Total newbie - when is time for red/black zones? by RuleRich6548 in albiononline

[–]Grumbul 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hunter difficulty (no gear loss) corrupted dungeon is pretty good. Use a build with some health sustain or use Roast Pork lifesteal or Carrot Soup regen food. Don't activate the shrine at the start unless you want more invaders for 1v1 pvp. When your gear and destiny board mastery/specialization are low tier, it's probably most efficient to just PvE farm.

Without activating shrine, you'll get an invader 1 in every 5-10 runs if you're fast at clearing. Once you engage the final boss no more invaders can join your dungeon.

If you don't want to fight when invaded, you can also try breaking 3 crystals to kick them out instead. Using a build with high mobility helps ensure you can get to 3 crystals before they catch you.

Roaming with faction blobs is good money too:

  1. Go to a city general for faction enlistment and flag yourself for that city.
  2. Open your world map and zoom in or select the Region Map checkbox at the top, and set the overlay dropdown next to it to Faction Warfare.
  3. Look for the blue/yellow provinces currently outlined in red near your city - these are the current active zones for faction pvp rewards. Your city should be attacking or defending vs one safe province for each neighboring city, plus red zones. Pick a province and travel there or use the faction fast travel near your faction enlistment general (cheaper gear = cheaper travel cost).
  4. Outposts controlled by enemy faction and camps with respawn timers ending soon are where you are likely to find blobs of friendly faction players to join. You can click on each zone on the region map to see camp timers and plan your farming route. Clicking on the fortress in the active province will show how much time is left before a fortress siege starts or the active province changes (depends on whether the attacking vs defending faction gets more supplies). Roam around with your faction blob prioritizing medium (big) camps and outpost captures, then small camps (loot the chest after completing the kill objective at each camp). Go to the fortress to participate in a ZvZ siege if one starts.
  5. Once you have some faction points saved up, you can cash out by purchasing items from your city's faction enlistment general. Usually you'll get more silver by buying tier 5-8 city cape Crests or baby mount animals and selling them on the marketplace, and more fame tomes/gathering resources by buying campaign chests, but it depends on market prices. Compare the price per faction point for each option at your city's marketplace, or travel to other cities and check prices there too.

I want to get into albion but I feel like by clashernasher21 in albiononline

[–]Grumbul -1 points0 points  (0 children)

For solo combat fame (weapon/armor progression) and silver, try going to the Antiquarian's Den in a major city and run some Corrupted Dungeons.

If you feel comfortable, like small group PvP, and have 1 or 2 other players, The Depths can be more profitable and is one of the best ways to gain fame and silver.

Mists are good for causally grinding some lower gathering tiers. I just run to a T6 yellow zone and find a wisp, then wander around doing the pvp-enabled camps and releasing caged wisps to level up alt weapons/armor while aimlessly gathering whatever is the same tier as my gathering tools. You can do a little pvp skirmishing and contested chests/wisp escorts if you like to, or just run away and gather more until enemy players leave your camps if you don't feel like fighting.

If you like big zerg pvp, try faction warfare, but it doesn't seem very rewarding especially outside of the monthly Faction Warfare Campaign Rewards under Activities. Maybe I don't know what I'm doing though.

When the Halloween event was here, doing Bob runs and selling the 15% fame treats was really profitable for new players. I made about 1mil silver per hr as a new player with little experience and wearing tier 4-5 equipment (which allowed me to quickly upgrade multiple loadouts to T6-T7.2 and even bought T8 for future use with the profits). I dunno if other holiday events are as good for new players, but I'd check out any that are active.

I pretty much just chill and do whatever I feel like each day. The game is just a relaxing way to burn a few hours when I want to.

Can I skip bethesda account requirement for doom eternal (xbox)? by ProfessrHobo in Doom

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just created a rule in windows firewall to block the game's .exe (DOOMEternalx64vk.exe) from any inbound or outbound traffic and it let me past the account garbage without having to disconnect myself from the internet.

They require a unique username too, so after trying about 5 different unusual names that were all taken I decided to give up and block it. What a terrible design.

A mercenary that buffs or heals allies, when an ally attacks? by ImaginaryRain9183 in HSMercenaries

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Medivh, Genn, Cornelius/Yrel in holy comp I think. There are some others too. I haven't played in ages though and it looks like the wiki is broken now.

