tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36624051036935700972024-03-13T08:54:01.247-07:00Things Learned While Working...Sometimes the easy way really is the hard way in disguise.Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-19046998562076742182014-12-09T09:45:00.001-08:002014-12-09T09:45:31.251-08:00A Doctors office is NOT an insurance agentIf you are looking for new insurance...<div><br></div><div>DO NOT CALL YOUR DOCTORS OFFICE UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR NEW INSURANCE INFORMATION WITH YOU!<div><br></div><div>They can NOT tell you what plan to choose or which company to go with. </div></div><div><br></div><div>Please do not yell or harass them when they tell you this. </div><div><br></div><div>If you are a current patient and switching insurances then you would have to let them know to make sure they participate with your new plan. If you don't and show up to an appointment with no information, no referral, no insurance or have a plan they don't participate with.</div><div><br></div><div>You will either have to cancel, re-schedual or pay for it out of pocket. </div><div><br></div><div>Please be consideret and understanding. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-42600588263501768022014-12-03T09:56:00.001-08:002014-12-03T09:56:33.949-08:00"Did you call me?""Did you call me?"<div>"I just spoke with you!"</div><div>"Someone just called me from there."</div><div>"Do you know who just called me?"</div><div>"Do you know why they called me?"</div><div>"Do you know what the voice mail is about that they left me?"</div><div><br></div><div>Theses are just a few questions that receptionists and phone operators hear. </div><div><br></div><div>Interestingly enugh, people still think that companies have seperet phone numbers for every employee. Or that there is some system that will keep track of all out going calls. Or that a person can be forced to talk to them...</div><div><br></div><div>I can not understand this. I have not found anyone that can understand this. Or explain it. </div><div><br></div><div>Please, if you recived a voicemail, missed a call or are just calling a company back... Know the name of who you are calling back. If you missed a call wait to see if they left a voicemail And listen to it to see if you even have to call back. </div><div><br></div><div>This will make getting your call to the right person much easer. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-76412906986837387392013-08-13T09:34:00.001-07:002013-08-13T09:34:50.827-07:00Cancel vs ReschedualPlease remember that when you call to reschedule your appointment to another day or time say "reschedule". <div><br></div><div>Pleas remember that when you call to cancel your appointment because you no longer feel that you want it say "cancel".</div><div><br></div><div>Do not say you want to cancel your appointment and then get angry because you really wanted to reschedule. This is two separate process that take time to correct. Please understand this if you make this mistake.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-30752804375479934502012-12-17T10:03:00.001-08:002012-12-17T10:03:20.922-08:00That Holiday FeelingSo it's the holidays and that means people are traveling... and realizing that may0ey they should have going in for a follow up appointment when they were told.<br />
<br />
Please, please, please don't try and force your doctor to 'squeeze you in for a quick check up'. This is the most common thing I have heard and it usually comes right after said person just explained how they decided not to show up (or call us) to their last appointment but now that their trip/Holiday is here they NEED TO BE SEEN NOW!<br />
<br />
Doctors offices are being forced to tighten up on policies because patients don't call to cancel appointments or because they beg, plead and lie to get seen. I was literally told by a patient that they were fine but just wanted to talk to the doctor.<br />
<br />
But! On the flip side, I have had patients call in and cancel their appointment because of how crazy the holiday is. One was a post-op and we were like, no you have to come in because you just had your hip/knee/shoulder replaced and the big metal staples need to come out and then you get a lolly pop.<br />
<br />
