Page 5 of 6
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 1:48 pm
by Glyphdoctor
Did I miss something? Who is Robert?
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 1:51 pm
by newcastle
My dear Zooropa
I'm no psychologist but I do wonder whether your troubled childhood has led you to over-compensate in the manner of your responses. You said something along these lines in reply to Dusak.
But I'm too laid back to protract the discussion...interesting though it's been. Enough already
Yes...my enquiry regarding e-cigs was genuine (shame on you for thinking otherwise!)....because..* roll of the drums*....contrary to your assumptions I do smoke and, for reasons I won't go into here, would like to give up. I have in the past, through will power, and am not sure whether it's right just to duck the side-effects of smoking or deal with the nicotine addiction by quitting totally. If they're expensive...it would tip the balance in favour of the latter.
I also have to say that, when I've seen people puffing on these contraptions, it doesn't look at all "cool" (to me)...and, even at my advanced age, I am mindful of my image
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 1:56 pm
by newcastle
Glyphdoctor wrote:Did I miss something? Who is Robert?
I referred to an acquaintance of mine, Robert Lefever, earlier in this thread. He's a (quite famous) specialist in the.treatment of all sorts of addictions
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 2:14 pm
by Zooropa
Glyphdoctor wrote:Did I miss something? Who is Robert?
Hes is someone academic, who Newcastle knows who has been researching addiction.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 2:19 pm
by Zooropa
newcastle wrote:My dear Zooropa
I'm no psychologist but I do wonder whether your troubled childhood has led you to over-compensate in the manner of your responses. You said something along these lines in reply to Dusak.
No your not so perhaps you should refrain from suggesting it, you "may" cause offence.
Ive argued my point in a detailed and robust manner as i quite often do as have you, so no cheap shots please, its not big, its not clever and im doing my best not to take exception, disagree/argue with me fine, don't use personal admissions against me, i object.
But I'm too laid back to protract the discussion...interesting though it's been. Enough already
Yes...my enquiry regarding e-cigs was genuine (shame on you for thinking otherwise!)....because..* roll of the drums*....contrary to your assumptions I do smoke and, for reasons I won't go into here, would like to give up. I have in the past, through will power, and am not sure whether it's right just to duck the side-effects of smoking or deal with the nicotine addiction by quitting totally. If they're expensive...it would tip the balance in favour of the latter.
I didn't suggest it, i mentioned it as a potential possible reason not that it was the actual reason. And now you've slung a cheap shot in my direction im inclined not to.
I also have to say that, when I've seen people puffing on these contraptions, it doesn't look at all "cool" (to me)...and, even at my advanced age, I am mindful of my image
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 3:08 pm
by newcastle
Zooropa wrote:Dusak wrote:Of all the examples of an off the cuff cultures I could of used, I had to go and choose smoking.
I worked it out a long time ago that you zooropa was the king of the proverbial 'dog with the bone.'
You have the knack of driving people crazy with your continual point prodding on posts. I will admit defeat on this one because my forehead is now sore with the continued smacking against the brick wall. Nit picking
You can always find a nit to pick at.
You and I are still buddies, but you are giving the unnamed one to much comeback ammunition. I feel as though I'm at Custer's last stand, or in this case, Dusaks. Don't forget it nears Xmas so a bit of heartfelt charity is in order me thinks.
You are correct my good sir and I can tell you that the reason why is I was a very timid child who used to let people walk all over me, it is a backlash against that and the people who did.
Sorry!
Although to be fair, it takes two to tango!
No great secret then...or bar room psychology required.
You make yourself look rather childish Zooropa...and a tad unpleasant...with your pettiness and inability to end a discussion on other than (what you perceive to be ) your terms. Even with Dusak I see you have to have a dig at the end.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 8:06 am
by Dusak
I have to say that I've met and spent time with Zooropa and he's OK by me. I have no problem with any little digs from people because at times I have hold of an absolutely ginormous shovel.
Mine is Teflon coated so no brown stuff will stick to it.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:36 am
by Glyphdoctor
I was considering buying some sambusek wrappers at KZ today. But the ones at the front of the freezer case seemed a bit soft, so I reached to the back, and those were soft. As were the hotdogs nearby. I suddenly realized the freezer case wasn't much colder than outside the freezer case. So I stepped back and looked up at the thermometer on the case. 18C.
