Seniors! Are Financial Advisors Hazardous To Your Wealth?

 General  Comments Off on Seniors! Are Financial Advisors Hazardous To Your Wealth?
Dec 192023
 

We read a lot today about seniors being taken advantage of by all sorts of scam artist and con-men. It is truly disturbing and a trend that law enforcement continually deals with.

Unfortunately, it has also been found in the financial community where brokers, agents, financial advisors and financial planners have also dealt in a dishonest or crooked way. It should not be tolerated by the financial community and breach of trust of the client or questionable integrity of any rep should be dealt with in a serious manner that would keep the reputation of the rest of the financial community in tact.

The first line of defense should be proper education of the senior community. If seniors are educated about some basic ideas and have the right questions for the financial advisors, the problems will be minimized. I would like to share some ideas that could better prepare seniors in rooting out the reps that should be leaving the business anyway.

Before I get to the strategies I would like to make a disclaimer. I do not believe that all financial advisors are bad. As a matter of fact, most of them are honest hard working people that are trying to build the same qualities that most of us want in our lives. Too many people want to throw out the baby with the bath water. Unless you want to become really educated in investments, tax law, asset allocation, economic theory and more really excited stuff like that, you should work with a trusted financial advisor. The real question boils down is how do you know if you have a good rep or not?

Before we continue I have a news flash. Everybody sells. A salesman by any other name is still a salesman. Everybody sells and is compensated based on how well he sells. If he gets an ongoing fee or a commission it doesn’t really matter. He is going to get paid! Otherwise there is no reason for him to be in business.

There are many “financial advisors” that explain they are different. They are not salesmen they are advisor. One local radio show host (a show he pays for by the way) has a saying, “Money looks better in your pocket than it does anywhere else.” Does he feel that way when it comes to his fees? Or is it only when another professional is trying to make a living? Rather than get into the Advisor – Salesman tug a war, let’s find out how to know if you have the right financial professional to work with.

A more important question than “How is he paid” is “Is this the person that I should hire?” If a financial profession does his job well, he should be paid well. And if not, why hire him? You want the best that there is working for you! And the best that there is, is never cheap!

To me it boils down to two main questions. Is this person’s integrity above question? And secondly, does he know what he is doing?

You must be fully and completely comfortable that this person has unquestionable integrity and is totally honest. You must know that if there is ever a question to your best interest or a higher payday for them that they will take your best interest 100% of the time. You must have a high level of trust for someone that you are going ask advice about your money.

If you have doubts about this persons integrity DO NOT give him your hard earned money. Listen to your gut. Do not minimize that little inkling or a funny feeling. DO NOT give your hard earned money unless you are completely comfortable that this person is completely honest in his business dealings. Far added measure, ask for references.

Now the problem is just because someone is completely honest and has a high degree of integrity does not mean that they know what they are doing. That leads us to our second question. Is this the person I should be doing business with?

It is much harder to ascertain competence than integrity. Start off by asking the financial professional why you should hire them. Ask them to explain their financial strategy. Ask them to explain how they come to their decisions. Ask them what their specialty is and why. Make sure their philosophy fits with your own. If they are speaking industry jargon and you don’t understand what they are talking about, ask for clarification. Understand how they work before you hire them. That doesn’t mean you should baby-sit their every decision or suggestion. Rather, before hiring them you should make sure that you are on the same page.

If their discussions are all about product and not about strategy, you can probably find someone better. If they cannot clearly articulate what they do different from everyone else, they are probably not focused enough. If they can’t explain how they look at money and how to allocate it they are micro thinkers not macro thinkers. Micro thinking, meaning thinking about a small part of the financial picture vs. Macro thinking, meaning how all the assets work in symphony is a tremendous distinction. You want someone that thinks MACRO. The discussion should include your assets and liabilities, your insurances and you future plans. They all need to fit together to create a synergy that will make them work better and harder.

It’s also important to find out if they have a specialty and if they use other professionals in their practice. If they do it’s a good sign, it means they have other specialist that they work with for the betterment of the client.

Make sure you discuss you relationship with them. How often will you hear from them? How often will you meet? What do you expect from them? What do they expect from you?

If this is done correctly you could have a long term smooth sailing relationship. If not, you could have a rocky or costly short term relationship.

There is an old saying good fences make for good neighbors. Really that’s about managing your expectations. Finding the right professional and managing those expectations can be the most rewarding thing that you will ever do.

