Pet Peeves: Aka Things That Make You Go "Gah!"

[SoMuchTV]

2 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

That does not work for my clogs, but my bathroom sink and tub/shower clog due to my hair. All baking soda, vinegar, or hot water does is get rid of the gunk attached to the hair. 

For preventing hair clogs, I highly recommend this:

That picture is from Amazon, but I’ve found them at a discount at places like tjmaxx. They also come in different sizes for tub, sink, etc. 

[Dimity]

My FB peeve of the day - if I read one more meme that goes something along the lines of "Maybe it's just me but I want my tax dollars to go to veterans not students" or "I don't know about anyone else but I think we should have a national pride in our veterans month"  Ugh.  As if it's impossible to support more than one thing at a time.  Do the people writing these memes not realize that they look like (among other things) the kind of person who can't walk and chew gum at the same time?

[roseha]

I actually use a strainer all the time in both the bathroom sink and the tub so I don't think my issue is hair, I believe (and these are very old pipes) it's generally a problem with bar soap which I've read can re-solidify in the drain (another good argument for liquid hand soap).  Apparently the blue dawn detergent is some kind of super emulsifier which is why it eventually works.  I do use a lot of it if I have to, followed by hot water if necessary, but especially on a weekend it's such a relief when it finally works.

[graybrown bird]

Is there more than one kind of blue Dawn detergent?  Because I recently bought a small bottle of blue Dawn just to see if I still  liked it (used some version of it regularly years ago) and found I could not stand its smell!  Very stinky, like the worst dryer sheets.

[Ancaster]

Dealing with customer service at places who are making money off you.

A couple of days ago I was checking my credit card bill and saw a name* I didn't recognize.  I googled to check, since sometimes vendors have different names come up on credit card statements.  Sure enough, this place is fraudulent.  It was for just under $50 so maybe not enough for some people to notice.  Or for it to trigger some alert.

I immediately got onto my bank, and was less than happy with their customer service.  I was made to feel that they were doing me a favor by reporting fraud and were less than helpful with my follow-up questions.  In addition, I was told a replacement card would take 5-10 business days to arrive.  When I put my foot down and told them that was unacceptable (and reminded them that I've been banking with them for 30 years) they caved and said they'd expedite it.  It arrived the next day.

What I'm still pissed about is that I now have to let any businesses that I have a recurring payment with that the number has changed.  I don't know why Visa can't take care of this.

Two lessons:

- check your c/c bill

- credit card companies don't really care about the little people, especially the ones who pay off their bills every month

* HMEMBERBILL.COM

 

[roseha]

6 hours ago, graybrown bird said:

Is there more than one kind of blue Dawn detergent?  Because I recently bought a small bottle of blue Dawn just to see if I still  liked it (used some version of it regularly years ago) and found I could not stand its smell!  Very stinky, like the worst dryer sheets.

I've never noticed the scent of any Dawn I have bought but the one I currently have and used to unclog the sink is a large blue one with the  yellow baby duck that appears in their commercials (because it is apparently used to save birds caught in oil slicks).

[Kimboweena]

19 hours ago, Dimity said:

My FB peeve of the day - if I read one more meme that goes something along the lines of "Maybe it's just me but I want my tax dollars to go to veterans not students" or "I don't know about anyone else but I think we should have a national pride in our veterans month" 

My husband is a veteran who paid off his student loans.  I totally support all of this!

[graybrown bird]

13 hours ago, roseha said:

I've never noticed the scent of any Dawn I have bought but the one I currently have and used to unclog the sink is a large blue one with the  yellow baby duck that appears in their commercials (because it is apparently used to save birds caught in oil slicks).

Thanks.  This bottle does have the baby duck and says "50 percent less scrubbing."  I find the scent awful -- maybe it's me that's changed.

[rcc]

17 hours ago, Ancaster said:

Dealing with customer service at places who are making money off you.

