Over the weekend, an explosion rocked the German town of Ahlbach. Residents were woken up around 4 a.m. by a loud explosion and tremor that according to residents, felt similar to an earthquake. “My house shook from the blast. My husband and I were very, very confused at first. We thought an earthquake had hit our town but that didn’t explain the loud explosion we heard. It was deafening! When we looked outside, we didn’t see anything. It was really confusing at first. All of our neighbors were outside too trying to figure out what was going on. We called the police. We weren’t sure what else to do.” According to Hessenschau, a German TV program, the bomb’s explosion registered as a magnitude 1.7 tremor on the Richter scale. This lead a lot of people to believe that it was in fact an earthquake.
Social media and police lines quickly became congested with
rumors, suspicions, and concerns regarding the incident. Within a matter of
hours, the topic was trending all over social media with people throwing out
some wild theories about what had had happened. Luckily, it didn’t take long
for officials to discover the cause of the noise and put both the townspeople
and the world at ease. “Everyone was saying that we were under attack! It was
really, really scary. Others were saying that it was a violent earthquake and
we should all be concerned. There was so much misinformation floating around
online that I eventually just had to unplug from it,” said one resident.
They were able to track the noise/tremors to a large cornfield where they stumbled upon a massive crater. At first, many assumed that it was the result of a meteorite. After all, what else could create that kind of a blast zone? However, the fact that a meteorite and traces were missing meant that it wasn’t the cause. Investigators eventually found the source of the noise and tremors: a World War II bomb that had detonated in a cornfield. The bomb had been buried deep within the ground and forgotten about. Once it went off, it created a crater that was 13 feet deep and 33 feet wide according to Limburg officials. “It was a big bomb as you can tell by the damage it did to the cornfield. Luckily, nobody was injured when it blew. We’re very, very thankful for that,” investigators said regarding the incident.
How did the Bomb get There?
But what was the bomb doing out in the cornfield in the
first place? Had someone put it there and if so, how did they get access to
such weaponry? Should the city be concerned about more attacks? Or had it
actually be dropped by invaders? And if so, who dropped the bomb on the
cornfield and why there? Once again, social media was set aflame as both
residents and people around the world spoke their concerns. “When something
like this happens, people always assume the worst. This isn’t necessarily a bad
thing and in many cases it’s the appropriate response. However in this case,
they were creating widespread panic over nothing. Sure, the bomb’s explosion
caused significant damage but nobody was hurt and it’s not a sign of an imminent
threat. People were quick to blow things out of proportion,” officials stated
in response to the explosion making its way around the Internet.
Limburg officials were also quick to address these concerns.
In their statement, they mentioned that that specific area had been a prime
target for bombing raids during the war. A former Nazi operated railway
facility and radio stations were located nearby, making it a target for bombs.
Because of this, many bombs were dropped on the area. The ones that didn’t
explode simply sunk into the ground to be forgotten about. While this sounds
weird to think about, apparently it’s not all that uncommon. “In certain areas
there are a lot of undetonated bombs, landmines, and other relics of the war
that remain buried underground. A lot of these require some form of trigger
mechanism to activate it such as stepping on the area or messing with the
piece. This area is unfortunately one of those. It was a hotbed for bombing
activity and a lot of those remain buried and forgotten by time until something
like this happens.”
What Triggered the Explosion?
Was someone messing with the bomb at 4 in the morning? And
if so, how did they manage to dig 13 feet into the ground to access it in the
first place? After all, the bomb wasn’t just sitting exposed above ground
begging for someone to come mess with it. Experts were quick to answer this as
well. According to them, undiscovered bombs can explode somewhat randomly. “We
can’t necessarily determine when or even if an unexploded bomb is going to go
off. Some were ‘duds’ that landed while others still have a chance of
exploding. Most of the time, these things require someone to mess with them in
order to explode. However in some cases, the bombs simply go off on their own,”
experts say.
But what would cause a bomb that’s laid dormant for so long
to just suddenly go off? Well, this happens when their detonators deteriorate
and become compromised. As the bomb sits underground, a lot of the gears and
intricacies rot/deteriorate and the structure becomes compromised over time.
Eventually the parts just wear out so much that the bomb is triggered and
explodes. The bombs also have long-term acid ignite fuses that keep them
“active” for a long time as well making them extremely susceptible to
explosions. And unfortunately, Germany is full of them.
WWII Bombs aren’t that Uncommon in Germany
“70 years after the war, we’re still finding undetonated
bombs and in some cases landmines. The landmines aren’t as common, but they do
show up from time to time. We’re unfortunately a hub for these kinds of things.
Certain areas were more popular than others because of their importance to Nazi
soldiers and commanders. Those fighting against the Nazis dropped a lot of
bombs on Germany in an effort to halt progress and end the war. As others have
said, not all of these bombs went off. Even though great cleanup efforts were
made to get rid of them after the war, it’s impossible to do a thorough sweep
and get them all. A lot were covered up by rubble and blown up pieces of land
so we were already at a disadvantage. Over time, they were simply reclaimed by
the earth.”
Finding bombs in Germany is fairly common. In fact, many
have been defused in large cities like Frankfurt and Berlin over the years.
“It’s become so commonplace now that you hardly see it online or hear about it
on the TV. If news is slow, you might hear them mention that another bomb was
found and defused, but nobody gives it much attention. The only reason why this
one got as much media coverage as it did is because it exploded on its own,
causing a large crater. It garnered a lot of attention. It’s far more
newsworthy and interesting to talk about a bomb that went off and blew up a
field than it is to talk about how experts cleared out an undetonated one.”
Another bomb was found in Berlin last April. It was quickly
defused and then another showed up in Frankfurt. This one forced 60,000 people
out of their homes and the city as technicians worked to defuse it. The whole
process took several hours, but nobody was injured and nothing was damaged in
the process. 50,000 people were also evacuated in Hanover when bombs were
discovered during a construction project. In other words, they’re unfortunately
not all that uncommon in Germany.
You’ll also hear about this kind of activity in other war
torn countries. In some places, especially near war camps, people sweep the
grounds around them multiple times a day in order to find landmines and
undetonated weaponry that could be triggered by stepping on it or go off on its
own causing a lot of destruction. In Vietnam for example, there are hundreds of
thousands of landmines, traps, and undetonated bombs scattered across the
jungle. “In some areas you simply can’t safely cross the terrain without some
sort of bomb of metal detector. My dad and I sweep the area frequently and we
always come home with handfuls. It’s nerve wracking but you get used to it. So
far there have only been a few injuries from these landmines and that number is
shrinking everyday as we clear out more and more of them,” say residents.
Should Residents be Concerned?
One of the biggest things on everyone’s mind right now is
how concerned they should be regarding this incident. If Germany is “full of
bombs” as it’s self described, how likely are other incidents like this to take
place? Should citizens be worried? “It’s always concerning when we stumble
across an undetonated bomb, but we always take precautions. We evacuate the
surrounding areas and call in professionals to defuse it. There’s also a lot of
concern from citizens that they will come across these buried bombs and set
them off by accident but that’s highly unlikely. They are buried so far
underground that it’s nearly impossible for someone to walk over it and trigger
it,” officials say.
On Monday, residents outside of Frankfurt were evacuated
when not one but two World War II bombs were found. According to TheLocal.de,
2,500 people were evacuated from the area. “We didn’t believe that they were a
direct threat to the citizens of the town, but we didn’t want to take any
chances,” authorities said. Most of the time, the bombs are detonated by
professionals on site if they’re far enough away from civilization so no damage
is caused. If this isn’t an option, they can be defused where they lay if the
parts are still in working condition or they can be moved to a safer location
for detonation.
“You’re more likely to be hit by lightning than you are to
trigger a bomb, “ say local officials.