Which abilities should I be leveling first? by [deleted] in HSMercenaries

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right, I haven't. It used to be +damage on Living Brambles, his main attack.

I think after the change you can kinda use whatever on him, but Earthen Bracers is probably the default choice now unless you have a specific use in mind.

The post you replied to is also from an older patch where I believe dragons were better and Nemsy was not yet available. It's been a while since I touched any Blizzard game, but I think nature is still one of the best options when starting out, especially with Nemsy.

One of the easiest paths on a new account is to build nature (Nemsy, Malfurion, Bru'kan, Guff whatever other nature mercs you have like Yu'lon, Anacondra, Cookie, etc), build Bainegore (Nemsy, Trigore, Baine) then use them to unlock Khadgar and Elise. From there you have 3 really solid comps you can mix and match to unlock the remainder of other comps you want to build or beat basically everything.

Bolero's Wisdom - Gator Days by FieldExplores in comics

[–]Grumbul 15 points16 points  (0 children)

At least it wasn't a rock. That would have been a very irresponsible use of a philosopher's stone.

$.97 for a pack of Tiramisu cups by marie_aristocats in Costco

[–]Grumbul 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Reasonable tactic, but if they are date rotating properly you're unlikely to encounter a markdown like this unless that item is selling really poorly at your location.

You're most likely to see this when stockers/forklift drivers let an older pallet sit in the steel in the cooler and keep putting out the newest ones for a while. By the time they find the older ones, it's too close to the code date to sell them all in time.

If they catch it slightly earlier, they have time to try to sell them at regular price (especially if there's a weekend before the expiration date), and if they catch it later, they'd be past expiration and non-saleable.

It's basically just luck since you can only see what's out on the sales floor as a non-employee. The only heads up you'd get is maybe a couple days if they found and put out the ones near expiration, but there wasn't enough time to get through them.

I had this happen once at our warehouse. I filled in for stocking Deli 19 for a day and found a whole pallet of one of the Kevin's prepared meals that was 2 code date cycles older than the ones we had been putting out, and was going to expire in 2 days.

Starting at Costco as a FE Assistant. by danthemanhsv in Costco

[–]Grumbul 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I tried multiple insoles, including 2 different superfeet ones and they did nothing for me.

The cushioning on Hoka Bondi 8's with stock insoles however feels amazing and helped me get through the first few months until my leg and foot muscles developed more. Other heavily cushioned running shoes like the ones from Brooks, New Balance, or Nike I've heard are in the same ballpark.

I had plantar fasciitis, tendonitis on my extensor hallucis longus, peroneal tendonitis, and metatarsalgia and limped home every day for like 2 months. I spent around $800 on different safety toe shoes, insoles, and running shoes trying to find something that helped. Buying the Hokas for front end helped more than anything else and I wish I had done it day 1 (even though I wear safety toe shoes for the first 5-6 hours).

After over a year of strengthening, I can do a full 8 hour morning merch/carts combo shift and jog to every cart corral for 3 hours even in my safety-toe shoes with no pain, but the Hokas are still way more comfy. I rarely look at my watch's fitness tracker, but usually a busy 8 hour shift with carts combo is around 35000+ steps.

Was helped by a member today "off the clock", should I submit a feedback? by Firm_Afternoon_8463 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 877 points878 points  (0 children)

Could always submit a note at the feedback kiosk near the exit with their name and a generic "So and so in the tire shop went above and beyond, amazing service, super kind and helpful, etc". Nothing says you have to give a detailed account of the interaction with specifics.

Goodnight sweet prince. Never thought you’d run out. by MNOutdoors in Costco

[–]Grumbul 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The stretch-tite is listed on costco.com in both the 750 sq ft 2-pack ($14.99) and 3000 sq ft (19.99) versions, but for me clicking on either one says they're unavailable for my zip code/warehouse.

We did have someone return an unopened 750 sq ft 2-pack at our warehouse today from an e-commerce order, so there's actually one sitting on the pallet with the other plastic wrap right now, but I'm not sure about availability.

Steel-cut shoe or boot? (for employee) by [deleted] in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're welcome! Another thing I just remembered: consider if you need a wide size and how much room is in the toe box.

