Episode #38 of ‘Help My Business Sucks!’ – Why You Should Avoid UPS, Why You Should NOT Avoid eBay, Free Video Tutorials, and a Big Lesson From McDonalds
January 7, 2009Episode #38 – Don’t get me started on UPS. They lost my business a couple of years ago when they ‘lost’ two very valuable parcels. Adding fuel to the fire, you gotta’ see the security video in this episode…
This week’s question is all about eBay. As you know, I don’t recommend that anyone uses eBay in a conventional way. BUT, and it’s a big but, you SHOULD be using eBay to promote your business. I’ll explain more in this episode.
I know that a lot of people are into producing their own online videos, but where do you start? I’ve discovered an excellent, low cost resource you can use. In fact, you can ‘try before you buy’ because the site I recommend in this episode has many free videos available.
The BIG marketing lesson is from a little company you might have heard of – McDonalds! But it’s not the obvious marketing lesson you might immediately think of like the ‘would you like fries with that’ upsell. Oh no, sir-ee. Check it out, you CAN use this lesson in your business to make more money on every sale.
Websites and resources mentioned in the show:
Izzy Video (video tutorials)
Yanik Silver’s Underground Online Seminar (Feb 2009 – for advanced marketers only)
The Florida Seminar (join me in Orlando FL, Jan 23-25th 2009)
NiftyClicks (discover the very latest web tools and resources)
Private Consultation for YOUR Business (with me)
Microwave Marketing Training System (special offer for you)
Regards,
January 7th, 2009 at 6:48 am
I think if biz owners gave extraordinary customer service and showed that they genuinely cared and loved their custoemrs, they would WIN, even if the product itself was not super awesome, I believe the customer experience is HUGE, but of course, I believe the product should be, as Yanik says, 10 – 100 x more valuable than the investment, but w/out amazing customer service, the product is as good as dead.
Thanks Andrew, loved this show as always!
–z–
January 7th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Hi, Andrew!
First of all — thanks for mentioning IzzyVideo.com in your show! Those were very kind words you said, and I certainly appreciate it.
Also, I about died when I saw the video of the UPS driver throwing the package. Companies have to be very careful these days. That video may never have made it anywhere several years ago, but in the age of YouTube, everything has changed.
And that brings up another idea for businesses. Businesses should seriously consider producing video for the web. If they aren’t, there’s a good chance a competitor will. And It’s a lot easier than most people think to produce video for the web.
Again, thanks for mentioning me!
All the best,
Izzy
January 7th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
We also stoped useing UPS over a year because they countinously failed to deliver
our products to us and then lie to us aboutit.
we then went to DHL and found them to be great, sadley they have had to cut there domistic service. Thank you for your show it’s
a world of help to us.
Cheers
Al
January 7th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the reminder about “upselling” when you are closing on a sale.
It’s sometimes easy to forget about this concept when you are faced with so many things that need your attention.
I hate to ask this question because it shows how much money I have spent on your site…but…do you follow your own advice? If I subscribe to “Microwave Marketing,” will I be given the option to buy a Nifty Clicks “Live” DVD at half-price?
I guess I’ll just have to give it a try and see what happens!
Thanks again for all of your great FREE content!
Cheers!
Pete
Founder & Editor
http://www.TheHealthyMinute.com
January 7th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Hi Anrew,
This was another great episode. UPS, shame on you!
See you next week!
Lisa
http://www.SurveySam.com
January 7th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Wow that UPS video was disturbing. Thanks for bringing it to our attention Andrew.
Keep up the great videos they are just awesome
January 8th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Zack lives by what he says too. I was going to a seminar of is last year (w/ Steve Maxwell) ad already paid in full. Later on I found out that my daughter’s camp had scheduled their “concert on that same weekend and I knew there was NO way I could miss it. She would have killed me. So I asked Zach if I could cancel and get my $ back. He refunded everything immediately! Wrote a friendly note, and just did a great job. Thanks for that Zach. Next time I plan on being there though!!
I too have recently had a bad UPS experience. They actually left a package at the front door outside. Something they never do and SHOULDN’T do. Why? because I live in the heart of Brooklyn, NY and packages left outside are not a good idea. Guess what? I never got the package AND they have been no help at all in resolving this. IN fact…just try going to the website and finding a phone #. Very difficult. Help! My UPS sucks.
Robert
<<<>>
January 8th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I think the info you put out is common sense, but most people don’t really think about it. Like it’s such a common idea that people no longer really consider it an idea so much as a given, and therefore they dismiss it.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:05 am
I really like the simple answers and the focus on how to get noticed. I am keeping a library of the gems that really strike a chord with me. I also like the “lightness” of the approaches. It is supposed to be fun to run a business. Andrew’s speaking style is excellent for passing along the ideas.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Well, in UPS’ defense, I have never had a bad experience with them and I don’t think it is fair to judge an entire company and its policies based on the actions of an employee that very likely was fired as a result of his actions. I realize companies need to be held to a standard, but people are human and make mistakes. I have no vested interest in UPS – or any other shipper for that matter – but UPS has consistently offered me the lowest price with the best value, in my opinion, and I will happily continue to use their services when it is most cost-efficient to do so.
Anyway, thanks again Andrew.
Dr. Scott
www. hilltopwellness.com
January 11th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Zach – You’re right about customer service, I agree completely.
Izzy – You have a great site, I wish you every success with it.
Al – I’ve heard your situation repeated many many times over. People are leaving UPS in their droves.
Tom – Thanks for your thanks!
Robert – Many drivers don’t care about the customer experience – they have a quota of shipments to fulfill and that’s their focus!
Mark – Thanks for your comments
Dr Scott – I explained more fully why I don’t use UPS in episode #17. I agree with you that we shouldn’t judge a company based on the actions of a bad employee. And yes, I agree with you that humans are imperfect and make mistakes. BUT, and this is the point I obviously didn’t make well enough in the episode, it’s how the company reacts after the mistakes are made that counts.
Without going into too much detail, when UPS lost 2 big shipments of mine (valued at thousands of dollars), after almost a year of fighting with them to process what should have been a simple claim, I finally gave up. When a similar mishap occurred with Fedex, they paid me, no quibble, within 3 weeks! THAT’S why I will never use UPS again!
UPS told me that they can’t be held accountable for anything their stores do because they are franchises. Not so with Fedex. That’s the bottom line.
If you go back and watch episode 17 it’ll be a lot clearer for you!
Regards
Andrew