Investment Property – Finance It Creatively

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Investment Property – Finance It Creatively
Dec 182023
 

When the sweetest of deals fall into our laps unannounced,

should you pass it up? Definitely not, however, if you are

finding low levels of financial resources, you may have to

get a little creative in terms of financing. When you are

looking to finance your investment property creatively, you

have come to the right place. Here you will discover different

and creative methods of financing your deals. If you do not

want to use these methods, they will definitely get the

creative juices flowing, at the very least.



Need a loan? Consider No Doc or Low Doc



These are perfect for those who have little documentation

that proves the extent of your income or creditworthiness.

Furthermore, it is particularly beneficial to those that

work at home. A no doc or low doc loan works exactly as

it sounds. Depending on the specific type, you will either

be required to present very little documentation or none at

all. There is a downside to these particular types of loans

however, you will probably only receive the loan for around

80% of the value or purchasing price of the investment

property.



A Friend in Need, is a Friend Indeed



Being creative in financial deals, means pulling all of your

resources together, this could mean talking to your friends.

Your friends may be the answer to all of your financial issues.

They could be looking for an investment property, just like

you, this could be a great solution for the both of you. You

should, however, ensure that your friend is someone you have

full trust in and know extremely well. How would it work? Well,

both of you would place money to go towards the down payment;

therefore, you both would have an investment property. Each of

you would also have a hold and say so in both the mortgage and

the title.



Family for Life



Family members are often an excellent resource when it comes

to financing an investment property. Many people really do not

want to go to there family and ask them to give you money. However,

you could take a different approach instead of asking them for a

gift or a handout consider asking for a loan. Much like a bank,

only these are your family members. You should always offer to

pay the loan back, within a specific period of time, at a

predetermined rate of interest.



Remember this is an investment for them as well, an investment

in you. Therefore, you should make the offer of paying back with

interest. It is highly likely as a family member, that they will

refuse the offer of interest and just want the initial sum paid

back, but you should never assume and always make the offer.



Summary:



What should you do when you have run out of financial resources,

but you have a sweet deal on the table for investment property?

Get creative!






Article written by Brooke Hayles.

Laptops Options: Research, Review, Discover and Save

 Gifts  Comments Off on Laptops Options: Research, Review, Discover and Save
Dec 172023
 

So you want to buy a laptop. You’ve browsed the Internet for hours, read laptop reviews, compared prices, printed reams of information, or at least created a folder full of new bookmarks. What did you get so far? Overwhelmed, a window on your screen telling you your printer ink is low and a flashing message on your printer telling you it’s out of paper! You then go through all that printed matter, reading it again and highlighting the important parts. Or, call up that bookmark folder and click, click, click and click again. Think you’re any closer to making a decision?

Searching the Internet for information on the best laptops for my needs revealed some very interesting discoveries. Before purchasing my notebook, I want to be informed and educated, armed with facts and figures prior to my purchase. By reading many laptops reviews I gleaned much information that was not only useful, but some of the discoveries can actually save money.

If you’ve read one, you’ve probably read five articles on how to buy a laptop. They’ll all give you the most important points to consider: A quick review here:

What will you use it for?
Size (dependent upon what you will use it for).
Hard Drive: Preinstalled software takes up space. Make sure there’s enough actual hard drive for your storage space.
Processor: For processing applications, the higher the number, the faster the speed.
RAM: It runs the applications and data on your operating system (i.e., Windows XP or Mac OSX)
Connectivity: Wireless and plugins. Check before you buy.
Battery Life: 2-3 hours is common. Remember, the bigger the notebook, the lower the battery life.
Portability: Remember, the larger the notebook, the heavier.
Accessories: Docking stations, extra battery, carrying case. You might want to include some of these in your budget.
Price: Shop and compare. Don’t shy away from the little guy either. They have good deals too. Chances are he cares more about you than the giants do.
You now have the checklist in hand. Great, you’ve done your homework. But somehow it feels like you’re on a scavenger hunt! Everything on that checklist has to go into just one laptop! Fear not. It’s not that hard. In fact, it’s fun and exciting when your choices are revealed. And here’s where the amazing discoveries are found.

