This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of
Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's,
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of Mark Twain. Note,
however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's, so I have previous experience with them,
and have often wished to publish an account.
This time I bought a fridge; but ended up entangled in the usual bureaucratic mess. So
here's my story of a should-be-simple procedure that got mangled in the wheels.
I bought a fridge; paid full cash, including £15 to have it delivered on a nominated date
between 1 pm and 4-59pm (! yes, I know!). The deliverers turned up at 11-30 am. Luckily I
was in. They installed it and took the old one away.
I went online to get my £15 back. I talked first of all to a Chat Bot; purely automated,
no human there at all; and the damn thing kept referring me to lots of lists to choose
from, but none of them covered the situation I had encountered. Eventually the discussion
rolled back to the door I came in.
So then I phoned the number on their website, not the store itself (no number shown for
that), a call-centre; that too bounced me around the houses, but eventually I got a human
with a very heavily eastern-accented tongue; and he said I had to go to the store.
I went to the store, explained the simple tale to the reception girl, and she buried
herself in her computer for almost a quarter of an hour, after I'd handed her the purchase
papers. Eventually she gave me the following story.
She needed her boss' authorisation for the refund, and he wasn't around, so she'd have to
email him. Only then could I be refunded. In the meantime I had to go away, await a phone
call saying it was ok, come back again. I asked for something in writing (or an email at
least) that I could show when I came back. She said "No need. All the managers would be
aware of it". I asked who the managers were, and they're the assistants who wander around
the shelves.
So then, I'll have to go back, pick an assistant, and see what happens. Here's hoping! But
I'm not too confident that I'll be £15 better off after one more visit.
To be continued.
EdYou paid 15 for delivery, and they delivered, why do you think you get it back?
On 2/27/25 01:38 PM, Ed Cryer wrote:
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think ofYou paid 15 for delivery, and they delivered, why do you think you get
Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's, so I have previous
experience with them, and have often wished to publish an account.
This time I bought a fridge; but ended up entangled in the usual
bureaucratic mess. So here's my story of a should-be-simple procedure
that got mangled in the wheels.
I bought a fridge; paid full cash, including £15 to have it delivered
on a nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm (! yes, I know!). The
deliverers turned up at 11-30 am. Luckily I was in. They installed it
and took the old one away.
I went online to get my £15 back. I talked first of all to a Chat Bot;
purely automated, no human there at all; and the damn thing kept
referring me to lots of lists to choose from, but none of them covered
the situation I had encountered. Eventually the discussion rolled back
to the door I came in.
So then I phoned the number on their website, not the store itself (no
number shown for that), a call-centre; that too bounced me around the
houses, but eventually I got a human with a very heavily
eastern-accented tongue; and he said I had to go to the store.
I went to the store, explained the simple tale to the reception girl,
and she buried herself in her computer for almost a quarter of an
hour, after I'd handed her the purchase papers. Eventually she gave me
the following story.
She needed her boss' authorisation for the refund, and he wasn't
around, so she'd have to email him. Only then could I be refunded. In
the meantime I had to go away, await a phone call saying it was ok,
come back again. I asked for something in writing (or an email at
least) that I could show when I came back. She said "No need. All the
managers would be aware of it". I asked who the managers were, and
they're the assistants who wander around the shelves.
So then, I'll have to go back, pick an assistant, and see what
happens. Here's hoping! But I'm not too confident that I'll be £15
better off after one more visit.
To be continued.
Ed
it back?
Jack wrote:
On 27/02/2025 18:51, Alan K. wrote:
You paid 15 for delivery, and they delivered, why do you think you get
it back?
Because it wasn't on the "nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm".
Therefore, there was a breach of contract. I am surprised he took the
delivery outside the nominated date and time. He was enttled to reject
it outright.
Your reply sounds like the type of thing I get from Curry's "assistants".
Are you a Curry's employee?
On Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:04:47 +0000, in <vpqd0u$37oo3$3@dont-email.me>,
Ed Cryer <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk> wrote:
Jack wrote:
On 27/02/2025 18:51, Alan K. wrote:
You paid 15 for delivery, and they delivered, why do you think you get >>>> it back?
Because it wasn't on the "nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm".
Therefore, there was a breach of contract. I am surprised he took the
delivery outside the nominated date and time. He was enttled to reject
it outright.
Your reply sounds like the type of thing I get from Curry's "assistants".
Are you a Curry's employee?
Are you saying that wasn't precisely why you wanted a refund? If not,
then why?