A couple of days ago I was checking my credit card bill and saw a name* I didn't recognize.  I googled to check, since sometimes vendors have different names come up on credit card statements.  Sure enough, this place is fraudulent.  It was for just under $50 so maybe not enough for some people to notice.  Or for it to trigger some alert.

I immediately got onto my bank, and was less than happy with their customer service.  I was made to feel that they were doing me a favor by reporting fraud and were less than helpful with my follow-up questions.  In addition, I was told a replacement card would take 5-10 business days to arrive.  When I put my foot down and told them that was unacceptable (and reminded them that I've been banking with them for 30 years) they caved and said they'd expedite it.  It arrived the next day.

What I'm still pissed about is that I now have to let any businesses that I have a recurring payment with that the number has changed.  I don't know why Visa can't take care of this.

Two lessons:

- check your c/c bill

- credit card companies don't really care about the little people, especially the ones who pay off their bills every month

* HMEMBERBILL.COM

 

Same happened to me last year. Walmart.com order hacked. Key Bank with bad customer service. Neither one helpful. Left both companies. Will not shop at Walmart on line or store. Finally resolved after 3 months!

[Bastet]

22 hours ago, Ancaster said:

In addition, I was told a replacement card would take 5-10 business days to arrive.  When I put my foot down and told them that was unacceptable (and reminded them that I've been banking with them for 30 years) they caved and said they'd expedite it.  It arrived the next day.

I particularly love when the bank issuing the card is the one to initiate the call to say they need to give me a new account (because of some unspecified risk of future unauthorized activity), canceling the current one immediately and sending me the card for the new one in that 5-10 days span.  No, fuckwits, you decided this needed to be done, so you're overnighting me the new card.  This has happened to be twice and they've agreed both times, but why do I need to have the argument in the first place?

Edited Thursday at 10:03 PM by Bastet

[rcc]

I should have insisted they overnight the new card. When I received the new card I had one more day to pay cable bill or they would have charged me $15.00 late fee even after I explained why. Not with them anymore either.

[Calvada]

Several years ago, my company informed me they had canceled my card because of some breach and a new one was on its way to me.  One week later, they started sending me emails telling me I needed to activate my new card.  After four consecutive days of these emails, I called and told them I would love to activate the new card but had not received it.  They told me to contact them if I didn't receive it in the next two days and they would overnight one to me.  I suggested relying on the US Postal Service to send new cards, which has been so damaged by mismanagement and political interference, was not the best decision.  

I recently got a new card for my primary credit card since the expiration date was September 2024.  It's the card I use for several monthly charges - two newspapers, two streaming services, my cell phone, etc.  What a pain to go on all these sites to update the card.  And I couldn't just change the expiration date.  For all of them, I had to enter a new payment method as if I had completely changed everything.  

[Ancaster]

On 10/31/2024 at 9:36 AM, rcc said:

Same happened to me last year. Walmart.com order hacked. Key Bank with bad customer service. Neither one helpful. Left both companies. Will not shop at Walmart on line or store. Finally resolved after 3 months!

And this too - having to spend three months or more clearing up something that wasn't your fault in the first place. Wrong, ridiculous, Gaagh!  Ack!

(I tried to download a photo of Calvin saying ack ick to Hobbes, and another of them hugging, but I can't make it work.  For those who don't know what I'm talking about, look up Calvin and Hobbes, the best cartoon ever.)

I'm currently involved in an on-going dispute with a major airline.  I know they want me to just go away so keep telling me they're working on it, but I'm not going to go away.  We're talking about c$3,000, which is nothing to them, but a lot to me.

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Ancaster

[roseha]

The whole recurring charge with cards is so aggravating that whenever I can I use Paypal for those charges.  All I have to do is update my Paypal default card and things take care of themselves

On a related note, I tried to buy a vintage camera from a merchant in the UK who I have found out has a reputation for being at best - well, disorganized.  After not receiving the camera after nearly 3 weeks I emailed him and asked him to cancel the order and refund my credit card. Well, he promised to cancel if I wanted but it's been nearly a month and I've never been refunded. I've started a chargeback with Chase, the issuer, and even uploaded the email chain of my asking 3 times for the refund, but nothing has come of it. Maybe I'll be refunded by New Year's.

