It is indeed a strange world in which we live, never before has the saying the haves and the haves not do not run in the same packs. For some this is the time of year for us sports fans that we get to see our teams on a weekly basis. Wether its October and the smell of hotdogs and peanuts from Major League Baseball, or the open air of nachos and fresh green grass from the NFL and NCAA College games, the cold breeze gives you that level of comfort. There are those that gather around the tube or tailgate at the actual stadiums, never mind what goes on in the economy you can bet that those seats are filled, and those tv sets are burnin' red hot.
But let's suppose for a moment, you are the ones in those stadiums selling food, drinks and other various goods. It's not gonna make you rich but hey its a job right. I mean you get to be closer than the average fan to some of the most sought after atheletes in the world. Everyday perhaps you hear them yelling how much they love this game and how much they appreciate the fans for coming, or is that just making you laugh too? Nevertheless you do hear about them signing those million dollar contracts and how the team just needs more of their share of the revenues and the "we gotta have a new stadium" bought by the tax payers...you hear that too don't you?
If you hear that, then surely you have heard that the NBA is cutting about 80,000 jobs due to economic costs...SLAM DUNK!! Just whom do you suppose is in that unemployment line, yeah not the ones in the box seats. It is the everyday Joe who depends on the meger salary that we all depend on. How can in this economic struggle can they layoff these workers and yet still give someone milllions to say "I love this game" in an NBA tv ad? I know they too have a budget and families to take care of, but I'd say their budget is a little larger than those who push beer and nuts. How about setting aside some of that revenue from the players and other various parts of the game that provides so much and for the little guy so little. You never heard of a major owner or player standing around wondering how to make that dollar work when they went on strike, but if no one is in the stadiums then how do you suppose the vendors supplement their income, rest assured it's not from another shoe ad.
I love the games and I don't harbor any ill will towards a person able to make it to the pennicle of his chosen field, or sport. I just take homage to those begging for more of the pie when they already own the oven. Congress is trying to bail the country out and yet the sports world is only helping fill the unemployment lines. So go to the games and enjoy ourselves, yell, scream and take in the greatest venues possible. But be nice to the vendor, he might also be the one bagging your groceries next week and putting the ice and two liters on top of your bread and eggs...I did a lot of bread squeezing when I was a bag boy in High School...man that brought a smile to my face, and I bet to those surprised faces once they got home to more than spilled milk.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
lessons for your retail experience
Today I take issue with sales gimmicks and the people who shop retail. We the consumer are as told through any retail training video, always right. I kindly believe that if you desire a certain outcome from a retailer then you should approach that said person or place with respect and give them the opportunity to please you the consumer accordingly. It is only after said response is insuffcient or deemed non helpful, should you behave in a manner unbecomeing, depending on the environment and those surrounding you. I firmly believe that when you have an issue and approach the retailer in a quite hushed tone way, meaning not loud enough for all around to hear you. That you by doing such have given that retailer the chance to make right on any situation that may or may not affect his future dealings with other disgruntled consumers. It allows them to possibly give you something in return that otherwise the next guy may not recieve, even if that is just retail talk. I myself have been in many facets of retail as well as managerial levels for twenty years. Throughout these long years I have had the priviledge to have dealt with happy and the not so happy situations that come from the retail business. I pride myself on knowing what they truley want and the fact that mostly the consumer wants to be treated fairly. He or she wants to be given the respect that they and their hard earned money is giving you by purchaseing from your place of business. Remember that they did not have to come into your doors, there are always other places willing and able to provide such services, and maybe even better. It is here that you have the chance to make an otherwise one time customer a long time customer.
And now for Ten little lessons in manners when entering and handling oneself once you realize the outcome isn't going to be beneficial to you the consumer:
1. Do not approach the first person you see and go off on he or she, it will only complicate and further upset you when you have to then tell it to the next person whom may be in charge.
2. Do not lie and say this happens everytime, if it did then why have you come back to the same place over and over again and recieved yet again the same outcome?
3. Listen to what is being said so you then can hear what is not being said, if you are getting screwed this is where it's gonna happen...you didn't pay attention.
4. It is the retailers job to make all outcomes conclude with you having said and felt as though what has been resolved is to the best ability done on both parties.
5. If you haven't the time to allow for a check and balance of what is and what isn't, then come back when you do!
6. Acting like a two year old isn't going to get you anywhere, but if the retailer is giving you that child like vibe then clearly he isn't in charge and if he is then he won't be for long.
7. If they tell you the manager isn't here then get all information needed and by all means come back, you cannot change an outcome if you aren't ready to persever.
8. Remember what brought you into this particular location, don't be afraid to just get your money back and go someplace else more deserving of you and your dollars, it may not be the "big hurt" you wanted them to feel, but you might not be the only one doing such.
9. This one is very important, DO NOT CURSE and DO NOT forget that there are probably children watching and listening to this exchange, quite possibly YOUR OWN!!
10. And finally, each situation is unique and should be treated as such. It doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong. When you leave and they go to the next customer will they even remember what your name was. I remember most of all the faces if not most of the names of the people I have dealt with. You will see them if not in the store but out and about town. Why do you think they have a stock room in back, 'cause the next sale is but around the corner.
