You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Speaking of Trump apparently he has his own fragrances out? I was listening to Sirius NFL radio on my drive to work this morning and they had this ad for these Fight Fight Fight perfumes with a voice that sounded like someone pretending to be Trump but I guess was Trump. I legit thought it was some sort of Howard Stern show prank thing but I guess it's real. So cringy.

And he used a recent photo of him and Jill Biden to sell it.


Something along the lines of “even your enemies won’t be able to trust you”

[Engine09]

The bozo clown, grifter was also endorsing knock off guitars and the shady company selling them was hit by a cease and desist by Gibson. There are pictures of Trump signing this fake MAGA inspired "veteran owned" guitars on the website. Anything for a buck.

https://guitar.com/news/gear-news/tr...se-and-desist/

[stazzy33]

UPS really grinds my gears. I ordered a phone case off Amazon that was $35 plus $10 in shipping charges. It came from the States and when it crossed the border there was a charge for GST. Cool, no worries, I'll pay the taxes on it since Amazon missed out on that. UPS says nope, there's more, you have to pay us $30 in brokerage fees. On a $35 phone case...

I call their customer service and am told if the package is less than $40 in value they'll waive the fees and to email this one address and they'll get it sorted before the package arrives. The CS agent specifically notes that shipping fees are not included in the cost of the package. Email the address, get a bot reply saying they'll get back to me in 24 - 48 hours. Cool. 48-hours later UPS dude is at my door saying I owe $30 for the package and still haven't heard back from the email. Tell delivery guy to hold on to the package. Call customer service again, they tell me to email this other address. Email other address they tell me the value of my package is $45 cause it includes shipping, which is the opposite of what the CS agent on the phone told me. I email back, hear back once, then radio silence.

#### UPS.

Does anyone have any experience getting these stupid brokerage fees waived without going to self-clear? I live outside of Calgary and can't get to the CBSA office during their 10am - 4pm hours of operation.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by stazzy33

UPS really grinds my gears. I ordered a phone case off Amazon that was $35 plus $10 in shipping charges. It came from the States and when it crossed the border there was a charge for GST. Cool, no worries, I'll pay the taxes on it since Amazon missed out on that. UPS says nope, there's more, you have to pay us $30 in brokerage fees. On a $35 phone case...

I call their customer service and am told if the package is less than $40 in value they'll waive the fees and to email this one address and they'll get it sorted before the package arrives. The CS agent specifically notes that shipping fees are not included in the cost of the package. Email the address, get a bot reply saying they'll get back to me in 24 - 48 hours. Cool. 48-hours later UPS dude is at my door saying I owe $30 for the package and still haven't heard back from the email. Tell delivery guy to hold on to the package. Call customer service again, they tell me to email this other address. Email other address they tell me the value of my package is $45 cause it includes shipping, which is the opposite of what the CS agent on the phone told me. I email back, hear back once, then radio silence.

#### UPS.

Does anyone have any experience getting these stupid brokerage fees waived without going to self-clear? I live outside of Calgary and can't get to the CBSA office during their 10am - 4pm hours of operation.

I thought those things were no longer happening. Years ago was told to never us UPS or buy anything that uses them. USPS,FEDEX.

[stazzy33]

Originally Posted by fotze2

I thought those things were no longer happening. Years ago was told to never us UPS or buy anything that uses them. USPS,FEDEX.

The company (Smartish) is using UPS because of the Canada Post strike. Their cases are great and so is their customer service. I emailed them as well and they fully refunded my order because of the brokerage fees which is great, but not the point. I don't want UPS getting a cent more than they deserve, so I still won't pay the fee.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by stazzy33

The company (Smartish) is using UPS because of the Canada Post strike. Their cases are great and so is their customer service. I emailed them as well and they fully refunded my order because of the brokerage fees which is great, but not the point. I don't want UPS getting a cent more than they deserve, so I still won't pay the fee.

I hear ya, I will spend more money than I would save to not pay companies who are dicks.

what would happen if you grabbed the package and kicked the delivery guy in the chest at the door?

[Fuzz]

I just go straight to Amazon when that happens and let them sort it out. I've avoided several hassles that way.

[stazzy33]

Originally Posted by fotze2

I hear ya, I will spend more money than I would save to not pay companies who are dicks.

what would happen if you grabbed the package and kicked the delivery guy in the chest at the door?

I imagine getting charged with assault as the delivery guy would know my home address haha.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by stazzy33

UPS really grinds my gears. I ordered a phone case off Amazon that was $35 plus $10 in shipping charges. It came from the States and when it crossed the border there was a charge for GST. Cool, no worries, I'll pay the taxes on it since Amazon missed out on that. UPS says nope, there's more, you have to pay us $30 in brokerage fees. On a $35 phone case...

I call their customer service and am told if the package is less than $40 in value they'll waive the fees and to email this one address and they'll get it sorted before the package arrives. The CS agent specifically notes that shipping fees are not included in the cost of the package. Email the address, get a bot reply saying they'll get back to me in 24 - 48 hours. Cool. 48-hours later UPS dude is at my door saying I owe $30 for the package and still haven't heard back from the email. Tell delivery guy to hold on to the package. Call customer service again, they tell me to email this other address. Email other address they tell me the value of my package is $45 cause it includes shipping, which is the opposite of what the CS agent on the phone told me. I email back, hear back once, then radio silence.

