Why do people leave & leave their business hanging?

I know I blogged on a similar subject few days ago about people who take off for the holidays and come back weeks later and wonder why they have no work while they didn't respond to emails or calls during the holidays.

This is similar gripe but a bit different.

Ever do business with someone and get product that was "inferior" at best and actually "shoddy, trashy, half assed, not complete, unusable" would describe it more appropriately?

What happened when you tried to get in touch with that business?
Were they available or did you email them to no avail for days and days?

Do people not realize that a large portion of business is generated from word of mouth.

Those words can be "praise" or they can be "poison" to where the only thing that will be remembered about the company is how badly they mangled an order or neglected to respond to a problem!

How long did you wait before giving up?
Were you at least smart and file a charge back or a claim with Paypal and make all attempts to recoup your losses?

Or did you just not bother because you didn't want to be "mean" to the person or the business. Though it's far from mean when you paid for a service or product and clearly got something that you can't use. You made all attempts to get in touch with the business and still no reply. That's not "mean" that's life, and in life one should be responsible for providing a service and/or product professionally and according to terms and efficiently.

Funny, in this day and age with all the technology you'd think that if a person has a website, they'd know to either:
1) set emails to auto-respond so people would at least know that they're not doing business and when to expect them back in the working class.
2) post on their site that they're taking off.

But yet so many don't do anything.

They simply go out of town, hit the road, take time off and leave their business hanging with people wondering if and when the business will return or respond to their complaints or requests.

Why don't they grasp the concept of doing business in a responsible professional manner?

I guess perhaps they may reconsider their ways when they return from their "outtings" to find PayPal claims against them, emails demanding refunds, lack of customers who actually waited for the X-amount of time for them to come back and respond and have since moved on to other companies who actually WORK.

Not to mention the countless people that an unsatisfied customer has been in contact with and spread the word about shoddy unprofessional service all the while the business owner is living care free doing whatever it is they're doing, totally unaware of how to conduct business and the chain of events that will ensue.

tsk tsk

What reeks?

oh that's you, I'm sorry.
You know who you are...the one who bathes in cheap perfume rather than soap and water.
What is it with people who bathe in perfume or cologne?
Do they not shower or wash and are trying to cover up with some cheap funky perfume that induces migraines in anyone within a mile radius of them or what?

It's bad enough when you're trying to get through a store at the mall and well we know in all the major department stores in order to get to the main section of the mall you literally have to go through their smelly department.
And have pity on the poor sole who is dumb enough to try to spray me with their deadly chemical funk.

But one would think that in their own home they could be free of the reeking aroma of cheap perfume.

Not the case when you live above two women (if you can call them that) that literally must bathe in cheap perfume. Right now it's semi decent weather here in South Florida, so we can actually open the doors and windows, get some clean fresh air (or one would hope so anyhow). Only problem is, when I open my patio door all I get is the migraine induced by an array of cheap chemical funk permiating from below me.

It's bad enough they party loudly and make noise all day and night long to where I have to hear them but now to have to SMELL them as well... egads!

There should be an odor ordinance like there is a noise ordinance. And someone lock up these two below me, or give them a lesson in general hygiene...soap and water works much better and less annoying than cheap funky reek that attacks people one floor above inside their own unit!

whew, what a relief that I'll be able to breath fresh air in a few weeks and be gone from this smellfest here.

Perhaps I shall take a bar of soap downstairs for a Christmas gift?

How the holidays affect your business

Yes, tis the season
We have a multitude of holidays from November through New Year's.
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Zawanza or any other holiday from Thanksgiving until New Year's is a busy time of the year.

If you own your own business you know this can also be the busiest time of the year for you and yet some of you also dread the month of January because it can be the slowest month of the year for you.

It doesn't have to be that way. The manner in which you conduct business in November and December can have a huge effect on how your January goes.

It's sad, but this week I've noticed online that most forums and networks are well...
like a ghost town. Nobody is posting, nobody is networking, nobody is marketing.
WHY?
Oh, because they're busy shopping, baking, gift wrapping.

They don't reply to email inquiries that could generate them sales. I know this first hand, as I've tried to contact numerous people the past week to inquire about services and products and yet not one of them has responded to me. That's not smart business sense because while they may be 'waiting until after the holidays' to work, I'm NOT. I want answers and product and suppliers information now, not later.
If I don't hear from someone, that's their loss...not mine.
I move on and find another company or person to do business with...one that is professional and reliable as well as efficient in communication. Not one who's too busy and can't handle their personal life and their business life.

