Monday I went to get a $7.99 car wash AND SPENT $40.00!?@#! I know and I have been told repeatedly to "Just say no thank you." The thing is, I DO say that - I am so prepared for the first pitch. "Would you like .....???" "No thank you." What I am not prepared for is the follow-up upsell..."That's okay - it's not the best deal that's why we have THIS special going on."
It's not just the car wash. People upsell me on everything. I say, "I'm trying to cut back on what I put on the credit card." They say, "I KNOW...that's why we have this speical going on for cash customers." I say, "I just don't want to do it right now." They say, "What would make you want to give it a try? You know (a friend of mine) is doing it - you can come together." The minute I'm two questions into a pitch I might as well just fork over the money.
I can't even quit my health club. They ask me to come in to quit....I leave signed up for more options! This is having an effect on my life - I'm starting to shop totally online because I CAN click through the three upsells - I just can't go three F2F!!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Pursuit of Sanity ..... in annoying Times
This has been one of those days. The days when you can't believe the words that come out of your own mouth - never mind the shrill tone! I don't know which feels worse - the embarrassment or the guilt about trashing people who aren't responsible - they just happen to be on the other end of the phone.
Mind you - there is the fact that UPS botched the delivery of my W-2 forms - they really aren't too interested in helping me get them back - the company who sent them wants me to prove that UPS botched the job - from 8:30 AM until 11:00 AM I went from internet help, to phone support, to many voicemails and Muzak selections, being told to contact UPS, being told BY UPS to contact the other company.......
THEN - I just go through all this rigamarole and guess who calls? (First a little back story - I tried to hire an accountant back in July. This joker never would do anything except tell me what software to buy to do it myself - I repeatedly said, "I don't want to do it myself." Eventually, he insulted me and stomped out of my office (because HE didn't understand the software HE TOLD ME TO BUY!)
Yes, dear readers, that self same accounting company's receptionist just happened to call today (right after the morning of voicemail) because I didn't pay that incompetent. I couldn't believe he had the unmitigated gall to send me a bill. Oh, my the words that came out and the tone ... oh, the tone!
I guess I have to conclude that sanity isn't possible on some days when the stars seem to line up against you - even for a Positive Psychologist! What positive psychology principle would apply? "I'm grateful for voicemail jail?" "I'm authentically happy that I chose the one accountant who would screw me up for months on end?"
Is there a gratification principle? It might go like this - "It is gratifying when ignored, dismissed and treated unfairly NOT to be positive or polite about it!" I like that one - I think I'll add it to the other positive psychology principles: happiness, contentment, resilience, optimism, elevation and .........GRATIFICATION! (SWEET REVENGE)
Mind you - there is the fact that UPS botched the delivery of my W-2 forms - they really aren't too interested in helping me get them back - the company who sent them wants me to prove that UPS botched the job - from 8:30 AM until 11:00 AM I went from internet help, to phone support, to many voicemails and Muzak selections, being told to contact UPS, being told BY UPS to contact the other company.......
THEN - I just go through all this rigamarole and guess who calls? (First a little back story - I tried to hire an accountant back in July. This joker never would do anything except tell me what software to buy to do it myself - I repeatedly said, "I don't want to do it myself." Eventually, he insulted me and stomped out of my office (because HE didn't understand the software HE TOLD ME TO BUY!)
Yes, dear readers, that self same accounting company's receptionist just happened to call today (right after the morning of voicemail) because I didn't pay that incompetent. I couldn't believe he had the unmitigated gall to send me a bill. Oh, my the words that came out and the tone ... oh, the tone!
I guess I have to conclude that sanity isn't possible on some days when the stars seem to line up against you - even for a Positive Psychologist! What positive psychology principle would apply? "I'm grateful for voicemail jail?" "I'm authentically happy that I chose the one accountant who would screw me up for months on end?"
Is there a gratification principle? It might go like this - "It is gratifying when ignored, dismissed and treated unfairly NOT to be positive or polite about it!" I like that one - I think I'll add it to the other positive psychology principles: happiness, contentment, resilience, optimism, elevation and .........GRATIFICATION! (SWEET REVENGE)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Pursuit of Sanity with High School Homework!!
