Useless Conversation

[Yegolev]

We'll see what happens tomorrow. I mean, the houses are clearly numbered and we're both regular UPS customers.

[Sky]

FedEx: 1
USPS: 1
UPS: 0

And my S7 has decided to reject any caller with a Restricted number, so the local UPS can't actually call me to discuss this. And their phone number does not exist (they only list the 800 number).

I've quadruple checked my settings and the phone shouldn't be blocking restricted numbers, just started doing it about a month ago.

[Bunk]

I am so very glad that my company doesn't mind us getting personal items delivered to the office.

[Sky]

I could do that, but it hadn't been an issue in the past (other than worrying about some acrylic paint freezing).

[Polysorbate80]

The caterers above my offices completely plugged their drain line yesterday with rice.  Apparently it didn't occur to them that rice expands when exposed to water?

That line runs through the ceiling of our lighting/equipment storage room, and it's now broken.  Nasty garbage juice and rice all over the place, stinks like a motherfucker.  I think they only actually ruined two stuido lights, and they're old ones, but I'm hoping I can force them to insurance claim out a pair of new LED fixtures.

And a shitload of air freshener.

[Sky]

a shitload of air freshener.

In other news, UPS is now 1 for 3 in delivering to my house! I'd celebrate if it wasn't so pathetic.

[Rasix]

Yeesh. That would make Christmas awful.  We had a UPS delivery every day in December it seems.

Hell, we even got our postal service delivery people to take packages up to the house instead of being lazy and making us pick them up.

[MrHat]

This is timely.

I just received a package clearly addressed to me labeled "PRIORITY MAIL RETURN SERVICE" and inside was a beats solo 2 wireless box.  On the label is the ebay logo, a "return ID", and the shippers name and address.  There is nothing else in the box but the product.

However, I haven't had an eBay account in 8+ years (my account is actually closed).  I checked all my $ accounts and there is no suspicious behavior.

So, do I just keep them and assume someone sent me a gift with no acknowledgement? (That happens).  Do I just take it back to USPS and return to sender no questions asked. Or do I take time out of my day to track down the shipper?

I couldn't track anything down on eBay about this.

[Viin]

I'd assume it's a gift.

[schild]

congratulations on your TERRIBLE headphones

resell them on ebay?

[Abagadro]

Could be the beginnings of a scam where they send you some broken junk and then demand that you pay them.

[Velorath]

Yeah, the fact that it's a Return service and has a return ID on the label makes it sound like a buyer returning a defective item to a seller. I'd maybe contact ebay and see if there's anything they can tell you.

[MrHat]

Could be the beginnings of a scam where they send you some broken junk and then demand that you pay them.

Ya, that's what I suspect.  Will see what eBay says.

[ghost]

Choose one:

1.  Shreveport
2.  El Paso
3.  Amarillo

[Rasix]

4.

[MahrinSkel]

Choose one:

1.  Shreveport
2.  El Paso
3.  Amarillo

That's pretty much the right order, if you're talking about places to live. El Paso would probably be the best for a visit. All three are shit choices for either.

--Dave

[schild]

God, thats shit

Amarillo

I guess. Fucking hell. Shreveport is not an option. Ugh.

Final answer: el paso, front row seat for the wall

[Selby]

Amarillo (lived near there for 6 years). The rest completely suck. You can't pay me enough to live in El Paso and Shreveport is just eww.

[rattran]

That's worse than Cheddar's choices were.
The only correct answer is 4.

[Chimpy]

So I got to O'Hare a bit ago for my flight to Oregon and there was no regular security line but the precheck line was like ten people deep. 

[calapine]

Not quite Awesome Picture thread material, but nifty.

The Thames Flood barrier this Friday:



It's purpose is to stop tidal flood surges from going back upstream and flooding the Queen.

How it works:

[Hawkbit]

Hey that's pretty cool, thanks for sharing. On Google Maps you can see them partially open, looks like one is in underspill position.

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4972967,0.0377563,734m/data=!3m1!1e3

[Chimpy]

It's SO FUCKING WEIRD to not pay sales tax. Oregon is the shit for buying shit on vacation.

Though I usually consider paying sales tax as a way to contribute to the left cal economy where I visit so I am torn.

[Torinak]

Just remember to file your Use Tax forms when you get back to your home state. 

[Chimpy]

Just remember to file your Use Tax forms when you get back to your home state. 

Que?

[Torinak]

See Use Tax for California (or search for whatever state is appropriate).

In particular:

You must pay California use tax when you purchase out-of-state items by telephone, Internet, mail, or in person and both of the following apply:

• The seller does not collect California sales or use tax.
• You use, give away, store, or consume the item in this state.

[Chimpy]

Oh I am not buying anything other than food and beer probably. And in Illinois the use tax is just a line on our 1040, no extra form.

[schild]

or don't ever file that because anyone that does is a goddamn idiot 

[Merusk]

I that's as amusingly foolish a tax grab as the online purchase tax so many states added 6 or 7 years ago. How many people honestly pay that.

[Chimpy]

Illinois use tax is basically an out of state sales tax, but it is so ridiculously low for the amount of money I spent on shit from Amazon before they started collecting sales tax for Illinois that it really didn't matter much (I think it came out to like $18 the year I spent the most which was a couple thousand bucks).

[Morat20]

I that's as amusingly foolish a tax grab as the online purchase tax so many states added 6 or 7 years ago. How many people honestly pay that.

On a tangential note, I was thrilled as hell when Congress started adding a standard sales tax deduction. Texas has no income taxes, so our sales taxes are ridiculous.

But I'm not keeping a year's worth of purchase receipts. Now they let you just put in your total sales tax (city + county + state) and assume some specific level of spending versus your income.

Although I did buy two cars this year, so maybe I should find that paperwork.....

[Teleku]

or don't ever file that because anyone that does is a goddamn idiot 

Yeah, nobody ever filled out that section anyways.  But now Amazon and all the majors start adding the sales tax in depending on what state they are mailing to, so its a moot point now.

[Sky]

I had a friend who got audited and did a bit of time.

So I'm ok with paying my taxes legally, foolish or not.

Good luck with not paying them. You might be fine.

[Ironwood]

Good luck with not paying them. You might be fine.

I see what you did there.

[schild]

or don't ever file that because anyone that does is a goddamn idiot  

Yeah, nobody ever filled out that section anyways.  But now Amazon and all the majors start adding the sales tax in depending on what state they are mailing to, so its a moot point now.

No, it depends on what state they're mailing it to AND from. If they have a warehouse, they have to tax. For example, Rhode Island doesn't have an Amazon warehouse, so no tax.