Does that sound harsh?
perhaps, but how is it myself and a few others I know (like Laurie Ayers for one at http://www.LaurieAyers.com and Scentsy and PrincessFudge.com ) can manage home, kids, holidays and our businesses. And, to top it off we're single and yet manage to get it all done and service our clients efficiently. Even on Christmas Eve day!?!

There are few other "regulars" who still post and network as well but where's everyone else??

Jill McAllister of JillsArtWork.com and TheBowWowBarkery.com is still juggling not only her business, but her husbands and her kids along with holiday preparations.

Shelly Hill of Tupperware and of Classybusinesswomen.com is still busy at home and working her business.

Chris Carroll of DirectSalesTalk.com and Mia Bella is still handling business and holidays

as is Audrey of Tupperware as well

these are just a few of the ones who are still working on marketing and networking during the holidays...

where's everyone else??
The same people who I've contacted and haven't heard from, I can assure you WILL email me AFTER the holidays and by then it'll be too late. They will have lost the sale and future business.

If they had simply answered an email or a phone call, they could've salvaged their business. These will be the same people who sit online in January wondering why they have no business. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that they didn't work their business during the holidays!?

I'm not saying don't take time off to enjoy the holiday, family and friends but in doing so you can still work your business...
if it really is a business and not just a hobby.

food for thought for next year as it's already too late for them this year. While January can be slow for them, the ones who did it all during the holidays will go on with business as usual and have no worries about where their next client came from or what their income will be during January.

Now, that's the way to start the New Year off...making money
and NOT having it be the slowest month of the year.

PT help for pet waste removal service

PT work for someone to basically scoop up dog poop with our tools and remove from location for Scoop Your Poop

http://www.scoopyourpoop.com

Currently have work in:
Plantation (near Broward Mall on University and Peters Road)
Pembroke Pines
Davie area near Tree Tops Park

pay based on job location and size
(anywhere from $7 to $20 per normal residential location)

some jobs will only take approx. 15 mins of time there (pay for most these size jobs is around $7) and others up to an hour (pay for most these size jobs is anywhere from $15-20).

must have reliable transportation

please email info@scoopyourpoop.com
Include the following:
Full name
City you live in
Age
Type of Car
any experience you have
if you're currently working
What days you are available
Phone number

If you do not include this info we will not respond



This is a very PT position to start off and will grow from there.

Spam

Ya know I really really can't stand spammers
especially direct matches spammers and now power mall spammers!

http://www.ryze.com/go/luvmyjob61 who has no info on her page (unless you upgrade) is spamming via email to people about power mall....

my response to her was "do you really think I'd have anything to do with someone who spams me?"

and as the evening progresses, I've discovered she's spammed many others on Ryze as well...

I mean c'mon people....

I mean really... email, PM's, IM's, phone, mail spam is about as crappy as the spam that's processed animal parts shoved in a metal can!
nasty and gross!

sorry had to get that off my chest! LOL

Scare tactics by the court system

Well, this morning was the court date for the ticket that I blogged about posted as the trick question of the day:
http://naturallytara.blogspot.com/2007/11/trick-question-of-day.html

Today's court date is for the magistrate and court system to scare the crap outta you so you plead no contest and pay half fine and don't go back again..

Well skip that.. I want my day in court..

sooooo we're all sitting there, and magistrate tells people their options:

1)change your plea to no contest and have 60 days to pay fine, no points, no school, nothing and never go to court about that ticket again

OR

and these are her exact words

2) If you want to take a chance, you can set it for court where you can face $1500 court costs, hefty fine fees from citation, license suspension, 12 -16 hour driving school time or worse. So, make sure you really want to take that chance.


people started freaking out over that comment!!!

sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I'm still sitting and waiting for them to call my name.... meanwhile all the peeps ahead of me were changing their plea...

"Tara Ann Burner"

okie dokie, that's me.....

"Do you wish to change your plea?"

me: "No, ma'am I wish to set this for court trial date thank you ma'am"


I'll leave out all the back/forth since I still do have to go to court appearance for this case and don't want to affect the outcome in any way... (hey you never know who reads this blog! LOL)


and out I walked happy as can be while others sat in there freaking out!!!
sorry but I'm not taking a plea and copping out....

but what BS tryin to scare people into taking a plea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sooooooooooooooo in about 6 weeks I should get court date notice

and then off to play in court!!!!

