cars parked over the dipped kerbs, street furniture, etc.

That reminds me, the digging up of pavements to lay completely unnecessary additional fibre networks.

[Caversham Green]

When TV presenters mispronounce place names. I just switched on the telly to hear the narrator of Antiques Road Trip say the next stop was Cromarty, pronouncing it Crowmarty with the emphasis on the second syllable.

I accept that us ordinary mortals might get place names wrong but the briefest of research would have given this idiot the right pronunciation.

[lapsedhibee]

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When TV presenters mispronounce place names. I just switched on the telly to hear the narrator of Antiques Road Trip say the next stop was Cromarty, pronouncing it Crowmarty with the emphasis on the second syllable.

Disgraceful. He can get to Falkirk.

[pollution]

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When TV presenters mispronounce place names. I just switched on the telly to hear the narrator of Antiques Road Trip say the next stop was Cromarty, pronouncing it Crowmarty with the emphasis on the second syllable.

I accept that us ordinary mortals might get place names wrong but the briefest of research would have given this idiot the right pronunciation.

That reminds me of when Gordon Ramsey pronounced Brechin as Breckon !

[Keith_M]

Online Reviews:

When you're looking for a trades-person to get some job done, or want to go on holiday and are choosing a hotel, it's helpful to get some feedback from previous customers.

Unfortunately, there's a whole industry out there that deals in providing fake reviews for businesses, both positive and negative (in the case of the latter, to damage the competition).

This is something that's been going on for a while now, mostly with 'sweat shop' businesses writing reviews for clients, but this is apparently now moving on to AI software, providing fake reviews that are much more difficult to detect

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinio...-41184352.html


I've had experience myself of staying at Hotels/B&Bs that were nothing like the glowing reviews on TripAdvisor (e.g. none of the online reviews for the hotel in Rothesay mentioned the mushrooms growing on the bedroom carpet)

[pollution]

Loch Ness monster guff that feeds off the impressionable and tourists.

Utter drivel.

[goosano]

Modern rolls of sellotape. It is now made so thin that it is really hard to find the end on the roll and when you do it try to.pull it up, it splits into thin slivers. The old stuff was much better

[Bridge hibs]

Clingfilm, hate the stuff with a passion, just cant seem to get the perfect wrap with it as it goes all squonky

However I still persevere with it because when my Wife makes my piece she wraps it up with so much cling film my break is over before I get my bloody piece unwrapped !! Im sure in a previous life it was her job to wrap up the Egyptian mummies !!

She has Egyptian lineage, makes sense 😃

[Hiber-nation]

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Modern rolls of sellotape. It is now made so thin that it is really hard to find the end on the roll and when you do it try to.pull it up, it splits into thin slivers. The old stuff was much better

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Clingfilm, hate the stuff with a passion, just cant seem to get the perfect wrap with it as it goes all squonky

However I still persevere with it because when my Wife makes my piece she wraps it up with so much cling film my break is over before I get my bloody piece unwrapped !! Im sure in a previous life it was her job to wrap up the Egyptian mummies !!

She has Egyptian lineage, makes sense 😃

Both of these do my head in nowadays. They don't do the job they are meant to do!

[Keith_M]

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Loch Ness monster guff that feeds off the impressionable and tourists.

Utter drivel.

Just for you...

[Caversham Green]

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That reminds me of when Gordon Ramsey pronounced Brechin as Breckon !

And that reminds me of a story my old man used to tell - I was never sure whether it was true or not.

Dad was a policeman in Brechin back in the sixties (that bit is definitely true, cos I was there) and one day a truck driver asked him for directions to an address he'd never heard of. The driver showed Dad his docket and the address was actually in Brecon in Wales. The poor guy had asked someone where Brecon was and they'd told him it was up in Scotland so he'd assumed the spelling on the docket was wrong.

As I say, pinch of salt taken but Dad was adamant that it was true.

[Bridge hibs]

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And that reminds me of a story my old man used to tell - I was never sure whether it was true or not.

Dad was a policeman in Brechin back in the sixties (that bit is definitely true, cos I was there) and one day a truck driver asked him for directions to an address he'd never heard of. The driver showed Dad his docket and the address was actually in Brecon in Wales. The poor guy had asked someone where Brecon was and they'd told him it was up in Scotland so he'd assumed the spelling on the docket was wrong.

As I say, pinch of salt taken but Dad was adamant that it was true.

I believe that, a few years ago when I was in my garden in Musselburgh a white delivery van stopped (Matthew Clark wines and beer) and the driver asked me where Whitecraigs bowling club was, I said I hadnt known it called that but there was a Deantown bowling club in Whitecraigs

The guys had travelled through from Glssgow and it was around 4ish in the afternoon, his partner re checked the delivery note and said naw Whitecraigs bowling club, I said yeah Whitecraig is 5 mins up the road but again I think its known as a different name

The place they were looking for was Whitecraigs bowling club, in Newton Mearns Glasgow, a free kick away from their depot 🤣

They had deliveries from Leith to Portobello so their logistics team obviously put that delivery onto the same run 🤣

[overdrive]

Ushers in shows telling people to stop playing on their phones… it’s more annoying and disruptive than the phone use itself. I say this as a former cinema usher (albeit pre smart phones)

[Hibrandenburg]

Trying to find a supermarket that stocks British beer in Cornwall. The shelves are packed with foreign beer with the only 2 British options I've found is Carling or John Smiths 3.5%.

[Jones28]

Radio Scotland changing where you can listen to things. Yesterday listening on the app, as soon as the game finished they said you can now follow the post match stuff on FM. Then tuning in on the app sometimes they only have certain things available on the regular frequencies. Really winds me up.