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of
Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's, so I have previous
experience with them, and have often wished to publish an account.
This time I bought a fridge; but ended up entangled in the usual
bureaucratic mess. So here's my story of a should-be-simple procedure
that got mangled in the wheels.
I bought a fridge; paid full cash, including £15 to have it delivered on
a nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm (! yes, I know!). The
deliverers turned up at 11-30 am. Luckily I was in. They installed it
and took the old one away.
I went online to get my £15 back. I talked first of all to a Chat Bot; purely automated, no human there at all; and the damn thing kept
referring me to lots of lists to choose from, but none of them covered
the situation I had encountered. Eventually the discussion rolled back
to the door I came in.
So then I phoned the number on their website, not the store itself (no
number shown for that), a call-centre; that too bounced me around the
houses, but eventually I got a human with a very heavily
eastern-accented tongue; and he said I had to go to the store.
I went to the store, explained the simple tale to the reception girl,
and she buried herself in her computer for almost a quarter of an hour,
after I'd handed her the purchase papers. Eventually she gave me the following story.
She needed her boss' authorisation for the refund, and he wasn't around,
so she'd have to email him. Only then could I be refunded. In the
meantime I had to go away, await a phone call saying it was ok, come
back again. I asked for something in writing (or an email at least) that
I could show when I came back. She said "No need. All the managers would
be aware of it". I asked who the managers were, and they're the
assistants who wander around the shelves.
So then, I'll have to go back, pick an assistant, and see what happens. Here's hoping! But I'm not too confident that I'll be £15 better off
after one more visit.
To be continued.
Ed Cryer wrote:
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of
Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's,
Moral: don't buy from Curry's!
But I suspect their performance is typical.
Jim H wrote:
On Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:04:47 +0000, in <vpqd0u$37oo3$3@dont-email.me>,
Ed Cryer <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk> wrote:
Jack wrote:
On 27/02/2025 18:51, Alan K. wrote:
You paid 15 for delivery, and they delivered, why do you think you get >>>>> it back?
Because it wasn't on the "nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm".
Therefore, there was a breach of contract. I am surprised he took the
delivery outside the nominated date and time. He was enttled to reject >>>> it outright.
Your reply sounds like the type of thing I get from Curry's "assistants". >>> Are you a Curry's employee?
Are you saying that wasn't precisely why you wanted a refund? If not,
then why?
No, not that.
What struck me was Jack's surprise at me having taken the delivery.
Should I have stubbornly sent them away and told them to come back later?
His "I am surprised he took the delivery outside the nominated date and
time. He was enttled to reject it outright" seems to me just as >uncompromising, stubborn and childish as the Curry's assistant's attitude.
Ed
Ed Cryer wrote:
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of
Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's, so I have previous
experience with them, and have often wished to publish an account.
This time I bought a fridge; but ended up entangled in the usual
bureaucratic mess. So here's my story of a should-be-simple procedure
that got mangled in the wheels.
I bought a fridge; paid full cash, including £15 to have it delivered on
a nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm (! yes, I know!). The
deliverers turned up at 11-30 am. Luckily I was in. They installed it
and took the old one away.
I went online to get my £15 back. I talked first of all to a Chat Bot;
purely automated, no human there at all; and the damn thing kept
referring me to lots of lists to choose from, but none of them covered
the situation I had encountered. Eventually the discussion rolled back
to the door I came in.
So then I phoned the number on their website, not the store itself (no
number shown for that), a call-centre; that too bounced me around the
houses, but eventually I got a human with a very heavily eastern-
accented tongue; and he said I had to go to the store.
I went to the store, explained the simple tale to the reception girl,
and she buried herself in her computer for almost a quarter of an hour,
after I'd handed her the purchase papers. Eventually she gave me the
following story.
She needed her boss' authorisation for the refund, and he wasn't around,
so she'd have to email him. Only then could I be refunded. In the
meantime I had to go away, await a phone call saying it was ok, come
back again. I asked for something in writing (or an email at least) that
I could show when I came back. She said "No need. All the managers would
be aware of it". I asked who the managers were, and they're the
assistants who wander around the shelves.
So then, I'll have to go back, pick an assistant, and see what happens.
Here's hoping! But I'm not too confident that I'll be £15 better off
after one more visit.
To be continued.
Ed
Well, I'll be blowed, I got the refund.
I didn't get a phone call, but I called in the store this next day and
after a brief talk with an assistant I came out a winner.
End of tale.
