City Chennai, for some lighter side of life

My Grocery store at villivakkam, funny

The second line should have contained this word “parcel”. This sakthi store is at villivakkam, Annachi is a very friendly guy, but cannot help you with delivery, only parcel.

Technorati Tags: chennai, grocery store, store, funny, city

Velachery platform crowded

Click on the Photos for a larger version. Enjoy the slice of velachery, chennai taken at different periods of time. So I keep varying about the subject. So kindly bear with me.

Topic 1:

From Vijaynagar bus stand to Velachery Railway station you will be amused to see the number of shops propping up on a day today basis, after the railway station started to function.

Where is the platform?
Remembering to story of hoarding in Chennai, which added some distractions and vivid colors, Currently helping us to get some cool breeze. I am wondering what happened to the people who were involved in that business. After many years of livelihood a simple rule just took away their work.

I wish the same shouldn’t happen to the vendors of velachery. Either follow rules so that they are not affected after years.

By the way, I Wonder these shop keepers pay the tax and if they did, does it reach the right authorities of the Government or Chennai Corporation. End of the day, people complain about IT professionals and the salaried people who pay the tax, for all the rise in price etc etc. Have we ever worried about the tax payers.

Topic 2:

People can’t control and take a leak here, near Sutherland technologies pavement. You need to have blocked nose to walk on this area of pavement. There is no public toilet around in this huge stretch.

Parking right under the no parking zone is actually fun.

Topic 3:

Irony is about these Auto Drivers who park the autos on the pavement or sometimes they even ride on the opposite side of the road, they will even give you a jolt by honking  and even give you a bewildered look while they pass by.

And some times you will find the lawman very much following the rules.

Technorati Tags: velachery, Chennai, shops, vendors, platform, fish market, autoricksaw, public toilet

know, Howto – about A/C servicing

Well buying an A/C is simple, it is about some thing like buying an Elephant, and worrying about maintaining it.

Here are few things about our A/C servicing guys in Chennai during AMC – Annual Maintanance Contract usually happens to be free for the 1st year when you buy an A/C. You need to renew the AMC periodically before it gets expired. It is good as the A/C compressor are costly to be replaced.

What covers in an AMC?
It varies from vendor to vendor. The common ones are listed below

1. 4 free regular check up of A/C and cleaning of the same.
2. Compressor gas filling comes under warranty, so filling charges are free
3. taking them to their service centers are usually free with in so many KMS radius, usually free if you have large number of A/C s under AMC.

Some offer more packages to attract customers, by bringing the compressor under warranty if the A/C are new, so replacement is free.

How to service the A/C the usual method?
The below points are going to referred for the Window A/C unit

1. Outside panel and controls to be wiped with mild detergent
2. Air filters to be washed with mild detergent and water
3. Hot coils the one at the back side of the A/C unit to be cleaned using mild detergent and brush to remove mud particles
4. Cool coils the one just behind the Air filter to be cleaned using mild detergent and brush to remove dust particles
5. water hose outlet to be cleaned, and the water outlet pipes to be cleaned with detergent, to remove of dust particles which have been duly collected over a period of time.
6. The last ones to check, is for the stabilizer to have the wires intact and to have proper conductivity. Usually these wires get in bad shape due to low voltage supply, when a surge of power is draw by these stabilizer to feed the A/C unit.

There are little variation as far as the split A/C is concerned. The outside unit has to be properly cleaned, which usually doesn’t happen as some one in your family needs to supervise the entire operations.

What is that they are supposed to offer during that 1 year?
4 free regular checkup and cleaning of the A/C machine. Yeah for name sake to get their charge sheet signed. Except for the Air filter, nothing else gets cleaned up. If you ask them they will insist, this is more than enough.

What happens when you don’t get the required output from the A/C?
They start cleaning the coils, NOW

My personal experience:
I have a 1 ton Window A/C unit of the make LG 6 yrs old and 2 ton split A/C of the make carrier 1 yr old

I would rate the LG better in terms of servicing they did some decent job, where as the Carrier guys where just behind the money. They would pour a bucket of water on the outside unit which was at the roof top and just cleaning the Air filters of the inside unit of the Split A/C.

Heard from my friends that Samsung is also good in terms of servicing.

The only problem I currently face with my 1 ton LG window A/C is for the loud noise.

Would be glad to hear some constructive comments and suggestions. If you need more info please let me know. If possible I will respond to the comments and suggestions.

Technorati Tags: airconditioner, air conditioner, A/C, chennai, india, store, offer, mela, guide, window A/C, split A/C , window, split

North East Trade Expo

Venue: Valluvar Kottam
Till 3rd March 2008

If you like the bright colored ribbons and flowers, this could be the right place.
If you would like to see some more photos of the trade expo, here is the link http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29404&l=90d69&id=711946575

Christmas props shopping tips

Most of you would have already got the Christmas tree props for decoration and serial lights bulbs by now or things which had bought last year. It would be great if you can share your shopping experience.

