Rogers™ feedback and thank you gift

I recently received a phone call from Rogers inquiring as to how I enjoyed my service. I figured it was a routine phone call, so I answered the customer service rep's questions such as 'how do you like your service', 'are there any questions or concerns regarding your service', etc.

Then out of nowhere, the customer service rep says, 'I can save you money',

I replied, 'whaaaat'?

She says, 'yes, I see that you are paying too much for your home phone and I can save you $15-$20 a month.'

I started to ask the technical questions: with taxes, without, locked in or not, does it include international, Canada, US? She explained all to me and I accepted the new 'deal'.

Then came the shocker....wait for it.....'because you are a good customer, you have a choice of $10 gas card or $10 grocery gift certificate to pick from.'  

'Seriously? Gas or food? Well, if I had no gas in my car but I was full, I could walk somewhere. I opted for the $10 grocery gift certificate (I can make a good meal for my family with that).

She put me on hold and came back to inform me that I get a $20 gift certificate because I have numerous Rogers products (That's 2 good meals).

My reward will arrive in the mail in approximately 12 weeks. I am watching my mailbox.


Happy Shopping!!

Tips for Saving Money

1. Open an ING account and have your funds automatically deposited into it.
   
2.  Save the Rest at Bank of Nova Scotia automatically deposits $1 or $5 into a separate account for short term savings such as a vacation or car repairs.
3. Start clipping coupons. Search online, newspapers, magazines and in-store.
4. Make a list before going grocery shopping and eat first before you go. Once at the grocery store, shop on the outer perimeter of the grocery store, this is where all the fresh food is kept. Vegetables, fruits, breads, meats and dairy. Don't forget to stick to your list. 
5. Plan your meals, at least a couple days in advance if not longer. There are some wonderful meal plans online. Search under meal plans.
6. Start using cash. Leave your debit and credit cards at home. By doing this, you won't give in to impulse spending.
7. Budget. Write out your expenses and allocate your funds accordingly. Don't forget to include some fun things like entertainment. Stick to your budget. You might get off track once in a while, but do not make it a habit. Too many times off course and the budget won't work.
8. Shop for items when they are on sale. 
9. Adopt the jar method. Allocate into jars, money for those expenses that are not fixed, for example: gas, entertainment, groceries, transportation, spending. Once the funds in the jar are finished, the do not get replenished until next payday. This method works best by pay period.
10. Open an RRSP account. You can start as low as $25/mth with most banks.
11. Swap children's clothing with friends. Kids grow up so fast, it gets expensive buying them a new wardrobe everytime.
12. Shop at second-hand stores such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, Value Village and Once Upon a Child.
13. Watch movies at home instead of going to the theatre. 
14. Make gourmet meals at home instead of going to an expensive restaurant. 
15. DIY. Learning to do-it-yourself will save you hundreds of dollars a year. Everything from home improvements to interior design can be done by you. It just takes time and patience. 

 If you have any money-saving tips, please email me and I will post your suggestion.


Happy Shopping!!

 

Free stuff for New Moms

It can be very overwhelming for a new mother or a mom-to-be. Fortunately, there are companies that realize this and want to help. With freebies such as bags, formula, coupons, literature and advice, these goodies make the transition to motherhood a little bit smoother.

Below is a list for new moms or moms-to-be to receive free stuff for themselves and their babies. (If you know of any others, please send me an email and I will add them to the list. Your sharing will be greatly appreciated.)



Nestlé Baby

Similac Welcome Addition Club

Enfamil

Pampers

Huggies

save.ca

Heinz Baby Club

Happy Shopping!!

Building consumer loyalty through rewards programs

Rewards programs is a marketing tool businesses employ to build customer loyalty. Programs such as Optimum at Shoppers Drug Mart, Air Miles, Aeroplan, Cineplex Odeon's Scene, and Petro Canada's Petro-Points are all designed to get you, the consumer shopping at specific locations.

Rewards vary from one program to another. Air Miles offers free flights along with gift cards, gift certificates and merchandise. With enough points collected, Optimum offers money off of purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart. Petro-Points offers merchandise, savings on fuel and discounts on your CAA membership, Scene offers free movies, free concessions and free iTunes.