Ed
My Bank is killing their ability to send verification codes to email addy's. I've done that since about 2010 when I opened the account. I
don't *have* a fucking mobile 'phone for them to be sent to. I told
the branch manager that. He told me that I'd need to *phone* their
"helpdesk" to be confirmed as my being an obnoxious, Luddite,
uncompromising, nasty little arsehole and for them to allow me to be
an exception.
My Bank is killing their ability to send verification codes to email
addy's. I've done that since about 2010 when I opened the account. I
don't *have* a fucking mobile 'phone for them to be sent to. I told
the branch manager that. He told me that I'd need to *phone* their
"helpdesk" to be confirmed as my being an obnoxious, Luddite,
uncompromising, nasty little arsehole and for them to allow me to be
an exception.
Jim H wrote:
On Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:04:47 +0000, in <vpqd0u$37oo3$3@dont-email.me>,
Are you saying that wasn't precisely why you wanted a refund? If not,
then why?
No, not that.
What struck me was Jack's surprise at me having taken the delivery.
Should I have stubbornly sent them away and told them to come back later?
His "I am surprised he took the delivery outside the nominated date and
time. He was enttled to reject it outright" seems to me just as >uncompromising, stubborn and childish as the Curry's assistant's attitude.
Real banks have real security. Neither e-mail nor SMS count as real security.
We (in The Netherlands) have had hardware TOTP (Timed One Time
Passsword) generators since eons. Yes, we *also* have other means, but
anyone can still have and use the hardware TOTP device. So we only need
any computing device with a web-browser, the hardware TOTP device and
the bankcard which goes into its slot. No phone or phone number needed.
Frank Slootweg wrote:
[snip]
Real banks have real security. Neither e-mail nor SMS count as real security.
We (in The Netherlands) have had hardware TOTP (Timed One Time Passsword) generators since eons. Yes, we *also* have other means, but anyone can still have and use the hardware TOTP device. So we only need
any computing device with a web-browser, the hardware TOTP device and
the bankcard which goes into its slot. No phone or phone number needed.
We have them in the UK also. I think I've had one since 1995.
But they are not used to authenticate charge/credit card purchases over
the internet. They only work for access to bank accounts.
John wrote:
[snip]
My Bank is killing their ability to send verification codes to email
addy's. I've done that since about 2010 when I opened the account. I
don't *have* a fucking mobile 'phone for them to be sent to. I told
the branch manager that. He told me that I'd need to *phone* their
"helpdesk" to be confirmed as my being an obnoxious, Luddite,
uncompromising, nasty little arsehole and for them to allow me to be
an exception.
So did you close the account and move your money to another bank? If
not, why not?
John wrote:
On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:19:45 +0000, Ed Cryer <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk>
wrote:
Ed Cryer wrote:
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of >>>> Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's, so I have previous
experience with them, and have often wished to publish an account.
This time I bought a fridge; but ended up entangled in the usual
bureaucratic mess. So here's my story of a should-be-simple procedure
that got mangled in the wheels.
I bought a fridge; paid full cash, including £15 to have it delivered on >>>> a nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm (! yes, I know!). The
deliverers turned up at 11-30 am. Luckily I was in. They installed it
and took the old one away.
I went online to get my £15 back. I talked first of all to a Chat Bot; >>>> purely automated, no human there at all; and the damn thing kept
referring me to lots of lists to choose from, but none of them covered >>>> the situation I had encountered. Eventually the discussion rolled back >>>> to the door I came in.
So then I phoned the number on their website, not the store itself (no >>>> number shown for that), a call-centre; that too bounced me around the
houses, but eventually I got a human with a very heavily eastern-
accented tongue; and he said I had to go to the store.
I went to the store, explained the simple tale to the reception girl,
and she buried herself in her computer for almost a quarter of an hour, >>>> after I'd handed her the purchase papers. Eventually she gave me the
following story.
She needed her boss' authorisation for the refund, and he wasn't around, >>>> so she'd have to email him. Only then could I be refunded. In the
meantime I had to go away, await a phone call saying it was ok, come
back again. I asked for something in writing (or an email at least) that >>>> I could show when I came back. She said "No need. All the managers would >>>> be aware of it". I asked who the managers were, and they're the
assistants who wander around the shelves.
So then, I'll have to go back, pick an assistant, and see what happens. >>>> Here's hoping! But I'm not too confident that I'll be £15 better off
after one more visit.
To be continued.
Ed
Well, I'll be blowed, I got the refund.
I didn't get a phone call, but I called in the store this next day and
after a brief talk with an assistant I came out a winner.
Good.
