The Litter Box Briefs

The "Litter Box" monthly brief looks at what business is trying to do you, the consumer!

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Get Your Rebates	Store Discount Cards	Retailers, You & Manufacturers	Your Tax Dollars at Work	Fuel Options	Fuel Cost

Fine Print	Rebates Revisited	Getting Answers	Polls	Computer Software	Food Stores	Credit Cards	Your Wasted Tax Dollars

Famous Pitch People	Stocks	Branding	Sixe Matters	Legalese	Bad Medicine	Pro Sports	Insurance	"News" shows

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.12: Random Thoughts
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Our government is planning to spend at least 100 Billion to send humans to the planet Mars. NASA does not need to waste tax dollars on this and needlessly risk human life when remotely (earth) operated vehicles (ROV) can successfully accomplish the task for substantially less money. That has been proven. If failure occurs with a ROV, and that has happen more than once, we have lost a machine and not lives. I could understand the Apollo missions to the moon with humans since we did not have the capability to remote control a vehicle and the whole cold war pride issue. Given the war and natural disasters, that money would be far better spent here on earth.

How much of your favorite one hour prime time television show is commercials? Your show's run time is approximately 34 minutes including open and closing credits. Speaking of commercials, Wally is tapping the music world for pitch people in an attempt to boost sales. Are we going to fall for it? Looking at shows the network run, why do they call them "reality" shows when they are so well ‘planned'? Martha got the boot! The biggest loser in reality is us.

Three oil companies reported quarterly profits of nearly 30 Billion dollars between them. At least the hurricanes did not hurt them! Our government is once again holding hearings on their business practices. The government is only doing this to get more contributions from them. Once our elected officials line their pockets with more oil money, the hearings will quietly stop without the true answer being discovered. Remember: "Greed is good!". Speaking of greed, why are natural gas rising so much and so fast? Of course both federal and state governments are enjoying the additional tax money on the increase bills.

When is NASCAR going to remove "stock" from it's name? There is nothing "stock" about these race cars. Even the front end of these aerodynamic sculptured racers, it is difficult to pick out what model of real car they remotely represent. They need to replace the "S" with "WD" for ‘wildly distorted'.

We wonder why US businesses go under while foreign businesses thrive. There are many reasons. Foreign businesses reinvest in their companies instead "take the money". Many foreign businesses are government controlled, owned or heavily subsidized. They do not have upper management with salaries and bonuses exceeding the gross national product of many countries. They do not have unions whose sole purpose these days is to try to justify the "dues".

During this holiday season, we need to be thankful for what we have and not focus on what we want. Remember: it is always better to give than receive and not the other way around. Retailers and credit card companies want you give. They want you to give them your dollars.

I have been asked what I want this Christmas. I replied "nothing". I have my health, a roof over my head, my clothes to cover me and food on the table what more could I require. Sure a little more business would be appreciated so that I can be kept clothed and fed but what I really want would require every man, woman and child's participation and effort. I truly want is "PEACE on earth and good will towards all"!

Christmas is suppose to be a time to celebrate the birth of a child in Bethlehem and what this child did for all of us. I remember a few years back when I ask the bakery to put "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" on our cake. The look of wonder I received from the lady was absolutely priceless. I think she understood.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Our holders make nice stocking stuffers. Happy holidays!

David Catt is president of CTS Innovations, Inc. manufacturer of Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder and he is the author of the "Idea to Product Primer" e-book. For more information, visit our home page.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.11: Morning "News?" Shows
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

How does a small business get the attention of the media. We write press releases and send them to newspaper editors and TV news producers in the hope of getting a little coverage. That took our company 3 months after start up to get a brief spot on the local PBS newscast. After that, it was another 15 months before two (out of several) area newspapers did articles about us. WHY?

Take a look at the national morning "news" shows produced by the news division of the networks. How much "news" do they actually cover? Twenty minutes out of the up to three hours, maybe? The balance of the show seems to dedicated to entertainment interest of the network (ABC - Disney, CBS-Viacom and NBC - Universal) as well as cross promotion other networks. I can remember a time when a network would not even mention another network's name. I also remember seeing footage of the anchor reading newspaper articles from across the country. These corporations also have other media interest including music, cable, book publishing and magazines and it is their (not your) best interest to promote these items under the disguise of bring you "news".

Do they talk about new products? Sure, if it is some electronic gizmo from a large corporation. One of my heros is Dean Kamen. You probably know him as the inventor of the Segway Transport. I heard of him from several years before when he developed a portable kidney dialysis machine and the wearable insulin pump. He was recognized for these inventions in Design News magazine back in 1993. Did he get recognition on these "news" shows for these life enhancing accomplishments?

How can a startup complete with large corporations. TV "news" happily announce a large corporation's new diet cola with lime or decaffeinated coffee or electronic gadget. Why not announce a small company's product? When these shows do a rare feature on inventions from small companies they choose items that make the host ask "What's the point?". After the terrible events of September 11, 2001 and given the current economy; would it not be in public (as well as their own) interest to feature small company's product. With the ever expanding amount of time these shows have to fill, this would be a relevant spot and considered as balanced reporting. After all, small businesses employ a large percentage of the population and can truly continue to drive the economy given the opportunity. Most small companies consider their employees as assets not as overhead to be laid-off to make the bottom line look good. I cannot think of a single company that from day one was a massive blue chip (a dot bomb maybe).

Is this "news" coverage, in general, fair and un-bias to you as a consumer? You tell me.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month (revisited): That last coat of liquid polish on your car before winter goes easier when the contents are ready to use.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.10: Insurance
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Insurance is an unfortunate evil. Companies deal with frivolous liable lawsuits all the time and product (and medical) liability insurance is becoming so unaffordable that many just quit. I am not saying that defects that cause harm should not be compensated. What I am saying is spilling hot coffee in your lap while driving is not a justifiable reason to go after the restaurant that sold you the coffee. But hey, guess who for the company's insurance cost? You do!

Packaging death insurance as life insurance was a very clever move. After all, we are all going to die sooner or later.

