November 17, 2012
► A Service and Repair Report Card was received from Eric & Tina D. from Merrimack, NH who had their hot tub repaired. They rated us Excellent on 15 points. “Last time I called for service, it wasn’t an automatic hour ($99). No one mentioned that. Also, replaced fuse in less than one hour. Should charge in half-hour increments.”
► New advertising and weekly specials start Sunday, November 18: “Family Fun Specials”. Patio Furniture and Bar Sales continue with a new sale ending date. All the monthly promotions continue.
► We are closed Thanksgiving, and open normal hours (10-8) Black Friday.
► The website has been updated to allow much more shopping for an above ground pool, including the entire price list except for the actual prices. We will mail the prices only to addresses in our area.
► An email from the Executive Director of the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce: “We owe you a great big Thank You! What a wonderful night. You couldn’t have done anything better. The tours, the extra greeters and staff ready to assist in hosting duties – it was all perfect. Dennis, you have set the bar very high for the next couple of After Hours. There were a lot of people connecting – terrific! I have some good photos that I will bring over to the store on a disc.”
► Chlorine deposits, refunds, and warranty items were all good the last 2 weeks. Thank you.
► We have added a two-minute video to the Billiard Table Overview web page that shows Olhausen pool tables and shuffleboards being made.
► Celebrity hot tubs are now available in the Special Order Book. They were created as a “Home Show” promotion, so they are cheap but not very good, and not particularly profitable unless we sell them 20 at a time. However, if you have a customer who wants something cheap, you have an option.
► We have added a list of things that Olhausen can not make until after Christmas, to the kiosk.
► Please, if you have an idea or something to fix, tell me (or us) when it happens. Here’s an example: Anne-Marie is buying new computers. If I had not asked you to fill out the polls, she would not have known that we needed a new parts computer.
► Legacy is beginning an online promotion from November 27 to December 24: a pool table with a bunch of accessories for $1,899. We don’t carry either table, but we will be happy to order the package for anyone who wants it. I don’t see it as a great deal, as it’s $700 more than we charge for a Mustang, to get $600 worth of stuff. Note that Legacy’s promotion can not be changed, their cloth, their package, their colors, etc.
► Free copies of “Bits & Pieces” are available in the lunchroom. Here’s a sample from a completely different issue:
– There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton
– Minds are like parachutes-they only function when open. Thomas Dewar
– Only the mediocre are always at their best. Jean Giraudoux
– Life is an escalator: You can move forward or backward; you can not remain still. Patricia Russell-McCloud
– Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth. …Tame the dragon and the gift is yours. Noela Evans
► The internet says that these quotes are from real court testimony:
– Attorney: “What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?” Witness: “He said, ‘Where am I, Cathy?’”
Attorney: “And why did that upset you?” Witness: “My name is Susan!”
– Attorney: “What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?” Witness: “Gucci sweats and Reeboks.”
– Attorney: “Are you sexually active?” Witness: “No, I just lie there.”