News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]


Apparently there were, and the police are investigating why they didn't work.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]


And there's a hostel for visitors and a convent both very close, and people living across the road. It must have been very well planned indeed.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]


Quite. Students.

It may well have been people wanting a ransom though.

UK, Ireland / Posting from UK to Poland....not good! [53]


It is indeed. strange story. Doesn't make Poczta Polska any more efficient though.

UK, Ireland / Posting from UK to Poland....not good! [53]


Because the main threads today (that you've looked at) are

a) the standard of workmanship
b) Poczta Polska admitting that they have quality problems
c) Consumer rights problems
d) a coke-addled senator and two prostitutes

Should I defend those things?

have a look at some of the other things. There's a search function.

edit

I looked at the last few threads I posted on. They include:

Two Polish recipes
Some transport advice to a visitor
A positive post about restaurants
The address of the HIV clinic (where I mentioned that it's free and quick)
A couple of historical discussions
Today's events at the memorial in Oswiecim
The address of a food shop.
How much I like certain parts of the countryside.

Don't be so selective - it seems you are only looking for the things you don't like.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]

Bratwurst Boy

That's what I was thinking.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]

Notice that the sign is placed to be read from the outside.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]


I suspect they put people there who they expected to work to death. The Nazis weren't known for compassion towards their prisoners.

UK, Ireland / Posting from UK to Poland....not good! [53]


No I don't. Why not count my posts over the last couple of years and see if there are more negative or positive ones. Though on this forum there are people who argue most things are perfect here just for the sake of it.


I'm very happy and satisfied. The mediocrity of Poczta Polska is a trivial thing. Do you think I don't have a right to criticise a postal service? I should pretend it's good and praise it?


This is home. Shouldn't I want, expect and encourage high standards in my home?

UK, Ireland / Posting from UK to Poland....not good! [53]

I only know about all the mail I didn't receive, tracked in the UK, signed for by Poczta Polska and vanished, somewhere in their 'care'.

UK, Ireland / Posting from UK to Poland....not good! [53]

Why should I? I live, vote and pay taxes here. The problem is Poczta Polska's mediocrity, not my presence or your xenophobia.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]


For most of the war it was the administrative and punishment section. It is the oldest part. Inmates of various nationalities, mainly Poles were there. Birkenau, down the road was built specifically to murder Jewish people. Though Jews were also killed by gas in the 'Arbeit Macht Frei' part, and Poles were also imprisoned and worked to death in some of the other parts.

UK, Ireland / Posting from UK to Poland....not good! [53]

Can you think of any in Western Europe that are half as bad?

32 years in UK and no problems. Not one. 10 years here and missing mail several times a year.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


That's useful to know. And pissed on Magdalena's chips somewhat.

I suspect most retailers here wouldn't be helpful - your have to go to the Ministry of Consumer Matters to enforce it, or hire a lawyer.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]

Just an idea. Maybe it's not been stolen.

Maybe it's been kidnapped.

The loss is highly embarrassing to the Polish government. It's a big enough issue for the Israeli premier to respond immediately.

How much would they pay to get it back?

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


I'd like to see something Europe-wide, Let's hope it gives the best protection to the consumer not the worst.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


Fortunately for you, living in Britain, the warranty does not affect your statutory right to expect something you've bought to work, and that a shop sells something that does what they say it does.

Interesting what the law is here.

Work / Why is Polish workmanship so bad? [52]


Experience. It isn't rocket science to fix a plug socket to the wall so it doesn't come out, or fix a zyrandol to the ceiling properly.

The last place I lived looked nicely decorated. Until I figured they'd used only one coat of paint and, wait for it, wallpapered around the furniture and not behind it.

And it has a plug socket which never worked. When I got an electrician to have a look, I discovered that not only were there no wires, but not even a hole in the wall behind it. It was just for decoration.

Maybe all the good workmen have indeed emigrated.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


Except you don't, if you write



.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


A big apology for selling a faulty product would be a good start. Then maybe replace or refund it and deal with their supplier.

That way the customer might just go back to them.

It's not unreasonable for the purchaser to expect that something works, and that the shop sells things that are not faulty.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


Indeed. But we all want fair service from shops and businesses.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


That's exactly what a shopkeeper in Poland would say. Argumentative and passing on the problem.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]

Steal the gate from Guantanamo? It probably looks, well, just like a gate. The Oswiecim one is unique.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


The rubbish there tends to be much, much cheaper than the good stuff. Not so here.


Have you tried to breath in Warsaw lately? They took down the digital pollution readout on al. Jerozolimskie ages ago because it was scaring people.

Nice sunsets though ;-)

Work / Why is Polish workmanship so bad? [52]


Twenty years ago actually.

Do tell, what has capitalism (or any other system) got to do with doing a job thoroughly? If anything, in the old days they had much more time to do it in.

Mind you, Poland has been capitalist for much more of its history than it's been communist ;-)

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]


And how many people know what that looks like? As you say, it's symbolic. I'd go further and say it's iconic as a symbol of evil.


The human race will do OK. Some of the posts above are just weirdos who should find a more worthwhile hobby than race-hate.

Work / Why is Polish workmanship so bad? [52]


Everywhere I've lived here was fitted out by Poles for Poles.

And everywhere has had plug sockets coming off the wall, badly fitted bathrooms (with indeed silicone all over the place), bare electrical wires, scary gas installation, light fittings not attached flush with the ceiling etc.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]

PlasticPole

It's known all over the world. In a hundred films. Amazing they didn't have a security camera. After all, it's the entrance to the camp.

Life / Ripped Off in Poland? - Expose here: [185]


That's cadmium in the plastic. Banned in the UK for food use, probably banned here too, but it still turns up.

In the UK, the Trading Standards Authority and local councils' consumer protection units are very easy to use and shopkeepers are scared to attract their attention. Keeps them in line.

What annoys me here is when a product in a food shop has a price printed on the label, but the shop ignores it and charges more. Never less.

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]


The same sort that bought the suit Charlie Chaplin was buried in.

Most thieves don't think long term. My friend's (not unracist) theory about scrap metal thieves might be true - a very common thing in PL.

Or very possibly stolen to order by some sick collector. After all, there are people who buy and sell old canisters of Zyklon B.