[Yeah No]

On 10/29/2024 at 5:59 PM, Browncoat said:

I generally dress as a disgruntled employee on Halloween.  AKA my usual attire.

I probably tell this story every year, but one year I happened to walk into a Chipotle on Halloween and found myself on a long line of young people dressed in Halloween costumes. Clearly, I had not gotten the memo about this but I learned from the other customers that they were offering free burritos to people in costume at their discretion. When I got up to the counter I told the employee that I came dressed as a middle aged woman. The manager laughed and told me mine was the best costume all day and I had definitely earned a free burrito!

On 10/30/2024 at 12:19 PM, roseha said:

As a night owl type I agree @Dimity, though I have actually never met a fellow night owl who braggs about it!  I have known early birds who like to brag.  One of my oldest friends is definitely an early, she likes to get up maybe around 6 am to go to the gym (shudder).   However we have no issue communicating, we just pick a time like noon or 12:30 to meet up fpr lunch.

Yes, as a fellow night owl I can attest to this. What is it with early birds thinking they're somehow better than night owls? Is it because of Ben Franklin? "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise". Or the other one by I don't know who, "The early bird catches the worm"? Or are these just more examples of a general trend toward prejudice against night owls? I suppose it also comes from the belief that "the devil's work" gets done "under the cover of darkness" so if we're up late we're probably not morally upright or something like that. It's amazing how old myths and prejudices are very ingrained in people even today.

[Dimity]

19 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

What is it with early birds thinking they're somehow better than night owls?

What drove me crazy about these people back when I was going into an office everyday was the dismissive, snarky way some would act when I left at 3.  "OOh must be nice to leave early" kind of thing.  Well no.  Leaving at 3 when you arrive at 7 isn't leaving early.  Just because they worked later into the day didn't mean they were working longer, or harder.

[chitowngirl]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

What drove me crazy about these people back when I was going into an office everyday was the dismissive, snarky way some would act when I left at 3.  "OOh must be nice to leave early" kind of thing.  Well no.  Leaving at 3 when you arrive at 7 isn't leaving early.  Just because they worked later into the day didn't mean they were working longer, or harder.

When they come in at 9, I’d be all “must be nice to waltz in so late”! 😃

[Ohiopirate02]

1 hour ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

New to the internet?

Not at all, but it's still frustrating when people don't read and expect a pat on the back for their useless reply. I only replied to the one person who did read the whole thing as to why I had my second requirement. The rest I just ignored until the last person replied a week later with a rather insulting suggestion that needed to be addressed.

[Absolom]

I found a religious tract in grandson's Halloween bag.

[Dimity]

A new person has joined a FB group I belong to that is devoted to the works of a particular author.  We don't just talk about her and her books but there is usually a tie in of some kind.  Anyway, we are not the type of group that exists only to praise the canon.  But for the third time this week New Person has chosen to get pissy when someone posts anything remotely negative "it IS fiction you know" being the mildest thing she's said.  Somewhat similar to @Ohiopirate02 in that I am annoyed not that she isn't reading the whole comment but she isn't reading the room.  And seems to think we are all doing something wrong.  We were here first lady!!

[Jaded]

18 minutes ago, Dimity said:

A new person has joined a FB group I belong to that is devoted to the works of a particular author.  We don't just talk about her and her books but there is usually a tie in of some kind.  Anyway, we are not the type of group that exists only to praise the canon.  But for the third time this week New Person has chosen to get pissy when someone posts anything remotely negative "it IS fiction you know" being the mildest thing she's said.  Somewhat similar to @Ohiopirate02 in that I am annoyed not that she isn't reading the whole comment but she isn't reading the room.  And seems to think we are all doing something wrong.  We were here first lady!!

I'm hoping it's not the actual author or someone close to her.

[Dimity]

2 hours ago, Jaded said:

I'm hoping it's not the actual author or someone close to her.

