just paid a weekly visit to Aldi and they're now selling B&D tat.

Must of scrapped they're powercraft range? I happen to have a look at their
router again and it seems they have improved its design...not that I would
buy it mind.

In article Re6bj.66729$c_1.53857
@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk, George says...
just paid a weekly visit to Aldi and they're now selling B&D tat.

Must of scrapped they're powercraft range? I happen to have a look at their
router again and it seems they have improved its design...not that I would
buy it mind.



Aldi must be going down market selling B&D stuff. I've
stopped buying anything B&D brand due to the very poor
quality. It used to be average-decent stuff years ago but I
think it's just cheap Chinese crap nowadays with a B&D
badge on it. My last three B&D purchases we
1. A laser level that wasn't level.
2. A garden shredder that blocked too easily and spent more
time being unblocked than being used.
3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I don't have deep pockets or enough usage to pay for top of
the range tools but nowadays find Bosch usually meets my
needs and budget.
--
David in Normandy

3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....

On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:02:53 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Freecycle

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

On 2007-12-22 13:38:46 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

What's Matalan?

"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from the
UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and powerful
and can negotiate with branded names.

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d1723@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 13:38:46 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

What's Matalan?

They make chucks.

On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from
the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and
powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.

On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:16:13 -0000, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once.

No, you bought a cheap sweat shop shirt with a YSL label on it.

Matalan saw off C&A from the UK after 70 years.

Them and Primark & M&B &"George st ASDA" & "2 shirts for £5" TESCO.

They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and powerful
and can negotiate with branded names.

To let them stick it on 3rd world sweat shop products made by prisoner
/ slave labour.

DG

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Freecycle

I run a freecycle group, and I suspect even they would turn their
noses up at my crappy B&D.

Time I had another clear-out though. The "freebie" mitre saw table
needs to go amongst other things (it's god awful beyond belief) -
maybe I can palm off the b&d as a free extra.

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly
respected brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A
from the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are
big and powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.


Indeed. Some nice young fillies in their catalogue though. Even you must
get that through your door now and then

On 2007-12-22 15:25:52 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from
the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and
powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.


Indeed. Some nice young fillies in their catalogue though. Even you
must get that through your door now and then

Actually no. Very few catalogues come in the post or even the free
newspaper. That's why I hadn't heard of it.

I did see a TV advert yesterday (I watch very little commercial TV) for
a store called TK-something-or-other which seemed to be doing the same
kind of thing.

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 15:25:52 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A
from the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are
big and powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.


Indeed. Some nice young fillies in their catalogue though. Even you
must get that through your door now and then

Actually no. Very few catalogues come in the post or even the free
newspaper. That's why I hadn't heard of it.

I did see a TV advert yesterday (I watch very little commercial TV) for
a store called TK-something-or-other which seemed to be doing the same
kind of thing.



Yes, I believe they're what's known as a shop in an area often referred
to as the high street. They are purveyors of a skin covering known as
clothing. Get down to Reading, man. The joint is jumpin.

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d1f1e@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from
the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and
powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.

Yep!! A shop!!!

On 2007-12-22 16:12:32 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 15:25:52 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from
the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and
powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.


Indeed. Some nice young fillies in their catalogue though. Even you
must get that through your door now and then

Actually no. Very few catalogues come in the post or even the free
newspaper. That's why I hadn't heard of it.

I did see a TV advert yesterday (I watch very little commercial TV) for
a store called TK-something-or-other which seemed to be doing the same
kind of thing.



Yes, I believe they're what's known as a shop in an area often referred
to as the high street. They are purveyors of a skin covering known as
clothing. Get down to Reading, man. The joint is jumpin.

Oh please. The town centre is a hell-hole, like most town centres.
People wandering aimlessly about, unable to decide on what they are
going to buy, if anything, and getting in the way. Made especially
worse on Saturday mornings by double width pushchairs pushed around
inexpertly by young fathers tasked with getting them and the kids out
of the house while it's cleaned. All of that is before one considers
the nightmare of trying to park.

All in all, a huge waste of time, getting in the way and slowing me
down. Then it all assumes that stock is available.

Why would I want to waste my time with any of that?

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

George wrote:
just paid a weekly visit to Aldi and they're now selling B&D tat.

Must of scrapped they're powercraft range? I happen to have a look at
their router again and it seems they have improved its design...not
that I would buy it mind.

Toolstation had a 'silly price' clear out a while ago, bought some auger
bits, SDS bits, a laser level & a tile cutter - all Powercraft brand. Tile
cutter was about£3.50 and its pretty good.

I notice Toolstation also seem to be tied up with Silverline as well.