Please be considerate of your doctors during the holidays and plan ahead.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-72353694347016372212012-07-21T11:21:00.001-07:002012-07-21T11:21:31.564-07:00Asking for a job at your doctors officeDon't do it.<br> <br> If you do and are told that they are not hiring for the love of god do<br> not keep asking and insisting that they need to call you because you<br> really need this for convenience reasons. In fact this will only make<br> you look worse.<br> <br> Seriously, this is not a way to endear yourself to a potential employer.<br> <br> First, the people at the check out counters have and want nothing to<br> do with hiring. They are busy checking people out and if you are<br> holding up the line this makes everyone upset at them.<br> <br> Second, trying to grab your doctor or their secretary and insist upon<br> them that they should hire you for the location and position that you<br> want is a really fast way to piss everyone off. That is extremely<br> inconsiderate to the secretaries, the doctors and their patients.<br> <br> Most doctors offices will hire through a hiring agency. This is<br> because they do not have the time to interview people because they are<br> busy treating patients. Walking into a doctors office and asking for<br> the hiring manager when you have no idea if they are hiring or not is<br> a great way to get your resume tossed with out a second thought. No<br> one is going to be interested in hiring someone that inconsiderate.<br> <br> I know this seems harsh, but seriously if you do this I have little<br> sympathy. If you do this after commenting on how busy we are then I<br> have no sympathy for you at all.<br><br>Cross posted at:<br><a href="http://www.LifeAfter28.com">http://www.LifeAfter28.com</a><br><a href="http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com">http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com</a><br> <div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-91475622735853864312012-07-10T04:58:00.001-07:002012-07-10T04:58:34.248-07:00What your Doctor means by emergancyThis topic comes up not because of anything good, but because there
<br>are people out there that take advantage of a system.
<br>
<br>The system in question is the one set up for people that go to the
<br>emergency room. Back in the day when this system was developed (and
<br>every office has some type of system) everyone involved with making it
<br>probably assumed that only real emergencies would happen.
<br>
<br>In this day and age some people will go to the emergency room just so
<br>they can force their doctor to see them sooner. For this type of
<br>person it is generally for something small that they have been having
<br>treated by their doctor already that is not an emergency.
<br>
<br>Here is a fictional example of what I am talking about.
<br>
<br>A person that did not set an appointment before a vacation they had
<br>planned six months ago and now 2 days before their trip want to be
<br>seen. They call in and insist that it is an emergency because their
<br>knee always bothers them and now they really need to be seen before
<br>their trip. When they find out that there is not availability before
<br>their trip they start yelling at the person on the phone. They are
<br>then advised that if they feel they truly need to go to an emergency
<br>room then they should make that decision. The person then huffs about
<br>this 'poor treatment' to their friends and some how finds out that if
<br>they go to an emergency room then the doctor will be forced to see
<br>them ASAP. With this in mind they go to the ER make a scene and then
<br>call up their doctor saying that now they have to be seen before their
<br>trip.
<br>
<br>This fictional person has now taken a slot that could have been used
<br>for someone with a broken bone or sever burns or anything else that
<br>qualifies as an emergency. They have not only been inconsiderate to
<br>other people but to their doctor and to the emergency room. They have
<br>also spent an obscene amount of money.
<br>
<br>This is not and never will be appropriate behavior.
<br>
<br>I have been asked by patients wanting to know if they go to the ER if
<br>they will be seen today when their appointment is the next day. For
<br>that instance I said no.
<br>
<br>First of all, by the time they would have finished dealing with the ER
<br>then they would still have to be seen the next day because who has
<br>ever heard of a fast trip to the ER?
<br>
<br>Secondly all ER visits (at my office) are not scheduled by the
<br>reception area but by the secretaries themselves. This is because they
<br>schedule things by priority. Immediately life threatening, Urgent, but
<br>not immediately life threatening or Less urgent. This is the same
<br>method used in the Emergency Room which is why the wait can be so
<br>long.