Self-detonations are also incredibly rare; even for Germany
who is full of them. According to Wolfgang Spyra, who is both an engineer and
professor at the Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus, only about
one or two WWII era bombs detonate by themselves each year. “They’re typically
not in densely populated areas either. The ones located in suburbs and cities
are typically discovered quickly before they can detonated and they are
rendered inert immediately,” Spyra said.
The Bomb’s Past
After the bomb exploded, a lot of people began asking
questions about its past. Had it been placed in that location and forgotten
about? Was it dropped from a plane? At first, experts had their doubts that it
was a World War II bomb, but evidence quickly swayed them in that direction;
especially given the area’s importance as a railway center during the war.
Now according to experts, the 550 pound bomb was dropped by
plane. “The bomb was incredibly huge and was designed to do a lot of damage as
you can tell by the photo of the crater. Something of that size and caliber
doesn’t just get ‘placed’ down; it has to be dropped by an aircraft. As to why
it didn’t detonate upon impact is up in the air. The bomb was definitely alive,
but it didn’t explode once it hit the ground. Instead, it detonated after its
mechanics rotted away.”
The aerial bomb possessed a chemical detonator. This likely
explains why it didn’t detonate once it hit the ground. “Sometimes the
chemicals just don’t mix properly right away or don’t get exposed to each other
to create the right reaction. Because of this, they sit dormant until their
detonator materials decompose. Then, they go off.”
What are your thoughts?
Let us know what you think about the article and its content in the comment section! We’d love to hear from you.
Hurricane Dorian left the Bahamas after 48 hours of wrecking havoc, hope was that the hurricane would lessen in strength. Unfortunately as it made its way off the islands, it picked up intensity again rising to a Category 3. When it hit South Carolina, it hit as a Category 2 with sustained winds of 110 mph. Hundreds of thousands of Carolina residents who lived along the coast packed up their belongings and fled ahead of the storm. Others stayed, but officials say most of the coastal residences had evacuated. Nearly 250,000 businesses as well as homes were without power before the hurricane even hit. “A lot of the power outages were part of the electric companies manually taking the grids offline in an effort to protect them. Some however were the product of winds and storms that arrived ahead of hurricane Dorian,” officials say.
Governor Henry McMaster also warned people ahead of the storm’s arrival saying that, “it’s the water from the storms that kill the people. It’s the real danger and it’s pretty clear that we’re going to have quite a bit of water on our hands. I want to caution everyone to be careful. Don’t drive or wade through flooded areas. You can’t tell how deep these really are and there could be underlying currents waiting to sweep you away. If water starts to enter your home, get to the roof fast. Don’t take refuge in your attic without punching a hole to escape through. You don’t realize how fast the water levels can rise until they do.”
Officials warned that as the storm continues to strike the Carolina coast, hurricane conditions are possible to last in particular areas even as Hurricane Dorian itself begins to dissipate. The center of the storm is expected to move closer to South Carolina throughout Thursday, and then make its way to North Carolina’s coast during the night and Friday. “Even as the storm dissolves, we want people to know that the dangers aren’t over. Just because it’s no longer a hurricane doesn’t mean that it’s not capable of massive destruction,” officials warn.
Charleston, South Carolina gets Hit the Hardest by Hurricane Dorian
The state suffered a lot of damage under the massive storm, but Charleston, particularly historic Market Street, were hit the hardest. “Market Street is completely gone. Parts were under more than a foot of solid water. The gusting winds blew both rain and seawater sideways, further flooding the area. We don’t know how much damage has been done yet, but we suspect that it’s a lot. We can already tell that some buildings are completely damaged,” say residents.
According to the hurricane center, Charleston Harbor had sustained wind gusts of 80 mph. “Gusts that were nearly as strong as this were also recorded in other parts of the state. North Carolina also reported close to the same wind gust strength.” As hurricane force gusts can cause a lot of damage, both residents and officials feared the worst. However, Hurricane Dorian had more to give: several tornadoes also hit the area. “We’re not sure what Charleston did to Dorian, but whatever we did we pissed it off good because it’s wrecked serious havoc here,” says one resident.
Hurricane force winds were also reported to extend more than 60 miles away from the storm’s center. The tropical storm force winds stretched outwards of 195 miles, covering a large swath of land. “Everyone needs to realize that it’s not just about the center of the storm,” Ken Graham who’s a director for the hurricane center said, “you need to look at the storm as a whole. And in Dorian’s case, it’s both massive and destructive.”
Ahead of Hurricane Dorian’s arrival, Graham said that Charleston could see a storm surge of up to 4 feet. “That’s incredibly dangerous,” he further warned. As far as North Carolina was concerned, parts could see as much as 7 feet Graham continued. “Anything that goes above 3 feet is considered to be life threatening,” he said. “Residents who have stayed behind need to take this into consideration. Also as we’re also going to continue to be pounded by rain, you’re going to also get more flooding. Streets are going to go under and rivers may rise past their banks.”
Preparing for the Worst
Ahead of Dorian’s arrival both South and North Carolina began preparing for the worst that the storm had to offer. Shelters were opened across both states and rescue crews waited on standby. According to Roy Cooper, North Carolina’s governor, more than 50 shelters were opened in preparation for the storm. 20 swift water rescue teams were also employed to help with water rescues. North Carolina also has sixteen aircraft that are ready and waiting. “We want to be as prepared as possible for the storm and we want to minimize how many lives are lost and the number of injuries. Some people have said that we don’t need that many rescue teams or aircraft but I’d rather have more than we need than not enough,” Cooper said.
Unfortunately, not everyone was compliant. According to Police Chief Daniel House, several people in Wrightsville Beach were charged with class 2 misdemeanors for failing to comply with the state’s mandatory evacuation orders. “I hate writing tickets like that, especially during times like these but it’s necessary. You’re not only putting your own life at risk if you choose to stay, but you’re also putting the lives of first responders at risk. And if you’re on a barrier island, it’s even worse. There’s nothing in your home worth staying for. Nothing in there is worth your life or the life of others,” Cooper said. “And for those who haven’t evacuated now: get to the highest and safest place you can possibly get. If you think that’s your attic, make sure you have an exit area in case the water rises that high and you need to get onto your roof.”
Not Everyone is Taking Cooper’s Advice to Heart
Unfortunately, not everyone is taking Cooper’s advice of “get out” to heart. Derek Bellinger and his family are just one example of those who have decided to stay. Located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Bellinger’s home in Kill Devil Hills was under mandatory evacuation. However, Derek says that he is staying. “Were really not that worried about Hurricane Dorian. We’ve been through plenty of storms and we’ve done our prep. We’re going to hunker down and ride it out,” he said. The family has stockpiled four cases of water, filled their freezer with food, and they’ve got 25 gallons of gas on reserve to power the generator. “We’re as ready and prepared as we can be,” Derek said.
North Carolina native Carol Ann Angelos also announced that
she plans to stay. She’s the owner of The Jolly Roger, a beachside restaurant
that has been in business for 35 years. “We’re going to stay open and serve
customers for as long as the power stays on. We also plan on serving emergency
responders. I’ll serve them whatever sandwiches I can scrape up by candlelight
if I have to, but I’m not closing my doors,” Angelos said. Even though the
windows have been boarded up, all of The Jolly Rogers’s signs read “open”.
“Our entire livelihood is here and I think that’s something
that a lot of people don’t get; especially those that haven’t been through
hurricanes or storms. Evacuation isn’t always the best response either. You can
get caught in traffic, run out of gas, and get stranded. A lot of evacuees wait
in traffic for 14+ hours just to make it 2 hours out of the city and then what?
You’re still in harm’s way. And even if you make it to a safe area, who’s to
say that there’s shelter for you? Most of the hotels have already been booked.
So we do sandbags, we board our windows, tie everything down that can be tied
down, and we pray that the ocean doesn’t rise up enough to flood you.”