Obviously some connection there.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 15:25:52 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:

On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A
from the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are
big and powerful and can negotiate with branded names.


Ah. That kind of place.


Indeed. Some nice young fillies in their catalogue though. Even you
must get that through your door now and then


Actually no. Very few catalogues come in the post or even the free
newspaper. That's why I hadn't heard of it.

I did see a TV advert yesterday (I watch very little commercial TV) for
a store called TK-something-or-other which seemed to be doing the same
kind of thing.


That would be TK Maxx. Their business model was to take overmakes and
oher surplus stock and run low overhead stores in high street locations.

Bob

In message 476d1723@qaanaaq, Andy Hall wrote
On 2007-12-22 13:38:46 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!
I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single
speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.
Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do
masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.
Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?
Refer to subject line....

How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly
respected brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

What's Matalan?

A store that sells clothing from 3rd world countries with perhaps 100%
mark-up unlike other high street outlets that source from the same
places but have 1000% mark-up.


--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d455f@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 16:12:32 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 15:25:52 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel"
said:

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A
from the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are
big and powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.


Indeed. Some nice young fillies in their catalogue though. Even you
must get that through your door now and then

Actually no. Very few catalogues come in the post or even the free
newspaper. That's why I hadn't heard of it.

I did see a TV advert yesterday (I watch very little commercial TV) for
a store called TK-something-or-other which seemed to be doing the same
kind of thing.



Yes, I believe they're what's known as a shop in an area often referred
to as the high street. They are purveyors of a skin covering known as
clothing. Get down to Reading, man. The joint is jumpin.

Oh please. The town centre is a hell-hole, like most town centres.

Do you live in a field?

People wandering aimlessly about, unable to decide on what they are going
to buy, if anything, and getting in the way.

All the population is lost then, except Matt.

Made especially worse on Saturday mornings by double width pushchairs
pushed around inexpertly by young fathers tasked with getting them and the
kids out of the house while it's cleaned.

Are they on social security as well?

All of that is before one considers the nightmare of trying to park.

Get a bus, instead of driving around in a 4x4.

All in all, a huge waste of time, getting in the way and slowing me down.

In your poluting 4x4.

Then it all assumes that stock is available.

Why would I want to waste my time with any of that?

Use Ebay then.

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time is
wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

....and get lawyer each time you buy.

Matt, you are a madman.

On 2007-12-22 19:33:18 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d455f@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 16:12:32 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Yes, I believe they're what's known as a shop in an area often referred
to as the high street. They are purveyors of a skin covering known as
clothing. Get down to Reading, man. The joint is jumpin.

Oh please. The town centre is a hell-hole, like most town centres.

Do you live in a field?

Just next to one.


People wandering aimlessly about, unable to decide on what they are
going to buy, if anything, and getting in the way.

All the population is lost then, except Matt.

Made especially worse on Saturday mornings by double width pushchairs
pushed around inexpertly by young fathers tasked with getting them and
the kids out of the house while it's cleaned.

Are they on social security as well?

All of that is before one considers the nightmare of trying to park.

Get a bus, instead of driving around in a 4x4.

All in all, a huge waste of time, getting in the way and slowing me down.

In your poluting 4x4.

I actually meant walking. People tend not to push their pushchairs
along the motorway.



Then it all assumes that stock is available.

Why would I want to waste my time with any of that?

Use Ebay then.

No guarantee...


Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

...and get lawyer each time you buy.


No need.

On 2007-12-22 17:06:42 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d1f1e@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 12:02:53 +0000, " said:


3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have an ancient (early 1980's vintage) b&d power drill, single speed
(screaming fast), crappy little chuck - and that always slips into
hammer mode.

Its sole use was being fairly short front to back it could do masonry
work in tight corners - but now made redundant by a bosch cordless
combi.

Is there a special circle of hell where crappy power tools can be
consigned?

Refer to subject line....


How far the mighty can fall. In the clothing sector formerly respected
brands like Farah and Ben Sherman have ended up in Matalan.

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from
the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and
powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.

Yep!! A shop!!!

A curiosity. There are places with mockups of Victorian sweetie
shops and 1920s grocers. 50 years from now there will be places with
mockups of supermarkets.

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d7a38@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 19:33:18 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d455f@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 16:12:32 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Yes, I believe they're what's known as a shop in an area often referred
to as the high street. They are purveyors of a skin covering known as
clothing. Get down to Reading, man. The joint is jumpin.

Oh please. The town centre is a hell-hole, like most town centres.

Do you live in a field?

Just next to one.

That figures.

People wandering aimlessly about, unable to decide on what they are
going to buy, if anything, and getting in the way.

