Faster Customer Service By Phone

 http://www.lucyphone.com/

Lucy Phone is a free service, an app for iPhone or Android device.  You enter the name of the company you are trying to contact, and it will call that company's customer service, and then call you back when the customer service representative is actually on the line. Saving you many minutes on hold or having to find the customer service phone number. I don't believe the company you are calling gets your number, only Lucy Phone.  Lucy Phone was recommended by a neutral source I trust, so I feel sure Lucy Phone does not use the information you give them (your phone number) to call you or sell you anything.  They take no advertising. 

If you have any comments on using the service, please leave them below. 

Computer Battery Backup

http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BE550G-LM   APC Back-UPS 550VA, 8 outlet, 120V LAM  330 Watt.

APC is a popular battery backup manufacturer, and I use 4 of their backup units in my home, one for the TV and cable-box , one on home security system, and two on computers and monitors. One of the backups on a computer failed this week, and I ordered the model above after seeing it had 3,000 outstanding customer reviews on Amazon (retained 4.5 stars after that many reviews), and it qualifies for prime shipping. At a price of $56 it was hardly more expensive than a replacement battery for the failing unit.

It has many advantages in powering technology items.  For example it has many outlets and thus replaces the need for a power strip. And it adds surge protection in addition to the battery backup to save wear and tear on equipment or loss of data and stability. It is a nice size, I think, but if you have another favorite style or brand please comment below.  

Beach Music Sound In A Drinks Cooler

Kube  is a small cooler that doubles as a Bluetooth boom box.  Holds up to 48 cans of beverage and has a 110 decibel sound system (battery powered).  Heat up the play list while you cool down your drinks? 

www.kubesound.com

Shipping in 2015, the website says, now taking deposits for those who want to be first.  Oh, the price?  $1,099.  $100 off for early payment.   

Blue Ice Buying Tips

In hot times like these, there is always a need for those blue freeze packs of convenience ice for coolers. The reusable kind. Generally the color is blue; you freeze them in the freezer, and use them to keep food and beverage items cool in transit from home to beach house or vice versa.

I have used this kind of product for 20 years or more, and have used several different brands that have lasted that long.  But finally the question of leaks and safety has come up, and I decided to investigate replacing my freeze pack inventory – various sizes, small, medium and large.

The search took some time, so I will share my final decision.  After studying Amazon and EBay and Wal-Mart, I have decided the best quality for me is a Rubbermaid’s product called Blue Ice.  It has the most reviews on Amazon and the most favorable reviews.

Blue Ice is certainly not cheap, I wouldn’t even say the price is reasonable.  But after reading some “leak stories” about lesser priced brands (in Amazon reviews) I have settled on Rubbermaid for safety.  If you have found another brand that has held up well, please comment below. I believe that some brands have dropped quality in the last 10 or 20 years, possibly due to changes in the factory process, the raw materials, or “origin”.

Price Drop On LED Lightbulbs

I heard from a friend today that Lowes has some 9.5w LEDs, 60 w equivalent incandescent, 800 Lumens, soft white, non-dimmable, 13.7 year life bulbs on sale for $2.48  (7/19/2015).  They were originally $6. 

They are Utilitech bulbs, which my friend (and I) have found to be good bulbs.  Of course the sale price might be because they have a rated lifetime of only 13.7 years.  That compares with “normal” LED bulb marketing that claims 22 years. Utilitech, Osram, GE, Sylvania... have bulbs they say will last 22 years. 

Thinking out loud, with 22 years a company could claim that your “lifetime savings” would be greater than, say 13.7 years.  Think about replacing the CFLs with these lower priced LED's.  CFL's use twice the energy of LED's and run warmer than LED’s.  Think about saving AC costs, not to mention electricity for the bulbs themselves. Some 60 watt equivalent CFL bulbs draw 15 watts, as compared to only 9.5 for these particular LED bulbs for the same light output.

I have made several Blog posts on LED bulbs over the last two years, so go back and read them all if this topic interests you. If price has been your reason not to consider LED bulbs, this “sale” might be your turning point.

Note that not all LED bulbs are created equal, however, they have various light spectrums, (warm white, cool white), and some LED bulbs throw the bulk of their light straight up (good some, but not all applications). Others scatter the light up and down more evenly, which I like for table lamps and ceiling fixtures.  I haven’t personally tested the Utilitech bulbs, but will do so and report later.

Window Cleaning Made Easier Karcher Power Squeegee

http://www.amazon.com/Karcher-WV-50-Power-Squeegee/dp/B00336EUMW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436899117&sr=8-1&keywords=karcher+window+vacuum

Karcher VW 50 Power Squeegee for cleaning glass.  My son gave it to me for my birthday, and I have tested in on large patio doors and bathroom mirrors.  It does a surprisingly good job, easier than paper towels, faster, and with less paper-waste.