Damage Done to the Bahamas By Hurricane Dorian
When Hurricane Dorian made its way to the Bahamas, the island braced for the worst. However, nobody was prepared for the amount of devastation and waste that the hurricane laid to their small island of 400,000 residents. Just days after Hurricane Dorian, now one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, images from the Bahamas began surfacing on the Internet as well as death/injury counts and what all has been destroyed. According to the media, the Bahamas is now 70% underwater. “You can’t even see some of the streets anymore and some of the buildings are just completely gone. We don’t know if they’re underwater or they were taken out by the hurricane. Some neighborhoods are just completely gone. Others are submerged,” residents say.
As of the time of this article, officials estimate the storm’s death toll to be at least 23. “The real number could be much, much higher,” officials say. “23 is what we have currently confirmed. As the water levels lower and we’re able to access more areas, we expect that number to raise significantly.” As cleanup efforts have only just begun, Marvin Dames told press that “this is just the beginning.” The total number of those injured remains unclear/unreported.
Marvin Dames, who is the minister of national security, told the media during a news press conference on Wednesday night that they have also begun the process of clearing streets and making the airports available. “We’ve started with the islands of Abaco and the Grand Bahamas,” Dames said. “These two areas were hit the hardest by the hurricane and they’re in need of help. While all of the Bahamas suffered from Hurricane Dorian, clearing these two areas will help make it easier for cleanup crews, rescue teams, first responders, and supplies to make it in.”
Aerial footage also surfaced that was filmed over the Abaco
Islands. In the footage, you can see roads that have been completely washed
away as well as debris littering every free inch of space. Splintered wood juts
out from damaged homes, roofs are missing, and some houses are nothing but a
pile of debris now. It’s truly a sad sight to see.
It’s also come out that Equinor, a Norwegian energy company stationed in the Bahamas, suffered damage to its oil storage terminal… Which is now leaking. When asked how much oil had spilled, the company said “it’s too early to know.” The Times flew over the company’s terminal on Wednesday and reported back that many of the storage tanks had lost their lid. At least 5 of the tank lids were missing. Of those 5, only 3 contained large amounts of oil. The Times also reported that oil was visible on the ground around the tanks, but the seawater looked clear. “Precautionary measures were taken before Hurricane Dorian’s arrival and the terminal was constructed with hurricanes in mind,” a company spokesman for Equinor said. “The areas around the tanks are there to serve as barriers to contain oil spills.”
While it’s definitely good news that the oil hasn’t reached
the ocean, it does spell out hazardous conditions and problems for cleanup
crews in that immediate area.
How You Can Help
If you’re located in the path of the storm, officials say that the best way that you can help is by evacuating. “Don’t stay behind and become someone that we have to rescue; especially if you’re close to the beach where the storm surge will hit. It can cost lives trying to save one and you’re diverting first responders to you when other areas could benefit from them. Also, don’t be a hero. Don’t try to save people that are being swept away in the current. Don’t put your own life at risk; leave it to the professionals.”
For those outside of the states, there are plenty of areas and websites that will allow you to help from a distance. You can join rescue crews, send supplies, or contribute funds to help out. Check out the following website for links and ways that you can help:
Romantic Places in South India is one of the most decorative parts of the world in terms of natural beauty. The serenity offered by the South Indian places is so divine that many honeymoon couples and lovers of privacy who enjoy spending the days away from the hectic schedule of the city lives in the lap of nature flock to the southern zone of the country. Thus, it is evident that a note be made of one of the 5 romantic escapades in South India that have won the hearts of the couples in both India and abroad. It is also famous as honeymoon destination in India.
Ooty or Udagamandalam is a beautiful
hill station Tamil Nadu. Sitting atop the Nilgiri Hills, Ooty is known for the
abundance of greenery that lays a soft carpet for the tourists who lay foot
upon its bosom. With the enormous Nilgiri Hills sounding and protecting the
homely hill station, Ooty has always been a favorite tourist destination especially
among the honeymoon couples. This hill station offers the soothing view of the
silvery waterfalls that end in a pool of mist to play hide and seek with the
gazers. The flowing rivulets and the chirping birds that add on to this musical
extravaganza lure the tourists to this spot.
Pondicherry
Pondicherry is located in Tamil Nadu at present. This is the largest city
and the capital of the Union Territory of Puducherry. This city has a rich
historical background that dates back prior to the capture of the British in
India. Some of the most significant aspects of this city are the blue sky that
spreads overhead. There is something mystique about the sky with the golden
rays drawing beautiful pictures on the white, fluffy cloud in that region. The
aesthetic beauty existing in the city accompanied by a pure serenity draws
tourists to this place occasionally. Thus, because of the astounding beauty,
Pondicherry can be regarded as one of the most romantic places in south India.
Known as the ‘Scotland of India’, Coorg presents a ravishing beauty to
the tourists who venture to this exotic hill station. Situated in Karnataka,
Coorg is
surrounded by forests that open up a wide range of flora and fauna for the
excited tourists. This place is surrounded by the misty air that whispers
dreams into the ears of the lovers and make their prayers come true. Thus,
Coorg is visited by the honeymoon couples throughout the year.
Aleppey
Aleppey is one of the most visited
places in Kerala. Aleppey is famous for the backwaters that adorn the state. Ranging from
the blue skies that stand witness to the famous boathouses floating across the
backwaters to the lush, green surroundings that pay homage to the musical
rhythm created by the migrating birds in synchronization while flying atop the
golden beach, Aleppey is a paradise for the honeymoon couples. Thus, this place
is considered as a paradise when it comes to romanticism in southern
India.
Munnar
Like the Neelakurinji flower that blooms once in every twelve years in
Munnar, Munnar too keeps this extravagant beauty in mind and prepares and
nurtures itself in a way that the tourists are left gawking at its unparalleled
beauty. This place has one of the most unique structures called the muniyara
dolmens that attract tourists from all over the world. Because of the calm and
quiet scenario that adorns the beautiful environment, Munnar is one of the most
visited places in South India, especially by the lovers and seekers of
romanticism.
Thus, it can be perceived that South India is truly an exotic place. This
region of India is divine in its own art and culture that is so enchanting that
no other place in India can match its extravagant display of beauty. Enriched
by one of the best ranges of flora and fauna and kissed by the facades of the
sun that leaves in place in a state of tranquility, South India is definitely
the perfect region for the seekers of romance.
Big Mac from McDonald’s is an actual measurement tool, well you know now. Called the “Big Mac index”, experts and curiosity seekers from around the world use the burger as a way of understanding and relating prices in different countries. It’s an easy index to follow since most of us are familiar with both the menu item and its price. But is it really that important? What does knowing the price of a McDonald’s burger do? Well if you’re planning on traveling and you’re a big McDonald’s fan then it helps to know how much you’re going to spend on your favorite burger. Jokes aside, it actually does serve a purpose.
The Big Mac Index was invented by The Economist in 1986. The idea behind this is often referred to as Burgernomics (not sure how we feel about all of these puns) and it is meant to serve as a basic guide to figuring out the cost of living in different countries. It might sound silly, but Burgernomics can actually provide some valuable insight into which currencies are being under valued and those that are being over valued. You can also determine how “inflated” that particular country’s economy is based on the price of the burger. McDonald’s is a “budget friendly” fast food joint so most of their menu items are far cheaper than their competitors’. By finding the price of the Big Mac in another country and comparing it to the price in other places, you can determine how well the country is doing so to speak.
Burgernomics aside, let’s take a look at what a Big Mac will
run you in other countries:
By the way, this data
is from January 2019 and comes from Statista. The results are also quoted in US
dollars.