It's clear the employees just don't give a damn about basic food safety. Buyer beware with this company.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:24 pm
by newcastle
Glyphdoctor wrote:I was considering buying some sambusek wrappers at KZ today. But the ones at the front of the freezer case seemed a bit soft, so I reached to the back, and those were soft. As were the hotdogs nearby. I suddenly realized the freezer case wasn't much colder than outside the freezer case. So I stepped back and looked up at the thermometer on the case. 18C.
It's clear the employees just don't give a damn about basic food safety. Buyer beware with this company.
I've occasionally bought frozen items only to find obvious signs of them having thawed and been re-frozen. And this in 'major' supermarkets
A worrying level of ignorance....and maybe not that uncommon with power cut issues.
There might be a better chance of getting the message through to managers/staff by training on this issue than, say, driving safety
)
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 2:45 pm
by Glyphdoctor
Absolutely not, unfortunately.
One time about 6 years ago I had a problem at Metro. My husband decided to send an email to them to complain, not expecting any sort of response.
Within about 2 minutes, he got a call, from the director of employee training for the entire Mansour Group, which runs both Metro and KZ. The two of us spent an entire hour or more on the phone with her detailing all of the problems we encountered at both supermarkets in our neighborhood. She promised us she would deal with the issues and do further training of the employees concerning the issues we had raised. She sent the manager of the local Metro to us bearing two bottles of fresh juice and fresh Belgian chocolates. It seemed they really cared...
Not only were none of the issues dealt with as she had promised, about six months later we came across a news article from a few months before that the manager of the two local outlets had been dragged off to the local police station for health violations at the two supermarkets.
Last year I had an issue with a checker. She tried to stiff me on my change and I noticed she had done the same with the person who had been in front of me in the line. It was only 25 piasters but the fact she had done it with not just me but the woman before me made it clear it was deliberate. I had a receipt with all the details of my transaction so I could refer to it in the complaint I sent. I got no response this time.
This is why I have no hope in these two chains of supermarkets. Even when you complain to the topmost levels of management nothing happens. And now the topmost levels don't even seem to care to respond anymore. Which is worse.
I'm not sure it's ignorance. But they are employees of a big chain. They just don't care. It's a job, and one they probably will leave in 6 months. I've gone to small local shops and had them actually refuse to sell me something that was sitting in a fridge because they told me that it was from two days before and therefore not fresh. But then the people running those shops may also own them, so they have their reputation to protect.
And power cuts are a possible factor, but not always. If they don't have space in the dairy case at KZ, they just stack the products next to it. They do the same with the meat in the Brazilian meat section sometimes too. And the deli section, if you get white cheese sometimes it is just sitting out, not from the chilled case.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:37 am
by Dusak
When in 40's supermarket I usually get a sweety in lieu of my 25 piasters. One time it was like a juicy fruit which was quite nice tasting so next time I bought a bag full. I, out of curiosity, worked out the price of each sweet in the bag, 5 piasters each!
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:35 am
by carrie
Some time ago I went in KZ and asked before I bought anything if they still did delivery, yes was the reply, 10le, So Ok did a load of shopping then went to the till to pay told them I wanted delivery. Paid my money got the change and then was asked for 10le for delivery I looked at my bill and there was the amount for 10le for delivery I pointed out that I had already paid. No Madam it's 20le. I told them that I wasn't paying anymore they had told me 10le when I went in and they had charged me 10le already but the email was on the receipt and that I would be contacting Head Office. Suddenly everything changed, So sorry Madam a mistake. Took me to the ferry for the 10 but how many others has it happened to those who can't read the receipt.
Noy good for the reputation of the store. The employees don't seem to care though.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:49 am
by newcastle
Dusak wrote:When in 40's supermarket I usually get a sweety in lieu of my 25 piasters. One time it was like a juicy fruit which was quite nice tasting so next time I bought a bag full. I, out of curiosity, worked out the price of each sweet in the bag, 5 piasters each!
I've been tempted to have a few sweeties in my pocket so I can tender one, in part, for the occasional bill of, say, 50.05 LE....when they want you to go fishing for a 5/10 piastre coin, or keep you hanging around whilst they sort out change for whatever note you have.
