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4/29/10 - I don't post for ages, and then all I do is complain.

I've got issues with customer service. I don't feel like I expect too much (and if you disagree, let me know in the comments...seriously, I need to be put in my place). Today's issue is in regards to sales. I'm trying to buy an enclosed trailer for my lawn care business.

Here's what I'm looking for. I want to talk to someone knowledgeable about the product. I want to be able to contact someone and get a call back if necessary. I want the salesman to sound like he is actually interested in selling me something. Last, but not least, if you tell me something, you better be telling me the whole truth.

I thought I had found the trailer I was going to buy. I talked to four locations. One was going out of business (Company A), didn't have the trailer I was looking for and wasn't getting any more. The next place (Company B) when I called said he was leaving for the day (at noon on a Tuesday) and would call me back later with all the information I needed. He actually did call me back, but not until 3:00 the next day. The next place (Company C) I left a message only to not get a call at all. Company D I actually went to last saturday and talked to salesman who quoted me a price on the exact trailer I was interested in. Tuesday I called only to leave a message. I never got called back. I called back and finally spoke to the same salesman and I found out what I needed to in order to buy the trailer today.

So today, I drive 20 minutes to the lot to place the order for the trailer. What I was looking for had to be custom ordered. On saturday, there was no extra fee for this request and there were several discounts for this and that. Today, however, a different salesman tells me that the other guy is new and that the price for the trailer is now $300 more. I was lied to. I had budgeted for the price I was told, only to find out it was a flat out lie.

I walked out of the office. Plain and simple, and at this point, I will not be going back, regardless of the price of the trailer. Company B is now looking like a great company because at least they called me back. Company C who didn't call me back, might still sell me a trailer because I'm going to go up there tomorrow and see what they can offer.

Honestly, I don't feel like I'm asking a lot. I'm willing to pay for what I want. In fact, if the guy on saturday would have told me the correct price, I'd be blogging about purchasing a new trailer right now. The money is not the issue, it is about the customer service. If I have issues with the trailer, I want to feel like I can contact the company and trust the response I get.

So there ya go, my latest issue with companies who manage to stay in business without even having to try at making a customer even somewhat satisfied.

Labels: blog, rant

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4/7/10 - The tournament is over

I know I'm a day or two late on this, but I've been sick the last couple of days and haven't had a chance to update the website with the final standings. As you can see, the winner is a 2 year old, followed by last year's winner and 3rd place goes to the most interesting bracket I get every year.

Pay out is $87, $44 and $14.

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Nash Horton	74	143
Greg Walker	70	145
Wes May-hem	67	145
Kylah Van Horn	66	161
Cristi Walker	66	150
Michael Huffman	66	130
Tim Shelton	63	0
DJ Walker	61	148
Chris Horton	59	156
Whitney Walker	58	167
Kyle Raible	56	156
Blake Bumgardner	55	144
Stephen Shirley	54	135
Phillip Walker	53	154
Craig 1	52	170
Matt Arnold	51	153
Donna Bumgardner	51	148
Nick	51	137
Randy Spellins	50	141
Geoff Owens 2	49	135
Jason Harmon	49	1061
Mike Bumgardner	49	157
Jared Selby	49	150
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	48	166
Craig 2	46	170
Kent Bryant	46	150
Jessica Walker	46	154
Geoff Owens 1	43	127
Eric Chilton	42	143
John Albritton	39	148

Labels: MM2010

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3/28/10 - Day 8: And we have a Final Four

The tournament is narrowed down to four teams, and the pool is narrowed down to four people. Wes and Greg are guaranteed money, it's just a matter of how much. And I'm battling a 2 year old to get 2nd place, but only if West Virginia gets to the title game.