10. Australia ($4.35)
That’s right if you want to eat a Big Mac in the land down under you’ll have to
fork over $4.35 or about the same as a Starbucks venti pumpkin spice latte with
a caramel flavor shot added for flare. McDonald’s markets the burger as
containing two 100% pure Aussie beef patties, iceberg lettuce, cheese, onions,
pickles, and of course that special Big Mac sauce. All of this is wedged
between two toasted sesame seed buns. So basically, it’s the Big Mac we’re all
familiar with. We’re not sure what the difference between Aussie beef patties
and regular beef patties are, but we’re pretty sure that isn’t one. Either way,
you’ll be paying a premium for their beef patties.
There was also a Double Big Mac at one point in Australia as
well. It was quickly discontinued and replaced with the Grand Big Mac. This
monster burger uses larger patties that are 1/3 lbs. In 2017, they also
released the Big Mac BLT as part of a promotion.
9. Brazil ($4.55)
Back in the early 2000’s the Big Mac was around $1.50 in
most parts of the world, including Brazil. However now, it’ll cost you $4.55
for just the sandwich. What caused the inflation? Honestly, nobody really
knows. It could be a combination of things like economics, exchange, or even
the fact that McDonald’s is considered to be a tourist trap. Thus, it’s a luxury and its menu items incur luxury
prices to reflect that. Also, many locals are far more content to eat rice,
beans, and vegetarian options over the calorie rich burger. So since it’s
marketed towards tourists instead of locals, you get the higher price. But
honestly, who is going to stop into McDonald’s in Brazil for a Big Mac when you
have all kinds of other interesting local cuisine available?
You can also find a Cheddar McMelt on their menu, which
sounds absolutely delicious despite the fact that we were just knocking them
for catering to tourists. This sandwich has creamy cheddar cheese, soy sauce,
and grilled onions on a beef burger patty. It also comes on a whole-wheat bun
instead of the traditional sesame seed one. You can also find banana flavored
pies as well as vegetarian burger options on their menu. Okay, we’re starting
to see how it can rope in tourists now…
8. Israel ($4.58)
For the most part, Israel’s Big Mac is pretty close to what
we’re used to in the United States. However, there are a few key differences.
For starters, the meat is 100% kosher and is cooked on charcoal rather than
being fried. This means that cheese isn’t an option at some of the locations,
but many will still offer cheeseburgers. If you’d rather spend your money on
something else instead of a Big Mac, you can also opt for the McKebab or the McShawarma.
You won’t find these anywhere else so while McDonald’s might not have been on
your list of places to visit in Israel, you might want to add it.
Also if you’re visiting during Passover when Jewish people
don’t eat bread, the bulk of these McDonald’s locations will serve the burgers
on lettuce or matzo instead of the traditional buns. However, don’t expect a
discount on your meal if bread isn’t available; you’ll still be paying $4.58
for the sandwich.
7. Denmark ($4.60)
Why would you pay .60 cents more for the same burger in
Denmark than you would in the United States? After all, there’s really no
difference between the American version and Denmark’s take on it. Well according
to reports from 2014, McDonald’s is a pretty good place to work. Employees are
paid a staggering $20 an hour and the company is unionized. This means that
overhead costs are pretty Mc-High (sorry)
and in order to cover them, the menu items are marked up. And if you’re
interested in comparing this to US McDonald’s wages, Denmark pays its employees
about double what those in the states get. And honestly that’s worth. Working
in fast food isn’t pleasant for anybody. If you’ve ever had the displeasure of
working in fast food then you’re probably thinking that $20 is right on the
mark. We think so too.
Thus, it really isn’t that surprising that Denmark takes
spot #7 on our list for the world’s highest Big Mac prices.
6. Euro Area ($4.64)
What exactly is the “Euro Area”? Well, it’s also known as
the Eurozone and it encompasses 19 countries that use the Euro currency. This
list includes: Germany, Ireland, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Malta, Cyprus,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia,
Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Slovakia. The reason why we didn’t use one
specific country here is because the price is same in these 19 countries.
In these countries, you’ll spend $4.64 on your Big Mac. It
comes with all of the same toppings as the American version, but with a higher
price tag. You can also opt for the smaller Big Mac Jr., which is a few cents
cheaper than the Big Mac but features the same delicious toppings just on a
smaller burger patty. The Big Mac Jr. is one of the newest items to grace the
company’s menu and arrived as part of their 50th anniversary
celebration. You can also go for the Grand Mac, which is a larger version of
the Big Mac if you’re feeling particularly hungry.
There are also unique menu variations across the European
country list if you’re craving something different. In Belgium, you can sink
your teeth into the Croque McDo with Emmental cheese and ham that’s toasted
between two thick buns. In Denmark, you can pick up the chicken salsa cheeseburger.
Want something for breakfast? Hop over to France and order the Croque McDo
donuts.
5. Canada ($5.08)
In a country that’s constantly the boot of “sorry” jokes (and we’re sorry for these terrible puns),
they certainly don’t seem apologetic about their high Big Mac prices. So what
makes the burger worth $5 and some change? Well, it’s pretty much the same
burger you can grab in America for far less. Also sorry to disappoint you, but
the Big Mac “special sauce” isn’t maple syrup; it’s the sauce we’re all
familiar with. However, the combo is where things change a bit. You’ll still
get your drink, but you’ll also get your choice of French Fries or poutine
(French fries with cheese curds topped with brown gravy). You can also add
bacon to your sandwich but don’t expect it to be what we refer to as Canadian
bacon; these are the crispy strips that we’re all familiar with.
On the menu you can also find Tim Horton’s coffee; a
Canadian staple.
4. United States ($5.58)
You’re probably thinking, “wait! I thought the Big Mac was
cheaper in America than a lot of these places? After all, you said that Burger
X in country Y was Z amount of cents more expensive than the American chain!”
You’re right. However, there are a handful of cities and states where the cost
of the burger is so outrageous that it caused the United States to place #4 on
our list. For the most part in the States, you’ll pay a lot less for your Big
Mac than you will in other countries, but if you’re visiting tourist traps
expect that price to sky rocket.
One of those places in particular is Disney; both World and
Land. At these theme parks, you can expect to spend about $8 for that McDonald’s
staple. Shocking, right?! While that’s definitely on the high end, bustling
cities like New York and San Francisco sell their Big Macs for an average of
$5.58. That’s significantly higher than a lot of the other countries on the
list. And as far as differences go, there isn’t any: it’s the exact same
burger.
3. Sweden ($5.84)
After tax, you can expect to spend $6 on a Big Mac in
Sweden. That’s more than it would cost for an entire Happy Meal! That alone
would encourage us to skip McDonald’s (and fast food in general) in hopes of
something healthier! However, McDonald’s in Sweden has you covered there too.
If you want something that’s less calorie laden but tastier than a bowl of
greens, you can opt for the McVegan. It’s pretty close to the Big Mac, but the
patty is made of cannellini and kidney beans. It’s then topped with onions,
carrots, tomatoes, and green peppers before being served on a crisp lettuce
bun. While we’ve personally never had one, those who have claim that the vegan
patty is actually tastier than the regular meat patty.
And if you’re fresh off the ski slopes, you can also duck
into their McSki drive-thru (yes, we’re serious) and grab a bite before heading
back to the powder and slopes.
2. Norway ($5.86)
According to studies, Norway has one of the most overvalued
currencies in the entire world. Because of this, you’ll pay over $6 to satiate
your Big Mac cravings. And once again, there isn’t anything special about this
burger in comparison to other countries. It’s still the same beef patties on
the same sesame seed buns with the same toppings and sauce; just at a
staggering premium. However, you can also pick other McDonald’s treats that are
exclusive to Sweden. These include the El Maco, which is a burger that is
topped with sour cream and salsa then paired with barbecue spiced fries (yum!)
and the Laksewrap. This unique sandwich is composed of deep-fried fish, salad,
and topped with a mango slice wrapped inside a tortilla.