Go to a laptop comparison site. I like the HP website. Here’s what you will discover. Intel Pentium M is a standard in many of the most popular laptops, even in the cheap notebooks. AMD, by comparison, is also worth your consideration. Memory: You’ll be amazed at how many laptops come already equipped with 512MB. Hard Drive: 40GB seems pretty standard, and adequate for most. CD/DVD burner: you probably should get it, even if it raises the price a little. Video Graphics Card: The standard graphics chip for Pentium M is pretty sufficient for most users. Battery: Expect the standard 4-cell Lithium ion, 2 hours battery life. Warranty: One year is sufficient. Price/Deal: You don’t have to exclude the small dealers. Your warranties and tech support will come from the manufacturer, not the seller.

In summary, buying a laptop is not all that difficult, even if you don’t know much about them. A little browsing and you’re sure to find all your specifications neatly packaged in one great notebook at the price you are comfortable with. You don’t have to customize, there’s one already out there for you. And you don’t have to stick to one brand to get the features you need. In fact, you’ll see that different brands have the same features. So choose the one with the best deal and SAVE. But do the homework – hindsight always has 20/20 vision!

Why Deploy Employee Surveys?

 Gifts  Comments Off on Why Deploy Employee Surveys?
Dec 162023
 

From postcards on the table at your favorite restaurant to

letters after a brief hospital stay tucked in with your

prescriptions, surveys represent the most effective way to

secure an honest answer to: How did we do? More recently,

these surveys have made their way into the workplace,

providing a method of gauging employee attitudes at the

office.

Spending 40 hours or more every week with the same people,

there’s no question what type of outlook you want these people

to have. A positive employee with a can-do attitude takes the

prize every time, and not just because of how pleasant it

makes things in the workplace. Happy employees create a more

efficient office, primarily by sticking around.

Toby Velte, former CEO of FireSummit, Inc., knew the way to

his employees’ heart, and it wasn’t increased pay. He

recognized that his employees were after more than just

compensation; they wanted to be happy while they were at the

office. He obliged with supplying a game room, free soda, and

network video game sessions.

“We paid 15 percent less than other companies,” said Velte.

“But … I never had one person quit.” Knowing what his

employees wanted gave Velte a leg up in limiting turnover, one

of the worst sieves of company profits. With estimates of

turnover costs at 150% of the employees’ yearly salary (more

for newer employees or management), it makes sense to make the

effort to find out what makes your company culture tick, and

how to open the lines of communication with employees. In the

end, it means keeping the customers happy, which starts with

employees excited to be at the office.

Clients, after all, have an uncanny ability to know the

general manner of everyone they come in contact with. Be it

the smile in the employees’ voice, the relaxed way in which

the employee deals with the customer, or just a bit of a sixth

sense, that attitude flows through and affects the overall

relationship. Surveys have shown that customers who feel a

kinship with a company will remain loyal customers, and it

follows that maintaining that connection stems from creating a

positive work environment.

Surveying employees about their impressions of their employer

is the best indicator of the overall culture in a company.

This culture will permeate every aspect of the organization

affecting co-workers and clients alike. But just surveying a

company’s employees isn’t enough.

Velte made sure that he knew where he stood compared to his

competitors as well as what his employees expected in the

workplace. Competition is fierce in today’s market, and

companies who pay attention have an edge over those working in

a void. With headhunters cold calling lists of employees in

every industry these days, knowing what’s offered by the

competition can go a long way toward heading off expensive

employee turn over.

The cost of employee dissatisfaction can be remarkable, and

many companies try to prevent the loss of employees by

throwing money at them. While it may work for a little while,

the undermining factors will go unnoticed, resulting in

throwing more money at the problem. With employee surveys,

however, it can be easier to see where the money should be

going, and often companies find that their costs go down

significantly.

Employ

ee surveys are one of the necessary steps in identifying

problems and opportunities for improvement. Then, using these

survey results and a benchmarking database, a company can

determine what the trends are for their industry, and where

they stand compared to their competitors. There’s a reason,

after all, that Fortune magazine publishes a “Best Companies

to Work For” edition every year, and that pay is only one

factor that they consider.

How to Find Equity Loan Bargains Like the Perfect Cash Back Equity Loan

 Computer HW  Comments Off on How to Find Equity Loan Bargains Like the Perfect Cash Back Equity Loan
Dec 152023
 

The World Wide Net is loaded with equity loan deals. Some lenders are proposing low interest loans to entice the homeowners in the front door. Loaners offering low interest rates on home equity loans are sometimes even choosing to pay the closing charges on fee loans. The negative aspect to this is that loans with no closing fees expect the borrower take out a loan above and on top of the normal ability to repay. So, if you acquire an equity loan with no closing fees, you most probably must go for a loan amount of $400,000 or more to get the deal. If your home equity does not fit the loan amount, then you will be instantly disapproved for such a loan.

