Why not one charity organization instead of many competing with each other. Better if we could pay a sum and write to which area/cause we wish the money to be used in.
Unicef has shown 2 beautiful boys living on the streets in an African state in a commercial. This commercial has been shown numerous times. How much does that cost? All needs are as important when it comes to life or death - then maybe it makes more sense to gather all donations and expenses in one world wide organization and not compete against other organizations. Doing this thebusiness professional way would probably lower expenses which means more money to where it is needed. Since these organizations are non-profit then this should not be a problem.
There are some smaller organizations that have a much larger part of the donations going directly to where the money is needed. So it can be done - but they do not have commercials on prime time using the Christmas spirit.
I know people working within many organizations do an amazing job - even more reason for making sure that the cause gets the donation as effectively as possible.
Just a thought, sitting here going through my yearly donations. Out of every 100 I give - depending on which organization I give to, I have no idea how much gets to its proper destination. If I knew that X amount always went to the cause, since it was all one big organization with different focus areas, maybe I would give more.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sats Majorstuen...maybe they don't want customers
Amazing. Entered Sats tonight at 21:35. Started obeyingly putting on the blue plastic things for your outdoor boots. It's -12 degreees out so we had a lot of layers on us. Before we were done finding 2 unused plastiv thingies for our boots and unfolding a few layers, the "grown-up" blond woman loudly proclaimed "We are closing in 15 minutes". We both looked at each other - "15 minutes?" She definitely did not want us in the building. "Yes" she answered, it is Christmas! OK I thought - Chrismas was last week lady, but OK.
I looked at her and said with a smile "But it is at Christmas we really need to work off the fat". No smile back. She answered "We have been open since 7 this morning" - as if that helped me - I work during the day. The point was, I smiled and tried my hardest to loosen up the mood, but this lady was not in the mood. "We are closing".
We started for the door, and not a word was said. No "goodbye", no "have a nice evening", no "was there anything else you needed". Amazing. Maybe we were 2 new customers wanting to sign up for a membership-sales must really be soaring, or maybe I had forgotten something in the changing room. No - "We are closing" was the message loud and clear. So we wandered out in the cold amazed at the attitude and service level.
OK - please close - I will not be visiting you again.
I looked at her and said with a smile "But it is at Christmas we really need to work off the fat". No smile back. She answered "We have been open since 7 this morning" - as if that helped me - I work during the day. The point was, I smiled and tried my hardest to loosen up the mood, but this lady was not in the mood. "We are closing".
We started for the door, and not a word was said. No "goodbye", no "have a nice evening", no "was there anything else you needed". Amazing. Maybe we were 2 new customers wanting to sign up for a membership-sales must really be soaring, or maybe I had forgotten something in the changing room. No - "We are closing" was the message loud and clear. So we wandered out in the cold amazed at the attitude and service level.
OK - please close - I will not be visiting you again.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Peak Performane - Bogstad veien Oslo
Came in, having absolutely no idea what to get - complete blank! I needed a gift, not too pricy for a friend. The girl that saw me walk in, could apparently read minds.
She approached very carefully, asked if I was wondering what to get. She pinned me directly.
After 5 - 6 minutes, I was paying for a great gift, full return possibilities and in a short period my "problem" was solved. She put herself in my firends place and asked the correct questions. WOW!
She approached very carefully, asked if I was wondering what to get. She pinned me directly.
After 5 - 6 minutes, I was paying for a great gift, full return possibilities and in a short period my "problem" was solved. She put herself in my firends place and asked the correct questions. WOW!
Arlanda airport - again but this time terminal 2
Amazing - I thought the customer handling at terminal 5 was an exception but NOOOO, yesterday a new episode occurred.
Terminal 2, Taxfree, 2 people in line (otherwise almost emply store), no one at the cash register. 1 girl helping a customer, 1 girl packing up goods and 1 girl putting on mascara. She saw person number 1 in line, kept putting on mascara, saw person number 2 in line, kep putting on mascara (public mirror next to the make up shelves).
I had found some wonderful champagne with an even more wonderful price! I was number 3 in line.
