Life / Good furniture shops in Poland? [11]

Thanks, you guys, Jon and Harry! When saying "Polish stores", I meant first of all small independent stores, making their furniture themselves. I think there may be some in Praga district as I remember having seen at least 2 of them around Wilenska Station while traveling through Praga.

@Jon: I happen to kind of know Witek but I think it is rather expensive (I cannot get credit so I need to pay cash). I don't know Red and wine, I'll look it up on the net before I even go there.

@Harry, very interesting! Yes, I'm sure that Ikea does not only have garbage otherwise they would not have lasted for so long and have stores all around the (developped) world. Very amazing that your kitchen and other furniture as still in good shape atter 16 years. Yes, screws need to be tightened up once in a while - now, that you say it, it does make sense to me. I forgot about warranty. Since we (in fact my stepson) bought said furniture in October 2014 when I moved in, I still have docs. I'll take a picture of the drawer and will show it to Ikea store together with purchase docs. Since my stepson bought the cheapest chest of drawers (though I must admit that he bought the bed and mattress I had chosen and I am very satisfied with both although I am sure they won't be passed from one to another generation ;)), it may not have a warranty or the warranty was so short that it is not valid any longer. At most, they may give me a 100 ZL voucher. If buying furniture (now I want to buy a wardrobe, in which to keep the "current" shoes and coats/jackets "of the moment", which I would keep in the hallway), if at Ikea, I would chose among their most expensive items...

BBR (a German and not Polish company as someone has said) is good to buy things for the home, much better and much nicer than at Ikea. The furniture though same quality of Ikea's does not look good; too German looking = too massive and too "panzer" like, Angela's style so no thanks! Agata, which is Polish, is better for furniture (I bought a coffee table and a tv table and I'm quite satisfied) and they also have a lot of nice things for the home.

I know about Jupiter Center, not far from .... PiS' headquarters ;). They (at Jupiter not at PiS ;)) have great furniture but everthing costs several thousands of ZL so I have to forget it unless they have some sales (it happens).

Next to Ikea at Marki, there are 2 (or 3?) furniture stores. They look expensive but I'll check as they may have items on sale.

If time on Sunday, I'll go to Ikea. Thanks for the tip, Harry!

(ps: once more, "the Brit bullies" are knowledgeable and helpful ;))

Life / Good furniture shops in Poland? [11]

Merged: Any good (Polish) furniture store in Warsaw?

As I have started to ask around me and as I like to have a lot of suggestions, I'm asking here. Would anyone know a good "normal priced" (Polish) furniture store (Warsaw) or a guy (also in Warsaw) who would make some furniture for me? I don't want Ikea and BBR. I have a couple of pieces of furniture from Agata, which I am happy with but now I am looking for something much better. I know Kler but they are very expensive or are they really? I know that expensive stores have sometimes great sales so worth it to check too...

Thanks if someone has an idea! :)

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

@Delph; for me (or in my language/culture) the words super + hypermarkets are only used for FOOD stores. Ikea for instance is not called super/hypermarket but is a ... furniture store. Since you mentioned Ikea, never again I want "furniture" from them. A komoda bought there (in Warsaw Marki store - so mod won't tell me I'm not talking about Poland ;)) some 18 months ago is already to be replaced so I have decided to buy something from a real (Polish) furniture store or having some furtniture made (someone told me it's not that expensive..). I have no idea where to go and as I have no time to really look around, I'll have to keep the Ikea komoda for some more time .... ;)

NOT to be OFF topic; if anyone can suggest a decent (not too expensive, of course ;)) furniture store in Warsaw, thanks in advance! I want to avoid BBR as well. Agata is a bit better but I would like something better because I don't want to buy new furniture every year or so. I know that Kler has good reputation but prices .... ;). There is Bozio but I don't like their furniture... Tough! Ikea is of to buy dishes, brooms, towels ...

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

That supermarket cashiers have to wear pampers is not true. It is only one of the millions of "hoaxes" found on the net. Everybody with a tiny bit of common sense knows that there is a lot of BS on the net. It is not because someone writes things on the net that they are true.

Cashiers have breaks anyway and should an emergency occur, the cashier calls her supervizor, closes her register, leaves for the toilet and returns to work. If let's say they have breaks avery 3 hours, women have no trouble to spend 3 hours without going to the toilet.... Personally (unless I drink a lot of water) I can wait up to 4-4.5 hours (nothing special)....