1. Switzerland ($6.62)
Switzerland’s scenery isn’t the only thing that will take
your breath away; once you get a peek at how much a Big Mac will cost you,
you’ll be struggling for air. Switzerland takes the cake as having the most
expensive Big Mac in the world. Weighing in at almost $7 for just the burger, you’d expect to get
something different out of it or a treat, right? Nope. Switzerland’s Big Mac is
the exact same as any other Big Mac and that price is for just the sandwich. No
fries. No drinks. No apple pie. No prize.
So why is it so expensive? Well, considering the
fact that Switzerland is actually one of the most expensive countries in the
world to live in, it makes sense that their Big Mac is also pretty expensive. According
to studies, residents get paid pretty well so it’s all relative; the locals can
easily afford it. However if you’re visiting and you’re on a tight budget, the
Big Mac might not be the option you’re after.
Coupons – We have all come across coupons and have been excited to use them. What is a coupon? In simple words, a coupon is a token or a document that has some financial discount value. These are issues by manufacturers or retailers as a part of their sales promotions. Since they are distributed in large quantities, they are mostly handed out through mail, coupon magazines or the internet. There are other ways through which these are distributed as well and we will go in those details later in the article.
The concept of the coupon industry, and how it works, is much deeper than what it seems to be on the surface. People usually do not find the underlying cause of it. In this article, we will uncover some of the truths of the coupon industry. Just to give an example of how interesting the working is, suppose there is a clothing brand that sells clothes. It is making a profit at the price it is normally selling these clothes. Now, if the brand offers coupons for sales, they are targeting people who would not normally buy their clothes. This leaves them with enough profit as well. The reason is that people who would not normally buy these branded clothes would step forward to buy them at a discounted price.
People who can afford an item would not wait around for a
sale coupon and the ones who cannot afford it, would not have bought the item
if they did not have the coupon. Although these are just logical assumptions,
they are not true in all cases.
Another reason why manufacturers distribute coupons is to
get customers to try out a product that they would not normally buy. Coupons
also find a use if a new product line opens up. Coupons are handed out to get
customers to try out these new products.
Another common reason manufacturer gives out sale coupons is
because they end up manufacturing a lot of product and don’t want to have those
products wasting space in warehouses. Suppose a company ends up making many
winter jackets and the winter season is about to end. It puts on items on 50%
discount to get people to buy these products instead of holding on to them for
a whole year. This is a tactful way of not letting their product go to waste
and still making money out of it. Even though the season might be ending, but a
discounted price may make customers get the product.
These are just some of the reasons why retailers offer
coupons. There might be much more that makes retailers put their products up at
a discounted price.
History – Origin of this marketing technique
In 1886, when Asa Chandler became a partner of Coca-Cola Company,
he transformed the company from an insignificant tonic to one of the
bestselling products making use of good advertisement techniques. These
techniques incorporated selling of coupons to people through sales
representatives. The marketing team also mailed complimentary coupons to
potential customers. This soon made the drink popular amongst the Americans. In
1895, Chandler stated that Coca-Cola was served in every state.
Different values of coupons and their types
There are different values given to coupons such as
discounts, free shipments or even buy one get one free option. The retailer
selling the products at a discounted price defines the value. There can be
multiple uses of coupon, to get customers to purchase a specific product or to
provide a free sample and make it better for marketers to understand the needs
of customers.
Use of coupons for manufacturers
One of the major uses of coupons for retailers is in
research. Coupons measure the price sensitivity of different buyer groups. It
is the general assumption that the customers who collect coupons and use it to
buy products are more price sensitive. This type of information is important in
business evolution and for target marketing.
Grocery coupons
There are two main types of grocery coupons: Store coupons and manufacturer’s coupons. The difference between these coupons is that the discount coupons issued by a particular store only wok for the items you buy in that store. A few stores accept the coupons of competitor stores as well. In comparison, customers when doing grocery shopping at any store can take up discount issued by manufacturers. Grocery coupons are an attraction for people who want to save money. Whereas, manufacturer coupons are intended to attract more customers towards a particular brand. There are certain stores that double the value of coupons to bring in more customers as well.
coupons have an expiration date after which their value is does not hold anymore. Once the date passes, they are not valid for discount anymore.
Delivery methods for coupons
Clients may get these coupons from different sources, including newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, with sites offering free printable basic food item coupons. These can be printed at home and then used at a retail store. Some significant food manufacturing chains additionally produce advanced coupons that are sent to the homes of faithful customers. There are coupon-furnishing sites that give clients coupons from different stores. These locales collect coupons from different sources and buy products at a discounted rate.
Delivery through print media Cutting coupons from papers has been the most famous approach to get coupons, however, Internet and Mobile Phone coupons are increasing widely. A few retailers and organizations use confirmation strategies, for example, extraordinary scanner tags, coupon ID numbers, holographic seals, and watermarked paper as security from unapproved replicating or use. Other than paper, there are additionally coupon book distributors and retailers who accumulate vouchers and coupons into books, either available to be purchased freely.
Delivery of coupons through Internet Online retailers frequently allude to coupons as “coupon codes”, “special codes”, “advancement codes”, “markdown codes”, “keycodes”, “promotion codes”, “surplus codes”, “versatile codes”, “shopping codes”, “voucher codes”, “remunerate codes”, “rebate vouchers”, “referral codes” or “source codes”. Web coupons normally give diminished expense or free dispatching, a particular dollar, rate markdown or to procure cashback while some idea to urge shoppers to buy explicit items or to buy from explicit retailers. Since paper coupons would be hard to disperse and recover, ordinarily mystery words or codes are circulated for customers to type in at checkout. Advertisers can utilize various codes for various direct or gatherings to separate reaction rates.
Delivery of coupons through mobile A portable coupon is an electronic ticket requested as well as conveyed to a cell phone that can be traded for money related markdown or discount when purchasing an item. Coupons are normally issued by product manufacturers or retailers, to be utilized in retail locations as a major aspect of business advertisement. They are regularly distributed through SMS or MMS, through GEO Fencing innovation or other portable methods. The client receives the coupon at store or on the web. At times, clients may reclaim the portable coupon at the purpose of sale. What is one of a kind about versatile coupons is the memory of data in the coupons regularly outlive the termination dates of the coupons themselves, activating real buys at later dates. Researchers speculate it is driven by the commitment created by the cell phone. Numerous retailers bolster the reclamation of email and paper coupons through cell phones. Notwithstanding appropriating such offers utilizing their email records, SMS memberships, and applications, they are additionally regularly made accessible through coupon applications.
Delivery through mobile app A mobile application coupon can be either a normal coupon for reclamation (limited worth or limited rate) utilized at checkout conveyed by the application producers or extraordinary, individual referral codes claimed by every client to select new clients with referral benefits. The last structure requires individual sharing for the benefit of clients to their systems.
Although discount and sales might seem like a good option to
buy products but what retailers do not want you to know is the fact that you
are being ripped off. How? Let us dive a little deeper into how coupons work.
When ripping out becomes ripping off – Coupons and how to know you are
being ripped off
Recently, a Yonkers, N.Y. lady purchased $130.18 worth of goods and spread out just $7.07 in hard money. She paid for the remainder of her grocery store buys with coupons, coupons she has cut, exchanged, documented and recorded for quite a long time.
Susan Samtur’s home is loaded up with box tops, sideboards, front boards, widespread item code images and gigantic document of coupon offers accessible everywhere throughout the nation. She has turned a one-lady exertion to set aside cash by utilizing pennies off coupons into a flourishing business, a pamphlet from which supporters figure out how to benefit as much as possible from makers’ limited-time discounts.
However, there are people who have started making fake coupons. Coupon exchange is also going around. This makes it hard for the company to figure out their market reach.
That is a “penny-risk stuff” contrasted with the huge activities that have been revealed lately. Four employees of a Midwest paper were captured a month ago for saving section coupons from the majority of the paper’s unsold duplicates and offering them at decreased rates to a fence.