If studying loans, it makes sense to know what you are entering into. Many borrowers apply for equity loans; and frequently they search out a way of paying off school loans, buying new vehicles, fix up homes, or merging their debts.

Some borrowers take out equity loans thinking it can help cut their mortgage payments on the 1st loan. With some cases, equity loans can cut the monthly installments on mortgage; however, some lenders make amends for with higher interest rates, especially if the borrower has unfinished credit matters. The lender may disapprove or step-up the interest rates, and may even increase the monthly installments on the mortgage.

When looking at equity loans, it is smart to search the market for the good deals. The Internet has a plentiful supply of info that will direct borrowers on the right path to obtaining the right equity loans. As the end result, looking for equity loans and going for the loans is a full-size decision. Thus, when
studying equity loans, one should always consider the bargains comparing them to other loans. Just because one loan has somewhat higher interest rates, doesn’t mean that it has more to provide than bargain loans.

How to Obtain the Perfect Cash Back Equity Loan

There are dozens of loans accessible over the Internet, like cash back equity loans. Cash back equity loans are aimed to aid home-owners making improvements on their home. Improvements will raise the equity on the home, which is the reason lenders are often willing to give when handing out cash back loans, just because they will get their money returned one way or another.

The cash back equity loans are released against the equity on the home, thus the lender will offer the buyer a large amount of cash versus the mortgage on the home. The money can be utilized at the buyer’s free will; however, it is smart to use the money as designated. Still, if you are obliged to pay on credit cards or other secured obligations, you may wish to pay off the debts to unblock some cash, especially if you are paying higher interest rates on your credit card bills.

Few borrowers use the money to buy a new car; this is only contributing to the debt. The cash back loans expect the borrower to pay x sum of repayments on a loan before the cash is dispensed.

The cash back loans also moves on the amount of mortgage offered. In other words, if you get a loan in the amount of $105,000, the cash back loan will give a large sum of cash. Cash back loans against equity is attractive, however the loans sometimes have higher rates of interest. The goal of the loan is to assist the borrower and the lender get out front in the mortgage game.

Sally Mae is one of the numerous lenders providing cash back loans, and this program will offer about $2000 give or take on a $65,000 loan. Therefore, the cash back loans are attractive, but other loans against equity have the best deals sometimes. If thinking about loans, consider all detail of the conditions first prior to signing a contract to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Why Look for Good Internet Deals and Daily Freebies?

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Why Look for Good Internet Deals and Daily Freebies?
Dec 142023
 

Every day, more and more consumers are realizing that shopping on the internet means good, or even great deals that just aren’t available at the traditional brick and mortar establishments in their local communities. The smaller stores are out and about on the Internet dangling some of these mega-deals on a fishing line with the hopes that you’ll bite and possibly buy an additional item or two from them “while you’re at it”, or later on down the river. Either way, your name, address and email address are all in their database for future e-mail campaigns and catalogs.


Even the big, national chain stores are enticing their customers to shop online with phenomenal deals that are available “Online Only”. Why? These corporations already have a warehouse to store their merchandise until its ready to be shipped to the store. At the store level, the products need to be taken off of the truck and inventoried before it can be set onto the sales floor to be sold. The store needs lights, heat/cooling and employees to maintain, sell and ring up the merchandise, and perhaps even bring it out to you car. When the item is sold on the Internet, the consumer pays shipping charges, which includes unloading the item from the truck and carrying it to your front door. It now costs the store substantially less money to sell you the product. The end result is a cheaper price for you, the consumer when shopping on the Internet.



Free shipping is one of the fabulous incentives used by both small and large companies to persuade you to spend more money on their website, typically tiered or leveled at a pre-set, specific dollar amount. Although nominal handling charges may still apply, having your internet deal shipped to you for free is even better than when you find a bargain at your local store, as you didn’t need to use any expensive fuel to get to the store, nor will you come home from shopping with the infamous crowd-causing headache.


And who doesn’t love something for free? “Daily Freebies” are all over the Internet (and there are new ones every day, too!), you just need to know where to look for them. Listings include product samples, promotional products with discounts and other types of free offers.