<br>
<br>I just can't understand how some people can think that abusing this
<br>system is a good thing. These same people with have fits about long
<br>wait times that they have caused or added too. I just... I just don't
<br>get it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-84984538468010247612012-06-21T04:39:00.001-07:002012-06-21T04:39:07.795-07:00Cute jokeOn a humerus note: listing 'work' as an allergy at your doctors office. This was cute and gave us a good laugh when we found it this morning. <div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-13995580689285578422012-06-12T06:40:00.001-07:002012-06-12T06:40:38.195-07:00Such little time with so much to talk about<div>I have... an almost insane amount of things to talk about with my new job. There are just so many small things that people should know about it is amazing! A little disturbing at times but mostly very, very intresting.</div> <div> </div><div>They all intermingle so making seprate posts about each topic is testing my creativity. And the last thing I want to do is make a gicantic post with all the topic mixed in.</div><div> </div><div>So! With that said and soon to be done... I should have something other then a rant about a not'so'happy customer. Yeah...</div> <div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-32225693985401788672012-06-06T07:23:00.001-07:002012-06-06T07:23:46.064-07:00Please answer all questions with words<div>Answering questions with a generalized sound that may or may not be a yes is all well and good with your friends or family because they know you.</div><div> </div><div>It will never be appropriate when dealing with a doctors office. They need real words and not grunts. If you do make the unfortunate decision to do this then do not get upset with them for having no bloody clue as to what you meant your grunt to be interpreted as.</div> <div> </div><div>It implies that you have no respect for the person you are supposed to be talking with. Especially if you are chatting away with the doctor in front of them just prior to doing this.</div> <div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-89552104251603207302012-06-04T09:42:00.001-07:002012-06-04T09:42:12.002-07:00A good ol' fashion postJust making sure everything is in good working order. <div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-9506448303199026312012-04-22T09:40:00.002-07:002012-04-22T09:40:50.575-07:00The art of spelling your name.Now, I can understand some frustration with having to spell your seemingly simple name to people over the phone. Yes Smith is very easy but when you have other people spelling it Smythe it isn't simple.<br />
<br />
I can't begin to tell you how many people get offended (and condescending) when I ask them to spell both their first and last name. Street names are even worse with designers tweaking the spelling or making two words be one word. It wouldn't bother me so much if I wasn't setting them up as a new patient.<br />
<br />
Thats right, people are getting upset at me for making sure their medical records are right.<br />
<br />
Then we have people that call in to set/check appointments that tell me a different name then what was entered. Don't say Bob if you registered under Robert. And for the love of all don't say 'oh I don't know why I set this up with that name. I never go with it. No I want to leave the file as is.' this does not make lives easy. The same goes for when you use a nick name in place of your proper one.<br />
<br />
I can't tell you how offended one patient was when I asked them to spell their last name that seemed to consist of only z,c,s&y's. It' just blows my mind.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-10192773395509173662012-03-11T14:34:00.000-07:002012-03-11T14:34:25.706-07:00Same Old ChangeWell.... After having switched from the moving world to the realm of a doctors office I have found that people are still the same.<br />
<br />
Case in point, the doctors do have a life out side of treating patients. They do have families that they want to spend time with and while they do take good care of themselves they do get sick and need time off. Watching our doctors work when they should rest is the most heart breaking thing.<br />
<br />
Also, we can not pull them out of surgery just because you have one little question. Would you like it if they were pulled away from you during your appointment? No, you wouldn't like that. Please don't do this to others.<br />
<br />
But! It is only a few that do this. Most people are just happy to get in and out. Then there are a few that bring us goodies. I hate to say it but people that bring little treats like coffee or cookies are so awesome.<br />
<br />
I will say this though, if you are very nice and understanding when things are thought to scheduled, being nice and understanding will keep you on the receptionists mind. This means that even thought there is no call list, if you were super understanding they might remember you and call you up if an opening happens. THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL HAPPEN!!! The receptionists get a lot of calls and names with thoughs calls. It just helps them help you.<br />
<br />
I will expand on this stuff more later. :3<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-28495196410361070542011-04-18T10:53:00.000-07:002011-04-18T10:53:19.135-07:00First Self Storage AuctionWe just had our first in house 'Storage Wars' style auction. It was a hit.<br />
<br />