All the population is lost then, except Matt.

Made especially worse on Saturday mornings by double width pushchairs
pushed around inexpertly by young fathers tasked with getting them and
the kids out of the house while it's cleaned.

Are they on social security as well?

All of that is before one considers the nightmare of trying to park.

Get a bus, instead of driving around in a 4x4.

All in all, a huge waste of time, getting in the way and slowing me
down.

In your polluting 4x4.

I actually meant walking. People tend not to push their pushchairs along
the motorway.

You walk on the motorway?

Then it all assumes that stock is available.

Why would I want to waste my time with any of that?

Use Ebay then.

No guarantee...

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

...and get lawyer each time you buy.

No need.

Well then get ripped off.

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 16:12:32 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 15:25:52 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 14:16:13 +0000, "Doctor Drivel"
said:

I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A
from the UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They
are big and powerful and can negotiate with branded names.

Ah. That kind of place.


Indeed. Some nice young fillies in their catalogue though. Even you
must get that through your door now and then

Actually no. Very few catalogues come in the post or even the free
newspaper. That's why I hadn't heard of it.

I did see a TV advert yesterday (I watch very little commercial TV)
for a store called TK-something-or-other which seemed to be doing the
same kind of thing.



Yes, I believe they're what's known as a shop in an area often
referred to as the high street. They are purveyors of a skin covering
known as clothing. Get down to Reading, man. The joint is jumpin.

Oh please. The town centre is a hell-hole, like most town centres.
People wandering aimlessly about, unable to decide on what they are
going to buy, if anything, and getting in the way. Made especially
worse on Saturday mornings by double width pushchairs pushed around
inexpertly by young fathers tasked with getting them and the kids out of
the house while it's cleaned. All of that is before one considers the
nightmare of trying to park.

All in all, a huge waste of time, getting in the way and slowing me
down.

Then it all assumes that stock is available.

Why would I want to waste my time with any of that?

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.



And still necessary to hang around waiting for deliveries or, in the
case of a friend of mine, lining up for an hour at the courier's local
depot at 7 in the evening

In article ,
says...
3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have two B&D drills (one inherited, one bought when I was younger and
didn't know better) and both do that.

--
Skipweasel.
Never knowingly understood.

In article ews.net,
says...
I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from the
UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and powerful
and can negotiate with branded names.

But you have to give them your name and address before they'll let you
shop.

--
Skipweasel.
Never knowingly understood.

"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time is
wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

And still necessary to hang around waiting for deliveries or, in the case
of a friend of mine, lining up for an hour at the courier's local depot at
7 in the evening

Should have used Royal Mail (waits for AH rant :-) )

On 2007-12-22 21:09:09 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d7a38@qaanaaq...

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

...and get lawyer each time you buy.

No need.

Well then get ripped off.

That's precisely the point....

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476dab97@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 21:09:09 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d7a38@qaanaaq...

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

...and get lawyer each time you buy.

No need.

Well then get ripped off.

That's precisely the point....

Wow! He likes to be ripped off.

On 2007-12-22 21:17:02 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-22 16:12:32 +0000, Stuart Noble
said:

All in all, a huge waste of time, getting in the way and slowing me down.

Then it all assumes that stock is available.

Which makes it even less appealing.



Why would I want to waste my time with any of that?

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.


And still necessary to hang around waiting for deliveries or, in the
case of a friend of mine, lining up for an hour at the courier's local
depot at 7 in the evening

The solution to that problem is to specify a delivery before 1000.
Most couriers make those deliveries before 0900. If they don't then
they deliver it before 0900 the following day at their cost.

I am certainly not going to spend an hour at a courier's depot. This
is one reason that I won't deal with any supplier who uses Royal Mail.

In article ,
Skipweasel wrote:
In article ,
says...
3. A drill that kept slipping into hammer mode when
drilling wood or metal!

I have two B&D drills (one inherited, one bought when I was younger and
didn't know better) and both do that.

My first hammer drill was a B&D - orange plastic body and silver metal
gearbox case. With a slide gearchange. It didn't slip into hammer mode -
just jumped out of gear. A matchstick wedged under the slide cured it.

--
*Would a fly without wings be called a walk?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 2007-12-22 22:40:30 +0000, "Clive George" said:

"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

And still necessary to hang around waiting for deliveries or, in the
case of a friend of mine, lining up for an hour at the courier's local
depot at 7 in the evening

Should have used Royal Mail (waits for AH rant :-) )

You've had that one before.