To assist you in gathering the necessary information for a successful shopping experience, there are websites devoted especially to your cause. These newfound genius sites not only compile all of this useful information for you, but they organize it into categories. From clothing and accessories to CD’s, gifts and coupons, they’ve got your shopping needs covered!

Sky Shop

 Gifts  Comments Off on Sky Shop
Dec 132023
 

From scattered, far off situated and theme based markets of mortar and bricks, to one stop shop departmental stores, and now growing prevalence of online shopping, we have indeed travelled a long way in terms of trend and means of shopping in the modern day life. The breakthroughs in the Internet technology has actually rendered the globe an exhaustive and a rather small marketplace with unparallel easier accessibility and comprehensive range of products and services.

The modern day life is both busier and more demanding, the consumers being more aware of their rights and choice. Besides seeking purchases sitting at home with the convenience and security of a VIP postal order, the consumers also seek to weigh their options and get the most economical price for the product or service in question. Online shopping or Internet shopping or Web Shopping facilitates convenient and speedy transactions that evoke the physical analogy of buying products and services at a brick and mortar retailer. Further, online shopping allows the user to seek out the lowest price for the product or service in question, as Internet technology offers price comparison services comprising of store ratings and reviews. The pool of relevant information provided by a search engine on net allows the consumer to educate himself/ herself about the various options and price tags available for the product. Of course, it is always advisable to go for purchasing from a reputable website only to ensure quality and reliability. What’s more, as newer products keep on adding to the already lengthy list of products and services, web is updated consistently to offer latest deals.

Online shoppers commonly use credit card for making payments. However, one can also use a debit card, electronic money, cash on delivery (COD), cheque, wire transfer and postal money order. Upon acceptance of payment, the product in question is delivered to the consumer via traditional means.

To know more about this site visit this site: http://www.xoxoskyshop.com

Ebay Making Money Opportunity

 General  Comments Off on Ebay Making Money Opportunity
Dec 122023
 

You’ve probably heard about how much money can be made on eBay. With dreams of quick riches and easy money, you are probably ready to jump in with both feet – right now! The best thing you can do if you are serious about making money with eBay, however, is to slow down. In fact, just stop for a minute. Don’t rush straight in. Take your time, and do it right.

eBay has over 100 million members. Think about that number for just a minute or two. When you get your eBay business set up, that is how big your customer base will be – instantly. 100 million people – 100 million people who are just waiting for you to get set up and running so that they can throw money at you! Well, not quite. It is true that there are over 100 million members, but at this point, they don’t know that you exist. In fact, no matter how well you do on eBay, most of them will never know that you exist. 100 million is a very large number.

There are many ways you can make money on ebay, from selling stuff you no longer need, all the way up to selling merchandise from a wholesaler. This is not the limit however, of the wonderful methods of generating cash off of the world of ebay. You can sell property, cars, boats, and even businesses. There have been transactions as low as a dollar, all the way up to business transfers that run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ebay is clearly here to stay, now it is time for you to get your feet wet on this great money making opportunity.

Here we will focus on selling for a wholesaler, this is where you will promote other peoples products and sell them for a cut of the profit. Lets say for example you find a product you are interested in such as say, stereo speakers. You will then search for a wholesaler that will accept a contract with someone that deals in affiliates and ebay, with the proof that you are an ebay seller and can verify the account on ebay this should not be hard. Once you have landed this contract with the wholesaler, it is time to set up market strategies, and make sure they conform to what the wholesaler finds acceptable. Make a plan, check it twice and get to work selling.

Once you have the site available for the public to view, you need to weigh out some of the business expenses that will ensure you are not spending more than you are making. By having multiple payment options you can be sure you have all your sales basis covered. One of the biggest expenses you will encounter will be shipping and storage costs. It is not likely that you will have the space in your home to store a couple thousand pairs of home speakers, and this notion would require some sort of insurance that will be required in order for the wholesaler to relinquish the product to you. Any notion that you can rent space for cheap is improbable, and again will still require insurance as a measure of protection for you and the wholesaler. So what do you do? Well the answer is simple; you have the wholesaler keep the product, and ship when necessary to the customer when purchased.

This will keep the entire product in one place, alleviate the need to worry about shipping, and still ensure that you are able to make the sale. Once the product is sold to a customer, you simply place the order to the wholesaler, they will in turn send the product, charge you for the wholesale cost and the holding and shipping cost and the rest is yours to keep. This is not a difficult task and you do not even need to leave your seat. What you really need to do is research the product, and its competitors and finds a price that is reasonable, and will generate the best profit for what you are doing. What you are really doing is selling the goods like a salesman on a store floor. All the while not even leaving your home, you do not even really need to monitor this whole process, as the customer’s invoice will come in to you via e-mail.

