Things that are crap without being cheap

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1. an Elton john show

2. restaurants in London

3. weddings

― Maniana (emekars), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:36 (eighteen years ago)

HUMVEES

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:37 (eighteen years ago)

4. Diamonds

― Laurel (Laurel), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:39 (eighteen years ago)

6. LCD televisions

― there to preserve disorder (kenan), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:40 (eighteen years ago)

why weddings?

7. War

― reverto levidensis (blueski), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:46 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think weddings are crap by themselves, but the industry as a whole sure is.

― Laurel (Laurel), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

What's the difference between this and the "things that are inexplicably expensive" thread?

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

It's newer.

― there to preserve disorder (kenan), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

It is explicable why a humvee is expensive, doesn't make it any less crap.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

"Things that are inexplicably novel"

― there to preserve disorder (kenan), Saturday, 6 January 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

the Iraq war

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Saturday, 6 January 2007 18:59 (eighteen years ago)

Champagne

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Saturday, 6 January 2007 18:59 (eighteen years ago)

Though that's relative, champagne's okay I guess but almost always disappointing. For 1/2 the price you can get a great red wine.

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

Agreed.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

Agreed, I'd rather be drinking a £20 red wine than a £40 champagne. (although if you are looking for a champagne of quality at a good price, check out Bruno Paillard, especially the Rosé)

For white Fizz, I am a prosecco man.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:03 (eighteen years ago)

Mmm yes, prosecco, which improves exponentially with every degree higher the outside temperature gets.

I think my favourite low-mid price champagne is Perrier Jouet, or possibly Laurent Perrier - definitely includes the word Perrier though it's been ages since I last had it.

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:07 (eighteen years ago)

We got into a Lambrusco last summer, I can't remember what it was. Not Riunite!

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:19 (eighteen years ago)

But generally the bubbly is just a once-in-a-while thing for me. I get too tipsy too fast and have to stop drinking. So I just toast the bride and groom or the new year and then switch to red wine, which I can drink all night, as long as don't start on an empty stomach.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:22 (eighteen years ago)

I have two bottles of $20-25 Champagne in my fridge, from work. Are they guaranteed to be mediocre? I never seem to find the right "special occasion" to open this stuff.

― Laurel (Laurel), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:23 (eighteen years ago)

They're probably going to be fine, but unlikely to be excellent. As Beth suggests, they're best used for toasting - a bottle should do 6-8 people unless you're using oversized glasses - and then you can get back to drinking your booze of choice.

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:26 (eighteen years ago)

There's a Nicolas Feuillatte brut, which was well reviewed on Chowhound, and a Mumm Cordon Rouge. Do I sacrifice them for mimosas or save for someone's birthday?

― Laurel (Laurel), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:29 (eighteen years ago)

THIRD OPTION: DRINK THE WHOLE BOTTLE MYSELF.

― Laurel (Laurel), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:30 (eighteen years ago)

The NF will be marginally better. The Mumm really demands to be mixed with fruit of some sort, it's a bit rough and acidic really.

Use it to make a rhubarb bellini to go with your baked, peppered rhubarb with black pudding

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:36 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks! I have guests coming on Wed-Thurs, maybe I can call the Mumm into service for a dessert.

― Laurel (Laurel), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:38 (eighteen years ago)

There is also the champagne cocktail as prepared by a lunatic friend of my mums, you really need a flute for this:

sugar cube in the bottom of the flute, cover it and then some with brandy, top up with champagne, serve to children.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 6 January 2007 19:39 (eighteen years ago)

For extreme crazyness add cointreau (oh and soak sugar cube in Bitters first). Delicious and deadly.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Saturday, 6 January 2007 21:48 (eighteen years ago)

Bemedictine for extra holiness.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 6 January 2007 22:01 (eighteen years ago)

PBR at a bar

― Zachary Scott (Zach S), Saturday, 6 January 2007 22:09 (eighteen years ago)

pbr at a bar is generally cheap for nyc (2 bucks usu.)

still crap tho

― dmr (Renard), Saturday, 6 January 2007 22:11 (eighteen years ago)

waste

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 6 January 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, for a bar, it's cheap, of course.
But knowing that you can buy a 6-pack of PBR for a $3.50 at a store, while you pay $3 (2.50 + 50 cent tip or so) at a bar...I don't know. I guess that's the story with all alcohol you buy at bars/restaurants.

― Zachary Scott (Zach S), Saturday, 6 January 2007 22:16 (eighteen years ago)

50c tip?? dude, no.

― Allyzay Eisenschefter Pop You To The Extreme (allyzay), Monday, 8 January 2007 04:26 (eighteen years ago)

Who the fuck only tips 50 cents? Cheap bastard.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 8 January 2007 05:17 (eighteen years ago)

new tipping thread on new ilx please

― critique de la vie quotidienne (modestmickey), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:08 (eighteen years ago)

Aren't a lot of fancy brand name luxury clothing and accesories really crap?

