I have had cotton underwear that lasted a decade or more. Now, I’m lucky if it survives a few washings or up to a year: shrinks, elastic separates from the fabric whose thickness is best measured in microns. I’m wearing an LL Bean fleece zippered jacket today, a gift from family. The pocket zippers have worn holes in the pockets (after one season) which are now made of some flimsy material that can not withstand contact with a metal zipper. My 20–30 y/o fleece jackets have no such problem, and the pockets are made of a tough fabric, showing no wear. This save me money how? Increases satisfaction? How? Really disgusting how poorly things are designed and constructed these days. I bought a pair of summer shorts. Fine. But…the button on the front is really a rivet such that you have metal on skin contact —unless you wear underwear up to your nipples. Idiots. So many people have metal allergies; esp. to nickel. (Who knows what this cheap metal is?) I use a piece of surgical tape over the metal to protect my skin.
@annr The problem is essentially corporate greed. Stuff is made over seas and the prices we pay here in the US are the same as if they were made here like that is their baseline. I remember Nike going to China..... okay, who cares right? Things were supposed to be cheaper as a result. I haven't seen it. Don't buy Nike stuff any more. I have shifted to Duluth under ware over a year ago and have been pleased with what I have. There was sticker shock.... but I wanted to try some out, did, and ordered more when they were on sale. Now I get emails from them just about every day..... Smartphones.... they piss me off too. No competition on price. Zero. You get one through a cell phone company and you pay full retail price in most cases and of course they expect you to spread the payments over two years or the typical contract time. I suspect they are making a killing on them... at least 50%. All you have to do is look at computer prices and smart phones (little computers) are some how special.
Toothbrushes are now available for a monthly subscription fee. It's the new business model. Are undergarments next?
What would be do without UPS? toothbrush360.... Maybe with under wear, we can just send them off to be cleaned (like a diaper service) and if there is wear, they replace them and return to you.....
Is this like fruit of the month club? Something you give your boss for a Christmas present? Or the person with bad hygiene?
Solicitors. We used to have a sign at the front gate: no solicitors. Seems they couldn’t read. Lately they are “selling” electricity, solar panels, and home improvements. Personally, if I am in the market for said service, I like to initiate the contact. Just now, a guy knocks on the door (no porch light on inviting people), it’s well past sunset, cold and rainy, he’s uninvited and expects me to discuss electricity.…… with a stranger… I’m not standing outside in the rain, cold and dark to discuss electricity, nor am I inviting a stranger into my home to discuss electricity. This door-to-door pitch really works? It must! BTW. Years ago there was a scam when the homeowner answered the front door. Busy at the front door, the owner would not notice the thief (partner of guy at front door) entering/exiting side or rear door with the “take.”
If this was the electricity or natural gas re-seller knocking, apparently it works exceptionally well ... on the uninformed, on those angry with their electricity bills (who is not?), on trusting seniors who know no one will lie to them, on anyone in fact - especially on those who can least afford to pay 30% more for their electricity service ... which, in my experience, is the average additional cost of "signing up" with such thieves. Excel is my friend and I've done the homework As a community legal worker (for a brief period) working at a legal clinic for geared-to-income clients, I encountered a lot of people who signed up, door to door ... and paid the price for at least 5 years of contracted coverage. The re-seller guaranteed a price (high for current conditions but touted as a great savings over the long term) - this is gambling, pure and simple, and like any offer that is too good to be true, of course it was. 30 % more - and I analysed a lot of accounts of victims trying to get out of these contracts. Get out - ha! The client that most moved me was a woman, ill and still recovering from recent cancer surgery - she answered the door and was convinced to sign up for both her home and modest rural business with a re-seller. The business was eventually drained by this additional cost and lost and a load limiter was placed on the home - so it meant a cold winter for an ill woman and her husband. On one call to prevent the complete disconnect of the home I had to inform that the client was on oxygen and this was respected. The cancer had spread and was now terminal. On speaking to the re-seller in an effort to get the contract cancelled, I did lose it. I said "Give your head a shake - she is dying!" The contract was not cancelled. All I can say is "tell everyone you know not to sign at the door or say yes over the phone - to anything" They come to your door because you will not go to theirs and they want to snake-charm you. Snakes. My humble opinion.
@taldesta Without conversing with the man at the door, I can't say specifically what/how he was selling--other than he mentioned electricity-- I didn't give him a chance. Since I already have electricity through the main utility company, I would assume you are correct: he would be a re-seller, or worse, and I don't know how that works. I have heard bits of these pitches, and they portray themselves as a competitor to the main utility provider, and competition = lower prices. The only vehicle I noticed was an idling unmarked 4-door sedan, not a utility truck. I'm never sure about opening the door in these instances. Are they casing the house based on vehicle presence and location? I like to let them know I am home in that case...Are they trying to get a look inside? Would they be interested in me or my property? (This is a very quiet street mainly limited to residents, not a through street.) Your story is heartbreaking and sickening, and I agree that you gave excellent advice about dealing with these predators. Yes, an insult to snakes!
Surprisingly enough is that if the re-seller (utility) bill is not paid, it is the main utility company that disconnects service - this is the experience on this end. Got you coming and going. It seemed to be in the interest of 'competition' that the main utilities here would not warn customers ... nor did anyone else take on the responsibility until it was already far too late for the consumer.
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That is why or partially why some states are passing hands free cell phone use on the highway. I personally try to minimize my cell phone use when I am driving. Tailgating out of carelessness is a big one for me too. Sometimes tailgates are trying to make a statement.... like move to the other lane that is slower or whatever.
I never have tailgaters for long. I slow down significantly and they usually pass me pretty quickly. I wouldn't try that in Madison, and never on The Beltline at any time! Our "commuters" will make an insidious game out of playing death dealing bumper cars with any innocent traveler who dares to go slower that 75 MPH on our clearly marked 45 MPH highways. And since it's Madison, the cops will ticket you...