This week's more successful result is with Marks and Spencer. I
ordered some items totalling about £50 from their web site and selected
the nominated day delivery option for £4.95 with today selected as the
delivery day.
The items were not required for a Christmas present or anything like
that but it suited me to have delivery today.

This morning I received an email from them to the effect that they
hadn't dispatched the items and wouldn't be able to until next
Thursday, but they wouldn't charge for the shipping. So I telephoned
them and we had a discussion.

After the opening line with the excuse that "it's because of Christmas"
we had another discussion with the supervisor in which I explained
that it's irrelevant that it's Christmas and that if they commit to
something then that is what I expect to happen, Christmas or not.

We agreed to confirmed delivery for next Friday, no shipping charges
and a credit for half the price of the goods.

"Christmas" is the universal excuse for poor service from traders,
restaurants and most other places selling goods and services. It
isn't as though this is the first year in which Christmas has happened,
so there is no excuse for not planning for it.

If traders don't want to give full service, that's fine as long as they
don't expect to receive full price.

On 2007-12-23 00:34:29 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476dab97@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 21:09:09 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d7a38@qaanaaq...

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

...and get lawyer each time you buy.

No need.

Well then get ripped off.

That's precisely the point....

Wow! He likes to be ripped off.

On the contrary. I don't need a lawyer to secure goods and services
according to what has been bought and paid for. There are plenty of
ways without the need to resort to that.

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476dab97@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 21:09:09 +0000, "Doctor Drivel" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476d7a38@qaanaaq...

Not that on-line shopping is that much better, although much less time
is wasted. It's still necessary to ensure that suppliers meet their
commitments, however.

...and get lawyer each time you buy.

No need.

Well then get ripped off.

That's precisely the point....


Hmm .. ! I recently purchased a 'boiler' - if it did _boil_ there'd be
something definitely dodgy!

I researched , and considered the cumulative advice / recommendations of
this group, then 'googled' for the lowest price. This eventually was a site
in some obscure part of the country.

An order was placed and reasonably quickly a man form 'Pl*mb Cent*r' turned
up in a wagon bearing my boiler!

I commented; 'I'm surprised _you_ are delivering this', he grinned back and
said ' We do the final part of the delivery for all/most web-sales in this
area! . If you'd bought it from us you'd pay hundreds of pounds more and it
costs us the same to deliver this as it would cost us to deliver one you'd
ordered in the shop. Doesn't make sense to me; but I'm just the driver.
Enjoy your savings!"

I'm not sure who, if anyone, got 'ripped off'.

The boiler is now heating the house I saved hundreds of pounds, Brown's
Darling is less tens of pounds of VAT .... !

--

Brian

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476db4ef@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 22:40:30 +0000, "Clive George"
said:

big snip

"Christmas" is the universal excuse for poor service from traders,
restaurants and most other places selling goods and services. It isn't
as though this is the first year in which Christmas has happened, so there
is no excuse for not planning for it.

It's not just traders and Christmas ....

Because of my age ; I had to contact the Department for Pensions (or
whatever it's called this week ...).
Now; I'm, a fully paid member of what's called the 'Baby Boom' .... whose
birth was related to that War Basil Fawlty tells us not to mention.

The Government has had Sixty-Five Years (that's half-a-century plus a decade
and a half) to prepare for this 'demand'. Yet my initial contact, a month
before the retirement date, was met with a 'Due to unprecedented demand we
are unable to process your claim currently, please phone fourteen days prior
to your retirement date!"
[Or words to that effect]

--

Brian

On 2007-12-23 09:47:38 +0000, "Brian Sharrock" said:

Hmm .. ! I recently purchased a 'boiler' - if it did _boil_ there'd be
something definitely dodgy!

I researched , and considered the cumulative advice / recommendations of
this group, then 'googled' for the lowest price. This eventually was a site
in some obscure part of the country.

An order was placed and reasonably quickly a man form 'Pl*mb Cent*r' turned
up in a wagon bearing my boiler!

I commented; 'I'm surprised _you_ are delivering this', he grinned back and
said ' We do the final part of the delivery for all/most web-sales in this
area! . If you'd bought it from us you'd pay hundreds of pounds more and it
costs us the same to deliver this as it would cost us to deliver one you'd
ordered in the shop. Doesn't make sense to me; but I'm just the driver.
Enjoy your savings!"

I'm not sure who, if anyone, got 'ripped off'.

The boiler is now heating the house I saved hundreds of pounds, Brown's
Darling is less tens of pounds of VAT .... !

Possibly Discounted Heating?


The equation is a simple one, based around the avarice of distribution
- a fascinating world in its own right.