This shocked us because we only had one unit up for auction today. There was an amazing amount of interest and it happened fast. It was fast, neat and clean. Our company will be using this method from now on.<br />
<br />
If you are thinking about going to an auction like this, you really should try it. Call around and ask if a company does in house auctions. Find out who to talk to and then when to show up. Don't show up late or you might just miss it.<br />
<br />
Happy hunting.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-30672539427219904752011-03-15T10:48:00.000-07:002011-03-15T10:48:33.325-07:00Experienced Movers & RentersI'm not actuly refering to the moving company, but to it's customers.<br />
<br />
I just spoke with a gentlemen that was wonderfully polite and understanding. He knew when and were he wanted to move and had a good idea of how things went. He was getting a few estimates is wonderful. He even said that he had found that he understood that the best time to move was in the middle of the month.<br />
<br />
This last part is what makes me the happiest.<br />
<br />
Lots of people get upset when they want to move in the first or last week of the month. Regardless of if it is a local or long distance move, this time frame is always busy. Most of these people tend to be renters and unfortunately because of leases they tend to get the short end of the stick. All this can tend to make people cranky. It is even worse for the person that doesn't like to move or hasn't been in charge of setting up their own move before.<br />
<br />
Timing is everything. Also, this guy made my day.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-29570806697510567982011-03-09T07:23:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:23:27.231-08:00Social Services and Moving With ThemAll I can truly say is good luck to you.<br />
<br />
From what I can gather from the people who have come in, the way it is supposed to work is Social Service Workers will give their clients a list of moving and /or storage companies that have worked with them in the past. The client then must get three estimates from them and then the Social worker will pick one company and contact that company to authorize the move. Then the company moves the client and then gets paid.<br />
<br />
What actually happens can vary, but my experience is that there is an unfortunate amount of Social workers that do not care about their clients. <br />
<br />
What we see is someone will come in saying 'so&so said to come here' we go ok, get information and when asked for contact info on so&so 'oh, they are not my Social Worker, I was just told to say that'. We give them the estimate in a sealed envelope. If it's moving they are told that the Social Worker needs to contact us in certain amount of time or the move will not happen. Client says ok and they leave. The most common ending is that we never hear from Social Services or the client again. Or we might get a call from the client wonder were their movers are and then we have to explain that we were not contacted by their Social Worker so the move is not happening. Que angry ranting at us and threats of BBB and so on until we are hung up on. On the rare occasion the Social Worker will call us and set things up, but again this is rare.<br />
<br />
There is also an amazing amount of people that take advantage of the Social Services system. Due to this my company has tired to set rules & guidlines for who/how Social Services sends their clients to us.<br />
<br />
We even tried to find out if there was a way we could fax in their clients bills to them each month instead of the hit or miss method of their clients bringing in the late bills. They never bothered returning our calls and we gave up after a few months of trying to reach them.<br />
<br />
Explaining how things work to the client can sometimes work but not always. Most are emergancy moves and refuse to listen when we tell them that we are booked. It can get ugly and extreamly uncomphortable.<br />
<br />
But the very worst thing that can happen(if they even contact us) is when a Social Worker does not like our prices and they try to force us to change our policy. They will imply that Social Services will stop using our company and if that does not work they will send their client after us.<br />
<br />
Yes, some very poorly skilled Social Workers will enrage their clients and tell them to call us because the Social worker does not like our rates. I really wish I knew what they thought they would gain by alienating a company like this. I have been screamed at but clients with out any idea of why they were calling only to hear "Social Services told me to call".<br />
<br />
I don't know why anyone would think that that is a proper way to get a company to work with you. My company has started keeping notes on what Social Workers we have worked with in the past. We have one that we will not do business with because he was so inconsiderate to us (and his client, she reported him to his supervisor and got a new Social Worker). Another woman is border line being on that list but we think due to her Social Services has stopped sending people to us for estimates.<br />
<br />
Again, for any of you that need to use their services, I wish you the best of luck. But with how my area is treated you should be careful that they do not burn bridges for you. you never know if someone they flip out on might be the person you interview with at a later date.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-32648166875573614662011-02-26T07:20:00.000-08:002011-02-26T07:20:00.484-08:00Moving One Item Out of StateIf you live in another state and while traveling decide to purchase a bed or huge antique... Don't.<br />
