Nov 14, 2013

Angie's List frustrating

Overwhelmed with emails selling Angie's List services, products, local businesses, etc.. On the business side I am frustrated with the "Fetch" service - it takes THREE MONTHS between each time I am allowed to submit new contact info for my clients? That is three months of missed time that people could be submitting reviews and potential clients could be reviewing them. Then when I go to look at my Fetch system again, I see no record of exactly which customers I have already submitted info for - and so I cannot tell which customers I need to submit contact info for or which ones I already have done so. The "Fetch" system seems to me to be a thinly-veiled campaign for Angie's List to gain new members. (Which brings me to my final frustration - the fact that my customers have to have (or enroll to have) an Angie's List profile in order to submit a review.) Ugh. I'm already setting up profiles on other sites like Thumbtack. Angie's List is ok but feels snobby and also overly agressive about getting new customers.

Sep 19, 2013

Buffer's "affiliate program"


Aug 20, 2013

Re: Buffer: Anything between Awesome and Business?




From: Buffer <hello@bufferapp.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 2:59 PM
To: Suzanne

Hey Suzanne!

Thank you so much for the email! I can understand exactly where you are coming from. I apologize that at the moment, I don't have a great answer for you. We don't currently have an ad-hoc way to add more accounts. The plans are pretty well set at the level you see. However, this is an area that the team is always revisiting and making sure it is the best approach. So, that is to say, that there could be changes in the future but not clear when.

Sorry that I can't really solve this one right now for you. You could always sign up for the free-trial and test it out and see if it makes sense. Maybe with the coming release of Google Plus Pages, you will find it is the right time after all? I'm not trying to sell you on something you don't need - I just wanted you to have all of the info I have! :)

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions at all - I am here to help!

Cheers,
Brian

--
Brian
Happiness Hero

P.S. We're always around and love hearing from you. Please get in touch if you want to ask something or even just to say hello :-)

Buffer: Anything between Awesome and Business?



From: Suzanne
Date: Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 2:39 PM
To: Buffer <hello@bufferapp.com>

Hey there,

I am loving Buffer (thanks!) but finding myself stuck between outgrowing-the-Awesome-Plan and Not-quite-big-enough-for-the-Business Plan. Is there any option yet for something in between - say, 18 accts for $30/month?

Thanks for all you do,

Suzanne

Aug 2, 2013

Loving the "Canned responses" lab within gmail

OMG I am LOVING this new-to-me lab, "Canned responses". I didn't know that it existed and literally went in search of another email provider (I'm sorry, I feel guilty saying that but I wanna be honest) because I wanted to create/use different email signatures. Previously in gmail the only thing I could think of was to save "drafts" of commonly sent emails - and then copy/paste the msg into new email, each time. I ran across this gmail feature the other day while I was looking for a solution for my business - found this lab in an article here (woo-hoo! So excited, I even posted it on my blog) and enabled it in the internal email for my business within my Google Business apps. I was not aware that it exists within personal (non-business) email, though - and so I just opened up one of my personal gmail accounts to check - and it is! Woo-hoo!!! So excited. Thanks for creating this feature. I think that you should publicize it more - I know that I will do my part to let other people know about it!

In particular, one way that I am plannig to use it is in response to ads or in emailing potential customers. One business we have is a flooring company (858 Flooring - Serving MD, PA, VA, DE & WV) - when we reply to ads on Craigslist or send emails to possible clients for the first time, we want to include lots of information about the business (complete with links, etc) but these emails may be a bit different from one another, depending who is going to receive the email, whether it is a "cold inquiry" or more of a response to a particular type of ad. Anyway, the only way that we did this before was (as I mentioned) to keep saved "drafts" and use them as "templates" - when we wanted to use one, we would open it up and "copy" it, then "paste" it into a new email. Because I (office manager) made up this crude little system (lol) it made sense to me - and the owner of the company could even use it, once I showed him how to do it, a couple of times. (We both use the same work email account.) As you can imagine, though, I noticed the other day that one of our little "templates" in the "saved drafts" folder was gone - no doubt one of us accidentally opened it up and completed the address field and then hit "send", rather than copy/paste it into a new email message. What I am looking forward to about the "canned responses" feature is how easy it looks like it will be to use - it is literally a drop-down menu, followed by selecting one of the saved 'templates'. Love it.

