I remember when we asked my aging father-in law what he wanted for his birthday or Christmas; he would simply say that all he wanted was "a kind word." We often forget the power of a sincere thank-you, a thoughtful compliment, or a simple expression of genuine appreciation. Have you tried "a kind word" with anyone you get service from lately? I don't mean greeting someone working in your garden or the house painter with the robotic salutation, "Have a nice day." How about bringing them a big cup of ice water or soft drink? Or telling them how much you love their attention to detail and professionalism? You might be surprised at how much being appreciated is apprciated! Recently, I bought some small denomination gift cards for In-N-Out Burger to hand out to outstanding service people I come across. I also read about a guy who carries around $2 bills and uses them to hand out when he gets superior service. But you don't have to spend extra money to say thank you either. The other day, when my cleaning lady was leaving the house, I told her how much I appreciate her thoroughness, reliability, and the thoughtfulness she shows my family and me. After the AAA technician helped repair my flat tire a couple of weeks ago and was unusually friendly and efficient, I called his supervisor to rave about his attitude and competence. The point is, when it comes to service, the name of the company, their uniform, or size of the truck is not what matters. Services are performed by individuals like ourselves who are just trying to do their jobs professionally in between the normal family and life situations with which we all have to contend. Recognizing good service and commending the provider is not just a kind human thing to do. It helps remind the providers that it pays to take pride in their work. Everyone wins: you, the service provider, and the company.
Savvy Consumer Blog
The secret to weight control is simply eating the right foods, in the right amount, at the right time. Maureen Sullivan, Founder & Chief Nutritionist of Lite for Life in Burlingame, a Diamond Certified company, has found no other "quick fix" in her 30 years of weight loss counseling. She educates her clients on the single most important aspect of nutrition - stabilizing blood sugar.
The biggest mistakes people make are skipping breakfast, exercising without eating before and after, and starting the day with caffeine and sugar (a mocha and a muffin). These habits create spikes and drops in blood sugar throughout the day. If blood sugar is too low before dinnertime, sweet treats are likely to be craved afterwards. The solution? Eat 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks to balance blood sugar. People who follow this plan usually drop the unwanted pounds and are amazed at how much better they feel.
Have you been thinking about installing new windows? John Gorman, owner of Save Energy Company, a Diamond Certified company, says if you buy double pane energy-saving windows now, you will qualify for a maximum of $1500 in federal tax credits. You're allowed to deduct 30% of the cost of the materials through 2009 and 2010. For more detailed information on the tax credits, go to www.energystar.gov. Double pane windows have improved a lot over the years, according to Mr. Gorman. Besides reducing your energy bills, they eliminate mold and mildew. People find that the new windows reduce street noise, which is a huge benefit. New tinting blocks harmful UV rays, so they protect your rugs and furniture from sun damage. In many homes, you can install new windows without replacing the casings or damaging your stucco.
Teach Students Four Simple Things Don't let your student drive off to college in a vehicle they have no idea how to maintain. AAA Northern California recommends parents have a talk with their students before sending them off to college about the four major things they need to do to care for their car. "Not only does a well-maintained vehicle provide safe, reliable transportation for their student, it also prolongs the life of the vehicle and saves money," says Matt Skryja, AAA Northern California spokesperson. Ideally, learning how to care for a car is part of learning how to drive, but it is never too late to help your student learn the basics of car care. The four main areas of car care are checking and maintaining tires; knowing the maintenance schedule; finding a repair facility near the college; and preparing for roadside emergencies. -Check and maintain tires. Tires are the only thing that stands between a student and a crash. They are the easiest to check and maintain but frequently are forgotten until something goes wrong. Make sure your student has a tire pressure gauge in the vehicle and knows how to use it. -Know the maintenance schedule. Performing the manufacturer's regularly scheduled maintenance will extend the vehicle's life and ward off costly repairs. Make sure the owner's manual is in the glove box and explain the recommended maintenance schedule found in it. -Find a repair facility near college. Even if the student is not far away from home, it is a good idea to locate a repair facility they can trust close to the college for an unexpected repair. Help the student choose a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility at www.aaa.com/repair. Consider accompanying them to the shop if possible. -Prepare for roadside emergencies. It is important to prepare students and their vehicles for a breakdown or other roadside emergency - especially if they are attending college far away and cannot call home for help. Provide your student with AAA membership and remind them to always carry their AAA card. Make sure the vehicle has a well-stocked roadside emergency kit as well as an inflated spare tire in good condition. "Remind your student that their AAA card isn't just for emergency road service," said Skryja. "They can get discounts at hundreds of retailers and restaurants all over the country. Visit www.aaa.com/discounts or www.aaa.com/shopnow for details." AAA Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to nearly 4 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded more than 100 years ago.
