Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
Feb 20th 2007 | 7:39 am
#16
Banned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,826
From: Hoping to get away from UK to Spain
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
Hate the way people whinge about such trivial matters .. I like the idea of living there way , get to know the little Spanish owners support them by spending with them and generaly contributing at a street level , rather than a tesco type set up where money earnt in one town is spent elsewhere in the world !
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:40 am
#17
Not Junior but not Senior
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,052
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
well.....last week in a very large DIY store we found what we were looking for, but as you say crispy girl last one on display and no we can not have it ........ my other half wouldnt accept that .........he walked over to another assitant, who got a screw driver took it off display and on to our trolly.... now what was the big deal .......... One said NO the other said YES .......can not for the life of me understand why !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feb 20th 2007 | 6:42 pm
#18
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 172
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
We are in the process of having our car registered, what a nightmare!
It went to the ITV station and failed on the paperwork (we are paying a gestor to do it for us). Why?
Well on the paperwork it said it had 5/7 seats. It's got 7. Now the guy in the ITV place said that's not correct - the paperwork says 5 or 7.
The paperwork didn't specify how much it weighed. He asked us. How are we supposed to know? We've never weighed it!
They even measured it! (How do you alter the length/width/height/axle width of a car?).
We had to remove the towbar before we went as we had nothing to say where it had been fitted (in the factory, but it didn't say it anywhere).
I wouldn't mind if it was some sort of obscure marque, but it is a Seat - made in Spain!
AND it's going to cost us £1000 euros to do it.
Totally agree with OP, the totally unneccessary and complicated bureaucracy is the one thing I hate about Spain.
It went to the ITV station and failed on the paperwork (we are paying a gestor to do it for us). Why?
Well on the paperwork it said it had 5/7 seats. It's got 7. Now the guy in the ITV place said that's not correct - the paperwork says 5 or 7.
The paperwork didn't specify how much it weighed. He asked us. How are we supposed to know? We've never weighed it!
They even measured it! (How do you alter the length/width/height/axle width of a car?).
We had to remove the towbar before we went as we had nothing to say where it had been fitted (in the factory, but it didn't say it anywhere).
I wouldn't mind if it was some sort of obscure marque, but it is a Seat - made in Spain!
AND it's going to cost us £1000 euros to do it.
Totally agree with OP, the totally unneccessary and complicated bureaucracy is the one thing I hate about Spain.
It is the complicated bureaucracy which has no logic whatsoever. If it was designed to drive you loopy, it could not be better.
As for the other replies, I am not suggesting that M&S or Tesco open up here tomorrow, I was just commenting on how poor the supermarkets here are compared with the UK. Let me change that. They are crap compared with Germany and France. Is that better?
Take the sun away here and you are not left with much.
Just my opinion, and my apartment is on the market right now!
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:15 pm
#19
Banned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 400
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
You are so right!!!
It is the complicated bureaucracy which has no logic whatsoever. If it was designed to drive you loopy, it could not be better.
As for the other replies, I am not suggesting that M&S or Tesco open up here tomorrow, I was just commenting on how poor the supermarkets here are compared with the UK. Let me change that. They are crap compared with Germany and France. Is that better?
Take the sun away here and you are not left with much.
Just my opinion, and my apartment is on the market right now!
It is the complicated bureaucracy which has no logic whatsoever. If it was designed to drive you loopy, it could not be better.
As for the other replies, I am not suggesting that M&S or Tesco open up here tomorrow, I was just commenting on how poor the supermarkets here are compared with the UK. Let me change that. They are crap compared with Germany and France. Is that better?
Take the sun away here and you are not left with much.
Just my opinion, and my apartment is on the market right now!
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:25 pm
#20
Not Junior but not Senior
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,052
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
You are so right!!!
It is the complicated bureaucracy which has no logic whatsoever. If it was designed to drive you loopy, it could not be better.
As for the other replies, I am not suggesting that M&S or Tesco open up here tomorrow, I was just commenting on how poor the supermarkets here are compared with the UK. Let me change that. They are crap compared with Germany and France. Is that better?
Take the sun away here and you are not left with much.
Just my opinion, and my apartment is on the market right now!
