I’ve decided that other companies can learn a thing or two about customer service from Porter Airlines. Porter is doing so many things right. They offer reasonably priced flights and a number of little classy touches (that used to be the norm, but are now the exception) such as: more leg room, real glasses to drink from, free wine and …
Time-of-use electricity rates: More greenwashing or real conservation?
When the first brochures came out about time-of-use (TOU) billing rates, I was under the impression that somehow the change was going to benefit me as a consumer. I read the headings of the brochures sent with my electricity bill: “simple changes can bring real benefits” and “putting you in control” and “Choose your time. Manage your costs.” To me, …
Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses — we aren’t entitled to any of it
The unfortunate sign of the times is ‘For sale by owner’. Driving through upper Michigan this past weekend I was awestruck at the number of “for sale” signs. In this case, I’m referring not to houses, but to the items for sale parked on the front lawns of houses. Boats, recreational vehicles, trailers, riding mowers, motorcycles, tractors, and more, were …
Is it a deal? Saving money on spending or impulse purchases
You can’t open the paper lately without being told “Thou shalt Steal The Deal.” Full-page, colour ads with masked models smile back at us as they have supposedly saved money on restaurants, salons, golf, and more. Steal The Deal follows on the heels of other group buy sites, such as Groupon, Living Social, and WagJag. The premise is brilliant, even …
The long and short of it: Why women’s cuts don’t cost 2 bits
Why are women’s haircuts so much more expensive than men’s? I set out to answer this question and find out if a decent woman’s haircut under $20 was as elusive as finding a unicorn to ride to the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I started by asking unisex salons their prices: a woman’s cut averaged $35 …
1
Are the time and energy spent coupon clipping worth the return?
Coupons are ruining my life. They’re supposed to help us save money and introduce us to new products, but I’m starting to wonder if they are more trouble than they are worth. I’m directing this column to those of you out there who also clip coupons. Coupon clippers tend to be those of us who run the finances and are …
Has the concept of truth in advertising gone up in smoke?
Where there is money to be made, there are unethical business practices. Unfortunately, there is a lot of money to be made in tobacco sales. Yes, where there is smoke, there is fire. There seems to be an ongoing awkward dance between the government and tobacco companies. Government tries to limit the advertising, use, and sale of cigarettes, and tobacco …
Newcomer to politics needs to find a way to get her name out
I was a little shocked to read that one of the mayoral candidates said that they would not be using electoral signs or go door-to-door to increase awareness of their candidacy. I have to question if they are really serious about this election. Corel Corporation had a better word processing product, and yet I am currently typing in Microsoft Word, …
Exercise can replace all new-fad gadgets to sculpt and tone your booty
We’re being encouraged to focus on our bottom lines lately and we should perhaps all be happy to note that assets are firmly on the rise. Although I could be talking about the economy, I’m referring to the number of products focused on accentuating a woman’s buttocks. Seems I can’t turn on the television or Internet without seeing an advertisement …
Bigger, faster, more don’t mean progress and they don’t make us happy
Did we need a bigger Walmart? Was anyone complaining that the old one was too small? Are bigger, faster and more always better? Life’s trappings have us in such a choke hold that I am wondering who is in control. More and more often, I am feeling strangely uncomfortable. It is a difficult sensation to pinpoint, but I feel it …