Humor

Do as I say?

Back when dinosaurs ruled the earth, I had a radio talk show where for three hours a day I answered financial questions about such things as the best way to pay for college, and what kind of mortgage to get. Eventually, we arranged it so I could do the program out of my office at Financial World in New York—callers liked that because periodically they would hear police siren in the background—but at first I had to go into the studio. The guy on before me, a charming fellow, did a similar show. He was a legend in the business, someone I grew up listening to. One day, he was arrested for insider trading. More…

Why customer service is good

Judging by the reaction I received to yesterday's blog, a lot of you have had your own Verizon customer service horror stories. Here's a quick example of how not every company is clueless when it comes to taking care of their customers. While on my just completed vacation, I took a two of kids over to Manatee County (Fl) Golf Course to hit a couple of buckets of balls. The kids were using my clubs and as fate would have it, Sam, the 21-year-old, somehow snapped off the head of my 3 wood. The clubs were a Christmas present, and while it is more than possible the 3 wood was defective, my first thought (which I didn't share with Sam) is that he had probably hit the club against the ground and snapped it off. (Sam has only recently started playing golf.) More…

Why Would You Say That?

American Express has announced that it is going to tighten its belt, in light of the economic downturn. Cardholders aren't spending as much, and so the firm is going to lay off people, the announcement read. I understood that part. They also said they are cutting back on corporate travel and entertainment. Even if that is true, if a huge part of your business is based on getting your customers to travel and enterain, why would you tell the world that YOU are against the things that make up the core of your business? More…

Money for Nothing

Here are a couple of random thoughts, while waiting for the market to open. Should the L.A. Dodgers play the Red Soxs in the World Series, the Soxs will be paying for Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez to beat them. (Part of the trade that sent Manny from the Red Soxs to the Dodgers during the season required the Soxs to continue to pay all of Manny's salary for the year.) It gets better. If the Dodgers win, not only will Manny get a World Series ring, he will get two bonus checks. The first, for being a member of the winning team. And, the Sox will pay him a pro-rated share of what the losing team receives to cover the time he played for them during the season. Sure beats trying to make money in the market.. More…

...So Why Aren’t We Working Today?

Does anyone else find it odd that on LABOR day so few of us are working? More…

Couldn’t They Donate Their Money Instead?

Couldn’t They Donate Their Money Instead? There is no doubt the economy is hurting, but you would never know it judging by the record number of Presidential ads you see on television. That thought was brought home for me last night as my college-aged daughter and I watched the Yankees-Red Sox game instead of the Democratic convention. (It is not that we are a-political. We both already know who we are going to vote for. And Shannon (a passionate Sox fan) and I (someone who has rooted for the Yankees since I discovered baseball when I was seven back in 1961) have a standing date—complete with pizza and trash talking—whenever the two teams play.) More…