Comments for Andy's Techie Blog http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog Professional Geek Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:06:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Technology Changing Lives by Tina http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2009/12/13/technology-changing-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-1068 Tina Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:06:51 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2009/12/13/technology-changing-lives/#comment-1068 Yup, hearing aids just 'shout' at you and we can hear some surprising things. Someone sitting next to me turning their newspaper can be intensely irritating. As my hearing has worsened, they shout at me more and help me less. I had my CI implanted a few days ago and was born deaf, so I am quite apprehensive about the difference in quality of hearing I am going to experience. It's the unknown quantity that unnerves me. But - que sera sera! Yup, hearing aids just ’shout’ at you and we can hear some surprising things. Someone sitting next to me turning their newspaper can be intensely irritating. As my hearing has worsened, they shout at me more and help me less. I had my CI implanted a few days ago and was born deaf, so I am quite apprehensive about the difference in quality of hearing I am going to experience. It’s the unknown quantity that unnerves me. But – que sera sera!

]]> Comment on Paypal Payments by Chris Timm http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/comment-page-1/#comment-1065 Chris Timm Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:01:01 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/#comment-1065 Andy, Just read this post, and personally I agree with the 3rd Twitter response. If the "only" option is to pay with Paypal, then the seller should pick up the costs (You could always disguise them that no one would know) but should not be added seperately. I give the options to my clients where they can either pay by Standing order or Paypal, but say that Paypal comes with an additional cost.. Most choose the option for Standing order. Andy,
Just read this post, and personally I agree with the 3rd Twitter response. If the “only” option is to pay with Paypal, then the seller should pick up the costs (You could always disguise them that no one would know) but should not be added seperately.

I give the options to my clients where they can either pay by Standing order or Paypal, but say that Paypal comes with an additional cost.. Most choose the option for Standing order.

]]> Comment on TCA Conference and COMPTIA by Chris Timm http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/25/tca-conference-and-comptia/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 Chris Timm Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:18:15 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/25/tca-conference-and-comptia/#comment-1063 Andy, Great blog post.. I am in the process of writing mine. Andy, Great blog post.. I am in the process of writing mine.

]]> Comment on My impending operation by Richard Tubb http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/my-impending-operation/comment-page-1/#comment-1061 Richard Tubb Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:02:04 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/my-impending-operation/#comment-1061 Get well soon mate - in the meantime, we expect many more blog posts than normal. ;-) Get well soon mate – in the meantime, we expect many more blog posts than normal. ;-)

]]> Comment on Paypal Payments by AndyParkes http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/comment-page-1/#comment-1058 AndyParkes Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:14:20 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/#comment-1058 ok maybe not THAT interesting It was just the last place I expected to have accommodation! When we got there the bar was packed, being a Friday night and we had to squeeze past everyone with all our stuff (in the same way you squeeze through a bar with a pint!) After we checked in the lady said she'd take us to our room. I had no idea where this was meant to be as I couldn't see where we would possibly go. She then opened a wooden panel (I'd just walked passed it, didn't even realise it was a door!) to reveal the steepest and narrowest staircase leading to three rooms above the restaurant area At the end of the corridor was a shower cubicle and toilet, I've seen broom cupboards with more space! When we got back the bar was still open and we had to squeeze through again and because of where we were in relation to the bar we could hear everything as though we were downstairs! After breakfast (which was really good!) we went to check out and chef and the cleaner were arguing about something, we approached and stood there as they carried on. Eventually the cleaner turned to us and said "Excuse me, I'll be one right with you" and went back on arguing! Then they tried to issue us with a bill when we'd already paid in advance online She didn't even check what we'd said though and just waved us out It wasn't a bad place to stay, the whole experience was just "different" Maybe I've been spoilt by sterile, cookie cutter Travelodge! ;-) ok maybe not THAT interesting

It was just the last place I expected to have accommodation!

When we got there the bar was packed, being a Friday night and we had to squeeze past everyone with all our stuff (in the same way you squeeze through a bar with a pint!)

After we checked in the lady said she’d take us to our room. I had no idea where this was meant to be as I couldn’t see where we would possibly go. She then opened a wooden panel (I’d just walked passed it, didn’t even realise it was a door!) to reveal the steepest and narrowest staircase leading to three rooms above the restaurant area

At the end of the corridor was a shower cubicle and toilet, I’ve seen broom cupboards with more space!

When we got back the bar was still open and we had to squeeze through again and because of where we were in relation to the bar we could hear everything as though we were downstairs!

After breakfast (which was really good!) we went to check out and chef and the cleaner were arguing about something, we approached and stood there as they carried on. Eventually the cleaner turned to us and said

“Excuse me, I’ll be one right with you”

and went back on arguing!