I had been on shopping yesterday at three places in Chennai City to get some Christmas tree, stars, serial light bulbs and all or most of them. This is my first experience as I am not a Christian, but my Son wanted them to have it decorated at my home. So here are the shopping centers I visited.

1. Bharatham, Ayanavaram – My recommendation
2. Mummy Daddy, Kilpauk – Lots and Lots of props, you may even go dizzy looking at them
3. Ever Green, Ethiraj Salai just close to Sangeetha restaurant – Best and quality Christmas props among the shops I visited – Quite expensive.

How expensive and how did I determine?
I wanted to buy LED serial bulbs, prices at the above three stores

1. Bharatham – 60 LED stuff – 72 INR (Indian National Rupee)
2. Mummy Daddy – 60 LED stuff – 140 INR , 100 LED stuff – 290 INR
3. Ever Green – 100 LED stuff – 300 INR

Just not the serial bulbs some more products, showed variation in prices with the same quality of the product.

Hope, you will all share your Christmas shopping experience, and let me know who is the cheapest among the best quality product.

It is time for I-blushed.com

After Gangofgirls.com it is time for i-blushed.com

While I was coming from office today evening I saw the hoarding (above) of the i-blushed , so thought what is so special about the hoarding and there was no product mention on the hoarding. The hoarding found its bait.

Pinkish website or rather a girlish website from Ponds, This website is not about Social networking for women of that sort. It is about sharing their personal experience on how their men did some thing for the lady to blush or rather looking at their appearance what men did things to make them blush.

The lady standing out there on the website kept doing wild things, but didn’t look that funny or neither gather that much interest. She needs some more words or roles to play around.

She just kept nagging if the website was kept open for some time let us say a minute or more or asking you to “post something, and here is the idea”.

Good flash website in terms of UI but lacks features when compared to gangofgirls.com (sunsilk)

I-blushed.com is more on brand building exercise on ponds beauty care products along with personal experience of women who would love to share those wonderful moments (sounds like old women giving a talk about what happened yesterday) well that is what the advertisement in television was all about.

Technorati Tags: gangofgirls, i-blushed, iblushed, i-blushed.com, girls, ladies, beautycare, products, personal, experience, girly talk, television, tv

What I liked in Murugan Idly Center

My family and me were doing a shopping for clothes at TNagar last Sunday, and was really hungry before afternoon so we landed up at North Usman road, TNagar and landed up at Murugan Idly center, we were hyped by our neighbors next door, so decided to check this place out. The first impression of the place was that of a middle class restaurant, I thought of ordering a mixed menu which should consist of morning break fast and lunch so as to finally review the food quality at this place.

As soon as we landed on the table I found this stainless steel water tumblers with puncher ed wholes in it  as I was curious and taking snaps of this object, the waiter placed the disposable plastic tumblers and poured clear water in it.

An innovative way to tackle. Less problem for the food store and for the waiters to worry about cleaning these water dispensers and insuring clean water for the customer. I was quite thrilled about this small food store.

What is best of these tumbler shaped object is that it acts as a holder for those disposable plastic dispensers. When there is less water in it, the plastic dispenser stays intact.

Well the lunch was good not too spicy and was up to our standards and my son liked the Dosa and Idly the morning break fast types and good part is about the variety of chutney.

Overall a good experience and slightly high priced than our Saravana Bhavan.

Technorati Tags: chennai, India, tnagar, restaurant, dispensers, innovative

Credible Mobile Retail Store in chennai

A friend of mine is a Store Manager for a reputed Mobile Phone retail store. He is been backed up a big group. Yesterday I had been to one of his store at AnnaNagar, chennai (currently has multiple store across Chennai) and had wanted to buy the Motorola F3 – no hype mobile phone. I wanted to present this to my father in law, I showed him the Motorola F3 Mobile Phone and stated him the less featured, maximum utility phone, Which he liked it instantly. So I en quired the price and called up my friend for an offer. He turned down on me as he had principles of his own and been strictly following up company rules, He stated “no price offer for employees, and he had bought an another mobile from the store at the price quoted“

So I finally made up mind not to buy it from his store and went a head and en quired at Saravana Stores – Brahmandamai, to my bad luck the phones were out of stock. I didn’t give up went a head and landed up at

Saravana Store Thanga maligai.

This phone had an amazing boxing which you already seen at the top. Took some snaps of the Motorola F3 right inside their showroom.

Now to the point
What amazes me is that a Gold Jeweler is offering a rock bottom price where a truly Mobile retail store couldn’t beat the price.