Occasionally you find a place where they take the rough with the smooth....but they're rare.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:03 am
by Dusak
carrie wrote:Some time ago I went in KZ and asked before I bought anything if they still did delivery, yes was the reply, 10le, So Ok did a load of shopping then went to the till to pay told them I wanted delivery. Paid my money got the change and then was asked for 10le for delivery I looked at my bill and there was the amount for 10le for delivery I pointed out that I had already paid. No Madam it's 20le. I told them that I wasn't paying anymore they had told me 10le when I went in and they had charged me 10le already but the email was on the receipt and that I would be contacting Head Office. Suddenly everything changed, So sorry Madam a mistake. Took me to the ferry for the 10 but how many others has it happened to those who can't read the receipt.
Noy good for the reputation of the store. The employees don't seem to care though.
I was told they had stopped it, then I was told they had reinstated it. Last Monday I decided to do a full monthly shop. Had twelve bags full so asked for the home delivery, which had always been 5Le, but I gave the driver 5Le as well, only to be told they do not do it any more. Where are the taxi's when you really need one and the ten thousand that stop at your feet thinking that you need one? Got one in the end but my three frozen chickens had began to soften and my frozen veg had by the time I got home. The thing about having so many bags of shopping on the pavement is that they just know that they can hike the price of the fare up in your desperation. 30Le to Karnak.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:11 am
by Glyphdoctor
I forgot to mention you can't even trust some of KZ's dry, packaged goods. About 2 months ago I bought a 5 kilo bag of rice but didn't open it right away because we still had some. When I finally got around to opening it, and dumped it into the storage container, I noticed it had a shiny appearance. The entire bag of rice was covered in some sort of odorless, tasteless layer of some mystery oil. Not only was I worried this would lead it to spoil, but my husband pointed out not all poisons have a taste or smell, so into the garbage can it went. I had by then already thrown out the receipt so I couldn't return it either.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 11:04 am
by newcastle
Glyphdoctor wrote:I forgot to mention you can't even trust some of KZ's dry, packaged goods. About 2 months ago I bought a 5 kilo bag of rice but didn't open it right away because we still had some. When I finally got around to opening it, and dumped it into the storage container, I noticed it had a shiny appearance. The entire bag of rice was covered in some sort of odorless, tasteless layer of some mystery oil. Not only was I worried this would lead it to spoil, but my husband pointed out not all poisons have a taste or smell, so into the garbage can it went. I had by then already thrown out the receipt so I couldn't return it either.
Your husband may well have hit upon the right interpretation.
Maybe KZ had become aware of your campaign of vilification and attempted to put and end to it (and you) in a rather drastic fashion
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:52 pm
by Glyphdoctor
By poison, I don't mean like intentional poison. He meant a substance that happens to be poisonous.
I have no campaign of vilification. It's a crap store. Some supermarkets are good, others are bad. That's just a fact. For example, our local Ahram outlet is so clean you could eat straight off their floor. The difference in the service and attention they provide to the customer is day and night with KZ. KZ loses about the half the business they could get from me by the horrible things I see and experience when I go in there. I still go there because they do have some things not available elsewhere, but if I can get it elsewhere, you better believe I buy it elsewhere.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 4:32 pm
by carrie
Tell me Glyph if you had retained the receipt and taken it back would they have refunded the money? I have bought milk from there that has been off, never bothered going back with it because I didn't think it would do any good, but I will try in future.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 5:55 pm
by Glyphdoctor
I just grabbed a receipt out of my purse. If you look at the bottom of the receipt you will see that it says if you keep the receipt, you can return stuff for exchange within 14 days, or fresh stuff within 24 hours. I would assume the milk would fall into the latter category.
Re: If the pharaohs still ruled Egypt today...
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 7:28 am
by Dusak
Two things I have to say on this. One, just because the KZ store in Cairo is iffy, that does not mean that the one in Luxor is just as bad. Yes, they have had their problems, but overall its not bad. Secondly, if the said rice was poisonous, which I doubt, then if the local custom of rooting through the rubbish bins is as active in Cairo as it is in Luxor, then you could of wiped out a whole family as they delightedly consumed their unexpected find.