#### UPS.

Does anyone have any experience getting these stupid brokerage fees waived without going to self-clear? I live outside of Calgary and can't get to the CBSA office during their 10am - 4pm hours of operation.

Amazon.ca typically includes the import charges when you buy something from them that is coming from the US, so something is broken somewhere in the chain, I would escalate to Amazon if you know you already paid import charges.

[stazzy33]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Amazon.ca typically includes the import charges when you buy something from them that is coming from the US, so something is broken somewhere in the chain, I would escalate to Amazon if you know you already paid import charges.

It's only GST on the item and for some reason I didn't get charged that initially. I am not arguing having to pay GST, it's the $30 to UPS to have them pay the CBSA $2 that I livid about.

[puffnstuff]

Some time between 1230 and 2 pm today, the side street nearly everyone in our cul de sac uses for extra parking had no parking signs placed on it. No name of a company, not City signs, just bare bones 'no parking'. No hours on them, no contact info. Wtf

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Some time between 1230 and 2 pm today, the side street nearly everyone in our cul de sac uses for extra parking had no parking signs placed on it. No name of a company, not City signs, just bare bones 'no parking'. No hours on them, no contact info. Wtf

Even if they're not city signs 311 will have permit info. At least it's a call to see if they're legit

Back when I worked at traffic that wasn't uncommon. I was on the emergency side but I remember always hearing the TFO guys talk about removing illegitimate signs like that

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Even if they're not city signs 311 will have permit info. At least it's a call to see if they're legit

Back when I worked at traffic that wasn't uncommon. I was on the emergency side but I remember always hearing the TFO guys talk about removing illegitimate signs like that

Check CTV News or the Sun / Herald; see if one of your grumpy-ass neighbours' mugs is plastered on there talking about not being able to park in front of his house so he put a bunch of signs up.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Some time between 1230 and 2 pm today, the side street nearly everyone in our cul de sac uses for extra parking had no parking signs placed on it. No name of a company, not City signs, just bare bones 'no parking'. No hours on them, no contact info. Wtf

Easiest fix ever: remove the signs. Problem solved

[bizaro86]

I had a hygiene-only appointment at my dentist today. I arrived at exactly 11 AM for an 11AM appointment, waited a couple of minutes then went in. At 11:44 the appointment was over and I was standing back at the desk doing insurance/payment.

They billed me for 3.5 units of hygiene, which to my understanding is 15 minutes each. Is there an explanation for that other than them padding their bill? I also had fluoride in the <45 minutes I was there (which was billed separately) so presumably shouldn't be also included in the hygiene time, and even if it is I was physically in the building for less than 45 minutes before I got to the payment desk.

Maybe I'm just the anti-dentite or is that unreasonable?

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I had a hygiene-only appointment at my dentist today. I arrived at exactly 11 AM for an 11AM appointment, waited a couple of minutes then went in. At 11:44 the appointment was over and I was standing back at the desk doing insurance/payment.

They billed me for 3.5 units of hygiene, which to my understanding is 15 minutes each. Is there an explanation for that other than them padding their bill? I also had fluoride in the <45 minutes I was there (which was billed separately) so presumably shouldn't be also included in the hygiene time, and even if it is I was physically in the building for less than 45 minutes before I got to the payment desk.

Maybe I'm just the anti-dentite or is that unreasonable?

I would guess the .5 is for the cleaning and prep of the area for the next patient, how long you were physically in the chair is not what you are being billed for.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

I would guess the .5 is for the cleaning and prep of the area for the next patient, how long you were physically in the chair is not what you are being billed for.

Alberta Dental Fee guide says the following: One unit of time is 15 minutes. Time spent on the provision of a service begins when the practitioner begins preparing themselves and the patient for its delivery and ends when another service is initiated or when the patient is discharged from the operatory.

I wasn't even in the building until 11AM, and the hygienist prepped the area while I was there. There was also a fluoride treatment at the end, which should have stopped the clock according to the definition above.

Not that the $40 or whatever is a huge deal, but it's a situation where if I'm being billed unethically it makes me wonder about other things. And measuring time in 15 minute increments is something I can evaluate pretty easily, so if they're willing to cheat on that what else might they cheat on.

[woob]

Packaging really GMR. My kid got the Exploding Minions card game recently, and the box it comes in is abolutely ridiculous compared to the size of the actual deck of cards.

Spoiler!

[jayswin]

Yikes, good thing I got most of Christmas shopping done. Amazon is now showing Dec 26 delivery for most items even on a Prime account. Was going to grab a couple more things but will go into the Christmas shopping jungle for them in the next few days. What a sudden change as I have ordered in the last couple of days and got 2-3 day delivery (for normally next day items).

[Fuzz]

You scared me, as I've been slacking on my shopping. But I just ordered 4 things, and they all had different delivery dates before the weekend, so maybe it's just the items you selected are to far away?