The girl unpacking looked up and started for the cash register. NO! Screamed the mascara girl - I GOT IT! Great I thought, now maybe I can pay and get on my way.
Person number 1 in line...he got the most of her irritation and hurried off not even taking a plastic bag - we apparently disturbed her mascara party. Person number 2 looked around and decided to not buy anything and just left. I do not blame him.
With the champagne to that price, I could not afford not buying 3 bottles. So I took one step closer, both hands full of stuff and a bag between my feet.
"PASS" she screamed. Pass??? Should I pass. So I walked by her to the next empty register. "STOP" came out of her. "You pay HERE!"
I could not help myself - the game was on! I told her to make up her mind - either I pass or I stop. She answered that there were others in line and that if I wanted the champagne I needed to pay. "But you said PASS" I commented. I was told that if I had flown more often I would understand that PASS (in her screaming voice) meant boarding pass. Oh! Thank you for clearing that up for me, I answered. Idiot I thought.
I let all my stuff go, found my boarding pass and put it between the champagne bottles on the circular belt. She looked at me and told me that that was the wrong place and that I should always put the boarding pass on the counter.
I did as I was told. Then I had to pay but before paying I had to decided currency on the screen. I asked her what the rate was. She answered the price in SEK and NOK. Once again, I asked the currency rate. This was it - I was in trouble. "There are people in line behind you" she informed me. I looked behind me and the poor number 2 man stood smiling, enjoying the show. He knew exactly what was going on. Other than him, there was no one in sight. He just looked at meand said - "Take your time".
I decided to pay in SEK. Took my "PASS" and started to pack the champagne bottles. Poos number 2 man was next. This time he just smiled and said "here is my PASS".
Why is it that some just do not undertand service and what it means? The customer should never have to feel dictated to or screamed at - then there is something very wrong.
Terminal 2, Taxfree, 2 people in line (otherwise almost emply store), no one at the cash register. 1 girl helping a customer, 1 girl packing up goods and 1 girl putting on mascara. She saw person number 1 in line, kept putting on mascara, saw person number 2 in line, kep putting on mascara (public mirror next to the make up shelves).
I had found some wonderful champagne with an even more wonderful price! I was number 3 in line.
The girl unpacking looked up and started for the cash register. NO! Screamed the mascara girl - I GOT IT! Great I thought, now maybe I can pay and get on my way.
Person number 1 in line...he got the most of her irritation and hurried off not even taking a plastic bag - we apparently disturbed her mascara party. Person number 2 looked around and decided to not buy anything and just left. I do not blame him.
With the champagne to that price, I could not afford not buying 3 bottles. So I took one step closer, both hands full of stuff and a bag between my feet.
"PASS" she screamed. Pass??? Should I pass. So I walked by her to the next empty register. "STOP" came out of her. "You pay HERE!"
I could not help myself - the game was on! I told her to make up her mind - either I pass or I stop. She answered that there were others in line and that if I wanted the champagne I needed to pay. "But you said PASS" I commented. I was told that if I had flown more often I would understand that PASS (in her screaming voice) meant boarding pass. Oh! Thank you for clearing that up for me, I answered. Idiot I thought.
I let all my stuff go, found my boarding pass and put it between the champagne bottles on the circular belt. She looked at me and told me that that was the wrong place and that I should always put the boarding pass on the counter.
I did as I was told. Then I had to pay but before paying I had to decided currency on the screen. I asked her what the rate was. She answered the price in SEK and NOK. Once again, I asked the currency rate. This was it - I was in trouble. "There are people in line behind you" she informed me. I looked behind me and the poor number 2 man stood smiling, enjoying the show. He knew exactly what was going on. Other than him, there was no one in sight. He just looked at meand said - "Take your time".
I decided to pay in SEK. Took my "PASS" and started to pack the champagne bottles. Poos number 2 man was next. This time he just smiled and said "here is my PASS".
Why is it that some just do not undertand service and what it means? The customer should never have to feel dictated to or screamed at - then there is something very wrong.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Park Lane - a crisp modern classic brand
It is refreshing to find a brand that understands and works with the relationship between trend, quality and price. Usually one component does not measure up. In this case, Park Lane covers all aspects in an impressive way. The men's collection fits every occasion. It is crisp, proper and makes you feel good, both to wear and to look at. 