The start of the school year and homework once again rears its head. Right now we have an agreement with our son that the first 9 weeks are his. He swears he can do everything on his own and possibly he can. Whatever the outcome, it's refreshing to be nothing but an occasional checker.
Speaking of checking ... I never realized how many hoops parents have to jump through just to check on grades and progress. My apologies to any parent I told to go online and check because... "it's easy..." NO IT IS NOT EASY - SO SORRY MOMS AND DADS!
First of all there's the portal for parents. You have to set up an account. Next you input the Alpha ID. They neglect to tell you to leave off the 1 when you input so ... it won't work. Phone call and e-mail ...leave off the 1. Did it ...still can't get in ...check the phone numbers of staff ...call school ...voice mail ...can't pick an option so wait for the operator. Operator directs your call to the right person ...voicemail. Enough for one day!
Day Two: Have an e-mail from the person I called yesterday ... leave off the 1. Now I have a direct line because it's on the e-mail ... so I call back ...she laughs and says nobody can make it work and puts me in the system from her end. Mission accomplished! Wait! I can't get progress on here ... only lunch, the store, and some history of grades from middle school and the FCAT. We already know we missed the cut on the FCAT ...what's happening now? Call back ... leave a voicemail. Enough for Day Two!
Day Three: Have a message that the grades and progress are on a site called Teacher Web. I go there and need to sign in and create an account again!! I leave it alone - Open House is tonight and I'll get the straight dope then!!
Day Four: I work on my business because I can't face one more day of account access failing and frustration!
Day Five: Using the info from the teachers at Open House, I get into the Teacher Web. Can't get the student because it says the Alpha ID is incorrect. I remember back when I started this quest ... now I USE the 1 and ... voila!... I get in. Still can't get progress, but I can sign up some teachers. Write e-mails asking how to access grades .... they are as baffled as I am ... for some reason the system isn't talking to them......
Now it's time for Progress Reports - I think those are on Parent Portal, but who knows??? Will keep you posted and again I apologize to all those parents that I told "Just go online - it's not that hard!"
Speaking of checking ... I never realized how many hoops parents have to jump through just to check on grades and progress. My apologies to any parent I told to go online and check because... "it's easy..." NO IT IS NOT EASY - SO SORRY MOMS AND DADS!
First of all there's the portal for parents. You have to set up an account. Next you input the Alpha ID. They neglect to tell you to leave off the 1 when you input so ... it won't work. Phone call and e-mail ...leave off the 1. Did it ...still can't get in ...check the phone numbers of staff ...call school ...voice mail ...can't pick an option so wait for the operator. Operator directs your call to the right person ...voicemail. Enough for one day!
Day Two: Have an e-mail from the person I called yesterday ... leave off the 1. Now I have a direct line because it's on the e-mail ... so I call back ...she laughs and says nobody can make it work and puts me in the system from her end. Mission accomplished! Wait! I can't get progress on here ... only lunch, the store, and some history of grades from middle school and the FCAT. We already know we missed the cut on the FCAT ...what's happening now? Call back ... leave a voicemail. Enough for Day Two!
Day Three: Have a message that the grades and progress are on a site called Teacher Web. I go there and need to sign in and create an account again!! I leave it alone - Open House is tonight and I'll get the straight dope then!!
Day Four: I work on my business because I can't face one more day of account access failing and frustration!
Day Five: Using the info from the teachers at Open House, I get into the Teacher Web. Can't get the student because it says the Alpha ID is incorrect. I remember back when I started this quest ... now I USE the 1 and ... voila!... I get in. Still can't get progress, but I can sign up some teachers. Write e-mails asking how to access grades .... they are as baffled as I am ... for some reason the system isn't talking to them......
Now it's time for Progress Reports - I think those are on Parent Portal, but who knows??? Will keep you posted and again I apologize to all those parents that I told "Just go online - it's not that hard!"
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Pursuit of Sanity in the World of Nude Swim Parties (for teens)
I can only tell you that this is happening in teen world. I can also tell you that I hadn't a clue what to say about it. Here I was hearing all those things I told my parents "way back when..." Remember these? "Clothing is so restrictive." "Clothes rob you of the chance to be really free." "Without clothes you can be who you really are." Actually, I never had a chance to tell my parents because they were yelling so loud they couldn't hear me.
