It is a well known fact, that in Third World countries, no price is ever final, and every advertised fare requires a bargaining process to bring it down. Israel, who in many ways should be considered culturally, though not technologically, as a Third World country, is no exception. The funny thing is, that here, contrary to the rest of the Western world, the haggling is taken out of the open-air markets, and mostly applied to the so called enterprise-level organizations.

Every Israeli is already accustomed with the need to call the cable or satellite provider, or their ISP every few months, requesting to disconnect the service and switch to the competition who is offering a better deal. Like magic, a better fare will immediately be applied, saving the cost and bother of switching providers and ensuring the continuation of a reasonable payment. However, these usually have a time limit, and a few months later the price is raised again, and the same process has to be repeated.

Worse than all are the insurance companies, like I experienced, sadly, in the past few days. With my car insurance due to be renewed, I checked the official sources at the Ministry of Finance web site (recommended to every car owner in Israel), and found out that the proposal I was getting was the highest available. Obviously, I called some of the companies on the lower price scale to check their offers, and was given a much better deal. When I called my current insurance company (it won’t hurt to shame them a bit), asking not to renew the service, I was given so many promises of a better service, in more and more phone calls, going as far high as the senior customer relationship personnel. Suddenly, the price was dropped by 50%, and they even threw in a voucher for a free breakfast at Lechem Erez. Once again, I had to call companies and change my decision, resulting in more promises and threats, and much discomfort (I was even given a lecture about being dishonest for not checking prices in advance!).

All this would have been saved if the insurance companies would have stated their true price from the start. Obviously, they would have not offered me a 50% reduction if they were not making a profit, so why not advertising the low price and saving us all the hassle? Do they really think customers are that stupid? As E. was saying, the fact that they could reduce the price that much only serves to prove that they are dishonest thieves.

I am sick of tired of such horrible marketing culture. I can assure you that this is NOT the reason I am still living in Israel.

I’ve been doing some serious contemplation about my current situation, and the way in which things are going. I have been unemployed for a while, but I am still being picky about the jobs I am applying for. I want to find a job in which I will be happy, one that will allow me to give the best of myself, knowing that I am also learning new things and have possible promotion paths to aspire too.

On the other hand, to be honest, I have been sick and tired of the hi-tech industry and its lack of awareness for quality and the people who work towards it, long before I lost my job. This could be a good opportunity to completely change my career.

I still don’t know where I would like to go. I need a job which will be satisfying enough, but I don’t need it to require overwhelming responsibility. I’d rather work with people than in front of a computer. I would not need an amazing salary, but enough to pay my rent and my bills and keep myself and the cats, and maybe enough to put a little aside for a rainy day. So far I’ve been thinking about something like office management, or restaurant management. I know I would be over qualified for it, but I will still have to start from scratch.

Any thoughts or ideas about possible careers and directions will be appreciated.

Last night eleven of my friends managed to get into the little space I call my new home. A good time was had by all, and I got a new smart model which I will have to put together (luckily for me, I’m unemployed with enough spare time for such projects), and plenty more alcohol to be enjoyed.

I love every single person that was in the room, and I was happy they could all come, but there were a few more people than I initially planned and it was a bit crowded. Next time I will try to have no more than four at a time, so they can all fit just like elephants in a Volkswagen: two in the front, and two in the back.

P.S. A little teaser for anyone who ever read my first ever post, and if you haven’t, you can use the archives to check it out – TopKnot hinted that he will return.

Girls, get ready, the World Cup starts tomorrow!

Recently I have been exposed to some new blogs, while other blogs that I used to read either stopped existing or lost their flavour. No doubt, it is a good opportunity to tidy up my links list.

So, on the right of the page there is now an updated list, and I also got rid of the fancy cascading menu to ensure they are all nicely visible.

For your reading pleasure.

It seems that politicians still don’t get the hint, as the Tory leader, David Cameron, still thinks that he can blame the world’s horrors on music.

From someone who knows his Radiohead from his Pulp, I expected more. (Though, he probably thinks he knows more than he really does, otherwise Radiohead wouldn’t have had to deny his claim that he dedicated a song to him).

I appreciate good sarcasm, and Goldie Looking Chain had it just right: Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do!