<br />
Let me try that again.<br />
<br />
If you live in another state and while traveling decide to purchase a bed or huge antique and decide to contact a mover to move it, please do not be surprised that the cost might be $1000 or more.<br />
<br />
Moving companies have a minimum weight charge that they use on all of their moves. It's doesn't matter if it is one item or one household. This is more to over the cost of running the truck & insuring the item then to pay the driver. It is not there to prevent people from hiring them or to make it difficult for you to move your item. It is there to protect the company.<br />
<br />
Now, some people might ask if we could 'tak it on' or 'sneak it on' to the back of a truck if we have a truck going that way. Once upon a time companies were able to do this but now, due to insurance reasons, they can't. You can ask, but do not expect any answer other then no.<br />
<br />
I feel really bad telling people this. UPS could be an option or you could rent a truck and drive it your self. Personally I would get a rental and drive it because I would totally shop along the way.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-51832265294400732222011-02-22T06:57:00.000-08:002011-02-22T06:57:16.340-08:00Planing to MoveI can't tell you how many times I have paused while talking to a person on the phone because they "are planning ahead" or "want to get the ball rolling" for their move that they want to happen in three days.<br />
<br />
Most companies have a seven day registration policy. In my opinion it is there to prevent last minuet switches to driver schedules. The last thing any moving company wants to do is have a driver stuck on the other side of the country and possibly delay other moves.<br />
<br />
If this happens in the summer, durring our bussy seasion, I have to tell people that we can not do their move. A few have asked for my manager and would hang up on him because he would give them the same answer. Generaly in the summer we are booking moves two weeks out so a last minuet thing just can not happen.<br />
<br />
In the winter, during our slow season, once in a RARE while we can pull something like that off. but we have started to see a pick up in appointments during this time and this makes last minuet moves like this almost imposable.<br />
<br />
To save your self some frustration you want to get an estimate about two weeks or more before your desired move date. If you are worried about getting stuck with a last minuet move; contact a moving company a check to see how long their estimats are good for. If you have a sales agent come out ask them if there is anything that could be done if you have to be out of your home sooner then you thought.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-42237687978433621132011-02-17T07:46:00.000-08:002011-02-17T07:46:23.831-08:00Please Leave a Voice-mail MessegeI can not stress this enugh. Leaving a voice-mail messege is the best way to get your information to the person that you are looking for if they are not available.<br />
<br />
Seriously, voice-mails are not your enemy.<br />
<br />
I can not tell you how many of our shippers have not left important messages and wondered why they never received a call back when they needed it. Most were about changes to their pick up or delivery dates. This information is very, very important and should be left in your message. As well as a good call back number that you can answer.<br />
<br />
Too many times have I been asked to take a message that was just a 'have them call me' with no number or sometimes no name. The ones that give me pages of detailed information so fast and get angry that they have to repeat parts until I feel I have it all? That type of message needs to go to voicemail. written messages get lost or forgotten, but mostly lost.<br />
<br />
It always seems that when no voice-mail is available everyone only wants to leave a voice-mail. But when It is available they only want me to write the message. Unfortunately this is something were not everyone will be happy.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-54909988394260357742011-02-02T08:05:00.000-08:002011-02-02T08:05:25.492-08:00Moving During the Snowmagedon or SnowpocalypseThis is not the kind of weather you want to move in. Right now it is not to bad here at my office but yesterday was spent contacting customers and other agents to make sure that people knew what was going on.<br />
<br />
Over all most wanted to just wait and see what the weather would be like today. Which was good because we only got three inches of snow last night. Only one survey appointment canceled but that's understandable. The street plows have not been by the office yet and our hired guy didn't bother with the parking lot until people showed up. (who then got stuck and had to dig themselves out...)<br />
<br />
But again, all the scheduled move we had for today actually happened on time. The movers all made it in to the office and were not snowed into their homes. All the trucks started and were not stuck at the dock. Over all it was a very good day so far.<br />
<br />
But! We got very lucky.<br />
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If we had gotten the 16 -24 inches that we were warned about then the office would be closed today and we would not have been able to move or help anyone. It doesn't sound like a lot if you imagine a semi-truck driving in it, but if the drive can't get to the office then there is no one to drive the truck. Like wise if the movers get stuck then there is no one to move the furniture into and out of the trucks. Driving bans can also cause havoc with moves because no one wants to rick the fines.<br />
