Staples Comes Thru…Office Depot Bombs
I had to run out tonight for a new chair mat. The old one was starting to show wear, as in holes thru to the berber.
My first choice was Office Depot. Down in Gulf Breeze, Florida, they were absolutely great to us. Up here in Kentucky, it’s been a different story.
They had at least 5 mats of every style. Every style EXCEPT the one for berber carpets. They had zero of those. Not one person asked us if we needed help. Not one person asked if we were able to find what we were looking for, UNTIL we were a few feet from the exit.
As we neared the exit, a young lady asked if we found everything okay. Where were you 15 minutes ago, I thought.
No, I said, we weren’t able to get what we wanted because you guys are out of them, I said.
Sorry, she said.
Not, can you hold on a second while I look at the inventory in our computer.
Not, let me look in the back and see if I can find it.
Not, what was the item so we can order some, so the next people won’t get stiffed.
Just sorry.
You know what, she was right. Sorry.
BTW - Staples had the mat made for berber carpet. Several, as a matter of fact.
Thanks, you guys.
Now I can roll around without getting my chair caught in a hole. Makes it easier to blog about the fine service you gave me by having my mat in stock.
Also helps me decide where I’m gonna look first for the two copies of Norton’s System Works I need to buy next week. And the two copies of Spy Sweeper.
Looks like that $30 mat just turned into $230.
Sorry.
We Are Not Spammers Either
Just read a post by Rich ” I am not a spammer ” Brooks.
I feel his pain. We, too, get reports from Aweber, almost weekly, that show us that some idiot that uses AOL ( is that redundant ? ) has reported one of our emails as spam.
All of our lists are double opt-in. You have to reply to an email to receive even one. Sometimes the AOL’ers even report as spam the email that they have to respond to to subscribe to one of our newsletters. AOL did not do the world a favor when they invented the ” Report As Spam ” button.
When you give an idiot the chance to do something idiotic…what happens ? You guessed it.
We even tell them on EVERY email that they have subscribed thru a double opt-in process, so PLEASE, don’t hit the ” Report As Spam ” button.
What do they do ? You guessed it.
The CAN-SPAM Act was a good idea, ruined by other idiots who know nothing about email. Who might those idiots have been ? If you said Congressmen, you’re right again.
On his blog, Rich say’s:
Never mind that I run a double opt-in email newsletter.
Never mind that if someone asks me to add them to our list I do it through our Web site so that they still need to confirm their interest in receiving flyte log.
Never mind that in every email newsletter there’s an unsubscribe link at the bottom and the top of each email.
Never mind that I write about ethical email marketing and I follow the CAN-SPAM regulations perfectly, as imperfect as they are.
Rich, ol’ buddy, we feel your pain.
What I’d like to see is a ” Report As Idiot ” button that we can push when the email that Aweber sends us shows that the reporter was a double opt-in AOL’er.
It would be nice that when their ” idiotic action ” file gets too big, they lose their internet cruising priveliges.
Peace. Unless you’re an idiotic button pushing AOL’er.
Successful Blogging & Successful Living
I just read one of my all-time favorite blog posts.
Here’s why:
1) It gave me 9 actionable points. I can, I might not, but can conquer every one of these points.
2) These points really do make for better bloggers, as well as better people.
3) These points are not opinion, they are true to life facts.
I hope some of the larger, more well-read blogs pick this up and spread this around. I have approximately 80 blogs in my feed-reader and believe me, these points are not widespread.
Scrivs, Duncan, Paul, Darren, Jeremy…somebody, please spread this around. It is needed.
Here’s the link : http://www.thementalfitnesscenter.com/blog/the-blogging-life/
The Truth About Average
Average is just as close to the bottom as it is to the top.
I used this today on a co-worker. I don’t know who said it, where I read it or when.
All I know is it is the truth. 100 % fact. No doubt.
If you think that you’re okay just because you think you’re an average worker, you’re wrong.
I hate average people. I hate wishy-washy. I hate fence riders.
Make a decision, Morty. ( remember that line from Bill Murray ? If you know what movie it was, leave me a comment. First one to identify it gets a link, a post, an opportunity to post, or some digital ebook that I can send you )
I’m not sure why people get up in the morning and go off to school, work, the lake, the golf course or wherever it is they go, and go there without the idea of being exceptional, remarkable or unforgettable.
If you’re average, you’re just as likely to get gobbled up by the world as those that are just below average. Think of it like this: You and I are on a golf course in the Canadian Rockies. We come to hole 11 and we hit our drives over by a river. Cold rushing water with Salmon swimming upstream to get to the place where they turn them into fish-oil capsules. A bear see’s us and starts to chase us. You are an average runner. I’m not. I don’t have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you.
