Why you don't get what you want?

No matter how hard we try, and no matter how many safeguards are put in place, once in a while things do go wrong. As part of being an IT consultant, and even just an on-site tech, it is frequent that I have been the contact for my clients, and the representative of the company I work for. I have also worked in the retail industry for a while, and while it is expected to have unhappy customers (you really can't please everyone) we still try our best to help those we can. But why is it that some people walk away happy, while others walk away feeling like they have been robbed? How can you make sure that you're one of the ones who walk away happy?

• Don't lose your head: The most important thing to remember when something bad happens, whether it be a service you paid for was not what you expected, you were sold something you didn't actually need, or you bought something you needed only to find out that it didn't work, is to keep a cool head. 90% of the time when you go back to complain or try to get a resolution to the problem, the person you will work with to resolve the problem is not the one who caused it, so yelling at them is a really bad way to start a conversation. This is the person who can help you, so be nice to them, even if you are mad. It isn't their fault someone else messed up, and they can't change what already happened, so as hard as it can be at time, just be nice and start fresh, this will increase the chance of you walking away happy many times over.
  
  
• Know what you want: You have to know what you want the end result to be. Screaming "JUST FIX IT!" won't work. Tell the representative you are working with exactly what you want. I hate people who say "what are you going to do for me?" I hear it a lot when people bought the wrong thing or bought something defective. I say "let you exchange it for the right thing". The ones who say "can you waive shipping" or "can you give me a small discount for the inconvenience" will usually get it. It gives me something to go to the manager with. If your request is reasonable, we do are best to fulfill it.
  
  
• Be reasonable: You have to be reasonable. There is no way we can give you the product for free just becasue it was the wrong one. It just doesn't work that way. 10% off, yea probably but free...unlikely. We aren't going to take back a product against policy for a full refund becasue you realize it isn't what you really needed despite a description and the compatibility being on the box.(especially if you start yelling) And as big of a pain as it is, driving to the store to return something does not constitute such a huge inconvenience that it requires free services and a total refund (and the correct product). Sorry, it just isn't like that. Ask for something that is reasonable and will make you happy. if its a service with a monthly subscription, ask for a month or two free. If it's just a set price, ask for a discount and a refund for the difference. Ask for refunded delivery if they shipped you the wrong thing. Stuff like this is easy to get, and in most cases more than makes up for the small errors.
  
  
• Do not make threats: Making threats (physical, legal, or other) is just a bad idea. I'll give you the outcome in advance.
  
  
• Legal threat (i.e. I'm suing you): You get transfered to our corporate legal department, and any chance that the store can help you just went away. Once threatened with a lawsuit, if taken seriously, it is out of our hands. We can't help the customer.
  
  
• Physical Threat(I'm going to come and kick you ass...blah blah blah): As rare as this is, I have gotten it a few times. When I was younger I was stupid and would laugh at the people threatening me. I was in high school, I was a football player, I lifted weights daily and it showed. I'm 6'3 and by no means little. Id welcome people to come pay me a visit, then laugh as they quickly changed their attitude when addressing me. Now I just remind them that they are breaking the law and that I have all of their contact information. Either way the customer comes out looking like an ass and I get a good chuckle. I have never had a customer try to hit me, or even get in my face. I have seen customers try to hit other employee's only to be tackled, and arrested when the police arrived. Then he got tazed for resisting arrest. Good stuff.
  
  
• Other (I'm going to call the BBB, Attorney General, etc.): This will pan out different for different reps. For the most part, they are pointless for one reason; the employee you are talking too doesn't care. Nothing is going to happen to them if the company gets sued, and if they have been in the industry long (like I have) they will know when there is a legitimate claim and when the customer is full of it. When its a legitimate complaint, it rarely gets this far. That and the BBB has no legal standing to do anything. They are like a big complaint board for people to look at. I can find complaint about every major company on the BBB, and other than that they are useless.

So to sum it up. Be nice, Know what you want and be reasonable with your requests. If you are in the wrong and just want things to be fixed, you can ask but you are out of luck if they don't. The best way to deal with this stuff is to avoid it. Do your research so you don't have to deal with exchanges if you buy the wrong thing. There is no way around getting defective product, it just happens, and while it sucks, its part of life. Just deal with it using the tips above.

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Buying a Computer

Believe it or not, buying a computer is a lot like buying a car. There are dozens of different models, a nearly limitless supply of options you can add on, extended warranty's you can buy, and sleazy sales people who want you spend as much as possible and that will happily offer you a line of credit to do it.

And just like buying a car, a lot of research should be done before making your purchase. Today, computers range in price from around $300 to several thousand dollars, and with so many options it is easy to become overwhelmed and just get what ever a sales person tells you to. This can end either making you spend way more money than you originally planned or you could end up with a computer that doesn't fit your needs. To prevent this from happening, there some things you should do before you even go to an electronics store.

• Asses you needs. The first thing you want to do, even before you go to a computer store, is assess and prioritize your needs. This is key in figuring out what computer will be right for you.
  