This is a "vintage" mid 20th century British woman writer who died some time ago and it's not too likely this person is a friend or family member.  I've noted on sites devoted to most authors if someone has a connection they are usually pretty upfront about it. 

 

[Ancaster]

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

A new person has joined a FB group I belong to that is devoted to the works of a particular author.  We don't just talk about her and her books but there is usually a tie in of some kind.  Anyway, we are not the type of group that exists only to praise the canon.  But for the third time this week New Person has chosen to get pissy when someone posts anything remotely negative "it IS fiction you know" being the mildest thing she's said.  Somewhat similar to @Ohiopirate02 in that I am annoyed not that she isn't reading the whole comment but she isn't reading the room.  And seems to think we are all doing something wrong.  We were here first lady!!

I have to ask why you just don't block/unfollow (whatever the term is) her/him/them?

[Absolom]

On 10/31/2024 at 9:24 AM, graybrown bird said:

Thanks.  This bottle does have the baby duck and says "50 percent less scrubbing."  I find the scent awful -- maybe it's me that's changed.

There is more than one kind of blue Dawn. They usually have the duck.  I'm not sure my bottle from Costco does.  As far as I know they have original, ultra, and platinum. I know the platinum smells different to me and I don't like it.  I put a few squirts of dollar store lemon dish soap in the bottle and I'm much happier.  When this large bottle runs out, I won't buy it again more than likely.  I've been pouring from the overly large bottle to a small size one to use so it's easy to add the lemon scented soap.

[graybrown bird]

4 minutes ago, Absolom said:

There is more than one kind of blue Dawn. They usually have the duck.  I'm not sure my bottle from Costco does.  As far as I know they have original, ultra, and platinum. I know the platinum smells different to me and I don't like it.  I put a few squirts of dollar store lemon dish soap in the bottle and I'm much happier.  When this large bottle runs out, I won't buy it again more than likely.  I've been pouring from the overly large bottle to a small size one to use so it's easy to add the lemon scented soap.

This is very helpful  -- thank you!

[fairffaxx]

Costco recently started offering their own Kirkland version of blue Dawn, slightly cheaper so I got it.  It works fine & I notice no aroma (though I've never noticed that Dawn has any smell either).

[Yeah No]

10 hours ago, Dimity said:

What drove me crazy about these people back when I was going into an office everyday was the dismissive, snarky way some would act when I left at 3.  "OOh must be nice to leave early" kind of thing.  Well no.  Leaving at 3 when you arrive at 7 isn't leaving early.  Just because they worked later into the day didn't mean they were working longer, or harder.

My problem was that I started out working in NYC where the customary office start time was generally 9:00 a.m. That worked for me but then when I moved to New England the start time everywhere was suddenly 8:00 a.m. which was a little too early for me. I did it but it was not that easy for me. But what got me is the attitude that somehow being an early person was the sign of virtue and being a later person meant you were lazy and a slacker. I couldn't get over the judgmental attitude among people about this! This was NOT the culture in NYC at all!  I struggled with some of the clashing values when I moved to New England. It wasn't even that far away from NY but it might as well have been a completely different country.

Then suddenly several years later the concept of "flex time" was becoming popular when I was working for my favorite boss ever, so I asked him if he minded if I worked from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Being a progressive type, he was had no problem with it, but you wouldn't believe the attitude of some of my coworkers about it! You'd think I was trying to get away with something! And I wasn't the only person asking for a slight shift in my hours - a few of the mothers with young children also asked to come in later. But of course, they were seen as noble and hardworking because they were doing it for their kids while I was seen by some as lazy and trying to scam the system!  This was not lost on my boss. He told me to ignore them. Fortunately there weren't that many of them and none of them were that consequential to me, so I eventually tuned them out. But it always got to me how people acted about something so trivial. It's only an HOUR, people and my boss was fine with it. So what's it to them? What got me is that I often had to work overtime so nobody could say I didn't put in my hours in the office. I was often still there when they went home. I didn't keep track of their hours so who were they to keep track of mine?