Reality is you can't join every program, however by being passionate about a few, avid collectors have travelled and received merchandise they wouldn't normally obtain for themselves. In the last year, I have received groceries, clothes, movie nights out, money off purchases, discounted fuel and car washes, all without taking out a penny.

When businesses realize they are building loyalty, they are apt to giving customers better service and selection. In the end, both retailers and consumers win.

Happy Shopping!!

Avoid being the victim of online identity theft

Identity theft is a major problem. You or someone you know has probably been a victim of fraud. Unless people are denied credit or perhaps receive a bill, most people do not realize that they have been victimized. If you have ever bought anything online or have joined any type of 'group' online where you have had to give your name, date of birth and where you are from, fraudsters can pick up information and gain access to your Social Insurance Number(SIN), address, bank accounts and credit cards.
Identity theft is almost impossible to prevent, as the people who commit it are always thinking ahead, but there are things you can do to minimize your chances of becoming a victim.

TIPS TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT

Avoid using your real name whenever joining online sites.

Avoid giving your real birthdate on online sites. If it is a public site such as Facebook, Twitter, etc., make sure the option is there to not broadcast it on your profile page.

Only shop from reputable online vendors such as Amazon or Ebay with secure payment options like PayPal.

Keep your credit report up to date. Contact credit report companies and ensure that your information is accurate. If you see any discrepancies, contact the company right away.
Equifax, TransUnion and Experian

If you have been victimized, call the company and explain the situation.
Call your local police and report the crime to RECOL.ca.

More information on how to prevent being a victim of fraud.


Happy Shopping!!!

The Customer is King??

Today, I probably had one of the worst customer service experiences imaginable.

I approached an ice cream truck to buy ice-cream for myself and my children. I gave my order, which included a dipped cone, to the saleslady. I watched her do a poor job of filling my cone, almost drop it and then attempt to 'dip' it in the chocolate coating, which in turn was done even more carelessly. When she handed it to me, I could not contain my shock and disgust and politely requested that she prepare another cone. She responded by telling me, she would not give me another one. I then withdrew my order for the ice-cream altogether. This incredibly rude and belligerent woman snatched the ice-cream from me and called me a fool as I walked away. I asked her what she said and an argument ensued, in which I told her that she had no customer service skills and should be ashamed of herself for conducting herself in the manner in which she was doing. I also told her I would be contacting her company and filing a complaint.

This is just another example of the incredulously poor customer service that seems to be a part of the Canadian business landscape. Unfortunately, customer service does not appear to be of much importance to these companies. For them, it's about the bottom line. Make money and don't worry about how the customer is treated.

My husband, in an interview (with a manager at a very popular and well established Canadian department store-the oldest corporation in the world) was asked what he thought was the most important element to make one a successful sales associate. He responded that he thought it was having good customer service. The manager responded by laughing and then proceeded to tell him that 'they' were not in the business of providing customer service and that 'they' don't care about customer service. He continued to say that the most important element of the job (in order to be a successful sales associate) is making the sales, making the money.

The old adage, 'the customer is always right' should hold true to businesses. When the bottom line is all companies are after, in the end, it's not only the consumer that loses out, it's the companies as well. I will not be buying ice-cream from the ice-cream truck again.

Happy Shopping!!

Car Insurance

Car insurance varies across the country. For some provinces, the government is in the business of selling insurance, while in other provinces, the government will not touch it. We all want the best insurance rates and the best way to get that is to go through an insurance broker. They will do the shopping around for you. If you choose to find your own, remember when dealing with insurance companies, it is best to do your homework first before calling them.

Get a copy of your driver's abstract. Have a clear idea of what is on it, tickets, points, suspensions, etc.

Clear up any discrepancies. If an infraction was to have dropped off and it hasn't, inquire as to why and how you can have it cleared.

Get a copy of your auto claims history report from CGI

If you are not using a broker, shop around. There are many of insurance companies out there, be sure you do your homework to get the best rate.

The law requires that all drivers in Canada must have car insurance and the basic policy and minimum coverage levels are set by the government in each province. This means that by and large, in each province the terms of the insurance policy you receive from one insurance company to the next are virtually identical. However, the rates charged for a given car and driver can actually vary by hundreds and even thousands of dollars between insurance companies. (courtesy of InsuranceHotline.com)

For more information on car insurance regulation and requirements in Canada, visit InsuranceHotline.com.