Open Forums for Feedback or Attacks of your "Brand"?

Got an interesting error message that my DELL Inspiron 1501 Laptop Battery was nearing the end of its life.



The only great thing about this post is the ease DELL made it for me to go to their site to order a new one. The cost for a replacement battery, $165. Depending on sales of their laptops that is a third of a cost towards the purchase of a new one.



In reviewing their site I found their section which allowed customers to do ratings, the replacement battery feedback was a lowly 1.3 of 5. Even more shocking of the 121 reviews was the fact I could not find any feedback from a DELL employee.



In the service industry I am always open to feedback positive or negative about our products and respond within 24 hours of getting a comment. Our systems are not as elaborate at DELL for Customer Ratings, however if they were I would make sure I monitored them (not sensor them) and provide replies and follow up to help rebuild peoples impressions of our brand.



Now I am left with the choice to do one of the following:



- By a replacement battery from DELL for $165



- Go to a local retailer and get a comparative battery for $105



Or switch to a different brand of laptop.



Based on the Customer Ratings at DELL and the lack of customer and brand management by them I think I will look for a new solution. I wonder if I can get a deal on a MAC?

Scotiabank Hockey Tonight Contest

Check out my son's hockey teams entry into the Scotiabank Hockley Tonight Contest.

Winning teams will be featured on the pre-game show, Scotiabank Hockey Tonight, before introducing Canada’s #1 hockey broadcast, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, to millions of hockey fans across the country. Winning teams will be chosen across 14 weeks starting October 19, 2009 (First selected team will be featured on November 7, 2009). Winning teams will be videotaped and photographed announcing Hockey Night in Canada at your local rink to appear on television and on this website and will receive a pizza party hosted by Scotiabank as well as an Official Hockey Night in Canada team towel.

With heart and hustle the St. Catharines Novice Warriors feature an exciting lineup of players who display a willingness to learn, and great determination to succeed.

Each player on the team displays team spirit by attending early morning practices to learn this great game of hockey. As early as we practice there are never any complaints, only smiles and warm greetings and helping each other to get ready. Just before the game players tell jokes as a way to relax and clear their minds.

It is evident based how they carry themselves that they are building their character and self discipline through being part of a team. They wear their team jackets and jerseys with pride knowing that they proudly represent their city. Everywhere they go, you know they are loud and proud to be on this team. It is obvious that the game of hockey and dedicated coaches and parents have made these young players more confident, determined and respectful in their daily life.

It’s hard not to feel proud of a group of young players who already understand the meaning of team and sportsmanship as they tell each other “good game”, “great play” win or lose.

As the coaches of these young players we feel tremendous excitement when they try new things on the ice and succeed. Their eyes light up with a feeling that is hard to explain. We believe the St. Catharines Novice Warriors should be considered for the Scotiabank Hockey Tonight Kids.

Show your support by visiting the site here: St.Catharines Novice Warriors Team Entry

$11 Million Arena at Ridley College in St.Catharines

Yesterday I took a trip not to far from home to snap some photos of the progress of the $11 million Arena being Construction by Brouwer Construction at Ridley College, I am looking forward to doing a feature profile on the project once completed. I had my new photographer with me, a fun a time.

My youngest son Noah who is 5, is very much intrigued by taking photos and actually won two awards last Fall at his schools Fall Fair. For Christmas he got a Little Tykes Camera and has been snapping photos like crazy. When I had the chance to go to the site I took him along and let him snap some photos using his camera and as I wrapped up I let him use mine and below are some of the photos he took.

Soon I will have to start giving him photo credit in the paper and next he will want to paid.

Building for the future

Building for the future
A solar-powered house built by students from Californian univerisities is taking part in this year's Solar Decathlon

Magazines hit hard by advertising dollars

Working in advertising sales it is interesting to see the struggles of many publications while I am not seeing such a big difference with ours. Our publications are targeted and support an industry that even when hit by hards times it still runs.

The next challenge that will lay ahead as we continue to dig out from this recession will be determing how we can deliver our news, articles and features on several different platforms. We have made progress this past year with the use of Yudu.com and their digital editions which have allowed us to almost triples circulation of regional titles and take them from being read just in Ontario but across Canada.

In a few weeks we will be holding our annual planning session and one of the biggest things I want to see incorporated into our coverage is video, both in the digital editions of our paper and the web sites.

Are you in the publishing industry? What are you doing to stay innovateive?

Are you an advertiser in the construction industry? What do you want to see happen with the evolution of newspapers and magazines?

October Issue of the Ontario Construction Report

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GTA Construction Report October 2009 Issue

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