What's upsetting you today?

[infinite monkey]

Lord no. I just ventured out into the world. Its a jungle out there. Consumer madness. I'm going to take a nap.

[zippyt]

Mean people.

[infinite monkey]

Trute, there.

[Nirvana]

crap Dux

Sam don't beat yourself up situations change and so do your feelings about them. Its all going in a forward motion and regret doesn't help you or Carmen. Now you can go on

[Aliantha]

This probably should go in the irritating forum, but I'm here, so it's going here.

Yesterday I went to buy some new preserve jars and paid enough money for them that I really thought it wouldn't be too much to ask for them to seal properly (starting to think maybe the pissed off thread) partly because that's what they're supposed to do anyway, and secondly, because I wanted to use them to put chopped up fruit (peaches, apricots and cherries) in them to soak in vodka and sugar till Christmas. They make a really lovely looking gift and most people enjoy opening them up and having the juices and then eating the fruit with icecream or something.

So anyway, I'm annoyed (hmmm..annoyed thread?) because they're not sealing properly. I'm also annoyed that I give things in preserve jars as gifts quite often to family a friends, and I always ask that the jar is returned (with the seal) when the contents are finished. The only person who does so is my Dad. All the rest of those people don't bother.

Now getting really fired up with my rant...

I like to make stuff to give people at Christmas. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction, and I feel it's more personal than just buying something from the shop, so it annoys me a lot when the jars aren't returned because it means that the gift for next time will cost more because I have to go and buy more.

I think I'm going to tie notes on the jars this year and see if I get a better return rate.

Bloody shitheads!

The end.

[Griff]

The notes will probably help. What's the deal with the jars though, bad seams? We haven't had that problem here yet... Chinese jars?

[Aliantha]

One lot I bought from a kitchen ware shop and the one that's leaking has a chip out of the lip, so I suspect that's the problem. I'll probably return that one.

The others are ones I bought from a discount store (so probably chinese) just to try them because they only cost $2 compared to the others which were about $6.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

One lot I bought from a kitchen ware shop and the one that's leaking has a chip out of the lip, so I suspect that's the problem. I'll probably return that one.

The others are ones I bought from a discount store (so probably chinese) just to try them because they only cost $2 compared to the others which were about $6.

http://www.freshpreserving.com/home.aspx

Ball canning jars are about fifty cent to a dollar a piece depending on size. I think one US dollar is equal to about three Australian cents.

[monster]

I think you should consider the jars as part of the present. Could you not transfer to cheaper jars just before you give them? A present "with strings" loses some of its sparkle. In this case, if you don't use it straight away there's the guilt factor that you might think they don't like it, and they have to remember to wash it and return it, it'll probably sit around on a counter collecting dust and annoying them as they wait for the next time they see you.... It's king of on a par with giving a gift that requires a subscription on the part of the recipient, or one that needs batteries without providing batteries. Or taking a meal to someone who's sick/bereaved in several dishes that must be handwashed with care. Unenvironmentally friendly as it may be, giving edible gifts in "disposable" containers is a better idea imo.

If you do continue with the expensive jars and go with the notes, I would word it in a way that stresses the environmental factor: "If you do not plan to re-use me, please return me to Aliantha and help preserve our earth's resources" Twee tough that may sound, it makes it seem more like it's the recipient's choice rather than obligation to return the jar which, imo, makes it more likely that you'll get them back -"Aliantha will appreciate it if I give her this jar" rather than "Oh bollocks, I have to remember to wash the jar and give it back" or "Cheeky cow wanting half of the present back"......

But maybe it's a cultural thing.

[Aliantha]

The exchange rate is about even at the moment foot, so not as bad as all that. lol

What does the word 'ball' have to do with anything? I don't understand the term. Does it mean a jar where the lid vacuum seals with heat?

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by monster

I think you should consider the jars as part of the present. Could you not transfer to cheaper jars just before you give them? A present "with strings" loses some of its sparkle. In this case, if you don't use it straight away there's the guilt factor that you might think they don't like it, and they have to remember to wash it and return it, it'll probably sit around on a counter collecting dust and annoying them as they wait for the next time they see you.... It's king of on a par with giving a gift that requires a subscription on the part of the recipient, or one that needs batteries without providing batteries. Or taking a meal to someone who's sick/bereaved in several dishes that must be handwashed with care. Unenvironmentally friendly as it may be, giving edible gifts in "disposable" containers is a better idea imo.

If you do continue with the expensive jars and go with the notes, I would word it in a way that stresses the environmental factor: "If you do not plan to re-use me, please return me to Aliantha and help preserve our earth's resources" Twee tough that may sound, it makes it seem more like it's the recipient's choice rather than obligation to return the jar which, imo, makes it more likely that you'll get them back -"Aliantha will appreciate it if I give her this jar" rather than "Oh bollocks, I have to remember to wash the jar and give it back" or "Cheeky cow wanting half of the present back"......

But maybe it's a cultural thing.

It's close family and friends that I give this sort of stuff to. Often, the cost of the jar is higher than the actual cost of the ingredients. It's mainly my brother and his wife that don't return them, and I give them a lot of stuff because they're into the whole food thing and no preservative food etc.

If they were just used jam jars it'd be different, but since we rarely buy jam etc, I usually have to buy jars, and if I have to buy them every time, I might as well just buy jam cause it'd be cheaper.

Anyway, I don't think it's too much to ask for people to return the jars. Especially if they want them refilled next time round.

eta: and I think that's really the issue. If the preserves were a one off it wouldn't matter, but when I might end up giving them 20 jars throughout the year, it gets expensive to replace them.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

The exchange rate is about even at the moment foot, so not as bad as all that. lol

What does the word 'ball' have to do with anything? I don't understand the term. Does it mean a jar where the lid vacuum seals with heat?

"Ball" and "Kerr" are each family names of original inventors/companies

[monster]

Can you go with the transferring to cheaper jars just before giving idea? Or is there no such thing in Aus? Can you buy second hand jars?

[Aliantha]

If you transfer the contents with preserves, you risk contamination and the contents have to be refrigerated and usually consumed in a short period of time. With proper preserving, the idea is to add the preserve to the jar then put the lid on while it's still close to boiling if not still boiling.

I understand your point, and while it's a good one for non-preserved things like lollies etc, it wouldn't really work for jams and things like that.

[monster]

Do you have Paddington Bear in Aus?