End of tale.
I am happy for you. Tales of the littley guy winning over Big
Galactic Corporation are exceedingly rare.
Well done!
J.
Thanks for that. It took a lot of time and persevering effort. And for
just £15, I wonder whether the trouble I took was worth the win.
I'll avoid Curry's from now on.
Where do other people in the UK get their tech and electrical stuff?
Ed
John <Man@the.keyboard> wrote:
[...]
My Bank is killing their ability to send verification codes to email
addy's. I've done that since about 2010 when I opened the account. I
don't *have* a fucking mobile 'phone for them to be sent to. I told
the branch manager that. He told me that I'd need to *phone* their
"helpdesk" to be confirmed as my being an obnoxious, Luddite,
uncompromising, nasty little arsehole and for them to allow me to be
an exception.
Real banks have real security. Neither e-mail nor SMS count as real
security.
We (in The Netherlands) have had hardware TOTP (Timed One Time
Passsword) generators since eons.
Yes, we *also* have other means, but
anyone can still have and use the hardware TOTP device. So we only need
any computing device with a web-browser, the hardware TOTP device and
the bankcard which goes into its slot. No phone or phone number needed.
Picture of an example of a hardware TOTP device:
<https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabo_Scanner#/media/Bestand:Rabo_Scanner.jpeg>
Related (Dutch) Wikipedia webpage:
<https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabo_Scanner>
On 1 Mar 2025 16:53:52 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>[...]
wrote:
Real banks have real security. Neither e-mail nor SMS count as real
security.
*I* know this and *you* know this but the buggers in Marketing and
Upper Level Management do not.
We (in The Netherlands) have had hardware TOTP (Timed One Time
Passsword) generators since eons.
I do have one of them ... sorry, two of them, one per bank for two
different banks, but the banks don't use them any longer.
Yes, we *also* have other means, but
anyone can still have and use the hardware TOTP device. So we only need
any computing device with a web-browser, the hardware TOTP device and
the bankcard which goes into its slot. No phone or phone number needed.
UKlander banks would *require* a mobile number just to be arseholes
even were one not necessary. Everyone seems to. :)
Related (Dutch) Wikipedia webpage:
<https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabo_Scanner>
Dutch is neither German nor English but I was interested to learn
that I could follow most of those pages. Thank you. :)
John wrote:
On Sat, 1 Mar 2025 12:30:15 +0000, Ed Cryer <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk>
wrote:
John wrote:
On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:19:45 +0000, Ed Cryer <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk>
wrote:
Ed Cryer wrote:
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of >>>>>> Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's, so I have previous >>>>>> experience with them, and have often wished to publish an account. >>>>>> This time I bought a fridge; but ended up entangled in the usual
bureaucratic mess. So here's my story of a should-be-simple procedure >>>>>> that got mangled in the wheels.
I bought a fridge; paid full cash, including £15 to have it delivered on >>>>>> a nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm (! yes, I know!). The
deliverers turned up at 11-30 am. Luckily I was in. They installed it >>>>>> and took the old one away.
I went online to get my £15 back. I talked first of all to a Chat Bot; >>>>>> purely automated, no human there at all; and the damn thing kept
referring me to lots of lists to choose from, but none of them covered >>>>>> the situation I had encountered. Eventually the discussion rolled back >>>>>> to the door I came in.
So then I phoned the number on their website, not the store itself (no >>>>>> number shown for that), a call-centre; that too bounced me around the >>>>>> houses, but eventually I got a human with a very heavily eastern-
accented tongue; and he said I had to go to the store.
I went to the store, explained the simple tale to the reception girl, >>>>>> and she buried herself in her computer for almost a quarter of an hour, >>>>>> after I'd handed her the purchase papers. Eventually she gave me the >>>>>> following story.
She needed her boss' authorisation for the refund, and he wasn't around, >>>>>> so she'd have to email him. Only then could I be refunded. In the
meantime I had to go away, await a phone call saying it was ok, come >>>>>> back again. I asked for something in writing (or an email at least) that >>>>>> I could show when I came back. She said "No need. All the managers would >>>>>> be aware of it". I asked who the managers were, and they're the
assistants who wander around the shelves.
So then, I'll have to go back, pick an assistant, and see what happens. >>>>>> Here's hoping! But I'm not too confident that I'll be £15 better off >>>>>> after one more visit.
To be continued.
Ed
Well, I'll be blowed, I got the refund.
I didn't get a phone call, but I called in the store this next day and >>>>> after a brief talk with an assistant I came out a winner.
