just back from a certain DIY shed . . .

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:04:47 +0100, "Bill Wright"
wrote:


"Marsbar" wrote in message
...
The job he does might be perfectly OK for his situation. It's not
something you are in a position to comment on.

OK then.

Bill

IOne thing I've noticed with newsgroups is the occasional 'unknown'
heckling from the cheap seats about how the 'experts' don't know what
they're talking about. I think it's one person under different
guises.

Marky P.

you didn't feel the urge to point out the error of his ways before he made
his purchase then??

"Marky P" wrote in message
...
IOne thing I've noticed with newsgroups is the occasional 'unknown'
heckling from the cheap seats about how the 'experts' don't know what
they're talking about. I think it's one person under different
guises.

I've a feeling that the expression 'those in the cheap seats' will be very
useful shorthand around here from now on.

Bill

"Piers James" wrote in message
...
you didn't feel the urge to point out the error of his ways before he made
his purchase then??

Yes, I felt a tremendously strong urge to do that. But just lately I've
become so old and tired and resigned to the evils of the world that I have
lost some of my evangelical zeal. If there'd been a good alternative
supplier nearby I would have simply suggested that he should go there, but
the nearest was across town. I could have supplied him out of my van in the
car park for half the cost and with much better gear, but that would have
looked like I was trying to sell him something.

All the above is a pompous way of saying, "I just couldn't be bothered."

Bill

Bill Wright wrote:
. . . . where I stood silently, pretending to study the door bell display,
as a man examined the television aerials and made his selection. He
struggled to decide between the basic wideband one and the 'high gain'
wideband one, finally chosing the latter. This was in an area where wideband
aerials aren't needed. He looked at the different masts and selected one
that was not strong enough for the aerial. He then went on to pile a tiny
wall bracket, a 20m length of coax (the old type with very poor screening),
four plastic plug/coachbolt sets, and a few other small items on his
trolley. I think he would have spent about £60.

The job will be a poor one even if he installs everything expertly, because
the aerial is of a type that I know to be a very poor performer, the cable
is terrible stuff, and the fixings are totally inadequate.

Speaking as an ignoramus, can you tell me:

* did the shed sell the materials needed to do a decent job?
* what the above would have cost?

I'm not trolling, I'm genuinely curious.

BugBear

"bugbear" wrote in message
...
The job will be a poor one even if he installs everything expertly,
because the aerial is of a type that I know to be a very poor performer,
the cable is terrible stuff, and the fixings are totally inadequate.

Speaking as an ignoramus, can you tell me:

* did the shed sell the materials needed to do a decent job?
No. The do not sell aerials that work, or masts that will provide adequate
support for the larger aerial, or decent cable. Even the cable clips will
bend and break if the wind blows.


* what the above would have cost?
What this guy paid about £60 for could have been replaced by good quality
gear for £40 including a healthy retail mark up and VAT.


I'm not trolling,

No reason to suppose you are, dear boy.

I'm genuinely curious.
I think I must be as well because people stare at me in the street.

Bill

The thing to remember here is that sooooo many people do their houses up via
Home Depot and its clones : new kitchens ,fireplaces,bathrooms,fitted
wardrobes even extensions - it is all so easy - they do a fantastic DIY
job (they think) and add £squillions to the value of their homes. Sure
enough Tom and Doris sent along by the estate agent are suitably impressed
and take on the magnificent pile with a large mortgage (from Countrywide!!!)
only to discover on closer examination what a pup they have bought.

Isn't this why the Government has now stepped in to ensure that at least the
electrical wiring is professional!

Moral of the story? - doing it properly is NOT cheap because a GOOD
professional is expensive.... and the value of your salary actually buys a
lot less than you think it should.

In article ,
Norbert Wittgenfeld wrote:


The thing to remember here is that sooooo many people do their houses up
via Home Depot and its clones : new kitchens
,fireplaces,bathrooms,fitted wardrobes even extensions - it is all so
easy - they do a fantastic DIY job (they think) and add £squillions to
the value of their homes. Sure enough Tom and Doris sent along by the
estate agent are suitably impressed and take on the magnificent pile
with a large mortgage (from Countrywide!!!) only to discover on closer
examination what a pup they have bought.

Isn't this why the Government has now stepped in to ensure that at least
the electrical wiring is professional!

but they haven't. Only wiring in kitchens and bathrooms - & in the garden.


Moral of the story? - doing it properly is NOT cheap because a GOOD
professional is expensive.... and the value of your salary actually buys
a lot less than you think it should.

Even a good amateur is expensive because he will use decent materials.

--
From KT24 - in "Leafy Surrey"

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11

On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:49:57 +0100, charles
mused:

In article ,
Norbert Wittgenfeld wrote:


The thing to remember here is that sooooo many people do their houses up
via Home Depot and its clones : new kitchens
,fireplaces,bathrooms,fitted wardrobes even extensions - it is all so
easy - they do a fantastic DIY job (they think) and add £squillions to
the value of their homes. Sure enough Tom and Doris sent along by the
estate agent are suitably impressed and take on the magnificent pile
with a large mortgage (from Countrywide!!!) only to discover on closer
examination what a pup they have bought.

Isn't this why the Government has now stepped in to ensure that at least
the electrical wiring is professional!

but they haven't. Only wiring in kitchens and bathrooms - & in the garden.

And there's still nothing to say it is professional.

Moral of the story? - doing it properly is NOT cheap because a GOOD
professional is expensive.... and the value of your salary actually buys
a lot less than you think it should.

Even a good amateur is expensive because he will use decent materials.
--
Regards,
Stuart.

In message , Norbert
Wittgenfeld wrote


Isn't this why the Government has now stepped in to ensure that at least the
electrical wiring is professional!

All the legislation has done is to increase the price charged by the
"professionals". As a result more jobs will be botched by the
incompetent and by the cowboys.

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com