My Experience with Coverfox – Annoying!

Tags

Car Insurance, coverfox, policybazar

 

Will fill in the details shortly, but in one word coverfox for car insurance renewal has been “Annoying.”

To begin, these guys were good only with followup on the phone. They committed to a time slot for car inspection but did not show up!

The car inspection was reschedule for the next day. I left work early for it. Guess what happens, they don’t show up!

Damn the idiots. I asked them to buzz off and plan on doing it another one. Morons!

My Experience with Pikkol, Bangalore

Tags

packers and movers in Bangalore, Pikkol

Packers & Movers (P&M) are one those service providers you just cannot get away from. It’s almost impossible to come out of the experience happy and nice. There’s always something broken, something stolen, some extra charges padded, an extra pain to deal with, and on and on.

Pikkol, to my great surprise, did turn out a little different. However, I am not yet going all gaga over it. I do recollect with great fondness about the good times with Zoomcar, Uber, and Ola (and also others when they were not yet well established). They all usually start going sour fairly soon enough. Will see how this goes. So far, though, it has been great.

It all started by logging on to their website and generating a quote by feeding in various elements and parameters. This can get a little tiring for those with more luggage. But typically one feeds in the bigger stuff and enter the approx number of carton boxes.

After chosing the typically biggies – Shoe Stand, TV, TV Stand, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Microwave, Dining Table and Chairs, Vacuum Cleaner, Water Purifier, Dressing Table, Couches, Few things more, and about 40 carton boxes (for clothes, kitchen stuff, shoes, books, and other little things). This generated the quote. There’s this additional thing if you want to take insurance.

All good. Turns out, they give you 10 carton boxes for free. Most P&M take the carton boxes away immediately after moving, which is kinda annoying since you want a few days to set things. You can hold the boxes for few days more by paying extra. However, we thought 10 free boxes is good enough for many things and so we picked them up ourselves at the Pikkol office in BTM Layout, Bangalore.

The boxes given to us were brand new and good quality too. The typical dimensions of 24″ X 19″ X 19″ (have to double check those dimensions). They were big enough to hold good amount of stuff and carry them well.

Some Grouse –

1. We were told that the transfer will be in a 19-feet truck. The one that showed up on moving day was 16-feet. They had to do another run to accommodate and complete the transfer. 
2. The dimensions of the box were smaller than what we were told. However, I was happier with what they gave. Anything bigger would have been a bit more burdensome to handle. 
3. They said 5-people would be sent for packing etc. However, there were 6 of them on the day. No issues. 
4. The packers were mostly labor folks (from UP/Bihar). By themselves lacked any sophistication. For work to be done well I had to do quite some supervising. I would have expected Pikkol people to send in someone senior for this purpose.
5.  It appears Pikkol outsources the job to other movers and packers! Strange, but true. 
6. I did not have any noteworthy damage except the LPG cylinder trolley. One of the wheels came off and wouldn’t fit again. 
7. As far I can tell, there has been no theft! This is actually a huge deal. 

They turned up within 30-min of the chosen time. Went about their work with some supervising.

Finally, they unloaded everything on time without issues. Put the dismantled things (Bed, TV, etc) back together.

All in all, it was a fair deal. Price was comparable to what other P&M’s quoted. Work was done without having to yell at anyone.

One thing though, I found it very helpful to speak calmly and respectfully even if the other folks were trying to be rude at times. They do come around well. Not only that, there would be small things missed in the quote. With a good interaction, they will accommodate without issues. If you are bitter, they just might stretch everything and make the headaches into a migraine.

Maternity Experience at Columbia Asia, Yeshwantpur

Tags

Columbia Asia, jyothi shenoy, labor, maternity

Recently had our baby girl at the Columbia Asia, Yeshwantpur. The entire process has been a roller-coaster ride swinging between great joy & deep frustration.

Joy from the fact, among other things, that we had a very good doctor (Dr. Jyothi Shenoy) who helped in being practical yet stress free (relatively).

