Better Business Bureau Issues Acai Berry Warning

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

I've tried it in capsule form.
I didn't see any noticeable
difference. I decided to not
re-purchase.

I didn't use the trial order
method.

The following was reported by
Maria M. Perotin, Star Telegram.

Lose weight! Prevent cancer!
Fight Alzheimer’s disease with
acai berries! It worked for your
favorite celebrity!

Never heard of acai? With just a
quick search on the Internet, you
can read countless pitches for the
dark Brazilian berry.

There’s so much buzz, in fact, that
the Better Business Bureau at Fort
Worth this week issued a warning to
consumers.

Makers of acai supplements have
reeled in thousands of consumers
nationwide with "free" trial offers,
only to follow up with month after
month of unwanted credit card charges,
said John Riggins, chief executive
of the Fort Worth bureau.

One Arlington-based company —
FXSupplements.com — has drawn 139
complaints from consumers since November.

FX offers customers a free trial but
then quickly starts imposing charges
of about $80 a month, sometimes before
consumers have even received their
first bottle of Acai Maxx in the
mail, Riggins said.

"The people getting burned on this
really badly are the ones getting
charged over and over and over,"
Riggins said. "They can’t get the
company to pick up the phone or
answer an e-mail."

On Tuesday, the toll-free phone
number that’s listed on FX’s Web
site was disconnected.

An employee who answered a
separate phone number for Acai
Maxx billing inquiries said the
company wouldn’t comment except
to written questions sent by
mail to its Arlington address.

Riggins also raised concerns about
some acai sellers’ claims about the
products’ benefits and about implied
endorsements from Oprah Winfrey and
other celebrities who haven’t
actually suggested the berry is
a cure-all.

"The actual abilities of the
product are unknown right now,
really," he said. "Some really
far-reaching claims are just
unsubstantiated."

Touted among the latest weight-loss
crazes, acai is available in pills,
powders, fruit smoothies and even
as frozen pulp.

Amy Goodson, a dietitian at Texas
Health Harris Methodist Hospital
Fort Worth, said acai is the latest
in a string of exotic "super fruits"
that are marketed as if they have
unique abilities.

In fact, many fruits — even the humble
banana — are chock-full of many of
the same vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants.

"Do I think that this is a healthy
fruit? Sure," Goodson said. "Is it
going to cure every disease and
keep you from getting a disease?
By no means."

Nicole Chase, a dietitian at Plaza
Medical Center of Fort Worth, said
people can consume all the nutrients
they need by eating a variety of
healthy foods, without adding any
expensive supplements.

Her weight-loss advice: Eat small meals,
with lots of fiber, fruits and
vegetables. Avoid foods that are fried
or smothered in sauces. And get regular
exercise.

Goodson also cautioned against fad diets.

"If it just pops out and it’s on the front
of every magazine, probably be leery of
that," she said. "At the end of the day,
it’s eating well and exercising, which is
not usually what people technically want
to hear."

http://www.star-telegram.com/855/story/1127053.html

How To Survive A Recession

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

The first step to survive a
recession is attitude. The
thought of I will survive
should play-over in your
mind.

Write the words down on paper.
Place them on your night-stand,
computer, clock, and where you
can easily see the words. Look
at them when the recession
knocks on your business door.

Customers are the life-line of
your business. You'd like to
keep all of your customers,
but the survival of your business
stops you.

People who have problems paying,
let them go. They will sink you,
and your business. Don't let a
customer's over-do balance go
anywhere near thirty days. You
can't afford it if your business
is to survive the recession. It
is impossible to have customers
sixty, ninety, days due, and
survive. Your business will be
engulfed by the recession.

Pay attention to your costs. I'm
referring to every cent you are
spending on paper clips, for
example. Paper clips can be used
over and over. Don't throw them
away after one use. Look at the
amount of paper cups, paper
towels, used. Do you need to
buy paper cups? Cut back where
you can. You'll be amazed at how
cutting back adds up to big savings.

There is an aspect of your business
that shouldn't be cut during a
recession.

