April 25, 2006
I paid my bills the other night and have come to the hard realization that I need more money. This always puts me in a bad mood. Right now I'm in "what can I do without" mode. With a quick look around the apartment I see something that can go without question; my phone. I hate talking on my landline, I just never use it. I've only kept it this long because of my DSL. So, with that in mind, I call up Ma Bell.
Bob's calling the phone company.
(You know this ain't gonna go well.)
I have DSL, a landline and cell - it's all on one bill. To get rid of my landline and just have a cell and to keep my DSL, I'd just have a dry loop DSL coming in...no more landline. To do this, I have to split up my bill, then cancel my DSL, then sign up for it again. The lady on the phone didn't think I'd like this process and she was right. What the F?! Why do I have to cancel something, why can't the service I want just be added?! All someone has to do is hit a button! You know that's all it is -- it's 2006 people! CAN I GET A WITNESS?!
This information was gathered over a 40-minute phone call, I was transfered to 5 different people, each person gave me a different 800 number. It was just so dumb. I decided to sleep on it...I can't see one reason to pay $38 a month for nothing. The other area I'm looking at is DirecTV. I put a hold on it for 3 months last year because I was watching too much...I think I may do that again this year...as soon as The Sopranos is over, ha ha. I even went as far as thinking about getting rid of my car. I use it once a week and for trips back to Ohio. I figure sell it, buy a beater...no insurance on it, no parking spot...I'd save so much by doing that. But then you forget the downside to that is paying $1800 for a transmission. So I can't do that.
I don't mean to talk about money but with taxes, this, that and the other - everything hit at once. And I don't believe it debt...spending over my means, sure. Debt, no.
I got a cool e-mail yesterday that I'd like to share with you.
Frank Jones from The Wharton School of Business writes, "Hi Bob, Long-time reader, first-time e-mailer. I'm a Professor at Wharton and my students talk about your website all the time. In an effort to keep their attention, do you think you could find a way to make the topic of Direct Marketing, specifically Direct Mail, more exciting? Thanks Bob -- Keep up the great work!"
How cool is that?! Here's the answer: First, let me say I don't think there can be anything more exciting than Direct Mail but I'll give it a try. Direct Mail, hmmmmm...my two-year degree in Business Management is finally working for me, ha ha. Direct Mail is just a personal way for advertisers to reach their customers. Some call this Junk Mail but with proper research, it's really an effective tool to reach people. A real world example would be if I received a catalog for Ethan Allen furniture. For the money I make, I'd be better suited to receive an Ikea catalog. But the perfect example of Direct Mail is what I found in my mailbox last night:
A postcard for the opening of Larry Flynt's
Hustler Club Roof Deck!
Finally an ad I can use! Whoever sent this card to me is a marketing genius! I went SUCH A LONG way for that one. I'm exhausted!
The party for the adult roof deck was on the 24th, the same day I received the card. "You're invited...RIGHT NOW!" Why Larry Flynt, WHY?! Such is life.
Have a great day.
Best,
Bob
Bob's calling the phone company.(You know this ain't gonna go well.)
I have DSL, a landline and cell - it's all on one bill. To get rid of my landline and just have a cell and to keep my DSL, I'd just have a dry loop DSL coming in...no more landline. To do this, I have to split up my bill, then cancel my DSL, then sign up for it again. The lady on the phone didn't think I'd like this process and she was right. What the F?! Why do I have to cancel something, why can't the service I want just be added?! All someone has to do is hit a button! You know that's all it is -- it's 2006 people! CAN I GET A WITNESS?!
This information was gathered over a 40-minute phone call, I was transfered to 5 different people, each person gave me a different 800 number. It was just so dumb. I decided to sleep on it...I can't see one reason to pay $38 a month for nothing. The other area I'm looking at is DirecTV. I put a hold on it for 3 months last year because I was watching too much...I think I may do that again this year...as soon as The Sopranos is over, ha ha. I even went as far as thinking about getting rid of my car. I use it once a week and for trips back to Ohio. I figure sell it, buy a beater...no insurance on it, no parking spot...I'd save so much by doing that. But then you forget the downside to that is paying $1800 for a transmission. So I can't do that.
I don't mean to talk about money but with taxes, this, that and the other - everything hit at once. And I don't believe it debt...spending over my means, sure. Debt, no.
I got a cool e-mail yesterday that I'd like to share with you.
Frank Jones from The Wharton School of Business writes, "Hi Bob, Long-time reader, first-time e-mailer. I'm a Professor at Wharton and my students talk about your website all the time. In an effort to keep their attention, do you think you could find a way to make the topic of Direct Marketing, specifically Direct Mail, more exciting? Thanks Bob -- Keep up the great work!"
How cool is that?! Here's the answer: First, let me say I don't think there can be anything more exciting than Direct Mail but I'll give it a try. Direct Mail, hmmmmm...my two-year degree in Business Management is finally working for me, ha ha. Direct Mail is just a personal way for advertisers to reach their customers. Some call this Junk Mail but with proper research, it's really an effective tool to reach people. A real world example would be if I received a catalog for Ethan Allen furniture. For the money I make, I'd be better suited to receive an Ikea catalog. But the perfect example of Direct Mail is what I found in my mailbox last night:
A postcard for the opening of Larry Flynt'sHustler Club Roof Deck!
Finally an ad I can use! Whoever sent this card to me is a marketing genius! I went SUCH A LONG way for that one. I'm exhausted!
The party for the adult roof deck was on the 24th, the same day I received the card. "You're invited...RIGHT NOW!" Why Larry Flynt, WHY?! Such is life.
Have a great day.
Best,
Bob
