I guess I have no honor.  I lost the key to my storage unit in Phoenix and had to buy a $55 pair of bolt cutters, I used them on the cheap lock (didn’t even scratch the bolt cutter finish) and returned them.

Course that’s not like a used generator however...

"I would hate to have to deal with the modern entitled Consumer"

It's bad enough just standing in line behind them, and listening to their stories. It's odd that liars have a hard time keeping their stories straight.

The stores selling generators should have the customers hand-write (not just sign their name) an acknowledgment that they understand that the generator is not returnable. If they write it out, they couldn't say that they just signed their name and didn't realize it wasn't returnable. Stores don't accept other kinds of electrical equipment returns, why generators?

BTW... how does a millennial 'sign' his/her name on a document when they can't write cursive?

Oh wow. So, Hurricane Florence made landfall early this morning right on top of my friend who is just a mile or so inland from Surf City. Oh wow.

The worst part of the worry is knowing that she will likely be unable to communicate with me for days

So where are you now?

Hope your friends are OK.

The storm really looked to be falling apart and the lowering of the category to a one did no favors to anybody, as the central pressure of the storm stayed the same. this simply meant the wind field had further expanded, which means it could pile up more water along the coast and feed off more of the hot water.

When the eye got closer to land the pressure dropped a few MB and it appeared to be intensifying over the gulf stream.

So regarding the Wind damage, obviously not cat4 damage, but interms of storm surge, because of the size of the storm adn the slow movement, it was able to pile up a lot more water along shore.

As far as rain, well that is also extreme, and not quite living upto the predicted maximum possible totals that the media was inplying were written in stone.

Either way it does not make much difference what the category rating was when your first floor is underwater. The track forecast turned out to be pretty darned accurate, and while they thought it would make landfall as a cat4, adn it was a strong cat1 or low cat 2, makes little difference.

I am surprised that is is still classified as a hurricane this long with the eye no longer over water. It Ain't over yet, either, and there could be flooding events up applachia and into the NE over the next few days.

Down in Fayettville area of NC (Cumberland County) appx 50 percent are without power, winds have dropped to 40-50 mph and we are expecting another 10 inches of rain over the next 2 days. Power has been out in my sons house for about 5 hours now.

Fortunately the Stanley 1000 jump starter pack I gave him last year was charged as that’s whats keeping cell phones up.  Cell towers still standing and working.  BBQ grill providing cooking power and no shortage of water (go outside and open mouth). Good ol’ Coleman campstove and propane lanterns in use.  His fireplace is natural gas but its not cold. He’s lost about 1/5th of his roof shingles but its a steeply pitched plan so as long as the felt stays down it won’t leak.  

Fun Fun...

(09-13-2018, 06:56 PM)TrainChaser Wrote: The stores selling generators should have the customers hand-write (not just sign their name) an acknowledgment that they understand that the generator is not returnable.  If they write it out, they couldn't say that they just signed their name and didn't realize it wasn't returnable.    Stores don't accept other kinds of electrical equipment returns, why generators?

The Lowes and Home Depots by me say no returns accepted on anything with a motor if gas has been put in it.   Here's the kicker....unless defective.  The manager at my local Lowes says you'd be surprised how many generators and snowblowers come back "defective"  People just sabotage them so they can return them......they have a tech come in and fix them and then sell them at deep discounts out on the side walk.  He said it's usually cut wires or putting in the wrong spark plug so it won't start. But he's had others that dump water in the fuel tank, drain the oil so it seizes, even burn wires together and blame it on an electrical fire.  The one's with the seized engines get sold for pennies on the dollar.  Just went in today and a ride on mower with a defective engine was $100 bucks.  Brand new otherwise, I would have bought it, but a sold sign was already on it.

(09-13-2018, 02:29 PM)TWIH Wrote: I guess I have no honor.  I lost the key to my storage unit in Phoenix and had to buy a $55 pair of bolt cutters, I used them on the cheap lock (didn’t even scratch the bolt cutter finish) and returned them.

I can't see much harm done there, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.  If you're superstitious, just pick up a small bag worth of litter in the parking lot of the store you borrowed from and you'd be up some points in the karma bank.  


Not sure if you have a cordless drill, but if you do/did you can drill out the key hole on pad locks and they pop right open.  Use a 1/4" drill bit and drill right down the middle of the key slot and it usually pops right open in a few seconds.  Some stick and you can wiggle the drill bit around as you're drilling or go up to a 3/8" bit to drill more of the lock out.  Even a lock that gives a little fight doesn't take much more than 30 seconds.

I have some friends from a homesteading group I'm part of that have been collecting donations all week......mainly animal supplies for all the displaced animals after events like this. They are heading that way as we speak and have a convoy of three pick ups all towing larger horse trailers stocked to the brim. Vet and landscaper on board to help sick animals and clear roadways if needed to get to their intended target.

It's a pretty coordinated effort and they have a local rescue they'll be working with when they arrive as to not get in anyone's way and actually hinder progress, which I guess is a pretty big problem after these events, lots of people with good intentions getting in the way, using up an already limited supply of resources, or even needing rescuing themselves.

Power back on but not sure for how long. His roof lost a bunch of shingles and is leaking. He’s got a $1000 windstorm deductible so he’s out at least that. Insurance may only be for the “big” losses but not many have 1K just laying around...  Oh well at least I can help with sheetrock repairs.

Fortunately flooding isn’t an issue where he lives but for many others the rising river will get them like it did 2 years ago.

This is when home ownership is not the “American Dream”...