[Doofy]

...mail order.

It's now 3:30 pm ish, and I'm waiting in for a delivery. Have been since 7 am. See, if I'd have slept in the item would have been here at 7:30 am, I would have missed the delivery and there'd be a little note in the letterbox whining about how I wasn't in. If I'd have done something useful, like made music, I'd have missed the delivery because I wouldn't have heard the door.

So, all day wasted. Again.
And I actually saw 7am from the wrong side.

Isn't it about time someone figured this home delivery process out once and for all?


So, enough about me...
What are your pet hates?

[TETENAL]

DHL | Packstation

[MacinTommy]

What are you waiting for? I can't stand when I'm waiting for a package and as I'm leaving the neighborhood for work the ups/fedex truck comes rolling around the corner.

[Dakar the Fourth]

This is payback for the MacBook business last week.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by MacinTommy 

What are you waiting for?

Originally Posted by MacinTommy 

I can't stand when I'm waiting for a package and as I'm leaving the neighborhood for work the ups/fedex truck comes rolling around the corner.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

This is payback for the MacBook business last week.

Hmmm.
(I'd go for a but I'm kinda too pissed off with waiting to do that)

[badidea]

Are you 100% sure that it will arrive today?
That's the day it won't arrive then (in my experience)!

[Dakar the Fourth]

Aww, I was hoping for a business as usual post, and letting the handle speak for itself. Poorly executed.

[besson3c]

What's with the new nickname Dakar?

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

What's with the new nickname Dakar?

It appears his previous nick hit 5,000 posts so in the interest of being original, he retired the old nick and created a new one. It's what all the cool kids are doing.

[Doofy]

Don't start that crap in my thread or I will kill you all.

[besson3c]

Sorry Doofy, I don't want to be killed. I'm sorry that mail order is frustrating for you... I hope that everything works out for you.

Since you asked what my pet hates are (and in the interest of this post being a mere +1), I pet hate being killed.

[Doofy]

So I phoned UPS at 5 pm, asked them where the delivery was. Chick on the phone says she'll get the depot to phone the driver and then get back to me.

That was 40 minutes ago. Nothing yet.

I sometimes forget that I'm living in a third world country.

[besson3c]

Not to agitate with my question, but what does a lousy private delivery service have to do with the standard of living of your country as a whole and its politics?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by badidea 

Are you 100% sure that it will arrive today?
That's the day it won't arrive then (in my experience)!

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

Tomorrow, they say. So, they've just totally fsked my day up for no reason and now they're going to fsk tomorrow up too.

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Not to agitate with my question, but what does a lousy private delivery service have to do with the standard of living of your country as a whole and its politics?

The attitudes of this delivery service represent the attitudes of almost everyone living in this craphole of a country. Nobody cares about doing anything properly (even UPS) and this, of course, permeates right through to the way people vote and/or run the place.

For example, I've just bought a house. What should have been a four week transaction has run into fourteen weeks because the vendor's solicitor is a knobhead.

In another example, my Jeep stealership doesn't even have the correct oil for my Jeep on their premises - they just buy a different "do it all" grade in bulk and expect everyone to be happy with that.

In yet another Jeep example, the people who my Jeep stealership use to change tyres for them don't even know the correct tyre pressures for a Grand Cherokee - this is people who spend all day every day changing tyres on Grand Cherokees.

Let's just say that if anything at all runs smoothly, properly and on time in this country it surprises me immensely.

[olePigeon]

I hate to break it to you, but UPS sucks no matter what country you're in.

[Dakar the Fourth]

I was waiting for that.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I hate to break it to you, but UPS sucks no matter what country you're in.

So why hasn't anybody bothered to kill them yet?

(Actually, they've always been pretty good until today. At least the package gets there eventually, unlike something sent through the Royal Mail, which has a 10% chance of being stolen. Then again, I usually pay for the gold-plated service, something which the stupid Frenchies sending the package failed to take note of. Maybe UPS are always this crap when you get the basic service.)

[olePigeon]

I hate... CDDB/Gracenote.

I can't make changes to their database unless I'm some record label, and some moron at the record label is constantly submitting names/titles with spelling and grammatical errors. So, after iTunes changes the track, artist, year, etc., I have to go back through and correct everything.

They need to have a WikiCDDB.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

Tomorrow, they say. So, they've just totally fsked my day up for no reason and now they're going to fsk tomorrow up too.



The attitudes of this delivery service represent the attitudes of almost everyone living in this craphole of a country. Nobody cares about doing anything properly (even UPS) and this, of course, permeates right through to the way people vote and/or run the place.

For example, I've just bought a house. What should have been a four week transaction has run into fourteen weeks because the vendor's solicitor is a knobhead.

In another example, my Jeep stealership doesn't even have the correct oil for my Jeep on their premises - they just buy a different "do it all" grade in bulk and expect everyone to be happy with that.

In yet another Jeep example, the people who my Jeep stealership use to change tyres for them don't even know the correct tyre pressures for a Grand Cherokee - this is people who spend all day every day changing tyres on Grand Cherokees.