Gotta a Noise Problem? Here's What to Do? Experts like Diamond Certified's Paul Asadov, President of Zeus Remodeling, know exactly what to do to reduce noise problems in a home. The most common complaint is about the sound of footsteps in multi-family dwellings. Mr. Asadov explains that the solution to "impact" noise is to replace the original drywall with a detached drywall made of two layers, where one layer is laminated with noise control material. You can also add soundboards inside the ceiling to reduce noise. If your noise problem is street or freeway noise, Mr. Asadov suggests reinforcing the weak spots - doors and windows. Hollow core doors are replaced with solid noise control doors with several acoustical layers inside. Then install triple-pane windows, where one of the glass layers has a vinyl lamination just like a car windshields. With these types of improvements, noise levels can usually be reduced by at least 50% to 60%.
The scammer places a help-wanted ad at a popular job-search site offering a work-at-home job. You fill out an employment application that asks for a Social Security number and your date of birth. Then you're told you got the job! Packages arrive at your home with directions to repackage the items and ship them overseas, using your own money which will be repaid. The original packages were paid for with fraudulent credit cards, something you don't find out until later. Next, you're told that you will be paid by cashier's check. But here's the catch. The check will be written for more than the amount owed. You deposit the check and forward the difference to the company's overseas bank account. Eventually, the cashier's check bounces -- and you owe the bank the amount of the check. The kicker is --- the ordeal is not over yet. The fraudulent employer has your birth date and SSN. They have applied for several credit cards in your name and use them to buy merchandise that is being shipped to other unknowing victims of the scam. If you think you may be involved in reshipping fraud, contact the FBI @ www.fbi.gov.
The Federal Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov), the nation's consumer protection agency, wants consumers to beware of telephone sales pitches for magazine subscriptions. While some offers may be legitimate, many are not. Agreeing to buy could result in years of monthly bills for magazines you don't want or could have gotten elsewhere for less. Or, you could end up paying for a magazine you never receive at all. How do you know if an offer is a scam? Words like "free" and "pre-paid" should alert you. And the caller may try to get your guard down by saying he or she is just calling to conduct a survey. To protect yourself: * Don't give your credit card or other personal information to any caller, ever. * Don't agree to anything you don't get in writing first. In some states, you're legally bound to pay for a subscription if you agree to it over the phone. * Before you accept an offer to renew a subscription, check the expiration date to determine if it really is coming up. (Check the mailing label. Or, better yet, call the publisher to verify and to confirm that the caller is actually authorized to renew your subscription.) * Tell the caller to put you on the company's "do not call list." If you get another call, hang up and report it to your state attorney general (www.naag.org) and the FTC. * Watch your credit card statements closely, and dispute unauthorized charges immediately. * Also beware of magazine subscriptions sold door-to-door.
It's one of the biggest furniture investments you're going to make, so take your time when choosing a new sofa. Our Diamond Certified expert Craig Kohler with Artesanias Unique Home Furnishings says the biggest mistakes people make are on the depth of the seat and the overall size. Seeing a sofa in a large retail space may throw off your sense of how big it really is. Look at your traffic flow and where you're going to place the sofa first. Think about how you will be using the sofa, so you can balance style and comfort. Will you be sitting and reading with your feet on the floor, or lying down to watch TV? This will affect your choices on size and cushions. To evaluate quality, examine the stitching, grab the back of the sofa to check on the padding and pick up the front corner, a sofa's weakest point, to check for strength.
Driving on wet roads with your cruise control on can be very dangerous. Lyde Waitley, owner of Olsen's Automotive Repair, a Diamond Certified company, says the concern is that if your car begins to hydro-plane and tires lose contact with the surface, the cruise control will take some time to react. When your car begins to get traction again, it will accelerate, making you take off too quickly. You may lose complete control of your vehicle.
The early part of the rainy season is especially hazardous. It hasn't rained in a long time and oils have accumulated, making it difficult for your tires to stick to pavement. Some newer cars won't let you set cruise control while the windshield wipers are on. The safest thing is to avoid using the cruise control setting when rain and inclement weather are in the forecast. Also, be sure to replace worn tires before the first downpour.
You may not think too much about backing up data until the day comes when your hard drive crashes. That's when I got the wake-up call, thinking I had lost everything - photos, work documents, records, letters, music. Rick Sutherland, owner of ClickAway, a Diamond Certified company, says most people are like me and don't realize how easy back up is, and how expensive data recovery can be. To back up data, some people use an external hard drive, where data is put onto another disc and stored in a safety deposit box, or somewhere else outside your home. You can also use an automatic on-line back up service, which is especially useful for saving data on a daily basis. The simplest method is not very expensive. You buy a 2 GB flash drive for less than $20 and a fireproof box to store it in. This small investment insures your data will be safe and sound.
Consumer Advocate
Known as The Savvy Consumer, Chris Bjorklund has been a Consumer Advocate for over 35 years. She has worked with KPIX-TV, KGO, The Better Business Bureau, Consumer Reports, and as an Investigator for the Consumer Fraud Unit of the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. Chris puts her incredible consumer experience to work for you!