The most successful eBay sellers started out as buyers – and you should too. This will give you a sense of how everything works. It will also show you how things are from the buyer’s side of the fence. Let’s call this period of time ‘consumer research.’ You are literally studying how eBay works, from a customer’s point of view. You may not realize this, but this eBay buyer experience will actually make you a much better seller – right from the very start.

Really pay attention to the customer service you receive from the buyer. Think about how you want to be treated as a buyer, and take notes. Take your time during this process. Interact with the sellers. Get involved in hot auctions to see what they are like. In your spare time, start making notes about the hot items that you see. These notes will come in handy later.

eBay works just like any other business. You have to determine what people want to buy before you can hope to be successful. There are very specific items that sell really well on eBay – you just have to figure out what those items are. There are many resources for finding out this information. Start with the lessons that eBay offers to their sellers. Strongly consider attending the eBay University as well. This is the next step in the process. After you have had the eBay buyer experience, it is time to learn how to be an eBay seller.

Read all of the information eBay provides for you at the site. The information is free and you will learn a great deal from it. Take full advantage of this – before you start setting up your first auction or your eBay store! By reading through all of the resources, you will avoid making numerous mistakes that so many before you have made. This is another step towards building a successful eBay business. Once you’ve made it through the learning process, you should know everything you need to know to get started with a money making eBay business of your very own.

+++++

I Have Binge Eating Disorder – Now What?

 Computer HW  Comments Off on I Have Binge Eating Disorder – Now What?
Dec 112023
 

Are you sick and tired of wondering if your eating habits are normal? What about pondering over and over again why you feel like you aren’t fully capable of having the potential to take control of your life? Are you the type of person that finds comfort in food? Does food numb your feelings and make you forget about life for a moment? Do you eat when you are not even hungry? Do you stuff yourself full until you feel sick?

If so, you may have Binge Eating Disorder. Although, you probably feel like you are the only one crazy enough to find solace while eating – You are not. In fact, there are about 25 million others who are just like you. Nice to know, isn’t it?

Now, what is the next step?

There are many different routes that you can take for getting help. If you feel like you need to talk to someone, but would prefer a more one-on-one atmosphere, then talking to a medical professional regarding your binge eating habits just might be what you need. There are many therapists, psychiatrists, and doctors that can help you get to the root of your binges and help you move forward into recovery.

If you are the type of person that deals better talking to people with your similar problem, join an Overeater’s Anonymous Group. These groups modify the 12-step program that you can find for Alcoholics Anonymous. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to many people at once, just sit back and listen. Chances are that you will hear someone’s story and relate to it. Maybe you can meet up with that person after the meeting and talk to them about your problem. It’s always easier to open up to someone that we know can relate to us – What better the circumstance than this one?

Another option is to talk to a trusted friend or family member about how you are feeling and your eating habits. This will allow you to get everything off of your chest about your emotions and the reason that you turn to food.

Pick the route of help that you find most comfortable for you. If you do not feel comfortable, you will not be able to be completely open and honest about what is going on between you and food.

Even though you are part of the 25 million people that suffer from Binge Eating Disorder right now, remember, you do not always have to be part of that number. You can regain control of your life and of your eating habits and be well on the way to joining the recovery number from Binge Eating Disorder by getting help.

Touring Historical Paris on a Double-Decker

 Computer HW  Comments Off on Touring Historical Paris on a Double-Decker
Dec 102023
 

There is no shortage of transportation means in Paris, and the public transportation system is extremely efficient. But touring Paris by metro may not be the most rewarding sightseeing occasion. That’s where the Open Tour deals you a better hand.


Two circuits to discover from the top deck

There are at least two advantages to a double-decker: you sit higher so you see farther, and it smells better on the open deck than at traffic level. Overall, the top platform is very pleasant excepted of course during rainy days.

The company which operates the Open Tour platform bus offers 4 touring circuits, each exploring several well-known areas. The ‘Grand Tour’ is the longest, the ‘Montparnasse – Saint-Germain’ a must-do. In my opinion, the other two are less interesting.