Work / Tri-city area - Companies that offer Jobs for English speakers? [23]

"we are unemployed in Ireland"!!!! Are things so bad that you have to move to Poland? If nothing in Ireland, why not going to GB? Around the corner, same language and I'm sure ;) better conditions and salaries than in Poland

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

No Żabka outside of big towns? I have noticed that in Warsaw a lot (most?) of them are located outside of center..... Why Germany? Are there foreign hyper/supermarkets for instance in UK? I doubt it. Same goes for France, only French super/hypermarkets there. I suppose in the US too, only American stores ;). So, Germany is not any different ....

News / Do you believe that western Europe (ie EU) won`t punish Poland if Poland try to go out of EU? [44]

@Kenny! once more 100% with you! All this is not fair EU claims that benefits are universal but bs! If let's say a Briton, German, French, Belgian, Irish, Dane, Swede... or whatever else from West goes to Poland for instance. What kind of benefits would they get? Absolutely ZERO or at most a couple of ZL whereas let's say someone from Poland (or Bulgaria, or the Czech Republic and consorts) moves to any western country, right away they are entitled to welfare (kids', housing's allowances, free medical care, scholarship for their kids, and all the other kinds of benefits ...) without having paid anything into the system. EU claims it is fair not it is NOT because it is only one way.

Althoug I'm social-democrat, I am AGAINST (all) foreigners not having paid into the system to receive benefits elsewhere. All this triggers xenophobia and extremist parties. I have lived in several countries and never got a free lunch whereas foreigners, including Poles but not only of course, get a lot (Polish students for instance on Erasmus program get at least 1/2 of their rent in private accommodation paid for by French State (the principle = everybody should be treated the same way) - I know from personal experience, I don't need to find stuff in YouTube like a lot of PF members do).

For sure, I cannot stand Cameron and all his arrogance, but now he's right. Britons get nothing when in Poland so why should Poles get benefits in UK????? You can change "Britons" and "Poles" with any other nationality but what bugs me is the welfare recipient's mentality found in most Poles and very sad, among their top politicians. Szydlo and others shall not dictate their whims to the British (and any other) government.

It should be on a reciprocical basis: benefits ONLY to those from countries offering similar benefits to foreigners.

PS: you made me laugh with the "student" with his "uncle" and the "po box school" ;)

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

sorry "welfare" is no more than symbolic in Poland and nobody can even survive on that. Who can survive on a few hundreds of zl (at most)?. In most generous western countries, people receive some 800/1,000 euros and in some cases more and even if not "rich", they can survive and don't need to move abroad for bread.

It the (PiS) government can and is willing to do anything to help the weakest, I'm all for it. It is digusting to see so many Poles having to clean toilets abroad, to see so many elderly who cannot buy their medications. Poles have to demand better conditions and if necessary to go down to the street (I won't join them)

News / EU debate on Poland [23]

wow! What's the comparison between a war for independence and an economic union whose members join freely???? Well, I know that rednecks in the US have a weird vision of the world ;)

News / EU debate on Poland [23]

once more, Poland shall always do as being told as too weak to "dictate" their whims ;). Kopacz has accepted to take in 7,000 migrants to begin with (first 100 of whom to arrive in Poland in late March 2016 -I'm going to laugh at Polish reaction ;););) ) for obvious fear to have (some of) EU money taken away. As Americans say "money talks" (.... ).

News / EU debate on Poland [23]

@kpc: I'm talking about financially! Check official figures re what Poland pays and what Poland gets and you'll see that Poland is the No.1 fund récipient. Without EU's money, no new roads, no metro, no modern buses/trams, no computers in schools, no modern equipment in hospitals, etc... etc ... Have you seen Poland PRIOR to 2004? I doubt it. Poland should not spit into the EU soup. Morover, nobody has forced Poland to become a member. Without Poland in the EU, EU would save a lot of money. Nobody but Poland keeps Poland in the EU!

News / EU debate on Poland [23]

what independence? Poland lives off welfare and now is scarred to lose benefits for Polish migrants in UK. Being independent means to be able to manage by oneself ;). Poland is NOT independent

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

@Johnny: if you talk about welfare, there is nothing as such in Poland and that's also why millions of Poles move west.

News / EU debate on Poland [23]

"deep respect" for what? To continue exploiting western European taxpayers?

News / Do you believe that western Europe (ie EU) won`t punish Poland if Poland try to go out of EU? [44]

Although I hate UK's conservatives and Cameron in particular, they are absolutely right on this! Why should British (and other) taxpayers feed Poles and consorts? Foreigners should first of all contribute to the system because starting to use it. If Poles want and need welfare measures, maybe they should demand the POLISH government for such measures and take down to the streets if necessary.