Then they tried to issue us with a bill when we’d already paid in advance online

She didn’t even check what we’d said though and just waved us out

It wasn’t a bad place to stay, the whole experience was just “different”

Maybe I’ve been spoilt by sterile, cookie cutter Travelodge! ;-)

]]> Comment on Paypal Payments by Mark Wilson http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/comment-page-1/#comment-1057 Mark Wilson Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:05:21 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/#comment-1057 Never stayed there - some freinds of ours used to live across the road though so I have eaten/drunk there... now I'm intrigued... Never stayed there – some freinds of ours used to live across the road though so I have eaten/drunk there… now I’m intrigued…

]]> Comment on Paypal Payments by AndyParkes http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/comment-page-1/#comment-1056 AndyParkes Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:24:20 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/#comment-1056 Thanks both, really good comments :-) Mark (Checkley) welcome to the blog! Mark (Wilson) have you ever been here http://www.threehorseshoes.com it's in Drayton Parslow just outside MK - sorry for the random offshoot! We stayed there at the weekend and it was one of the most "interesting" overnight stays i've ever had! Thanks both, really good comments :-)

Mark (Checkley) welcome to the blog!

Mark (Wilson) have you ever been here http://www.threehorseshoes.com it’s in Drayton Parslow just outside MK – sorry for the random offshoot! We stayed there at the weekend and it was one of the most “interesting” overnight stays i’ve ever had!

]]> Comment on My impending operation by AndyParkes http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/my-impending-operation/comment-page-1/#comment-1055 AndyParkes Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:21:04 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/my-impending-operation/#comment-1055 Cheers Paul Glad you got a good result Not looking forward to those first couple of months at all! Cheers Paul

Glad you got a good result

Not looking forward to those first couple of months at all!

]]> Comment on My impending operation by Paulie http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/my-impending-operation/comment-page-1/#comment-1054 Paulie Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:41:10 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/my-impending-operation/#comment-1054 Good Luck. I had the same operation about 6 years ago. Took me about a year to be really strong and confident on it again. I found the first couple of months are actually a bit miserable. But good result in the end. Good Luck. I had the same operation about 6 years ago. Took me about a year to be really strong and confident on it again.

I found the first couple of months are actually a bit miserable.

But good result in the end.

]]> Comment on Paypal Payments by Mark Wilson http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/comment-page-1/#comment-1053 Mark Wilson Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:22:48 +0000 http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/02/17/paypal-payments/#comment-1053 If I'm buying goods or services from a major retailer, I don't expect them to apply their bank charges to my transaction; however, if it's a low value transaction for a small business, I don't mind them putting in a minimum transaction value below which they will pass on a nominal charge to cover their banking costs. For example, my local butcher charges me £1 if I use a credit/debit card for less than £10. Net result is that I either buy more (i.e. spend over a tenner) or I'm happy to pay the surcharge because I'd rather have a local butcher than see him go out of business as a result of credit card charges wiping out his profit. On the other hand, if Tesco, who are a multi-billion pound business, start charging me for their bank charges, I'll shop elsewhere - to be honest, their bank charges are a cost of doing business (which is why major retailers set up their own financial services businesses to reduce the costs), and I'll happily buy a 50p chocolate bar on plastic from them! As far as I'm concerned, the same goes for PayPal - it's probably not a big deal for small businesses to pass on the charges; however major retailers should swallow the cost. Incidentally, my standard invoice template for my business includes surcharges for PayPal or non-sterling transactions... so far I've never had to charge because people find another way to pay me! If I’m buying goods or services from a major retailer, I don’t expect them to apply their bank charges to my transaction; however, if it’s a low value transaction for a small business, I don’t mind them putting in a minimum transaction value below which they will pass on a nominal charge to cover their banking costs.

For example, my local butcher charges me £1 if I use a credit/debit card for less than £10. Net result is that I either buy more (i.e. spend over a tenner) or I’m happy to pay the surcharge because I’d rather have a local butcher than see him go out of business as a result of credit card charges wiping out his profit.

On the other hand, if Tesco, who are a multi-billion pound business, start charging me for their bank charges, I’ll shop elsewhere – to be honest, their bank charges are a cost of doing business (which is why major retailers set up their own financial services businesses to reduce the costs), and I’ll happily buy a 50p chocolate bar on plastic from them!

As far as I’m concerned, the same goes for PayPal – it’s probably not a big deal for small businesses to pass on the charges; however major retailers should swallow the cost.

Incidentally, my standard invoice template for my business includes surcharges for PayPal or non-sterling transactions… so far I’ve never had to charge because people find another way to pay me!

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