"You just said cut back." A few
reminded me.

Yes, I did. During a recession,
people buy. In order for them
to know about your product or
service, advertising is a must.
Keep your ad going. Only,
advertise where people are
seeing it.

"How do I know where people are
seeing my ad?"

Ask them.

If possible, advertise more.
Remember, customers are the life-
line of a business, recession or
not. The survival of your business
depends on people, customers.

Keep employees aware of your
business circumstances, their
jobs. They will appreciate it,
and work harder.

In closing, survive a recession
by keeping a positive attitude,
let problem customers go, be
mindful of costs, advertise, and
advise employees of the business
situation, their jobs.

How To Handle A Customer Problem

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

It's not always easy to handle a
customer problem, but it's a part
of during business. This is the
time to show patience, understanding.

It's extremely important to listen.

"What if they get irate?" You
asked.

Let a customer vent.
Face it, in this economic
down-turn, he or she can
take their business
elsewhere.

Don't allow yourself to get
into a word battle. You're
there to resolve the
customer's problem, and
have he/she spread nice
comments about you,
your business.
It's called free advertising.

Let customers say
what they have to.

Don't give excuses.
Apologize. Be professional.
Start working on the problem,
immediately.

Explain what the customer
can expect. If necessary,
pull in someone else to help
resolve the problem.

If at any moment you feel
the need to be confrontational,
stop. Tell the customer
you'd like to find out what
happened, etc. Take a few
moments to relax, took a
deep breath.

Be sure to let the customer
know you'll going to work on
the problem. Make the
customer resolution a priority.

Make sure a problem exists.
Or, is it something the customer
misunderstood. Your results
must be explained to the
customer.

Economic Turn-Down Survival Tips

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return

Center your attention on customers.
The customers that are up-to-date,
current, offer them discounts,
sales. These are the people you
want to
direct your product or service
at. Keep in touch with them.

Keep customers coming back
by creating a game where they
can play everyday for your
product, service, give discount
coupons, gift certificates,
and free wares.

A contest will keep
them coming back to your
product or service. They try
to win, but purchase if they
don't.

Handle any misunderstandings
with care, quickly. Your
business survival depends on
it.

In an economic turn down, there
are other places customers can
spend their money.

However, smart business owners
survive by making customers
feel appreciated, wanted.

Happy customers come back, and
tell their friends. It means
more profits for you, your
business.


It's very important to screen
customers. Business
survival demands it. You
want the good customers.
The customers that pay
on time.

Don't let customers go
thirty-five days without
notice.

Likewise, economic survival
demands you pay on time
as well. A delay makes it
harder on you.

Keep your team, employees,
aware of circumstances.
Foster a team environment.
Everyone works together
to survive the economic
turn down.

In closing, pay attention
to good customers. Offer
contests, and other offers
to keep their interest,
business.

Stay on top of payment
habits of customers.
Make sure your payment
habits are good.

It's a must that everyone
in your organization,
business, works together.
Keep them advised to the
status of your business,
their employment.

How To Survive An Economic Turn-Down

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

This is the time to take a stand.
Don't give-up your dream when
the economy hiccups. Yes, I
know it's hard.

I will survive thoughts should
blanket your mind. Place
those words on paper.
Tack them to your office door,
computer, desk, information
board, wall, mirror, or
where you can easily
see them.

Think pass the economic
hard times.

Avail yourself to networks.
Don't be ashamed to ask
for business.

It's a must to cut costs.
Anyone not contributing
is moved, or terminated.

People who have been
with you, the company,
for a long time draws
stress when the
T word is considered.

However, in economic
hard times, tough decisions
are made for your business
to survive. Sometimes,
old employees are terminated.

If an employee isn't working
well with his/her new
department, you have to
make the termination choice.

Perhaps, when times are
better, re-hire him or her.

Is it possible for you to
get a more fitting offer
from suppliers?

Contact creditors. Adjust
your payment habits, make
better or bigger payments.

"Why?" You asked out-loud.

It will reduce costs.