In order to be fair, it should be based upon reciprocity. Not only UK but ALL western European countries do same, but do UK or other western Europeans get any benefit from Polish state? Nope! So why free lunches on one side and nothing on the other? Do for instance he hordes of ESL teachers get free medical care and medication, free housing, etc etc.. from Polish State? No so why should Brisith (and other) State(s) do????

Poland has shown one more time that they consider Western EU as mere cows to milk! Stop your welfare reciepient's mentality, Poland, because this is the way Western Europe see you.

All this gives Poland and similar countries a very bad reputation and triggers xenophobia and extremism. I know a lot of Poles in Poland who are ashamed of Polish mentality and think the way I do.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

@Dolno: several people who live in Zakopane told me that a reason why the town is so polluted (and some think they'll get great mountain air ;)) is that a lot of people burn their garbage.

I must admit that I am NOT interested in all the circus re demos because I first of all, think that Poland (like all countries) has bigger priorities: giving a fair deal to all! Poland can be very cold in winter and when we know that a lot of people also in towns don't have proper heating or have no heating at all, it is scarry and it should be a priority. I know a woman living right downtown Warsaw who has to pay some 500 zl per month to heat her flat; she can afford but many others cannot.... Back home, people with lower incomes are financially helped by the state or by their city authorities so they can heat their homes... What bugs me about Poland is that so many people are left out of the system. Retired people cannot also buy their medication, but so what???? I'm sure that those above don't give a d.. about demos.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

@Delph: "people are smiling" for the time being but if demos were to last, they would attract counter-demos and violence could be expected. Anyway, kids should go to school, play, have fun and not be forced to attend adult things....

@Dolno: true! I have been told that one of the reason why Poland is so polluted especially in winter is because a lot of folks have no other choice than burning their garbage in order to keep warm. I know several people who live 10 minutes' walk from Centrum Warszawa whose flats are not connected to city's central heating. They have individual heating and fortunately they can afford the bills because several hundreds of ZL per winter month. What about those who cannot afford? No demos on their behalf?

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

I would not bring my kids to demonstrations. It is not their business to attend and also it can be dangerous....

News / Do you believe that western Europe (ie EU) won`t punish Poland if Poland try to go out of EU? [44]

Absolutely, Polishinvestor! It may be unfortunate but everything turns around money....

News / The shame of Duda making late night visits to Kaczyński [79]

1. de Gaulle was not that great and I'm sure you would not have liked it that much (a lot in common with ... PiS ;)) and 2. who knows? You don't know, I don't know, and nobody will ever know...

News / The shame of Duda making late night visits to Kaczyński [79]

@Delph! Don't always see bad things! Politicians have private lives and they are allowed to meet their friends, relatives, neighbors...whenever they are "off the floor" just like anybody. If Kaszynski and Duda for instance want to talk to each other, they don't need to meet, they can call each other, send sms's, mails.....

I don't see what bothers you about that!

They meet at night and so what? Maybe they were too busy during the day or maybe they are ... lovers and they are allowed to be ;)

Work / What is deducted from a salary in Poland apart from Income tax? [155]

"lol" ;). Of course per MONTH ;). I would not mind having to "survive" on 1,000 a DAY ;)

Work / What is deducted from a salary in Poland apart from Income tax? [155]

I am not sure I understand! 750 CHF per day in UK? How much is a CHF? Around as much as a $? You know, some people are used to live like maharajas and don't want to change it. In Poland (for instance), one can "survive" with around 1,000 ZL (like for instance many retired) or live on 1000000000000000000000000000000 ZL if luxury tastes ;)

News / Do you believe that western Europe (ie EU) won`t punish Poland if Poland try to go out of EU? [44]

The EU have demanded Duda and Szydło (sorry, I am not sure of spelling) to bring their a### to Brussels and to Strasburg and guess what, they have obeyed (too scarred that EU closes the cookie jar ;).

Polonia / Should Poles help Germans organize protests demanding free media ? [136]

I like the straw and the beam in the eye ;). Is there ONE country which has behaved in the most perfect way since the beginning of mankind???? ;);) EVEN tiny Switzerland, Monaco and Luxemburg (just to remain in Europe) are not that clean either. Although Switzerland stopped being involved in wars in the 16th century (since Marignan battle in 1515, including France's King François I?), they have become all the dictators' sand all kinds of crooks's secret safes. Tiny Monaco from its very beginning (check their history) has been linked to mafias and frauds. Tiny Luxemburg has become a washing machine for dirty money from everywhere in Europe and not only.