Obviously, having auto liability insurance only means your insurance company has no liability to assist you in getting a fair settlement should you be involved in an accident. The other party's insurance understands this and uses it to try to give you an unfair settlement. You are on your own and they know it.

In past briefs, I talked about contributing lobbyist. Well, the auto insurance companies lobbyist convinced lawmakers to mandate all drivers have insurance. This should have been a good idea until you see that you still have to pay for un-insured motorist coverage on your bill. Why?

An insurance agent's main goal is to sell the most insurance possible so they receive a larger commission and residuals. Will they help you with problems? Perhaps they will until the insurance company they work for threatens to cut them off. Then again you are on your own and all parties involved know it.

I remember a cartoon where the duck buys insurance from a pig. The pig laughs after the duck signs the paperwork. The paperwork states that it is payable if incident occurs a certain day at a certain time by a herd of elephants and a monkey. In the aftermath of 2004's hurricanes, many have discovered that they allegedly do not have the coverage they were told by their agent they did. Always ask your a gent to show you in the policy where the coverage is and read for yourself.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month (revisited): How much product do you throw out in those solid color bottles? Make it easy to use all the contents by storing in our holder.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.9: Professional Sports
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Now that a new season of professional football started, do you agree that these players should be so over the top compensated to under perform (like corporate CEOs - sorry another story)? I am not just talking about football. This is all professional? sports. Salary for one player can easily exceed the gross national income of a nation. Can you afford to take the family to watch a game? A week at Disney World is probably l ess expensive.

It is time to restructure the salaries. All players should be given a minimum starting salary - say $28,000 guaranteed. No sign on bonuses allowed! After all, if that number is suitable for your child's teacher, it should be more than adequate for the player. If the player is actually put in the game, the player gets a little money for their participation. No paying for bench warmers.

Now here is where the player can make money. At the end of year, compensate the player for above that position statistics such as the number of runs batted in (baseball), quarterbacks sacked (football), foul shots made (basketball), teeth removed from opposing team (hockey). These amounts are to be determined by the league management and the same for all players.. Also, money will be taken away from the player for errors (baseball), fumbles (football), fouls (basketball), teeth remaining in opposing team (hockey).

Also, no more multi-year contracts. Your boss can fire you tomorrow and not pay you another penny. Why should a player get anything different. Players are to set an good example to the young people who look up them. Use of performance enhancing drugs, gambling or conduct unbecoming a civilized human will result in the immediate lifetime expulsion to Antarctica.

Owners, under this arrangement, will drastically reduce prices so the average Joe can take the family to enjoy a game without the need for a second mortgage on the home. Owners refusing to do this will have their franchise rights permanently revoked or moved to the planet Pluto at their expense.

Here is a thought. Instead of being couch potato, why not play. Join a local league, start a regular pickup game or have fun playing the game with the kids.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month (revisited): 2 & 3 liter soda pop bottles lose their carbonation (fizz) quickly after opening. Storing the bottle in our holder forms a liquid seal on the cap trapping the "fizz".

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.8: Bad Medicine
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

In the news today - The report says "We have made a little progress in the search for a cure against (fill in your choice), however further study is required". How many times must we hear this before we say enough?

To back up just a little, where do these private and/or universities get the money to do the research? Where else but a government grant. The government hands out your tax dollars in the form of grant money for a variety of serious and some absurd research studies. Is there any real accounting and accountability for these grants?

What would happen if they truly did find the cure? How many people would no longer have a job? Would the taxpayers that funded the research profit from the cure? So in order to keep the status quo, groups state they made a little progress and gets another grant to continue on with business as usual.

What if instead of government grants, this type of research was done as a $$$ prize challenge, similar to the high altitude aircraft (space plane) challenge that was recently won. That prize was only ten million dollars. The world governments could put up a billion or more for a proven, safe and reliable cure. Universities and others could seek private funding for the research. The private funders would get the prize money and all patent rights as a return on their investment. We, the taxpayers, would only be paying for the cure and not creative "little progress" reports.

Ever wonder why there are so many new medical problems for you to suffer from these days? Drug companies create new drugs everyday. It seems that they have created a drug, then they need to create the problem it cures! Ah, better living through chemical dependancy. They have TV ads to prove it!

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Picnics are better when you are not wasting time trying to get the contents out of a bottle.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.7: Legalese
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Legalese dates back to the middle ages when kings and their nobility created a secret language to keep the pheasants down. The pheasants were considered dumb because they could not understand the terms used. If the king or the nobility wanted something mandated, they would put it in these terms. This secret language is still used today by our legal system.

Lawyers deliberately write documents in these terms so you need to have another member of their profession translate the document. This secures their position. If they wrote documents in English or common language, most everyone could easily understand the document. Have you ever really tried to look at a contract or some product disclaimers?

Patents are legal documents and are suppose to be written so that when patent expires anyone experience in the craft could replicate them. If you look at some patents, I doubt some of the patent lawyers themselves could understand what the patent is for. To say it would take a PhD in B.S. to understand these would be an understatement.

Where did honor go to? You know what used to be called "a gentlemen's agreement". Now it takes twenty pages of legalese to say that I agree to buy an item from you for ‘x' dollars.

These days, a person does something careless like spill hot coffee on themselves, over eat or trip over their own feet and they are off to sue someone for damage they inflicted upon themselves. Warning (caution) labels are required on everything to somewhat protect the producer from the user's misuse or applying common sense. I said "somewhat" because who reads the warning label anyway and if they did read the warning label was it written in a common language.

Granted, lawyers are needed to defend us from their colleagues and the laws they have created to protect themselves. The person with the most dollars to spend on lawyers wins.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month (revisited): If you have arthritis or other impairments that make turning a bottle over difficult, then you will appreciate the reduced motion required to use your bottled products when they are stored in our holder.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.6: Size Matters
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Have you noticed the ever shrinking size, I mean weight, of packages? Why are companies doing this?

I will pick on potato chips for an example. I remember when I brought a bag of potato chips that weighed in at hefty one pound (sixteen ounces). Then the bag was reduced in weight to fourteen and one-half ounces. Now, they are what eleven and one-half, maybe twelve, ounces. That is a reduction to approximately seventy-five percent (75%) of the old standard size. Yet, does the price they charge reflect the decreased size? No!