The fencing is done to retail food merchants who recover the
coupons unlawfully however for short of what they are valued. In any case, a
few walls set up postage information for supermarkets, send the coupons to the
producers, who send the discount checks to the fake mail addresses. Thomas says
less and less of that is going on because PCs have made it simpler to check
whether a supermarket has been a maker’s client. When the false tasks utilize
the sends, it turns into an issue for the Postal Inspection Service and the
punishments for utilizing the sends to dupe are not kidding. The nourishment
business has been working with the Postal Service to control the more egregious
maltreatment.
Some newspapers print a lot a larger number of duplicates of
coupon pages. This is done to fence them later on. Others offer magazine
wholesalers a penny or two for duplicates of magazines that have come back to
the distribution centers, cutting the coupons and fencing them. Industry
sources ascertain the expense of coupon redemption somewhere in the range of
$100 and $143 million. These figures have climbed consistently as the
utilization of coupons for limited time purposes has expanded. At its yearly
show in Dallas in May, the Food Marketing foundation passed a goal “lamenting
coupon mishandles.” FMI approached its individuals to receive an
authoritative reclamation arrangement and to instruct employees and purchasers.
What’s more, there are grievances from food merchants about
“clients” who render stock unsalable by detaching these coupons
bundles and marks.” One storekeeper clarified that with high dollar esteem
coupons some “customers” purchase the product, reclaim the coupon, at
that point take the product back to us sometime in the not too distant future
and get cashback at the ordinary rack cost.
In addition to the coupons, and evidence of procurement that
must be gathered – and can occupy impressive space – if you pursue the advice
of a coupon newsletter. You will require
a document box to hold the 5-by-8 cards on which you will record the different
discounts, dividers to use between the diverse item classifications, loads of
envelopes – some long, some short – and many stamps. At that point, if you
truly need to get into this thing, you should purchase “buy organizer
pages” to demonstrate you to utilize the deals you have purchased in your
dinner arranging.
The magazines and newsletters offer itemized guidance on the most proficient method to approach discounts and coupons. “NEVER dispose of any covering. On the off chance that there is no present discount accessible for the specific thing, makers will for the most part either present or rehash offers later on to advance their item. Meanwhile, you are working up a ‘qualifier’ document which moves toward becoming in truth a wellspring of future pay.” There are guidelines to keep the “qualifier” record from assuming control more than one of the rooms in your home, or possibly, on the off chance that you have been grinding away long enough, the entire house.
As discounting turns into a potential wellspring of monstrous extortion, the important part on the back of coupons has taken on an additionally compromising tone. The new dialect has been included the most recent year.
Today practically every one of the coupons expresses something with this impact: “Great just on the buy of the item depicted. Some other use establishes misrepresentation. Offer constrained to one coupon for each buy.”
Your grocery store is ripping you off – The ad campaign
There is an ongoing research that states grocery stores are
ripping off customers. They pass off rotten vegetables and fruits as fresh. And
sometimes overcharge with impunity. There are many TV ads that have been going
around uncovering this. One TV advertisement includes the proprietors of the
anecdotal Vanhill’s Grocery, a boring store highlighting a monster pyramid of
apples in the produce area. “Lidl supermarkets don’t have organic product
pyramids,” the organization director gripes. “It’s either natural
product pyramids, or we begin selling apples that are in reality crisp,”
the CEO reacts. At that point, they and their gathering of sycophants giggle
and chuckle.
A few additional ads highlighting the cash grubbing Vanhills
are required to air in the East Coast states where Lidl has stores, over the
coming months.
The advertisements are intended to target “broken and
enlarged” basic food item chains that utilize “stunts to con buyers
into paying more for second rate and wasteful items,” clarified battle
maker The Martin Agency.
Lidl was to some degree progressively conciliatory in
clarifying its intentions in running the advertisements. “This new battle
is intended to bring issues to light about the exorbitant wasteful aspects of
conventional general stores and the reserve funds that Lidl’s streamlined
methodology brings to clients consistently,” said Lidl U.S. chief of brand
promoting Elina Elvholm. “At the point when clients shop at Lidl, they
experience less unpredictability, lower costs and better quality decisions.”
The promotions likewise refer to an ongoing Lidl-subsidized
examination that “Lidl is up to half less expensive than different food
merchants”. Yet, that equivalent examination likewise found that
contenders would, in general, set their costs lower at whatever point a Lidl
opened around the local area, blunting the effect of Lidl’s lower costs. Also,
Lidl doesn’t acknowledge maker’s coupons, so bargain searchers can regularly
discover better costs somewhere else. Another TV advertisement includes the
proprietors of the anecdotal Vanhill’s Grocery, a boring store highlighting a
monster pyramid of apples in the produce area. “Lidl supermarkets don’t
have organic product pyramids,” the organization director gripes.
“It’s either natural product pyramids, or we begin selling apples that are
in reality crisp,” the CEO reacts. At that point, they and their gathering
of sycophants giggle and chuckle.
Such ads and statements lead us to think if we are actually
being ripped off by retailers. It is a fact that even with discounted prices,
retailers are able to make profit. Coupons allow shops to sell the products
remaining in the profit margins. Because of their names, it becomes even easier
for popular brands to rip off their customers.
Retailers ripping you off with fake coupons
In 2011, news that Target was blamed for reneging on store
coupons had numerous customer gatherings ready to fight. Yet, regardless of
whether they know it or not, shoppers can bring matters into their very own
hands and find a way to ensure they get every profit by a store coupon.
There are no uncertainty buyers love their coupons, and
those coupons, regardless of whether they’re off the paper or online
assortment, frequently drive shoppers to make buys they may not customarily
make.
As per an ongoing report from Forrester Research for
Whaleshark Media, six of every 10 study beneficiaries said they would be bound
to make a buy when given a coupon, even after dismissing that buy before
accepting a coupon. Also, around 80% said that accepting coupons lights up
their attitude toward the organization giving that coupon.
In any case, not all coupon projects are on the level.
Counterfeit coupons, coupons with an excessive amount of “fine
print,” and coupons that are rejected at the purpose of procurement are
only a couple of ways customers can get the pole in a coupon bargain.
Mail-in rebates and how they are ripping off customers
Mail-in refunds can appear to be of help for customers who wish to save money.
Retail promotions are loaded up with “refund specials,” frequently
including things that are almost free after the discount sum is deducted. These
arrangements are difficult to oppose – which is actually, what retailers and
manufacturers are relying on. They use refund arrangements to pull in clients
and get them into stores. The amazing thing to note here is that organizations
regularly never need to pay out that discount cash. As per ConsumerAffairs.com,
over $500 million discounts go unclaimed consistently.
Given below are some tactics that organizations use in order
to get customers to walk in with the purpose of using the coupon:
They give off multiple rebates for the same product Superficially, getting more than one discount on a solitary thing appears to be a big stake for the purchaser. In actuality, however, it regularly makes the procedure unreasonably entangled for some individuals to seek after. “Each discount regularly requires separate mailing and various evidence of procurement,” notes Dworksy. It so happens, the shopper does not understand that he needs numerous duplicates of the receipt or confirmation of procurement until it is past the point of no return.
Rebates in the form of debit card Lately, numerous organizations have started sending refunds that are pre-stacked on check cards, which can be badly arranged and mistaking for purchasers. “Since these cards accompany termination dates, the organizations can arrange for when they can return that salary on their accounting reports,” says Christopher Grande, head with Walnut Hill Advisors, LLC. Grande has direct involvement with this strategy, having as of late lost about the portion of a $100 discount card when he neglected to utilize the equalization before it terminated. These discount cards additionally at some point have “upkeep expenses” or different charges. Besides, numerous clients who are expecting a customary paper check discount via the post office may discard the platinum card, confusing it with a pre-affirmed Visa offer.
