A lot of people consider me to be a techno Geek. Not the first guy on the block to buy a I-Pad but the one who gets it within a few months. I am influential among my friends family and co-workers regarding technology purchases. Especially phones and computers. For an electronics company I have a pretty high life time value as a customer.

What baffles me is why I can noy walk into a Best Buy to return a product or to get an issue with one without being treated like a criminal. Or if I buy a product why I have to be treated like I am some sort of idiot – spend $350. on an extended warranty that takes at least 30 days to get repaired…. but I digress…

In Mid December 2009, I purchased a phone wrap called Ghost Armor. I had just bought the new Droid (o.k. this one I did buy the first day it became available) . I paid $19.99 for the Ghost Armor and $10. to have it installed. When I bought the Ghost Armor product the sales person at Best Buy made a big deal out of the lifetime warranty to protect my phone. I am pretty hard on phones so I opted to leave my Droid at the store for a couple hours so they could wrap it.

After only 75 days (earlier but I am just getting around to bringing it back) the stuff starts falling off my phone so today I brought the phone back to Best Buy to have them re-wrap the phone – under warranty. Lifetime Warranty?

Best Buys response?  Go find your receipt.

I did. I was then informed that it would cost $10. to replace the wrap. When I asked why it would cost me $10.  I was told that the Ghost Armor is guaranteed for life but the installation is only covered for 30 days.

Let me get this straight, you want me to pay $10. to have the product you installed re installed? Ok ten bucks is not the end of the world for me but this really pissed me off because it is like an extension of every experience I have had with this house of rats over the past several years.

I walked out, never to set foot in a Best Buy again. For $10. they have alienated a customer who will never be back. Nice Job Best Buy, you have exceeded my expectations!

I went to the Ghost Armor site and they are offering the product direct for $15. with instructions on how to install it your self. 

On the Ghost Armor packaging it says: Please let us know about your Ghost Armor experience. Leave a review at www(dot)ghost-armor(dot)com

Of course the site does not have any reviews on it.

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A few years ago, we received a bill from the
pediatrician’s office for work that was supposed to be covered by our
insurance.  I spent months going between the insurance company and the
doctor’s office disputing the issue.  The insurance said it was the
doctor’s fault and the doctor blamed the insurance.  All of this back
and forth was over an incorrect billing code.  It eventually got worked
out, but f the doctor had better medical billing software, they would
have realized the mistake and it would have been corrected before
anything was submitted to insurance.  If you work in a medical office,
you need to be sure that your medical billing software is up to date so you don’t have this happen to any of your patients.

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Local Search Marketing Guide

In one of the first posts here on SBS, I said that I thought local search would be an important theme as we go along. And I still feel that way. I’ve written that local searchers are often ready to buy, and how the local search market could grow almost 400% by 2010. Want another number? According to Borrell Associates, local search advertising in the U.S. is predicted to grow more than 80% year over year between 2005 and 2009.

Just as many small business owners want to stop spending so much money on the yellow pages and move their marketing dollars to the web, I also believe shoppers and information seekers will choose the web over the yellow pages in greater frequency in coming years. With that in mind, I believe local search offers a great opportunity for small businesses (especially) to reach customers on the web. And those of you who take advantage of this opportunity sooner, rather than later, have the best chance to win in the end.

The purpose of this guide is to introduce small business owners to the different Local Search products and marketing opportunities offered by each of thee main search engines. I’ll do my best to keep the material up-to-date, and I invite you to help me stay informed by emailing matt [at] smallbusinesssem.com with any new discoveries or corrections you find appropriate. You can also use that email for questions you may have!

via www.smallbusinesssem.com

In 1997 Urologix submitted and gained approval from the FDA for their treatment method of Cooled ThermoTherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia.  This non-surgical method is innovative and has changed the way your urologist can now treat your benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).  This procedure is done in one single office visit non-surgically and as an outpatient.  Who would rather go to a hospital to have it surgically repaired and then spend a day or two in the hospital for recovery when you can be home after a few hours with Cooled ThermoTherapy from Urologix?  As with any procedure check with your urologist first to see if Cooled ThermoTherapy is an option for you.

Cooled ThermoTherapyTM is available by prescription only. This therapy is not for everyone. Talk to your physician to see if Cooled ThermoTherapy is right for you.

Most medical procedures may have side effects. Possible side effects for Cooled ThermoTherapy include blood in urine, clots in urine, painful or difficult urination, thickened bladder muscle, rectal irritation, temporary inability to control urination, brief inability to achieve or maintain an erection and the inability to discharge semen in orgasm thus should be considered by men who wish to have further offspring. A small risk of urethral stricture may result requiring further intervention. Patients may experience discomfort during the procedure that may require the use of analgesics or sedatives. Patients may be catheterized for a 2 to 5 day period following the treatment.

For more complete information about the benefits and risks associated with Cooled ThermoTherapy please refer to the Instructions for Use found on our website at www.cooledthermotherapy.com or call us at 1.800.475.1403.

1 Data taken from the CTC Advance® Instructions for Use, 250348 Rev B 12/08.