An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

So fireworks night was last Friday – one would think that it’s a simple ritual – a yearly thing for this small town – and the entire town are usually out at the waterfront or by Wendy’s where everyone finds a place and sit and wait for the sky to turn dark and enjoy the firework.

This year’s firework was slightly better than the previous years and this year we opted to go down by Wendy’s instead – but we didn’t come with chairs nor a towel to sit on.  So we met our neighbor and chatted for abit – when the guy sitting in front of his car by the road – raised his voice and said we were blocking his view.  Yes! rude and the firework hasn’t started for that matter – and really – this is afterall – a free space and anyone can stand in a big open space where they want.  But as usual – we didn’t want any trouble – and i asked the boss to move a few feet away and the big Caucasian guy moved his chair where we were.   Like i said – no need of that – the space didn’t belong to him – if only he would ask nicely – we wouldn’t have been offended at all.  My grandmother used to say – people like that ” San Yan Ba Sei Dei” – meaning – direct translation – living person placing order on a dead land.   Why can’t people be nice?

Everyday I get calls for the boss – when he is not in the store – everyday I get asked the same questions.  When will he be back? where has he gone? Will he be back today?  How long will he be gone? Some even asked me for his cell phone number so that they can call him directly.  hahahaha!!  So like usual – i was in the store – the boss had to run some errands – do work for a customer – you know the paying type – that keeps the store going – hahah!!  and i was reading on  lipovox side effects and minding my own business and another call came in – looking for the boss!  what a surprise eh?  Sometimes, I really don’t know what to tell them – because honestly – even if you call me every half hour – i still won’t know when he is gonna be back – he will be back .. when he gets back – folks.  Don’t mean to be rude – but he doesn’t report to me.

While i was reading about a diet supplement a local resident pointed out on a local Facebook page about what Percy Paris – the Minister of Economic Development had said in his recent interview on one of our local papers.  Apparently, with or without the transport report that they were all supposedly to be waiting for – wouldn’t make a difference.  If that was the case, why did they waste the tax payer’s money by hiring a professional survey company to do the study?  It sure doesn’t make any sense how these people are trying to run this province.  So in other words – they are saying – if i wanna screw up the town – i can screw you up regardless?

The interview continued to say that it wasn’t an overnight decision and if that was the case – was the locals here being brought in at all – to review the decision or to be given a chance to make a presentation and state our case?  It is really sad – and i cannot imagine – staying here and being toy with -  your entire future!  your entire business !  these people donch care about us here in Y-Town do they?

So i’ve been in Canada for 10 yrs now and with the by election a few days ago, I thought i would do my part as a Permanent Resident and go vote.  Now when i got my Permanent Residency many years ago, i was told i cannot vote for provincial only but i had a rude surprised.  I was told rudely by a big woman who was manning the poll that i am not a Canadian..!!!! mannnn!!  i mean it’s ok.. if i cannot vote but to tell me off so rudely – mannnn..!!  so i said that’s ok..  and took my  tiger direct coupons and went shopping instead.  What i found really strange was – i could vote for the town councils and for the Premier but i can’t vote for MLAs???  darn weird !!!

So my customers asked me if i was going to be a Canadian citizen anytime soon..??  Well, truth be told, i would rather keep my Singapore citizenship because it’s a lot safer to keep it this way – at the rate things are going – i better have a back up plan and that is to keep my citizenship.

So another eatery gone?  The Pita place wasn’t even opened for too long and it’s already gone – according to another customer who walked in today.  But why..?? oh why..?? where am i gonna get some good pita..???  I can’t believe it.. it’s like one business after another – what is Main Street becoming?  Are you worried yet..??  I am.. i don’t know what to think?  ppl just up and leave – their businesses just overnight.

So we are in this business for repairing computers/laptops and notebooks for customer/s.  Once in a while, we will have people coming in and asking us to repair or upgrade their computer/s and/or notebook but when it is time to pick up the item, they either tell us that they don’t have the money and will pick it up later.  Or some would asked if they can take their computer/s first and pay us later.

