Yesterday I called a company that I have been dealing with for over a month. I called nice and early (as per their recommendation) and asked for Mr. XX (I can't mention his name or the company's name because I get in trouble for pointing out the truth. See previous postings). So after giving him all my information the customer service rep said "sure, I transfer you now" and hung up on me! Mistakes happen... So I called back.
This time the person answering said Mr. XX had just walked in and was not "on the system" and could I call back in a few minutes. No problem I can wait a few. So I called back around fifteen minutes later. This time another rep said he just walked away from his desk and could I call back later. I was starting to get annoyed.
I waited a few more minutes and call back yet again! This time a different customer service rep said he was not due in until 11am. Now I was pissed. Who was lying to me? All of them. So I called back about 5 more times in a row and speaking to a different person each time I asked if Mr. XX could return my call. Mind you each call I had to give all my information including name, address, account number, reference number, etc.
Finally after lunch I got my return call which I missed so I called back and gave them all the info yet again. This time Mr. XX was there! The conversation was short and not necessary sweet. "Good morning Mr. Jarosz, there is no change in the status of your issue. So can you call back Friday?" AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
To check up on the status of an issue companies can set up their website to keep track of such things. We all have used websites to check delivery status of packages we have sent. You can check on the status of deposits into you checking account and status of charges on your credit cards. These companies have used the internet for what it was intended for. The company I was dealing with could have made it easy to find out the status of my issue. They could have tagged it with my complaint reference number.
Currently I am working with a client on the possibility of using Google Docs to keep them up to date on the status of their projects. This is but one of the FREE Google Tools available. Lone Keep Internet will be hosting a "FREE Seminar on the use of FREE Google Tools" tomorrow in Bradley Beach, New Jersey. For more information on our FREE seminars check out our website www.lonekeep.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
What ever happened to Identity Protection?
I just got home from my bank and I feel violated! I needed additional checks for my personal account and submitted the form that comes with the last bunch of checks to order some new ones. She asked me for my driver's licence! When I asked why she needed it since this had nothing to do with my driving. She stated that the bank's computer needed my licence number?!!?!? Talk about getting the wrong information out! I could not see the connection. Banking --- Driving... They know who I am, I've been with them for over 10 years. I will tell you, I never saw this teller before now she have my Personal Information... Not exactly making me feel warm and fuzzy!
You see all the stuff about people finding out about you on the Internet... Well I never gave anyone my Driver's License number on the Internet. What protection do I have that this teller will not use or pass on that information to someone else.... NONE! I believe we give away more information to trusted(?) sources than we think. In the bigger scheme of things why does your bank need that info. To prove you are you? What about the fact that I've been banking with them for 10 years? Or does that not count! I could have given her a false license and how would she know? Instead I was honest and now a stranger has my personal information.
So getting the wrong information out seems some much easier these days. What are business owners doing to get the right information out? Are we sticking out our hand and introducing yourself to the person you are standing next to? Are you wearing your own logo? Are you reaching out to others that you can help? Probably not... but we are giving away our personal information....
Who out there is paying for Identity Protection? I would like to hear your point of view.
You see all the stuff about people finding out about you on the Internet... Well I never gave anyone my Driver's License number on the Internet. What protection do I have that this teller will not use or pass on that information to someone else.... NONE! I believe we give away more information to trusted(?) sources than we think. In the bigger scheme of things why does your bank need that info. To prove you are you? What about the fact that I've been banking with them for 10 years? Or does that not count! I could have given her a false license and how would she know? Instead I was honest and now a stranger has my personal information.
So getting the wrong information out seems some much easier these days. What are business owners doing to get the right information out? Are we sticking out our hand and introducing yourself to the person you are standing next to? Are you wearing your own logo? Are you reaching out to others that you can help? Probably not... but we are giving away our personal information....
Who out there is paying for Identity Protection? I would like to hear your point of view.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I have to lose weigth before I can start exercising!?
We all have heard that excuse from friends and family. I get this all the time when I invite them to A. Kastner's Family Tae Kwon Do to just try it out. Yesterday I heard "I'll join BNI once I grow my network????!" Do people listen to themselves? Or are they just making excuses?
Either way it adds nothing to their creditability. Maybe they think they are being polite? But in today's world this smacks of Political Correctness. Which is evil from the start. People need to say what they mean and mean what they say! Sorry for sounding like a political commerical on this Primary Day but it's the truth.
If you can not trust people when they speak about simple things, how do they expect to be trusted with larger things like my money, my clients or the schedules they give me?
Get out and vote today and remember to mean what you say!
Either way it adds nothing to their creditability. Maybe they think they are being polite? But in today's world this smacks of Political Correctness. Which is evil from the start. People need to say what they mean and mean what they say! Sorry for sounding like a political commerical on this Primary Day but it's the truth.
If you can not trust people when they speak about simple things, how do they expect to be trusted with larger things like my money, my clients or the schedules they give me?