Price war is already caught up, and what in the world are these Mobile retail store doing (The Mobile Store, Vasavi, Universal and all those priority showrooms like Nokia , sony erricsson etc)

Here are some check list before you buy a mobile Phone

1. You primary use (calling, SMS, ringtones etc)
   
2. What extra features you are looking for (Camera, MP3, Wifi [local network amazing feature], Bluetooth etc etc)
3. Compare between different models (Nokia = Nokia or Nokia = Sony ericsson = Motorola = Siemens = samsung =etc)
4. Compare dealers or retailers for the price
5. Check who offers down payment with EMI etc

Most middle class people, discuss a lot on buying mobile phones with friends and check the feature but don’t think about the retail showroom, who offers the best price ( 4th point of the checklist).

Verdict:
There is no Credible Mobile Retail showroom in Chennai as of now which says “I offer the best lowest  price, If you buy one lesser than the stated price, This store will pay the difference”. I am sure people in US know this kind of offer stated in some stores during sale. Believe me, If you buy a article less than the price quoted in that area. The Store pays the difference amount. This is not a failure model.

Technorati Tags: chennai, India, Mobile Phone, retail, Credible, store, price war, price, lowest

Any Plans to Buy A/C – Air conditioner

Do you have any plans to buy A/C in chennai?
Here are few to do’s and don’t before you buy one to beat the heat in chennai.

This guide is intended for home users with decent budget.

A/C – Air conditioner are available in two variants

Split A/C: The outdoor hold the compressor unit while the indoor houses for the blower.
Benefits:

1. Less noise as the compressor unit is placed outside
2. Copper tubes and wires can be consealed so your interior looks neat.
3. Positioning of the internal unit at desired place.

Losses:

1. More the copper wiring, more is the transmission loss because of heat. (Internal unit and the external unit are connected with copper tubes)
2. power consumption is more compared to window A/C with same ton Capacity.

Window A/C:
Benefits:

1. Less power consumption when compared to Split

Losses:

1. Can be noisy after few years of installation
2. Cannot be positioned where ever on your room. If needed you may have make a block of hole on the wall
3. The are certain situation where you cannot install a window A/C, as there is no option other than to opt for Split A/C

To do’s:

1. Do the ground work, before you decide to buy. Call up an A/C mechanic or an Electrician next door and check whether your 3 Phase power points can house for your A/C (balance the power usage between rooms)
2. Check the room size, ask him which A/C would suit or currently needed. The Split or Window A/C. If there is an option for Window A/C prefer that, If your are looking to save money on electricity bills.

Don’ts:

1. If you are staying on the top floor with an open terrace or ground floor with open terrace. Kindly arrange for false roofing.
2. If your loft and the shelves are open try to cover them. If left open A/C take more time to cool the room.

Places to look for A/C
Well lot of stores offer A/C mela’s do watch out for these stores, compare the rates and decide. Here is my choice or stores listed below

1. Rathna Fan house / Rathna Cool store (not on the main road little inside) and not Ratna Firm house this is on the main road
   
2. Jayam & Co
3. Shahs
4. Viveks

What you need to check when Buying A/C from the dealer
Window A/C:

1. Free Home delivery, what is the extra cost if you are outside city outskirts
2. Installation charge (1000 INR approx)
3. Wooden frame work to hold the Window A/C (450 INR approx)
4. Check for water outlet provision or arrange one on your own.
5. Stabilizer the most important one
6. A/C power socket with box – (500 INR Approx)

Split A/C:

1. Free Home delivery, what is the extra cost if you are outside city outskirts
2. Installation charge (1000 INR approx)
3. How many meters of Copper Cables is free, What is extra Copper cables per meter cost (currently 450 INR/meter).
4. How many meters of 3 core electric Cables are free (Power supply for the A/C internal and external unit + the Power console). If they don’t provide, buy from the local store.
5. Cost of L shaped brackets to house the unit (750 INR)
6. Check for water outlet pipes provision and cost of pipes
7. Stabilizer the most important one. Do check for double booster options.
8. A/C power socket with box – (500 INR Approx)

Some dealers offer few freebies, don’t fall for it. Models are your choice which I don’t want to discuss about.

Important: Carrier has launched new models priced very high which talks about energy conservation with 5 Star rating. While the other A/C manufacturers say the Star rating would come to effect only in late June 07 which the energy conservation ministry had announced on the News paper daily recently. Not sure about which one is true. Think twice before you decide.

Would you like to know about servicing the A/C
Here is the new post Know, Howto – about A/C servicing

Technorati Tags: airconditioner, air conditioner, A/C, chennai, india, store, offer, mela, guide, window A/C, split A/C , window, split

new Diva on the block

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If you happen to be in 2nd Avenue AnnaNagar and going towards Mogappair in the night, you will not miss the new Diva on the block. Good looking showroom. Will review the place and let you know.

Technorati Tags: chennai, annanagar, diva, showroom, shopping