An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

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 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”.

There isn’t much happening downtown – not much irate customers – nor idiotic ones – so I’m currently concentrating on ways to reduce belly fat – yes – mine hahah! coz’ i sit too much.  Plus the spouse just told me the taxes had been filed – why he waits till the last minute – it beats me.  So when do you file your taxes?  when I was back home – i file it the minute i get all my stuff – yes ! it irks me that he would take his own sweet time – but we all know how men are.  Plus i was in the store yesterday – coz’ i wasn’t feeling the best.  But the store has been steady and we are happy – now if only we can get the new lease – so that we can make plans as to how much we need to put away every month.

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 we closed the store for the first time – to head up to the city – because I had an eye doctor appointment and to look for  stainless steel drums.  I feel better closing up then to get in a part time employee to help for the day – because then you know that you don’t have to worry about anything. You have to make sure that the person you hire will not need  Cocaine Rehab, or have some other personal problems. After all when you have a good security system it is better to not chance it!
The store is secured with a new security company and we had put in more sensors even in the basement and on the windows in front and at the back of the store.

Of couse, I’m sure the spouse wasn’t really, really too keen on closing the store – but when you can’t find the right help – what can you do eh?  and the person we wanna hire – well, he just ain’t barging at all – hahah!!  you know who you are bugger     Anyhow – if i had it my way – i would stay another day – but this summer – with good rates from help from a customer – who works for Westin – we are staying longer – for sure.

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

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.

I was doing my diet pill review when yet another customer came in coughing and sneezing and without feeling bad about it at all.   This sick customer like any who comes in sick – still carry on chatting with the spouse and selling him stuff and sticking around and coughing and even telling other customers that he has the flu *slap forehead*.  Why are ppl so inconsiderate?  just because you are sick doesnt’ mean that you need to get other ppl sick right?  common sense tells you that flu or any kind of illness can be contagious thru’ the air.   But we can’t control who comes in or out of our store and even though we lightly joke about not wanting to get sick along with them – they still hang around – and guess what..?? not only is my spouse sick – so is my daughter now.  *shake head*.  I don’t mind if we adults get ill but the kid – i’m sure you know where i’m coming from.

This morning a kid came in to sell us an ipod touch – of course, we got suspicious but you see before he came down, he called to ask how much he can get.  And in the background sounded like an adult too – talking with him about the ipod – so we figured – that must be his parents.  In this town, you know how some parents can be – the “i don’t care” attitude.   Whether it is to upkeep their insurance or looking for an auto insurance quotes when they are planning to get a new car or used one – they just jump into it without really thinking and then they have to rush out to sell something – else lose the car.

Anyhow, like usual..  i chatted up the kid and asked him why he was selling it – if his parents knows about it .. and if it was really his .. blah, blah – blah.  Cutting the long story short – as soon as he took our money – another fella came in and claimed that it was stolen from his house – the ipod.  Yes – less than 30 secs!  and when he came in .. he asked the boss – “Did you just buy some stolen stuff?”  *roll eyes* . .what kinda question was that..??

Had we known it was stolen.. we wouldn’t touched it within a 10 mile radius.  Anyhow, the fella claimed it was his – so we told him to get the serial # .. and apparently “his mother” called – blah, blah, blah.  But guess what..??  till the time we closed our store – he didn’t come back..?  Trying to scam us eh..??  very, very sneaky – anyhow.. we’ve had this same thing happened before a year ago – and guess what..??  we didn’t lose out .. just our time.. but this time..  that fella..  well, lets just say.. he was trying to scam the already been scammed before.  Freak that! i didn’t lose no blinks about it .. like the last time.

I really can’t complained about being busy and selling out of stuff nor the few loser type that comes into our store for this year we are doing a bit better than last year.  This year our shelves are almost emptied ..  but we still have plenty of games and movies of course.  My friend who sells breeches said that they are also doing better this year – and the fishermen who were in said that prices were like $4.50 as compared to last year $3.

Overall, by doing things on our own .. actually is much better .. but even though we are hard up on time..  you see no one wants to do business with me.. except when the boss is around.  The basic things i can sell .. but when it comes to electronics.. the boss is the one they want to look for .. and i still gotta call him.. or message him.. if he isn’t around the store.  When we had other employees .. it’s the same thing – we could be outta the store.. but we get constantly called .. not the fault of the employees.  But you get the drift right..?? might as well do it ourselves.  So yes, we are pressed for time – but nothing is perfect – now we don’t have to worry about who isn’t gonna show up .. or who is gonna play us out last minute.. or we have to move our schedule around even when we have employees .. now we just planned ahead.. and if an emergency came up – we just close the store for the day or half a day.  Saves us a lot of headache, heartache and money!