Let's just say that if anything at all runs smoothly, properly and on time in this country it surprises me immensely.

Doofy, seriously, I feel the *exact same way* frequently and I live in Indiana, USA. I'm not saying this to be argumentative or challenge you for the sake of challenging you, I mean this quite sincerely.

Seriously, I think your beef is with human beings in general, and their general suckiness.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I hate... CDDB/Gracenote.

I can't make changes to their database unless I'm some record label, and some moron at the record label is constantly submitting names/titles with spelling and grammatical errors. So, after iTunes changes the track, artist, year, etc., I have to go back through and correct everything.

They need to have a WikiCDDB.

The guy who started that company either went to this university or worked here, I think. He was a bastard. Back when the mp3 metadata thing was new, he opened up his database and invited people to submit stuff. He fed content into his database/company via the good will of others. Then, he closed it off as you've described.

It's not like the CDDB is some miraculous innovation, it's just an f-ing database. Kudos to him for being the first business to get this together, but he sure boned a lot of people to get to where he is.

Not only this, but I believe you have to pay him as an application developer to hook into his DB.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Seriously, I think your beef is with human beings in general, and their general suckiness.

This could perhaps be the case.
Except the Swiss, of course. They get their shiz where it's supposed to be on time.

[brassplayersrock²]

What's with the new sig Doofy?

[Dakar the Fourth]

Evel Knievel died.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock² 

What's with the new sig Doofy?

Respect.

[MacosNerd]

I'm guessing a tribute to Knievel

[Dakar the Fourth]

Heh, 3 replies in the same minute.

[olePigeon]

Your fifth alias should be Pope Dakar the V

[Dakar the Fourth]

That's not bad, but I have a feeling that might upset someone.

[Railroader]

I hate...

... when Apple Co. sends me a tracking number that is incorrect.

I am waiting for a couple photo books I created and the tracking number Apple supplied for FedEx is wrong. I have no way of knowing where or when the books are going to arrive. And seeing as how Apple usually ships everything as needing a signature I am tied to the house as well. Which totally sucks because we will be gone for the next 6 days starting tomorrow and FedEx will attempt delivery for three days and then send it back to Apple.

At least the UPS guy will leave it even though it requires a signature so I can get it when we get home.

I feel your pain Doofy.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I hate...

... when Apple Co. sends me a tracking number that is incorrect.

I am waiting for a couple photo books I created and the tracking number Apple supplied for FedEx is wrong. I have no way of knowing where or when the books are going to arrive. And seeing as how Apple usually ships everything as needing a signature I am tied to the house as well. Which totally sucks because we will be gone for the next 6 days starting tomorrow and FedEx will attempt delivery for three days and then send it back to Apple.

Ouch.

The first bloke to set up some kind of drop-point system (as displayed by Tet) for the rest of us (i.e. not efficient Germans) wins!

Latest update:
"THE RECEIVER IS NOT LISTED ON THE BUILDING DIRECTORY. UPS IS ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION AND COMPLETE DELIVERY."

Or, in other words, their new driver hasn't figured out how to use a Satnav. They have exactly the same info that they've used to successfully deliver five times over the last couple months.

Still, it brings my ultimate vision of hell ever closer. Until now it was living on a newly squeezed suburban housing estate (watch Saxondale - that kind of place) with Geri Halliwell as a neighbour and Paris Hilton as a lodger. Now it's living on a newly squeezed suburban housing estate with Geri Halliwell as a neighbour and Paris Hilton as a lodger whilst getting up at 7 am every morning to wait in all day for UPS.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I hate... CDDB/Gracenote.

I can't make changes to their database unless I'm some record label, and some moron at the record label is constantly submitting names/titles with spelling and grammatical errors. So, after iTunes changes the track, artist, year, etc., I have to go back through and correct everything.

They need to have a WikiCDDB.

So what happens these days when you select "Submit track names" in iTunes? It just doesn't go anywhere?

[osiris]

I hate when I feel obligated to buy a movie for the fourth frickin time because of "still more never before seen footage and features"
Like Bladerunner. if and when I go blueray, it'll make it the fifth time. :/

[macforray]

I guess living in a small town isn't all that bad. If the UPS driver has a package for me and he sees my truck in front of, let's say, the diner, he will stop, give me my package, grab a cup of "joe", and be on his way. Oh yeah, our UPS driver is almost always the same guy and he knows everyone who gets deliveries on a regular basis.

[Laminar]

I left my suit in a hotel room in Iowa City on Sunday. We called about it yesterday and DHL had it at my house this morning. I was impressed.

[macforray]

Originally Posted by macforray 

I guess living in a small town isn't all that bad. If the UPS driver has a package for me and he sees my truck in front of, let's say, the diner, he will stop, give me my package, grab a cup of "joe", and be on his way. Oh yeah, our UPS driver is almost always the same guy and he knows everyone who gets deliveries on a regular basis.

And if we are not home, he just opens the door and leaves it inside. Yes, our door is always unlocked. No one dares mess with me, I carry a pocket knife (oops......wrong thread).