It is the complicated bureaucracy which has no logic whatsoever. If it was designed to drive you loopy, it could not be better.
As for the other replies, I am not suggesting that M&S or Tesco open up here tomorrow, I was just commenting on how poor the supermarkets here are compared with the UK. Let me change that. They are crap compared with Germany and France. Is that better?
Take the sun away here and you are not left with much.
Just my opinion, and my apartment is on the market right now!
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:35 pm
#21
Banned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 400
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
Maybe we all expect different things from supermarkets, but I think the supermarkets even in a small town like Chiclana are much more enticing. I am always disappointed when I return home. Where can you find a fish counter like the ones we have in Spanish supermarkets ? The quality of the fruit and veg.. the wine may be mostly Spanish but look at the range and prices..the meat is better quality too. I am disgusted when I look at the prices. Yes the quality in a store like Waitrose is good, but prices are shocking compared to Spain.
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:40 pm
#22
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,359
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
I am pretty sure it is Carrefour, I also happen to think that Carrefour is one of the better supermarkets here in Spain; they offer much more in the way of choice and I think the quality is pretty good. If I am buying fresh bread from a supermarket then this is the place for me.
Having said that I was shopping on Monday in the local one to us and I had a moment by the bread display, I just started blabbering like a 2 year saying I was fed up with the sameness of everything in the supermarkets. OH was a bit shocked as he thought I was telling him I wanted to go back to the UK I had to quickly tell him that was not the case, but said he understood. I think it is just winter blues and I'll get over it.
Having said that I was shopping on Monday in the local one to us and I had a moment by the bread display, I just started blabbering like a 2 year saying I was fed up with the sameness of everything in the supermarkets. OH was a bit shocked as he thought I was telling him I wanted to go back to the UK I had to quickly tell him that was not the case, but said he understood. I think it is just winter blues and I'll get over it.
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:45 pm
#23
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,359
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
I agree with you, supermarket shopping was very restricted when we first started to come to Chiclana it has come on leaps and bounds in the last four years. We try and buy as much as we can from the market in town as it is much cheaper for fruit and veg, but have to be honest and say I have not found that much difference in the price of meant and fish from some of the supermarkets. Mercadona fish is very often cheaper than some of the fish stalls in town and can be of pretty good quality.
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:49 pm
#24
Banned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 400
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
I am pretty sure it is Carrefour, I also happen to think that Carrefour is one of the better supermarkets here in Spain; they offer much more in the way of choice and I think the quality is pretty good. If I am buying fresh bread from a supermarket then this is the place for me.
Having said that I was shopping on Monday in the local one to us and I had a moment by the bread display, I just started blabbering like a 2 year saying I was fed up with the sameness of everything in the supermarkets. OH was a bit shocked as he thought I was telling him I wanted to go back to the UK I had to quickly tell him that was not the case, but said he understood. I think it is just winter blues and I'll get over it.
Having said that I was shopping on Monday in the local one to us and I had a moment by the bread display, I just started blabbering like a 2 year saying I was fed up with the sameness of everything in the supermarkets. OH was a bit shocked as he thought I was telling him I wanted to go back to the UK I had to quickly tell him that was not the case, but said he understood. I think it is just winter blues and I'll get over it.
Feb 20th 2007 | 8:58 pm
#25
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,359
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
Maybe we all expect different things from supermarkets, but I think the supermarkets even in a small town like Chiclana are much more enticing. I am always disappointed when I return home. Where can you find a fish counter like the ones we have in Spanish supermarkets ? The quality of the fruit and veg.. the wine may be mostly Spanish but look at the range and prices..the meat is better quality too. I am disgusted when I look at the prices. Yes the quality in a store like Waitrose is good, but prices are shocking compared to Spain.
I agree with the price things cost, I like Waitrise but goodness they are expensive fine for peeps like me and other half when we had two incomes but I don't think I could have afforded to shop there when the family were all at home. OH and I love wine and think Spanish is one of the finest but I do get a little yearning occassionally for a something different, notice Lidl had Australian in stock last week, and have been thinking of a good New Zealand wine for months now. Love going to shopping in Portugal when we visit friends, there local superstore has a good select of world wide wines and they even had New Zealand was thrilled when I found it.