All staff members have to
do more, or accept the
alternative. The alternative
is termination.

The most important part
of your business is your
customers. Get to know
them. Inquire about how
he/she found you, your
product or service.

Direct your advertising to
where customers are seeing
it, and stop spending
elsewhere.

Your business survival is at
stake. You can't afford to
be concerned about how
measures look. Keep your
staff informed as to what
is happening with the business.

If the staff feels apart of your
business survival, they will
work harder. They will do
what's best for the business,
their jobs.

The economy will recover,
but it's necessary to swing-low
with it, and rise when it does.

In closing, you survive in an
economic turn-down by using
common sense measures.
Keep the survival attitude,
network harder, anyone not
meeting the quota is moved
or terminated, and keep
everyone aware of what's going
on with the business.

Line Of Credit

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

First, don't panic. Make an appointment
to talk to the person, institution, you
obtained the loan from.

It's possible your line of credit will
not be reduced or taken. Give
yourself piece of mind by contacting
the loan institution.

The credit trouble, in the news, is
pointing to short-term loans big
companies make to one another,
and the rate they pay to borrow
from each other.

If, for some reason, your line
of credit is reduced, taken, make
sure you're not dependent on
one bank, or one credit card.

It's best to have several lines
of credit from various banks.
This, at least, gives you a
better chance at survival.

It's possible your regular
banking institution may
reduce, take back, your
line of credit. If it happens to
you, think outside the box.

Don't let your dream, business,
fade away.

An alternative is to barter with
suppliers. Trade products or
services for supplies. Put the
terms of the bartering agreement
in writing. A written document
spelling out the agreement avoids
future misunderstandings. It will
save relationships, friendships.

Have an informal party for friends
and family. Explain what you're
during with a product or service.
Ask for investors.

In return, one investor asks
that you train his/her son or
daughter in a particular area.
Or, point to the fact that
he/she will get a return on
investing with you, and that's
better than taking a chance
on investing in the market.

When your line of credit is
taken or reduced, cut back on
spending. Out-dated, pass its
usefulness, equipment must be
removed. Employees not making
the quota should be moved to
another area, or terminated.

If John, for example, isn't
doing well in customer service,
move him to shipping.

John is a problem in shipping too.
You have no choice, but to remove
him to the door.

Still, there are businesses doing
well. Even so, be mindful of how
your line of credit is used.

No one knows which bank, lending
institution, will reduce a line
of credit, or take it back.

In closing, always contact your
loan officer with concerns about
your line of credit. Make it a
practice to have credit lines
from different institutions. It
keeps you afloat if one bank goes
under.

Bartering is a way to meet the
economic down-turn.

Rid yourself, your company, of
equipment or people missing the
mark, and stop all unnecessary
spending.

The Bail-Out

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

No one wants to turn-over
hard earned money to help Wall
Street. It's annoying, and
angers many.

"Would my business be
bailed-out if it failed?" A
few asked.

I doubt that the government
would rush in to aid your
failing small business. There
is a process by which you'd apply
for a loan, aid.

In fairness, the failure of a
lone business wouldn't negatively
impact the financial system.
Or, the affects wouldn't knot
our cash flow.

The bailout is necessary
to allow you an opportunity to
borrow funds. The bailout stops
Wall Street's problem(s) from
reaching your street and mine.

In a stable economy, it's
easier to get credit, and keep
the amount, terms, originally
assigned.

Some small business owners
have complained that their
credit line was reduced, terms
changed.

The bailout gives some
opportunities back. You can
save for retirement without
worrying if the bank will close.

America's children, with the
bailout, have a better chance
of getting needed funds for
college.

People agree that a bailout
plan is necessary, but haggle
over specific points.

For the small business owner,
cut-back where you can. Phrase-
out free morning donuts and
coffee. Cut cost anywhere,
everywhere, possible.

Maximize the use of employees
and equipment. If, for example,
a department isn't using Employee
E, send him/her to the next area.

The positive effects of the new
bailout plan takes time to see,
and feel.