And that will be obvious as you read this poorly assembled post. So much to do, so little time. I have several things to post about today, and I don't know where to begin.
Reviews: The book now has two reviews on Amazon! Very thrilling. All good reviews will obviously help me a bit with the marketing because the book will gain some credibility. Have you purchased the book? If you did, and if you liked it (what's not to like? LOL), please please please take a couple of minutes and review it for me on Amazon. Just a couple of simple sentences about what you like about the book will do, and I would really appreciate it!
Post Office Update: I just visited my new friend M at the post office today. I was sending out more review copies, and she called my number, so I went to her window. I asked her if her supervisor told her that I called, and she said yes, and thanks. She then proceeded to tell me how upset she had been when she looked into those blasted guidelines after I left and discovered her mistake; she didn't want the guy at the other branch to have a bad reputation when she was wrong all along. She said she called me ON HER DAY OFF, but that I had to know the real story behind these guidelines. She was very cute about it, but actually a little hard on herself, in my opinion. I'd much rather have that, though, instead of someone who could care less. I told her it was all good in the 'hood, and that now we ALL know the guidelines.
NaBloPoMo: I was so irritated yesterday because I tried to type up an initial post, and it was going really great until I tried to attach a link. Then: POOF! It was gone. WAH. So now I have to start it all over again...but at that point, I had to walk away from the computer! By the way, I created two blog groups on NaBloPoMo: All About Pets and Beagle Bloggers. I also joined the Chicago Bloggers group. Anyone out there want to join me?
Progress made today: I sent out (as I mentioned above) 4 more review copies. Julie has thrown a bunch of great ideas my way for marketing, and one of them that I love is the website petsugar.com. I've read popsugar.com, but there are lots of others (if you go to petsugar, scroll down to the bottom and you'll find the listing of all their other "Sugar" sites). Julie told me that petsugar is a relatively new "branch", so I sent them a copy of the book. I also sent a copy to a magazine called Modern Dog. I saw it in the bookstore yesterday and it looks like a great magazine. It comes from our friends to the north--no, not Wisconsin--Canada! What I loved was, when I called the toll free number to ask who I should address my book to, the woman who answered the phone was VERY friendly. I am on a roll with great customer service!
I have begun making follow-up phone calls to the pet boutiques who received my letters. I don't enjoy the phone calls, I must say. I would much rather get in my car and visit everybody but, besides it being very unprofessional to pop in without making a phone call first, the vast area I would have to cover would make it a huge waste of time, energy, and gasoline. So making phone calls it is! I had a couple of positive exchanges during today's calls; a couple of store owners want to see the book. One shop doesn't stock books but the owner said he has a "community board" that I am welcome to post on, so that's a good thing. Moving right along!
Beagle Rescues: I am starting to hear from the Beagle Rescues that I sent information to; they seem really excited about the book and I am hoping that they will be a major part of my marketing. More to come on that as it happens!
Bijoux's name: It occurred to me that after I started posting my essays about Bijoux/the real Ruby, I totally skipped over the introduction that I wrote! Well, I won't post the whole thing out of order now but I will post about how Bijoux got her name, because that information is important in the path leading to Ruby. Stay tuned for that.
Identify yourself, please: I am starting to get "hits" from all over the world, which is really exciting for me. Please feel free to leave a comment and introduce yourself. You don't have to have a google account to put a comment up; you can post under "anonymous" if you want. I'd love to hear from you!
To my friends in the Land Down Under: I asked M at the post office to weigh a book package and tell me how much it would be to get it to you, and the postage is $5. So if any of you all the way down there would like to order one directly from me, e-mail me using the link over to the right and we'll get that set up.
I think that's it for now. Isn't that enough? My goodness! I'm exhausted just typing about it! Have a great evening...more tomorrow!
Showing posts with label Post Office AGAIN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Post Office AGAIN. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Where Else Can You Find A Blog With Three Consecutive Entries About the U.S. Postal Service?
This morning I tried to call the Post Office to sing the praises of M, the super-dee-duper Window Clerk (Is that an official title? I'll have to look that up) who far surpassed her normal job requirements when dealing with me this weekend.
Unfortunately, after asking me for my address (I assume there are different supervisors for different parts of town? That's an interesting concept. If you misbehave on the job, do you get "demoted" to the more whiny areas?) and going to find the correct supervisor, she left me on hold for a really long time--for this type of call, anyway. I ended up having to hang up because I was on my way out to meet my friend D for lunch. I did not let this apparent indifference about leaving customers on hold for an indefinite amount of time deter me from wanting to call back.
Upon my return from lunch, I called again. This time the operator asked me what my call was regarding, and she didn't need my address because she was putting me directly through to the Window Supervisor. The woman answered and when I told her that I was calling to give "Big Ups" to one of the clerks (I didn't say "Big Ups"; I just like that term better for the story--it adds flavor!), she seemed flabbergasted. It's clear that she doesn't get many calls like mine.