10 yrs into business and one advice i can give to any small business owners is to run your small business on your own. When the spouse started this business.. and i came a year after, we had big plans.. but then our kid came along..and everything had to be shelved.  At first because of our kid, we thought by hiring a few staff would be the way to go, but soon to find out .. that it’s not true.  Hiring in this town is like getting the best weight loss supplements because you really need not take any for these ppl that we’ve hired really took a toll in our lives.

Of course, we are not saying that all of them gave us trouble, at least Mike and Ryan from Halifax were by far the best ex-employees.  Some were good when they wanna come to work while others.. well, lets just say .. you can’t do nothing to please them.  Another was even more terrific – he would keep giving out the wrong change .. and insisted on not using the calculator.  Yes.. these are only minor problems that we’ve had.. we had bigger issues with some others.. but finally if you own a small business.. there is just no way.. one can run a business with hiriing a few part timers.. or just one full timer.. too stressful for them and ourselves.  Why..?? because the part timers want more hours.. and the full timers feel that everything lands on their shoulders – so there is actually a no win situation for us.  We figured .. since the kid is older now.. we certainly should try and handle things oiurselves.. and not depend on another employee and if there were stress.. we have no one to blame but ourselves eh..?  hhaha!!  so word of advice to small business owners like ours..  run your own business on your own.. if you want a profitable one.

The customer’s wife wants the best dip machine while he wants a tank notebook for his truck.  Fancy stuff..?? sure.. ! but he can afford it..  so why not right..??  Yes.. ! all you have to do .. is to let us know what you need.. and the model.. and we pretty much can hunt down anything for you.  This was found on ebay.. and if you’ve seen it.. you will know why i called it a tank notebook.  It’s like those used in a cop car. Fancy enough for any tough guy..  and it’s built and covered that you know .. you can’t break the darn machine.

Customer came in as soon as we opened, asked if we would buy some games from him for $30 – 2 games.  The boss told him.. he would only pay $25 because the sport game donch sell.  He then said.. how about $30 bucks.. in which the boss replied : nope .. $25 .. and then he stood there for a bit.. and said.. “how about $30 bucks?”  *slap forehead* .. how about nothing..???  Which part of $25 does he not understand..??  With ppl like that .. who needs weight loss pills right.

About a month ago, a customer walked in to tell us that he needed money to send his g/f to halifax .. and that he would trade in his xbox 360 for a certain amount .. and come pick it up in 2.5 weeks. Of course, for about $20 extra.  Now let me tell you again .. we ain’t no pawn shop.  But because he was a regular customer and all.. we trusted him.  But the week he was supposed to come back .. he called to say .. something came up. .and we could go ahead to sell it.  But he had came a week ago.. to warn us not to sell it on him.. that he was definitely gonna come back for it.

So we usually donch pay so much for the xbox 360 .. but we gave them more.. because we trusted them.  In fact, we trusted him so much .. we didn’t even get the controllers that were supposed to come with it.  And guess what..?? after a whole month..  he still didn’t have the courtesy to bring the controllers.. so that we can recover some money.. in fact.. we had to go after him.. to get the controllers back.  So you see.. how can you trust anyone.. these days.  We’ve been bitten so many times.. i wonder when the man would learn.  *sigh*

Today, we celebrate the store’s 10 yrs in business – not very long you have to say.. but in our case, it is a small achievement.  The spouse started the business with but a truckload of backyard stuff selling them in the backyard of his ex-partner.  But a few months down the road, stuff became too much to sell at his backyard.. and they rented a store after that.  The rest as they said.. its history.

There were ups and downs.. there were trails and errors.  There were the good and bad customers and the text alert system that would have been great. if we had more employees.  But as you can see, we are not hiring more… because there were too much heartache. .and I for one .. is ultra senstive.  10 yrs in business, actually took a toll in my health.  If i had to turn the clock back.. we would have done it differently  -  a lot more differently.  But that’s part and parcel of life and running your own business eh.  Here’s to many more good years.. before we are ready to retire.

I had a call at the store by a female customer asking if we have the XP Operating System.  I replied that we probably still have the license to sell.. but to call back in abit.. to check with the boss.  She did call back about half hour later.. and asked the boss the same question, the boss told her that it would cost $139.99 .. in which she replied..  “you can keep it!” and hung up on him.

What did she think..??  that we would give out XP OS for free..?? or burn her a copy .. and give her the license ..??  or even if she did have the license.. and didn’t have the disk.. surely one need not be so rude right..??  “roll eyes” .. the ppl here never fail to amaze me.. *shake head*

We do computer repairs as y8u all know but sometimes.. i feel the man is over working himself for a few bucks.  He won’t charge enough.. and like this laptop.. that is 2nd hand and sold to the customer for a few months now.  It came back.. without any light.  The man had to stripped everything out.. test just about everything.. and tried to replace stuff needed.. and guess how much he charged for all that work..??  pittance..!! donch even get me started.  At this rate.. i’ll never be able to retire .. and become a full time housewife.