Get out and vote today and remember to mean what you say!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Next installment of "What on your Shelf?"
This was to be a fun project... But alas, it has turned into work! Depressing, time consuming and basically a downer. Forget the businesses that are no longer around that is a given and a numbers game. But the ones that are still around I have to wonder how?
All the still existing businesses should take a look at my Recommended Reading List for a little inspiration. Maybe they can find some words of wisdom in these books. Most business owners have a copy or two, on their shelves, but have never cracked one open...
The latest round of calls from the business card box actually resulted in some call backs. After leaving a "detailed" message as requested I get a call asking "Who am I speaking with?" First off I believe it is "whom" Any English majors wish to comment? Secondly I left a detailed message explaining who I was and why I was calling! But they never checked their messages, they just hit dial last call. Why have voicemail in the first place and why don't they use it? Again this does nothing to add to their credibility as a business owner. Yes, people do make judgments bases on things like this. I do! I ask myself, is this the way they'll treat me or my clients in the future? Do I want to share clients with this person? Some interesting questions.
Good thing we have on our "Tea" and Seminar schedule "How to use the phone to promote your Website (business)." This will be Thursday July 22nd at the offices of Lone Keep Internet in Bradley Beach, NJ.
Have you read any good business books lately? If so, which ones?
All the still existing businesses should take a look at my Recommended Reading List for a little inspiration. Maybe they can find some words of wisdom in these books. Most business owners have a copy or two, on their shelves, but have never cracked one open...
The latest round of calls from the business card box actually resulted in some call backs. After leaving a "detailed" message as requested I get a call asking "Who am I speaking with?" First off I believe it is "whom" Any English majors wish to comment? Secondly I left a detailed message explaining who I was and why I was calling! But they never checked their messages, they just hit dial last call. Why have voicemail in the first place and why don't they use it? Again this does nothing to add to their credibility as a business owner. Yes, people do make judgments bases on things like this. I do! I ask myself, is this the way they'll treat me or my clients in the future? Do I want to share clients with this person? Some interesting questions.
Good thing we have on our "Tea" and Seminar schedule "How to use the phone to promote your Website (business)." This will be Thursday July 22nd at the offices of Lone Keep Internet in Bradley Beach, NJ.
Have you read any good business books lately? If so, which ones?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Getting the Right Word Out!
I was at a client’s shop this morning when I got a bad feeling of déjà vu!
The story starts, about a year ago, at what used to be my favorite Hobby Store. It was great going there, getting away from the day’s issues to play a few games and talk to my buddies including the owner. Then things changed! Ever time you walked into the store the owner would start to complain. Little things at first. Orders were being shipped to him late. Vendors started to raise their prices. In all still a great place to get away….
Somehow the bitching started. Taxes were too high! No one could afford to live in New Jersey. It started to get depressing listen to him but “the guys” were still great to talk to. So it was still a good place to go….
Then the real bitching began! Customers started bitching that all the owner did was bitch, so some of them stopped coming. This caused the owner to bitch about losing customers and blaming everything and everybody but himself. This caused more of his customer to go elsewhere which caused him to bitch even more and louder!
It got so bad that one time I stopped in on my way to the bank to grab a quick snack (one of the cool things about the Hobby Store) and the owner was speaking with good buddy of his. He was bitching about the states of affairs in New Jersey politics when another customer can up with an arm full of models and paints and placed them on the counter with a credit card on top. Instead of helping the customer who was trying to pay, he keep up the bitching with his buddy…. And the paying customer? Well he got tired of waiting to spend his money so he picked up his credit card and walked out the store. You guessed it! This caused the owner to get even louder in his complaining that he hates it when people to that to him… Go figure?! Well I have seen that happen to him twice. After the second time of listening to him bitch about it I stopped going to his store and now go to a Game Store 20 minutes further south to spend my money!!!!
Now the déjà vu part.
I was sitting in a little coffee shop this morning when that owner mentioned that he was under staffed and there was a large party outside. I suggested that he could serve me after everyone else as I was not in a hurry. As more customers came in his casual mentioning turned into complaining….
When those customers left he was in the back preparing an order when another lady walked in. She had her money out, for her cup of coffee, but no one was helping her. She waited a minute and even before I could mention to her that the owner was in the back she picked up her money and went down the street to the next coffee shop! Déjà vu all over.
Now what do you thing this lady mentioned to her friends later in the day? What great service she got? It was a pleasure doing business with that coffee shop?
Remember people talk!!! Make sure you get the right word out!
The story starts, about a year ago, at what used to be my favorite Hobby Store. It was great going there, getting away from the day’s issues to play a few games and talk to my buddies including the owner. Then things changed! Ever time you walked into the store the owner would start to complain. Little things at first. Orders were being shipped to him late. Vendors started to raise their prices. In all still a great place to get away….
Somehow the bitching started. Taxes were too high! No one could afford to live in New Jersey. It started to get depressing listen to him but “the guys” were still great to talk to. So it was still a good place to go….