Frustration arising mostly from the support staff and the NICU in charge (Dr. Phani Bhushan).

Dr. Jyothi has been very professional and scientific through out. She would discuss some of her serious cases to give us more confidence and set us at ease and peace. We loved her all through the process. Only place where I think she could be a little more helpful is when she responds to questions and doubts over email. Sometimes her replies are very curt and not easy to follow. However, we do understand the limitations and constraints under which she’s replying to those emails. We are grateful for it.

Coming to the support staff – the nurses etc. Most of them have been thoroughly frustrating except few. The only ones we found professional and passionate about their job – Sisters Mary, Baby, Aparna, and one more sister whose name I’ll need to try and recollect. Apart from these four, every one else in the labor and maternity ward has been a huge pain in the keister.

I’ll elaborate:

• Getting the bottles, pallada, and feed for the baby is always a challenge. Unfortunately we had to depend on the nurses to get the things sterilized, prepare the feed, and give it to us! We normally inform them well ahead of time when we’ll need the feed. They will not get back to us until unless we have followed up with them at least 5-6 times. The entire process delays by about 1-2 hrs! Most of the nurses were just not interested in doing their job. We have had to go against our nature and yell at them to either just do their job earnestly or give the the access and protocol so we can do everything ourselves without having to rely on them!
• Same with medicines. We have to be after them to get the medicines for the mom and the baby. Multiple times. Every single time. It got so frustrating we just wanted to get the hell out of the place just so we have peace of mind to deal with everything on our own.
• Another point has been that of the cleanliness of the sterilizer. I think they have 2 or 3 electric steam sterilizers for sterilizing bottles and pallada. Couple of times I looked at it and it had scum all over! It had never been cleaned. Never been scrubbed. Never been rinsed. The sterilizer needed deep sterilizing!
• Lack of a breast feeding expert is an ominous shock! They keep insisting on formula feeding and hardly anyone advocates breast feeding. For all the money they charge, it’s insulting that they have no breast feeding experts to help new parents with and give proper instructions.
• Lack of proper facilities in the neonatal ICU (NICU). The mothers hardly have any room to change or relax for a while in between if they have to go visit their babies in the NICU. Another shocking omission where they should take extra precaution in providing better facilities for the new moms. These are the things that annoy you more and your mind begins thinking how these guys just want to squeeze more money out of patients without bothering to provide the right service and facilities. Now, this causes you to doubt their every motive. Ironically, even the noble ones.
•  While we are in the NICU, no one suggested us the ROP test – retinopathy of prematurity. Supposedly these days they run these tests for most premature babies born before 32-weeks. Although we were at 36-weeks, we were suggested this test long after getting discharged from the hospital and during one of our routine visits. We later learned how these tests can be done even while at the NICU.

This over all forms our experience at the Columbia Asia, Yeshwantpur maternity and labor procedures.

 

Birth Certificate in Malleshwaram, Bangalore

Tags

birth certificate malleshwaram, malleshwaram BBMP office

For kids born in Yeshwantpur, Malleshwaram, and Mathikere area of Bangalore, one needs to collect the birth certificate from the BBMP Office in Malleshwaram –

It is located across the Chowdiah Memorial Hall. Formal address of the BBMP office –

B B M P Office

16th Cross, Near-Thirumala Temple, Malleshwaram, Gayathri Devi Park Extension, Kodandarampura, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003

 

 

Just check with the hospital/maternity centre as to which branch of BBMP office you’ll have to go to to get the certificate.

The process entails taking along the slip they give you from the hosptial/maternity centre. At the BBMP office you need to fill out some forms (bc-1 and bc-2).

They give upto 4 copies of the birth certificate. However, there’s lack of clarity on the exact number owing to the whims and fancies of the official at the desk on a given day. You can get more eventually.

As of 1st December, 2016, it costs Rs.80 (~ $1.2) to obtain 4-copies of a birth certificate per kid.

Will update the post with relevant details shortly, but I did get birth certificate from here and WITHOUT PAYING BRIBE!