Now for the gimmicks car dealers give to help or make the final sale. Kia Autosport has been determined to tell you on TV and on the phone "free tires for life." with the purchase of a new vehicle. Well what they do not tell you is that it is determined by them if you have met all service requirements to get them. If you have taken your vehicle to any other place for, say an oil change or whatever then you have successfully voided their "tires for life" And when you have met their demands like I have, you have to then wait for the owner to decide if you get this new said tire replacement. Oh they can tell you without managerial approval you don't qualify, but if you do then that decision cannot be made without said approval. It has been a week since they called and said " the manger is out of town." Now I am giving them the chance to make right on our "agreement" but should they not take this opportunity to adhere to this agreement then I'll try and remember the first part of rule number nine and follow rule number seven. Oh what the hell if that won't work then I'll do rules three to one and in that order...but I digress. I'll let you know later how rules eight and four are working out at a later date.
And now for Ten little lessons in manners when entering and handling oneself once you realize the outcome isn't going to be beneficial to you the consumer:
1. Do not approach the first person you see and go off on he or she, it will only complicate and further upset you when you have to then tell it to the next person whom may be in charge.
2. Do not lie and say this happens everytime, if it did then why have you come back to the same place over and over again and recieved yet again the same outcome?
3. Listen to what is being said so you then can hear what is not being said, if you are getting screwed this is where it's gonna happen...you didn't pay attention.
4. It is the retailers job to make all outcomes conclude with you having said and felt as though what has been resolved is to the best ability done on both parties.
5. If you haven't the time to allow for a check and balance of what is and what isn't, then come back when you do!
6. Acting like a two year old isn't going to get you anywhere, but if the retailer is giving you that child like vibe then clearly he isn't in charge and if he is then he won't be for long.
7. If they tell you the manager isn't here then get all information needed and by all means come back, you cannot change an outcome if you aren't ready to persever.
8. Remember what brought you into this particular location, don't be afraid to just get your money back and go someplace else more deserving of you and your dollars, it may not be the "big hurt" you wanted them to feel, but you might not be the only one doing such.
9. This one is very important, DO NOT CURSE and DO NOT forget that there are probably children watching and listening to this exchange, quite possibly YOUR OWN!!
10. And finally, each situation is unique and should be treated as such. It doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong. When you leave and they go to the next customer will they even remember what your name was. I remember most of all the faces if not most of the names of the people I have dealt with. You will see them if not in the store but out and about town. Why do you think they have a stock room in back, 'cause the next sale is but around the corner.
Now for the gimmicks car dealers give to help or make the final sale. Kia Autosport has been determined to tell you on TV and on the phone "free tires for life." with the purchase of a new vehicle. Well what they do not tell you is that it is determined by them if you have met all service requirements to get them. If you have taken your vehicle to any other place for, say an oil change or whatever then you have successfully voided their "tires for life" And when you have met their demands like I have, you have to then wait for the owner to decide if you get this new said tire replacement. Oh they can tell you without managerial approval you don't qualify, but if you do then that decision cannot be made without said approval. It has been a week since they called and said " the manger is out of town." Now I am giving them the chance to make right on our "agreement" but should they not take this opportunity to adhere to this agreement then I'll try and remember the first part of rule number nine and follow rule number seven. Oh what the hell if that won't work then I'll do rules three to one and in that order...but I digress. I'll let you know later how rules eight and four are working out at a later date.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
HELP!!.. need loan for Vacation
This little information came my way after the Federal Bailout was given to some Banking and Insurance Groups. In particular this concerns the American International Group Inc. otherwise know as AIG. For those you who don't know what they are and who they are, they are the main U.S. life insurance subsidiary. It was made know that if they were to go under that it would have a global effect on individuals as well as various major corperations. On September 16 the Federal Reserve put up $85 BILLION DOLLARS of OUR TAX DOLLARS to RESCUE AIG.
Days after it got a Federal Bailout, AIG spent $440,000 on a posh California retreat for its executives, complete with spa treatments, banquets and golf outings, according to lawmakers investigating the company's meltdown. AIG sent its executives to the coastal St. Regis resort south of Los Angeles, California, even as the company tapped into an $85 BILLION loan from the government it needed to stave off bankruptcy. The resort tab included $23,380 worth of spa treatments for AIG employees, according to invoices the resort turned over to the House oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Now folkes let us one and all call up our creditors and tell them too I cannot pay you anything and I need to borrow more money and then I'm going on vacation with your gift. I'll bet you $85 BILLION that you would then have all of your homes, cars and bank accounts seized in the vary same breath. It just goes to show that if you are of the average american who is struggling and cannot get the banks and creditors to extend you , not quite $85 BILLION, but some type of repreive, you should then take your vacation anyway 'cause they will always bail out stupidity.
Days after it got a Federal Bailout, AIG spent $440,000 on a posh California retreat for its executives, complete with spa treatments, banquets and golf outings, according to lawmakers investigating the company's meltdown. AIG sent its executives to the coastal St. Regis resort south of Los Angeles, California, even as the company tapped into an $85 BILLION loan from the government it needed to stave off bankruptcy. The resort tab included $23,380 worth of spa treatments for AIG employees, according to invoices the resort turned over to the House oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Now folkes let us one and all call up our creditors and tell them too I cannot pay you anything and I need to borrow more money and then I'm going on vacation with your gift. I'll bet you $85 BILLION that you would then have all of your homes, cars and bank accounts seized in the vary same breath. It just goes to show that if you are of the average american who is struggling and cannot get the banks and creditors to extend you , not quite $85 BILLION, but some type of repreive, you should then take your vacation anyway 'cause they will always bail out stupidity.
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