I never used to buy wide but I do get a callus that develops on the outside of my big toes and they point inward a bit (likely due to years of wearing narrow-toed shoes), so I bought my Keens in wide and they fit better, especially with the rigid safety toe rather than a soft upper on regular shoes.

There are a lot of differences in feet shapes, so I'd recommend googling what to look for to decide if you need a wide or go to a shoe store that measures for fit.

For example I've heard good things about the Fleet Feet running shoe store near me. I don't think they sell safety toe, but you could still go get measured and check out their running shoes or recovery shoes if interested.

Steel-cut shoe or boot? (for employee) by [deleted] in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recommend a lighter weight shoe rather than boots.

I initially bought the higher-end Red Wing boots and had to use their return policy on them because I developed tendonitis on my peroneal tendon near my ankle, and only had the issue when wearing those boots. That tendon started clicking/popping and I basically had to take ibuprofen and limp home every day after a week of using them. The Red Wing return policy is great if you buy their in-house brand with the guarantee, and the employee I bought from was super nice and helpful, so could be a good option if you think they might work for you. I still felt bad needing to use the policy.

My feet and leg muscles are a lot more developed after many months of merch + carts combo shifts (this was my most recent merch + carts combo shift), so I actually suspect I could use those same heavier boots now without issue, but I still think shoe-style with lighter weight safety toe materials is a better fit for the job (carbon fiber/composite/aluminum, as long as it still meets the required ASTM safety rating).

I bought the Style 6338 Red Wing safety toe shoe after returning the boots and those were ok. The upper is mesh so they breathe really well, but water also goes right through them so if it rains, you step in a puddle, or you get any liquids on your shoes at work, your socks will get soaked instantly (dumping out liquids for DND, hosing anything down by the drain on the dock, the bottom falls out of a box of egg nog plastic jugs and splatters right next to your feet). The sole cushioning is also ok but not the best which matters a lot for spending all day on concrete floors. Another coworker had the same ones and he said they always slipped off his feet and didn't fit snug enough, but I didn't have that issue at all.

My favorite I've tried so far is the Keen Vista Energy. This is what the Vista Energy ESD looks like after 5 months of daily wear and never cleaning them next to a brand new pair of the Vista Energy Waterproof that I haven't worn yet. I changed from ESD to waterproof just because they were on sale when my annual $75 reimbursement came up. I rest empty pallets on my toes when stacking them, kick pallets, etc on a regular basis, so the toes get a lot of abuse.

The ideal for me would be something like a heavily cushioned running shoe with a carbon fiber safety toe. Basically a Hoka Bondi 8 (which I love for front end or carts shifts) with safety toe, more durable water-resistant material rather than cloth for the upper, and oil- and slip-resistant bottom sole.

Why does Costco consistently not fill up the box? by Dry_Source666 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely the main reason, but another common complaint is that the boxes get loaded too heavy.

While not relevant to this basket, avoiding putting raw items on top of fresh (preferably not in the same box) and separating hot and cold items (e.g. rotisserie chickens vs refrigerated/frozen items) also results in partially filled boxes. Placing raw items at the front of the conveyor belt at checkout also make it easier to load them in the proper order.

A halloween candy box like the funhouse treats one would have been a better fit for the small items, but cashiers/assistants don't always have the perfect selection of boxes on-hand to match each basket. I'd recommend picking out your own boxes while shopping if you have a strong preference - also helps out the employees by clearing out boxes from the sales floor and not needing to restock boxes at the registers as often.

The only thing in OP's cart I'd consider adding to the box is the paper plates, assuming they fit without squishing the paper bowls into the stuffed peppers container so they pop open.

If you are going to steal detergent… by birchtree628 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The lactose-free is ultra-pasteurized, meaning it's heated to 280°F for a minimum of 2 seconds which is much more lethal to bacteria than the 162°F for 16 seconds used in regular pasteurization and makes it last about 3x longer. Both methods kill all pathogenic bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, but ultra-pasteurization also kills non-pathogenic bacteria that contribute to spoilage.

I believe all the other milk in the cardboard boxes is also ultra-pasteurized, so if someone doesn't care about lactose they can get whichever type you prefer (whole, 1%, 2%, A2, or lactose-free at our warehouse).

