Here in South Florida, a lot of business is conducted during rounds of golf. The Good Ole Boy Network is alive and well. As a professional woman that doesn't golf, it's sometimes hard to compete with those relationships cemented on the greens.
A lot times, price and service doesn't even factor in. It's more like, "well, my wife's brother sells that, so I have to buy from him" or "my boss has part ownership of XYZ company, so we buy from them." Those kinds of parameters are hard to get around. In fact, it's best to walk away from them and move on to someone else.
Recently, I've been thinking of taking up golf, though walking/riding over a course of 18 holes in order to hit the little ball into the little hole holds absolutely no interest for me. But with the economy taking a dive and sales getting harder to come by, I may need to become the Ole Girl in the Ole Boys Network.
Your comments--priceless!
It's Saturday morning and the American economy is in dire straits. Money is scarce and if you are like me, your shopping addiction STILL needs to be fed. I've turned my attention to garage and yard sales. If you've never gone this route, now is the time. There are several simple things to remember--- Pricing is not final and in fact, the later it gets, the more flexible the seller may become. But be mindful as well, don't drive up in a new Benz and expect to negotiate down to pennies.
- Have small bills, change may not be available.
- Bring your own cardboard boxes or bags.
- Be careful if you are sensitive to cigarette smoke. If the seller is smoking like a chimney, there's a good chance that your items will smell smoky.
- Leave your pets at home!!
- Examine items carefully. There are no refunds.
- Keep an open mind. Look at things for potential uses--like an old child's chair that can be converted into a porch planter.
I find that the best sales are the multi-family or neighborhood sales. Have fun!!
Your comments--priceless!
