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Savvy Consumer Tips |
Home Inspectors Should Look High and Low
You are not getting your money's worth if…
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Learn About a Caterer from the Taste Test
Sampling dishes before choosing a menu for a big party or a wedding is an opportunity for you to...
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Don't Panic When Check Engine Light Comes On
Have you ever been driving your car and suddenly you notice that the amber-colored…
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Read more Savvy Consumer Tips
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Dear Savvy Consumer,
You know, the little things really DO count, don’t they? I was taken aback on a recent flight back to San Francisco when the United flight attendant pointed out that I had spilled some coffee on my jacket. He whipped out a Tide Instant Spot Remover stick out of his pocket that I could apply right then and there. Everyone around me was staring, because they had not seen such attentiveness on an airline (in coach) in a long, long time. His small gesture pleased me so much that I completely forgave the airline for arriving 30 minutes late.
So, why are the little things such a BIG deal to us? I think it’s because we know that when companies are spending time and money on the details, that most of the time, the big stuff is in order too. We also like how it feels to have that little “extra” — I don’t know about you, but it makes me feel special.
Here are some more examples of little things that made a difference:
- My carpet cleaner leaves me a free bottle of spot remover every time he comes.
- A restaurant where I have been before mailed me a birthday certificate for a free entrée. (I had fresh halibut.)
- One of the doctors I see gave me her home phone number because I was worried about side effects from a new medication.
- While shopping for a new car, I found Listerine in the dealer’s showroom bathroom!
- And another bathroom (in Arizona) in an outlet mall had free sunscreen in dispensers next to the hand lotion.
- Wouldn’t you be a repeat customer at an auto repair shop that not only did repairs well, but also gave you a free taxi ride back home?
You probably have stories about little things that make you one happy customer. Send your examples to me at chrisbjorklund@diamondcertified.org and I will include the best ones in a future newsletter.
Sincerely,
Chris Bjorklund
The Savvy Consumer |
Don't Toss That Cork! 
Eco-friendly oenophiles will be happy to know that their conservation efforts don’t have to stop at recycling the bottle—wine corks are wanted too. ReCork America has drop-off locations in San Francisco and Napa. The recycled corks can be used for everything from insulation to ping pong paddles.
Yemm & Hart, a Missouri recycler, collected 1.5 tons of cork stoppers between 2004 and 2007, converting them to cork tiles. Visit the site to get mailing information for your own donation or to request tile samples.
You might think you’re saving the Mediterranean’s cork oak groves by purchasing wine with synthetic or metal closures, but the tree is not killed to obtain its cork bark. In fact, according to Audubon Magazine, the cork oak groves are part-time homes to more than 250 species of birds and still stand since they provide a source of income for the farmers who own them. Non-cork stoppers now threaten that ecosystem.
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Asbestos Pros Help Homeowners Breathe Easier 
According to the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center, nearly 80% of structures built before 1980 contain some asbestos. The material can become a hazard when asbestos-containing building components such as floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, and drywall are damaged during remodeling or as the result of a fire, flood or earthquake.
Avoid asbestos exposure by hiring qualified professionals to remove it or repair the damage. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides information about when asbestos can become a hazard and what homeowners should know about hiring an inspector or contractor. Read the EPA’s advice and then search for a reputable professional in the Diamond Certified directory.
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Kudos from Diamond Certified Customers
Dear Chris,
Each time that I receive an email from you, I feel that I must tell you how happy my husband and I are with ALL of our Diamond Certified companies. And since you mention mechanics in your email, I must tell you that Donati Automotive in Santa Rosa is perhaps the best mechanic that has ever worked on our car. Mr. Donati and crew are conscientious repair people who really take a pride in their work. Each time that I have taken our car there we have been totally satisfied with their ethics, their workmanship, their price and their honest-to-goodness willingness to fix a problem and to go out of their way to find a solution if they cannot provide one.
Keep up the great work. We are constantly adding Diamond Certified companies to the list of those with which we deal.
Diane and Bob Melder
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