Monthly Archives: September 2012

09.30.12
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I’ll pay more….

for a good experience, especially one that brings some convenience to my life and if it saves time even better.  This isn’t to say I will grossly overpay for something or that I will not do some homework to make sure I am paying a reasonable price.  It is to say that it is my money and I am always trying to maximize any and all experiences.  If that means I can get the product/service I am looking for and buy from a person I like and all it costs is a few more dollars, count me in.

Any easy way to get even more out of what you are buying is to buy from someone or someplace you want to help support.

09.28.12
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Just help me

Don’t sell me……….Help me buy

Don’t build to a close………build a relationship

Don’t “Ben Franklin” close me?………help me buy showing the why

No fear of loss…….stick to why you are a good person to buy

Don’t close me………..make me open to a new relationship

09.24.12
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Make it easy to…

BUY FROM YOU!!!

Why would you make it hard for someone to spend money with you?  No idea.  Human beings are worth money to your business.  For as much commerce has moved on-line a good human being can still beat a computer.  If you don’t believe that you can do the actual math.

I went into Sears then Lowes in order to buy a microwave/hood combination.  Total cost regardless of where I go will be about $350.  Now, let’s say a minimum shift is 4 hours and your basic worker is $11 an hour.  So $44 is spent for me to spend $350.  Not a bad return but yet neither store even had a human being working that could help.  So I left and instead bought it on-line through Home Depot.  Of course I could not buy from Lowes/Sears after the bad experience.  Yes, in hindsight I should have just been on-line however I did hope to pick up the microwave in the store.  Silly me, wasted about 40 minutes of my life on this purchase.

Either way, whether on-line or in person just  make it easy.  Lot’s of people are out to BUY not SHOP so make it easy or of course you can choose the alternative and the consequences that come with it.

09.20.12
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Shopping versus buying?

I figure when you are shopping you are not totally sure of what you want.  So what do you do, you call on a few companies, maybe ask some questions, hopefully you learn something.     Now if every offer you get is not the same what do you do?  How do you compare?

So if you are buying, I figure you know what you want.  You have set some clear, almost non-negotiable criteria and went out to look for it.  Now it doesn’t mean you do not take advice or that you are trying to overspend.  Instead I think it means you are not wasting time, you are getting a clear idea of what you are looking for and you ask others to present that.

I love when people are looking for comparisons I loathe when people shop without having a clear idea of what they want or even what they need.

09.19.12
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A great day

I say it many times a week, since I have only 24 hours in a day(just like you) I am very careful with my time.  Specifically when it comes to who I CHOOSE to work with, yes I do not work with everyone that I speak with.  Today I cannot be grateful enough that Ms. “X” called.  She called prompted by a postcard offering tips on things to do in 2012 which was great.  All she saved was the part with my photo and contact info, actually was put together by Graphic Nature .  That felt great, it felt great that we have not spoken in around 5 years and she thought to call me when she had a problem.  But that was just the beginning.

Note to self and you, an 89 year old has a whole lot of knowledge and experience that is not written down BUT you will NEVER get to learn if you do not ask.  I asked and I was rewarded with two awesome stories.

I DO NOT SELL INSURANCE I HELP PEOPLE BUY IT  and along the way I am privileged to interact with some awesome people.

09.18.12
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Is it worth $5 a month?

What do you spend $5 a month on?  You spend $5 when you walk in Starbucks, you spend it on a lunch or breakfast out, lotto tickets, a treat at the supermarket, etc.  What else?  All sorts of things that give you an instantaneous bit of value to your life.  BUT why do you not apply this logic to spending $5 on improving the protection your family has?  $5 a month can buy a couple hundred thousand dollars in coverage.  $5 a month can add an endorsement to your policy that greatly enhances the value of what it covers.

Before you decide to save money on insurance make sure you are saving it in the right places.  Remember INSURANCE IS PENNIES BUYING DOLLARS.

thanks  for reading, use at your discretion.

09.17.12
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The Endangered Species in insurance…

Is your rate staying the same year to year.  It does not happen often but it should be the goal of every agent and policy holder.  Some pieces of reality;

  • What is happening in the economy is not your problem, what is happening in YOUR economy is
  • Just because your company had a bad year does not mean you should pay more
  • It is a privilege for you to allow your company to insure YOU not the other way around
  • Inflation might be the worst excuse of all, 1% inflation does not equal 10% in insurance

So how do you become part of the  endangered species;

  • Review your rates every year
  • Think about loyalty but do not base a buying decision on it
  • Call your agent, I bet he/she would love to hear from you
  • Do all you can reasonably do to lower your rate

Remember keeping your rate the same is almost as good as a reduction.

Thanks for reading.

09.14.12
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My time in court

Well it happened, back in June I received a speeding ticket. Yes, I was absolutely speeding however I did plead not-guilty because;

  •  I believe I was not going as fast as the officer says I was
  • I know the implications to my insurance rates
  • I had never been to traffic court so thought it would be fun to go(seriously it was)

So yesterday was the big day, but really 1 hour 45 minutes, so some observations then the numbers.  I call this thoughts from court since there were no cell phones and no tweeting;

  • Are the Police being paid overtime
  • What is the average number of tickets an officer gives per month?
  • One of these kids is not like the others; way overdressed in a pressed shirt and nice slacks
  • I need to know more police officers
  • Are the attorneys being paid by the hour or appearence
  • Is this judge elected or appointed
  • Seriously, to the girl wearing stiletto’s, what were you thinking
  • To the guy with the Thug strut, seriously
  • To the girl growing her hair out, please just cut off the 5 inches of green it looks terrible

On the legal system; Way to lenient.  I think 9.5 out of 10 tickets or other infractions were plead down.  Honestly I went in wanting to be at 11 miles per hour over and got 10.  I would not have plead guilty to the 17 over but I still asked for 9.  I admitted to being 11 over so I feel good about 10.  That being said, I find it hard to believe the other 50 or so people were exactly the same as me.  The court is likely just a microcosm of society in general and since personal responsibility is nearing extinction.  Either way, the numbers;

Now the officer did not appreciate this although it is the truth; There is a difference between 1-10 miles over the limit, 11-15, 15-20, etc.  This is why I asked for 9 mph over not 10.  Fortunately I fall into the category of good credit so this should have minimal effect.  That being said once you hit 15 mph over is when you can possibly see expensive surcharges for 3 years.  The officer did not really care, the $85 court surcharge is a one time thing the insurance surcharge is for three years.  Aw well, you ALWAYS have to ask. I would not expect to hear any more personal experiences on this topic.

As always, use at your discretion.

 

09.13.12
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Logic versus fear

Flat Hot Dogs

Logic or Fear?

Interesting dilemma, do you sell or buy based on logic or fear.  If you spend a few minutes looking up choking statistics you can make a strong case you buy these out of fear.  See statistically there are much worse causes than hot dogs.  Logically you or I can say well if the flat hot dog eliminates this risk than it makes sense.  But does it?  Maybe it makes more sense to think through the whole problem; is the person seated, did they take a reasonable size bite are there adults near buy who can supervise end or help if something happens?

Not much different than anything else in life.

So the insurance part; the hope from the insurance company side is that you buy more products or coverage because of the fear of the unknown.  Why else would they show you a courtroom?  Maybe they just ran out of ways to promote discounts.  Instead come up with your own base line of how much coverage you want or feel you should have.  THERE IS NO PRACTICAL OR IMPRACTICAL WAY TO COVER YOURSELF FROM EVERYTHING.  So do the best you can, apply some thought and basic logic, the results will be there.