This Really Annoys Me Pet Peeve Thread

[Schlenkerla]

People who talk in public on wireless mobile headsets. I was at Wal-Mart yesterday as some doofus was describing the vegetables to the other person on the phone in the produce area. He was rather loud. Its not like he needed help picking out veges, he was talking like there was somebody their with him shopping.

Later he was in meat section doing the same thing. Then in the check-out line. I wanted to turn around and tell him to STFU already. Nobody thinks you're cool on your stupid ****ing headset.

Its almost as bad as the moron who talks on their speaker phone in public.

 

[GrogNerd]

& speaking of our Board of Supervisors: approved a measure to bring minor league baseball to our area, built up a little commercial area for it (including an Alamo Drafthouse & World of Beer) and even had an owner bringing in a team, the Loudoun Hounds

turns out it was total scam/payola from the get-go. team and construction companies bankrupt.

still adding on to that commercial area, seems to be doing well with more than a few restaurants & shops going in (&, in the case of the Redskins-themed restaurant, Hail & Hog, going out) and more on the way

so, the land formerly reserved for the ball park? now zoned to become a parking lot, completed around 2019

Annoying Pet Peeves: no baseball in Loudoun. and 2 years to build a parking lot?

bright side: I can watch first-run movies while drinking a craft, usually local, beer while feasting on a pizza and knowing if anyone talks or texts, they will get their asses booted, zero tolerance

 

[soccerdad]

Dude - it's Kentucky ! WTH are you expecting ?

 

[CGVT]

When there is a sign on a business/office/etc door that says "Will be back in X amount of time".

If it says "Back in 30 minutes" how the hell do you know how long ago the person put the sign out?

Was it 25 minutes ago?
Was it five minutes ago?

Who the hell knows? Put a time on the damn sign.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I generally find the fact that the system to be biased towards over-withholding of taxes such that nearly everyone gets a "refund" each year to be a pernicious form of social engineering. It's terrible IMHO that most people look forward to tax day because of the check they'll get instead of reflecting on how much they've already had withheld.

So I usually look at owing a small amount at the end of the year as a positive thing. It allows me to grumble and kvetch, giving the act of "filing my taxes" the roughly appropriate amount of dread.

This year, though (due to major changes in my filing status in 2016), I'm saddled with 7 grand in taxes due. I'm way beyond grumbling.

 

[soccerdad]

Get you some airline miles for that 7 large. Maybe not on United.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Get you some airline miles for that 7 large. Maybe not on United.

I hadn't even thought of that... But apparently they charge you 2-3% for paying the IRS with a credit card. So while I could get some American miles for it and then just pay off the balance, it would still cost me extra to do that.

 

[hio3791]

I'm sure this has been mentioned but it's worth saying again. When people shorten words. It's not cute, it's not funny

It's dinner, not "din". Yes I'm referring to a post from another thread here on HBT.

 

[CGVT]

I generally find the fact that the system to be biased towards over-withholding of taxes such that nearly everyone gets a "refund" each year to be a pernicious form of social engineering. It's terrible IMHO that most people look forward to tax day because of the check they'll get instead of reflecting on how much they've already had withheld.

So I usually look at owing a small amount at the end of the year as a positive thing. It allows me to grumble and kvetch, giving the act of "filing my taxes" the roughly appropriate amount of dread.

This year, though (due to major changes in my filing status in 2016), I'm saddled with 7 grand in taxes due. I'm way beyond grumbling.

I feel your pain.
I had to write a check for 5k last year. I didn't want to have to do that again so I changed all of my withholdings. I got a refund of about 5k this year. (I also made a lot less money, but that is another story...)
I am not delusional enough to think that the government is giving me free money. I know it is mine. I know that I could put it to better use. I know that the "smart" people don't let the government hold on to their money, but I also know if it had been in my paycheck, I would have pissed it away throughout the year. I like the fact that I could take a lump sum and throw it into my savings account at the beginning of the year. I think I'll keep it this way.

 

[GrogNerd]

taking me 4 years to dig out of my tax screwup and the BigHair is still giving me sh!t for it

 

[CGVT]

taking me 4 years to dig out of my tax screwup and the BigHair is still giving me sh!t for it

About the same here. I retired as an Master Chief with 30 years in early 2013 and got a decent job 2014. I didn't have them withhold enough from my retirement or the new job. My wife (programmer) changed jobs and doubled her pay in 2015. I wrote checks to the IRS for 2014 and 2015. The 2015 check really hurt so I changed it. I'd much rather have a no interest savings account and get the money back than have to write a check at the end of the year.