The details are emphasized in just the right places. The style bringing out the man makes for a very handsome result.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Olivers & Co - Oslo - Excuse me for wanting my oils gift wrapped
Amazing...I have been there twice - once to look around for a healthy, tasty and different present.
It ended with me feeling in the way, not welcome. Regardless where in the store I was, I was in the way. The store was almost empty but there was woman seriously always having to be in control. After choosing 3 oils, tops for the bottles and cans and a fresh loaf of olive/dried tomato bread, I had to beg for a gift wrapped package to bring to my friend. This was a present. After paying, my oils were given to another younger girl to pack. She did a wonderful job and was happy and smiled. The end result looked beautiful. She even gave me a "buy XX oils and get something free card" and stamped it. OK I thought, this was OK, I can go back next time I need healthy oils and tasty bread.
As I was waiting for my package, the extra "service minded" woman was asked by a customer if the bread was as good as the sig said. The bread's sign said "The world's best tasting bread!". The "service minded woman" did not take the hint. Instead of saying "Oh yes, the sign is right, this is the world's best tasting bread" she actually said "it is actually OK tasting bread" which resulted in the customer saying "OK...I guess I can buy bread somewhere else". There I was, holding my own "world's best tasing bread". Why write a sign and then telling customers that the sign is actually telling you a lie? Hmmm, there is no way she "hears" herself.
Next time came 2 weeks later. This time I wanted the same "package". I went to the shelves, took my oils, tops to the cans and bottles and looked for the bread. Instead of being happy that I knew what I wanted and took no time from the people working there, I was told off by the same lady that I felt in the way of during my last visit. Boy was she crabby. She hung herself up om me not taking the first can on the shelf, but taking the one behind it. This time I wasn't given a beautiful wrapping, just a pastic bag with a bow, I wasn't smiled at and I definately was NOT entitled to more than one stamp on my so important stamp card. On top of it all, my dogs were not allowed to wait inside the door. This is an oil shop - not a restaurant and it was pouring outside.
On my way out I sang and smiled "Ha det" - no answer. So maybeit is true, as a customer remember to be careful asking for something outside box, that little extra that makes us customers feel welcome!
It ended with me feeling in the way, not welcome. Regardless where in the store I was, I was in the way. The store was almost empty but there was woman seriously always having to be in control. After choosing 3 oils, tops for the bottles and cans and a fresh loaf of olive/dried tomato bread, I had to beg for a gift wrapped package to bring to my friend. This was a present. After paying, my oils were given to another younger girl to pack. She did a wonderful job and was happy and smiled. The end result looked beautiful. She even gave me a "buy XX oils and get something free card" and stamped it. OK I thought, this was OK, I can go back next time I need healthy oils and tasty bread.
As I was waiting for my package, the extra "service minded" woman was asked by a customer if the bread was as good as the sig said. The bread's sign said "The world's best tasting bread!". The "service minded woman" did not take the hint. Instead of saying "Oh yes, the sign is right, this is the world's best tasting bread" she actually said "it is actually OK tasting bread" which resulted in the customer saying "OK...I guess I can buy bread somewhere else". There I was, holding my own "world's best tasing bread". Why write a sign and then telling customers that the sign is actually telling you a lie? Hmmm, there is no way she "hears" herself.
Next time came 2 weeks later. This time I wanted the same "package". I went to the shelves, took my oils, tops to the cans and bottles and looked for the bread. Instead of being happy that I knew what I wanted and took no time from the people working there, I was told off by the same lady that I felt in the way of during my last visit. Boy was she crabby. She hung herself up om me not taking the first can on the shelf, but taking the one behind it. This time I wasn't given a beautiful wrapping, just a pastic bag with a bow, I wasn't smiled at and I definately was NOT entitled to more than one stamp on my so important stamp card. On top of it all, my dogs were not allowed to wait inside the door. This is an oil shop - not a restaurant and it was pouring outside.
On my way out I sang and smiled "Ha det" - no answer. So maybeit is true, as a customer remember to be careful asking for something outside box, that little extra that makes us customers feel welcome!
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