I have once again updated the Google Docs file if anyone is interested in the final 8 possible scenarios. Final scenarios

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Wes May-hem	67	145
Greg Walker	65	145
Nash Horton	63	143
DJ Walker	61	148
Cristi Walker	61	150
Chris Horton	59	156
Whitney Walker	58	167
Tim Shelton	58	0
Kyle Raible	56	156
Blake Bumgardner	55	144
Michael Huffman	55	130
Kylah Van Horn	55	161
Stephen Shirley	54	135
Phillip Walker	53	154
Craig 1	52	170
Matt Arnold	51	153
Donna Bumgardner	51	148
Nick	51	137
Randy Spellins	50	141
Geoff Owens 2	49	135
Jason Harmon	49	1061
Mike Bumgardner	49	157
Jared Selby	49	150
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	48	166
Craig 2	46	170
Kent Bryant	46	150
Jessica Walker	46	154
Geoff Owens 1	43	127
Eric Chilton	42	143
John Albritton	39	148

Labels: MM2010

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3/27/10 - Day 7: Narrowed down to a few hopefuls

After today's games, the money is down to basically 4 people: Wes, Greg, Nash, myself. Of course, I am relying solely on West Virginia winning their next game. There is still a small chance for Cristi, Kylah or Michael to place 3rd, but all the other scenarios have those four. Here are the standings as of now.

Sorry about the issue this morning with the Google doc link, I fixed it this morning and have updated it with today's results. Here is the link again: March Madness Breakdown

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Greg Walker	61	145
Wes May-hem	59	145
Nash Horton	59	143
DJ Walker	57	148
Cristi Walker	57	150
Blake Bumgardner	55	144
Chris Horton	55	156
Whitney Walker	54	167
Tim Shelton	54	0
Kyle Raible	52	156
Donna Bumgardner	51	148
Kylah Van Horn	51	161
Michael Huffman	51	130
Stephen Shirley	50	135
Jason Harmon	49	1061
Phillip Walker	49	154
Craig 1	48	170
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	48	166
Nick	47	137
Matt Arnold	47	153
Randy Spellins	46	141
Jessica Walker	46	154
Mike Bumgardner	45	157
Geoff Owens 2	45	135
Jared Selby	45	150
Geoff Owens 1	43	127
Craig 2	42	170
Eric Chilton	42	143
Kent Bryant	42	150
John Albritton	39	148

Labels: MM2010

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3/26/10 - Day 6: The Elite 8 is finalized

I took the time (lots of time) to play out all 128 possible finishes and see who would win what kind of money. I stored it in a Google Docs file here. You don't need any special software, just click the link and view away. Basically, there is a small subset of people who can still win, but there are lots of different possibilities.

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Wes May-hem	59	145
Greg Walker	57	145
Cristi Walker	57	150
Blake Bumgardner	55	144
Chris Horton	55	156
Nash Horton	55	143
Whitney Walker	54	167
Tim Shelton	54	0
DJ Walker	53	148
Kyle Raible	52	156
Michael Huffman	51	130
Stephen Shirley	50	135
Jason Harmon	49	1061
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	48	166
Craig 1	48	170
Nick	47	137
Matt Arnold	47	153
Kylah Van Horn	47	161
Donna Bumgardner	47	148
Randy Spellins	46	141
Jessica Walker	46	154
Mike Bumgardner	45	157
Phillip Walker	45	154
Geoff Owens 2	45	135
Geoff Owens 1	43	127
Craig 2	42	170
Eric Chilton	42	143
Kent Bryant	42	150
Jared Selby	41	150
John Albritton	39	148

Labels: MM2010

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3/25/10 - Day 5: Elite 8 begins

I don't care who you are, the Xavier - Kansas State game was incredible to watch. Granted, I needed Xavier to win, but whatever the case, it was a great game to witness.