My favorite ice cream has gone from one-half gallon (sixty-four ounces) to fifty-five ounces, Cookies from eighteen to sixteen ounces, coffee from sixteen to thirteen ounces. The list goes on and on. Will gasoline be next?

When a ketchup (catsup) manufacturer decide to start selling their product in a bottom opening container, they made the bottle smaller in size by a few ounces. Our competition! If you look on shelf, in most cases, you will find this bottle has the same price as the old standard bottle.

The reason they reduce the package size is that they do not want to raise the price above certain number. They fear that you will not purchase their product at a higher price. So they try to be sneaky but reducing the portion size. A little reduction here, a little more reduction there. Do these companies think we, the consumers, are really that stupid? Yes, they do.

Another interesting item is the "ultra power" liquids. Notice how the package is a smaller size. How did they do that? They reduced the amount of water they dilute (add) their product which naturally increased the strength. This also reduced their expenses on water and freight and in turn gave them a product that they could sell at a premium price.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Gives you flexibility by supporting a wide variety of bottles including the old standard ketchup bottle.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.5: Branding
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Are you branded? Do you always shop at same store? Buy the same brand of cheese every time? Buy the same label clothes as your friends? Eat the same candy bar as an athlete in a commercial? If yes, then you have been successfully branded.

Stores try to brand you by offering discounts on certain items when you scan their "club" card. Back in subject# 1.2, I spoke about these cards real purpose for the store. The card is also a branding tool for the store. Does the honor of the card persuade you shop there instead of at the competition?

Has a manufacturer branded their product as a style? Are you shunned by your friends for not following the most recent herd to the latest so called style? Who decided that is the style of the moment.

Why do you think manufacturers offer coupons? They are hoping, that by offering you their product with a small one time discount, that you will switch to their brand. I welcome coupons for the quality products I all ready use.

The lure of the rebate, to convince you to use a brand. Rebates are like coupons just usually a larger discount. Back in subject# 1.1, I spoke about how the company hopes you will forget to send the rebate in or follow up on it.

Do you use the generic, private label or store brand? For a long time these were considered lower price and lower quality than the name brands. The quality of these brands have improved and many are made in the same production facility as the name brand just packaged with store brand label. Stores use their brands to squeeze the name brand into reducing their price to the store.

Does having a celebrity spokesperson convince you to use a certain brand with their so called credibility? Has that celebrity ever truly used the product they are "pitching"? Much of the branding these days is based on strictly image. Hey! Be yourself.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month (revisited): Ever notice how your first squirt of mustard is usually water? Store the bottle in our holder to reduce this.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.4: Stocks
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

With the roller coaster the stock market has been in, who is profiting in the market? Your stock broker, of course!

Stock brokers make money no matter how well or poorly the market does. Their ultimate goal is to maximize their commission out of your dollars. They do this by encouraging you to put your dollars into whatever yields them the highest commission.

Stock brokers are not responsible for how well or poorly that investment does. Oh, sure they will take credit for putting you in a good investment. The bad ones, however, they show you the disclaimer. Some time back, Lobbyist on behalf of brokers convinced lawmakers to put a law into place removing any responsibility for performance from the stock brokers. This disclaimer makes it so easy for them to increase their commissions without risk to them. Accountability, or lack of, can be bought. The sole responsibility for your investment strategies is yours!

Have you heard of Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRiPs)? These are plans offered by companies to allow you to purchase stock directly from them with small or zero brokerage fees. Yes, there is, as always, fine print. This could be an excellent way to long term invest in an individual company and minimize your cost. Use your favorite search engine to do some research and find out if a company you are interested in investing in offers DRiPs!

Stock brokers are looking forward, with dollar signs in their eyes, to the possible reform in the Social Security that would allow you to invest some of your social security in the stock market. I am sure they are lobbying hard for this to pass. When those investment tank, who will be responsible? Who will make up that difference? Besides, the government already allows you to invest with a tax break, at your option. It is called an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Glue Bottles.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.3: Famous Pitch People
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Does one person verses another person pitching a company's product make you want to purchase that item? Does it make a difference to you? It should! Why? In the end, you are paying for them.

I can understand a company getting someone famous to endorse their product if that person would use that type of product in their normal field of work. Examples: a tennis player endorsing a tennis rachet or a TV star endorsing a toothpaste. One current TV star appears in a commercials for a food store chain. Has that star ever shopped in that store? Notice I said endorsing instead of what it actually is "pitching".

What I cannot understand is a company paying millions for a golfer to appear in a car ad. Yes, I did say millions! How about a former football player/coach appearing in a casino ad or ED drug ad. A former boxer talking about car repair or a grill with his name on it. Did he invent the grill? No! A current basketball player doing a candy bar ad? Maybe the heat wrap. Why do you think one basketball player came out of retirement? It certainly was not for salary. Try the millions of dollars in continued endorsement deals for hot dog, underwear, energy drink and don't forget the shoes! Your hard earned dollars being put in their pockets.

Most movie stars won't do ads in the US because they think it diminishes credibility but they gladly except offers overseas. Smart! Former stars accept offers to do commercials. They do still need to make living. Many got their start doing commercials so it is only natural for them to return to those.

Do these people pitching a product or service actually influence your buying decision? Do they add real value to the product? Is product "A" better than product "B" simply because a celebrity pitches it? What these people promoting a product really do is guarantee that will you pay more for that product.

Here is a very unique idea - "Be Yourself!" - and purchase the best product based on the quality and value to you.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Squeeze butter

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.2: It's Your Wasted Tax Money
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Ok, We all heard the President during his nomination acceptance speech at the republican convention say he supports entrepreneurs and small business. He repeated that sentiment during his Inauguration speech. Here is how the President's administration has helped. I invited him, as well as my Congressman and Senators, several months ago, to come meet with me at our production facility in Scottsburg, Indiana to discuss small business issues. Did I get a visit or response?