There is absolutely no reason to ” Wake Up And Be Average ! “. You ever see that book on the NY Times Bestseller list ? Me neither. Then why the heck do you do it ?
I’m sure not skilled enough with the English language to learn you how to excel, but if you want to read some fine articles and get some top of the line info on how to excel in all aspects of life, then head over to The Mental Fitness Center and Out Of Bounds. My wife has a multiplicity of good info waitnig on you there.
Tell her Mike sent you.
New linking Policy For 9rules Network
News Flash !
This just in:
Paul Scrivens has announced that you can simply link to the Tall Monkey Network just about any old way you want.
As you can see, I’m all about monkeys.
Scrivs was kind enough to comment on one of my posts ( See Post By Clicking Here ), so I simply must help promote his network, by linking here.
These guys do a good job, as do all of the people on my Blog Roll, so if you haven’t visited them, now’s a great time.
The original post that led to this one by Scrivs left me simply cold, but this one has restored my faith in these guys. If you can’t make fun of yourself, get a real job. Like Elephant Cleanup Crew at the zoo.
Good job, Scrivs. Don’t know if you needed the good PR, but it’s always nice to get a little. PR, that is.
Outstanding Customer Service At The Majestic
We spent the whole day at the lakes. Land Between The Lakes, is the official name. In our part of Kentucky, we just say ” The Lake “.
After spending the morning at the Ag Fair at The Homeplace 1850 ( kinda like Harvest Days ), we went to one of our favorite places to eat. The Majestic. Officially it’s the Majestic Steak House, I believe. It’s located at 244 US Hwy 68, Draffenville, Ky. Downtown. Just inside the 3-way stop, off KY Highway 641 S. Maybe 10 minutes from Kentucky Dam Villiage State Resort Park. Just past Maggie’s Jungle Golf.
We had a couple of hours to kill before we went on a guided tour of the Elk & Bison Prairie, so we couldn’t think of a better way than to eat some of the best pizza in this end of the state.
We went for the day’s special, which was buy one large, get one half price. Got one Billy Special, which is all vegetables and one House Special which has pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms and green peppers. We asked to sub some banana peppers for the green ones. No problem.
The appetizer plate of Mozzerella Sticks, Armadillo Eggs and Fire Sticks came out right after our drinks. Great plate. Fire sicks were hot, hot and hot !
Pizza’s next. The young lady who waited on us told me that the pizza maker had put green peppers instead of the banana peppers we asked for. ” He’s gonna make you another one “, she said. ” Life’s too short to worry about that. It’ll be okay, we don’t mind. Don’t have him do that “, I said.
She refilled our drinks fairly often, asked if we needed anything, the ususal good service we get there.
When she brought our check, she brought another pizza. The one with the banana peppers. No charge, she said. We’re sorry, she said. Please come back, she said.
We thanked her appropriately and left…with our extra pizza and a promise to come back EVERY chance we get. The other places in town are out of luck. We are hooked.
If a young lady in Draffenville, Kentucky can give customer service that is above and beyond what we expect, what keeps everybody else from doing it ? Desire ? Education ? Ignorance ?
If you are ever close to ” The Lake “, please stop by The Majestic. Tell ‘em Mike sent you.
You won’t be disappointed.
I’ve Got A Blog Crush….Or Two
Here’s a post I’d have never done without the blackmail attached to a post by Darren Rowse, of ProBlogger.net fame.
In this post, Darren blatantly forces us to spill our guts and tell you about our blog crushes.
Well, I’m a big sensitive guy, but I’m no fool, so I’m gonna tell you that my favorite blogger of all time is my wife, Joi Sigers. She writes some very thought provoking posts at Out Of Bounds. She also writes for 7 of our other blogs, as well as for Paul Short, at Self Help Daily. The woman is a writing machine. She’s also a learning, researching, thinking machine. What the heck she ever saw in an old country boy like me is, well…beyond me. She will not be on the market long, either. Some big time, high-falutin’, big money network is gonna snatch her away from me real soon. She can post on any subject, almost, within 15 minutes of being given the go ahead. Try her sometime. I’ll bet on her.
Now, to be totally honest, I happen to like Paul Short and his BlogLogic network a lot, too. But, since he’s a Canadian and a guy, I’m not gonna crush all over the dude. I’m not sure if he can take 245 lbs of love, crushin’ all over him. The guy is as honest as the day is long. Think’s less than he posts, which is why a lot of us love his blogs. Shares info, helps people and will save the blogging world, or retire trying. You can’t beat BlogLogic, so you might as well join him. Or at least link to him and subscribe to his feed.