 

[Ron0126]

I read and lurk here a lot and figure I'm too green to post anything (I've learned a lot though) but I can post about today's biggest annoyance:

Labels on wine bottles. More specifically, the glue.

A guy just down the road has started a full fledged winery and has bottles galore free for the taking (picked up 120 three days ago) but they all have labels ... and yes, I've read the label removing thread.

Currently soaking them in chlorine free Oxy-Clean and many just floated to the top of the water. Others ... well, they're just EVIL.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I read and lurk here a lot and figure I'm too green to post anything (I've learned a lot though) but I can post about today's biggest annoyance:

Labels on wine bottles. More specifically, the glue.

A guy just down the road has started a full fledged winery and has bottles galore free for the taking (picked up 120 three days ago) but they all have labels ... and yes, I've read the label removing thread.

Currently soaking them in chlorine free Oxy-Clean and many just floated to the top of the water. Others ... well, they're just EVIL.

Oxy Clean is my go to cleaner for bottles. It's also a good soak for plastic fermentors. Takes that yellow tinged stain out.

Try taking paint off bottles. That's near impossible to remove.

 

[Brewenstein]

Oxy Clean is my go to cleaner for bottles. It's also a good soak for plastic fermentors. Takes that yellow tinged stain out.

Try taking paint off bottles. That's near impossible to remove.

Concentrated Star San will take paint off of some bottles. I know it takes it off of Stone bottles. I think you need to use it 5x stronger than when used as a sanitizer.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Concentrated Star San will take paint off of some bottles. I know it takes it off of Stone bottles. I think you need to use it 5x stronger than when used as a sanitizer.

Good to know.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Car dealers. As if their reputation wasn't bad enough.

I'm in the market for a car. Due to schedule, I am available this Sunday (Easter) to look at and potentially buy a car, as I've narrowed down models and I'm looking at SPECIFIC used vehicles that catch my interest.

So I call a dealership in San Diego to find out if they're open. I don't give them my phone number, but to be polite did give them my first name. Despite them trying to keep me on the phone once I realized they're closed Sunday to try to rope me in further, I get off the phone.

Then, two hours later I get a call from the same dealership. They must have used caller ID to get my phone number, copied down my name, and then decided it was time to give me a follow-up call.

Sorry, dealer... Now I'm pretty darn sure I'll NEVER buy a car from you. It's not like it's hard to find alternatives here in SoCal.

 

[hio3791]

CarMax. If you're in the market for a used car and there's one near you, I'd recommend them.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Car dealers. As if their reputation wasn't bad enough.

I'm in the market for a car. Due to schedule, I am available this Sunday (Easter) to look at and potentially buy a car, as I've narrowed down models and I'm looking at SPECIFIC used vehicles that catch my interest.

So I call a dealership in San Diego to find out if they're open. I don't give them my phone number, but to be polite did give them my first name. Despite them trying to keep me on the phone once I realized they're closed Sunday to try to rope me in further, I get off the phone.

Then, two hours later I get a call from the same dealership. They must have used caller ID to get my phone number, copied down my name, and then decided it was time to give me a follow-up call.

Sorry, dealer... Now I'm pretty darn sure I'll NEVER buy a car from you. It's not like it's hard to find alternatives here in SoCal.

I assume you saw the caller id. You should have answered the phone like this and laid into him right from the get go like you're white trash.

Pick up the phone swearing......mother effing piece ah $hit..... Bitchin' about Smith & Wesson.

Then start telling him you shot the GDF ****** because she won't get you a beer. That she's a worthless whore and her a$$ is too fat. That you didn't like them horse teeth either. Ask him if he knows where to score some coke. (After a bit of a pause) Then ask him why the flock he called.

Hello, hello, hello...WTF

Bet they never call you back.

 

[Zuljin]

It's a car dealer. Of course he knows where to score coke. Bwarbiany would be on the hook of another sale.

 

[Zuljin]

CarMax. If you're in the market for a used car and there's one near you, I'd recommend them.

Yeah?

 

[hio3791]

Yeah?

Yes?