The only similar feature I have seen is in Outlook, where it is possible to create/use/insert various email "signatures". I am embarassed to say that I went searching yesterday for some kind of similar online solution/alternative - some web-based email provider that would allow me to save/insert various email signatures. I checked out Outlook.com (super confusing - plus they don't offer that option, waste of my time to look and download emails from one of my accounts) and then I found a post about Windows Live Mail, which was going to be my next investigation. (I manage two businesses, ten email accounts, etc - I am slowly trying to come up with some way to centralize my email in one place - but to keep it all online so that I can access it from various computers - home, office, etc.) Needless to say, it is a process - but your "canned responses" lab is going to make it that much easier, for sure.

Thank you!

Suzanne
Suzanne Isabella Marketing

ps - On a side note, I have been committing to the Google suite of products - both at home and at work. It's tough sometimes (Google Chrome / Adobe Shockwave conflict, anyone???) but it's things like this pleasant surprise "Canned Responses" lab that make it easier :)

Aug 1, 2013

Gmail signatures - Google Apps Help

Gmail signatures - Google Apps Help

Awesome awesome awesome - this is exactly what I was looking for:

Looking for good way to remotely manage multiple email accts on desktop computer when away from home

One feature that I am looking for is a way to create multiple e-mail signatures. This morning I thought of Outlook.com - and so I went to check it out. I already had a Microsoft account and so I went into Outlook.com, added my gmail acct and began importing my gmail into Outlook.com. Next, I went to figure out how to set up my e-mail signatures - thinking it was going to be like regular Outlook - but no luck. I went out onto the Microsoft/Outlook.com forums to ask this question and ran across this thread - which pretty much said that it's not possible to do. One forum moderator (JR_N.) within the thread, however, suggested that "if you still want to have multiple signatures, we suggest that you download Windows Live Mail. Windows Live Mail can help you organize your life in one place on your PC. Add and see multiple email accounts, calendars, and contacts when you don't have an Internet connection." - followed by where to go to download Windows Live Mail and then the steps on how to add a signature to your outgoing messages using Windows Live Mail.
Looking forward to checking out Windows Live Mail, later today - I'll keep you posted!

Jul 23, 2013

Review of Orkin treatment/service for summertime ants around our home (Baltimore County, MD)

-I like that you give us a schedule/calendar with dates circled for the next several months so that we can put them in our calendar and plan accordingly.

-I like that your prices seem fair and manageable.

-I like that your employee spent several hours going around the inside and outside of our home so that I felt that our concerns were receiving lots of attention and that our bug problem was being handled well.

-I was a little frustrated that we were given such a large window of time during which to expect the employee (on the second visit) - something like 8am - Noon (or 2pm?) - but I appreciated that when he was running behind schedule, he called to communicate with us and let us know.

-And finally, while it did take two or three weeks for the ant treatment to fully "kick in" (for us to see the full effects) - and in the meantime I was anxious, wondering if/when we would see a decrease in ants? - it went exactly as the employee said that it would: "It will take a few weeks, but after that amount of time, you should see a large decrease in the number of ants". Happy to say that after the first few weeks, the number of ants is down to something crazy like 10 per week!

First time ever getting a service for bugs in our home, very happy/satisfied with having chose Orkin. Thanks!

ps - The branch that has been helping us is Baltimore #307

Jul 3, 2013

Contacts (finally) retrieved/restored to BB Bold 9930 using Reincubate's Blackberry Backup Extractor ($25) - but no thanks to BB #byebyeblackberryhelloandroid #laststraw


Date: Wed, Jul 3, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Subject: BlackBerry Backup Extractor 1.0.7.0 feedback message
To: support@reincubate.com

Wow. Thanks so much for your service. I updated to BB 7.1 Bundle 2705 and somehow lost 2,500 of my 3,000 contacts in the process. (I had never used BB Protect or BBM.) I did have a recent backup file I'd created with BB Desktop Manager but for whatever reason (corrupted, could not access) I could not use it to restore them onto my phone, myself. I used your service to extract my contacts and used links that you provided in order to upload them into Outlook and then import them back onto my phone. I am exhausted from this weeklong experience - and very frustrated with BB, overall, right now - but really grateful for your service. Thank you!

ps - Other things that I (unsuccessfully) tried: BB website, contacting BB customer service, BB community forums, community forums for other non-BB websites, etc


Jul 2, 2013

Correspondence with Blackberry-knowledgeable-but-not-officially-Blackberry website/blog/support guy


From: John
Date: Tue, Jul 2, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930
To: Suzanne

I agree for once with BlackBerry somewhat. I haven't run into your issue before. Its so weird that you have a full backup and you can see the contacts are in fact saved but it's only placing a small amount of them back onto your device. Now BlackBerry should try to help instead of sending you to the carrier because we all know those people know less then anyone and will just say it's a BlackBerry issue. Hopefully this restore corrects everything cuz I hate to recommend a security wipe to anyone. 