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So, with luck this will all be over and we can get back into the nice moving weather.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-85228836779878526902010-12-27T09:39:00.000-08:002010-12-27T09:39:39.908-08:00Moving on the Winter HolidaysI do NOT recommend moving on the holidays. <br />
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The week of Christmas and the week for New Years is always booked. It's a short week so that adds to the stress. Commercial moves happen a lot in this time frame because companies don't have to worry about employees and movers getting in each others ways.<br />
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Unless the holidays are in the middle of the week the holiday weekends are either booked to death or companies are closed for the holiday. This also happens on the 4th of July, Labor day, Thanksgiving, Memorial day, Presidents day and maybe a few others.<br />
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How they managed to keep to schedule and go gray o bald is beyond me.It also seems like the holidays is the designated time that any and everything bad will happen to the moving trucks. We had two trucks go down last wee and I have never seen my managers and dispatchers so stressed. The weather also didn't help matters.<br />
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So, if you are planing to move during a holiday you will need to contact a moving company about two months in advance to do a survey and set up your move date. If you wait until the month of your move you might find that holiday week booked already. Calling the week of the holiday to be moved will not do much good and calling the day before will do even less.<br />
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A last minuet move never ends well, avoiding one will save you an unpresident amount of stress.<br />
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Also as a last note, I will never go into a store on December 24th again. It was down right terrifying.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-11268735964970492672010-12-10T09:39:00.000-08:002010-12-10T09:39:10.620-08:00Customers and DelaysAh... It's always good to start the day getting screamed at by a customer for another company getting delayed. The short of it is my company accidentally moved a box to his home in Arizona instead of his daughters home. They were both moving from the same house to different locations so unfortunately it can happen. A mistake happened and the box was not picked up as scheduled by the mail service. Things were fixed and everyone was happy.<br />
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This last bit is a tad exagerated.<br />
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The gentlemen mostly screamed and swore at me on the phone. He was so loud that my co-workers could listen in from a few desks away. Our HR manager was sitting next to me during it and afterwords said if he had been on the receiving end he would have hung up on him. That's how bad this gentalmen was.<br />
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I managed to get him to go on hold three times. the first was so I could collect myself and call the woman who set up the pickup. I asked her if she preferred poison or a bullet. She laughed and then said she would contact the mailing company to see what was up. <br />
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I picked up his line and let him know the mailing company was being contacted and that he would be called back about it. He was not happy and started screaming about everything under the sun. Including paying for his stay in Arizona. The worst part? He wanted the person who set up the pickup date for the box. My HR guy said not to give him her number because while we are used to him (and can laugh at it) she was not.<br />
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After he screamed at me some more I got his number so she could call him. I answered a few more calls and then called her to let her know what was going on. As soon as I said hi she said she should have taken the poison. Apparently he had called a few other people that work for us and gotten her office number.<br />
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While it seems like this customer 'won' or something like that, he didn't. His actions just further proved why we try to not end up servicing customers like him. There are so many notes on his account right now I'm amazed the computer still runs. As soon as this latest possible move is completed I'm pretty convinced that we will refuse to move him a third time.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-20257578007287865292010-11-05T12:58:00.000-07:002010-11-05T12:58:43.090-07:00When Packing Medication...Please, please, please! If you have medication the is necessary for you to continue to live, please do not have the movers pack it up. Also please do not call in yelling at the moving company because you need the medication.<br />
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Take some with you or contact your doctor for an emergency prescription.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-10704005623609620182010-10-27T07:21:00.000-07:002010-10-27T07:21:33.030-07:00Moving Company is Using a Rental TruckI can understand the concern if your moving company shows up with a rental truck. Fortunatly there is a relitive easy explanation for why companies do this. Moving trucks are expensive.<br />
