Customer Service in the UK & particularly London

Once, whilst browsing for a shirt in Next, a shop assistant approached me with the following:
"Can I help you with anything pal?"
I looked at him and responded, "Pal?!?!"
"Errr, Sir then?"

Most customer service in the UK is rubbish. And no I'm not advocating the cloying, "have a nice day, how can I make your experience amazing," fake smile crap that so many seem to have adopted as an attempt at it. I'm talking about simple, unobtrusive, understated, knowledgeable assistance.

Negotiation

If you think you can shout and scream at somebody and that that somebody will then happily do what you want them to; you are mistaken....

Frank Zappa (RIP)

Frank Zappa once said that the most common element in the universe wasn't hydrogen, it was stupidity.

The case rests m'Lud...

Tailgating drivers

Tailgating Drivers:

Do you really think that by driving right up the arse of the car in front it will get you anywhere that much quicker?? Or will make the driver in front think, "Gosh that guy behind me is driving so close, he must be really important. Therefore I shall speed up / get out of his way at my earliest opportunity so that he may continue on his breakneck journey to get to his important place/meeting."

No. I actually think you are a twat and I will slow down simply to irritate you.


If I can't see your wheels or numberplate in my rear-view mirror, then you are too close. Moron.

Shirts - labels sewn into clothing in general

Why oh why, do manufacturers of shirts, t-shirts, knitwear, underwear, etc, etc. Continue to put labels right where they irritate the back of the neck? Primark seem to have got it right: their labels are printed onto a lot of their items. Obviously this is done for cost reasons but with the added benefit of not irritating the hell out of you whilst wearing it.

Planning permission is not highways permission

Builders/developers, your planning permission does not give you the right to decimate the public highway by running construction traffic across it and walking away as if it is someone else's problem.

Remember that when you do your budget forecasts and be sure to include the full cost of remedial works and Local Authority fees etc, etc. If in doubt ASK. Use your common sense...

Biodiesel

Check this out: www.purefuels.co.uk

Biodiesel.
In North London
13p cheaper than Tesco.
Nuff said

Toilets - officially crap

Having spent the sum total of 9 hours trying to fix, first the flush mechanism, then having to replace all of the interior gubbins in the cistern, (due to the long-encrusted seals being now broken, plus the modern fittings are all cheap, nasty plastic that doesn't quite match the old stuff) then having to refit the, "doughnut," washer three times. It came to mind that the design of toilets and plumbing in general is utter crap. No pun intended.

Surely in the 21st century there should be a more elegant & simple solution. Anyone? Please?!!

Some real common sense

Check out this link for a great example of what I'm talking about http://www.badscience.net/
Also read the book Bad Science.
(Superb section about Gillian McKeith and how she's not a doctor at all! http://www.badscience.net/category/gillian-mckeith/ )

Developer? Builder? Architect?

Developers / Builders / Designers / Architects.

Remember when you build something: you do not build it in isolation.
Consider how you are going to match up to the public highway and the area around your site. No matter what your planning permission says, the local highways authority will need to be involved.

The two authorities are not one and the same thing...