It is hard for the customers to provide proof of purchase “Many customers find the confirmation of procurement difficult to provide when asked for,” says Dworksy. “It could be under a hard clamshell plastic bundle, for example. Or on the other hand, it could be within the fold of a case, where a client isn’t accustomed to looking.” In cases like these, the buyer may accidentally harm or tear the evidence of procurement while opening the bundle – or may discard it without acknowledging it.
This is a lengthy and time consuming process, many customers don’t want to get into it “On the off chance that you don’t peruse the fine print and adhere to every one of the directions, your refund is denied,” says Erin Edwards of FunWithFreebies.com. “Organizations are relying on the way that a few people will forsake the refund procedure altogether or commit errors when rounding out the structure. They additionally include quite certain directions and the expectation you won’t see the fine print or due dates for presenting the discounts.” Another prevalent strategy: an incredibly short refund reclamation period, making customers miss the due date on the off chance that they do not present the structures right away.
The retailers are counting on forgetful customers The fact that sometimes the rebate never actually arrives. The company counts on customers being forgetful in such cases. Due to the busy schedule, it becomes hard for customers to follow the time frame. This gives an edge to the company and makes it easier for it to rip you off given the chance.
To ensure you get the refunds you’re qualified for, be
mindful to peruse all the fine print, present all required administrative work
rapidly (after making duplicates for your records) and development on the off
chance that you don’t get a normal discount in an auspicious way. What’s more,
whenever you are shopping, ensure you consider the problem of taking care of a
discount guarantee before you buy that thing.
How to avoid getting ripped off by retailers
What are the unmistakable “warnings” that your
coupon is not very good? How about we investigate:
Fake coupons provided by retailers With the advancement of PC illustrations and scanners, anyone with enough knowledge about Photoshop and illustrator can make coupons, or even coupon books, and offer them to clueless buyers. On the other hand, more awful, the customers themselves would utilize the false coupons to get limits to buys. Yet, retailers are wising up, utilizing readable standardized tags on authentic coupons – and progressively, leaving fraudsters to play get up to speed.
Knowing the difference between a fake and legit coupon If you have a feeling that your coupon might be suspicious, or simply need to make certain before you use it on the web or in a store, look at the buyer backing site Coupon Information Corporation (CIC). The extortion-battling firm has uncovered more than $750 million in deceitful coupons. The site has heaps of information for purchasers to use to have sure they know the effect between a genuine coupon and a phony one.
If you are asked to pay money for your coupons, you are being ripped off by the retailer The CIC adds a decent tip to the menu – abstain from dishing out money for coupons. The gathering says that “purchasing coupons from organizations/people who ‘sell the administration of section coupons’ rather than the coupons themselves.” The CIC says to be particularly cautious about giving over any close to home budgetary data to organizations hoping to sell coupons.
Study the bar codes to know when you are being subjected to a fraud To truly ensure you have a genuine coupon, begin by considering the coupon standardized tags. In particular, take a gander at the standardized tag down at the base of the coupon (it is the equivalent on the web or with a physical coupon). Continuously ensure the barcode has 12 digits – on the off chance that it does not, it is a phony. Likewise, the tenth and eleventh digits on the scanner tag ought to compare to the genuine sum, or to at any rate two comparative numbers (for instance, 1 and 0 for $1.00, or 7 and 5 for 75 pennies off). Here’s a reward tip: to guarantee you get the rebate you have coming, consistently check your receipt before you leave the store, or soon after making an online buy. On the off chance that the receipt does not have the markdown included, backtrack and let the retailer, know.
Ensuring a coupon is genuine is not too troublesome. All you
need is a little attentiveness to detail and diligence. Utilize both and you
will maximize your coupon book.
Customer rights – Things you should know
Each time you pay for something, regardless of whether it is
an item (like a game or a thing of attire) or an administration (like a
telephone contract or a rent on a house) you are going into a legitimate
contract. That implies that you have lawful rights about those items and
administrations. Law maintains these rights, known as shopper rights.
The organization looking after your consumer rights
Shopper Affairs Victoria (CAV) is the official body that
takes care of every Victorian purchaser and ensures that their rights are
secured. If you have any customer related issues, CAV is an incredible spot to
begin. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) additionally
has data about shopping, banking, purchasing a vehicle or bicycle, web access
suppliers and what to would on the off chance that you like to object.
Make a complaint if you have been ripped off
On the off chance that you think you’ve been ripped off or
treated unreasonably, you can contact CAV a utilizing their contact structures
or by calling their helpline on 1300 55 81. If you need to bounce directly to
objecting, you can enroll your grievance by visiting their Resolve your concern
or protest page and adhering to the guidelines there.
You can likewise make a grievance through the ACCC’s
Complaints and Problems pages or call them on 1300 302 502.
What are your rights when shopping?
When you buy things you have a right to expect that:
The purchase works the way it is supposed to
work
The product you are given looks the way it is
supposed to and has no deformity
You are not handed a piece that is broken or has
a fault
They pass the safety requirements
Refund policies and exchanges
In case you are upset or not happy with something you
purchase since it does not meet the above desires, you might be qualified to
request a discount. You ARE NOT consequently qualified for a discount if you
essentially alter your perspective on something you have purchased such as in
case you do not need it anymore. A few stores may have a trading strategy that
gives you a chance to swap something you purchased for something different of
equivalent worth; however, it relies upon the individual store approach.
Your rights when shopping online
Web-based shopping accompanies its specific favorable
circumstances and inconveniences. The stunt is how to do it without being
ripped off. The majority of your standard buyer rights apply when you shop with
an Australian online business. Those rights likewise apply when you purchase
from an abroad online business, however the way toward getting fixes, discounts
or substitutions can be a lot trickier just because that business is not
situated in Australia – the standards are more enthusiastically to authorize in
such circumstances.
Keeping an eye out for scams
There are many ways that individuals attempt to take your
cash and give you nothing. Since many customers are scammed in this way, you
should pay special attention to these tricks and keep yourself away from such
scams. If you are misled, however, some things can be done. CAV’s Scams pages
have information on regular tricks and how to keep away from them, just as a
test that gives you a chance to test how clever you are. There’s likewise data on
what you can do on the off chance that you get defrauded, incorporating how to
dub in a con artist and what to do in case you’re in a difficult situation
since you’ve been misled. The Australian Government looks after Scam Watch, an
exhaustive site with data pretty much a wide range of tricks presently known to
work in Australia. It likewise has some straightforward tips on the most
proficient method to secure yourself.
eBay sold some unbelievable expensive items. We live in a digital world where everything imaginable is available at the click of a button. You don’t even have to leave your house or change out of your pajamas to get everything you need and probably a lot you don’t. Companies like Wish, eBay, Amazon and almost every brick and mortar store have a website where you can order products. Some even go as far as to host “exclusive web deals” that you won’t find in stores. We’re looking at you Urban Outfitters. For better and for worse, online shopping has changed our lives. A lot of stores can no longer compete and have closed down. While a lot of them have moved to online only, some like PayLess have completely closed for good. “We can’t compete with the online retail market. People don’t want to come to a physical store anymore and can you blame them? You can order anything you want from your house,” some of the companies have said.
With that in mind, online shopping saw a huge influx back in 1995 when global auction site giant eBay entered the game. Since its induction, more than 3 billion items have been sold worldwide through their site. It still remains one of the most popular sites to buy and sell things online. While a lot of people use the website for mundane purchases such as clothing, baby items, etc. there are some very interesting things that have been listed. EBay has definitely seen its share of the weird things including bottled mountain air, celebrity napkins, rare artifacts, cars, and even the meaning of life have been posted for sale. While none of this comes as a surprise since most of it probably sits unsold, there is a long and ever growing list of extraordinarily expensive items that have been listed… And sold.