We manufacture a rather unique patented product called Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder. Our holder could save the taxpayer's money by reducing waste on our military bases (chow hall and showers). Our product could even save the President time by having the contents of his favor bottled products (shampoo, bbq sauce, etc) to ready to use. Many veterans could benefit from the reduced motion necessary to use bottled products.

The government has established a department to assist small businesses like mine get government contracts called the Small Business Administration (SBA). Take a look at principles webpage. Impressive, yes! True? The SBA has several Procurement Center Representatives (PCR) that are charged with assisting small businesses in getting contracts. Many of the PCRs are located on military bases. Not one PCR has responded to request for assistance. Even the head of the SBA, Mr. Barreto, has not followed up on a letter asking why the SBA regional staff do not respond to request for assistance. My congressman had to write multiple letters (yes, I did say multiple) to finally get a response. The PCR that contacted me ask me if I was black (not even politically correct and obvious from my name that I am not female) and when I said "no", the tone of the conversation changed. The only information my congressman received was a copy of a page from the SBA website (Doing Business with Fed Govt SBA Logo 03-19-04.doc) listing contacts I have already attempted to use and was told that was all they could do. I could discuss each of these listings in detail if needed. Do we taxpayers really need to waste money on all these people when a single webpage can do their job?

Also, within each procurement office of most government agencies is the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Unitization (OSDBU). These offices are suppose to assist small businesses get government contracts. My contact with various OSDBUs has been less than worth the taxpayer's money. Most of the time they never responded to my request. The few that did directed me to someone else, who directed me to someone else, and so on, until I was directed back to the OSDBU representative that I had originally contacted. This has happen on multiple occasions. Do we taxpayers really need to waste tax dollars on all these people?

One person in the military actually told me to make a minority 51% owner of my company and I would easily get a contract. Give my company and hard work away, Good Grief! Mr President, "Whatever happen to equality?".

Its your tax dollars doubled WASTED!

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Use with your bottle of Honey!

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #2.1: The cost of doing "plastic" business
©2005 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Happy New Year and welcome to those credit card bills for all those Christmas presents that start to arrive in your mailbox. Besides the debt that credit cards can allow you to fall into, they cost all of us money whether we use them or not. Let us take a look at how?

Remember when retailers would not accept a credit card unless your purchase was over twenty dollars and using a credit card to purchase fuel added five cents to each gallon. They did this to help defray the expense they incurred for accepting the credit card. These cost are not cheap especially for a small business like ours.

The equipment to swipe your card cost a business around $590 to purchase. A monthly operating fee of $10 even if no orders are processed. If you are dealing over the internet, most web host will charge business $25 per month to handle the transactions, used or not. When you use the card the retailer incurs a processing fee: 1.75% of purchase total amount plus 21 cents per transaction. I gathered these figures when looking at options for my business. They represent least cost figures I found. The size of the business and volume of processed cards does play a factor in the cost as well. My cost as small business are even more.

When you use your credit card at your favorite retailer for a purchase of five dollar it cost the retailer 21 cents plus 9 cents (1.75%) or 30 cents for that transaction. That is 6 percent off the top to pay for processing fees. These cost the retailer pays for allowing you to use those cards, used or not, are passed along to all consumers in the form of higher prices on all items.

You never really hear about how much it cost the retailer to accept your credit card. Recently there has been some press about fees for debit cards. Notice that I did not mention the interest and related fees that you, the consumer, pay on your cards. Also, a business is charged a fee by the bank for each check cashed over a specific number of transactions in a month. That means it could cost the business up to 25 cents to take your personal check. All this makes me want to start my own bank!

The next time you make a purchase, especially from a small business, consider using your cold, hard cash.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Post Script:
Many businesses are now "advertising" that they will give money to the Tsunami relief efforts for each purchase made. This is a disgusting attempt to profit off the suffering of others. A reputable business would announce that they have given money only after they actually have. If you wish to help with the relief efforts, I suggest that you visit give.org and research charities to find one that meets your expectations and give directly.

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month (revisited): Tried of waiting for the ketchup to come out of the bottle? Keep the bottle in our holder so the contents are always ready to use!

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #1.12: Food Stores
©2004 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Let us take a look this time around at what food stores are trying to do to you.

Sales are a lure to bring you into their store. - You need sales items A, B and C. They hope while you are there you will pickup items F, M, Q Y and Z at full price. How many of you have forgotten item B on your list? I have pretty good discipline when I walk into the store but even I on occasions get caught up their game.

Have you noticed the location of the most commonly purchased items? Milk for example. Why is it typically located as far as possible from the store entrance? They want you to walk by as many items as possible and smell the freshly baked goods. This increases their chances of you picking up additional items.

Have you noticed that items that kids want are on the lower shelves? Take cereal for example. The sugar filled kids cereals occupy the lower shelves. This makes it easy for children to see and beg for an item, even grab the item and put it into the cart themselves. This leaves many items that older people want out of their reach on the top shelves. Many times I have assisted an older person by getting an item off the upper shelves. Stores should realize the true value of reversing these locations. This would allow older people easy access to items they want and give a parent the opportunity to better control their children.

Beware of the scanners! Cashiers can slide items over the scanner so quickly that you can not monitor the price rung up for each item. I suggest you try to take time before you leave the store to check your receipt for errors. If you find an error, take the receipt to the customer service desk to get the error corrected. Some stores have a policy to give you an item free if the scanned price is incorrect. Do not be afraid to request that if customer service only offers you the price difference back.

Self service check out. This is the store's way of reducing staff and a last chance to offer a customer some hopefully friendly service. One person usually monitors up to five self service registers saving the store money, not you. If you have brand new currency or use your plastic to pay, these might get you out of the store quicker. If you have well used currency, forget it.

Until the litter box needs emptying again, I bid you peace, happiness and joy of the season!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: In this season of happiness, don't fight with the contents of your favorite bottled products. Store them in our holder ready to use. Happy Holidays!

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #1.11: Computer Software
©2004 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

I admit it. I was a Microsoft Office user. The software was bundled with one computer I purchased. Soon, Microsoft had released an updated version of the Office package. They only wanted about 55 percent of the price of a new license to upgrade. The update only had five or six new features that I thought might be useful. I did not see much value in purchasing the upgrade. The old version (now very old) worked just fine until my next computer came bundled with another company's software.