The BBMP Office in Malleshwaram. For Birth Certificate, go all the way towards the end along the parking lot and turn right. You’ll then see signs indicating to the birth certificate office.

 

Once the paperwork etc is submitted at the BBMP office, the birth certificate typically arrives in a weeks time. One can pick up the originals then.

 

 

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Demonitising of HD Notes!

Tags

demonitize, exchange old notes

 

The HD (High Denomination of 500/- & 1000/-) has now been demonitized. On the whole, it looks like part of the black money is surely recovered by the GOI. However, there have been people -mostly rural, the poor, and the elderly – that have had to endure quite some pain. Many small businesses suffered, but a lot has been taken in good stride as something that is “good for the nation” in the long run. How long will be that long run is anyone’s guess.

For now if someone has to exchange his/her older HD notes, they can do so at the banks. They need to fill out a form – like this one

dm-hd

Carry a copy of one of the listed IDs along with the original and get upto Rs.2000 exchanged in new currency and/or lower denominations.

I think they’ve started to put indelible ink on the right hand index finger so they don’t get repeat customers.

Were the GOI intentions noble or were they tainted with political gains to be had? Guess the common will never really know the truth. Although it is evident there are some fundamental gains to the country –

1. Counterfeit currency is briefly arrested along with activities that go with it. But these will resume soon enough since the newer currencies have no additional security benefits/features.
2. The GOI recovers part of the black money that’s stashed away in cash. GOI benefits even from the genuine notes that are burned, washed down rivers and canals,…
3. This will lead to smaller currency circulation for a while bringing down inflation in the sort term.
4. The high end property prices are expected to fall by at least 25%.

I think the GI could have planned it a whole lot better and ensured the suffering for common man is much reduced –

1. Sending out delegates to help the farmers in villages by setting up make-shift ATMs and banks for easier and faster processing.
2. Working better with the banks to ensure cash reaches common man through multiple channels.
3. Introducing a “cash back” option like we have in most western countries where debit cards can be used at any point-of-sale (POS) terminal for cash withdrawal.
4. Having a provision for senior citizens where they can be served much better.
5. Working harder with the common man and the banks to ensure more people have accounts and can transfer money via portals/services like paytm and equivalents. This alone would have ensured smaller shock to the daily-wage-earners and small businesses.

Since the GOI took absolutely no steps in minimizing the blow to the common man, this entire scheme stinks more of a political ploy rather than a patriotic one.

We’ll know better soon enough.

Columbia Asia Hospital – So far, So Good

Tags

Apollo, Bangalore Hospitals, Columbia Asia, Fortis

Wee hours at the Columbia Asia, Yeshwantpur Bangalore

I’ve had the opportunity of visiting quite  few hospitals in Bangalore now – Fortis, Appolo, Narayana Hrudayalaya, Columbia Asia, Jayadeva, etc.

Among them, the worst one in terms of staff attitude, doctors behavior, appointment time honoring, etc is the Fortis! They just don’t seem to have any sense of hospital management. They charge pretty much anything they fancy. Professionalism is practically non-existent. Of course, one will always find few exceptions here and there, but by and large it’s a depressing hospital to visit!

The Apollo’s appear to have a much more streamlined and better management. Their doctors also come across a little on the haughty side that appear to not have much time for questions from the patients. Otherwise, it’s a little more tolerable.

The Narayana Hrudayalaya is quite alright. Usually appears to be much more crowded than others.

However, by far the best hospital in B’lore I’ve visited has been the Columbia Asia Hospital (the Yeshwantpur branch in particular). On the average, I found the doctors here to much more civil and courteous. They have the time to discuss things with the patient. Of course, there are a few issues here – for instance, the support and nursing staff can at times be a pain the neck to deal with. Sometimes you have to remind them what to do and even how to do it. Surprisingly, it’s cheaper than damned Fortis.