We aren't so lucky as parents. We're so afraid of being "unreasonable" or "unfair" that we sit and listen as though any insane thing is up for discussion.
Personally, I don't get it. Why would a generation of anorexics and bulemics - girls AND boys with huge body issues even want to parade around without clothes? My suspicion is that one of the organizers is a mean girl with a "hot bod" operating with a manipulative little Geek as her sidekick.
This is what I would tell my girls (and boys):
"You are insane if you do this. You could get pictures splashed all over the Internet.
Face it: Nobody can hold their stomach in and sit down gracefully for the duration of a pool party. The opportunities for unflattering photos and postings are legion.
Think about it: You have a few drinks because you're so uncomfortable at a pool with no clothes on ... you do a few "poses" just for fun. All is forgotten ... school starts .... you get a new boyfriend or you beat someone out for a part in the play or you ace some big test or essay contest, you make your BFF angry ..... someone gets jealous and all of a sudden your pool party pictures are all over everybody's phone, on You Tube and you ...
lose the boyfriend, get kicked out of the play, are disqualified for the academic prize.... and earn the "slut" distinction from your social group."
How to Stay Sane:
Kids - Tell your parents about the party so they will forbid you to go, and ground you in the process. Say you have "Body Issues" and can't tolerate the discomfort - your psychologist forbids you. Tell the truth - you really don't want to see all your friends naked - it's just TMI
Parents - Forbid your kids to go and ground them. Bring it up with other parents - not to condemn but to discuss. It is insane to pretend it isn't happening or that none of your kids are affected.
There are so many Pursuit of Sanity issues with kids and the social scene - Besides nude pool parties, there's alcohol, sex, riding in cars with boys, hooking-up, hanging out, chilling .....we don't even know what half of these things mean. We know that the more texting required - the worse it probably will be.
Whenever I get too upset about the way things are today - I reread J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye or take a look at movies like "Rebel Without a Cause" or "Blackboard Jungle." It reminds me that we've all been crazy for decades ....
We aren't so lucky as parents. We're so afraid of being "unreasonable" or "unfair" that we sit and listen as though any insane thing is up for discussion.
Personally, I don't get it. Why would a generation of anorexics and bulemics - girls AND boys with huge body issues even want to parade around without clothes? My suspicion is that one of the organizers is a mean girl with a "hot bod" operating with a manipulative little Geek as her sidekick.
This is what I would tell my girls (and boys):
"You are insane if you do this. You could get pictures splashed all over the Internet.
Face it: Nobody can hold their stomach in and sit down gracefully for the duration of a pool party. The opportunities for unflattering photos and postings are legion.
Think about it: You have a few drinks because you're so uncomfortable at a pool with no clothes on ... you do a few "poses" just for fun. All is forgotten ... school starts .... you get a new boyfriend or you beat someone out for a part in the play or you ace some big test or essay contest, you make your BFF angry ..... someone gets jealous and all of a sudden your pool party pictures are all over everybody's phone, on You Tube and you ...
lose the boyfriend, get kicked out of the play, are disqualified for the academic prize.... and earn the "slut" distinction from your social group."
How to Stay Sane:
Kids - Tell your parents about the party so they will forbid you to go, and ground you in the process. Say you have "Body Issues" and can't tolerate the discomfort - your psychologist forbids you. Tell the truth - you really don't want to see all your friends naked - it's just TMI
Parents - Forbid your kids to go and ground them. Bring it up with other parents - not to condemn but to discuss. It is insane to pretend it isn't happening or that none of your kids are affected.
There are so many Pursuit of Sanity issues with kids and the social scene - Besides nude pool parties, there's alcohol, sex, riding in cars with boys, hooking-up, hanging out, chilling .....we don't even know what half of these things mean. We know that the more texting required - the worse it probably will be.
Whenever I get too upset about the way things are today - I reread J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye or take a look at movies like "Rebel Without a Cause" or "Blackboard Jungle." It reminds me that we've all been crazy for decades ....
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