"Jake" Nospam@invalid wrote in message
...
On Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:02:54 +0200, David in Normandy
wrote:

On 20/04/2011 14:44, Jake wrote:


These automated systems have their downside - because they're
automated they don't know what discretion is,


On a slight tangent; I once couldn't get into an automated barrier
controlled car park because it insisted the car park was full. What had
happened is that one of the bollards that circled the car park had been
removed for reasons unknown and cars were coming in via the barrier and
sneaking out where the bollard was missing. Thus the computer controlled
system couldn't keep accurate count and the car park was "full" when it
was half empty. It was funny in a way, but frustrating for me struggling
to find somewhere to park.

That's nothing compared to a jammed barrier when you want to get out
of an unattended car park and a queue of cars is stuck for over an
hour until someone turns up to fix it! And you can't go through the
"in" barrier either! I hate barrier controlled car parks!n

A few years ago before our local leisure centre was closed for
refurbishmnent it was not uncommon to find the barrier on the out-gate
smashed. This was because the patron using the leisure centre hadn't
purchased a token to put in the machine to open the barrier. Frequently it
was a 4x4 or a bit of a banger that would crash through the wooden barrier.

Bill

"Janet" wrote in message
...
In article , says...

While all the above is true, I can't help wondering what anyone would
find
to do in B&Q that takes over two hours!

He said; choosing a kitchen. Even with their inhouse CAD system, it
could easily take 2 hours to decide the right combination and layout from
the huge number of options on sale (units, worktops, sinks, floor,
handles,tiles, appliances.


Not to mention waiting for a member of staff to guide you.

Mike

On Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:21:53 +0100, "MuddyMike"
wrote:


"Janet" wrote in message
...
In article , says...

While all the above is true, I can't help wondering what anyone would
find
to do in B&Q that takes over two hours!

He said; choosing a kitchen. Even with their inhouse CAD system, it
could easily take 2 hours to decide the right combination and layout from
the huge number of options on sale (units, worktops, sinks, floor,
handles,tiles, appliances.


Not to mention waiting for a member of staff to guide you.

Mike

First rule of any place like B&Q, Homebase, Wickes and especially the
specialist kitchen or bathroom shops is get the catalogue, take it
home, work out what you want, make a list. Sleep on it. Make a new
list. Sleep on that and then make your final list. You're going to
live with that bedroom/kitchen/bathroom for quite a few years. The
sales person is only going to live with it long enough for you to get
a parking ticket.

Never trust the guidance of a member of staff.

And if you buy a fitted bedroom from Homebase and that bedroom
includes bridging units to go over the bed, any reference in the
instructions to "75mm" should be read as "60mm"!

Jake

"Jake" Nospam@invalid wrote in message
...
On Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:21:53 +0100, "MuddyMike"
wrote:


"Janet" wrote in message
...
In article , says...

While all the above is true, I can't help wondering what anyone would
find
to do in B&Q that takes over two hours!

He said; choosing a kitchen. Even with their inhouse CAD system, it
could easily take 2 hours to decide the right combination and layout
from
the huge number of options on sale (units, worktops, sinks, floor,
handles,tiles, appliances.


Not to mention waiting for a member of staff to guide you.

Mike

First rule of any place like B&Q, Homebase, Wickes and especially the
specialist kitchen or bathroom shops is get the catalogue, take it
home, work out what you want, make a list. Sleep on it. Make a new
list. Sleep on that and then make your final list. You're going to
live with that bedroom/kitchen/bathroom for quite a few years. The
sales person is only going to live with it long enough for you to get
a parking ticket.

Never trust the guidance of a member of staff.

And if you buy a fitted bedroom from Homebase and that bedroom
includes bridging units to go over the bed, any reference in the
instructions to "75mm" should be read as "60mm"!

Jake

Jake, better still, if you have a social life and have lots of friends, have
words with them for recommendations :-))

I have had my house fitted with double glazing units throughout, by a
recommendation. A superb 'Farmhouse Kitchen', thankyou friend and
recommendation, a superb bathroom which I fitted myself, but the parts came
via a recommendation, and my central heating and new boiler came from a very
long standing friend, who by coincidence I was with last night .... :-))

It's not what you know, but who you know ....................... and I have
hundreds of friends :-))

Mike


--

....................................
Remember, a statue has never been erected to a critic.
....................................

On 20/04/2011 08:46, 'Mike' wrote:
If you intend to visit your B&Q Garden Centre for your plants etc. Or visit
B&Q for anything and stroll around and possibly pop in for a cuppa if they
have an inhouse cafe ....................................

BEWARE ..................................

The one here on the Isle of Wight photographs your car on the way in and
times the photo.

and?

When you leave, it photographs it again, with the time.

and?

If you have been over two hours, you will receive a fine through the post of
£50.00 if you pay within 2 weeks, otherwise the fine goes up to £100.00.

NOT LEGAL, but a frightener.

Check if your B&Q are doing the same thing.

Matalan are also doing this scam.

You might like to add any other stores etc who are doing this.

Mike



Ouch, thanks for the tip!

I can't believe people think it's ok for them to do this.

I'd love to meet the person who invented this £xxxx fine, but half if
you pay within two weeks. Now THAT should be illegal, it basically
removes your right to complain by attaching a huge amount of risk to it.
The last time it happend to me I phoned the people up (a council,
typically) and told them to take the full amount. Amusingly, their
systems couldn't cope with it.

On 20/04/2011 19:16, alan.holmes wrote:


Or tell them to take it to court!

Alan


Interesting point, Alan.

I came across the following thread a while back which was very
interesting (and quite amusing in parts).

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...s-LDK-Security

or

http://bit.ly/hTRjai

The shops get these car parking/security companies to 'patrol' their car
parks and issue ‘Penalty Charge Notices’ (only the police and local
authorities can issues fines)

If you contact the shop itself, they will say it's nothing to do with
them - you need to contact the security firm.

After reading through the thread it seems the advice is to totally
ignore any correspondence from said companies (or just wind them up if
you want).
They will use increasingly threatening language (baliffs, court) and
enough people will be frightented into paying up to keep them in business.
There seems to be no known cases of them actually carrying out their
threats as they don't have a (legal) leg to stand on.

Jeff