Another blog, out of the 78 in my feed reader ( down from 96 a few days ago ), that I like a lot is Creating Passionate Users. The whole gang there is good, but Kathy Sierra does as good a job with her posts as has ever been done by a human being, or a blogger. She has the unique ability to use more phrases and buzz-words than I can understand in one reading. I am pretty simple, you know. She seems to know a bit about marketing, psychology, sales, customer service and advertising. Seriously, it’s well done and always a good read. The only drawback there, is if you read some of the comments by some of the dunderheads who love to nitpick every phrase she uses, words she spells and thing she does. I quit reading the comments there, because most of the time they made me mad. Some people will try to over-analyze, over-work and under-understand every post they read. Seems to be a bunch of over-educated academicians, or programmers. Some of them comment just to see themselves comment. Their viewpoints seems to be that of one who “tells” and never has “done”. I could be wrong, but it ain’t happened yet.
Thanks, Darren, for outing me. I owe you one. Steak, that is. Come up to Kentucky whenever you want to collect.
Everybody go read Darren’s post, out yourself and your crushes and let’s get all crushy together.
Tell him Mike sent you 
Teaching…there’s a new concept
There are a few blogs out there that I’d probably pay to read. I really don’t want to have to pay though, so I hope they don’t ever read this.
Creating Passionate Users is one of those blogs. The last two posts there are the reason why.
The post that I have just read ( link ) is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s all I could ever hope to teach you about marketing, sales and customer service all wrapped into one place.
Go read the last two posts, subscribe to their feed and enjoy !
Tell ‘em Mike sent you.
Be An Idea Guy
I came to their organization as a stranger to their town and to their industry. That didn’t matter to me. I was coming to win. In 6 months I was #2 or #3 every month. 12 months in I was #1 and stayed there 10 out of every 12 months for 7 years.
“Find out what the heck that boy is doing and teach it to all our other salesmen.” That’s what the CEO told my boss, the VP of Sales.
So he rode with me for a week. Ate lunch when I ate, listened to all my calls and went home, although a couple hours before I did. He knew what it was about me just before lunchtime on the first day. He was pretty good, too. But not as good as me.
I am an IDEA GUY.
“I have an idea for you…”, that’s how I started calls with my customers. “An idea that will help you use more of our products and make you more money. Good for both of us. Can we grab a quick bite of lunch and I’ll run it by you ?” I started looking for a lunch buddy about 9:00 am everyday. Monday thru Friday. Some days I ate twice. I have eaten 3 lunches in one day, just to run the same idea by 3 different customers.
I never lacked for a lunch partner. My boss asked why that was so important to me. “Beacause I don’t like to eat alone”, I’d tell him. The real reason was, and is, that I know that in order for you to build your network of contacts, you have to WORK at never eating alone. I made a game out of it. Kinda made it fun, fighting to find someone to network with. Building that web of friends. Wider and deeper, every day.
Sometimes the idea wasn’t what they had in mind, but other times it worked like a charm. Some of those guys still call me today, 10 years and two cities later.
They felt like I was on their sides and looking out for them and their business. I was. Their success was my success.
“Selling ideas is easier than selling bricks and blocks”, I told him. “All I have to do is come up with an idea and I get to sit down with them for an hour or so.” “What’s so great about that ?”, he asked. “At some point during that hour or hour and a half, they’re going to feel like they owe me a favor and give me an order. If not then, the next time they sign a contract, they’ll remember our lunch, my idea and give me an order. ”
“Whatever”, he said. And then he went back and told the CEO that I was just lucky.
Luck comes when preparation and opportunity intersect. I just make sure to give it plenty of chances.
I spend time each day and night thinking of ways for my customers to make more money using my products.
I also have a phrase or two that I use EVERY time I meet with a customer.
Maybe, if you’re LUCKY, I’ll tell you what they are.
Want To Read About Terrible Customer Service ?
Just read a story on Church of the Customer. If you don’t subscribe to their feed, you should.
They tell a story about crappy customer service at a tux rental place.
I only wish I had been there, as one of the customers. I can say without any doubt, they would have been extremely sorry to have treated me this way.
I would have started a blog and called the newspapers. I would have staged a sit-in and called every TV channel within 100 miles.
I can’t even tell you how much fun I would have had with these morons.
Go read the story, by clicking HERE, and then come back and tell me what you would have done. Maybe we can be ready for when it happens to us.