1.     it has a fairly wide, soft, squeeze that sucks up the liquid (and dirt) on the glass

2.     you can use normal Windex or my favorite “Perfect Glass” (from Lowes)

3.     I suppose you could use water or a mixture of water and some other cleaning item, anything you normally use on glass

4.     the reservoir stores up the vacuumed liquid for easy disposal

The good news is, it got the glass area clean, fast (7 feet x 16 feet), the fastest I have ever cleaned that much sq. footage.  The liquid in the reservoir was much greater looking in volume than I would have thought.  Sprayed on the large glass area, it doesn’t look like much, but in the reservoir it is obviously a few ounces.

And, the reservoir water was dirty, giving reinforcement to the fact that it is cleaning dirt off the glass, even it is not visible to the eye.  It’s there.  This removes it.  

Not a cheap item, but it seems to be well made, and of course is less expensive than hiring a window cleaning company. 

Hand Held, Wireless Pen To Input Handwriting

Phree -- is the brand name.  Here is a video that shows it in action. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuY_TYqiasU

Make the world your paper.  That’s their slogan.  I am not sold on the concept, there are similar things out there, but this might catch on.  Right now they are using KickStarter to raise money and allocate the first physical instruments they make.

I could see this being very useful in hospitals for updating charts and such, perhaps I don't realize its import to many tasks in business (or art ?).  

If you have a similar device already, or would just like to comment, please do so. 

Batteries AA and AAA

All of us use them, they are for sale everywhere.  Store brands are sometimes less, and of course there are Duracell, Energizer,and  Rayovac brand names.  I usually shop around for batteries, but often have to wait until they are on sale at Walgreens or elsewhere.  But this week, I decided to look at Amazon for pricing and discovered they have a “house” brand called “Amazon basics”.  Of course it is Prime, so there is no freight, and they offer it as a subscription so a box comes every 6 months, or other time increment you choose.  But you can also purchase a box as a one-time purchase. Subscribing saves you 5 %, not a bad savings when CD’s at the bank are only paying 1 % or less.  

I compared them at length with Duracell and  Energizer brands that I normally use, and I believe they are Duracell in a private label since they have a 10 year, no leak, shelf life.  With 638 customer reviews and still having 4.5 stars, I would say customers are very happy and have tested them against all brands and found them to be superior.  Amazon users say they are made in Japan, or at least, not China.  

So, why bring this up in my Blog?  Because a pack of 20 AAA (alkaline) type is only $7.59, and that equates to $  .379 each, compared to .60 cents for other brands on Amazon, and even more than $ .60 in stores.  And, I no longer have to search for ‘fair pricing’ in stores.  Or buy more than I need to get a decent price. This is an example of the retail revolution.  Amazon is becoming a type of Consumer Reports that finds good deals, and then brings them to your doorstep with essentially no hassle. In 100 degree heat here in SC in summer, no hassle is a good idea.

I used to use rechargeable AA’s in cameras and other devices, and thought they gave longer use than the disposable kind.  But have drifted away from that for various reasons.  I always dispose of my used batteries by taking them to a local drop off for recycling.    

Silver Car -- A Revolutionary New Car Rental Company

https://www.silvercar.com/#/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mariahsummers/meet-silvercar-the-startup-trying-to-shake-up-airport-car-re#.qxv6Eme3mw

This rental car company out to break all the rules, and be customer friendly:

1.     they only rent silver Audi A-4 vehicles, no mini vans or “cars the manufacturer wants to get rid of  --- that is surely a change.

      2.   they pick you up at the airport, similar to UBER, and take you to your rental car,  

           you spend no time at the “rental counter” or hunting your vehicle in the "gold" lot 

          (dragging your rolling bag around) and all done with a smart phone APP, no hassle 

2.     they charge a fixed rate  $89 weekdays, $59 weekends.

3.     gas refills are at the going prices, not $9 a gallon, so you don’t have to stop and fill up before giving your rental car back, they fill it up

4.      you reserve your car on your phone APP … then, when you arrive, usually at an airport, they come get up via the same APP … nice idea

5.     for only a little more than the normal car companies, you get much more hassle free service, better prices on gas refills, easier booking, easier time at time you get your car --- especially if you are arriving at 11 PM somewhere, and just want your car, not a hassle. I have been there (hello Phoenix) and wasted an hour or more getting my car.

They are only in a handful of cities, but it might be a growing business, like UBER, something to disrupt the normal car rental business, even if they only take the very best customers away from Avis, Hertz, et al, it is a start, and maybe good service will trickle down --- but, don’t count on it.

Your thoughts ?  comment below: