Quote from: ChrissyRyan on February 03, 2025, 09:27:41 AMAldi has introduced a £10 payment charge for customers entering its checkout-free store in Greenwich, which is east of London.  Whatever you do not spend is refunded.

That is interesting.

Is this another "pay to give me money" scam?

Like the "convenience charge," my property manager adds to my rent if I pay by card. It isn't convenient for me, so I write a check free of charge.

So for £10 you can walk out with £100 of goods?

From generated AI summary:

"Aldi has implemented a £10 pre-payment system for shoppers entering its checkout-free store in Greenwich. This pre-payment, or deposit, is taken from the customer's payment card before they can enter the store. The £10 amount is deducted from the final shopping cost when the customer leaves.

However, if the customer does not spend at least £10, they may have to wait several days or longer for a refund, as the timing of the refund is controlled by the customer's card issuer. This system applies to both app users and those who use contactless card payments."


Articles are available online that explain this in more detail. . .  Just do a Web search.

The stores may work similarly to Amazon Go stores in Seattle.  There you walk in, get your items, and walk out.  Computers bill your arranged payment method that you setup on your first visit to the store.

For more information, search online for Amazon Go.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on February 03, 2025, 12:50:28 PMFrom generated AI summary:

"Aldi has implemented a £10 pre-payment system for shoppers entering its checkout-free store in Greenwich. This pre-payment, or deposit, is taken from the customer's payment card before they can enter the store. The £10 amount is deducted from the final shopping cost when the customer leaves.

However, if the customer does not spend at least £10, they may have to wait several days or longer for a refund, as the timing of the refund is controlled by the customer's card issuer. This system applies to both app users and those who use contactless card payments."


Articles are available online that explain this in more detail. . .  Just do a Web search.

I'm starting to hate technology.  Soon we won't have cash and we won't be able to buy a newspaper without the government knowing who bought it, when and where.  I think that we should vote with our feet and stop buying from businesses that mess us around.

During the periods when I lived in England as a child, my family were among the majority that did not have a refrigerator, a telephone or central heating and I spent several weeks in a house without a bath or indoor toilet.  Home computers and mobile 'phones were science fiction.  To keep food cool, we put it on a slab of stone in the pantry.  There must still be many who remember the same.  We don't need all that stuff.

I do have some woolly mammoth hair but I bought it, I didn't find it on the slab of stone in the pantry, honest.

Quote from: MaryT on February 03, 2025, 05:12:02 PMI'm starting to hate technology.  Soon we won't have cash and we won't be able to buy a newspaper without the government knowing who bought it, when and where.  I think that we should vote with our feet and stop buying from businesses that mess us around.

During the periods when I lived in England as a child, my family were among the majority that did not have a refrigerator, a telephone or central heating and I spent several weeks in a house without a bath or indoor toilet.  Home computers and mobile 'phones were science fiction.  To keep food cool, we put it on a slab of stone in the pantry.  There must still be many who remember the same.  We don't need all that stuff.

I do have some woolly mammoth hair but I bought it, I didn't find it on the slab of stone in the pantry, honest.

For that matter, although we always had a television in England, I spent part of my childhood and all of my teens until well into my twentieth year, in countries that didn't have a television service.

I do want to keep my telly, though.

Quote from: davina61 on January 24, 2025, 05:31:16 AM... I HATE computers

Me too.  I worked as a programmer so I have an excuse ... as did everybody who used my programs.  I would advocate smashing them all (the computers) but then how would we log in to Susan's?

There is a lot of good technology and a lot is put to good use.

There is some questionable technology and then using it can be questionable.

My grandparents that lived in the middle of common land had no main water or electric, they did build a bathroom on the side of the house eventually. They sold soft fruit and cherries from the orchard and gardens and grew their own veg, kept chickens and ran a tea garden. Home made scones and cake with home made jam and the best cup of tea made with the well water (Malvern water) . I can remember the range with the huge kettles steaming on it . They did have mains water and electric in the end.

Food shop day again, good job as run out of bread and cheese---------
 Good frost this morning, looks like we have the same for next week as well but at least its dry and will give the ground a chance of drying out after all the storms.

I will say this here but if anyone want to post this thought your welcome.
 To all Americans remember you great grandparents and grandparents gave their lives fighting against this scum.

My great-grandfather left Canada and came to the US. He married a local gal in New York State. No visas, no customs inspections, no border security. My whole family are illegal aliens! 

They weren't even Canadians. The family left Leeds, England when great-grandpapa was only three years old. They did go through customs and immigration in Ontario, then settled in the small town of Schomberg near Toronto. Many of the family are buried in a family plot in a cemetery in Toronto.

Lots of children were "exported" to Canada to be "adopted" , was child labour.

Well its been 8 years since I found this wonderful place and as much as I "dont need it" for help I will continue to ramble on . Bless you all, as Dave Allen used to say may your god go with you.

Stayed home, its cold and dank. Might get a "job" doing some wiring on a mk2 Ford Escort that has a Zetec ST 190 engine swop. Waiting on a phone call from the owner, quite technical I suspect as has an after market ECU.
Cooked a Daalcha (meat and veg) using beef chunks and courgette, batch cook that will last 4 or 5 days.

While stationed in Germany, there was a guy in my unit who would put Porsche engines in Volkswagens. He would find wrecked Porsches and VWs with blown engines and do the swap. He had a nice side business doing that. 

These days its cheaper to upgrade the VW engine like we did with the drag beetle, you an make a 2000cc for less than the cost of a Porche lump.

Quote from: davina61 on February 07, 2025, 09:54:49 AMStayed home, its cold and dank. Might get a "job" doing some wiring on a mk2 Ford Escort that has a Zetec ST 190 engine swop. Waiting on a phone call from the owner, quite technical I suspect as has an after market ECU.
Cooked a Daalcha (meat and veg) using beef chunks and courgette, batch cook that will last 4 or 5 days.

Is a Rover the same as a Range Rover?

Do you ever work on 16 cylinder engines?

"Well its been 8 years since I found this wonderful place and as much as I "don't need it" for help I will continue to ramble on." and this place is better for your company Davina!