Feb 20th 2007 | 11:11 pm
#26
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 172
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
I know that Carrefour is leaps and bounds ahead of any Spanish supermarket, and you can see by the car park that people agree.
But, why is it necessary to drive 50kms to get to a decent grocery store?
I do often drive to Carrefour, sometimes I am lucky to get a choice of the three punnets of blueberries they have, sometimes they have none. At least I save the 5 euros. I happen to like blueberries though, and I am told they they are very healthy. In ASDA, Sainsburys etc. they are always available in a good size punnet, and at max £1.50.
I like the fresh soups. Wide choice in UK, Germany etc. here in Carrefour we have Asparagus.
Sometimes I like ready made meals for convenience. Wide choice in UK, here we have pizzas.
Martin
Feb 21st 2007 | 12:06 am
#27
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 363
From: conil de la frontera
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
For meat, fish and fruit and veg you can't beat the local markets. You really have to watch the sell by dates in all of the supermarkets including Carrefour and Mercadona, I have seen things still on display for sale with dates over a week old.
Feb 21st 2007 | 12:06 am
#28
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 172
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
as to importation of cars, it takes longer and costs more and there has to be an inspection BECAUSE the authorities insist that the car is unmodified from the manufacturers specifictions, so there has to be a check, and that a car only 2 days old could have been modified.
The EC and vehicle manufacturers agreed on a document called a Certificate of Conformity. Idea was that a vehicle suitable for purpose in Germany for example, could be considered suitable for purpose in all the other EC Countries. It is like a uniform set of regualtions applying to vehicles in the EC.
This works really well from Preston to Mannheim to Toulouse, but not Madrid. In Spain, it is not considered lunacy to charge an EC citizen Euro 300 to measure his or her 2 day old vehicle!!
As Spain has benefitted more than most countries from EC handouts, particularly to build roads, please excuse me for thinking that their behaviour is bizarre.
Martin
Feb 21st 2007 | 1:30 am
#29
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29,821
From: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
The EC and vehicle manufacturers agreed on a document called a Certificate of Conformity. Idea was that a vehicle suitable for purpose in Germany for example, could be considered suitable for purpose in all the other EC Countries. It is like a uniform set of regualtions applying to vehicles in the EC.
This works really well from Preston to Mannheim to Toulouse, but not Madrid. In Spain, it is not considered lunacy to charge an EC citizen Euro 300 to measure his or her 2 day old vehicle!!
As Spain has benefitted more than most countries from EC handouts, particularly to build roads, please excuse me for thinking that their behaviour is bizarre.
Martin
This works really well from Preston to Mannheim to Toulouse, but not Madrid. In Spain, it is not considered lunacy to charge an EC citizen Euro 300 to measure his or her 2 day old vehicle!!
As Spain has benefitted more than most countries from EC handouts, particularly to build roads, please excuse me for thinking that their behaviour is bizarre.
Martin
Feb 21st 2007 | 1:53 am
#30
Ex Expat
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,140
From: West Midlands, ex Granada province
Re: Why is everything so complicated for negative benefit?
Problem with bringing UK plated vehicles into another EU country is that they ALL have to be modified as the headlight clusters have to be altered from RHD to LHD, I'm sure none of us want to be totally blinded by cars because that hasn't been done, so they have to be checked by an inspector to see that that has been correctly done. From any other EU country no such change is needed. Here in Sapin they check your vehicle documents everytime you have something done at a garage, which certainly never happens in the UK, even getting a new wheel for my Spanish Clio, they wanted to see the registration document.
We have already had the lights done, it didn't fail on those.
Just the silly paperwork!
We also have a scooter that we bought brand new, in Spain, from a Spanish dealer. Even the paperwork for this took over a week to be registered. The reason given was that we'd bought it in Almeria province but lived in Granada province, so therefore that created an extra layer of paperwork.
I really do think that someone up there in Madrid has a job trying to make the bureacracy as complicated, time consuming and confusing as it is possible for it to be.
Just want to add though that in general I love being here in Spain and the Spanish are terrific. It's only this crippling bureaucracy I can't stand.
