Category: Business

MoviePass – Better Than a Gym Membership

Business / Technology / Websites

I love business. Especially small business. And I love to see ideas grow from a couple of people at a kitchen table, to something that goes viral. And I especially love seeing one type of business plan applied to something that looks completely different (but actually isn’t.) That’s MoviePass. MoviePass is a month-to-month membership site that (now,) lets you watch an ‘unlimited’ number of movies in the movie theater for the low monthly price of… $9.95. Yes – less than the price of a single ticket. With e-ticketing, …

Please Just Say "I Don’t Know"

Business / Customer Service

I suppose it’s human nature to want to look smarter than you really are. But when it comes to customer service, there’s nothing worse than having someone try to help you when they know less than you do. People often fall back to circular talking, trying to say the same thing in different ways, mainly because they don’t know the answer to the question – but they don’t want to concede that fact. Something I learned very well as a Guest Relations Host at Disneyland was that it’s …

Do NOT buy a Matterport camera!

Business / Customer Service / Reviews / Technology

As a geek, I love technology. I also love photography (especially digital photography.) Last year, I made a “buyer beware” purchase far too quickly, and purchased a $4,000 Matterport camera, along with the $1,500 “hosting” package (which is REQUIRED to use the camera!) from Matterport.com. *HUUUGE MISTAKE*!! The potential is great, but the cost and customer service is AWFUL! In fact, I can’t recall ever making such a big mistake in a purchase before. Yes, it is completely MY fault for ASSuming that the camera and service would …

Review: Capital One | Spark Business Banking

Business / Customer Service / Reviews

I recently started a small side-business, filed the incorporation paperwork and looked at business banking options. One of the options that came up was Capital One’s Spark Business Banking. I filled out all the questions, uploaded the documents they asked for… and never heard back from them again. No email. No phone call. And when I sign into the website, just a message that they have reviewed the documents and will be in touch. But apparently that does not include calling potential customers, or putting a notice on …

Employee empowerment

Business / Customer Service / Technology

One of my hobby websites recently got hacked, which caused a bigger problem on my web hosting account. It happens. It’s fixed now, but the incredible frustration that came from it wasn’t caused by the hack itself, but by the bad "technical support" people. I’m very aware of businesses trying to keep costs down so they can increase profits and put money back into the business for further growth. BUT, at what cost? It’s *VERY* unlikely that I’ll continue to recommend my current web host because of the …

AVOID Skadate! – Lack of tech support

Business / Customer Service / Marketing / Reviews / Software / Technology

Skadate – AVOID THEM! Sadly, I started a website using the Skadate software, and it has been a nightmare from day 1. LOTS of people have complained about Skadate. I’m not the first. BUT, the most people I can steer AWAY from Skadate, the better. They operate under the name "Skalfa LLC" as well. One of the *ONLY* redeeming things about Skadate / Skalfa, was the customer community forum. There were THOUSANDS of entries with hundreds and hundreds of solutions to the countless problems Skadate has… and today, …

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