Good luck,
John


-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne B.
Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 9:26 AM
To: John
Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

Can I please tell you that I am frustrated with Blackberry? I tweeted them, they tweeted back "Please follow us on Twitter so that we can DM you with help" - I did that, let them know that I was following them and then they sent me a DM "Your problem sounds complicated, please get in touch with your network provider". I'm done with BB as soon as I am able to upgrade according to my Verizon plan without having to pay a fee for changing devices.

Ok, thanks for letting me vent. I'll keep you posted - currently trying to restore one last time before I resort to the wipe.

Thanks again,

Suzanne


-----------------------------------------------------------------

On Tue, Jul 2, 2013 at 12:21 PM, John wrote:

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are still having issues. Hopefully the security wipe help. You should just need to go into your device setting, then to security and privacy, then you should see a section for security wipe. Once in that area you just need to type in "BlackBerry" in the section and it will take over. Please remember the wipe can take some time so just let it runs it course. Let me know how things work out. 

Thanks,
John. 


-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne B.
Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 9:03 AM
To: John
Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

Hey John,

Thanks again for your help. I have tried a couple more things with no success and am now considering doing a security wipe. Could you remind me how to do that? (I have a complete backup that I will be able to restore from, once I have done the security wipe.)

Thanks,

Suzanne


-----------------------------------------------------------------

On Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM, John wrote:

Hi,

The BlackBerry desktop manager should have backed them up and the restore feature should place everything back on the 9930 as it was before. The only thing I ever had to do was place passwords in after a upgrade. I have no where near the amount of contacts on my device as you but could it just be the device is still indexing all the contacts onto the device? I know when I move my sdcard my music takes a hour or so before they all show as being on the card. The only other place I can think of them being backed up is maybe through one of your email accounts? I have a outlook that all my contacts are backed up thru. I have slowly gotten out of the habit of BlackBerry products restoring things the way they should. Just so you know BlackBerry Protect is the app (should be preloaded on your device) that if you lost your phone can kinda tell you the location it's at. Inside the app though is another way to backup things which is just another way to make sure if BlackBerry desktop manager fails you will be safe. If all else fails maybe do a security wipe and a fresh restore? Just make sure you do have a complete backup still available to restore from. 


-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 3:32 PM
Subject: Re: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

John,

Thanks for the quick response. I checked out that "restore" button, as well - the address book portion was highlit in gray (indicating that it was a read-only file and could not be restored?) and also the number of contacts there is 600. It was when I did the same thing (went back a few days to the last backup performed before I updated to the new bundle) that I found the backup file that included all 3000 contacts - but even then, I was unable to selectively restore just the address book of that file and so I tried restoring the whole file. I am beginning to think that maybe restoring using a backup file does not restore the contacts/address book? So what I have now is my Bold updated to the state that it was two days ago (prior to upgrade and missing 2 days' worth of emails/messages/texts) and with 1/5 of the contacts, lol.

I am just trying to think of another place that my phone/software might have backed them up - no, I did not try Protect (not sure that I've heard of it?) and am kicking myself for not regularly using Backup Assistant, ugh.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

On Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 6:24 PM, John wrote:


Hi Suzanne,

Did you by chance ever use BlackBerry Protect to backup things? Just to try to help I fired up my 9930 and connected it to BlackBerry desktop manager. If you have your device connected to your system in the upper left corner click on "device" then go to restore. From there make sure the backup you want to restore is highlighted then look down you should see "select device data and settings" click that and the first one is your address book. Does it show the number of contacts that you should have?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Suzanne
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 3:19 PM
Subject: Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930

Hey John,

I found your blog entry in a web search and am hoping that you might be able to help me. I updated my Blackberry Bold 9930 to the OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705, earlier this week (on my desktop, using Blackberry Desktop software). I thought that everything was going well; but at the end of the install/upgrade, this message appeared:

          Your BlackBerry! Device Software is updated and you can safely disconnect your device.

          Warmings were encountered during the loading process:


          Application data could not be restored to the device. The backup data file has been saved to (file name/location within my computer) You can use the Desktop Software Backup/Restore tool to restore this information.