Plumb Center is both a distributor and reseller of products. The
three key metrics for a distributor a

- Margin
- Stock turns - how many times a year does a line item or a product
group or a manufacturer's product move?
- Volume

These all factor in their commercial negotiations with their suppliers.
It may also be that there is an agreed stock rotation back to the
manufacturer. The distributor will want to maximise that while the
manufacturer will want to minimise it. OTOH, the manufacturer also
wants to maximise product out of the door. This can lead to
additional fun and games such as manufacturers, at their year end,
getting a distributor to agree to take more product, but with an
agreeement that it can be rotated back in the next financial year - a
procedure colloquially known as channel stuffing. Auditors have
become wiser to this one than they used to be, because of course it is
overvaluing the manufacturer.

The reseller aspect of PlumbCenter also wants to keep its trade
customers (e.g. Mr Local Corgi) happy as well and so does not want to
be seen to be offering very low prices to non trade end users.

So the arrangement that you describe ticks all the boxes:

- PlumbCenter increases their sales volume and improves their stock
turns and volume and hence negotiating position with the manufacturers

- PlumbCenter is selling to a "trade" customer (e.g. Discounted
Heating) at prices that are invisible to Mr Local Corgi at the trade
counter.

- PlumbCenter can afford to make a small margin on the sale because
they haven't had to use their trade counter to make the sale or handle
30 day credit accounts with small traders

- Mr Internet Trader handles the payments with the end user, although
that is all credit card - not 30 day accounts.

- Mr Internet Trader can be anywhere in the country and never have to
physically touch the goods. There is a cost saving from that.

- Mr. Internet Trader has low overheads and only a cash flow to manage
with Plumb Center. However, almost all of his money is cash up front.
The 3-5% with the credit card company is factored into his margin.

So the answer to your question is that nobody in your supply chain got
ripped off. All were perfectly happy with the arrangement.

You could look slightly bigger picture.

- If Mr Internet Trader wasn't there, you would have bought the product
from the trade counter.

- If the trade counter wasn't selling to the public, you would have
employed a fitter who would have sourced the product.

On that basis, you could argue that Mr. Local Corgi is being ripped off.

The notion that Mr Brown's junta is missing out on some VAT warms my
heart considerably. Don't feel guilty about that - he only wastes it.

On 2007-12-23 09:47:38 +0000, "Brian Sharrock" said:


"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:476db4ef@qaanaaq...
On 2007-12-22 22:40:30 +0000, "Clive George"
said:

big snip

"Christmas" is the universal excuse for poor service from traders,
restaurants and most other places selling goods and services. It isn't
as though this is the first year in which Christmas has happened, so there
is no excuse for not planning for it.

It's not just traders and Christmas ....

Because of my age ; I had to contact the Department for Pensions (or
whatever it's called this week ...).
Now; I'm, a fully paid member of what's called the 'Baby Boom' .... whose
birth was related to that War Basil Fawlty tells us not to mention.

The Government has had Sixty-Five Years (that's half-a-century plus a decade
and a half) to prepare for this 'demand'. Yet my initial contact, a month
before the retirement date, was met with a 'Due to unprecedented demand we
are unable to process your claim currently, please phone fourteen days prior
to your retirement date!"
[Or words to that effect]

Hmm... I think that when the time comes, I will get my accountant to
sort this one out. He has been known to reduce tax inspectors to tears
(as it should be).

On 2007-12-23 11:51:08 +0000, Huge said:

On 2007-12-22, Skipweasel wrote:
In article ews.net,
says...
I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from the
UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and powerful
and can negotiate with branded names.

But you have to give them your name and address before they'll let you
shop.

Lie.

(I've never been in Matalan. But that's what I used to do when Radio Shack used
to ask for your address. And I memorised the postcode of the local town
hall for
use when people pointlessly ask for a postcode.)

W1A 1AA works well (the postcode for BBC Broadcasting House). It's a
way of testing the sentience of the assistant.

I have to say that nobody has ever queried that one when I have used it.

In message , Huge
wrote
On 2007-12-22, Skipweasel wrote:
In article ews.net,
says...
I bought an Yves San Lauren shirt there once. Matalan saw off C&A from the
UK after 70 years. They are cheap, but not nasty. They are big and
powerful
and can negotiate with branded names.

But you have to give them your name and address before they'll let you
shop.

Lie.

You have to have a Matalan card to shop. It used to cost £1 but I
believe it you can now get one free - just fill in a form at customer
service the first time you visit. This is no different to any other
store loyalty card.

Your name and address will be used to send a mini catalogue or a
notification of 'sales' every couple of months. You may be asked if you
have an email address by the cashier at the till - my reply to this
question is always 'yes' - and nothing else.
--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com