Truth be told, we’ve been burned so many times, we rather not do it this way – but we still do – and usually when they say they would come back on a certain date – you can be sure they are never back.  Once in a while – you have the honest ones and they will come and replay you.  But there are a few – till today – we still haven’t seen them.  Some are even worst – we see them all the time on the streets but they pretend as if nothing was happening or they didn’t do nothing to us.  It makes me really mad that people does this to us all the time.   But eventually, they have to pay – somehow and you see we will only trust you this once and once you do us wrong, there won’t be a second time.  For those who are not aware of this – the boss kill lots of brain cells just to fix your computer/notebooks/laptops – and by not paying, only means that the next time, he will not do anything for you.

Or is it a crook calling the other a crook?  10 yrs in business – one would think you would have seen it all – but nope – a crook will always be a crook no matter what good intentions they had in the beginning.  And in any business – you never truly see the true color of a person – till they decide to rip you off.

But one such crook – is even more crazier than the rest of the crooks – we’ve met by far.  Rented a game from us – didn’t come back for 4 weeks – the boss caught up with him on Facebook asking if we should send him to collections or was he returning our game anytime soon.  He wrote back to ask if he could buy the game straight out without paying his lates.  The boss offer him $10 in lates and to buy out the game.  He thank the boss for the game and that he was keeping the game and the money!  How stylo malo is that?

The next day – he tried to sell it on Facebook yardsale – the boss when online to tell everyone that the game belongs to the store.  The crook then told the boss he was calling the cops on us  *roll eyes* and yes called us crooks instead.  So we called the cops on him instead.  You see – we don’t threaten nor do we play games.   And yes – his name is on our rip off list – so if you are around town, you should come by and see our rip off list – it’s called “People who have ripped us off, recently!”   If we had enough wall space – I will bring back the “Wall Of Shame”.

Is this depressing or what?  this week – we’ve heard 3 small businesses closing its door – due to different reasons.  I  buy diet pills online and was minding my own business at the store when someone from the cafe came in and talked amongst themselves that they didn’t even know that they didn’t have a job anymore.  They went to work and the restaurant weren’t opened.  This is shocking to me – I remember this place so well because when i was pregnant with my only child – this restaurant and its quiche was the only thing that kept me and the kid alive.It is very sad – even though it doesn’t affect us directly but to see one after another leave or closed is just too much for the week for me.   Are there anymore depressing news next?  and what is the town doing for people like these restaurants?

So i was looking at my term life insurance when a customer/friend walked in to collect her notebook – she had left for the spouse to fix.   Then the big news came – that she and her entire family is moving out of Canada.  Of course, I’m happy for her – but that would mean that my hope of another expat in town sharing the same ideal of making it home here is just  not feasible to make good in this town.

So yes, yesterday was there last day of operation and they will be leaving town as soon as their kid is outta school.  I am very happy for them but it certainly left mixed feelings in me.  I want what is best for my kids too – but what has this town gotta offer?   What future has my kid got here in another 10 yrs?   Is she gonna be able to meet decent people and build a life here?   I have so many questions right now – running around my head.  I woke up feel rather depress to be honest – what has this town got for our future?

So a buddy sent a email informing me that a restaurant that we had been planning on going to has closed shop – due to political reasons.  I went like huh? what do you mean..??  Well, in fact the reason was because they were unable to obtain a liquor license and the taxes were too high for them to make it without one.  Now that made more sense to me now.

Now for the life of me – i cannot understand this town – why wouldn’t they give them a liqor license – this is like a family restaurant – owned by people who are trying to make a living.  Would this town rather they go on welfare – ???? mannnn!!!  i can’t get over how stupid this town can get at times – and i seriously think the owners should fight for it – it just makes me mad – that the town or whoever who holds the license – doesn’t have some common sense here.  I don’t know the full story – but i can see that the people enjoyed the food there – and i’m sure these good people must have put in lots of money and time to take over this business – it is just beyond me – why they cannot get a license for liquor – i was so infuriated i couldn’t sleep but to get  over the counter sleeping pill because this is not the first time – the town is making it hard for honest ppl to try and make it in life – they rather people be bums.