I'm not affiliated with CarMax but I've bought my last 2 vehicles from them. There's no sale pressure as the employees aren't on commission.

After a terrible experience at a "traditional" dealership 9yrs ago, I'll not shop in one again.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I've shopped for a car at Cadillac, Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus. None of those places were pressuring me. I walked out of each place without being apprehended either. Nearly all of them asked me to come back if I had questions.

I eventually bought a fully loaded Lexus 300H for $60k. They would NOT negotiate at all. That's the price take it or leave it. No leaving the room to talk to the boss. They only had the one car and knew it would sell at that price. It wasn't a bad experience.

My guess the attitude has a lot to do with brand of car they are selling.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I've bought two cars previously at Carmax, but generally I find them to be overpriced. I've been looking there, but the last one I looked at had the distinct smell of burning oil during the test drive, which is a bit of a turn-off for me when it comes to vehicles.

There's a lot to like about the "no-haggle" process, but if you're looking to get a deal, you're not going to find it at Carmax. They seem to have a consistently higher listing price than most other dealers for comparable year/mileage, and obviously you're not going to get any discount to the price by haggling. I'm looking more in the CPO range now, as most of the CPO vehicles have warranties despite being equal "listing" price to Carmax.

 

[Zuljin]

CPO means gently used and looked at real good. Me, too. Looking at replacing the Frontier with another Frontier. I mean, a CPO vehicle. /raises pinky. It comes with a power-train warranty. Cool. The engine block is warranted against cracking in two, so long as the myriad of other things that would probably go wrong first to cause that, don't.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

BTW that dealership now called me two more times, so on the last call I got a little bit nasty with them.

But one of the calls was interesting. On my first call I had told them (they're in San Diego) that I live up in Orange County, and that Easter was the only day I could get down there in the next 1-2 weeks. So on the second call the guy was saying that he'd drive the car north for me to look at it when I had time.

Sounds nice, right? He's going above and beyond.

But not necessarily. I've taken numerous classes on persuasion, and one of the best ways to persuade someone is to give them something. Essentially if you do something nice for someone, it creates a subconscious debt in that person and they're more likely to do what you want them to do.

Obviously if someone takes the time to drive a car from San Diego to where I live, it makes me seem rude if I just take a look and say "nah, I don't like it". And even if I do like it, it makes it harder to bargain the guy down. After all, *I* was the first one calling with interest in the car, then he went *out of his way* to make it available to me. Am I going to be as effective getting that extra $500-1000 out of the deal if I'm [subconsciously] thinking he's doing me a favor?

This applies to Carmax too. They have their easy transfer policies where any vehicle within a reasonable distance is transferred for free from another dealer to you. You like a certain vechicle that's 60 miles away? Well just call Carmax, and they'll have it on your local lot ready to look at in a few days, "reserved" for you. Again, you have already picked a vehicle, you've already emotionally invested in it, and then Carmax did something to make it "easy" for you. I'd say conversion rates for vehicles that are transferred are VERY high. Had that vehicle I drove on Wednesday night not smelled like it was burning oil, I very well would have come home with it *despite* the fact that I know Carmax is overpriced. After all, I had asked the salesman about it once, but someone else transferred it, and then he had found it for me again a week later after the other sale fell through (gee, I wonder why it fell through lol).

This is why I try to deal with car dealerships on *MY* terms. And why it makes me doubly angry when they pestered me with phone calls despite me never even giving them my phone number.

 

[GrogNerd]

Tell them to call again if they wish to get blasted on social media

 

[shelly_belly]

Dang! $60K on a car? I need a better job.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Dang! $60K on a car? I need a better job.

It's a Lexus hybrid. Full navigation package with mobile integration for multiple cell phones. Heated and air conditioned seats. Lumbar and leg support. Heated steering wheel, raise & lower rear shade, retracting back shades. 16 speaker sound system. Sun roof. Leather seats, leather dash, and bamboo trim. Has parking assist. Has sensors all around the car. Detects cars in your blind spot.

It's definitely a sweet ride. Best MPG I've gotten is 47 mpg driving to Florida. It has 3 driving modes; ECO, Normal and Sport. It gets up to speed pretty fast on the highway in sport mode.

 

[CGVT]

For 60K it should come with hot and cold running *****.

 

[Zuljin]

It looks like a cylon.