Did you know that there are several pieces of software available that can handle most of daily needs that cost much less. Many are what is called shareware. Shareware is basically a "try before you buy" type of software that you try, and if you like it, you send the author money. The amount requested is usually quite reasonable.

The term Freeware is as the name implies free. These programs are given to the public by their authors. Thank you! Some companies release their older versions of their software into freeware. They are hoping that after you use the program for a while, you will want to purchase the latest version to get added features.

Please note that file sharing of any media (software, music, etc) without the author's consent is illegal. The law calls that stealing. If an author chooses to make money from their creation, we need to respect the author. Many authors make their living and support their families by creating and selling their programs. How would you like it if someone took something of yours without paying for it? Even if a program is freeware, please consider sending the author a contribution.

Here are just a few of my favorite freeware software tittles. First, something every computer user should have on their machine: Anti-Virus Software called AVG Free Home Edition is available from grisoft. Just remember to use the update manager on a frequent regular basis.

How many of you have taped notes around your computer monitor? 3M, the maker of the Post-It® Notes has a lite, electronic version of their stickies available. I use it for reminders of rebates (see Litter Box 1.1) that I am waiting to arrive. I still keep an ample supply of the paper version on hand as well.

Do you need a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and math program with good Microsoft compatibility? OpenOfficeOrg is for you. One feature I miss is postnet bar codes for envelopes. It also lacks a good grammar checker in the word processor, but the price is right. This program is unique in that many developers work as a community, most donating their time to work on this project.

A good website for finding more freeware programs is www.freewarehome.com. They put software into categories so it is easy to locate a type of software you are looking for (like a graphic or educational programs).

Happy and Safe Holidays from CTS Innovations, Inc.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Assembling those presents that require glue are easier to put together when the glue is ready to use.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #1.10: Polls, Do they Matter? The Election Does!
©2004 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Do you believe all these polls they have for the presidential election? There are as many pre-election polls these days as there opinions. Do they effect the way you vote or even persuade you not to vote at all? All these polls remind me of a horse race. All the back and forth on which candidate is currently leading and in which poll.

Polls are big money making businesses. Can these polls be manipulated to get the desired results? You bet! They can easily call on only registered voters from a particular party. Just how many people did they survey? The person being polled can easily give an answer the poller wants to hear. That is what I do, especially when they choose to interrupt my dinner.

Perhaps, polls are for discovering what the people want the candidates to be in favor of so they can adjust their agenda to give you what you want to hear. Campaign promises are made to be broken. Are all these polls simply an attempt to manipulate voters? Everyone likes to cast their ballot for the pre-determined winner. Enough!

Do you live in a "key" state? You know the ones with the largest amount of electoral votes. If you do not well I guess you do not matter to those who want our highest office. I have invited both candidates to come and discuss small business issues. However, since my state is not a "key" state, I have been ignored. Hint: to determine if you live in a key state, notice how many campaign ads appear on TV and radio in your area in the early months before the election.

I ask you this question before. Why do we still have an electoral college anyway? In the early days of this country, this was needed to gather the results from the far reaches of the country. Do you realize that a candidate can win the majority of popular votes and still lose the election? Why? Because the candidate did not win enough "key" states in the electoral college. This possibly happen in 2000 depending upon whom you speak with.

The electoral college has become an unnecessary taxpayer funded reward to be handed out to political buddies. We need to eliminate this outdated system and make each individual vote truly count. Show me in the constitution of this great country where it says we cannot eliminate the electoral college should modern technology make it obsolete.

As I have stated before, this election being the first major vote since the terrible events of 9/11/2001, let us all get out and use our right to vote to show those people the freedom and independence we have in this country. However, why does electing an official often feel more like you are choosing lesser of two (or more) negatives. At least we do have that choice to make.

Most candidates, even for the smallest local office, have a website. These sites are an excellent source for information. On these sites you can generally find the candidate's position on many topics which media sources have not taken the time to present.

Remember this: the only poll that really matters is the one you make in the voting booth! VOTE!

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: That last coat of liquid polish on your car before winter goes easier when the contents are ready to use.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #1.9: Getting Answers!
©2004 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

Getting a response to your complaints about a product or service that a business has provided can be a difficult maze to go through. Here are some tips.

On the phone with the company's customer service. First, be nice! Even after having to wade through voice selections and holding forever. Quick tip, press 0 even if not on menu. This usually will get you to someone. If the customer service representative cannot resolve the complaint, ask to speak to a supervisor. Many times, only a supervisor has the authority to fix your problem. If the supervisor can't assist you, ask to speak to their supervisor. Work your way up the ladder! Always document to whom you spoke, the date and the time of the call. This is necessary should the action (i.e. crediting your account) not get done in a reasonable amount of time.

If you can not get the complaint resolved through the company channels, then it is time to look for some outside assistance. Your local Better Business Bureau (BBB) is an excellent place to start. When you talk to them, have your information about your contact with the company ready. This shows the BBB that you have tried to resolve the problem and assist them in working out a course of action to take. They are also a great reference source for checking on a company prior to doing business with them.

A good website to share your experiences with a company is Planetfeedback.com. Here you can post your complaint, compliments, question or suggestion about, or for, a company for everyone to see. They will contact the company with your feedback on your behalf. This is also another good reference source for checking on a company before doing business with them.

I recently used Planetfeedback.com to complaint about a rude customer service representative for a cell phone company. It took the company's vice president of customer service just over 30 days to respond, but they did respond. They apologized and promised to look into the matter. Probably by giving the representative a bonus or pay raise. My actual problem is still unresolved. I can tell you this. When my contract is up with that company, they will lose my business. Also, their parent company is losing my business. There are far too many choices available to us to tolerate less than great all-around service!

Many media news outlets have an investigative reporter who will be happy to assist you if your problem will make a good story for them to report (think David vs Goliath).

Depending on the problem, various government agencies may be able to offer assistance. Authorities such as US Postal Service (mail order items), Federal Communication Commission (telecommunication issues) and the Federal Trade Commission (fraud issues). Even your State Attorney General can possibly look into a matter for you.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Ever notice how your first squirt of mustard is usually water? Store the bottle in our holder to reduce this.

