Whaaattt?

Not truly funny, @Tidemark .....just the last paragraph!

If nothing else it'll be an anniversary you'll remember

 

I always dread things turning up damaged or with bits missing, as you just know you are in for a long faff-about!

Still, half a pergola is progress of sorts, @Tidemark.

 

Not a problem on the same level as @Tidemark but I was building a wardrobe across the full width of the bedroom with 4 sliding doors. Total length of 13 feet. Delivery van arrives and unloads the doors. They were fine but I did wonder how they managed to get the single piece, 13 feet long, top runner into the back of a van no more than 10 feet long. I got the answer when a long, thin package was removed from the van - folded in half! Thankfully it only took a few days for the new one to arrive, in the back of a much larger vehicle.

 

I do not live anywhere there. was visiting for a wedding. We do not have any smog issues where I live . Would not want to live there, the traffic and congestion is nuts. I am a country girl.

 

My neighbour is not the most tactful of people. He works in an industry where physical strength and an intimidating manner are often called for. We get along best when we see little of each other.

 

We don't have smog where I live, but the emissions test is part of the annual MOT test that all vehicles over three years old have to have.
Most European countries have similar tests.
Oh yes I remember now the US has state and national regulations and bicker endlessly (generally wasting money on lawyers while doing so) whether something is under the control of the state or the national regulations.

 

One big difference between the UK and USA is that vehicle emission limits are standard throughout the UK but I suspect are controlled and set at State level in the USA. I'm aware that some vehicles could, at one time, be sold pretty much everywhere in the USA with the exception of California due to California's stricter emission rules.

 

I think its more to do with climate.
Many cities in California have suffered from vehicle generated smog for years, bit like we get when we get the occasional high pressure system that hangs around a few days, especially with S. E. winds.

 

Its easy enough to get a credit card, if fa ct they throw them at you if you apply.
Even offer you ones to pay off your other one.

Only use mine online and as @fairygirl says often via pay pal, it just makes life so much easier when buying online and the contract is between the company you are buying from and the credit card company, so better than a debit card.

I dont speak German so not sure what the neighbour said.
I take it he's a traffic warden then.

 

He is legally entitled to manhandle you in the course of his duties and not be arrested for it.

 

He's what's called a Bouuncer I assume, retired traffic warden.

 

Yes, I've used the paypal service on one occasion and the seller paid up once they knew paypal was involved.
Its not worth them getting any bad publicity.

 

That's interesting @shiney , re the PayPal thing. I'll be aware of that in future! I've rarely had problems with companies online until the two recent incidents, but I used it for both of those, so it probably wouldn't have made any difference.
It's a very rare occasion for me to buy anything over 100 quid though
I've rarely had problems with ebay either, but if a seller is 'unhelpful' I make sure people know about it. I also praise them when they've been really good, because it's easy to complain about everything nowadays, but we should also do the opposite IMO. I do it for physical purchases too, because I know how easy it is to be taken for granted in your job.