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Thread: Things that make me grumpy

  1. #2551
    Member hjl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Lowballers make me grumpy. Guys talking in local paper they do standard pensioner lawns for $30. I guess I just have to hope they go broke. It is a tough market here but not that bad I thought.
    Sorry to bleat but sometimes it is good just to get these sort of things off your chest.
    Cheers
    hjl

  2. #2552
    Senior Member PaulG's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    At $30 per lawn there's no way they can hope to be in it for the long haul. Is there an 'average-size' to town blocks out there or do they all vary like here? I quoted one last week, first via phone call, then I went to have a look. My $70 estimate over the phone quickly turned into $110 firm. Corner block, long footpaths (in metres of length), zig-zag bluestone edges to trim along, concrete footpath down the middle of one footpath so double the amount of edging there, edges around fences are 30cms high already and lawn will be long too by the time it's to be cut in early March, all clippings removed, house yard inside fences is dotted with trees, shrubs and gardens so hardly a straight line to be mowed anywhere. Another guy had quoted $45. There's easily 1.5 hours work.

  3. #2553
    Senior Member sterlo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by RSM-Gazza View Post
    Sent Coles Express some detailed, honest, constructive feedback re there Tax Invoices tonight.
    They are totally fading out with dockets that are 2,3,4 months old. Did me BAS today and noticed the problem and have been copying the dockets tonight on maximum darkness intensity setting to recover minute evidence that it is a fuel docket. Still copying dockets for the ute and mower/garden fuel as we type.
    Told Coles Express that none of my docket lay under fluorescent lighting or sit in intense heat.
    That it is crapp and a pain that one should have to do this in such a short period of time to satisfy the ATO and Book Keeping. Other fuel stations in town don't have the problem to this degree, so what has changed, docket supplier??, registers???. Or is the solution to purchase fuel elsewhere if there the same price, which they are.
    Better log off and complete the photocoping..
    P.I.T.A but u could always scan them to file on a daily basis or just use a dedicated account for all purchases.

    Sterlo
    I spend most of my money on beer and horses, I just waste the rest....


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  4. #2554
    Senior Member seliment's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by sterlo View Post
    P.I.T.A but u could always scan them to file on a daily basis or just use a dedicated account for all purchases.

    Sterlo
    True, but that is more work and inconvenience to me.
    Surely there must be something in the legislation about providing a legible tax invoice (& how long it will be legible for) as I am certain that it has a requirement that a valid tax invoice must be in english.

    Gives me an idea to get my own back (remember a TV 'comedy' series of MANY years ago called 'Misleading Cases' where this person brought up arcane old English laws to defend his often eccentric behavior)
    So how about paying these people with a credit card chit or cheque signed with the 'fading pen' that wife uses to markup things when sewing. Holdon to the payment too long & it's gone!

    Giving them a dose of their own can be sweet

    Btw .. Aldi has the cheek to already suggest copying dockets for warranty purposes as they know/admit they will fade before the warranty ends..

    Joe

  5. #2555
    Senior Member RSM-Gazza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by sterlo View Post
    P.I.T.A but u could always scan them to file on a daily basis or just use a dedicated account for all purchases.

    Sterlo
    Thats what I'll being doing progressively, copy docket, snip to size, staple to original, enter into MYOB and file as usual = PITA.
    Will wait for my warm and fuzzy, we care about your feedback, do nothing, full of spin, generic response from Coles Express. (gee that was a negative spill, but we are in the grumpy thread, so it's allowable)
    Cheers Garry

  6. #2556
    Senior Member RSM-Gazza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Am on a Grumpy role at the moment.

    This time re BAS statements and GST money owed.

    I have always hand delivered my BAS and Cheque in an envelope to the customer service desk at the ATO Regional Headquarters in Central Albury. As I can park 30mtrs away with the trailer behind KMart and also visit my wife who in the big shopping complex next door.

    Well they build/lease a new 7 story state of the art building (they think) one block away in the same street. All's good me thinks, so I park in the same spot walk up and no customer service desk as one would expect. Just full on security entry stuff and two bored security guys behind a small desk area.
    I say hello and here is my BAS to had in. they say sorry mate can not except it here. I said that's crap and said, I'm standing in the Australian Taxation Office and I can give you my prepared BAS. He said thats right, so I said that was stupid loud enough for others to hear and he agreed and he said post it or go to Centrelink and hand it in there.

    Why TF can't they have a facility(collection box) to handle hand delivered BAS's when they build a $48million 7 story building in the heart of CBD Albury.
    So I walk around the cnr to Aust Post and posted it.

    Plus for the last 5 BAS statements I have only ever have posted to me 1 quarterly form and I have approached them, rang them and also inserted a letter asking for BAS statement forms to sent to me with each BAS lodgement.
    You now what, nothing happens.

    So I keep using photo copied forms from 5 quarters ago with no newly given Id's on the forms.

