If you don’t know that these are difficult times you are either very rich or have just woke up from a five year nap. This is not your father’s recession, it’s closer to your grandfather’s depression. Millions of Americans are out of work and more soon will be. Large and small businesses are feeling the pain right along with the rest of us. Most large businesses will survive due to their easier access to credit. Unfortunately, many local businesses will not – unless you act like the government and provide your own bailout package. Read More »
Economists and market pundents now routinely tell us the economy is the worst its been since the Great Depression.” You think? Thanks for that insight. Financial planners like Carmen Wong Ulrich tell viewers they should take money out of the market “slowly.” Hey “experts”, we know the economy sucks. Tell us something we don’t already know. Read More »
You will have to forgive me but I can’t hide my excitement. As a struggling entrepreneur with a small undercapitalized company, I have just discovered a source of a major cash infusion to fund my ratings & review website, ConsumerConnection.com. I am receiving $1 Billion from TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Like an excited child on Christmas eve I can’t sleep at night for thinking of all the ways I can invest in my business! Read More »
Last week I had an experience that left me feeling great about the honesty and generosity of several people in Chicago. When I stupidly left my wallet is a cab that delivered me to Hotel Sax in Chicago, I had little hope I would ever see it again. My first thought was, of course, Damn! I’m in Chicago with no money, credit cards, or identification. Nice move, Terry. Read More »
Like everyone else on the planet I have logged uncountable hours lately watching breathless business and political reporters drone on about the merits of the proposed bailout of the financial markets. I even watched as I was stuck on a treadmill recently while a TV was tuned to The Lou Dobbs show on CNN. Now its not that I usually disagree with Dobbs. Actually I so despise this annoying, sanctimonious, narrow-minded jerk that I find it hard to listen to what he has to say. Read More »
The business model used at ConsumerConnection.com is unlike those used at other Ratings & Reviews websites. One big difference is ConsumerConnection.com is funded entirely by the founder, me. My wife has begun calling herself a Venture Capitalist. If that is true, I hope her next deal is more lucrative. Read More »
Big Business is afraid of you. More to the point, they will go to great lengths to keep you from complaining to others about them. This modern approach to sweeping complaints under the rug is exactly the wrong approach. What am I talking about, you ask? Read on. Read More »
This is not a political blog. We take no sides in the current election, although in our self-appointed role of consumer advocates we are watching both candidates for ideas and initiatives that will benefit consumers.
Barack Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night contained references to a theme that is important to consumers, Read More »
Customers are usually very forgiving. Make a mistake and they will probably forgive and forget – or at least forgive and give a business a second chance. But this forgiveness is much more likely when the business convincingly utters the magic words – “I’m sorry.” As in “I’m sorry we didn’t meet your expectations.” Or “I’m sorry our technician didn’t show up after you waited all afternoon. He should have called you. It will never happen again.” Most customers will accept a sincere apology and move on.
So why is it so rare to hear an apology from a business that has in some way dropped the ball? Read More »
Some posts highlight great businesses or acts of outstanding service by employees of companies I or my readers have dealt with. Some, like this one, will accurately describe what in my opinion is completely unacceptable service by a Realtor I recently had to deal with. Read More »