I tried to make the long story short for her (it's tough: I challenge YOU to try it!) and in the middle of it she asked me, "Well, did she offer you Express Mail so it could get there faster?" She obviously was missing my point, so I had to back up a bit and recap my recap. I finally got it all out and she thanked me and told me she would let M know that I called. I hope she really does. I hate it when management gets feedback (especially good feedback!) and then suddenly get too lazy to pass it on to the people who need to hear it.
In other post office news (will it ever stop?? LOL), the book that I sent (Priority Mail, remember?) to Ross the Intern at the Tonight Show got delivered to the studio around 7:30 this morning. I wonder when he'll actually have it in hand.
Things are percolating now...Send good karma my way, please!
Unfortunately, after asking me for my address (I assume there are different supervisors for different parts of town? That's an interesting concept. If you misbehave on the job, do you get "demoted" to the more whiny areas?) and going to find the correct supervisor, she left me on hold for a really long time--for this type of call, anyway. I ended up having to hang up because I was on my way out to meet my friend D for lunch. I did not let this apparent indifference about leaving customers on hold for an indefinite amount of time deter me from wanting to call back.
Upon my return from lunch, I called again. This time the operator asked me what my call was regarding, and she didn't need my address because she was putting me directly through to the Window Supervisor. The woman answered and when I told her that I was calling to give "Big Ups" to one of the clerks (I didn't say "Big Ups"; I just like that term better for the story--it adds flavor!), she seemed flabbergasted. It's clear that she doesn't get many calls like mine.
I tried to make the long story short for her (it's tough: I challenge YOU to try it!) and in the middle of it she asked me, "Well, did she offer you Express Mail so it could get there faster?" She obviously was missing my point, so I had to back up a bit and recap my recap. I finally got it all out and she thanked me and told me she would let M know that I called. I hope she really does. I hate it when management gets feedback (especially good feedback!) and then suddenly get too lazy to pass it on to the people who need to hear it.
In other post office news (will it ever stop?? LOL), the book that I sent (Priority Mail, remember?) to Ross the Intern at the Tonight Show got delivered to the studio around 7:30 this morning. I wonder when he'll actually have it in hand.
Things are percolating now...Send good karma my way, please!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Who Knew The U.S. Post Office Had Such Amazing Customer Service???
I have another chapter of the "Ellen book and the Post Office" saga for you today!
In keeping an eye on my Delivery Confirmation number, I found out (Friday night) that the book that I sent to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" was indeed delivered on Friday morning at 11:22! Whee! So that was a relief, that I wouldn't have to expect it back in my mailbox in a matter of a week or two...
And then yesterday (Saturday), I left the house to run some errands and discovered that I had a voice mail message when I turned on my cell phone. To my surprise, it was the Post Office lady! Say it with me, people: "Whaaaaaa???"
Here is her message, word for word:
"Hi Melisa, it's M from the post office. That book going to Ellen's show should be fine because back in May they made some changes and now they're saying that if it's rigid you can do Delivery Confirmation First Class and it doesn't have to be 3/4 of an inch thick; they added some stuff in there and I was wrong, so I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that, that piece should be fine. Thanks, bye."
If I had been standing up at the time I listened to it, you could have knocked me over with a feather.
But wait! How did she get my number, you're wondering?
During my time at her window, she was dazzled by the labels on the envelopes and asked about them. I told her about the book and she seemed interested, so I gave her my business card! (Workin' it, workin' it!) Turns out it's a good thing I did that; she probably was up all night thinking about this situation and how she thought I was totally freaked out; it's great for both of us that she was able to make that call! Now I know just how great some post office employees are. I plan to call her branch manager tomorrow to give her a big "Holla!" Management needs to know these things, you know?
In keeping an eye on my Delivery Confirmation number, I found out (Friday night) that the book that I sent to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" was indeed delivered on Friday morning at 11:22! Whee! So that was a relief, that I wouldn't have to expect it back in my mailbox in a matter of a week or two...
And then yesterday (Saturday), I left the house to run some errands and discovered that I had a voice mail message when I turned on my cell phone. To my surprise, it was the Post Office lady! Say it with me, people: "Whaaaaaa???"
Here is her message, word for word:
"Hi Melisa, it's M from the post office. That book going to Ellen's show should be fine because back in May they made some changes and now they're saying that if it's rigid you can do Delivery Confirmation First Class and it doesn't have to be 3/4 of an inch thick; they added some stuff in there and I was wrong, so I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that, that piece should be fine. Thanks, bye."
If I had been standing up at the time I listened to it, you could have knocked me over with a feather.
But wait! How did she get my number, you're wondering?
During my time at her window, she was dazzled by the labels on the envelopes and asked about them. I told her about the book and she seemed interested, so I gave her my business card! (Workin' it, workin' it!) Turns out it's a good thing I did that; she probably was up all night thinking about this situation and how she thought I was totally freaked out; it's great for both of us that she was able to make that call! Now I know just how great some post office employees are. I plan to call her branch manager tomorrow to give her a big "Holla!" Management needs to know these things, you know?
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