I looked at the screen of my phone and could see that the background on my screen had not been restored, for example, and so I went ahead and used the backup/restore tool (along with the file mentioned) to restore that info. Upon completion, my screen looked the way that it had before and so I assumed it to be a good indication that the upgrade/installation had gone fairly smoothly. The problem that I ran across, however, once I exited the desktop software and disconnected my phone from my computer, is that only a fraction of the contacts on my phone are still in place. (I had approx 3,000 - I now have 600? Looks to me like maybe only the recent contacts were restored?)

Getting all of my contacts back/restored is more important to me than having the OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 installed and so I went back to the most recent backup file that the Desktop Software had created from my phone and stored on my computer (an hour or so before having updated/installed the 7.1.0.991 Bundle 27050) - and I went ahead and restored my phone with that, hoping that my contacts would be restored. (I did not do a wipe of my phone or anything like that.) No such luck.

I am wondering if you have any suggestions of where I might be able to find/locate all of my contacts and/or how I might get them back? I never used Backup Assistant on my phone (as I had assumed that my contacts were part of what my Desktop Software was backing up, each time) - and I also do not use BBM and so I do not know whether that function of my phone could be helpful or not.

I am a bit at a loss. I've been using Blackberry devices (old-school pager-type, Pearl, Curve, Bold, etc) for 11 years now but am feeling frustrated and losing patience. I consider myself relatively tech-savvy but am losing patience with the brand.

Thanks,

suzanne


Jul 1, 2013

My search for a cruelty-free plug-in air freshener

I was searching online today for a cruelty-free plug-in air freshener to buy. After two hours of searching (using PETA's searchable guide to cruelty-free companies/products, which is always my go-to reference) and checking out ten different companies/products, I finally ran across The Good Home Co.'s "Scentball™":


I haven't ordered it yet - I wanna take another look at their reed diffusers, too - plus I wanna do a quick online search for any current coupons to use, along with my purchase) but I'll keep you posted!

Have you had any success finding a cruelty-free plug-in air freshener online? Alternatives? Let me know in the comments!

Suzanne

@BlackBerryHelp #NOThelpful


 My favorite is how they ask you to "please follow us so we can offer DM support" - but really they just want to DM you to tell you privately that they're not gonna help, lol #awesome





Jun 28, 2013

Tweet to @BlackBerryHelp



Contacts lost after installing OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 to my Blackberry Bold 9930


Blackberry Support,

I am hoping that you might be able to help me. I updated my Blackberry Bold 9930 to the OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705, earlier this week (on my desktop, using Blackberry Desktop software). I thought that everything was going well; but at the end of the install/upgrade, this message appeared:

          Your BlackBerry! Device Software is updated and you can safely disconnect your device.

          Warmings were encountered during the loading process:


          Application data could not be restored to the device. The backup data file has been

          saved to (file name/location within my computer) You can use the Desktop Software
          Backup/Restore tool to restore this information.

I looked at the screen of my phone and could see that the background on my screen had not been restored, for example, and so I went ahead and used the backup/restore tool (along with the file mentioned) to restore that info. Upon completion, my screen looked the way that it had before and so I assumed it to be a good indication that the upgrade/installation had gone fairly smoothly. The problem that I ran across, however, once I exited the desktop software and disconnected my phone from my computer, is that only a fraction of the contacts on my phone are still in place. (I had approx 3,000 - I now have 600? Looks to me like maybe only the recent contacts were restored?)

Getting all of my contacts back/restored is more important to me than having the OS 7.1.0.991 Bundle 2705 installed and so I went back to the most recent backup file that the Desktop Software had created from my phone and stored on my computer (an hour or so before having updated/installed the 7.1.0.991 Bundle 27050) - and I went ahead and restored my phone with that, hoping that my contacts would be restored. (I did not do a wipe of my phone or anything like that.) No such luck.

I am wondering if you have any suggestions of where I might be able to find/locate all of my contacts and/or how I might get them back? I never used Backup Assistant on my phone (as I had assumed that my contacts were part of what my Desktop Software was backing up, each time) - and I also do not use BBM and so I do not know whether that function of my phone could be helpful or not.

I am a bit at a loss. I've been using Blackberry devices (old-school pager-type, Pearl, Curve, Bold, etc) for 11 years now but am feeling frustrated and losing patience. I consider myself relatively tech-savvy but am losing patience with the brand.