Columbia Asia, Bangalore (Yeshwantpur)

Police get Polished. Politicians remain Preposterous

Tags

Bangalore Police, police, politicians

According to a news report from bangalore mirror, the newly minted sub-inspectors come with ‘good’ education background –

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/New-SIs-are-MBAs-law-graduates-engineers/articleshow/53850666.cms

To quote, “new batch of 225 probationary PSIs of Karnataka consists of 23 engineering graduates, 2 MBA graduates, 3 LLB graduates, 40 post graduates and 3 army graduates.”

While that is certainly a better move, the tragedy remains the people that’ll be bossing around these ‘poor’ police chaps are the same old politicians! When do we get to see in a change in that? One wonders….

The Patanjali Products – To buy or not to buy

Tags

patanjali, patanjali products, ramdev

Their claim to fame is their approach to FMCG – all deeply rooted in ancient Indian (Bharat) practices and culture – sort of an ayurvedic touch to all products of Patanjali.

While some accept it to be true. Others doubt the authenticity of those statements. Some chose to be open minded and go by their own experience instead of relying blindly on claims made by others.

I’ve realized one thing – you just cannot trust anyone. Ramadev included. In particular, I find it harder to believe those that parade about with religious paraphernalia all over and around them – holy ash on forehead, shaved head with a hint of pony, chanting beads, ocher robes, vehement temple goers, those indulging in public display of devotion and religious faith etc. While large portion of the Indian population treats them with and holds them in special regard, I have observed many charlatans to now know well enough to not treat them any differently from just about any one else!

Patanjali, in that sense, should be treated just like any other MNC into FMCG. Although many of its prices are marginally on the lower side compared to the similar products of the competitors, there are tricks being missed by everyone here –

1. Patanjali generally adds those products to their shelf that have already been well tested by others and are selling well. Their own R&D is very very limited. They have saved much on these costs.
2. Patanjali doesn’t really have any advertising costs. In the sense, while most MNCs have to have millions to movie stars, sports heroes, etc., Patanjali does not have to incur these costs. Their advertising is all about Ramdev strutting about with political goodwill.

Considering these, I’d would say, Patanjali enjoys very good margins on their products. Many of his followers would be more than willing to give their time without any pay as a mark of respect and service towards the ‘holy one.’

Additionally, while they give the impression that they manufacture every single product they sell. That in fact is not the case at all. Like any other MNC, they outsource much of their manufacturing and just label & package the products.

For instance, their ghee is made from, among other ingredients,  unsalted butter produced by the Karnataka Co-operative Milk Products Federation Ltd. Their aloe vera is supplied by Dhandev Resorts and Health Care Pvt. Ltd. Their mustard oil is supplied by a Jaipur-based manufacturer (like the mustard oil of most other MNCs). Their honey is found to be tainted with antibiotics (just like those from other brands) and substandard.  The Patanjali biscuits are made by Delhi based Sona Biscuits. Their juice products are loaded with preservatives and added sugar (very much like the competition). Their salt is from a Gujarat based company.

In summary, though, the bottom-line is that there is no real chose to chose Patanjali over any other brand. They are all equally good. And equally bad. One should chose the product after due diligence and not because the unbridled emotion guides one towards tall claims made by unscrupulous touts.

Meanwhile, my very religious parents are busy with their new found respect for Patanjali products because they think it’s all ayurvedic and pure! Any news flash that contradicts this view is brushed aside as ‘Media & MNC’ spite towards the desi, ayurvedic way of life!

In my own limited experience I have found some of their products to be good – handwash soap solution, detergents, some spice & masala. However, I will never again get their honey, rice, and ghee.

I also realize the best products will rarely come packaged, no matter what the promise. The best cooking oil, rice, pulses, and flour I’ve used are the one obtained from interior villages of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. I am yet to visit rural places of other states. The best honey I’ve had are the ones from inner regions of Coorg bought directly from the locals there. All the MNCs and Patanjali will never be able to match up – in price or quality.

Road-Worthiness or Car-Worthiness!