Source :  The Vanguard

During Dexter’s campaign to become the next premier on the last election – he had promised if i remember correctly that he wasn’t going to raise taxes.  But guess what – like any politician – he lied.  Here we have the NDP government’s budget for the provincial – putting up the HST back up to 15% !!  At 15% – this makes Nova Scotia the highest harmonized sales tax in the country.   So here i am waking up in the morning – happily ever after – reading up on  acnepril when we got a notice from our landlord that due to the changes come 1st July 2010 – our rent for the store will changed because of it.  In my last few posts – i had written to say that our commercial tax rate is up – now the HST is also up – what else is next. I can only began to fear – with no ferry – and all sorts of scandals with local leaders here – I don’t even want to start – i really feel bad for a lot of people.

Sometimes – I don’t know to laugh or to keep quiet with certain customers.  Like i said – majority of our customers are the greatest of the great – even those that had been mean to us – comes back and become our loyal customers – because they know that we are the cheapest in town and know what product we are selling at our store.  Whether it is a computer parts or a magic card – but once in a blue moon – you get some very, very funny customer/s.  Today, while i was going thru’ some life insurance quote – i saw the boss – talking to a group of guys.  And one of them offered the boss – $120 for a PS3 machine – that for new goes for $399 because it had a bigger hard drive – or something to that effect.

Anyhow, when the boss said – no  – he can’t take that offer politely – fella claimed he can go online – to Kijiji right now and get one similar to ours for $120.  You see – normally – i try not to get involved but this customer – well, lets just say – even if he had $250 for the machine – i rather not do business with him.  So i turned around and told him – good for him and good luck to him.  He was shocked of course – coz’ normally – i don’t wanna say a lot to these people.  And then he turned and told the boss – if he changes his mind – let him know – in which i replied very loudly – ” FOR SURE!! YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!!”  i feel bad for Dear kijiji been used for all sorts of excuse – even to cut a deal.  Oh mannnn..!!

So the town met – and by the town – i mean the people who makes the decision for the town – and determined how much they wanna tax us.  The commercial rate increases this year – and even though the occupancy tax is said to be eliminated – you and i know that our landlord whose commercial rate is gonna go up this year – will also in turn raise our rent to get back the extras they are asked to pay up.

How can we not expect it – when even the sewage rate is going up by up by 25% and we don’t pay for sewage at the store – so you really think the landlords are gonna pay for it?  come on..!!!!  they get taxed..and they tax us !  easy calculation.  Our lease is coming up this month.. and i can only imagine  what is going on in the minds of all landlords of this town afterall, they won’t even give us our own  personalized basketballs when we asked for one – they were giving away during seafest.  Will update – once i see the lease.

Crime fighters we are not but we just want to do the right thing and hope that by doing so – one day – someone would stand up for us too.  It is hard to make an honest living when someone keeps breaking into ppl’s car or houses in broad daylight – so when a report comes in like that – we keep a look out for the things that were taken and we try our very best – to get any info we can to the owners or cops.

A few days ago, a stolen item came in – and even though we tried to get the name of the person – the person didn’t fall for our bait.  But we took a video footage of the person – and was able to give it to the cops and the owner of the said item – they tracked him down and yesterday we were asked to give a statement.  Of course, this would mean that we might have to go to court to identify the person – and waste a day’s of work – but doing the right thing is important to us – because we have to make sure that crime does not pay for those crooks – what say you?

Lipovox

A month and a half ago, i had written about this ex-customer renting 3 movies and not bringing them back.  After leaving a message on a voice mail for him at his parents – about collections – he came in to scream at us in vulgarities – but still not returning our movies.  Yes ! the nerve of some people – he then told the boss he was gonna bring it back the next day – and pay up his late fees.

But guess what?  another month later – today – he came in with the movies – but walked right out without paying his lates either.  2 months and 3 movies later – paid only $3 bucks for renting it each – this person has not even an inch of integrity in him – for people like that – he will never rent from us again – and the next time – he comes in and wants to rent – i would give him the  best acne treatment i can find and tell him to take it with him free – for he is nothing but a pain.  People like that don’t know that they are hurting not only our business but others – because we are planning not to even rent movies soon – all because of people like him and his g/f.  Both owes us money – $100 each.   You see his g/f ripped us off – a few months ago – and now the b/f – so birds of the feathers do flock together eh.