Thanks,

suzanne

Posted in Blackberry Support Community


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Jun 27, 2013

Cozi app/website feedback: Confusion locating customer service, good customer service (once located) & annoying/redundant upgrade-to-Gold ad to current Gold members

(sent in to Cozi customer service - using their "Contact customer care" form, located here - on Thurs, June 27 2013)

THIS IS A QUESTION RELATED TO COZI.

I was really into the app when I first began using it (earlier this year) but little by little I am losing interest/affection for it. While I am writing you this email I wanted to take the opportunity to suggest that Cozi/USCellular might consider putting some kind of logo/link/button on the USCellular customer service page that says "Cozi customer service here" or "Are you a Cozi subcriber? Click here!". When I was a regular (read: Free) Cozi subscriber, Cozi advertised "Priority support: Go right to the front of the line with top priority email-based customer support!" as one of the many perks that I would get if I upgraded to Cozi Gold:


I'm sure that someone else must have raised this point - but I just want to express how CONFUSING it is for a Cozi Gold subscriber (looking for support) to actually understand how/where to go for support. On the Cozi Gold page, there is a link provided - but when the US Cellular page pops up - with no Cozi logo anywhere, no mention of Cozi anywhere (like "Cozi members, click here!" for example)



- even when the customer is completing this form that I am currently completing right now, there is not even an option within the "Topic" drop-down box for "Cozi issue/question". I do not mean to be a marketing nerd but I really dig your app/service and I would like to see it continue doing well, becoming more and more popular, getting more and more users, etc - and so I am passing along this question/suggestion. When I upgraded to Cozi Gold (with the understanding that I would receive "Priority support: Go right to the front of the line with top priority email-based customer support!", if ever I needed it) and then had a hard time actually finding/locating that customer support, when I actually did need it, I felt resentful for having upgraded to Cozi Gold under that pretense.

Aside from that above issue, I would like to point out that the Cozi customer service does seem to be very good (once the customer understands/guesses where to send their concern/issue/question). When I already used this customer service form within the US Cellular site (the same one that I am completing right now), I recall receiving a relatively quick response to my question/issue. In addition, I have been impressed with the Cozi page on Facebook - the response by the Page to customer questions/comments, there. So that is very cool.

Anyway, neither of the above two things (difficulty locating Cozi customer support and the good customer support, once it is located) is the reason that I came here today. The reason that I came here today was to ask/complain/indicate annoyance/confusion regarding the new message (ad) that I saw when I logged onto my Cozi desktop app, this morning. Under the "Our Family" heading within my home page, today, I saw this message:



2 Reasons You’ll Want to Start the Summer with Cozi Gold
See more of the summer calendar on the go with Cozi Gold's mobile month view, and get a free photo book from Shutterfly when you upgrade!

Under the message were the highlit words "Read more"; when I clicked on them I was taken to a generic page with more info:


I was confused as to why I was seeing this message about upgrading to Cozi Gold - wondered if maybe my subscription to Cozi Gold had been cancelled? When I looked at the top of this generic page, it said "sign in / sign up" and so I thought that maybe I was seeing the message because I had not been logged into my profile under the Cozi website. I signed in on the website and went to my homepage, there - but I am still seeing the message there.

I went back to that page about "2 Reasons You’ll Want to Start the Summer with Cozi Gold" and realized that it was actually an entry within the Cozi blog. I scrolled down the page and saw one comment under the blog entry from a fellow customer who was one step ahead of me:



I can appreciate the marketing - but just wanted to let you know that it was confusing/frustrating to receive the message on my home page when I am already a Cozi Gold subscriber. When I realized that Cozi put this message/ad on my home page on purpose - with no regard to my status as a current Cozi Gold subscriber - it made me annoyed.

Again, I love(d) the Cozi app/website/service, back when I began using it earlier this year - I am writing in hopes of communicating to you some ideas/suggestions/feedback in order to contribute/ensure the continued success of the app/service.

Thanks for listening!

Suzanne B.
Cozi user since 4/2013

ps - My very last observation/suggestion for today would be that Cozi does have a profile on Twitter but that it does not list "Follow Cozi on Twitter" under the "Extras" section of a member's homepage (bottom-right area of my Cozi home screen?)



