Panda Picks-Seniors Work on the Net!

We seniors are creatures of habit.  Once we find good service, just  like anyone else we tend to return. Today I took my car for an oil and filter change.  Anybody who is a decent mechanic could do that, right?  It’s not about who can change my oil but who services my car. We seniors look for quality as much as affordable service.

As I entered the dealership I was greeted by a friendly person, ready to write up my order for the overdue oil exchange.  A typical well groomed service area awaited my car. I was sent to a waiting area to have a cup of coffee and a donut.

Nothing too unusual you might say. But there is a difference when one considers the word “loyalty” acted out.

Here’s how it played out.

The car salesman who sold me the car came by to greet me.  The conversation centered on my daughter because he was concerned with her struggle of an addiction which he too had conquered.  We connected.  I remarked that the coffee was nice but why didn’t tea  drinkers have their drink of choice?  He said he would get one for me.  We connected.  The owner of the dealership came by and asked another lady how her Explorer was doing? Wow he knew what car he had sold her some time ago. She marveled at his memory. They connected. I teased him about the lack tea and told him I understood that he was a tea drinker.  Within minutes a receptionist came by with hot water and choice of tea bags.  We connected.

The salesman never  suggested my buying  a car.  The owner never questioned the lady if she were there to buy a car.  So what were they selling?  They were selling themselves and their good service. They were sealing our loyalty.  If they saw a need, they were ready to accommodate.

People do not have to be sold.  Your customers should seek you out knowing that you have their best interest at heart. If  you present yourself as the answer to their needs, you have sealed their loyalty. There is no need to hound your friends and neighbors to make a sale. Let them come to you, as you have what they want or need.

So why would I travel clear across town to have my oil changed?  Service is the answer. Loyalty and commitment acted out in a dealership where the owner has such passion about his product that he knows every car on his lot, so the salesman tells me.

Panda Picked this story to remind you that you are not doing an internet business to sell anything.  You are in business to provide a service or product which someone wants and needs. With quality service, you will have their loyalty whether to re-order or recommend some other person to you and your business.

Panda Picked Baby Boomers.com as a good resource to add to your connections on the net.

Mary Hofstetter AKA The Panda Lady

Panda Picked the subject of keeping our computer safe as it relates to hackers.  I checked with an on friend who e-mailed me his version of the problem.

Mr. John Partington

John Partington of Crewe, Cheshire, United Kingdom has provided this information to share with all our Seniors new or experienced on the internet.

Here are his suggestions:

“The best advice I can give on what hackers can do is tell people to watch the Steven Segal film “Under Siege 2″

You have to remember that if a site is online or your computer is online they are both available to hackers if they have the  correct software to discover your passwords.

A hacker will access your own computer and place trojans that will log all your keystrokes, thats the way they get the information to hack into the server you are using.

The only really safe sites are the ones with secure encryption, ie; the address starts with https and a lock will appear somewhere in your browser window. That is why  Microsoft keep issuing security updates for their browser!

Never ever leave your computer connected to the internet if you are not in front of it, and make sure your computer has some form of firewall security ie; Macfee or Norton anti virus software.

A free site I use is very good you can find it at http://www.spybot.info/index2.html . Its very good and available in many languages. Its free but you can always give them a donation if you want to. Its reasonably easy to use, just follow the instructions as you will have to download the file and then run it to load it onto your hard drive.

After you have done that just click on the shortcut that will be placed on your desktop menu.”

John has worked most of his working years as a self employed carpet fitter, miner, salesman, plus others to numerous to mention, as he says. In 1995 he took an interest in the computer having been self taught.

John says “I have messed around with computers since 1995 and put my first site online the same year. I am self taught, mainly by reading books and making mistakes but I am quite competent now.  I have recently had to stop working because of ill health.”

John is a promoter of M2Y.Info Hosting.

Information on the hacker situation is based on experience as he had his computer compromised.  He lost his  self created  site and sites of others whom he was helping.  It has cost him many hours and  several months of work.

John and I share ideas and promote each other in social communites. He like I develop relationships with the sole purpose of helping other members.

Thank you John for sharing your knowledge.

Panda Picked the hacker issue because we need to understand that knowledge may be the key to protecting your work and the contents of your computer.

Mary Hofstetter AKA The Panda Lady

A Panda goes out to eat at the neighborhood eatery. He orders his meal and patiently waits.After he completes his delicious meal, he jumps up and pulls out a gun.  He proceeds to tear up the establishment by shooting up the wall fixtures.

As he left, the owner said “What are you doing tearing up my restaurant”.        

“It’s only natural ” replied the panda, “I am a Giant Panda who eats, shoots and leaves” 

Panda Picked this joke to make you laugh.  Laughter is good medicine.

Mary Hofstetter AKA The Panda Lady