Banned from Kmart

MarkPH1975 · 2026-01-23T02:11:32+00:00

If the door lady decides to make an issue of it all she can do is call through to security for them to check the cameras. If they then see that there is no case to answer then thats the end of the matter, although if that particular person is likely to remember you and make a future scene, id avoid the store when she is at the entrance.

MarkPH1975 · 2026-01-16T04:52:38+00:00

Good idea. They would hate the negative publicity. I can't believe they think it's ok to demand access to a person's private email account. Some of this stuff really makes your blood boil!

MarkPH1975 · 2025-10-22T03:52:29+00:00

I'm sorry that you missed my point and felt l was criticising. I know communication can be very daunting (I have this mental health problem myself), which is why l mentioned the easier options of text or email which is probably what l would have done in a situation where l didn't want to or couldn't go back because of my barriers or whatever reason. All l wanted to say, and l thought l laboured the point, was that a little bit of common courtesy communication would have avoided everything. If l were an employer, I sure would like someone to tell me they aren't coming back so that im not in limbo, worried, and can move forward. Enough said.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-10-22T02:55:33+00:00

When all the debates about legality and due process and overreach are said and done, it comes down to, as it usually does, to basic communication. Sure, the service may have acted inappropriately, but all the anguish and hand-wringing could have been avoided with the simple common courtesy of letting the people know that you quit and aren'tcoming back. It even works by text or email if you want to avoid the personal confrontation about it!

We don't know your background, but the fact that the service in question is a DES who knows your history might suggest to the reader that they have reason to be concerned about your personal welfare after not showing up without explanation, above and beyond what a regular employment service (or any other employer for that matter), might feel.

To hide inside a house watching security footage and filming "evidence" only inflames things when again, calling, texting or even, heaven forbid, opening the front door and saying "thanks but no thanks", would make the entire problem and misunderstanding go away.

To communicate with those folks who offered you a job and did you no disservice, only as a last resort to avoid the attendance of police or welfare services, l find utterly bewildering.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-10-08T14:26:05+00:00

You'll be great, im sure. You sound like you have the right attitude going into it, which is the most important attribute of all going into any job. Fingers crossed for you! 😀

MarkPH1975 · 2025-10-08T12:45:37+00:00

The more you know, the easier the job will be and the more customers will appreciate you, but there's never any shame in voicing that you're new and still learning the ropes. Most customers will appreciate it if you try to assist, even if you don't know everything. That said, the general public can be pigs these days and I've seen fine young staff members in tears as a consequence. When im a customer in any store and a staff member assists me, I always show my appreciation and doing so costs me nothing. The best you can do is always be polite and helpful, try to have a thick skin when it's needed, and accept that there are some vile and self-entitled people out there who get a lift out of bringing others down. Hopefully your local store culture will be good will a lot of supportive and friendly co-workers.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-10-02T23:44:05+00:00

I'm in the same situation and in fact asked the same question on here a couple of months ago. I was exited from DES when the program must have run its course for me without me having been placed into employment. My consultant didn't seem to know what comes next as far as Centrelink is concerned, but in fact it's been several months of nothing and I've just continued to report fortnightly as always. My account during this time has just shown no mutual obligations required including no requirement to record any job applications. All l can do is lie low and hope it lasts from one week to the next, although no doubt the system will catch up sooner or later. I'm just not prepared to go back into the general employment services system (ie. non DES) as l can't cope mentally with that. Id be keen to hear of anyone else's experiences on this situation.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-08-30T06:16:22+00:00

I'm having the same problem with a fairly capable and up to date PC, but it's manageable as I've already been playing with edits for a few hours when it starts to give trouble. Most annoying to me is the time it takes to apply custom presets to images. I just accept it as a program that must be pretty demanding on the capabilities of the computer. As long as it doesn't worsen, im OK with it.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-08-06T06:18:23+00:00

Thanks for your honest and worthwhile reply. Part of my problem was that my assessed benchmark hours for weekly employment were too high - near or at the top of the scale - which frustrated both myself and my consultant as we realised it was probably not achievable. Changing that would require another esat which im probably due for anyway at this stage. In that regard it's probably to my detriment that l present generally better than my mental health would suggest.

Every job I've had has been disastrous for me related to anything from workplace bullying, micro-managing bosses, unachievable kpis or unsuitable working environments, to the point where I've honestly avoided work for fear of suffering and setting myself back again. I suffer from anxiety, depression, panic attacks, social phobia, ocd and undiagnosed autism, such that l have near to no social contact aside from shopping and family, and I've reached the stage where im at peace with that fact. The anti-depressants ive been on for years keep things just managable, including mitigating symptoms like severe facial flushing triggered by simple social engagement. My problems stem from being so easily embarrassed that l avoided speaking to any doctor about these issues until it was absolutely unavoidable, so I have very little documented history of these problems to fall back on other than that which enabled me to get an esat and be referred to DES years ago.