One of the two major benefits of the Open Tour formula is the multi-lingual commentary pointing at what you should look at. The other is to allow passengers to get off at each stop, visit the area, and board the next Open Tour double-decker with their 1-day or 2-day passes.


Off to the ‘Grand Tour’

The 2-hour long “Grand Tour” circuit starts at “Le Printemps”, one of the largest department stores in Paris. Its first stop is the old Opera Garnier. Recently renovated, the Opera house is a fine example of Second Empire architecture. It shelters the National Ballet Academy where 11-year old girls start the hard-labor path which may lead them eventually to the coveted honor of being recognized as a ‘Star’, a soloist ballerina.

The decker moves on to the Gardens of Palais Royal which have become famous for the black-and-white striped concrete stumps called the “Buren’s Columns”. The Louvre museum is a couple of minutes away. The bus enters the center courtyard through the Arches of Rohan. It stops between Li Pei’s steel and glass pyramid, and the small Carrousel, a small version of the Arch of Triumph which sits at the end of the Champs Elysees avenue.

The bus then moves to the central courtyard of the Louvre museum where you will admire (or loathe) architect Li Pei’s glass pyramid. There again, the contrast between such a modern structure and the classical proportions of the Louvre buildings is open to debate.

Then it’s off to Notre Dame Cathedral, and crossing the river Seine over the Pont Neuf, the medieval bridge built from 1578 to 1604. Notre Dame Cathedral can be toured, and the faithful can attend a Catholic mass. For the not-faint-of-hearts, the high towers offer a photo-opp view at the top of a steep flight of stairs. The large plaza which lies at the feet of the cathedral often becomes an improvised stage for street performers.

The Open Tour then takes you on a long ride along the left banks of the Seine, to the Orsay Museum. The 19th-century decommissioned train station was fully renovated in the 80’s and converted into a large museum dedicated to impressionist art. The facade of the building is an architectural delight.

A little detour will have you cross the Seine again, and land on Concorde Square, a plaza of awesome dimensions. There stands the Louqsor obelisk offered to King Charles X by Egyptian sovereign Mohammad Ali in 1831. Then it’s up the Champs Elysees Avenue.

The lower section of the famous thoroughfare has kept some of its 19th-century charm with its sidewalks shaded by many trees. It ends at ‘Petit Palais’ and ‘Grand Palais’, two major exhibition venues built toward the end of the 19th century, and recently renovated. From there starts the upper section of the Avenue, which has only become uglier and uglier ever since the 60’s.

Atop the Champs Elysees stands the Arch of Triumph, a monument commissioned by Napoleon I to celebrate his victory over the Austrian armies at Austerlitz. The four pillars of the large Roman-style structure bear the names of the killing fields where the French tyrant exacted his death toll on European populations.

Moving on. Going around the Arch of Triumph and down a side avenue, the Open Tour bus proceeds to the Trocadero, a majestic structure built in the Roman Empire style at the end of the 19th century. I believe the Trocadero plaza is one of the two places in Paris from where you get the best full view of the Eiffel Tower.

The Tower is your next destination. The bus circles around it, going through the midsection of the Gardens of Mars, a vast expanse of grass which lies at the feet of Mr. Eiffel’s brainchild. Quite a fine site to spend a summer afternoon, soaking the sun.

The Open Tour home stretch leads you back across the Concorde Plaza, up the Rue Royale and along the upscale chic Rue St Honore. The rich 2-hour tour stops at the gates of the Madeleine Church.


Details of some importance

The Open Tour company offers 1-day and 2-day passes. Those allow you to board and de-board the company’s double-deckers at any stop along the tour circuits. Both passes also give you access to take all 4 tours. At €25 and €28 respectively, they are excellent value for money. Children’s rates are discounted 50% over regular rates. The Open Tour should be a thrill for your teenage kids. That you can board and get off at any stop ensures they won’t get bored, or grow impatient.

The website of the operator shows you where to buy your day pass, where to board the bus, and at what time. Type “open tour Paris” on Google, they come up first.

I leave you on this final note: when you want to see as many sites as possible but feel dead tired after 3 days of walking the streets, the Open Tour double-deckers offer an easy-going way to soak in some more history and architecture. Good deal!