Good.
End of tale.
I am happy for you. Tales of the littley guy winning over Big
Galactic Corporation are exceedingly rare.
Well done!
J.
Thanks for that. It took a lot of time and persevering effort. And for
just £15, I wonder whether the trouble I took was worth the win.
I'll avoid Curry's from now on.
Where do other people in the UK get their tech and electrical stuff?
I got a large thingy from Curry's a few days ago because they have a
store nearby, I could wheedle an employee into circumventing the
corporate policy that every customer must give a mobile telephone
number, they had what I wanted, it was at a price I could afford, they
offered relatively cheap next-morning delivery, I have a bookmark for
their website so I could read reviews without too much clickery and
the process was relatively painless.
Usually, if I need a wire or connector or a new computer, I just
wander around the Town until I see what I want and buy it. I have no
store loyalty and only have Operating System loyalty if that forces my
choice of brands or stores.
I do have an Apple laptoppy thing, wires for it and a Win-7 box and
lots of peripherals for her.
Where I live, there are several small shops, millions of pop-up
booths and an Apple store so I'm well-served for bits. If I need
something rare and unobtainable locally, there is always the online
places.
Does that help?
J.
Ed
It doesn't sound like my town.
Do you live in the USA?
I live in the UK.
Ed
John <Man@the.keyboard> wrote:
On 1 Mar 2025 16:53:52 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>[...]
wrote:
Real banks have real security. Neither e-mail nor SMS count as real
security.
*I* know this and *you* know this but the buggers in Marketing and
Upper Level Management do not.
[...]
We (in The Netherlands) have had hardware TOTP (Timed One Time
Passsword) generators since eons.
I do have one of them ... sorry, two of them, one per bank for two
different banks, but the banks don't use them any longer.
<boggle!> Here, a bank would be in big, big trouble with the
authorities if they used/allowed e-mail/SMS and did not use/allow TOTP >generators. The opinion of the bank's 'Upper Level Management' is
totally irrelevant. they'll have to comply with the security
requirements.
FYI, we -well at least our banks - never had e-mail/SMS
authentication, because it's just not safe enough.
Yes, we *also* have other means, but
anyone can still have and use the hardware TOTP device. So we only need
any computing device with a web-browser, the hardware TOTP device and
the bankcard which goes into its slot. No phone or phone number needed.
UKlander banks would *require* a mobile number just to be arseholes
even were one not necessary. Everyone seems to. :)
Here, any unreasonable/unneded requirement is null and void. Of course
it'll take effort to get things your way.
[...]
Related (Dutch) Wikipedia webpage:
<https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabo_Scanner>
Dutch is neither German nor English but I was interested to learn
that I could follow most of those pages. Thank you. :)
You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
[...]
On Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:50:44 +0000, Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk>
wrote:
Ed Cryer wrote:
This is written in homage to Jonathan Swift; USA people might think of
Mark Twain. Note, however, that every word is true.
I've bought lots of computer gear from Curry's,
Moral: don't buy from Curry's!
But I suspect their performance is typical.
It's far, far worse if you buy something and don't have a mobile
telephone number for them. Their system just is not set up to allow
that field to be blank.
No, they wouldn't accept eleven zeros and I didn't want to make up
one in case it turned out to be valid. With my luck a made-up number
would be the official 'phone of the P.M. or a chief cop or someone
important.
More and more, not having a mobile number is constricting my accessDaniel70
to Life, the Universe and Everything and I fucking hate it.
J.
--
Jim H wrote:
On Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:04:47 +0000, in <vpqd0u$37oo3$3@dont-email.me>,
Ed Cryer <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk> wrote:
Jack wrote:
On 27/02/2025 18:51, Alan K. wrote:
You paid 15 for delivery, and they delivered, why do you think you get >>>>> it back?
Because it wasn't on the "nominated date between 1 pm and 4-59pm".
Therefore, there was a breach of contract. I am surprised he took the
delivery outside the nominated date and time. He was enttled to reject >>>> it outright.
Your reply sounds like the type of thing I get from Curry's
"assistants".
Are you a Curry's employee?
Are you saying that wasn't precisely why you wanted a refund? If not,
then why?
No, not that.
What struck me was Jack's surprise at me having taken the delivery.
Should I have stubbornly sent them away and told them to come back later?
His "I am surprised he took the delivery outside the nominated date and--
time. He was enttled to reject it outright" seems to me just as uncompromising, stubborn and childish as the Curry's assistant's attitude.
Ed
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