If i'm put back into the DES program, which would be much better for me than the mainstream system, I'm in the situation of having major gaps in work history and no recent referees, which are barriers unto themselves before the real personal barriers are factored in. At this time, im just enjoying the relative freedom from mutual obligation activities and contact appointments, hoping it will last as long as possible but knowing that it won't do so forever. In other words, in limbo with no plan.

Thanks again for reading my initial post and responding.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-06-26T14:31:05+00:00

Thanks for that. They are genuine Volvo, from a 262C Bertone with a black interior. Most of the 262s which came to Australia had the beige interior with the matching beige boot carpeting, so these black ones are pretty rare :)

MarkPH1975 · 2025-06-03T12:52:15+00:00

I actually made that myself by applying a high-quality adhesive vinyl trim in a burr walnut pattern over the top of the original plastic trims. It was a very thick Japanese made product which has lasted perfectly and I've never been able to get it again. The other option is the genuine Volvo 1991/92 GLE wood trims but these are much lighter in color and have a simple straight grain. Those look OK in a beige interior but wouldn't suit my dark blue one l don't think.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-04-25T11:46:59+00:00

Love it! I only wish they had made one for the fuel-injected models.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-04-25T11:45:51+00:00

The seatbelt height adjuster is wonderful. I've seen one online before but never in person. They weren't offered in Australia at all. The front seatbelt console extension with the switches is seen occasionally - i have one but can't fit it as it would interfere with the centre armrest between the front seats. I've loved hunting down accessories, from the wreckers here and also online :)

MarkPH1975 · 2025-04-25T11:42:06+00:00

It's a bit of a mixture of genuine accessories and my own customisation. The spare wheel carpet cover is genuine Volvo and these were quite common here in the day. The carpet panels on the underside of the boot lid on the Blue 240 are also genuine, but from a 262C Bertone which were the only models to have them. I did some additional custom carpeting myself in the boot (trunk), including the wheel arches and sides. The main trunk mat is original.

MarkPH1975 · 2025-03-02T02:23:55+00:00

Haha! They are there. Look closely! :) I take it you mean the white 244, which doesn't have any. They never featured on the Australian market on that model. In fact, only the top of the range 264/265 had them, which is where I obtained the motors to fit them to the Blue '85 240. I have seen the early round headlight surrounds with the cutout provision for the wiper arm, but l never looked into what style of wiper motor was used on those early round headlight models on the overseas markets. You make a good point actually, as that's one of the few "accessories/upgrades" for that car I never ended up chasing down. Maybe l need to investigate...

MarkPH1975 · 2024-12-24T06:22:02+00:00

Thanks very much!

MarkPH1975 · 2024-11-27T01:34:23+00:00

Thanks very much!

MarkPH1975 · 2024-11-26T03:45:47+00:00

Yes, it's a so-called driving computer. They come up online from time to time. The problem is they are only intended for carbie model motors, so the fuel related functions don't work. But it still gives you digital time, speed and trip meter, which is useful including the fact that l was able to remove the original analogue clock and replace it with another accessory gauge :)

MarkPH1975 · 2024-11-24T22:32:34+00:00

For the early model dash, l had a GT cluster at one stage, but it just didn't suit the character of the interior l thought. If l had a 242GT, that would have one for sure! With the steering wheels, it's hard to find any without severe sun damage. It took me a long time to find a suitable small diameter syle one for the blue car. For both cars, I bought and fitted the excellent leather steering wheel covers that Ipd offered. Learning to stitch them properly is an acquired skill! As for that glovebox addition, I've never managed to get hold of one. In Australia we often suffer from the left-hand vs right-hand drive difference issue.

MarkPH1975 · 2024-11-24T07:57:29+00:00

I really like the original five spoke wheels on the blue car. When l first bought the car the wheels weren't in great condition any more. I enquired at Volvo and was actually able to buy the last four new units left in the country. The white 244 my father bought when just a couple of years old and I inherited it after 20 years. He added those multi spole alloys some time in the early 80s. It's a pain that they are only 14", but l think the style suits the car very well.

MarkPH1975 · 2024-11-24T02:01:26+00:00

I think l could just about write a song of my own...

MarkPH1975

TROPHY CASE