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Let me start again. If you are moving localy during the summer bussy seasion or the first & last week of the month, there is a chance that the moving company will have more moves and movers then they will have trucks. This is actuly a good thing for the moving companies.<br />
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Unfortunatly a 26' long truck can cost $56,000 when used or $87,000 new. This is not counting the $8,000 to have it painted with the logo of the company. That's $64,000-$95,000 for a truck they might only need a few times a year. That is not counting any work that would need to be done on it.<br />
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For a long distance move most companies will not rent a trailor. They will buy them but they might not be painted. The traiolors are just as rediculis in price to purchase as the smaller trucks. They can range from $38,000 used. for a used tractor to pull it your looking at $138,000 used. New could be $200,000+.<br />
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This rough estimate is not counting insurance, inspections and other work that would be needed on the trucks and trailers to get them on the road. By renting a truck they are able to keep their cost's down in the long run. But I'm sure that if you wanted to buy them a truck with all the fix'ens that they would take you up on it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-81876408271248168042010-10-25T13:01:00.000-07:002010-10-25T13:01:50.618-07:00Mondays....This Monday has not been a happy day. Almost every potential customer I spoke with today wanted everything that I could not give them. Three people wanted a quote for a move. After I told them we needed to have someone see the items, they all said some variation of "Oh, you can just tell me. I won't hold you to it."<br />
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When I informed them that no, we actually need to have someone see the items, two of the callers were very nice about it and said they would call back closer to their move date. This is completely understandable because house sales and such are temperamental things.<br />
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The other... well, nothing I could say that wasn't a price would make her happy. She ended the call by saying that I just didn't want to tell her. Belligerent tone of voice and flouncing away attitude just oozed through the phone. I can understand just wanting an idea of a price, but to keep pushing for one? No, that I can not understand.<br />
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Every time I get someone like that I just remind mysef that if they don't call us back that it just might be a good thing.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662405103693570097.post-42094077318600300092010-10-18T05:43:00.000-07:002010-10-18T12:09:17.838-07:00Moving Preparation Ideas for Long Distance MovesThis is a pretty stander-ed list of things my parents did during our long distance moves. While it is basically a list of ideas for items that you would want to purchase when you get to your new house while you are waiting for your household goods to be delivered. <br />
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1) An inflatable mattress and a method of inflating it.<br />
This is probably one of the most important things you will need if you go to your new home before delivery of your items. Some of the less expensive ones require you to use a pump or hairdryer to inflate them. Some of the better ones are equiped with their own pumps. both will make your wait eiser.<br />
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2) Dishes and silverware<br />
When you get there swing by the local big name store and grab yourself a set of silverware, dished and glasses. It never hurts to have an extra set on hand, even after moving the set could be used for picknics, camping, for the kids or even for your next long distance move.<br />
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3) Towels & Robes<br />
Either you purchase new or pack your current set, you want to make sure you have enough for everyone when you get to your new home.<br />
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4) Personal Items<br />
This might seem like a no-brainer but little travil bottels of shampoo run out fast when you have kids. Toothbrushes and the like are also things you don't want to be packed by your movers.<br />
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5) Backpack of Things for the Kids<br />
This is a big one. Until you stuff arrives your kids will have nothing to do inside the house. Unless you have get them to help clean the new house you should make sure they set pack a backpack of things they like to read or games they like to play. This was a must every time my family moved.<br />
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There are so many small things that you never realize that you use until they are locked away. Hopefully this list will help you in the process of your long distance move.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally posted at Things Learned While Working and can be found at http://learnedwhileworking.blogspot.com/</div>Phyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07786000210794917113noreply@blogger.com0