Summertime!

....the weather comparison continues

Reykjavík Iceland: 16°
New York: 16°
Copenhagen: 16°
London: 18°

Yes....it's not cold here back home! It's sunny and wonderful....gotta love it.

So - long time since last. We're kind of settled in our new beautiful apartment. Bought ourselves a dishwasher yesterday (yes..luxury product) cause we got offered to buy a used one from a friend. Otherwise- the apartment is getting more and more cozy every day.

All of the Icelandic guys from Malaysia are home for the summer and Sigga Hrönn and some other friends from dk have stopped by for a visit. So far - the summer has been all about meeting friends, BBQ, camping - and enjoying the summer.

Work and school is good - everyone are good - life's good.

In July we have Oskar's birthday (in one week)- a family reunion in the end of the month, some roadtrips for us - possibly a summer cottage with my father and family and lots more.

When we blogged from Malaysia we often had ridiculous stories to tell about service etc in that community. Now....oh my lord - Iceland has reached a new level in service standards.

*****The story about the toaster!*****

Me and Oskar went to Hagkaup (like Tesco) to buy a toaster. We bought one for 3.990 (very cheap) from a no-brand whatever label. It was black - it looked nice - we just needed it to toast stuff. When we got home, so excited to try our new toaster, it didn't work!

So the next day we went to the same store to return it.

Shop lady: You can't return electrical equipment bought here
We: Uuuuuuh but it doesn't work......
Shop lady: Blablabla
We: We want a new one - our money back - store credit - anything. It doesn't work!

Finally - she says ok...you'll get a new one but this isn't really allowed bla bla. We go into the store, but they're all finished and she had none in the back.

We: "Well, then we'll take our money back thank you" (as allowed by law)
Shop lady: "Oh, I found one toaster, the last one, in Smáralind (a shopping mall). You'll have to go there to get a new one - there's nothing else I can do for you blaaaaa

Pffff.....so we went there - to meet the most stoned guy ever to be seen in Iceland. He was very unhelpful and asked for the guarantee that we should've gotten when we bought the thing in the first place - but of course didn't get.

He "couldn't do anything for us" because it wasn't their store which is responsible, but Sjónvarpsmarkaðurinn / the TV market. So he said we'd have to go there....but since the other lady from Hagkaup already called on our behalf - he finally checked that out and said ok..I'll get the toaster.

But noooooooo

Shop dude: There's been a slight misunderstanding
We: Noooo - gosh - I'm so surprised. What.
Shop dude: We only have the box...there's no toaster in it. You'll have to go to the TV market to sort this out.

Crap.

The following day - Oskar goes to the TV market. They say that they have to evaluate the toaster and check it out - and fix it (really?) and then give it back. We can't just get a new one. They say that they'll call the next day which they of course didn't do....

Four days later....

The TV market calls

TV dude: Yes hello, I've got some news about the toaster
Oskar: Yeeeeeees
TV dude: Mmmm it's broken
Oskar: Nooooo - really? You're not kidding? Gosh, did not realise that
TV dude: Yes, it is...it's even so broken - that it's ruined
Oskar: Of course it is...
TV dude: Well, you know, we don't have more of those so you'll have to talk to Heimilistæki (yes, a third store that has nothing to do with this) and get store credit in their store..you'll just have to come to the TV market to claim some stuff, then go to Heimilistæki when Mr X is working during these hours etc etc etc

Oskar goes online to see that the cheapest toaster in Heimilistæki is around 7.000 (remember that we bought ours for 3.990).

THEN our patience really ran out and we sent a letter to the Consumers association of Iceland, his sister (a lawyer) and the three stores involved.

A few hours later he got a call from the first store, an apology and home delivery on a toaster - Phillips - which costs double the price (not that we haven't payed that in gas and mental exhaustion already, híhí).

So now, whenever you feel like having a toast, do drop by:)