Online Internet Shopping is the Craze in Australia

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Dec 092023
 

Online Internet Shopping is the Craze in Australia

Aussies and the world are logging on in record numbers, recent surveys conducted found that:

• Australians spent an average of $471 online in November (Nielson/NetRating)
• The number of Australian shoppers utilising the Internet has grown exponentially, almost doubling to 2.3 million in the past twelve months (news.com.au)
• 68% of Australians have a home Internet connection (Nielson/NetRating)
• Australians are spending 31 hrs a month online compared to just 10 hrs in 2003 (Nielson/NetRating)

Throughout the world consumer preferences are changing, online purchases are fast becoming the norm as potential customers are becoming computer savvy. Here are few more resounding global facts.

• 400 million passengers worldwide are now booking their flights over the internet (TheAge)
• The French spend nearly 50hrs a month online (Nielson/NetRating)
• Online consumers spent a whopping $22.3 billion in America 2005

With these kinds of figures we know that consumer loyalties are changing when it comes to purchasing goods. Consumer confidence is at all time high and we at thedeal would like to help you the consumer with your online purchasing.

We have put together a quick online shopping checklist which we hope will guide you safely through deciding which and where to purchase your products.

Online shopping checklist

1. Identifying info—do you know who you’re dealing with?
Has the website provided contact information, such as the physical address of the business, phone and fax numbers and, in the case of Australian businesses, an Australian Business Number (ABN)? This is important if something goes wrong, for example, if your package doesn’t arrive or your credit card is charged incorrectly.

2. Description of product—do you know what you’re buying?
Make sure the goods or services you are buying have been clearly described and they suit your need. Confirm this with the business (e.g. by email or phone).

3. Cost and currency—do you know how much you’re paying?
It is important that you know the final cost, especially if the business is going to charge your credit card. Clarify that delivery and handling costs have been included and check there are no ongoing fees.

Check if there any applicable taxes or import duties.

You should also clarify the currency—even an Australian company might list prices in US dollars.

4. Confirm the order—do you know if your order is correct?
Once you know the final cost it is useful to get confirmation of your order before agreeing to pay.

5. Applicable law—do you know which country’s laws will apply to the transaction?
This is particularly important if you are doing business with a website based in another country.

6. Privacy—do you know how any personal information you submit will be treated?
Many websites have privacy policies stating how they will deal with personal information. It’s important that you read these policies as your name could end up on mailing lists that receive unsolicited email from online marketers. In many countries, including Australia, there is now privacy legislation.

7. Payment mechanism—do you know what sort of online security the website has for processing your payment?
You need to satisfy yourself that any online payment by credit card is secure. Many online payment systems use secure sockets layer (SSL). The site should tell you that you are entering a secure online environment before you start to provide your credit card details. Usually an unbroken key or lock will appear in the bottom of your browser window to indicate you are sending information via a secure connection, or the web address will begin with https//:

8. Print out details—do you have printed copies of the terms of your agreement?
Make sure you print out any form you have filled in and keep copies of any email correspondence. It’s a good idea to print out pages from the website as a record of the offer you have accepted. This is important if the business denies having made promises to you. Remember, websites change regularly, and even disappear completely. You want to be able to prove the terms of your contract with the business.

9. Delivery—do you know how long it will take for the product to get to you and who to call if it doesn’t arrive?
You should clarify an expected delivery date so that you know when to start chasing it up if it hasn’t arrived.

10. Terms and conditions—do you know all the terms and conditions?
These will give you details of how the company deals with its customers. They need to be read carefully in case there are things you were unaware of, for instance, what happens if the chosen product is unavailable.

11. Refunds and warranties—do you know the business’s return, exchange, refund and warranty policies?
If you can’t find any policies on the website, contact the business via email or telephone and ask them to explain their procedures.

Australian businesses are bound by the Trade Practices Act and/or fair trading legislation. This means businesses have to replace a product or refund your money if that product is not of merchantable quality, or fit for any purpose that you’ve made known to the supplier. Goods must also match any description given by the trader (this could include matching a photograph of the goods).

For services, they should be rendered with due care and skill and be reasonably fit to achieve the purpose specified.

Remember that goods bought at auction are not covered by statutory warranty rights other than those relating to clear title, quiet possession and owning the goods outright.

12. Complaint handling and dispute resolution—will you have access to a complaints handling process or any external dispute resolution mechanisms?
Are you satisfied that, if you aren’t happy with some part of the purchase, the business will attempt to resolve any complaint you make in a fair and open manner? Many businesses have policies about internal complaint handling and external dispute resolution when that they can’t address any complaint you make directly to them—it’s worth checking this out before you make your purchase.

Online Shopping Australia

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