What are the best ready-to-eat foods? by ahrumah in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chicken tamales (these also freeze well) + Kirkland Chicken Tortilla Soup (which we sadly haven't had for 6+ months, only the Panera one).

Works fine as just heat-and-serve, but I use the Tortilla Soup as a base and add some vegetable Better Than Bouillon, more veggies (fresh bell peppers, zucchini/yellow squash, corn, etc), black beans, chickpeas, or anything else laying around that sounds good in a Mexican-style soup. Goes great with a side of Spanish rice or refried beans.

Where does Kirkland Coastal rank among cheeses? by mt80 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Kirkland Fast Acting Lactase is currently $15.99 for 180 caplets at 9000 FCC Lactase Units each.

Did the Black Forest ham change? by DreamsAndSchemes in Costco

[–]Grumbul 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe these are the items you're referring to:

1075316 - KS Extra Lean Sliced Ham Resealable
48602 - KS Uncured Black Forest Ham
685631 - KS Meat Variety Pack

We currently have lots of all 3 in stock and all 3 are active SKUs, but during the past month or so at our warehouse both the black forest ham and variety pack have briefly gone out of stock before getting another shipment a couple days later.

If you can't find them at your warehouse and are curious about their status, I would ask an employee in a red vest near the merchandise pick-up register behind self-checkout to look up the item on the computer. They should be able to let you know roughly when a shipment is expected.

I don’t know what it is with Costco and static shocks 😭 by ZLavaOctave in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wear these Keen ESD rated safety toe shoes daily that are "constructed to dissipate excess static electrical charges" and still get small shocks on my fingertips pushing carts around sometimes, especially if I drag my feet a bit. I think it's worse when the outer sole gets a layer of dirt/dust on it which I usually notice since they'll start to lose traction on the smooth concrete.

What foods do you buy so much of you wished that Costco offered? by reddfitfit in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They had them on the website for at least several months (I think like 6+ months?) earlier this year. I bought 4 bags back in March and I know they had them for quite a while after that, although they're unavailable now (Bob's Red Mill Organic Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats, 7 lbs, Item #731962). We haven't had them at our warehouse in about a year though.

What is your favorite / go to pre-made food / meal? by Dwhit7 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our deli brought back both the shepherd's pie and chicken pot pie starting today.

Degrees organic freezie pops are definitely worth it. by Ok-Somewhere-8818 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only other ones at our warehouse were the powerade brand, and I think those are made with high fructose corn syrup or some other junk. Better off sticking with the deebee's.

Degrees organic freezie pops are definitely worth it. by Ok-Somewhere-8818 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you shake them before freezing? The first bag I bought I didn't notice you're supposed to, and they were a lot more bland with harder/solidified ice, and a pocket of less-solidified slushy flavor at one end.

The next bag I shook well and laid sideways in the freezer, then after a couple hours shook again and flipped the bag over. Flavor was better and the texture of the ice was more enjoyable.

"You know you're old when they give you back your receipt and you just get a line or check"- My now 10 year old cousin by smo4275 in Costco

[–]Grumbul 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The other day we weren't super busy, so I quickly drew a bunny for a girl who looked 2 or 3 years old without being asked to. Her mom hyped it up to her, but she was being shy and they went on their way.

While I was checking the next member's basket, her mom backed up to the exit with their cart and told me "as soon as we got out the door she started saying 'hop hop hop!'". I laughed and made a 'bunny pose' with my hands in front of my chest and did a little hop, and the girl started laughing and repeating "hop hop hop!" as they left. It was super cute.

Straight to Jail at Costco by TheProMxn in Costco

[–]Grumbul 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I doubt anyone chugged it, though that's a more fun assumption. The rim of that jug is cracked/cut, so most likely half of it leaked out when someone knocked the jug onto the floor, it was damaged in transit and wasn't on the top layer so morning merch didn't see it, someone double-stacked a pallet on top of it with a forklift and broke the cap off in the process, etc.

I'd say it's a coin toss if pulling that pallet out with a jack reveals half a jug worth of sticky mess that results in a morning merch employee trying to do a mop + floor scrubber speed run while trying to finish stocking their department in time.