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Cristi Walker	54	150
Wes May-hem	53	145
Nash Horton	52	143
Blake Bumgardner	52	144
Greg Walker	51	145
Jason Harmon	49	1061
Chris Horton	49	156
Whitney Walker	48	167
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	48	166
Tim Shelton	48	0
Michael Huffman	48	130
Stephen Shirley	47	135
DJ Walker	47	148
Kyle Raible	46	156
Matt Arnold	44	153
Donna Bumgardner	44	148
Kylah Van Horn	44	161
Jessica Walker	43	154
Geoff Owens 1	43	127
Randy Spellins	43	141
Craig 1	42	170
Mike Bumgardner	42	157
Geoff Owens 2	42	135
Nick	41	137
Eric Chilton	39	143
Phillip Walker	39	154
Jared Selby	38	150
Craig 2	36	170
Kent Bryant	36	150
John Albritton	36	148

Labels: MM2010

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3/21/10 - Day 4: The standings are upside down

I'm not sure what to think about the brackets right now. Our leader is a consistent bottom feeder in the final standings (no offense Wes), 2nd place goes to my wife who doesn't exactly keep ESPN in her TV watching cycle, and 3rd place is a tie with one being a 2 year old. It is still too early to play out any scenarios, so as far as I'm concerned, it is still pretty wide open (at least for those that didn't pick Kansas to win). More games next Thursday.

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Wes May-hem	47	145
Cristi Walker	45	150
Blake Bumgardner	43	144
Nash Horton	43	143
Whitney Walker	42	167
Greg Walker	42	145
Michael Huffman	42	130
DJ Walker	41	148
Jason Harmon	40	1061
Chris Horton	40	156
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	39	166
Tim Shelton	39	0
Kylah Van Horn	38	161
Matt Arnold	38	153
Stephen Shirley	38	135
Jessica Walker	37	154
Geoff Owens 1	37	127
Kyle Raible	37	156
Mike Bumgardner	36	157
Phillip Walker	36	154
Craig 1	36	170
Geoff Owens 2	36	135
Eric Chilton	36	143
Nick	35	137
Donna Bumgardner	35	148
Randy Spellins	34	141
Kent Bryant	33	150
John Albritton	33	148
Jared Selby	32	150
Craig 2	30	170

Labels: MM2010

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3/20/10 - Day 3: I think a few people are doomed

Only 3 people still have their Final Four team from the midwest bracket. And 12 brackets lost their predicted champion. Sadly, I'm one of those, which means there is a good possibility that my wife is going to beat me.

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Eric Chilton	34	143
Wes May-hem	33	145
DJ Walker	33	148
Blake Bumgardner	31	144
Cristi Walker	31	150
Michael Huffman	30	130
Greg Walker	30	145
Jason Harmon	30	1061
Whitney Walker	30	167
Matt Arnold	30	153
Chris Horton	30	156
Jessica Walker	29	154
Nash Horton	29	143
Tim Shelton	29	0
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	29	166
Geoff Owens 1	29	127
Kyle Raible	29	156
Mike Bumgardner	28	157
Kylah Van Horn	28	161
Phillip Walker	28	154
Stephen Shirley	28	135
Geoff Owens 2	28	135
Donna Bumgardner	27	148
Kent Bryant	27	150
Nick	27	137
Craig 1	26	170
Randy Spellins	26	141
John Albritton	25	148
Jared Selby	24	150
Craig 2	24	170

Labels: MM2010

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3/19/10 - Day 2: Not nearly as exciting

Name	Points	Tiebreak
Wes May-hem	25	145
DJ Walker	25	148
Michael Huffman	24	130
Greg Walker	24	145
Stephen Shirley	24	135
Phillip Walker	24	154
Eric Chilton	24	143
Blake Bumgardner	23	144
Geoff Owens 1	23	127
Cristi Walker	23	0
Jason Harmon	22	1061
Matt Arnold	22	153
Geoff Owens 2	22	135
Kylah Van Horn	22	161
Whitney Walker	22	167
Chris Horton	22	156
Mike Bumgardner	22	157
Kent Bryant	21	150
Jessica Walker	21	154
Kyle Raible	21	156
Nash Horton	21	143
Tim Shelton	21	0
Uncle/Gary Reynolds	21	166
Randy Spellins	20	141
Craig 1	20	170
Nick	19	137
Donna Bumgardner	19	148
John Albritton	19	148
Jared Selby	18	150
Craig 2	18	170