The Litter Box by David Catt
Subject #1.8: Rebates revisited!
©2004 - David B. Catt - all rights reserved

As I discussed in the very first briefing, rebates are a lure to get you to purchase a product. Now you have read the fine print and gathered the required paperwork. Are some of these rebates even worth your effort?

Let us consider your cost to process the rebate. Thirty-seven cents for postage stamp, one cent for an envelope, and ten cents to make a copy for your records plus your time (priceless). So, you are looking at approximately $1.48 to process the rebate. For this figure, I undervalued your time to minimum wage and allowed about 10 minutes to complete the task. Your cost will vary. I reduce my cost by using the scanner attached to my computer to make an electronic copy. This saves the copy cost (and a tree) plus additional time and fuel to go get the copy made somewhere. As I said before, always make a copy for your records else you might get taken! Now, is that rebate worth your effort? I typically do not let any rebate under three dollars lure my purchasing decision.

Some companies offer the rebate in the form of a merchandise check or gift card. This brings you back to them and you usually end up spending a greater amount than their check value. The cost of this rebate to the company is about 50% the face value of the check or card. Walgreens often offers an additional 10% rebate if you take their gift card instead of cash.

Here is something for you to consider. Some companies offer a rebate on a product making the product "free" after rebate. While you may not have a need for these items, many of them might be very useful to a non-profit organization in your local community. Why not purchase and donate them. Also, talk to the store manager to see if they will match your donation. Things like office supplies and computer accessories are good examples. Ok, the item will cost you around $1.48 to process and the sales tax but you can take a write off of the full purchase price on your taxes. Another reason to have a copy of the receipt.

I will not mention by name a company unless they are doing an outstanding job. That is case with Ace Hardware's rebate program. First, all rebates are on one form. This reduces my processing expense and time (also theirs). The form's instructions are easy to follow and in large print and include the recommendation of crossing credit card information. If you include your email address (optional) on the form, they will send you an email when they receive your rebate submission that includes a tracking number. This gives you the opportunity to track your rebate online. Others should take note! If only they would add our company's product to their assortment.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: How much product is left in that solid color bottle? How much will you throw out? Storing these bottles in our holder allows you to use all the product easily.

Always read the fine print! Get out your magnifying glasses maybe even the electron microscope and review it carefully. I mentioned this in a previous brief on rebates (#1.1) as well. I have a few of good examples of fine print. They never cease to amaze me.

Recently, I received in the mail an offer about introducing a company's long distance plans. It looks like a good deal. However, the fine print somewhat discloses a few hidden cost. "Installation charge" was one. They don't know how much they charge for installation? The one that really threw me was one called "fees". What are these "fees" and how much are they going to cost? By signing up, you agree to pay the installation charges and "fees". You could end up paying a "CEO's whatever fee". I checked the offer out their website thinking actual cost might be disclosed. No such luck.

I was looking at a different checking account for the business. The friendly person at the bank gave me a brochure that explained their services for businesses. The fine print on transactions fees referred to another brochure which they did not have. That person also gave me application with a special offer attached. The offer stated in large print that I would receive a grill when I opened an account with a minimum $100 opening balance. To my surprise the fine print stated business and non-profit accounts are not eligible.

Another offer I received in the mail was for digital cable. It looked like I had been offered another good deal. Again, the fine print raises some questions. First, price per month shown is for the first few months. How much after that? A digital converter is required with no mention of price. Installation, equipment and other charges may apply. Cost? Prices not include franchise fees or FCC fees and are subject to change. Do you have any idea what this could actually cost you per month?

An offer for some revolutionary pills says "Yours FREE! Just pay a small shipping and handling fee". The fine print reveals the shipping and handling fee is $7.95 "per item" in the deal. Example: there are 4 items in the deal which then cost you $31.80 (remember they said small). The cost to ship them $1.80 to ship all four items, labor (handling) may cost $2.00 and maybe another $3.00 to produce the four items. That leaves about $25 (commonly know as profit) on your FREE items! Now you know why they really "give" them away.

Someone once said "There is a sucker born every minute". Better check the fine print on that statement to see if it includes you. I hope not!

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Grill time and barbecue. The portable design of our holder stores most barbecue sauces ready to use at the grill. Enjoy!

As I am writing this brief, Saudi Arabia has agreed to increase production levels. This should help lower the cost. At the same time, people have threaten to disrupt the supply from Saudi Arabia. The oil companies immediately raised the price you pay for a gallon of gasoline. Why?

If one oil company has a problem at one of their refineries, why do the other oil companies immediately raised the price you pay for a gallon of gasoline. Why? How much do they raise the price if someone on one of the oil rigs sneezes?

If one gas station raises the price you pay for a gallon of gasoline, the others follow suit. Why? What ever happen to seriously competing for your business? Corporate mergers and the driving out of most independently owned and operated stations cut the competition. And the government filed anti-trust suits against a software company.

Have you ever noticed how fuel prices seem to rise on Thursday and drop the following Tuesday? What I call "cash flow economics". The oil companies know that most people get paid on Friday and usually do not have much money left after the weekend and refilling the tank on Monday for the workweek.

Oil companies want profits! They seize any opportunity (excuse) they can find to increase their profits. Look at the oil companies profits for the first quarter of this year verses last year. The government has looked into oil companies pricing on various occasions. However, the oil companies are BIG contributors, so the government inquires are only for appearance.

** With the huge impact oil prices have on our overall economy, here is what I suggest we, as consumers, do to make a point. On Thursdays, let us NOT give them any of our dollars on that one day each week. Do NOT buy fuel, cigarettes or anything else from gas stations or any business attached to them. Let them all have a zero income day! Actually, it would be a red ink day for them considering operating expenses of the station. There are plenty of other places to pick up those other items besides fuel on Thursdays. Also, this would cause our government to receive zero federal fuel tax dollars for that day each week. Maybe then, the government will take an actual look at the oil companies tactics.