    Yes, I know I can do it electronically, I do like the form sent to me.
    Cheers Garry

  7. #2557
    Member hjl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Hi PaulG
    Block size does vary. Most are around 1000m2. Takes me around 1.5 hours to mow and whipper snip. I have learnt that you have to say whipper snip. You can't say trim or they look at you funny. I am telling myself that they can't be around long. I have heard that all their Husqvarna gear is on lease. I don't know if that makes it better or worse.
    hjl

  8. #2558
    Senior Member RSM-Gazza's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Well had me whinge the other day about ATO re handing in the BAS.
    Got a reply from them today as I e-mailed a complaint to them.
    The Reply

    Basically when they build new ATO buildings there is no customer service counter anymore and no real contact for customer interaction anymore. Unless a formal interview is required and we have an interview room for such matters.
    All personal contact is to be made at Centrelink.

    I said I've had the experience of visiting Centrelink for the first time recently on behalf of my 89yr old father. I will never set foot back into Centrelink if I can help it. They can't deal with Centrelink issues effectively from a staffing point of view (All due respect to their staff who have deal with understaffing and grumpy customers) let alone deal with the extra ATO matters dumped on them now. I'll post the BAS now, Thanks

    I said to the ATO that I had another issue in that out of the last 5 BAS issues only one has been sent to me and the 4 other were submitted on old photocopy forms. Guess what, they couldn't help me with that. I would have to lodge a new complaint. I said not to worry as I have tried and tried and written lettters and submitted such with each BAS return and nothing happens.

    Now I'll go and get a beer and enjoy Friday arvo
    Cheers Garry

  9. #2559
    Senior Member Blaktop's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    People who wait till the last minute before braking and indicating a turn.....in that order. Cruising home after rain stopped play, 30 metres back from the car in front doing 60km/h (in a 70 zone), glanced at the speedo as I passed a 50 zone ahead sign, looked up and some stupid woman had slammed the brakes on and indicated a right turn, the 4 cars behind her were all travelling too close so the concertina happened.....and me being last in line centre punched the car in front, jack knifed the ute and trailer and it was all over. Luckily I speared the car in front off to the left and onto the grass verge so it was just the two of us....no-one hurt. Trailer and mowers are fine, ute went away on the back of a truck. Luckily it's all got insurance.....so I'm in the Falcon and dropping the wife off to work at 6.45 first......and picking her up at 5.00......there goes my "pick my own hours" for a while. Cop said I'll probably get a ticket for failing to maintain distance.....the car at the back is always in the wrong, regardless of any stupidity further up the line. Not sure if they'll write the ute off or fix it.

  10. #2560
    Member Redeye's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    that would make me more than grumpy, commiserations Paul




    http://curraronggardening.com/

    "All sin is washed away in the Holy goodness of Beer"
    Book of Redeye, Psalm 69

  11. #2561
    Senior Member Blaktop's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    The bottom line is it was my fault as the law states you need to maintain a stoppable distance......and I'm not sure where this quote comes from...."expect the unexpected". That's life, the towing mob will deliver the ute to the NRMA approved repairer on Monday and I'll know whether to start looking for another ute or wait for this one to be fixed by later in the week. Bugger is we only sold the wife's little 89 Mazda 323 last week as 5 registrations (her car, my Falcon and the work ute plus two trailers) were getting a bit much. What really bugs me is the woman who ultimately caused it all just turned into her drive and went and had a cuppa tea. Didn't even come out to see if everyone was ok.

  12. #2562
    Senior Member Blaktop's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Aha.....expect the unexpected.....a quote from Half Life 2.....(my gaming addiction is showing....).

  13. #2563
    Senior Member fairdinkum's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    People who start ringin around after 12 on friday to have their lawns mowed "today or tomorrow". Me "Sorry I'm booked out for today. I don't work weekends. But I have plenty of time on monday if you can wait." Them : "No sorry I have a party tomorrow and need it done by then." Do most people start organising parties for the weekend after lunch on friday?

    Jason Forrest
    Fair Dinkum Lawn & Garden Care
    Servicing St Clair, Erskine Park, Colyton, South St Marys
    0407 435 642


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  14. #2564
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by fairdinkum View Post
    People who start ringin around after 12 on friday to have their lawns mowed "today or tomorrow". Me "Sorry I'm booked out for today. I don't work weekends. But I have plenty of time on monday if you can wait." Them : "No sorry I have a party tomorrow and need it done by then." Do most people start organising parties for the weekend after lunch on friday?
    only the ones to lazy to mow lawns
    Anything Ian says may or may not be garbage, it may also be his own opinion or it may not be his opinion at all, it may just be something he felt like stating anyone following his advice does so at their own risk and may be doing something Ian would actually advise against.
    And if you don't like what Ian has to say use the ignore function if you don't know how ask i will gladly tell you

  15. #2565
    Member Mick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    only the ones to lazy to mow lawns
    Yes, and no!
    Ive been getting them because there mower broke down........... and there having a party....... TOMORROW NIGHT! EEEEk!!! haa
    Well funk me, I better drink drive, fark my friday aro binge, Sat hangover and Sunday eating to help you out cos your a d!ck that leaves it to the last moment!

    I really have to disassociate my name on here to my ad, on here!

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