Complaint Department discussion

Keep Calm and Complain On.

If I weren't British, I'd complain about the way American authorities demand an "I want to come to visit the U.S., is that all right with you?" form. It used to be simple once. To get a visa you only had to tell the U.S. Embassy that were not, and never had been, either a member of a Communist party or a homosexual.

Now you actually have to beg the permission to visit. Mind, the British Border Agency is demanding of airlines the same pro-forma questions for the reasons for a visit to our sceptred isle.

If I weren't British I'd make a fuss about Anil's problems, having battled to get back to Britain, only to face PROBLEMS.

I note several grumpy complainers moan about the state of US education and the quality of teaching. In England the teachers are complaining about the governmental intrusion in to education…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d13gX...

PS OFSTED stands for: Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, which begs a point—it doesn't seem to scan…

I'm not an Amazon-hater, but the giant is causing lots of concerns, and not just with Hachette in the US. This news item is from the British Bookseller trade paper.

UK publishers have raised concerns about Amazon’s new contractual arrangements, with the giant retailer pressing for improved terms from a number of publishers, even as its stand-off with Hachette Book Group continues in the US.

Along with improved discounts on wholesale contracts, Amazon has introduced a number of new clauses in publisher contracts. One causing particular worry is a proviso that should a book be out of stock from the publisher, Amazon would be entitled to supply its own copies to customers via its print-on-demand facilities.

Meanwhile in a separate development, the European Union's Directorate General for Competition is understood to have approached major UK publishers over an investigation into Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clauses—the terms came under the spotlight during the inquiry into the shift to the agency model ins 2010, but the EU is looking at a new review focused specifically on MFN.

The EU move comes as Amazon and Hachette USA continue to tussle over terms. At an investor presentation at the end of May, Hachette Livre chief executive Arnaud Nourry said Amazon was seeking to “dramatically change terms”. It is understood that there are some parallels between the terms on offer to Hachette USA and publishers in the UK. The New York Times reported that Amazon is asking for payment for a range of services, in what the paper called “similar to so-called co-op arrangements with traditional readers, like paying Barnes & Noble for placing a book in the front of the store”.

In the UK a number of publishers spoken to as part of The Bookseller's investigations into the Hachette dispute said Amazon was also now putting them under "heavy pressure". According to the sources, new demands include adjusting terms so that e-books and physical book terms have parity; the adjustment is said to be in the direction of "p", which traditionally attracts a higher percentage for the retailer compared with "e". Amazon is also understood to be targeting academic terms, which have historically been more favourable to the publisher. The retailer also wants to impose a ceiling on the digital list price of e-books in preparation for 2015 when the retailer will have to begin imposing the standard 20% rate of VAT on digital titles.

New contracts are also said to include MFN clauses, whereby books cannot be sold for a lower price than Amazon's anywhere, including on a publisher's own website. Amazon is also understood to want matching terms where a publisher enters into a new business arrangement, for example with a subscription service. Publishers told The Bookseller that MFN clauses had disappeared from contracts, but were now making a reappearance.

Another clause of particular note requires publishers to guarantee they have books in stock, allowing Amazon to do print-on-demand editions to customers – with extra terms benefits – should books be out of supply. The clause has echoes of a demand made in 2008 that small publishers use its POD service, with Amazon arguing at that time that it could “provide a better, more timely customer experience if the p.o.d. titles are printed inside our own fulfilment centres”. Publishers are worried that the clause would allow Amazon to effectively take over their stock-control.

Meanwhile, the use of MFN clauses is thought to have come under the Brussels spotlight, with the same EC competition authorities which earlier investigated publishers over agency pricing. Within the last few weeks, it is understood that some publishers' sales personnel have been summoned to meetings in Brussels, said to be "much more friendly" than the meetings held while agency pricing was being investigated.

The EU has investigated MFN clauses in the past, but has never ruled them illegal. However, under the terms of price-fixing settlements entered into by the five settling publishers in 2012, those publishers are forbidden until 2017 from entering into any agreement for e-books which contains a retail price MFN clause.

A spokesperson for the European Union's Directorate General for Competition refused to confirm or deny that it launched a new preliminary investigation into the matter. It said it was continuing to monitor the e-book market, but declined to give specifics.

Despite being contacted several times today (23rd June) Amazon's UK press office has not responded to a request for comment.

If I weren't British I'd make a fuss about he fact that I am not British.

If I weren't British I'd make a fuss about being half-English (probably Celto-Anglo-Saxon with a minute dash of Norman) and half-Scottish with a grandfather who insisted are descended from the kings of Cork.

Why Cork? Why not Black Pool (Dubh Linn is Norse for Black Pool)?

Roger wrote: "Black Pool (Dubh Linn is Norse for Black Pool)? "

It is? I thought that was Gaelic? I do know that Dublin was a Norse strong hold, but I always thought the name came from the Irish.