The E85 fuel (see last month's brief) is our quickest way to reduce oil consumption and dependancy on foreign countries. Remember, oil is a non-renewable resource. When it is depleted, there is no more. Not only do we refine oil into fuel, but oil is also used for lubrication and is found in many plastics (such as our product) as well as other things. China and India are becoming more oil hungry as they prosper. Be kind our planet and recycled these resources.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: 2 & 3 liter soda pop bottles lose their carbonation (fizz) quickly after opening. Storing the bottle in our holder forms a liquid seal on the cap trapping the "fizz".

With gasoline prices approaching and in some areas exceeding two dollars a gallon, many of us are finally looking into our options. Let us take a tour of the choices.

The all electric vehicle has been tried. The range of these vehicles is limited to approximately 70 miles on a charge. Recharging was easy enough just find an outlet to plug into. They required a large number of batteries along with their cost and space required for them. Recharging time was not rapid usually overnight. Advances in battery technology need to be made before this could be a viable choice.

Another option being used is compressed natural gas (CNG). This has the advantage of zero emissions. Range of current CNG vehicles is approximately 200 miles. However this still uses a nonrenewable resource and has a lack of a distribution network.

At present the most popular choice are the hybrid vehicles. These vehicles have a gasoline engine and an electric motor. They do use less fuel especially running around town. The down side is the increased vehicle cost due to the additional power plant at around three to four thousand dollars and replacement cost of batteries. American automobile manufactures are finally rolling out a couple of hybrids starting this year. The return on your additional investment compared to fuel savings over the life of the vehicle is not yet showing a positive number.

The government is spending billions of your tax dollars on research into hydrogen powered vehicles. These vehicles would have zero harmful emissions. There are several down-sides to this. One is the volatility of hydrogen and making the fuel cells safe from impact in the event of an accident. Another problem is lack of a distribution network. Use of this technology is many years in the future if at all.

There is a very different approach all ready available called E85 fueled engines. E85 is a mixture of eighty-five percent ethanol and fifteen percent gasoline. Many gasolines already contain a ten percent mixture of ethanol. Did you know that ethanol is made from a renewable resources. One is called corn. Yes, good old American corn! Did you know that engines found in several vehicles will run on E85 fuel as well as regular gasoline. Added initial vehicle cost to you - ZERO! E85 fuel does not provide as much energy output and does not quite go as far on a gallon yet it does reduce emissions and, most importantly, reliance on foreign oil. Look for the E85 sticker on the fuel door/cap and owner's manual. For additional information on E85 fuel, vehicles and refueling locations, visit www.e85fuel.com. Why is E85 fuel not more common and distributed to more stations? Simple! The oil companies don't want to lose a large percentage of their profits. Contact your elected officials and ask them to push for increased use and availability of this American alternative renewable fuel.

In the meantime, here again are some tips to help you conserve fuel: Carpool, combine your errands into one trip, use the accelerator pedal sparingly, keep your vehicle tuned up and tires properly inflated. Additional tips as well as fuel economy of older and new vehicles can be found at fueleconomy.gov.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: It is summer and time for a picnic. The compact and portable design of our holder allows you to take the benefit of not having to wait along for those fun times.

What is the largest business in the United States? The U.S. government of course. Doing business with the government is great opportunity for a small business to grow. They are required by law to pay bills on time. Unfortunately, everyone has heard how much the government will pay for hammer or toilet seat. What else do we taxpayers get taken on?

The government has established a department to assist small businesses like mine get government contracts called the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA has several Procurement Center Representatives (PCR) that are charged with assisting small businesses. Not one PCR has responded to request for assistance. Also, within each procurement office of most government agencies is the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Unitization (OSDBU). These offices are suppose to assist small businesses get government contracts. I have had the opportunity to request assistance from various OSDBUs. Most of the time they never responded to my request. The few that did always pointed to a dead end and seldom followed up on the request. Even the head of the SBA has not followed up on a letter asking why the SBA regional staff do not respond to request. It appears their real job is to collect a salary, paid for by the taxpayers, and provide nothing in return.

Did you know that both the House of Representatives and the Senate have Small Business Sub-Committees. A Senator from my state is on the Senate version. Do you think the Senator would respond to one of his constituents asking for help that would preserve Indiana jobs? I have requested his assistance on multiple occasions only to have my request fall on a deaf ears. Why should he care anyway? I am not a contributing lobbyist. His job (like many others) is to look out for himself and tell voters what they want to hear so that he can get re-elected.

This year we will once again be going to the voting booths to elect the officials including the President. This election being the first major vote since the terrible events of 9/11/2001, let us all get out use our right to vote to show those people the freedom and independence we have in this country. However, why does electing an official often feel more like you are choosing lesser of two (or more) negatives. At least we do have that choice to make.

Before you choose to elect, or re-elect, your national officials ask them several questions about the position they seek: 1. How much will/do they pay into Social Security? 2. How much and soon do they receive retirement benefits? 3. How much do they pay for medical now and when they retire? 4. How much do they pay for a prescription drug? They certainly take excellent care of themself. I think we need a national referendum on the ballot this November on changing these benefits our elected officials receive! Why should they be self-appointed to decide what benefits (and salaries) they receive from our tax dollars? If we put them into the same plans as the rest of us, Social Security, the health care system and prescription drug cost would be fixed immediately.

Why do we still have an electoral college? In the early days of this country, this was needed to gather the results from the far reaches of the country. Now it has become an unnecessary taxpayer funded reward to be handed out to political buddies. Let us put this to a national referendum as well. Tell your elected officials to stop wasting your money and to let your vote truly count.

Do you want to contact your federal elected officials (including the president)? Visit FirstGov webpage

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: What is the main ingredient in most bottled products? Water! Which is lighter than other ingredients and floats to the top. Storing these products in our holder will help maintain a more consistent mixture and reducing thicker product and frustration when near empty.

OK! This brief may go little off the mark of what business is trying to do to you. How nice things would be if as a company we could rely strictly on "tell a friend" referrals and internet sales. I have been asked many times why our company's product is not in stores [yet]. It is not due to lack of trying. There are many things involved in dealing with retailers that most people are unaware of.