- nor is the Twitter profile listed on the Cozi facebook page


A suggestion would be that links to the Cozi profile on Twitter be listed under the "Extras" section of the member's homepage and also on the Cozi facebook page in order to boost Cozi's twitter followers

(sent in to Cozi customer service - using their "Contact customer care" form, located here - on Thurs, June 27 2013)

Jun 26, 2013

Missing contacts after installed 7.1.0.991 (Bundle 2705) on my Blackberry Bold 9930


Saw an alert yesterday on my Blackberry Bold 9930 indicating that I needed to install a software update to my phone. Hooked it up to my computer so that Blackberry Desktop Software would automatically launch - subsequently backing up everything on my phone – after which I would go ahead and install the new software.

Everything seemed to go fine – I was working on some other stuff on the computer at the same time but I am pretty sure that the Blackberry Desktop Software required a preliminary update, as well? I continued working on other projects as the desktop software and my phone worked together to get everything updated.


When everything seemed to have stopped, I looked down at my phone and began to feel anxious when I saw that, after having restored itself, nothing looked as it used to. (Background, icons, etc all looked generic.) I looked at the Blackberry Desktop Software screen and saw this message:

          Your BlackBerry! Device Software is updated and you can safely disconnect your device.

          Warmings were encountered during the loading process:


          Application data could not be restored to the device. The backup data file has been

          saved to (file name/location within my computer) You can use the Desktop Software
          Backup/Restore tool to restore this information.

I very carefully copied this message and did what it had said to do, using Desktop Software Backup/Restore to restore the above-mentioned file to my phone. (Pat self on back, seemed to work great, proud of myself, etc. lol)

It was not until later (once I had disconnected from the desktop software and was driving home, trying to make a phone call) that I realized that only a fraction of my contacts (600/2900) had been restored. (As you can imagine, this messes up the appearance of the messages/text inbox.)

A quick internet search today (using terms like "blackberry bold 7.1 bundle 2705 contacts lost") did not yield any specific solution-focused results. My specific problem does not seem to be a widespread problem.

My next idea was to go into the backup file that the Desktop Software had created (prior to having installed the installing the 7.1.0.991 on my Bold) and to restore just the contacts portion of that backup file to my phone.

No dice - the "address book" portion of the backup files that the desktop software creates "are read-only data-types and cannot be restored"???

So that is where I am now - I am leaning towards just using that backup file restoring the phone to the state that it was, prior to installation of the Bundle.

Suggestions? Ideas?




Just ordered this fun #4thofjuly printable from @TipJunkie on @Etsy - can't wait to use it at home with the kids!

Source: 4th of July Activities for Kids Family Fun List by TipJunkie


Google Chrome / Shockwave Flash conflict

I am loving Google products, IN GENERAL, right now. I've used Gmail for years but just began using Blogger about two months ago, in order to make/build blog-based websites. (Check them out here.)

I even switched over to using Google Chrome as my default browser. (I had previously used Internet Explorer.) Overall, I am enjoying it - especially for using the Google products like Blogger, Adsense, Google Analytics, etc - but I do occasionally run into a problem (examples: printing out certain forms from the internet, viewing certain pages on the internet, using certain intranet pages at work, etc) and so in those instances I open up an Internet Explorer window to complete the task at hand.

HOWEVER. I have recently been running into this Google Chrome / Shockwave Flash conflict and it is DRIVING ME NUTS.

At first, I was encountering a "The following plug-in has crashed: Shockwave Flash" error message. An internet search using the error message led me to the HowToGeek website, where they address this conflict in a blog post. I learned that the problem is a well-known one and has to do with the fact that Google Chrome has its own built-in Flash. The post was easy-to-understand and included plenty of images along with detailed instructions on how to hopefully fix the problem - I even learned this cool trick:

To see a list of all the plug-ins installed in Chrome, type about:plugins in the address bar

Unfortunatetly, I do not think that the Chrome/Shockwave conflict that I am experiencing was due to the problem that the HowToGeek website explained; when I pulled up the list of plug-ins, I could see that there was only one entry for Flash. However, their post did give me the idea to temporarily solve my problem by disabling Chrome’s internal installation of Flash.

I continued working in Google Chrome without further conflict and was pretty proud of myself for having "solved" the problem - until I began seeing error messages on certain Flash-friendly websites, indicating that I needed to install Flash in order to see all of the content within their page.

I pulled up the HowToGeek blog post again and scrolled down the page, where they mentioned Adobe’s Flash download page.

Cozi app



Things I love about the product/service/app

-Interface/design: fresh, colorful

-Blackberry has an app for it! (This is rare)

-Android has an app for it

-Very accessible through their social media accounts



Things I don't care for

-Cannot search appointments/events

-Customer service: goes to US Cellular?