You're right, Lori, though some argue it's really syncretized Norse-Gael—a bit of both. The Norse kingdom was Dyflin. There's also the strong possibility attested to by some authorities that Irish-Celts were as much a product of Iberian Celts who crossed from northern Spain as the mainland Celts who pushed up into Pictland, the Picts some form of prehistoric Celtic nation (perhaps… like Finland they seemed to have a language completely separate from that of the southern Celts). So Irish Gaelic was/is different from Welsh or Scottish Gaelic.

An interesting idea and it actually makes sense given the years of interactions of the two cultures whether willing or not.

I'm not British, but if I were, should I be upset by this? http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7zNq/guinness-... and when did beer become feminine?

Urk

Oliver said, "Urk" too. Will American men (real men drink Guinness) quaff a "blonde". I agree with Averin, aren't beers supposed to be masculine?

I'm sending musclebound, blonde, female heavyweight wresters over to St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin, Ireland to beat up the brewers at Guinness for creating a brew that was not their usual dark brown, warm, syrupy stout.The Blonde beer was just advertised on Spike TV 14 minutes ago during a commercial break in the airing of the Bourne Supremacy.

You got to hand it to Arthur Guinness though. He saved a bundle on rent for the St. James's Gate brewery by signing a 9,000 year lease in 1759 at £45 per year. Of course in the year 10,759 he's probably going to get a hell of a large rent hike.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness...

LOL

If I wernt British I would make a fuss about the fact I have to make tea for my family 3 separate ways because "It cant be too weak/milky/strong". But as I am indeed British I get a dirty high from making that perfect cuppa. Earl Grey FTW.

Well then that old grey Earl fellow ought to make a fuss on your behalf.

If I weren't British, I would never dare say that you can't beat a nice Darjeeling made from the tips plucked while the mountain dew is still on the leaves, and if you desire a dash of the exotic, a few grains of a fine smoky Lapsang Suchong… otherwise the good earl will do ;-))

or ifd yu really wanna wake up in the morning, punjanaaaaaaaaa

if you*

If I WERE British I wouldn't have gone all those years drinking coffee and nearly being hospitalized with a caffeine overdose before abstaining from caffeine for five years and then discovering the joys and delights of tea.

For All the Tea in China: Espionage, Empire and the Secret Formula for the World's Favourite Drink

As he was/is British, Harry Smythe-Vane is pleased to be a part of Empire after the horrors of the Opium Wars and the Indian Mutiny?Rebellion/War of Independence whatever. At least inHarry's Great Trek he can drink his tea with a relatively clear conscience.

:):):):):):)fu**

If I weren't British I'd tell Donald Trump to stick to whatever he was doing before he began running for office. He sucks at it, but it's better then him being prez. *shudders*

Naah, he won't be the next president. I've heard he wants to 'turn off' the internet so people won't vote for him ;D

... Peter Moffat postponing Doctor Who because he's a lazy jerk :(

Oh, wait, I'm not British ... Well Moffat is! So he's got no excuse. Jerk. :(

Rick wrote: "... Peter Moffat postponing Doctor Who because he's a lazy jerk :(

Oh, wait, I'm not British ... Well Moffat is! So he's got no excuse. Jerk. :("

Erm, Steven Moffat, don't you mean?

Lori S. wrote: "Erm, Steven Moffat, don't you mean?"

Well, yeah. Shucks. I'm so upset I can't even remember the jerks name.

If he's a jerk then don't feel bad about not remembering his name ;)

Monika wrote: "If he's a jerk then don't feel bad about not remembering his name ;)"

Yeah, thanks, but Peter Moffat was a talented director who also worked on Doctor Who, he doesn't deserve my ire. ;)

True, but he's still a jerk…

... Steven not Peter?

both ;)

I'm so confused, I can't even think straight!

Did you ever…;)

Hope. ;)

Peter Capaldi is a definite yea, Steven Moffat is definite good riddance.

That's that, then… :-))

Lori S. wrote: "Peter Capaldi is a definite yea, Steven Moffat is definite good riddance."

I agree

Nice to see some American bashing. Especially because many of us live in the UK and many from the UK live here. I wake up everyday thanking the heavens how I'm ever so glad I'm not British. Before I joined this group I was a bit prejudicial in my POV of Brits. But to separate the world agenda of UK from USA would be a mistake. The two nations are codependent for eachother. My mother often reminds me of her... my Irish heritage. Baileys and O'Sullivans. But my father's heritage is Denmark and Native American Mohawk. Ideally regionalism is better than nationalism. I digress. That song ... I often sing around the house... "If you had the luck of the Irish..."

If I weren't British I'd make a fuss about not being British.

(My four paternal great-grandparents came to the US from England.)

So that old post-war slogan disaffected youth used to paint on the metal sides of railway bridges doesn't apply to you:

"GO HOME YANKS!"

:-))

Roger wrote: "So that old post-war slogan disaffected youth used to paint on the metal sides of railway bridges doesn't apply to you:

"GO HOME YANKS!"

:-))"

If have a home in England. It's in your heart and Oliver's. I echo John F. Kennedy when he uttered the immortal words: “All free men who meet immigration standards and are Tories, wherever they may live, are citizens of Britain and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein British’.”

He never did…? >tease<