  
• What software do you want to use? Software like Microsoft Word uses less system resources than photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop. So think about what you plan on using your computer for. Once you know what type of software you want to use, go to the manufacturer of that softwares website and look at the recommended system specifications for the software. It will tell you how much hard drive space, how much RAM, and what processor works best with the software. This will give you a good idea of how powerful the computer you are buying needs to be. This is a rough number, and it is always better to have more of a resource than not enough so use those specifications a s a minimum requirement, otherwise you will be disappointed in how your computer is preforming.
  
  
• How much Storage space do you need? Computer storage is cheap, and most computers today are sold with way more storage than the average user will ever need, but it is still something you need to think about. Are you going to want to store movies? music? Digital photos? If you are just using your computer for basic text files (like in Microsoft word or excel) then you don't need much storage space, but if you start copying your CDs and DVDs to your computer, you will start running out of space pretty quickly and you will need a bigger hard drive.
  
  
• Determine Your Budget: You need to be honest with yourself. Computers cost money, and like most things, the cheapest will never be the best. That is not to say, the cheapest wont fit your needs, but you can't walk into a retailer with 400 dollars and expect to walk out with a computer that is going to play the newest games and put together professional quality video. So determine how much you are willing to pend before you leave the house. Be reasonable and honest. If you can only afford 500 dollars but want a machine that you can do video editing on then just save up for a bit longer. that way you walk out with something you are happy with and you don't feel like you are just settling.
  
  
• It is worth noting, that one really great part about computers is that there are several things you can upgrade at a later time. For instance, if you need a computer for school now, but think you want to do photo editing later, you can buy one suitable for you now, then upgrade the RAM or add a larger hard drive at a later date. So if this is one of your challenges, then check to see how many empty slots are available for RAM and other expansion cards, and how many open bays are available for hard drives.
  
  
• Aesthetics: For many people, the aesthetics of the computer play a big part either becasue of limited space in their home or office, or becasue they don't want something that doesn't fit in being an eye sore.
  
  
• Computers come in different shapes, sizes and colors. You can get All-in-one type computers like the iMac when the monitor and CPU are in a single fairly small unit (HP, Dell, and Sony all make all in one units as well). You can get a full size tower (typically used when you need several hard drives, or larger expansion cards) and mini tower (the most common). Vendors are now making Slimline form factors which are really small towers, but have almost no ability to be upgraded.
  
  
• Laptop v. Desktop: Today's laptops are just as powerful as the desktops (although they are more expensive for the same power) so all you really need to consider is if you want to take your computer with you. If you want to take your computer to school, to work, to a coffee shop, then get a laptop. If you want something for home use, get a desktop. The only real advantage desktops have is the ability to upgrade and add components like the video card. (RAM and hard drive can be upgraded in a laptop without much trouble).
  
  
• If you want a computer to take places, but also want a larger screen and regular keyboard, you can purchase a docking station for your laptop. What a docking station does is gives you a place to plug in a larger monitor, regular keyboard and mouse, printers, speakers and other peripherals that you don't need to take with you, then you just connect the docking station to your laptop when you get home and it connects everything else automatically.
  
  
• Apple v. PC: This is the holy war of the computer world, and there is no real answer to which is better. Each has their place in the world, and both are quality products. Ill give you some details of each. This is the last thing you need to decide. Both can fill just about all needs, so in the end, it is a preference. Also, I am excluding any open source options becasue for the average user, they are not viable (due to lack of support and problems finding it)
  
  
• Apple:
• Cheaper Software (comes with free software for basic word processing, image editing, etc)
  
• Fewer options, but all of them are good products and will work well for the average user.
  
• Typically, the units are much more aesthetically pleasing
• Equivalent pricing. Yes, the bottom of the line iMac is over 1000 dollars, BUT to get an EQUALLY powerful PC would cost about the same (after you buy the web cam, the software etc) so price comparison needs to be looked at from a total package point of view, not just the computer cost.
• Fewer Virus (there are viruses for the Mac OS as well as the software that runs on it, but there are far fewer then on a PC)
• Great technical support.
• Software to suit just about any need
• You can run windows on a Mac now (just in case you want a Mac most of the time but have a few windows only pieces of software)
  
• PC:
• If you are on a tight budget, you can get a cheap PC for around 300 dollars
• TONS of different software titles available
• TONS of hardware upgrades/options available
  
• Because there are so many choices of hardware/software you can run into compatibility issues.
• Support is mediocre
• You can build your own and make it look exactly how you want
• Software is expensive. from the operating system to the basic word processing and spreadsheet software.
  
  
• Wait for the Deal: After you figure out everything above go to the stores and find the computer you want, then wait for a good deal. Computers, like cars, are always on sale...seriously, any day, any time, you can find someplace having a sale. It is only a matter of time until the one you want is on sale. And in all honestly, chances are, in 6 months the model you want will drop significantly in price becasue it will be marked as "discontinued" buy it then. You don't need the newest, you really don't. Computers aren't "out of date" or "obsolete" until they no longer fit your needs. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

If you follow the above tips, you will end up with a good computer, that fits your needs, and not end up destroying your wallet in the process.