Yes, big, meddium and small countries all have "skeletons" in their closets. Some are shocked because in France, they had Pétain but so what, in other countries, at the same time, they had Hitler, Staline, Mussolini, Franco, Salazar, Mao, then Pol Pot, the Greek colonels and so forth and so forth. Some countries committed crimes against humanity, committed genocides (against the Jews, against the American and the Autralian natives..). Some countries (sometimes among the above) dropped atomic and napalm bombs over civil populations, including women, children, old folks and so on and so on. Unfortunately things have not stopped and still happen every day around the world.

So who in the hell can claim to be ... "perfect" ;)

There is a lot of ignorance in PF ....

Work / What is deducted from a salary in Poland apart from Income tax? [155]

@Marian: I agree with you:)! When people in PF say that one cannot make it on 4/5,000, they mean AS westerners. Most Poles don't even make 3,000 netto and they can manage. Of course, they don't have 35 pairs of shoes, 18 winter coats, a 200 m2 penthouse, 3 mercedes, 4 rolex watches and don't go around the world in 5 star hotels for their vacations but they live.

I don't know where you are from but in western Europe, just for breathing, they give you 1,000 euros or some 1,400/1,800 euros just to clean toilets so of course westerners in Poland have great salaries compared to most Poles and they base their comments upon their very lifestyle. I myself could not (and don't want to) live on 2 or 3,000 ZL (I can't get more in my country, just for breathing ;)).

Howvever, what gets me mad are all those messages: "I'll be paid 17,000 or 28,000 ZL netto per month, is it possible to live on that in Poland?" Not only it is pure stupidity (can't they be informed about Polish reality?) and also indecence.

To summarize, 4 or 5,000 ZL is nothing for westerners but for Poles it is a lot since most of them don't make that much.

Study / Any (inexpensive) English Schools in Krakow? [60]

Come on! Most Poles have to get by with around 2,500/2,700 and you don't know whether you'll make it on 12,000 net! How indecent!

Polonia / Should Poles help Germans organize protests demanding free media ? [136]

@TheOther: No, it is only .... KNOWLEDGE! You know, in order to get to know any population, you need to speak their language and live with them for a long time and have personal experiences rather than relying on foreign NON expert "medias". As to "Vichy", the socalled governement was not elected in the first place and situation in those days had nothing to do with nowadays's:). The current constitution was written in 1958 (and currently under changes) and has changed the whole political system so comparing apples and oranges does not make any sense. It is as stupid as to going back to Robespierre, Louis XVIII, Napoléon, Henri VI, or even .... Clovis or Vercingétorix to refer to .... 2016. ;).

If foreigners are accused including in PF not to know Poland (I surely know Poland much better than a lof ot those Polonia members who have most often never set a foot in Poland), the situation is the same re ANY other country.

UK, Ireland / Hundreds turn out for funeral of Polish man who died alone on in County Clare Christmas Day [28]

@Rozu and Atch: come on! We can read re similar cases in any medium (Pol3: I know that singlular of "media" is medium ;)) at least several times a month as they happen in any country. Nothing special re the situation in Ireland and that is the reason why it did not do the world's headlines ;). In crappy sites such as Yahoo, it is quite common to read about something like that.

However, what strikes me is that (most) people don't give a d... about people when they are alive. I am not talking about Irish people but about people in general. People are the same everywhere, no country has the best or the worst population ;).

Work / Is it possible to work whilst studying in Poland? [20]

The problem comes first of all from those Mickey Mouse BS schools which attract such "students". Everybody in Poland knows that their socalled diplomas are worth nothing and their programs in socalled English are totally useless. Yes, things happen as Delph says. As to tell them, they'll be able to find employement, it is pure BS. They don't speak the language, they have no skills and let's face it, employers in Poland won't hire them. I live in Poland and I have NEVER seen 3rd world students working.

Yes, it is a way to move to EU because of course they don't give a d... about Poland, studying... They just want to move west and especially Germany as they see on TV that Mutti Merkel has invited all of them. When they are for instance in Germany, what do they do there? ;)

It is a problem and I am shocked that authorities, including of Poland, don't see the trick....

PS: maybe the money for studying and to live while studying should be blocked! Maybe Polish authorities should keep the money in a special fund and each month give them "allowances". Very few socalled "students" would consider Poland ;)

@Kenny: "lol" re the "uncles" but here, 1. they have no "uncles", 2. they don't speak local language and 3. Poles will NOT hire them....