Tags

bad roads in bangalore, Driving in India, potholes, roads in bangalore

 

In Bangalore, all cars are road-worthy, but, tragically, most roads are not car-worthy! 

Shouldn’t the citizens have some forum/mechanism to penalize the government and the concerned departments for their incompetence?

Most roads in Bangalore do not meet the acceptable standards for safe-driving. You cannot drive 20 meters without having to dodge a pothole or a humongous speed-bump or sometimes even a cow or a dog.

Even if you do not follow local news you’d know there’s some political activity round the corner when suddenly, out of the blue, there’s some repair works on the roads to patch up the potholes!

The only time I’ve seen roads being re-laid or repaired is if there’s a voting about to start or someone political bigwig (PM, President,…) is about to visit the area.

Even the repair work is so very temporary in nature, within a week’s time the roads return to their destructive and degenerative norm!

Expensive in the US; Cheaper in India

Tags

cheaper in india, cheaper in Us, expensive in India, expensive in US

Most things, in general, are much cheaper to buy in the US than they are in India. For instance, cars, petrol, branded clothes, branded shoes, chocolates, wine, leather furniture, recliners, good comforters, etc.

Whenever travelling to the US, I try and stock up on some of the essential items. Even the laptops and tablets, although the price difference is slowly diminishing, many are still cheaper and better spec’ed in the US.

Most of my jeans and t-shirts I buy only the US, that too strictly on-sale only! My sports shoe is purchased there. Same with floaters/sandals. Camera lenses are typically cheaper in the US. Baby care and safety products (like baby car seat, stroller, etc) are much much cheaper in the US and I prefer to source it from there.

However, there are things much cheaper in India – top of that list would be medical needs! Doctors consultation, general diagnostics and care, these are much cheaper and often better in India than they are in the US.

Getting a suit stitched is also much cheaper in India. Although, you’ll have to look and ask around well enough to get a reliable and competent tailor.

Getting a furniture made to your design and specifications is much cheaper in India. Some of the carpenters are insanely talented.

Getting un-branded, generic clothes is generally much cheaper in India.

Most of the typical fruits and vegetables are much cheaper in India. More so when and if you happen to shop at the wholesale outlets.

Most of the Indian cooking based spices and masala are much cheaper in India than in the US. Same goes for our typical Indian snacks – lays chips (Indian flavors), Samosa, Chats, etc..

Good Indian food and street food is much much cheaper in India. Obviously, right? I’ve just not had a good Indian meal at any of the Indian restaurants in the US except possibly some of them in Chicago, the Devon Street area.

Cane based furniture are cheaper in India. Wooden toys (of Channapatna fame) are much much cheaper and better in India than they are in the US.

Dry fruits can at times be cheaper in India, but you’ll need to shop for them at the right places – like Chandni Chowk area in Old Delhi, Chickpet area in Bangalore etc.

Books are generally cheaper in India – that is, the paperback quality. I mostly anyway prefer the paperback quality. Many of the popular books can be bought for cheaper still when buying used.

Eye-glasses are generally cheaper in India.

My daily needs are cheaper in India – milk, bread, wheat flour, rice, ragi, etc. I also find them to be  better in India.

Schooling (undergrad and grad) is cheaper in India.

It’s also easier to get free food in India than it is in the US! Remember Steve Jobs talking about the Hare Krishna folks? Since there are so many temples and guru dwaras in India, and they all serve ‘prasad’, ‘langars’, and food in general very often for free, it’s easier for many to possibly try and manage even with just that!

My jute bags that I use for grocery shopping is insanely cheaper in India compared to the equivalent one in the US.

Any and every manual labor – mechanic, electrician, plumber, domestic help, cook, etc – is much cheaper in India.

It’s also much easier and cheaper in India to get things – electrical, electronic, mechanical – fixed/repaired. Folks are very competent and imaginative here.

Bottled water is cheaper in India. Essential grains are cheaper in India. My preferred green tea is about 60% cheaper in India (without sale at that) than it is in the US!