WildcatYXU From Canada, joined May 2006, 2435 posts, RR: 5 Posted (9 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1260 times:
So, here's the story: Our garburator just failed and I wasn't able to fix it. So I went to the local Home Depot store, picked up a new one and drove home. Just as I arrived, a friend showed up. I told him what I'm about to do (replace the garburator) and he asked, why did I buy it here, as it may be much cheaper in the USA. Well, I checked on it and I was shocked. It is indeed cheaper in the USA. But i didn't anticipate such difference. The same model costs at the American Home depot $ 219 US. The Canadian price is $ 339. At every single store! OK, the model number differs, the US model number is 76000, the Canadian model number is 7600B. I wasn't able to find out what's the difference between the two. But most likely, the only difference is the bilingual box and user manual for the 7600B.
There is no way I'll keep it. I'll drive to Fort Gratiot and pick up one there. Just for the hell of it. And the one I picked up Sunday is going back to the store.
It's a motorised shredder that lives under the sink in many North American kitchens and gives European visitors a heart attack when they confuse its power switch with that for the light. Naturally, I have only heard of such mishaps.
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
ronglimeng From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 624 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (9 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1087 times:
Funny you should mention "bilingual" and "Fort Gratiot". I often go into the Lowes store over there, just for the same price difference reasons you talk about.
I'm always amazed by the complete bilingual (English / Spanish) signage in the store. You'd think they were on the Mexican border at Laredo, TX instead of the Canadian border at Fort Gratiot, MI.
zckls04 From United States of America, joined Dec 2011, 778 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (9 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 982 times:
Quoting GEEZER (Reply 4): What the hell is a "garburator" ?
I've never heard this term either. I think "garbage disposal" is way more common here. Maybe it's a Canadian term.
Anyway, I wonder why they're not common in Europe as well. I find them absolutely indispensable. I just got a one horsepower beast which is whisper-quiet but can handle anything I throw at it- even half-frozen bits of chicken.....
If you're not sure whether to use a piece of punctuation, it's best not to.
AustrianZRH From Austria, joined Aug 2007, 1265 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (9 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 968 times:
Quoting zckls04 (Reply 9): Anyway, I wonder why they're not common in Europe as well. I find them absolutely indispensable.
Because in most European countries the municipal administrations charge you for waste disposal by only accepting special sacks - to be bought against a not-too-small fee - for disposal. As a significant part of the waste is kitchen waste, such a device would impact the income of the municipalities and are thus prohibited by law.
WARNING! The post above should be taken with a grain of salt! Furthermore, it may be slightly biased towards A.
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6296 posts, RR: 23 Reply 11, posted (9 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 937 times:
Quoting AustrianZRH (Reply 10): Because in most European countries the municipal administrations charge you for waste disposal by only accepting special sacks - to be bought against a not-too-small fee - for disposal. As a significant part of the waste is kitchen waste, such a device would impact the income of the municipalities and are thus prohibited by law.
I doubt it. There is no such system in the UK and you still find such equipment very rarely in people's homes.
Edit: Clarification - not that I am doubting AustrianZRH's opinion on the matter, just saying that it is clearly not the only issue.
fr8mech From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 4265 posts, RR: 12 Reply 12, posted (9 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 935 times:
Quoting AustrianZRH (Reply 10): As a significant part of the waste is kitchen waste, such a device would impact the income of the municipalities and are thus prohibited by law.
Garbage disposal units are prohibited, by law? That's insane.
I've installed one in every home I've owned. Hell, the apartments I've lived in have them.
casinterest From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3285 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (9 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 919 times:
Quoting fr8mech (Reply 12): Garbage disposal units are prohibited, by law? That's insane.
They tried to ban them in Raleigh a few years ago. The Mayor got all of his facts messed up and listened ot a bunch of folks that knew nothing about what they were talking about in terms of grease. Fun stuff.
However Garbage Disposal is the term used in the US.
Older than I just was ,and younger than I will soo be.
tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4633 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (9 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 912 times:
Quoting zckls04 (Reply 9): can handle anything I throw at it- even half-frozen bits of chicken.....
I watched a show and they are supposedly designed to handle chicken bones etc. as a part of their normal operation. And I do normally put chicken bones down it.
Quoting AustrianZRH (Reply 10): Because in most European countries the municipal administrations charge you for waste disposal by only accepting special sacks - to be bought against a not-too-small fee - for disposal. As a significant part of the waste is kitchen waste, such a device would impact the income of the municipalities and are thus prohibited by law.
How would they know? And they really don't harm the sewage/waste water system process (I get that they want the money but it wouldn't cost them any more at least).
Quoting casinterest (Reply 13): However Garbage Disposal is the term used in the US.
I always call it the "dish grinder". Hate it when that small spoon or fork gets down there (and yes, I know spoons and forks etc. aren't technically "dishes" but it "utensil grinder" doesn't work as well.... )
Tugg
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
Aesma From France, joined Nov 2009, 4799 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (9 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 892 times:
Here we pay for garbage disposal and water treatment with local taxes so it's not about money directly, now I don't know if having most of the kitchen waste go into plastic bags is cheaper to handle than if it goes down the drain.
I did some digging and it turns out garburators are illegal in France, probably because nothing has been sized to take them into account.
New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams
vikkyvik From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 8228 posts, RR: 28 Reply 16, posted (9 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 865 times:
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Quoting zckls04 (Reply 9): I've never heard this term either. I think "garbage disposal" is way more common here.
Yep.
Quoting fr8mech (Reply 12): Hell, the apartments I've lived in have them.
My apartment has one, as did the house I grew up in. We used it all the time.
Amusingly, the model name imprinted on them was always "In-SINK-erator". Honest to god, I did not get that until last year. After seeing it for 29 years. Somehow, it just never occurred to me.
"Two and a Half Men" was filmed in front of a live ostrich.
WildcatYXU From Canada, joined May 2006, 2435 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (9 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 836 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 15): I did some digging and it turns out garburators are illegal in France, probably because nothing has been sized to take them into account.
Hmm, strange. I don't know the pipe sizes in France, but in the old country - Slovakia - sink drain pipes start at 2" diameter, compared to 1.5" here. So the sizing certainly isn't a problem. Yet nobody ever heard of a garburator in Slovakia either.
Quoting vikkyvik (Reply 16): the model name imprinted on them was always "In-SINK-erator"
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