Warm and fuzzies

Did you ever belong to various networks and forums where everyone only wanted to read warm and fuzzy posts?

Where if you posted anything remotely challenging or not on the upbeat, but yet still truthful people get upset?

Why do people feel the need to be coddled and hand held in their 30's, 40's, 50's I mean c'mon we're business people already not two year olds.

Accept the truth for what it is, don't take it away if it's not all sugar coated warm and fuzzy make you feel good.

Wonder how these people survive in the real world...or do they?

Warm fuzzies... who needs them????
insecure people with no confidence and low self esteem...
otherwise they'd be able to handle the truth and accept it for what it is.

Grow up people, this is the real world not Candy Land.

Cell phones in public places

Should inconsiderate people use cell phones in public?

You know the people I'm talking about, the ones who "scream" on their phone so the entire general population can hear their conversation.

At our local post office, there is one service person who will refuse to wait on a customer if they're talking on their cell phone. He will not say a word until the person gets off their phone while they're standing at his window waiting for him to wait on them. They're usually so caught up in their phone conversation they do manage to walk up to his window when he calls "next" but then they're not aware of why he's not asking them how he can help them. It's common courtesy to deal one on one with the person who is servicing you. Is the phone conversation such an important one it can't wait until you're done doing your business? If so, then you shouldn't be standing in line!

How about a recent trip to Barnes & Noble where I'm standing in line and a woman about my age or a bit older, is literally standing on top of me (which is her first mistake, she's in MY personal space, breathing down my neck-- a simple elbow out on my side will alleviate that problem-- jab to her). Her phone rings and she proceeds to answer and is now YELLING in my ear to someone on the phone who apparently couldn't have waited the 5 minutes it would've taken her to get out of B&N. She continues to scream in my ear...So, I make a few loud comments (not so nice ones but won't cuss her out since there are little kids in line too) but I'm not looking AT her so she's totally oblivious that I'm talking ABOUT her. She tells the person on the phone that "the person in front of me is so rude, must be having a bad day"
at that point I turn and now she's right on top of me again, the first elbow didn't make a lasting impression apparently...I am now in her face saying "YOU are the reason, YOU are the one I'm talking about idiot!!!!!!! You're standing up my butt, screaming on the phone...like anyone in line here cares about your phone conversation, that's RUDE RUDE RUDE". She keeps talking on the phone with this look of astonishment and cluelessness, and I'm still telling her how rude that is and inconsiderate to the cashiers there, the people in line and to just hang up and call the other idiot back in a few minutes when she's out of here. She wants to argue the fact that she's not bothering anyone. Meanwhile people behind her in line are shaking their head in agreement and saying that she's rude and just needs to hang up the phone already. The woman was still oblivious to the fact she was doing anything wrong....what happened to the day when we had those silly olive green rotary dial phones with the long curly cord??!! LOL and I'm not "that" old either but people like her should not have cell phones, she should stick to that olive green rotary!! Meanwhile once I get to register, the cashier thanks me!

So, my point is this...when in public, whether it be in B&N, the post office, the bank, a restaurant...nobody wants to hear your worthless bs conversation you insist on having on your cell phone while you interrupt everyone else's space. It's one thing to talk quietly on your phone which is totally acceptable but c'mon quit the screaming and talking loudly so everyone can hear...nobody cares about your conversation!

Posers and wanna be's in business

Why do people act as posers and wanna be's in business?

Do they not realize that yes they may be able to 'steal' a tag line or use a business name as a tag line (ie: Affordable Mineral Makeup is a company name, my company name and then these other mineral companies who are nothing more than posers and wanna be's use the tag line "affordable mineral makeup" in hopes that people will be confused and think they're the real deal)

Do they not realize that while you can use a tag line, attempt to copy a business, even steal graphics, content, etc. they're still posers and wanna be's and ultimately it's in the product (which you cannot steal because nobody knows where all product is from since multiple suppliers and exclusive shades), it's also in the fast delivery and customer service.

So at the end of the day a poser is still a poser and a wanna be is still a wanna be because until they can get their own original ideas, own content, own name they'll always be second to those with originality and ultimately fail for lack of professionalism and uniqueness.

Food for thought for those who are posers or wanna be's, you may be best to come up with your own ideas.