Yes, we have one of those every other day – the ones that thinks that they are doing you a favor when they sell stuff to you.  The ones that needs the money – but still thinks that you owe them an explanation as to how much you price the game that they are trying to sell to you.  Yes ! one of those – we had this morning – bringing in a box of xbox games – not xbox 360 eh – the old xbox games and an old xbox and wants them for $170 *slap forehead*.  When the boss offered him $80 – he told us that we could easily get $10 a piece for the games!  hahaha!! YA RIGHT!!  we sell our xbox games for only $5 a piece and even then – it will take forever to sell – because no one has an xbox no more!!!  Not only do they want to sell your their stuff and thinks you owe it to them to give them the price they want – they also wants to run your business – hahahah!!  I think I will sell electric cigarettes from now on – instead of video games – less hassle.

It’s that time of the year again – whereby – it looks like just about everyone in town is looking for money – from the town.  This year I heard from our deputy mayor who is also a friend that there were more organization looking for money from the town.  I have nothing against it trust me – some people like the parent’s place and the boys and girls’ club – they should get all the money they need.  Afterall, these are the people who are really helping the people in town.  But when a local bus service – privately owned who is already getting $60K in subsidy every year asked for another $10K – now that is beyond my comprehension.

Why?  in my 10 yrs here – i never took the bus.  Why ? because the route that the bus uses – does not go everywhere and it only goes hourly – considering how small this town is – it’s terrible.  That means I have to wait like the right time to take the public bus – pay $2.75 and take a ride for at least another 30mins and then i have to walk home – if it was going near my house or where I wanna go.  What about if i had a few kids with me?  that don’t make it anymore economical does it? and it’s time consuming – so no – i don’t take the bus.   Taking a cab is about $6.50 but me and all my kids can go into it – and if i didn’t have a car – i would definitely take a cab.   So for us taxpayer to fork out $70K for a bus that doesn’t serve a lot of ppl – who cannot sustain itself – then i say – it’s not feasible. This $70K must go to some organization who really needs it – for a great cause but having said that – that’s only my opinion and maybe – i haven’t heard all angle of the story.

Movie and game rentals are the most painful lost in our small business – not only do we loose the money – the aggravation from people renting them and not bringing it back is bad enough but to see the thief try and sell it in the local yardsale online is really too much.  With all the movies and games lost the last 10 years, we could easily afford more inventories.  In fact – if we really want to put them altogether – from people owing us without paying us for work done on their computers or people taking stuff without paying first – because we were stupid to trust them.  We could actually open another small store that sell books in Digby.  So I have spoken once again to the spouse to stop renting – just buy and sell and there will be no aggravation and no money lost there.

The man is buying everyday – sometimes i cringed at the things he buys because i put myself in a customer’s shoe and I for one don’t mind buying used things – but if the previously used item is in rough shape then – i wouldn’t wanna buy it – sometimes I have sleepless nite worrying and need the  best sleeping pill to sleep at nite.  Like my grandmother used to say – the appearance is more important than the inside of a person – on first contact – so the same for any items one buys.

Even though acquired cheap – if it doesn’t move – no point at all.   I hate storing things – because it gets moved around and then forgotten – this is only a quarter of our store and you can see how packed things are.  And no we are not moving to Starrs Road yet – coz’ of how this town is currently and Dexter ain’t doing anything for us – just because we didn’t vote for a MLA he wanted (so the rumors go).   So yes ! packed and busy – really can’t complained but still don’t want to keep buying non-stop everyday.

These are the only fireworks left from last year.  We used to do well with fireworks till another business across the street decided to join the band wagon as well.  Our wholesaler was a guy who would come in his van and loads of goods and sell us everything in cash.  Yes ! everything was in cash but taxes were expected to be paid of course – receipts were issued as well.

Anyhow, since the other business – who seems to do whatever we wanna do – we are wondering if we should continue carry fireworks this summer?  The profits are like 20% – and you tie up your money – plus you need to be very careful who you sell it to – because minors can’t buy them.  But you and i know how these kids are .. they get an irresponsible adult who would come and buy it for them and get us into trouble and i sure don’t like that.   So we are still contemplating – because i don’t want the stress – not like we are already doing a lot as it is.  So maybe – we will sit this one out this year – plus i love to give away those glow sticks to kids we know – so instead of making money .. we probably break even – hahah!! bad business woman.