Then the real bitching began! Customers started bitching that all the owner did was bitch, so some of them stopped coming. This caused the owner to bitch about losing customers and blaming everything and everybody but himself. This caused more of his customer to go elsewhere which caused him to bitch even more and louder!
It got so bad that one time I stopped in on my way to the bank to grab a quick snack (one of the cool things about the Hobby Store) and the owner was speaking with good buddy of his. He was bitching about the states of affairs in New Jersey politics when another customer can up with an arm full of models and paints and placed them on the counter with a credit card on top. Instead of helping the customer who was trying to pay, he keep up the bitching with his buddy…. And the paying customer? Well he got tired of waiting to spend his money so he picked up his credit card and walked out the store. You guessed it! This caused the owner to get even louder in his complaining that he hates it when people to that to him… Go figure?! Well I have seen that happen to him twice. After the second time of listening to him bitch about it I stopped going to his store and now go to a Game Store 20 minutes further south to spend my money!!!!
Now the déjà vu part.
I was sitting in a little coffee shop this morning when that owner mentioned that he was under staffed and there was a large party outside. I suggested that he could serve me after everyone else as I was not in a hurry. As more customers came in his casual mentioning turned into complaining….
When those customers left he was in the back preparing an order when another lady walked in. She had her money out, for her cup of coffee, but no one was helping her. She waited a minute and even before I could mention to her that the owner was in the back she picked up her money and went down the street to the next coffee shop! Déjà vu all over.
Now what do you thing this lady mentioned to her friends later in the day? What great service she got? It was a pleasure doing business with that coffee shop?
Remember people talk!!! Make sure you get the right word out!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Why are business owners afraid of letting others know they are in business?
I've been keeping track of some of the excuses I get why people don't share! I mean share with others about their businesses or organizations. What are they afraid of? One client told me she does not mention, in conversation, anything about her business because she's afraid they might take her clients!? How does she expect to get new clients. Others hold an event and when the attendance is low they complain. Another excuse is that advertising is expensive. So don't advertise, promote your event.
Just got a message from a long lost friend on Facebook saying she does not what to go crazy letting people know she's out there.... Barb you only have one friend so far and that is me. Go crazy add another!
The Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin (JSCIB) is still one of the best FREE means of getting the word out about you business and or event out there. It reaches over 10,000 subscribes on the Jersey Shore. Few businesses and groups take advantage of letting the readers know what events they are running, or what is new on their website, or what events they are attending or speaking at!!! What are they afraid of???
A BNI group's meeting, I attended last week, acted like their visitor's day was a secret! They had lofty goals but they basically sabotaged the event until I started asking questions. Since then one of the members has started to place the event on several Social Media sites. Hope it works out for them.
Promotion of you business/event does not have to be an ordeal. Just a little common sense and some time well spent.
Post you excuse why you don't promote your business. I'd like to hear some more great excuses....
Just got a message from a long lost friend on Facebook saying she does not what to go crazy letting people know she's out there.... Barb you only have one friend so far and that is me. Go crazy add another!
The Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin (JSCIB) is still one of the best FREE means of getting the word out about you business and or event out there. It reaches over 10,000 subscribes on the Jersey Shore. Few businesses and groups take advantage of letting the readers know what events they are running, or what is new on their website, or what events they are attending or speaking at!!! What are they afraid of???
A BNI group's meeting, I attended last week, acted like their visitor's day was a secret! They had lofty goals but they basically sabotaged the event until I started asking questions. Since then one of the members has started to place the event on several Social Media sites. Hope it works out for them.
Promotion of you business/event does not have to be an ordeal. Just a little common sense and some time well spent.
Post you excuse why you don't promote your business. I'd like to hear some more great excuses....
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tourism to help get the word out
He asked the question “Are you part of the Jersey Shore Tourism industry?” Most like myself answered “No” but we soon found out how wrong we were. He went on to explain that tourism is a unique industry that permeates many industries not typically associated with travel. The internationally accepted model for analyzing tourism’s economic impact splits the industry into two sectors:
- Core Tourism: Industries that “touch” the visitor and benefit directly from their spending (e.g. hotels, restaurants, museums etc.)
- Non-Core Tourism: Industries that supply those that touch the visitors (Website developers, PR and Ad companies, linen/food suppliers, janitorial services, construction, lawyers to name a few)
He enlightened us with these facts:
What do Visitors mean to the
- Each visitor brings in about $548 in expenditures
- $0.72 of each dollar spent by visitors in kept within
- Every 160 visitors create a new NJ job
- Each visitor creates about $109 in tax receipts, $64 of which goes to the state and local authorities
- Every 204 visitors pay for one
What an eye opener! Never thought about Lone Keep Internet as being in the Tourism business but I guess it is. Needless to say we became a Marketing Partner. For more information visit their website www.visitthejerseyshore.com
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