[Doofy]

Finally, it arrives.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

The guy who started that company either went to this university or worked here, I think. He was a bastard. Back when the mp3 metadata thing was new, he opened up his database and invited people to submit stuff. He fed content into his database/company via the good will of others. Then, he closed it off as you've described.

It's not like the CDDB is some miraculous innovation, it's just an f-ing database. Kudos to him for being the first business to get this together, but he sure boned a lot of people to get to where he is.

That HAS to be complete bullshit.

since ANYONE can submit CDDB info - I have, numerous times, for privately distributed CDs, such as rehearsal recordings, and tracks show up just fine on any other machine.

Also, many, many CDs have multiple entries - depending on which you click, the ID3 tags are either correct (mostly) or riddled with typos.

[IceEnclosure]

Cool looking guitar, glad you got it. I've recently embarked on a wait for some RAM for my iMac. I've had my UPS and FedEx moments for sure. I just try to play it cool these days.

(I love when you check tracking online and it says it's already "arrived and signed for" yet this muhfscker doesn't get to my house for another hour or so)

[vexborg]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Don't start that crap in my thread or I will kill you all.

FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by analogika 

That HAS to be complete bullshit.

since ANYONE can submit CDDB info - I have, numerous times, for privately distributed CDs, such as rehearsal recordings, and tracks show up just fine on any other machine.

Also, many, many CDs have multiple entries - depending on which you click, the ID3 tags are either correct (mostly) or riddled with typos.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that he closed it off by not accepting public submissions. He closed it off by not allowing developers to use the DB without licensing - the very DB that developers and their customers helped populate! Lame.

[analogika]

Why is that lame?

Banks make their profits off investing and loaning money that their customers put into their accounts.

They supply the infrastructure.

iTunes has a definite market advantage in supplying its users with CD data via Gracenote. Why shouldn't Apple have to pay for that?

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by analogika 

Why is that lame?

Banks make their profits off investing and loaning money that their customers put into their accounts.

They supply the infrastructure.

iTunes has a definite market advantage in supplying its users with CD data via Gracenote. Why shouldn't Apple have to pay for that?

You can make a couple of arguments here...

Do you remember how annoyed people were when Apple decided to make iTools a paid service after its users had gotten settled in and had told people about their email address, etc.? I'm not saying that this was outside of Apple's rights, but it was certainly annoying to the customer.

Secondly, and more importantly, this guy is basically reselling the data that others have provided for free. If he were to have hired some of his own staff to populate the CDDB database, that would be one thing. Instead, he relied on volunteers to do this work for free without disclosing that he intended to eventually charge for this service, and once he made this change he basically shut the door in the faces of the people responsible for getting the system off the ground. Essentially, he took the altruism of people, turned it into profit while claiming ownership and entitlement over all of this data. This is what people have difficulty with without making these intentions clear from the get go - basically using people. Normally when you volunteer for something, you are told very truthfully what you are volunteering for, right?

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey 

So what happens these days when you select "Submit track names" in iTunes? It just doesn't go anywhere?

If it already exists, yes. I believe that's for new media.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

You can make a couple of arguments here...

Do you remember how annoyed people were when Apple decided to make iTools a paid service after its users had gotten settled in and had told people about their email address, etc.? I'm not saying that this was outside of Apple's rights, but it was certainly annoying to the customer.

Secondly, and more importantly, this guy is basically reselling the data that others have provided for free. If he were to have hired some of his own staff to populate the CDDB database, that would be one thing. Instead, he relied on volunteers to do this work for free without disclosing that he intended to eventually charge for this service, and once he made this change he basically shut the door in the faces of the people responsible for getting the system off the ground. Essentially, he took the altruism of people, turned it into profit while claiming ownership and entitlement over all of this data. This is what people have difficulty with without making these intentions clear from the get go - basically using people. Normally when you volunteer for something, you are told very truthfully what you are volunteering for, right?

He's not reselling the data, he's selling convenient access to that data. If you wanted to, you could start up your own competing database and get people to contribute to it (would probably be much easier now as you could pull much of the data from sources like wikipedia). There's nothing stopping you from doing so. But there are costs involved in doing so.

He put a lot of effort into building the software and getting people to contribute to it. It wasn't free to do, and it isn't free to maintain. Why shouldn't he charge people for the privilege of using the data he put time and effort into compiling? If he didn't, it wouldn't be sustainable, and that service would cease to exist at all. Then where would you be?

[Kevin]

How does this thread have to do with ANYTHING that certain members have spun it unto?

BTW nice bass doofy.

[Peter]

my one major pet quirk is people eating off my plate. I hate that so much.
I also really dislike Micheal Bay

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Peter 

my one major pet quirk is people eating off my plate. I hate that so much.
I also really dislike Micheal Bay

You didn't like the Transformers A Michael Bay Film movie?

[Peter]

hahahaha

[PBG4 User]

Cool bass, dude. I picked up a 20th SR5 a few months ago so I can appreciate new bass day.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by PBG4 User 

Cool bass, dude. I picked up a 20th SR5 a few months ago so I can appreciate new bass day.

Sweet. Nearly went for one of those myself (but the 4).