Jun 20, 2013

Walgreens website (Balance Rewards, credit for lost points, etc)

Wow. Awesome. I picked up a prescription at Walgreens, yesterday, and realized/remembered as I was driving away that I had forgotten to give the pharmacist/cashier my Balance Points card. I made a mental note to myself to log onto my profile later with my receipt in hand and get credit for the points.

And so I just did that – and it was super easy! I logged on (website allows me to select option to remembers my log-in ID, super-helpful, love that in this day and age when I have 4 million log-in IDs/passwords for every website on the web) and immediately saw a link on the screen for “Credit for missing points »” – I don’t have to dig around the site, I don’t have to go to “Frequently Asked Questions”, I don’t have to submit some confidential message to customer service through the website, I don’t have to call in and/or use an automated system, I don’t have to look up an email address for customer service and then log onto my email in a separate browser and then wait 48 hours for a response, etc etc etc.

A smaller window pops up, asking me how I would like to look up my missing points – and offers me three different options. I select “Store Receipt” and it has two simple boxes to complete, along with a “Submit” button underneath. It has a picture of a sample receipt next to these boxes along with the information on the sample receipt clearly/simply circled so that I can understand where on my own receipt I should look for this information to complete the two boxes.

I enter a 20-digit code from my receipt but it is not necessary for me to enter the “dashes” between every set of four digits. When I submit the information, it does not say “Error – you need to go back and re-enter your number with dashes entered between the numbers. The system accepts my 20-digit number as I enter it, without dashes. (You laugh but it is these small-but-simple things that contribute to the simplicity/user-friendliness of a site and make the user either want to return to a website – or not.

The best part of the whole transaction was when I hit “submit”, the system quickly identified my missing points in the system and credited them to my account immediately. One of the first screens had let me know that it may take some time for my missing points to be credited to my account – and so it was a pleasant surprise to see my balance increase immediately/automatically.

I appreciate the simplicity of your website – how easy it is to use (I use it a few times a week – between uploading/ordering photos, logging onto Balance Rewards, checking out weekly circular/ad, looking at “Steps” program, etc). I just wanted to write this all down and let you know.

Thanks so much,

Suzanne



Jun 4, 2013

Cozi Customer Service not really that helpful, actually



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Customer Resolution Support <CustomerResolutionSupport@uscellular.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 4, 2013
Subject: RE: U.S. Cellular Customer Service Online Request


Good Afternoon Suzanne,

I really appreciate you taking the time to write to us. I sincerely apologize for the long delay in my response and I want to thank you for patiently awaiting my reply. I understand your concern with not being able to print or send your lists to family members. I am more than happy to provide you with information that you may find helpful.

I was unable to find any known issues with this application. Unfortunately, we do not support third party applications so I wouldn’t be able to provide extensive troubleshooting steps to resolve that issue. However, I recommend deleting the application and then reinstalling it to see if that will resolve the issue. I am sorry that I couldn’t be more assistance to you.

Thank you Suzanne for your time and allowing me the opportunity to assist you. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at 888-944-9400. I hope you have a great day!


Stephanie R.
Customer Resolution Support
U.S.Cellular|”Hello Better”

From: Suzanne Benson [mailto:suzanne.isabella@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 2:49 PM
To: Customer Resolution Support
Subject: OLR2930610 U.S. Cellular Customer Service Online Request


Questions/Comments: Hey there - I love love love the Cozi app (I upgraded right away to Cozi Gold - use the desktop app at work, the mobile app on my BlackBerry and just started using the Android app on my brand-new ASUS nexus 7 tablet that I got for Mother's Day!). I was just wondering if there is anyone else experiencing trouble printing out their calendar since upgrading to Adobe Acrobat? (In particular anything more than "this week" - for example, when I try now to "Print Next Few Weeks"?) Also my other question is I am no longer able to find option "send this list to another family member's cell phone"? I swear I used to be able to do that, when I first started using Cozi, a couple months ago?!? Thanks

Apr 16, 2013

RE: Open letter to @BestBuy #CrappyCustomerService

***For the entire thread, click here***

from: Twitter (Best Buy) <twitter@bestbuy.com>
date: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 4:20 PM
subject: RE: Open letter to @BestBuy #CrappyCustomerService

Good afternoon,

I’d like to start by saying how truly sorry I am for your poor experience at the White Marsh store.  I can understand completely why you would be feeling frustrated and disappointed.  I’d like to personally apologize for the lack of customer service you’ve received.   