― Super Cub (Debito), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:17 (eighteen years ago)

But knowing that you can buy a 6-pack of PBR for a $3.50 at a store, while you pay $3 (2.50 + 50 cent tip or so) at a bar

Well, aside from the obvious fact that all beer costs more in a bar (see also: my wine markup thread), PBR at $2.50, even in a bar, is inexplicably expensive. It's crap beer. I only drink it on $1 can nights. And I still tip a dollar.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:24 (eighteen years ago)

Aren't a lot of fancy brand name luxury clothing and accesories really crap?

My last few gift sweaters were all higher-end name brand stuff (Polo, J. Crew) and all had holes in them after maybe 7 or 8 wears. Course getting my enormous head through most collars is a bit like birth.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:26 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, but I mean more like the Armani / Prada / Gucci level.

― Super Cub (Debito), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:43 (eighteen years ago)

Oh yeah that too. I figure it's all part of the same planned obsolescence scheme, which works especially well with high fashion since you can't be seen wearing that shit next season anyway.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:46 (eighteen years ago)

Actually, that kind of makes sense. Oddly enough.

― Super Cub (Debito), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:48 (eighteen years ago)

A plain solid color crew neck sweater, OTOH, should be made to last

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Monday, 8 January 2007 06:55 (eighteen years ago)

My last few gift sweaters were all higher-end name brand stuff (Polo, J. Crew) and all had holes in them after maybe 7 or 8 wears.

It could be a personal thing. I have a Polo sweatshirt that is still in good condition--slightly softened, but no holes, no tears--after eight years of ownership and constant wear. I might have just got lucky though.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Monday, 8 January 2007 10:54 (eighteen years ago)

Does someone have to do the "high-end clothing" defense again? Can't you just look it up from the last time?! Will find when I get to work.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 12:50 (eighteen years ago)

Riuniti on ice, Riuniti so nice.

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Monday, 8 January 2007 12:53 (eighteen years ago)

For the most part, ordering any bottled beer at a bar is lame, especially if we're talking a relatively cheap domestic.

And, as a bartender, you should be tipping a dollar a drink. Either that or don't expect any kind of service. We live off of the tips you leave, and $.50 tips ain't payin the rent.

― B.L.A.M. (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:08 (eighteen years ago)

BLAM, what's the average amount you get in tips per hour, and what proportion of that do you get to keep? Are you taxed on tips?

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:32 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, for a britisher that is bizarre to hear. i mean, $1 for fixing a drink that takes about a minute to pour is outrageous.

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:41 (eighteen years ago)

outrageously expensive, obv.

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:41 (eighteen years ago)

oh let's not do this again

― reverto levidensis (blueski), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

8: American Bar Staff

ONLY JOKING.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:45 (eighteen years ago)

Let's! I assume US bars are not very busy, because in a typical city-centre bar in Glasgow, I think you'd end up earning a six-figure salary if you got tipped $1 a drink.

x-post

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:46 (eighteen years ago)

Scots be boozin'

― reverto levidensis (blueski), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:46 (eighteen years ago)

well alba "don't expect any kind of service" in that case, from the person who removes the bottle from the fridge, takes the cap off, and hands it to you.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:48 (eighteen years ago)

Not even a flirtatious "I like your thrifty ways" smile?

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:50 (eighteen years ago)

the person who removes the bottle from the fridge, takes the cap off, and hands it to you

meanwhile we in the educated professional class sit here and are so ruthlessly efficient at our complex, difficult tasks that no layman could understand without years of training, which make life as we know it possible for millions, that we can sit here and bitch about service staff to no end on the internet!

9: White labor in general

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

And by white I mean you people

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

And by you people I mean office drones

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

you're right, we deserve tips too!

― reverto levidensis (blueski), Monday, 8 January 2007 14:58 (eighteen years ago)

$1 per e-mail

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Monday, 8 January 2007 15:01 (eighteen years ago)

to respond or just to read?

― reverto levidensis (blueski), Monday, 8 January 2007 15:03 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.allisonhunter.com/Teach/computer_art/Imgs/Leisuretown4.jpg

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Monday, 8 January 2007 15:04 (eighteen years ago)

when i get this sweet sweet humanities phd they can tip me just for being smart.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Monday, 8 January 2007 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

ffs what is so difficult about this to British people? In the US, bar staff are not paid regular salaries and are often paid NO salary or below minimum wage. The tips ARE their salary.

Not only that, but the average bar in the US costs less than the average bar in the UK so that dollar extra makes it, like, oh, I don't know, THE SAME COST AS IT WOULD BE IN THE UK, IF NOT STILL CHEAPER?