Let’s take a look at the 10 most expensive items that have
ever graced eBay’s website and been sold:
10. Zagami Martian Meteorite- $450,000
We’re starting the list off at nearly half a grand. And with
that kind of price tag you’d expect something that looks a little more
interesting, right? Given the title and the origin, we expected the Zagami
Martian Meteorite to look a little more otherworldly and neat. However, it
looks just like a rock to us… A very expensive rock. But we’re fairly certain
that if somebody presented us something like this, we’d assume it was just an
average rock dug up out of their backyard. And now we’re wondering how many
goldmines we’ve passed up.
But what exactly is this rock and what makes it so special?
Well, it’s actually a piece of Mars. It was knocked free by an asteroid and
somehow found its way to Earth. There are 60,000 plus different meteorite
pieces, but of that number only 135 come from Mars. Thus, the high price tag.
9. 2016 Lamborghini Aventador- $659,800
The idea of purchasing a luxury sports car online,
especially one that boasts this sizeable price tag, seems kind of iffy.
Personally speaking, before we shelled out that kind of cash on a vehicle (or
anything) we’d want to see it in person. However for the person who now owns
this Lambo, he/she went in relatively blind aside from the pictures, clicked
buy, and hoped for the best. Luckily, they got exactly what they purchased. And
good for them! Because we’ve heard horror stories of people buying expensive
cars on eBay and receiving toy vehicles and Hot Wheels instead.
While cars are often sold on eBay, most aren’t a Lamborghini
Aventador. And also according to the website, this is currently the most
expensive car ever sold on their website. We’re definitely sure that the record
will be beat at some point, but for now this buyer is the proud owner of a luxe
sports car and an eBay record.
8. Vintage Sun Maid Raisin Box- $700,000
Chances are you’re familiar with this tasty packaged snack.
You’re probably familiar with the price of them too at your local grocery
store. Personally speaking, we pick these up in my household as a cheap and
easy to transport snack. That’s why whenever we were putting this list
together, we had to stop for a moment and triple check our sources. After all
the raisin boxes are under $5 for several, but someone actually paid $700,000
for a box of raisins??
While many vintage items come with a sizeable price tag
attached, this one blows our minds. The vintage Sun Maid raisins box from the
1950s shocked both eBay and people worldwide when it sold for such a hefty
amount. While the price of some antiques make sense, this one definitely takes
us by surprise. Hopefully the box was at least empty! We don’t want to think
about what raisins look like after nearly 60 years of sitting in a box.
7. Navy F/A-18A Hornet- $1,075,000
Here’s another mind blowing price and item: a Navy plane,
specifically the F/A-18A Hornet. We’ve got so many questions regarding this
purchase, but the two we really want the answers to are:
1. How did the seller get this plane in the beginning? Did
they retire from the Air Force and were gifted the plane? Did the government
sell them the plane and they want to resell it? How did they get their hands on
this? Far as we knew the government keeps these kinds of things.
2. What is the buyer going to use it for? Is it legal to
own? Where are they going to keep it stored? Can they fly it? Is it legal to
fly?
The questions are never endless regarding this purchase.
Please send help!
6. Honus Wagner Baseball Card- $1,200,000
Pretty shocking that a baseball card can sell for more than
a plane, but here we are. It’s no secret that baseball cards can have some
serious value, but the fortune attached to this one is pretty staggering. It’s
surprising too given the fact that Honus Wagner is arguably not one of the more
popular baseball players. However, his cards hold the record for being the most
expensive cards in history.
Also, this isn’t even the most expensive Honus Wagner card
sold; the most expensive one sold for over $3 million. We’ll consider that a
definite home run for this baseball player value wise.
5. Titan 1 Nuclear Missile Base- $1,500,000
So while this one hasn’t sold just yet, there have been some
bids and some buyers that have backed out last minute. So if you’re looking for
a pretty slick military base to live out the rest of your life should the
apocalypse hit, then head over to eBay and snag this one before someone else
does! Seriously, this has Doomsday Prepper written all over it.
So what do you get for $1,500,000? You’ll get a 57-acre retired
air force base. The base features 16 underground structures all ready for you
to move you and your family and friends in. You’ll also get access to equipment
buildings, control spaces, and even missile silos. However, you might be
disappointed to learn that the purchase doesn’t come with any nuclear missiles.
Sorry!
4. Vintage Metal Lunchbox Collection- $1,700,000
You might be asking yourself what could possible be more
expensive than an entire military base and you might be surprised to learn that
it’s a vintage metal lunchbox collection. Yes, that’s right. A collection of
metal lunchboxes sold for more than an entire military base and more than an ex
Navy airplane.
Once again, antiques and vintage items often come with a
high price tag, but we’re blown away with how much this collection of metal
lunchboxes sold for. According to eBay, the collection featured a wide variety
of characters from both comic books and television shows that have aired over
the years. The collection was in pristine condition and featured notable
characters like the A-Team, Superman, Underdog, and of course Scooby Doo. You
have to either really love lunchboxes or vintage items to shell out that kind
of money though! But who are we to judge? We’re sure that you’ll be the envy of
your office at lunch.
3. Albert Einstein’s Letter to God- $3,000,000
Albert Einstein is a household name and it’s no surprise
that something relevant to him would sell for so much. What’s unusual though is
the item itself. On January 3, 1954 the German scientist wrote a letter to God
that would later become incredibly famous (and valuable). It was address to the
Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt author
Eric Gutkind who featured it in his book.
How it ended up in someone’s hands and on eBay is anyone’s
guess; it’s hard to imagine this kind of valuable item floating around
someone’s attic like an old quilt or photo album. However, for whatever reason
it ended up on the global bidding giant and now someone is the proud owner of a
handwritten Einstein letter.
2. Action Comics #1- $3,200,000
It’s hard to imagine something being more valuable than a
hand written letter from Albert Einstein, but apparently the first issue of
Action Comics is worth more. Not by much considering the already staggering
price (there’s a $200,000 difference), but nonetheless it was valued higher
than the letter.
It should also come as no surprise that the first issue of
Action Comics, which was in pristine condition, sold for so much. Comics tend
to accrue a lot of value over the years; especially if they’re well cared for.
While this comic won’t take the cake as the most expensive one ever sold, it’s
still a staggering amount. In 1938, a comic was printed that featured Superman
for the first time ever and so far it’s the most expensive comic book that has
ever been sold.
1. Crypt above Marilyn Monroe- $4,600,000
Okay, so this one shocked us and yes you’re reading that
correctly: the most expensive item ever sold on eBay was a crypt slot above
famed Marilyn Monroe. Elsie and Richard Poncher owned the slot. The pair were
well off; even making cars for infamous Al Capone. Because of their lifestyle
they often rubbed shoulders with celebs and one of those that they brushed
against was Dimaggio, Monroe’s ex. They decided then that they would purchase
the crypt slot above Marilyn Monroe.
What persuaded them to purchase it is up for debate, but
once Richard Poncher became sick, he told Elsie that if she didn’t bury him
face down above Marilyn Monroe, he would haunt her for the rest of her life. It
was a very strange request but when Richard passed, Elsie fulfilled her late
husband’s wish and he was placed upside down in the crypt slot.
So if someone is currently occupying it, why did it go up
for sale? Well according to Elsie Poncher, she decided to put her late husband’s
slot up for sale because of money problems. Specifically, she was trying to pay
off the mortgage of their home in Beverly Hills. However, there’s a something
out there for everyone and the crypt slot was scooped up by a buyer for a
staggering $4.6 million. How they’ll divvy up the slot is up in the air and
while we’re curious, we’re not sure that we want to know that badly.
What are your thoughts?
We’d like to know what you think of the items on this list. Were you shocked by what people bought and the prices? Which one shocked you the most? We also want to know what you think about the values placed on these items. Do you feel that a crypt slot should be worth more than an Albert Einstein letter or do you feel like a military base is the most valuable? Let us know in the comment section below and share with your eBay addicted friends!