First, the big "Catch 22". Stores want to see large volume of sales before they will consider putting a product on the shelf. In other words, they want proof that a product move off their shelf. The "Catch 22": how do show them large sales when the product is not in a store? How large is large? In the good old days, a mom and pop store would put your product on the shelf on consignment i.e you got paid only for product sold less a percentage. It was an excellent starting point to build sales. Do you still have a mom and pop store where you live?

Here is an idea for you to pass along to your favorite retailer: Why not start a "new products" display at the entrance of your store to help you and manufacturers (especially start-ups) introduce products to your customers. Do not sell them just display along with the selling price. This display could even be a bulletin board with pictures of products. Have a comment box available so customers can give you feedback and even request you carry an item. The small amount of space lost should pay off as a simple and effective way to test new items while minimizing your investment.

Did you know that most retailers charge manufacturers a "slotting fee". This is basically rent for shelf space. I have heard a manufacturer got charged $40,000 for one "slot" in a test region. Imagine nationwide cost? I won't even touch a retailer's markup on an item other than to ask you if you think the retailer loses money when they sell you something at 50 percent off? They have overhead too.

There is one store that many point out would be a good place for our product. Maybe yes and maybe no. Recently, an excellent article was brought to my attention. You can find this article here and read the story. Add to this the PBS FrontLine show about the retailer. Scarey! Where do you shop? Is the company you work for a supplier?

Just a little something for you to ponder on the next time you walk into a retail location.

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: If you have arthritis or other impairments that make turning a bottle over difficult, then you will appreciate the reduced motion required to use your bottled products when they are stored in our holder.

Ever wonder why stores really offer a discount card instead of just a sale? Loyalty?? Whatever name they put on them. One store calls it "Preferred". Makes me feel just so special (not). Funny how I never get "Preferred" treatment over someone that doesn't have a card! Maybe an exclusive checkout lines for those of us to whom the store has granted the privilege of a card. So many times, I have been stuck waiting at checkout behind someone that does not have a card. :(

Here is what I believe happens: So what does the store get in return for giving you a discount? Answer: Money! Hard to believe that the store can make lots of money by giving you discount!

How? Answer: They sell the information about what you purchased to marketing research companies. Yes, several different marketing research companies. By allowing them to scan your card each time you shop, you give them permission to collect information that they may share (read as sell) with others as they see fit. That is the easiest and low investment money the store makes. The information the store already gathers to track their stock instantly turn into easy money with the swipe of your card. Why do you think they always ask you for the discount card even if you don't necessarily have discounted item?

Remember how much personal information that you gave them to get the discount card? All the information the market research companies have gathered from stores is then crunched, analyzed, compared, sorted and studied and finally put into custom reports. The report could be who is buying a certain type of item (example: chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies?) to which brand of hot dogs is selling best in a certain region to whatever type of data report a customer wished to purchased. The possibilities are endless. To get an idea, do a web search for "market research". Look at reports offered.

Who purchased these reports? One (of many) was possibly the manufacturer of the product that was discounted by scanning your card. The manufacturer pays for the market report with money they make from you purchasing their product. So who really paid for that discount? You did!

Humor: I wonder what those market research computers thinks when it records a single male purchasing an "unmentionable" item for the lady currently in their life! How badly does that effect their statistical analysis? :)

Until the litter box needs emptying again! Next: Retailer, you and manufacturer

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Frustrated trying to get the shampoo to come out of the bottle? Our compact holder fits on most shower shelves, so why not keep the bottle in our holder so the contents are always ready to use!

Welcome to the "first" monthly litter box brief. The goal of this monthly brief is to look at what businesses are trying to do to you. I am president of CTS Innovations, Inc. a small U.S. manufacturing company. Our product is Stand Ready™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder. The first subject: Mail-In Rebates!

Why rebates? Why not just temporary reduced the price like a sale? I am sure you have asked yourself this question many times.

It is quite simple really. Some companies offering a rebate do not want to give you anything. They just want to lure you like a fish to bait. The bait is an imaginary price you will pay for the product. The ad usually shows in BIG numbers this price and the actual price in tiny numbers. Once you get their product home, they hope you will happy with the price you think you paid and forget about it.

Did you remember to pick up a rebate form? They hope not. Would you go back to get one - probably not. Some places are printing out the rebate form with your sales receipt (applause!). Some companies put the rebate form in with product. Watch the rebate expiration date. Sometimes a product will sit on the shelf too long and the enclosed rebate will have expired.

Ok, you have the rebate form. READ IT! Read all of it - normal print, fine print, front and back. Look at offer expiration and "purchased between" dates. I got burned once buying an advertised rebate product a few days before the rebate actually started. What you are required to send? My favorite is the original sales receipt. What if you have purchased two items with rebates? What is the processing time and a point of contact should you not receive your rebate check within that period? I suggest putting the contact on the calendar on the last day as a reminder. If the rebate does not have a phone number contact you stand a chance of getting burned. I have on three separate occasions. I suggest you go to the rebate center at the store and picking up rebate form and read it before making the purchase.

Test the product before removing any required item off the packaging. Most places won't accept returns without complete packaging. Carefully print your information on the rebate form. If the company can't read (or mis-reads) your information, you are not going to receive anything. I would suggest putting a return address label on the form instead of printing. Always cross out your credit card and number! Gather all the items that you are required to send in and make a COPY for your records. Write on your copy the date you mailed the rebate and the processing time and point of contact.

Fast forward >>. If the date is one week past the maximum processing time stated and you have not received your rebate check, call the point of contact. Some companies hope you will forget about the rebate and do not process the rebate unless called. I just received a rebate that was three weeks overdue after calling to check on it four days earlier. The person tried to tell me that I would have to wait 60 days from the date they presumably issued the check to file a claim (more time to forget). I mentioned a possible :-( action I could take and suddenly there is a check in the mailbox. You decide!

Until the litter box needs emptying again!

Stand Ready ™ brand Inverted Bottle Holder tip of the month: Tried of waiting for the ketchup to come out of the bottle? Keep the bottle in our holder so the contents are always ready to use!