I mean, it's a shitty system (obv., since jackwads can come in and tip 50c or nothing because "that's outrageous, I could pour that myself!") and it is kind of an abomination towards the workers but it's not like some mystifying process that the same handful of UKers need to wonder about in amazement every time the topic comes up.

― Allyzay Eisenschefter Pop You To The Extreme (allyzay), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

I mean, you don't see the Americans on this board going all cobblers over the topic, "Oh my god, wtf kind of world is this, your beers cost 2x what they do in America because your money is overvalued and you pay your staff a regular salary, this is madness," it's an easy concept to understand!

― Allyzay Eisenschefter Pop You To The Extreme (allyzay), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

I assume US bars are not very busy, because in a typical city-centre bar in Glasgow, I think you'd end up earning a six-figure salary if you got tipped $1 a drink.

Many New York City bartenders get paid as much as people who have graduate degrees and work in offices. Many also work until 4am every morning, develop monstrous coke habits, and wake up one morning realizing they're 40 years old and have nothing else on their resumes.

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:44 (eighteen years ago)

Don't forget that they prob have to tip-out the barbacks and all other help. But yes, Ally and Tracer have just about covered it.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:45 (eighteen years ago)

I'm just saying - the expectation of gratuity is factored in as a part of the wage I am paid by my employer. That said, when I DON'T get tipped (15% is the usual), I am making less than I can survive on.

And yes, I know -- get another job, blah, blah, blah. Fuck off. This is my job, I expect to get paid for it, and tips factor in directly to that payment. You also are not just paying for the drink itself, but also for the service and attention and the skill with which the drink is poured, made, and delivered.

― B.L.A.M. (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:49 (eighteen years ago)

The great majority of toys.

― Aimless (Aimless), Monday, 8 January 2007 17:54 (eighteen years ago)

http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061110/061110_ps3_hmed_4p.hmedium.jpg

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:05 (eighteen years ago)

I've just realized that New York City bartending is like the NFL of the service industry. Very high earnings, very short career.

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Monday, 8 January 2007 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

If you're paying ultimately less per drink in NYC than people do for a pint of bitter in North Yorkshire even today then kudos!

(I don't know if the gap has closed much between big city/Northern small town and rural bar prices in recent years tho)

― reverto levidensis (blueski), Monday, 8 January 2007 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, this is the thing. In an average-busy pub in the UK, I reckon a barperson serves maybe 20-30 people an hour. If they got $1 per punter they'd have $20 per hour on top of their wage (if any).

Us British people simply want to know - where does this money go? If it's shared between every worker in the pub, and the barperson gets say 25% of it, then it makes sense. Is that how it works?

Or - do the tips that come in during the busy times get averaged out with the quiet times? Please, just explain, that's all I want.

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Monday, 8 January 2007 22:58 (eighteen years ago)

I don't even bartend but I'm sure that, just for starters, there are hours when you only have 3-4 customers. Monday nights, for instance! Or Mon through Wed, more likely, and Thursday in some places. Or afternoons, if the establishment is open afternoons at all. The weekend evening shifts are much coveted and usually go to the employees with the most expertise and/or seniority.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 23:00 (eighteen years ago)

Otherwise,yes, except for tipping out the barbacks (if there are any) and the possiblity of splitting tips between two bartenders (who should have made correspondingly more sales total), THEN IT'S GOOD MONEY FOR THE BARTENDER. Like Tracer already said.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 8 January 2007 23:06 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, this is the thing. In an average-busy pub in the UK, I reckon a barperson serves maybe 20-30 people an hour. If they got $1 per punter they'd have $20 per hour on top of their wage (if any).

You misunderstand! It's not a dollar a punter, it's a dollar a drink! Average round = 2.5 drinks -> $50-$75 an hour!

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 00:18 (eighteen years ago)

But you tip out the barbacks; what lessens it further is that dollar-a-drink only really stands for the first round. Thereafter it's usually just a couple of dollars per round, unless the round's really big. But yes it can be lucrative, addicting work, especially for young attention whores who don't tire easily.

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 00:47 (eighteen years ago)

So you can save money by always getting the same person in the party to go to the bar for every round?

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 00:49 (eighteen years ago)

Yes!

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 00:50 (eighteen years ago)

Why are we doing this?

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 00:50 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know. I think it helps me gain an insight into the mind of a troll.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 00:52 (eighteen years ago)

Congress. Although i eXpect better things this year. I'm so sick of the 3-6 week vacations! I've said this on other threads, but, really, c'mon! They get paid so much money and basically have the yearly schedule of elementary school children.

― aimurchie (aimurchie), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 04:06 (eighteen years ago)

Cars!