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New Ideas for Blogging

One of the biggest problems I have encountered with blogging is being able to continuously come up with content that was worth writing about. The way I avoid this is by writing about things problems I have encountered and then writing the solution I found for them. In addition, I like to write about new products that I find and play with. Writing about new products and tools I find and use is one of my favorite things. I am a gadget and software fanatic, and have hard drives full of just random little pieces of software that I have come across and liked. Lately, one of the best places I have found to look for new software are sites like Smorty and PayPerPost blog network.

The nature of these sites are to get bloggers to look at and review the product. Bloggers pare paid to do it, but that is because it takes time to properly evaluate a piece of software. I have decided to use them as a source for new things to write about since they are filled with vendors of new software dying to have people review it. The pay just gives me an excuse to spend more time blogging instead of doing things like spending time with my wonderful girlfriend (joking…mostly)

Take a look at the site if you have some time, it is pretty cool, and from what I have seen so far, it will be a wealth of topics to write about as well.

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AVG Anti-Spyware Review

Recently Grisoft released AVG free anti-spyware application to go along with their free anti-virus and free root-kit remover Like most free versions it is limited in functionality compared to the full version, but compared to similar software it is a really great deal.

I have been running it for the last 2 weeks and it has picked up a couple small pieces of malware on my computer, I also ran it against a intentionally infected computer and it did a great job of cleaning it up. The complete scan takes some time to complete, which is fine, especially since you have multiple, highly customizable scans.

The complete scan will scan all files and folders, the registry, as well as active processes and memory. Other options include a quick scan and a scan for only the active processes and programs running in memory.

The paid for version of the software includes addition features like real time protection (it is always actively looking for malware rather than you having to run a scan every week) Automatic updates, commercial use license, and of course, technical support.

In addition to good performance and a small system footprint, the AVG interface is very user friendly. The only thing I didn't like about it was the software doesn't clearly indicate which features are not working due to it being free. I was able to configure many of the options that are only for the paid version, and they just don't work rather than letting the user know they should upgrade.

If you are looking for a good anti-malware solution, then definitely check out AVG, they have not disappointed me yet.

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Protect Your Identity

During the holiday season most people are running around in malls, or scourging the web for the best deals on gifts. It is a time of happiness, joy, consumer spending and identity theft. Nothing ruins a new year like a stolen identity, so here are some ways to protect yourself during this holiday season.

1. If you are shopping online, try to stick with reputable vendors. Deals that look too good to be true, probably are, and while it is ok to buy from smaller companies, do some research on them if you aren't sure. Check sites like the BBB to see if the company has a good reputation before making your purchase.
   
   
2. Use a temporary Credit Card number when making online orders. My credit cards all offer single use temporary numbers that I can use when making online orders. Every time I need one, I just go to their web site and get one. no problem.
   
   
3. Use credit cards when shopping online instead of services that directly withdraw from your bank account. Using a credit card gives you protection against fraud and the backing of a large bank if you need assistance in resolving issues. It is much harder to get money back from companies once they have it, using a credit card means they have the credit companies money, not yours, and give you a better chance.
   
   
4. Pay attention to your bank and credit card statements. Check your statements closely for charges you didn't make. During times when you are making a lot of purchases from multiple different places, it is easy to overlook a purchase you didn't make, especially if it is relatively small.
   
   
5. Shred mail with personal information. Credit card offers, bank statements, and utility bills all have varying degrees of personal information. Shred them before you throw them away, and if you need to keep them, you should have a locking file cabinet to keep them in. (Locking file cabinets go on sale for as little as 30 dollars at Wal-Mart, and while they are not the best quality, they are much better than nothing)
   
   
6. Don't leave your purse sitting in a shopping cart as you wander around. My Girlfriend does this when I am with her because she expects me to stay by the cart and if I wander off (which I do often since I HATE shopping) it gets left alone. Keep your bag within arms reach at all times.
   
   
7. Don't leave valuables in your car. Why does this protect your identity? Because you also keep your registration in your car and that has your name and address on it. Don't tempt people to break in to your car, because once they are in they may decide to take a lot more than that new TV or stereo you just bought.
   
   
8. Pay attention to your cashiers, and try to avoid handing your credit cards to people. Most stores no longer require you to give your card t a cashier to swipe, and have the equipment for you to do it on your own, but if you must hand over your card, pay attention to what they are doing. In a place I worked last Christmas, one of the cashiers stole some credit card numbers and was only caught because she was dumb enough to use them in the store we worked in and used her employee account to get her discount. So pay attention to the cashier or anyone handling your card, be sure they aren't copying any info down or taking a picture of it.
   
   
9. Make sure you get your card back. Every day I get calls from people who leave their cards at the store I work in. We have dozens of these cards at any given time (we would have hundreds but company policy is to destroy them if not claimed within 48 hours) so make sure you get it back if you give it to a cashier to swipe.
   
   
10. If you lose a credit/debit card, report it ASAP. Get the card suspended if you think you just misplaced it, cancel it if you think it got left behind or stolen. It just isn't worth the risk to wait a few days.

These tips can, and should be followed all year, but are especially important during the holidays. Have fun this holiday season, but please keep yourself and your identity safe.

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