Also, I’d like to thank you for taking time out of your day to provide us with feedback and allowing us to improve as a company.  I’m going to document a formal complaint here at Best Buy Corporate against the store.  We take these complaints very seriously.   Finally, I’ll send an email to the management of the store to make them aware of this situation and John’s excellent customer service. 

Again, I’m sorry for the hassle you’ve had to endure throughout this process.  I hope that you’ll give us another chance to show you how much we value you as a customer. 

Blake
Community Connector
Best Buy Corporate

Open letter to @BestBuy #CrappyCustomerService

***For the entire thread, click here***

to: Twitter@bestbuy.com
date: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 12:53 PM
subject: Open letter to @BestBuy #CrappyCustomerService

Per tweet (@suzanneisabella Susan, I'm so sorry to hear about the lack of service you received. Please send an e-mail to Twitter@BestBuy.com) I am copy/paste-ing this letter into an email for you. It was not an actual letter that I sent but rather a survey that I completed (at www.bestbuycares.com), earlier today - and then posted on twitter

Open letter to @BestBuy #CrappyCustomerService

Wow. I went to Best Buy (White Marsh, MD - Store #159) right when it opened (10am). I was looking for a memory card for my blackberry phone; I checked near USB drives, myself, but they were not there. I saw an associate sitting on the floor there (long, curly light brown hair) with a clipboard/inventory sheets and so I said "Excuse me, do you work here?" but she could not hear me over her ipod headphones. She took a headphone out and said "Excuse me?", like I was interrupting her. (Also she had a light gray sweatshirt on so it was not obvious that she was a Best Buy employee.) I know these inventory people don't usually like to be bothered so I said "Excuse me, do you work here?", to which she said "I work for the Best Buy COMPANY, but I don't work for THIS Best Buy." Wow. All I could do was turn away, say "WOW" to myself and walk away.

I next went in search of an associate who might actually want/be able to help me - but they are hard to find! I wandered over to the laptop department and told the guy I was looking for a memory card for my phone; he didn't look me in the eye but pointed across the store and said "Camera department", again not super excited to help. (No such thing as walking the customer to the product he/she is looking for, atBest Buy!) I wandered over to that department but had a little trouble finding the memory card - looked up to see if there was an associate for the camera department? Not at Best Buy! I finally found what I was looking for - thank goodness I at least knew what I was looking for?

The one thing that I CAN say for Best Buy is you guys have good prices. And it was cool that I got a 32GB memory card for like $30 - the price sticker even said that it was usually $69.99, so that was cool too.

I took my product up to the front - I also wanted to buy rechargeable batteries but at that point I was so pissed off about the (lack of) customer service that I didn't want to give Best Buy any more money than I was already going to give them. (I can get rechargeable batteries anywhere - can't always find memory cards everywhere.) I went up to the cash register, noticed three different Best Buy employees on my way from the camera department to the front of the store who were just leaning on counters/desks and/or chatting with each other. Awesome.

At the front of the store (register) I had my one pleasant interaction of the experience with an employee named John (cashier). He was polite and efficient and helpful and he also smelled nice, which I noticed as I stood there. He did not hand me a "Best Buy Values Your Opinion" card - but I noticed that he had a small stack of them next to his register and so I asked for one. I made sure to also ask for his name as he was the one pleasant employee that I crossed paths with.

I realize that a lot of people maybe go into Best Buy these days just to look at products and then go home to make their online purchases (either from Best Buy's website or elsewhere). Maybe your company has taken this into account and scaled back on actual employees/sales force on the floor, I don't know. Or maybe your employees feel this way and so they don't actually care enough to really help out the customers. But as a customer, I left the store actually mad about it - and so I made sure to come fill out a survey to let your company and your employees know that customers DO still notice.

On another note, I think that your "take a short survey and enter for a chance to win a $5000 Best Buy shopping spree" is silly and not really much of an incentive. With an (unrealistic) prize like that, I don't really believe that "Best Buy Values Your Opinion". Personally, I believe "Win One of fifty $100 gift cards" would be more realistic - meaning that the consumer would feel like it might actually be worth his/her time to respond, whereas some elusive $5000 shopping spree probably doesn't even really exist.

I was coming here to give my opinion, regardless of whether or not the prize exists. I'm just saying, so you know.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Suzanne B.
@suzanneisabella on twitter