Look at this shit for about 20 grand
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=1

― S- (sgh), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 04:11 (eighteen years ago)

Insurance. Insurance is total crap. For me, specifically, car insurance. (Maybe other people need other sorts of insurance.)Car insurance means, basically, that I have to be insured if I cause an accident BUT have very weak insurance if I do so. It's not very protective when you are involved in an accident when you're not at fault. (I have never been at fault, but have had three claims for accidents that happned - um, I guess - against my car.)
I guess my thing about it is - I pay these premiums every year with the thought of something bad happening - and when something DOES happen, it takes months of phone calls to get the bastards to pay anything out.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's a scam.

Health Insurance is truly a scam - and a taint on a civilised world! - and a thing that is crap without being cheap.

― aimurchie (aimurchie), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 04:20 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, my car insurance premium went up about $900 a year because of an accident where I totaled my car two years ago(not my fault but legally an "at fault" accident). In another year of that I will have paid what they gave me for the last car, on top of another $900 a year I already pay for "collision."

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 04:26 (eighteen years ago)

A-ron, I feel ya. My brother is an executive at an insurance company and is unable (and unwilling) to explain the myriad secrets of the policies.
Health insurance is even worse. Because of obvious reasons. Like, families and general well being and such. Wellness. Health is a commodity.

― aimurchie (aimurchie), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 05:04 (eighteen years ago)

I had a bizarre idea today that it would be interesting if you could elect to be covered or not covered for individual diseases and/or kinds of accidents and you could make your decision based on the odds of each one actually happening. You'd have to be extremely comfortable with risk and your own mortality to opt out of some coverages, but it'd save you money and give you a different perspective on your life, I guess.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 05:13 (eighteen years ago)

For the most part, ordering any bottled beer at a bar is lame, especially if we're talking a relatively cheap domestic.

Really? What if I prefer the bottled beer to whatever they have on tap?

You also are not just paying for the drink itself, but also for the service and attention and the skill with which the drink is poured, made, and delivered.

I've never gotten a warm, fuzzy feeling from bartenders. They always seem to be assholes. Except that one guy on U street. I've honestly never had the experience, which I often have at a restaurant, of oh this bartender is really great. Maybe they sense that I'm not a heavy drinker and treat me with disdain. I dunno, the bars I go to, I feel like the bartenders are too busy and too scenestery and too absorbed with filling every one's order -- as they should be -- to really consider going the extra mile in terms of service.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 05:15 (eighteen years ago)

For the most part, ordering any bottled beer at a bar is lame, especially if we're talking a relatively cheap domestic.

Maybe in those hoity-toity places, but for the most part, bars can be real lax in cleaning out their hoses and with bottles, at least I have a fair idea of what I'm drinking.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 05:31 (eighteen years ago)

A platinum coated poo

― badg (badg), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 05:55 (eighteen years ago)

Bottles are comfortable for the holding and are much more adaptable to cool-guy poses.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 05:57 (eighteen years ago)

"I had a bizarre idea today that it would be interesting if you could elect to be covered or not covered for individual diseases and/or kinds of accidents and you could make your decision based on the odds of each one actually happening. You'd have to be extremely comfortable with risk and your own mortality to opt out of some coverages, but it'd save you money and give you a different perspective on your life, I guess."

Not to change the thread, but...this is happening, with medical companies working with insurers to decide who, and when, the insurance is appropriate.
Like, you can't get insurance with a diagnoses of AIDS, or HIV, or cancer, or Parkinsons. Having a disease of any sort is pre-emptive - and medical records are being more commonly shared. meaning, once you are diagnosed, getting a job that might provide health insurance doesn't mean you will get the health insurance because the health insurance company can deny you benefits.

Risk insurance, in general, might make more sense. But, in terms of healthcare, universal healthcare makes the most sense.

Don't know IRT cars. I just think the cost is way too high to justify the means, and there should be some reform...like service for all the money we pay. And the rules are so random, and the policies change every year...as i said, nobody (my brother,nor my insurance agent as well), can explain it to me.
I think i am insured for at LEAST $10,000.00 for property damage, and when i ask what that means, like : "I'm insured against hitting a building?" the response is "Property damage can take many forms."

"Well can I do donuts on my lawn?" is not usually received with many kind glances. "How about if i did nothing bad for a year - could I bump into a few buildings, tear up a golf course, and run into a yard sale sign?" Nope. You can't use up that policy, even if they haven't had to pay out.

There should be a rollover of accrued money.

― aimurchie (aimurchie), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 06:31 (eighteen years ago)

One night stands are crap without being cheap. (Thought that was a good addition to the bar talk.)
I'll continue.
Unwanted pregnancies are crap without being cheap. Just saying!

― aimurchie (aimurchie), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 07:45 (eighteen years ago)

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